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Posts Tagged ‘oral health’

Flossing will help your oral health, say City of Leeds dentists

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

We all know how important it is to brush our teeth but how many of us neglect to floss? The fact is that flossing is a vital part of keeping your mouth nice and healthy and ought to form part of your routine. Not doing so is just helping plaque to keep a hold in your mouth and put you at risk of dental decay and other oral conditions.
Flossing is the act of pulling a thin piece of tape between your teeth. It is done in order to remove plaque which can easily hide there. Brushing your teeth might get rid of the plaque which is on the surface of your teeth, but it doesn’t matter how well you brush, chances are some it will still remain between your teeth.
If plaque is allowed to stay there between your teeth then it can start to break down the protective layer of enamel which keeps your teeth safe. Cavities can begin to form and the nerves inside your teeth can become compromised. Further, a build up of plaque on the gum line of your teeth can leave you open to contracting gum disease like gingivitis or its more advanced form, periodontitis.
Flossing might be a little painful to begin with if you haven’t done it before. Gums are sensitive and having tape dragged across them might cause the tissue to break and an amount of bleeding to occur. This ought to stop in time but if it doesn’t you should alert your dentist.
Talk to your City of Leeds dentist if you need any more advice about the benefits of flossing and take the next step towards enhancing your oral health.

Central Leeds dentists have all the best tips about keeping your child’s mouth healthy

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

Everyone who has a child will be concerned about giving them the best possible start in life in terms of their health. The fact is that a health problem which a child develops might well be something that they have to deal with for the rest of their life. So it is vitally important that you develop a good relationship with your dentist early on in your child’s life and allow their mouth to be regularly examined.
Diet is as important for the oral health of children as it is adults. Of course children want to eat sweets but it is best to try and instil in them some discipline here and, if you allow them for a treat, be sure to get them to brush their teeth afterwards to stop plaque from building up. If a child develops a cavity because plaque has decayed a tooth then they will need to have a filling for the rest of their life.
Getting children to brush their teeth can be a battle in itself but there are techniques which can be helpful like giving them a reward when they do so at the appointed time. You might want to make a fun chart where they can tick off the times they brush their teeth.
You should make sure that they are not brushing too hard though. Children’s mouths are sensitive and they can have a tendency to brush a little recklessly. This can damage their gums or even the teeth themselves. Brushes with softer bristles are available if you think your child does this.
Talk to your Central Leeds dentist if you have a child and want the best advice about how you can help keep their mouth healthy.

Leeds dentists advise patients on how to keep their teeth as healthy as possible

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Dentists are the place to go in order to get the best advice about how to take care of your teeth. Having excellent oral hygiene will ensure that you can eat, drink, smile and even talk in comfort. Your mouth is a complex, finely honed organism in which all the parts are meant to work together in order for it to function. Allowing parts of it to become unhealthy can mean that the activities you take for granted are jeapordised.
There are a number of simple ways in which you can take the best possible care of your mouth though. The first and most important in many ways is that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and again after meals if you feel it is necessary. This is so that plaque does not build up and cause your teeth to start decaying. You ought to brush for about three minute, making sure that you are covering all the areas of your mouth.
Once you have brushed, don’t forget to floss. This is essential in removing the plaque which can hide between your teeth. It might be a little painful to begin with if you have not done it before but you should persist so that your teeth and gums can stay healthy.
Diet can play and important part in the health of your mouth too. Plaque is produced by all foods but the most is produced when you eat or drink sugary or starchy substances. It is best to cut down on these things and eat things like cheese afterwards which can help to remove the sugar and starch from the teeth.
Finally, get into the habit of visiting your Leeds dentist every six months so that your mouth can be checked by a specialist.

Getting a dental bridge in Leeds

Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Getting a dental bridge in Leeds could be the answer to that missing tooth, especially if that gap is in the front of your mouth, which can look quite unsightly. Vanity aside though, it’s not the only reason you should consider a replacement- oral health comes into the equation too. The gap is a food trap and can lead to a build-up of bacteria. It can lead to further infection and disease and the teeth that are left are vulnerable to movement. A bridge is one treatment to solve these problems and one of the cheaper alternatives on the market. Depending on where the tooth has been lost, there are three out there to remedy the loss. The more popular choice is where one or two teeth that are attached to a crown at each end and then cemented onto the teeth that remain around the gap. If there are more than two teeth missing, the strength of the bridge can be enhanced by attaching it onto a mini implant. A cantilever bridge fixes the new tooth to one remaining tooth using wires and resin bonding, as does a Maryland bridge, bonding to two or more teeth. They can be manufactured in varying materials from porcelain to gold- this also depends on how much work is required from the bridge, such as chewing.
Having a bridge fitted can cost anywhere from £300 upwards and once fitted, requires more attention to cleaning, but if maintained, they can last you up to 20 years.

