London cosmetic dentistry

Archive for the ‘Dental Disorders’ Category

Concerned about central sleep apnea? See a Central London dentist

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Sleep apnea is a condition that causes interruption of breathing during sleep. Many sufferers of sleep apnea are completely unaware that they have to condition because it happens when they sleep.

There are two variants of sleep apnea that are caused by different areas of the body. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) occurs when the soft palate at the back of the throat collapses, temporarily blocking the airway. This causes a temporary cessation of breathing that will eventually right itself. This can happen many times a night, several nights of the week and can be the underlying cause of stress and anxiety during waking hours. It can also be very difficult for partners and loved ones to live with because of the associated noise. OSA can be treated with various appliances fitted to prevent the collapse of the soft palate.

The other kind of sleep apnea is called Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) and is caused when the respiratory centre of the brain omits to send a message to the lungs to breathe. This can be a very serious condition and is often indicative that the patient may be suffering from another serious health complaint. Because the area affecting CSA is the brain, it may be a sign that you are suffering from a condition such as Encephalitis or Neurodegenrative illness that is affecting your brain.

If you or a loved one is suffering or thinks they are suffering from any kind of interrupted sleep caused by cessation of breathing it is vital to make an appointment with a Central London dentist. They will be able to determine whether your sleep apnea is central or obstructive and put you in touch with the right people whatever the outcome.

Secret to getting rid of bad breath revealed by City of London dentist

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

The fact that you’re reading this obviously means that you are concerned about bad breath. It can certainly be a very worrying condition. Not only is it quite unpleasant and embarrassing but it is also very hard to now if you are suffering unless you have the misfortune to be told by someone else.

The fact is that there is no secret magical remedy to getting rid of bad breath apart from good old-fashioned common sense. The one-treatment cure promised by various internet marketing campaigns and oral health products may be misleading you. According to City of London dentists the only real way to get rid of bad breath is to improve your oral hygiene routine. This involves spending more time on effective brushing and flossing.

Most cases of bad breath are caused by bacteria in the mouth, releasing nasty smelling sulphur compounds that are then carried out on the breath. These bacteria live on food particles trapped in the teeth or in the groves of the tongue. Oral products such as mouthwash may kill the majority of this bacteria but they also destabilise saliva production which causes the problem to return. Brushing and flossing, and even tongue cleaning, remove bacteria and food naturally but also allow the mouth to function as normal to keep the remaining bacteria at a stable level. Cit of London dentists advise that you should brush your teeth for three minutes twice a day and also floss at least once a day. Drinking water after meals can also help to keep bacteria and food debris to a minimum. There you have it, no magic solution, just a little bit more hard work.

Avoid bad breath with hygiene advice from Central London dentist

Saturday, February 6th, 2010

Bad breath is one of those personal hygiene problems that can be really unpleasant. Like body odour, it seems like everyone else is aware of the problem but the sufferer them self and being stuck in a confined space with someone with bad breath is an experience we all want to avoid. One of the major problems with bad breath is that it can be very difficult to know when you are suffering from it, unless someone tells you, and that’s never an easy thing to either do or hear. But you can take action against bad breath by simply following a few dental hygiene rules.

Over 90 per cent of all cases of bad breath are caused by poor standards of oral hygiene leading to bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria build up on decaying food matter trapped between teeth and in the grooves of the tongue. This decays releasing a nasty smelling sulphurous compound, which is carried out on the breath. This is the source of the condition also known commonly as halitosis. This bacteria can be easily removed by effective brushing and flossing. Brushing twice a day at least, with a suitable brush and paste helps to remove bacteria and trapped food that cause bad breath. Flossing is equally important in removing the food and bacteria from parts of the mouth hard to reach with a brush such as between teeth and below the gum line.

It may also be a good idea to use either a tongue cleaner or an inter-dental brush to remove even more bacteria. By following this advice and also remembering to see a Central London dentist every six months for additional cleaning you can easily help prevent bad breath and live your life confident in the knowledge you are not the person everyone is talking about.

Central London dentist cures subconscious teeth grinding

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Grinding your teeth during sleep may be the result of stress in your life, that is manifesting itself subconsciously during the night. Alternatively it might be due to an interruption in bite caused by a change in the position of teeth. This is very common for patients who have recently lost teeth in an accident or due to decay.

Subconscious teeth grinding is known as bruxism and can result in painful jaw conditions called TMJ. It can also grind down tooth enamel causing major dental problems and very painful toothaches. When the enamel of a tooth is lost it can expose the very sensitive part of the tooth to the extremes of temperature experienced when eating and drinking. It can also expose the central part of the tooth to infection.

