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Gum disease and preventive dentistry: How to stop diseased gums with City of Leeds dentists

Monday, April 25th, 2011

In the main there are two different types of dentistry: preventive and curative. The first of these two types is far more preferable because it means that problems are stopped before they have even started. If you think about the choice, it is not really a hard one: prevent an oral condition occurring or undergo treatment once it has happened. I’m sure most people would prefer not to have to undergo treatment.
This is as true for gum disease as it is with other ailments which might affect the mouth. The sad thing about gum disease is that it is very common in the United Kingdom but it is really rather easy to avoid. Gum disease can occur when plaque is left on the gum line of teeth and causes the gums to become inflamed. If you adequately remove the plaque from your teeth then diseased gums shouldn’t be a problem. It is a matter of brushing all of your mouth with care and attention and flossing as well so that plaque cannot stick around between your teeth.
The good news is that gum disease is pretty easy to deal with, especially in its early stage of gingivitis. Brush better and floss, as already suggested, but certain formulated mouth washes can be used too and sometimes a simple course of antibiotics are all that is needed.
Going to see your City of Leeds dentist is crucial in the process of preventive dentistry. They can examine your mouth and observe how well your teeth and gums are doing. They might just notice a subtle change in the way your teeth and gums look and then can advise you how to change your habits to stop gum disease before it gets more serious.

City of Leeds dentists help patients in improving their teeth with expert advice and handy hints

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Everybody wants to know the secrets to looking good because, for better or worse, image is important in the modern world. Hair, clothes and skin play a major part but one thing that people often overlook is how their teeth look. This can have implications for the health of the teeth as well. When you meet a new person or address a meeting of your colleagues, eyes will be drawn to your mouth as you smile and talk so it very important that your teeth look the part, like the rest of you.
By taking simple steps you can make your teeth look fabulous and stay healthy. Brushing properly is, of course, essential. You should use a pea sized amount of fluoride tooth paste on the head of a brush that is comfortable to hold and has a set of good, firm bristles. By brushing for about three minutes at a time, twice a day, you will be going a long way to removing the plaque which can cause teeth to decay. When plaque hardens it becomes tartar which gives your teeth a yellow tint; not an attractive quality most would surely agree.
If you find that staining is ensuing then you can always ask your City of Leeds dentist about the various options available in terms of teeth whitening. This can be administered in the surgery by the dentist or at home via a kit that is not hard to find in supermarkets or pharmacy stores.
Don’t delay in making your teeth look as good as they possibly can. You won’t regret taking the time to do so when you find that you have a smile that you are proud of.

Leeds dentists tell patients to secrets of good oral hygiene habits

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Taking care of your teeth might seem like a daunting business, especially if you have suffered from poor oral hygiene in the past. But don’t be intimidated by it; following a simple set of instructions so that they become habits will help you with maintaining excellent oral hygiene for the rest of your life. Read on to find out more!
Before we even get to brushing and so on, it is important to remember that your oral health is not disconnected from the health of the rest of your body. You ought to be pursuing a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, a balanced diet and minimal amounts of stress. Harmful substances such as excessive alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs should be avoided as a matter of course.
Brush your teeth twice a day and again after meals if you feel it necessary. Use brush which is fit for purpose and has a nice set of firm bristles and a handle which allows to hold it with ease and manipulate the brush in your mouth. Tooth paste containing fluoride is desirable because it helps to strengthen your teeth. Make sure that during your three minutes or so or brushing you are covering all of the areas of your mouth. Don’t overdo it though, as this can damage the enamel on your teeth.
Make sure that you floss as well. This all too often neglected part of oral hygiene is just an important as the other instructions because it helps to remove the plaque from between your teeth. Last and by no means least, you should institute a routine of going to see your Leeds dentist every six months to have your mouth checked over for problems.

Scaling and polishing at City of Leeds dentists: Why you should have it done

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Going to the dentist for a visit every six months or so goes a long way to helping with keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Your mouth is a highly specialised collection of parts which work together to make your life easier. If any one part of it becomes diseased or loses functionality then it can threaten the smooth working of the whole thing. Your dentist is best placed to examine the whole of your mouth so that it stays healthy for you.
But keeping a check on the health of your teeth, gums and tongue is not the only reason to go to the dentist. There are things that your dentist can do in the surgery that you will be unable to do at home. One of these things involves the removal of tartar. You might not have heard of tartar, but you will probably know all about plaque and how that can threaten the health of your mouth. Plaque and tartar are really the same thing, tartar is just the hardened form of plaque.
It is just as damaging as plaque but with the added inconvenience that it cannot be removed by brushing alone with a tooth brush like you do every day at home. By administering a process known as scaling and polishing, your dentist can effectively remove the hardened tartar from your teeth, leaving them free from the threat of dental decay and gum disease that they can cause.
If you are concerned about tartar, talk to your City of Leeds dentist about scaling and polishing in order to get rid of it. An added bonus of the process is that your mouth will look better afterwards too as tartar can give teeth a yellow hue.

