Nearly 9 out of 10 adults suffer from gum disease at some stage in their life, which means it is very important to look after your teeth properly. Dentists always recommend that you brush and floss twice a day, every day and have check up appointments every six months. But the statistics would suggests that we are probably not good at heeding this advice we have probably heard hundreds of times throughout our lives. This makes it doubly important to start looking after your teeth and encouraging your children to do the same for life of good dental health.

Brushing your teeth twice a day for three minutes helps to remove plaque, the filmy substance responsible for tooth decay and gum disease. If allowed to remain, plaque releases acids, which gradually erode the protective layer of tooth enamel and irritate gum tissue. This will eventually lead to infection in both instances, the cause of more complicated and painful dental problems.

Central London dentists recommend that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head so that you can reach more areas of the mouth without causing any damage to the gums. Try and brush your teeth with the brush at a forty-five degree angle to the gums in order to effectively clean them.

Flossing is almost as important as brushing as it removes plaque and decaying food from small areas between the teeth and around their base. By doing these two oral hygiene tasks well each day and seeing the dentist regularly, and most importantly, sticking to it, you will be protecting your teeth for many years to come.

It’s a little known fact but gum disease is responsible for more lost teeth than tooth decay, yet so little focus is put on keeping our gums clean when compared to our teeth. Both varieties of gum disease, the milder gingivitis and the more serious periodontitis, are caused by a build up of plaque on the gums, releasing acid and gradually causing an infection.

We’re all aware of plaque but few of us realise exactly what it is. It is made up of a collection of bacteria and food matter that clings to the teeth and gums like a film. Gradually releasing acid from the decaying food and bacteria, it breaks down tooth enamel causing cavities and eroding gum tissue exposing it to infection. Gum disease is very common in the UK with over three quarters of adults experiencing gum disease at some point.

Gingivitis is the mild form of the disease which can be treated with more effective cleaning and some minor treatment from the dentist. Improved brushing and most importantly flossing will usually sort it out, but if plaque is allowed to continue to attack the gums it may worsen, eventually becoming periodontitis which is much more difficult to treat. In serious cases, periodontitis needs to be treated with anti-biotics, surgical tissue removal and even hospitalisation. It also commonly results in tooth loss and the spread of infection. With the recent research indicating a link between gum disease and heart disease it is important to prevent gum disease reaching these proportions. City of London dentists are trained to treat all forms of gum disease but can also be integral in its prevention with regular check ups.

Making sure your teeth are clean and healthy is very important, but it is important never to forget how important it is to look after your gums. Gum disease is responsible for more tooth loss in the UK than tooth decay and gum disease has recently been established to be a major contributing factor to heart disease and even strokes.

Keeping your gums clean is a simple matter of removing plaque. Plaque is a filmy substance that sticks to teeth releasing acid which erodes tooth enamel causing decay. It also sticks to gums destroying tissue and causing infections we know as gum disease. Most gum disease is mild and can be treated with improved cleaning but if it becomes the more serious periodontitis it can require tissue removal and hospital treatment.

The gums can be cleaned easily by angling the toothbrush at a forty–five degree angle when brushing. This gently clears gums of plaque and food debris which cause disease. Flossing below the gum line also helps to remove bacteria and food trapped in small pockets between the gums and teeth.

It is also important to make regular visits to a Central London dentist who can examine teeth for the first signs of gum disease and carry out thorough cleaning. Don’t get caught out by gum disease, as it can be a painful and unpleasant experience and one that is easily avoided.

A Central London dentist has recently given advice on the prevention and treatment of gum disease. Tooth loss is generally thought to be due to the tooth simply coming loose, but in most cases it is actually due to a periodontal disease. This is an advanced form of Gingivitis. Is it preventable? A Central London dentist recently advised that gum disease is a natural product of modern living, the food we eat is full of chemicals that are necessary to keep it fresher for longer. The sugar, fat and salt content of our diet, even a well balanced diet, can affect our gums and create the breeding grounds for gum disease. It isn’t preventable entirely, but with a good healthy approach to oral hygiene and regular dental checks; we can lessen the burden. Removing the causes of the disease is a must to keep the mouth as disease free as possible. Plaque is the main contender and the bacteria it contains is in everything we put in our mouths. Keeping the levels down to a minimum will ensure a lot less gum disease. The disease will eat away at the base of the tooth and prematurely cause a breakage from the bone. It also causes the gums to shrink; gums are a protective layer over the teeth that guard against damage to the most vulnerable part of the tooth; which is the base. In losing the gums to a disease like Gingivitis it is not only painful, but in most cases irreversible, it really is a case of prevention rather that cure because there isn’t one. The best a dentist can do is to slow down the process, the rest is really up to us as the owner of teeth, and prevention is always better than cure.

