Plaque is not just a bothersome substance when it comes to teeth. It also has a profound effect on gums when it is exposed to them. As such, taking the right care of your mouth is doubly important because it means not just saving your teeth from erosion but also stopping gum disease. Often misunderstood, gum disease can cause teeth to be lost and is something that it is worth doing your best to side step if possible.

The good news is that gum disease is pretty easy to avoid if you follow the simple processes of maintaining good oral hygiene. The thing to remember is that plaque left on the gum line of teeth will cause the gums to become inflamed. Bear this in mind when brushing so that you are removing plaque from those particular areas of teeth as well. But make sure that you are not over compensating and brushing too hard because this can damage the gums.

Flossing is vital too because plaque, not to mention food debris can easily hide in the gaps between teeth. Once there it can do immense damage, not only to teeth but to the gums also. Regular brushing is unlikely to be able to remove the plaque and debris from the tight gaps between teeth and, without flossing, the plaque there can start to cause the inflammation that heralds gum disease. By pulling medicated dental floss between your teeth you will be doing the best job to remove plaque from those sensitive areas.

Your City of London dentist will tell you that healthy gums are a shade of pink. Any reddening or swelling should be reported to your dentist immediately.

A fact that may surprise many people is that gum disease actually accounts for more cases of tooth loss than the decay of teeth themselves. The real tragedy that is the backdrop to that fact is that gum disease is easily avoidable by following a simple set of advice and staying in a situation of good communication with your dentist.

In understanding the causes of gum disease, one can go a long way towards stopping it from happening. Just like the decay of your teeth, gums are damaged by being over exposed to plaque. It causes the gums to become inflamed and reddened and to feel rather sore as a result. This stage is known as gingivitis but if things get progressively worse, this can develop into periodontitis where the gums begin to recede as the inflammation spreads to the jaw bone too.

Brushing your teeth well and using a brush with firm bristles should remove most of the plaque from your mouth but it is vital that you floss as well. This is because plaque does not only live on the surfaces of teeth, it will also prevail in the small, tight gaps between teeth. Flossing is the only way to remove it from these gaps and by doing so you will significantly reduce the chances of developing gum disease.

At your regular dental check ups with your Central London dentist, the signs of early gum disease can easily be spotted thanks to the thorough examination that you will be subject to. Usually your dentist will simply remind you to floss but if the problem is a lot worse then more drastic action might be needed.

It is teeth that tend to grab most of the headlines when it comes to dentistry. But this is changing as the public realise that they need to take just as much care over their gums as their teeth. This recognition is timely as gum disease is a real problem amongst adults in the United Kingdom and accounts for more cases of teeth being lost than actual tooth decay.

This is hardly surprising when you think about it. Gums are essentially what hold teeth in place, with help from the jaw bone too of course. Yet they can become diseased in much the same way that teeth can become unhealthy. The prime culprit in both cases is the plaque that is formed when you eat and drink. If it is not adequately cleared from the gums then they will lose their health and there will be an impact on your mouth.

Initially gum disease can be diagnosed because of slight reddening and feelings of sensitivity when substances that are hot or cold are consumed. In advances stages then the gums will be far from the pink colour that indicates excellent health, instead they will turn a fierce hue of red and begin to recede, giving the effect that teeth are lengthening.

The best way to combat gum disease is not only to brush as normal but also to make sure that are flossing too. Flossing is a vital activity that removes the plaque from the places where tooth brushes are simply unable to reach: between your teeth. In the early stages of gum disease (called gingivitis) this is probably all that your City of London dentist will advise and the condition is quite reversible. But once things have progressed and periodontitis takes hold, tooth loss becomes a great possibility and more drastic action might be needed.

As all of the different parts of your mouth work together to stay healthy and retain high levels of functionality, it is not a good idea to neglect one part of the mouth. Doing so will have repercussions for the general health of the mouth. This is the case with your gums because failing to keep them healthy can actually negatively affect the health of your whole mouth.

Gums are sensitive to the acidic plaque which is formed after you eat and drink. Plaque causes them to inflame and eventually they can recede and some of your teeth themselves might fall out. So keeping your teeth clean is actually about the health of your gums as well the actual teeth. Plaque on the gum line of teeth has to be removed.

One of the places where plaque often escapes without being removed is in between teeth. This is why it is vital to floss. Gum disease might start off as a fairly benign set of symptoms including reddening of the gums and greater sensitivity to different temperatures in food and drink, but the inflammation can spread to the bones which hold teeth in place. At this point, tooth loss becomes a palpable risk.

Visiting your Central London dentist every six months is a central part of the fight against plaque and keeping gums healthy. Dentists are trained not just to look out for your teeth, they are also experts in the wellbeing of your gums. As such they can spot the early signs of gum disease and offer you the appropriate advice that will restore your gums to health. The good news is that the basic form of gum disease – gingivitis – can usually be reversed by following some simple advice.

One of the constant threats to the mouth in the city of London is that of periodontal disease. You first realize you may have a problem when the gums start to inflame and bleed after brushing and the gums start to weep during the day, leaving you with a bad taste in the mouth; this can also lead to bad breath. But even though the main cause of it is the build up of plaque and bad bacteria in the mouth, there is another consideration to be taken into account- the body’s immune system. A body in good balance enriches the immune system and when it comes to the mouth, it ensures good saliva levels that naturally fight bacteria and allow the teeth to remain strong during chewing. But if this is reduced through a poor diet, heavy smoking and drinking, steroids or drug abuse, the immune system takes a battering and so the natural resistance to toxins and plaque in the mouth starts to break down. Periodontitis will set in very quickly, forming pockets between the teeth and gums, cause teeth to loosen and fall out, and destroy the bone tissue in the jaw. Only by maintaining a strong program of oral hygiene, backed up with the support or regular dental check-ups, can you prevent things like this reaching an advanced level.