Bruxism can also be a major reason behind bad sleep and stress which in turn makes the situation worse. It is important therefore to see a City of London dentist if you or a partner grinds their teeth during sleep. Dentists can design and fit special mouth guards that prevent teeth grinding during sleep. They may also be able to restore your bite so that there is no muscular stress causing the grinding.

Bruxism or teeth grinding can be a hard and unpleasant habit to break but dentists are there to help you get the pain-free nights sleep you deserve.

Bad breath beaten by London dentist and natural dental hygiene methods

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Most cases of bad breath, as many as 90 per cent in fact, are caused by poor standards of oral hygiene allowing bacteria and food debris to build up in gaps in the teeth and on the tongue. This bacteria then starts to dissolve releasing sulphurous odours into the mouth that are carried out on the breath.

Many products promise an end to this odour by killing the bacteria using an antiseptic. While this undoubtedly kills the bacteria it is also likely to cause side effects like dry mouth and dehydration. This can lead to an underproduction of saliva, the body’s natural defence against bacteria and bad breath. This means that when the bacteria return it may be more of a problem.

The only sure fire way to beat bad breath is to avoid using outside help and improve your standards of oral hygiene to give your own defences the best chance of beating the bacteria. Millions of bacteria live in the mouth, some good, some bad, but effective brushing and flossing helps to remove the bad bacteria that cause the smell. Other tools such as a tongue scraper or inter-dental brush can help to remove trapped food and bacteria form difficult to reach places in the teeth and mouth.

By simply controlling the bacteria and not prohibiting the production of saliva you can get rid of bad breath without using nasty chemicals or mouthwashes. A London dentist can offer instruction about the most effective ways to clean teeth and which utensils will be best for your mouth.

Improve your life with bad breath treatment from Central London dentist

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

Few things are less attractive to members of the opposite sex than bad breath. It seems to signal a complete unawareness and total disregard for personal hygiene. Although, the fact is that we have probably all suffered from bad breath at one time or another. Many people think that bad breath is caused by internal digestion problems but this is only true in a fraction of cases. Over 95 per cent of cases of bad breath are caused by bacteria in the mouth and can easily be cured with better oral hygiene.

Bad breath is mostly caused by decaying food matter trapped between the teeth or in the grooves of the tongue. Because the spaces between the teeth are hard to clean with a regular brush, food can get lodged there. If this happens, bacteria begin to break down the food, releasing nasty smelling sulphurous compounds, which are carried out on our breath. The same process happens on the grooves of the tongue where it is too spongy to be cleaned effectively with a brush.

The way to deal with these problems is to remember to floss and use a specially designed tongue cleaner. Flossing reaches the parts of the teeth that normal brushes can’t. The wire goes in the tiny spaces between teeth to free up lodged food and remove plaque. A tongue cleaner or scraper removes some of the millions of bacteria that live on the moist, warm surface.

If you or a loved one suffer from bad breath, it is always a good idea to see a Central London dentist who can offer advice on more effective cleaning and isolate the exact source of the problem. There is no need to suffer in silence or live with the anxiety of bad breath any longer. By making a few simple changes and visiting a dentist you could have clean fresh breath all the time.

Relief from sleep apnea at London dentist

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

The word ‘apnea’ comes from the Greek for ‘without breath’, so in its most basic form sleep apnea means ‘sleep without breath’. It occurs in three forms called obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive is by far the most common form of the condition but in all cases the condition means that people stop breathing repeatedly during the night, often for a minute or longer.

Obstructive sleep apnea, known as OSA, occurs when the airway is blocked by the collapse of soft tissue at the back of the throat preventing breathing. Central sleep apnea happens because the brain omits to send a signal to the lungs to breathe. This is caused by a malfunction in the central respiratory area of the brain. The brain will usually kick start the breathing after a certain point but it can result in disrupted and poor sleep.

Sleep apnea is a surprisingly common condition but sufferers are often completely unaware that there is anything wrong because it happens when they are unconscious. Various factors make the condition more likely such as being overweight and male but it can happen to anyone of any age and is not uncommon in children.

Untreated apnea can result in high blood pressure, cardiovascular problems and can have serious effects on the quality of life of sufferers. Treatments vary depending on the cause but for obstructive apnea, London dentists can make appliances that keep the airways open during the night. If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, make an appointment to see a London dentist to discuss your symptoms.

City of London dentist successfully treats sleep apnea

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs during sleep where the patient actually stops breathing. This can happen hundreds of times throughout the night. Even more incredibly is the fact that most people who suffer from sleep apnea rarely know they suffer from the condition. Most people only become aware when they are informed by a family member or friend.

Not to be confused with simple snoring, which is a sound caused by breathing during sleep, sleep apnea is the actual cessation of breathing which often causes a patient to make choking noises. There are two main types of sleep apnea that stem from very different reasons. The first is Obstructive Sleep apnea, or OSA, which occurs when the airways are blocked by a collapsing palate at the back of the throat. The other, far less common kind of sleep apnea is not cause by any physical obstruction. It occurs when the part of the brain responsible for respiration stops sending messages to the lungs to breathe.