Gum disease is the inflammation and infection of the gum tissue that anchors teeth to the jaw. It is a very common condition affecting nearly half of all adults but it can be treated easily if caught early by a dentist or dental hygienist.

The two main types of gum disease are gingivitis and the more serious periodontitis. Gingivitis is when the gums are attacked by plaque built up after eating. Plaque can be removed by correct brushing and flossing and can also be removed in harder forms by the dentist. Periodontitis follows on from gingivitis and causes infections in pockets where the gum has begun to come away from the tooth. It causes gum tissue to die and shrink away from the tooth exposing sensitive areas of the teeth and causing decay. Periodontitis is not reversible, as gum tissue cannot be made to grow back.

Symptoms of gum disease include sore or irritated gums and occasional bleeding, and shrinking tissue in more serious cases. It can be treated by a process called scaling or in cases of periodontitis by gum surgery. However, the best form of treatment is prevention. Keeping teeth and gums clean and free from plaque helps to prevent gum disease in the first instance and regular visits to a Central London dentist can help to tackle the first signs of any problems. Dentists or hygienists can also show you the correct way to brush and floss that will keep your gums disease free.

One of the most common dental concerns is gum disease, which is also known in its less serious form as gingivitis and more seriously as periodontitis. Most people will probably suffer from mild gingivitis at some point and not even realise it. Effective brushing and cleaning will help to beat the infection and prevent it from returning. For patients who have poor standards of oral hygiene and do not keep up regular six-month appointments with the dentist, gum disease can become very serious. Severe cases of periodontitis involve bleeding gums, tooth loss and can even result in the infection spreading to other parts of the body, including the heart.

Treatment for gum disease can range from increased cleaning, to antibiotics and in serious cases even tissue removal (also known as a gingivectomy). But of course the best treatment is prevention. By taking a few minutes each day to brush thoroughly and floss you will be able to keep your teeth and gums healthy and free from infection. Flossing is particularly useful for fighting gum infection as it cleans below the gum line where it is hard to clean with a brush.

If you are concerned about possible gum disease or if you have unexplained bleeding gums, make an appointment to see a London dentist who will be able to conduct an examination as part of a check up. The dentist will also be able to offer the best advice about effective cleaning methods. Healthy gums mean healthy teeth as the old adage goes, but they can also be indicative of your health in general so it really is worthwhile to keep them on good condition.

One of the most common dental problems is gum disease, also known as gingivitis. This can be an irritating, or at times, very painful condition caused by an infection of the gums. If the infection is not treated it can lead to bleeding gums, tooth loss and further health complications such as heart disease.

As with all dental health, the first line of defence against gum disease is prevention. By brushing teeth for three minutes twice a day, with an appropriate brush and in the correct way you can significantly help to stop gum disease developing. A close second to brushing comes flossing. Flossing once a day not only cleans the areas between the teeth that regular brushes can’t reach, but also cleans below the gumline, which is a notorious place for the build up of plaque.

Your lifestyle can also affect how healthy your gums are. People who drink excessively or use tobacco products are far more likely to develop gum disease. Tobacco seriously affects the gums ability to heal themselves so it can be a major contributing factor to the onset of gingivitis.

These preventative measures help to control the build up of plaque, which is a bacteria rich, filmy substance that covers the surface of the teeth and gums and causes decay. If left, plaque turns into tartar, which also causes gum disease and is incredibly hard to remove. If gum disease is allowed to develop it becomes a more serious strain called periodontitis which can lead to tooth loss and further infection.

If a dentist discovers gingivitis, or periodontitis, he may prescribe anti-biotics to fight the infection. If the infection is too far developed they may be forced to remove some of the gum tissue in a process called a gingivectomy, or even extract the tooth itself.

It is also important to make regular six-month visits to your dentist. They will be able to spot the early onset of gum disease and treat it before it becomes a more serious problem. Gum disease can cause years of pain and costly dental procedures if not prevented or treated quickly. Make an appointment to see your central London dentist and have yourself examined for gum disease as soon as possible.