City of Leeds dentists ensure long-term oral health with dental check ups

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

For enduring oral health, regular visits to your dentist are vital. Without check ups by a specialist, you could be compounding existing health problems with your teeth. Having healthy teeth allows you painless eating, drinking and talking. They look better too and you will be able to smile with confidence. Make an appointment today to safeguard the health of your mouth.

Effective care of your teeth at home is vital and can be achieved with regular flossing and brushing. Brush your teeth twice a day for three minutes and, to ensure that you have reached the parts that toothbrushes cannot, floss. To compliment this, a visit to your dentist every six months is crucial. At some point in our lives, 90% of us will suffer from gum disease, proving that we need to do more to protect our teeth.

Seeing a City of Leeds dentist every six months will do more to help ensure lasting oral health. They will give your teeth and gums a thorough examination for signs of disease, locating any problems early. Dentists are trained too to spot signs of oral cancer; a condition which, if diagnosed early, can be effectively treated. Allowing your dentist the chance to diagnose any problems swiftly lessens your chance of having to undergo invasive procedures.

Make an appointment every six months and you and your dentist can stay on top of your oral health. There’s no need to be embarrassed if you have not had an appointment for several years; it’s not too late to start addressing your dental hygiene and ensure long-lasting healthy teeth and gums which will allow you to live well and smile with confidence.

A Central Leeds Dentist’s Solution to Missing Teeth

Monday, October 4th, 2010

Losing a tooth or even all of your teeth can cause many problems to oral health, explains a Leeds dentist. Aside from vanity, a missing tooth can also have physical ramifications, depending on where in the mouth the tooth was and what circumstances surrounded the loss. In some cases, a tooth does not need replacing. But if the tooth was lost in a trauma, it could lead to many complications- the surrounding teeth that remain, may become weaker, leading to infections and gum disease. But help is on hand and there are procedures available to rectify the problem. After a consultation with the dentist, a course of action will be taken that best suits the patient and their pocket. The cheaper solution is a dental bridge (fixed partial denture). Teeth either side of the gap will be prepared so that the new tooth can be attached to them. It looks good as well as halting any movement to the remaining teeth. As will the bridges’ more expensive cousin- the dental implant. Like a bridge, implant procedures have become refined over the years but can be complex and take a lot more time due to the healing process, depending on the work required. A hole is drilled into the jaw bone and a screw inserted. Once the gums have recovered, (anywhere up to 6 months), the tooth will then be attached. Much of the success of both treatments lay in the healing and constant attention to oral hygiene. Diet is important, as is refraining from smoking and heavy drinking during recovery.

Leeds dentists stress the importance of children’s oral hygiene

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

The oral health of your child is of very great importance and significance as it can affect the health of their teeth for the rest of their lives. It is our responsibility as parents to ensure that we do all we can to look after the health of our children’s teeth to give them the best possible start in life.

No parent ever wants to see their child in pain or discomfort but by neglecting their oral health you could be setting your child up for a future of dental pain and complications. Problems with our teeth are rarely instant but instead increasingly build up and worsen over time. By failing to ensure our children are practising good methods of oral hygiene and making sure they visit a Leeds dentist every six months you could be allowing tooth decay and gum disease to get the upper hand.

Dentists advise that you take an active interest in teaching your children how to effectively clean their teeth. Try not to force your children to clean their teeth as this could cause resentment but instead try and turn it into a game or reward them for doing it well. Instilling good oral hygiene habits when they are young will hopefully stay with them as they grow.

Of course there is a time after your child is born when they are unable to look after their teeth themselves and the duty falls upon you, the parent. Leeds dentists can advise the best way to look after your child’s teeth by cleaning the gums and teeth with a wet gauze and gently starting to brush when the teeth are ready.

