Bad breath or halitosis can be a caused for people to stay away from you. Covering your mouth every time you speak can be tiring and degrading. Good news is, fresh breath is not that hard to achieve. You just have to understand what causes bad breath and to follow some tips on how to maintain fresh breath.
The bacteria that live in the whitish coating on your tongue’s posterior portion are the major reason why you could lose your fresh breath. A secondary cause of halitosis is the bacteria that could gather in other areas of your mouth.
Here are some tips from London dentists on how to maintain fresh breath:
• Always practice and maintain good oral hygiene. A good oral hygiene can eliminate the bacteria that are the main cause of bad breath.
• A good oral hygiene consists of brushing your teeth two to three times daily, flossing once a day, using an oral rinse and regular check up with your dentists. Using sprays, breath mints, gums and mouthwash may only give you a limited time of having fresh breath.
• Avoid dry mouth as it promotes bad breath. Drink plenty of water regularly, stop smoking and stay away from alcohol.
• Brush your teeth after eating protein-rich foods such as cheese and fish. Protein is said to contribute to bad breath.
• Clean your dentures regularly using antiseptic solutions.
• If symptoms of bad breath still persist despite taking the necessary steps to maintain fresh breath, consult your London dentist. Halitosis can be a sign of faulty dental work, gum disease or other medical problems.

Teeth restoration need not be time-consuming. With CEREC technology, your London dentist could custom-design and fit a new veneer, crown, inlay or onlay in just a single visit. Gone are the days when you have to wait for two weeks to complete a teeth restoration procedure.
A dental restoration product, CEREC allows your dentist to create a ceramic dental restoration material. This material contracts and expands in response to changes in temperature.
CEREC, which stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, utilizes computer assisted technologies such as CAD/CAM and three-dimensional photography.
Following is a step by step procedure on how the CEREC technology works:
• The tooth preparation will be done by your dentist, similar to the preparation done before fitting a veneer or crown.
• Your dentist will use a digital image to create an impression of your tooth.
• The digital image of your tooth will then be converted into a three-dimensional computerized model. This computerized model will be used as basis for the design of your tooth restoration.
• Once the new tooth design has met the satisfaction of your dentist, the data will be sent to a milling machine. This milling machine will manufacture your tooth from a special ceramic block.
• The ceramic block comes in various shades and colours. The colour of your restored tooth will be matched to your surrounding teeth.
• Your London dentist would then glaze or polish your new crown or veneer. Lastly, the newly-made restoration will be placed and cemented on your tooth.

Want to have the kind of smile that celebrities have? Try Invisalign. A revolutionary orthodontic appliance, Invisalign is designed to correct misshapen teeth and close gaps between teeth. These invisible aligners or braces as they are popularly known, is a great improvement from metal-wire braces traditionally used in orthodontics.
London dentists use computerised and three-dimensional modelling technologies to produce transparent aligners that are touted to give you straight, natural-looking teeth.
Compared with metal-wire braces that cause irritation and inflammation of soft tissues and gums, Invisalign only causes slight discomfort during the initial use. And Invisalign does not have the unsightly look of metal-wire braces because it is transparent.
Maintaining your regular, good oral hygiene is easy with Invisalign because you can remove it when you eat and when you brush or floss your teeth.
The procedure for placing the Invisalign is easy;
• Upon consultation, your dentist will make an assessment of your teeth alignment. He will make a moulding or impression of your teeth using a dental putty. He will then photograph your teeth and smile from various angles.
• Using a CT scanner, a three-dimensional model of your teeth will be created.
• The three-dimensional model will be used to simulate the movement of your teeth from their current position to the one that will give you a straight, natural looking smile.
• The computer simulation will be used as basis to customize your aligners.
• Your aligners should be worn for at least 22 hours a day and replaced every two weeks.
• Your London dentist will regularly monitor the progress or movement of your teeth. The success of your treatment will depend largely on how well you comply with your dentist’s instructions.

Despite the controversy surrounding the application of amalgam fillings because of its mercury content, many people are still going to their London dentists to have their teeth repaired with amalgam fillings.

Amalgam fillings consist of liquid mercury, silver and shavings of tin, copper or zinc.

Why are amalgam fillings still preferred over white and composite fillings?

• Fights bacteria. Amalgam is bacteriostatic, hence it prevents bacterial growth.
• Cost effective. Amalgam fillings cost much lower than white fillings which are not as durable.
• Strongest material. Amalgam has been proven to be stronger than any of the newer fillings.
• Easy application. Amalgam is easier to prepare and insert into cavities than composite fillings, hence will not take much of the patient’s time.
• Adaptable. The dentist can easily change amalgam application techniques to adapt to the needs of the patient.
• Durable. Amalgam fillings last much longer than composite fillings.

Besides, amalgam has been in use as dental fillings for the last 200 years. The British Dental Association and other U.S. dental associations have released a statement that amalgam fillings are good and safe materials to repair decayed teeth. Their arguments include the following:

• Amalgam fillings do not contain free mercury.
• A person needs 265 to 310 amalgam fillings to feel even just a slight effect of mercury toxicity.
• Mercury, when combined with other materials in a dental amalgam, changes its chemical nature and becomes inert.
• There are no controlled studies that have linked amalgam fillings to any specific medical problem.

The only thing some people do not like about amalgam fillings is the silver colour, but if you are more concerned about durability and long-lasting prevention against bacteria, you should call your London dentist and schedule an appointment for amalgam fillings.

Do you want to have a celebrity smile? It is possible with smile makeover that London dentists can offer.
A smile makeover involves facial rejuvenation, dental or cosmetic procedures to improve your smile. A smile makeover is an individual choice. One smile makeover may be different to another.
For example, one person may want to improve the length or shape of his teeth. Another may want to have celebrity-like white and straight teeth. A smile makeover may also mean to other people as replacement of dental amalgam fillings with teeth whitening and composite.
Whatever reason you may have to undergo a smile makeover, there are various cosmetic dentistry options for you to choose from to improve your smile:
• Repair of broken or chipped tooth – the treatment options include porcelain veneers, cosmetic bonding and porcelain crowns. The extent of the damage of your teeth will determine the kind of treatment that you will need.
• Straightening of crooked teeth – conventional orthodontics or Invisalign aligners or braces are recommended treatment for crooked or misalign teeth. For fast solution to this type of tooth problem, porcelain veneers may be considered.
• Replacement of missing teeth – a smile makeover may involve replacing existing restorations. This can be done by dental implants, denture or dental bridge.
• Closing gaps between teeth – this can be remedied with porcelain veneers such as da Vinci or Lumineers. Your London dentist may also recommend the use of orthodontics to move your teeth and close the gaps. Some orthodontic appliances include Invisalign braces, Damon braces, lingual braces or Inman aligner.
Whatever cosmetic dentistry option you will choose, you can be sure that a smile makeover will completely change your life.