Sometimes when a person smiles or talks there is a visible excess of pinkish gum tissue. This excess gum tissue display is more commonly known as a ‘gummy smile’. The most recent figures show that around 7 per cent of men and 14 per cent of women suffer from excess gum display when fully smiling. The condition is associated with a large upper jaw, short upper lip or an increased forward position of the two front teeth.
There are several treatments available for gummy smiles. It is most commonly corrected by periodontal surgery, but other corrective treatments include orthodontic treatment or jaw surgery. In some instances all three are used in combination.
Orthodontic treatment is usually used when the patient is still developing. Lasting one to three years, depending on the severity of the problem and the rate of growth of the patients face, orthodontic treatments are made form ceramic and metal and can either be removable or fixed. The appliances gently apply force to the required area which will lessen the visibility if the gums.
Periodontal surgery usually involves gingival reshaping or gum contouring. By removing some of the excess gum tissue with a laser it will increase the length of the crown and eliminate the gummy smile effect.
Some dentists will also consider repositioning the lips to make the gummy smile less obvious. As with all dental treatments it very much depends on the individual patient. If you think you suffer from a gummy smile consult a London dentist who will be able to inform you of the best methods of treatment.

Preventing and treating gum disease is increasingly important. Effective treatment of gum disease can help protect you against tissue damage, tooth decay and even tooth loss.

The first line of defence in the treatment of gum disease is prevention. Brushing you teeth in the correct way twice a day and flossing at least once a day can significantly help reduce the chance of gum disease. A regular check up with a London dentist at least once every six months is also a necessary requirement. Even if a trip to the dentist might be bottom of your list of priorities, it really will save you further treatments down the line. Avoiding using any kind of tobacco products is also key to maintaining healthy gums as tobacco can prevent the gum’s natural ability to heal itself.

All of these preventive measures will help fight plaque, the filmy layer of bacteria that is responsible for tooth decay and gum disease. But there may be occasions when the gum disease is to far advanced to be combated by brushing and flossing alone. Gingivitis, the medical name for mild gum disease can easily become periodontitis if not treated in time and correctly.

In these instances it will often be necessary for a dental hygienist to physically remove plaque and tartar using a process called scaling. Your dentist may even prescribe anti-biotics to help fight the infection, and in extreme circumstances it may be necessary to perform a gingivectomy (removal of gum tissue) or even an extraction.

Gum disease can be a serious problem that can cause months’ and even years’ of painful and aggravating procedures, not to mention stress. While treatment always exists for serious cases, how much easier is to remember these three easy steps to avoid it all together: Brush, floss and see a dentist regularly. A London dentist will be happy to remind you.

Bleeding gums caused by poor dental hygiene can end up causing heart disease according to health professionals.

People who don’t brush their teeth correctly, or who don’t floss regularly enough, often suffer from bleeding gums. It is thought that this might provide an entry to the bloodstream for the hundreds of millions of bacteria that call your mouth their home. This could result in an increased chance of heart disease and even a heart attack.

The mouth is one of the dirtiest places in the human body when it comes to bacteria. Allowing the bacteria into your blood stream from the mouth can be very dangerous. Once in the blood it sticks to the platelets, the cells responsible for coagulating to heal cuts and wounds. Once bacteria have attached themselves to the platelets it can cause blood vessels to become blocked which is obviously bad for the heart.

The only treatment for this kind of bacterial blockage is an aggressive course of antibiotics. But as bacteria become ever more resistant to modern antibiotic medicines this form of treatment is becoming less and less effective.

The one sure-fire way of beating this form of heart disease is prevention. Maintaining a healthy standard of oral hygiene can limit the number of dangerous bacteria in the mouth and ensure that they have no pathway into the bloodstream. Dentists in Central London recommend brushing teeth at least twice a day to help prevent the build up of plaque, the filmy substance around the teeth that is the breeding ground for bacteria. Flossing at least once a day can also help to destroy plaque, and kill bacteria.

Inadequate brushing or flossing can lead to cavities or gum disease (gingivitis) which can cause weakened gums to bleed and recede. Shutting this door once and for all could save your life and help you have a healthy heart, and for a few extra minutes a day, that really can’t be bad.