It is also important to ensure that your kids are not eating too much sugary food, which could be excessively damaging their teeth. Try to avoid buying them sugary drinks and sweets, which are very bad for their teeth. Your dentist can provide you with more information about the foods most suitable for healthy teeth.

Look after your oral health at Leeds dentist

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Looking after your teeth is just as important as looking after your body. You might not realise it but your teeth and mouth can act as an indicator for your overall health. If your body is not well, your teeth will demonstrate this. Just as if your teeth are in poor condition your bodily health will be affected. This is because rather than being a serious of unconnected body parts, the human body is an extremely complex, interconnected web of nerve, tissues and blood vessels. This means that any infection or disease in the mouth could potentially affect the whole body. Nowhere is this more true than with heart disease. Recent studies have conclusively proved the link between gum disease and heart disease.

This occurs because infection in the mouth can easily spread to the bloodstream. When this happens it causes a chain reaction that can cause a narrowing of the arteries around the heart. In some extreme cases this has even caused fatal heart attacks.

While this may be an extreme example, your oral health can also affect your life in many other ways. Teeth are very important for attractiveness. Bad teeth can often make an otherwise attractive person look a lot worse. Discolouration or missing teeth are not very pretty things to look at and can make you look unhealthy. And as for bad breath, I think we all know how much of a put off that can be. Yet these are all oral concerns that could have easily been prevented with improved oral hygiene. This doesn’t even need that much effort. Just a few extra minutes spent each day brushing and flossing correctly, accompanied with a six-monthly check up at a Leeds dentist and you could make a huge improvement to the appearance and cleanliness of your teeth.

Leeds dentists say parents play an important role in children’s oral health

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

As a parent you are always worried about your children’s health and appearance and want them to be as happy as possible. This concern should always include their teeth as the parents’ role in good dental care is crucially important in the early developing years. Creating good habits early on will stand your children in good stead to have healthy teeth for a whole lifetime. Similarly, preventing early on set dental problems will also help your children to grow up and have strong and healthy teeth.

Your role as a parent begins almost as soon as they are born. Even though babies don’t have teeth just yet, they do have gums and these are just as important. Gently wiping the babies gums clean after feeding will help to protect them from disease and irritation. This continues when the first teeth start to develop. Wiping clean should continue until your child has enough teeth to realistically brush them. You will need to start doing this for them, but you should always encourage your children to learn to brush their own teeth as soon as possible. Keep an eye on them to make sure they are doing it properly and offer plenty of encouragement and support. You should never force your child to brush their teeth as this can cause resentment and lead to bad habits.

Always try to educate them as to why it so important to clean their teeth everyday, But perhaps most importantly, you are responsible for making sure they see a dentist every six months from a very early age. Getting your child used to seeing a dentist and learning that there is nothing to be afraid of and that a dentist is there to help them is a very important parental role. If your child hasn’t seen a Leeds dentist, make them an appointment today, it could be the call that protects their teeth for life.

City of Leeds dentist stresses importance of parental role in healthy teeth

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

You cannot underestimate the role of the parents in good dental care for children. Just as for adults, City of Leeds dentist recommend regular check ups for children, ranging from between every three to six months, starting even before the teeth have begun to emerge. But it is the parents’ actions at home that will have the biggest impact on the dental health of their children. And furthermore, it is not just in the short term but the care you provide for your child’s oral health can affect their teeth for the rest of their lives.

Dentists are always on hand to give new parents advice on how best to look after their children’s teeth. Good oral care begins before the teeth have even begun to emerge. After all, good oral care is about more than just teeth. Our gums are equally as important and they are there form birth. Parents should wipe their children’s gums clean after feeding using a damp cloth. This will help to prevent a build up of bacteria. This should continue when the first teeth start to emerge before the dentist advises that it is ok to start brushing the teeth.

Keeping regular check up appointments means that you will never be in any doubt as to when it is ok to start the next stage of good oral care. As your child gets slightly older and is able to clean their own teeth it is very important that you try to teach them good habits. Good cleaning techniques will last a lifetime, as will the idea that looking after the teeth is very crucial. Never try and force your child to brush their teeth as this may cause resentment and lead to further dental problems. Instead, try and make it a game or even reward your child for doing it well.

As with all things in life, good oral hygiene is about good education in the developing stages. Learning the importance of dental health early will give your child the best chance of avoiding painful and unpleasant dental conditions in the future, and surely every parent wants that for their child.