There are a number of factors that can increase the risk of suffering from sleep apnea. Being a male and overweight will largely increase the chances of suffering from sleep apnea. Age can also have an impact, with the majority of patients being over the age of 40. Genetic disposition and large tonsils can also be contributing factors.

Sleep apnea is not itself dangerous but can be the underlying cause of a number of other health concerns. Hypertension and stress can occur as the direct result of sleep apnea. There is also research that suggests that sleep apnea may be a significant factor in causing patients to have strokes and heart attacks. Research has also shown that children who suffer from sleep apnea often struggle with schoolwork and attention span generally.

Dentists can play an important part in the treatment of sleep apnea. Different patients respond differently to different treatments but one of the most successful is the application of a mouthpiece to keep the palate open at all times during sleep. If you or someone you know suffers from sleep apnea, make an appointment to see a City of London dentist and you may be able to get a good night’s sleep for the first time in a while.

Sleep apnea combated by oral appliance from City of London dentist

Saturday, October 10th, 2009

Sleep apnea is often confused with, or passed off as, simply snoring. This is not the case. Snoring is the noise associated with breathing during sleep, whereas sleep apnea is actually the sound of someone choking after having stopped breathing. Incredibly 90 per cent of sufferers from sleep apnea have no idea that they have the condition. Those that know, only know because perhaps a partner, relative or friend has told them so. It can be very serious, and sufferers can stop breathing as much as one hundred times in a single night.

There are two main types of sleep apnea that have different causes. The most common form is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea, also known as OSA, which is caused when the soft tissue in the throat collapses and blocks the airways during sleep. The other type of sleep apnea involves no form of physical blockage but occurs when the brain stops sending messages to the muscles telling them to breathe. This malfunction occurs in the respiratory control centre of the brain and is known as Central Sleep Apnea.

While sleep apnea can affect anybody, of any age at any time, there are some factors which may make it more likely that you may have the condition. Patients who are overweight, over the age of forty and male are all at a significantly greater risk of developing sleep apnea. Other patients who have large tonsils or who suffer from a genetic pre-disposition to the disease are also at risk.

One of the most worrying things about sleep apnea is that it can be the underlying cause of several other conditions such as hypertension and strokes. If the sleep apnea is unknown it can make in very difficult to diagnose these other conditions. Even more worrying Is that sleep apnea can be the cause of heart failure should it place an excessive strain on the body.

Other research into the condition has found that children who suffer fro sleep apnea are far more likely to be underperforming at school and in every day activities.

Dentists can play a very important role in the treatment of sleep apnea. Since many forms of the condition are caused by malfunctioning muscles in the mouth and throat, a dentist may be able to fit an oral appliance that prevents this from occurring. A City of London dentist will be able to talk through with you your symptoms and assess whether an appliance can help you beat your sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea cured by appliance from London dentist

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Sleep apnea is a fairly serious sleeping disorder that is caused when a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep. People who suffer from sleep apnea actually stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, as many as hundreds of times a night. Sleep apnea is often confused with snoring which is not the case. Snoring is a noise caused by breathing during sleep but sleep apnea is the actual cessation of breathing that causes choking noises. One of the truly amazing facts about sleep apnea is that over 90 per cent of sufferers have no idea they have the condition. Those that do know only do so because perhaps a partner has told them.

There are two main types of sleep apnea. The most common is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (or OSA) and is caused by a blockage of the airways by the collapsing soft tissue at the back of the throat during sleep. The other type of sleep apnea is Central Sleep Apnea which occurs, not like OSA when the airway is blocked, but when the brain does not send signals to the muscles to breathe because of a malfunction or instability in the respiratory control center.

Sleep apnea can affect anybody, of any age at any time but there are a number of high risk factors. Being male, overweight or over the age of forty all significantly increase the risk of suffering form sleep apnea. Large tonsils or simply a genetic dispositon to the disease are also key factors.

Sleep apnea can be the underlying cause of a number of physiological and psychological conditions. Hypertension and strokes have been attributed to sleep apnea and more worrying for sufferers is the terrifying prospect of heart failure or attack. Less serious but no less worrying is recent research that sleep apnea is often responsible for underperformance of children at school and in everyday activities.

Dentists play a very important role in the treatment of sleep apnea. Although each patient responds to treatment differently, dental appliances such as lower jaw adjusters and other oral devices have been very successful in treating all kinds of sleep apnea. If you suffer from sleep apnea (or think you might) consult a London dentist who will be able to offer advice on how best to treat the disease and see if an oral appliance can work for you.