City of Leeds dentists help patients out with their flossing techniques

Saturday, April 9th, 2011

You should always make time in your daily routine to take care of your teeth. First thing in the morning and last thing at night are the best times. When you sleep your mouth doesn’t produce much saliva so plaque and bacteria can thrive there. Most people brush their teeth as a matter of course but too many people don’t get around to flossing as well. If you are one of those people then you should consider how you might be endangering the good health of your teeth.
Brushing alone cannot reach every single corner of your mouth where plaque exists. It is crucial that you remove as much plaque as possible though, so that dental decay and gum disease can’t take hold. Plaque causes cavities to form in teeth and gums to become inflamed, with an associated risk of tooth loss if the inflammation is not dealt with.
By flossing you will be removing the plaque from between the teeth where your brush is unable to reach. Flossing can be a little painful to begin with as it can cause small lacerations in the gums between your teeth but this should cease after a few days. If bleeding continues then you should seek advice from your City of Leeds dentist.
The thought of having to remember something else to add to your shopping list might give you a small sense of dread but flossing is eminently worth doing if it saves you from having to go through the problems that are caused by dental decay and gum disease. It is always preferable to avoid these things rather than having to deal with the consequences which can be painful and inconvenient.

City of Leeds dentists advise patients about how to prevent gum disease

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Your gums should be just as important in your mind when you are thinking about taking care of your mouth. They are a greater cause of tooth loss than dental decay itself so it is well worth paying attention to how well you are looking after them. Rather than having to go through the pain and indignity of suffering from gum disease and then having to have it treated, it is best to look after them in the first place to do your best in making sure that gum disease doesn’t occur.
Your primary concern should be plaque, a substance which is produced in the mouth when you eat and drink. Making sure it is removed is not only so that your teeth don’t start to decay; plaque also causes the gums to inflame and gingivitis can result. This is fairly easily dealt with and is common but if it is left to progress it can turn in to periodontitis where the jaw bone itself becomes inflamed.
By brushing and flossing effectively you should be removing the maximum amount of plaque from the mouth where it can harm the gums and cause them to become diseased. You should brush and floss at least twice a day and maybe again if you have eaten a sugary snack or a starchy meal.
Be sure also to visit your dentist every six months so that your mouth can be checked by a professional. Report any problems you think might be developing; it is better to be safe than sorry, even if your dentist says that there is no problem with your gums. Your City of Leeds dentist has all the information about how to prevent gum disease from occurring.

City of Leeds dentists advise that dental problems can affect your general health

Sunday, April 3rd, 2011

We all know how important it is to keep our teeth clean and healthy so that eating, drinking and talking can be undertaken with ease. Brushing and flossing stops plaque building up so that teeth stay free from plaque which can cause them to decay and lead to gum disease. But dental health has implications for the rest of your body too and ought to be seen in those terms. By looking after your teeth you are also looking after your general health.
Conditions like gingivitis can actually affect the general health of the rest of your body. It involves your gums becoming inflamed because of a build up of plaque. Infections from this can enter the blood stream and cause complications for the rest of your body. The same can be said of periodontitis, the more severe form of gum disease where the jaw bones become inflamed. The nerves serving the head and face can become compromised in this case, as with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
If you are experiencing sleep apnea, where you wake up in the night because not enough oxygen is being taken in, this can have an impact on your general health. It can be caused by the muscles at the rear of the mouth relaxing to the point where air stops getting past. The hypertension caused by the lack of quality sleep can heighten the risk of heart attacks in strokes in sufferers.
Keep up the habit of taking good care of your teeth at home and visiting your City of Leeds dentist every six months for a check up and there shouldn’t be any problems. But the fact that dental issues can affect the health of the rest of your body is just another reason to be vigilant.

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.

Improve your teeth with advice from City of Leeds dentists

Friday, March 25th, 2011

Your smile will be one of the first things that someone sees when you are being introduced to them and as such it forms part of the initial impression you will make on them. But having healthy teeth is not just about your looks. It is also vital in ensuring that your mouth is effective and functions as it ought to. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the best ways to keep your teeth healthy.
The most important thing is to brush your teeth in the right way. You should do this at least twice a day and most people choose first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Brushing is done to remove the plaque from your mouth which forms from the food you eat. By using a tooth paste which is fortified with fluoride you can strengthen your teeth’s enamel and guard against cavity formation.
Be sure to brush for about three minutes but not too vigorously as this can damage the enamel that you are aiming to protect. Floss too so that plaque is removed from between your teeth and won’t cause gum disease. This is important because gum disease is actually a leading cause of tooth loss in itself.
Certain activities are best avoided if you want to keep your teeth healthy. Smoking tobacco and drinking too much alcohol can be bad for your mouth and obviously eating a diet which includes less sugary food is desirable to keep your mouth in good shape.
If you are worried about the health of your teeth you can talk to your City of Leeds dentist about it at the six month check ups which should also form part of your routine.

Central Leeds dentists offer effective diagnosis and treatment for tooth and gum disease

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Taking good care of your teeth helps you to eat, drink and talk in comfort. These are activities which you can easily take for granted but if you find that you suddenly suffer from tooth or gum disease then you might not be able to carry them out as easily as you are used to. This is why it is vital that you take excellent care of your teeth in the manner that dentists recommend.
Tooth and gum diseases are primarily brought on by plaque building up in the mouth. Plaque is a substance that is formed when you eat or drink, especially substances which have a lot of sugar and or starch in them. It attacks the enamel which normally protects teeth and leaves them open to decay. Once the enamel is broken down then small holes can form in the teeth, called cavities.
Gum disease occurs when plaque on the gum line of teeth causes gums to become inflamed and reddened. If it is left unchecked the most basic form known as gingivitis can turn into periodontitis where the bones holding teeth in place become inflamed. This often leads to teeth being lost in sufferers as the gums become unfit to hold teeth in place anymore.
You can guard against tooth and gum disease by taking proper care of your teeth at home. By brushing twice a day and flossing too you should remove the vast majority of plaque in your mouth and give your teeth and gums a fighting chance. Your Central Leeds dentist plays a vital part in this too and by visiting him or her regularly they can spot any disease in the early stages so they can be effectively treated.