When most people think about plaque they conceive of it as a threat to their teeth. This is of course true, plaque breaks down the enamel which the usually robust layer of protection on your teeth. Painful cavities can then ensue which need to be filled by a dentist. But plaque does not only threaten your teeth, it can cause your gums to become diseased too. This is a threat that is worth taking seriously because gum disease – known medically as periodontal disease – is actually a bigger cause of tooth loss than cavities themselves.

This is why it is so important to brush your teeth properly, including along the gum line, and also floss as well. If plaque builds up on your teeth next to your gums then in can inflame them. This will be rather painful and you might notice that eating cold foods like ice cream or drinking hot tea will give you feelings of sensitivity that you are not accustomed to. This most basic form of gum disease is called gingivitis and it can usually be rectified by making sure that you are taking care of your teeth properly.

But if it is not sorted out then the consequences for your mouth are dire. The inflammation can easily spread so that it affects the bones which securely hold your teeth in place. This is not edifying prospect as your gums will become red, swollen and begin to recede away from your teeth. Extreme pain will follow and, ultimately, tooth loss if the problem is not dealt with.

Don’t put your gums at risk of disease that can threaten tooth loss. At your next six months check up, ask your City of London dentist what the best ways are to avoid periodontal disease by combatting plaque.

If you suffer from halitosis in the city of London, there’s a good chance that you may be suffering from gum disease as well, for the causes of both these problems are very similar. Poor oral hygiene is the main offender- if foods are not removed from the mouth, pungent bacteria can build up, this not only leads to bad breath, but to gum disease as well. The saliva in the mouth works to remove this bacteria, but if there is not enough fluid to combat this, the mouth can become dry. It’s important to have a good diet and be aware of what foods are being put in the mouth; smoking and excessive drinking also add to the problem. A bad diet can lead to gastric problems and a breakdown of the immune system in the body, both of which can lead to gum disease and halitosis. As with anything of the body, prevention is better than cure, but if the problems have already set in, treatment is required from a dentist. Having either of these problems is not the end of the road, but treating them can mean a change in lifestyle and attention to detail when it comes to oral hygiene. Fixing gum disease can also be expensive and is not reversible- but it can be prevented from spreading and by reducing it you can reduce one of the causes of halitosis.

One of the biggest and possibly most dangerous problems that occur in the mouth in London is gum disease and it needs to be remedied quickly. Not only can it cause problems in the mouth such as tooth loss, it can lead to repertory, kidney, diabetes and heart problems too. The immediate solution is to seek a dentist’s advice. Gum disease is caused by a build up of plaque and so, if it can’t be removed by normal oral hygiene practices, then a regular visit to your dentist can. They will be able to check for any problems and remove any build up of tartar and plaque. They will also be able to treat any tooth decay to stop further problems arising in the future. And this is also the perfect chance for you to have your say discuss any problems that you have and take preventative steps to stop the disease in its tracks. Discuss your diet, those bad habits that you have such as smoking and learn about treatments you can do in the home. Fighting gum disease depends on good oral hygiene and it can be as simple as choosing the correct brush, paste and mouthwash, but there are some excellent inexpensive herbal remedies out there that are designed to tackle the problem head on such as Echinacea and aloe vera- simple, but extremely effective. Do your research and beat the disease.

It’s very easy just to place a lot of oral problems in the hands of your dentist in the city of London and expect modern medicine to do its work in curing you. But, as we become more aware of new treatments available to us, you may be surprised to learn that modern dentistry also utilises traditional methods such as herbal remedies to fight problems, especially with gum disease. It’s no secret that gum disease not only affects all things oral, but all things body too, so it’s extremely important to nip this problem in the bud and there are some great herbal remedies out there to help the cause. If you are starting to have problems such as bleeding and weeping gums, this can lead to soreness and needs to be treated by your dentist, but until then, applying clove oil to the problem area can soothe the affected area, as cloves are a natural anaesthetic and great for soothing any discomfort. Another well proven remedy for gum disease is Echinacea, a fantastic tonic to build up your immune system- one of the causes behind this disease is a low immune system. Simply drop a little of the oil into a glass of warm water, rinse and swallow at least three times a day, as it will fight against any infection. Tea tree oil is great when soaked on dental floss, but the most popular remedy is applying aloe vera gel straight onto the gums. Combine all of these remedies and you can fight off gum disease for ever and keep your mouth healthy.

Given that gum disease is a greater cause of tooth loss than tooth decay itself and that as many as three quarters of British adults have gum disease in some form at the moment, it is time to start taking the health of your gums seriously. Gum diseases can be extremely painful but they are often entirely reversible. Your London dentist will be able to spot all the early signs of gum disease.

Gingivitis is the most common form of gum disease and you might have it if your gums are more red than pink and have a tendency to bleed during brushing. Gingivitis is easily avoided by pursuing the recommended dental hygiene routine at home of brushing and flossing twice a day but you should report to your dentist if you think you might have it. Leaving gingivitis untreated can lead to worse problems.

If gingivitis is allowed to progress it might turn into periodontitis. This painful condition is an inflammation of the gums and, in worst cases, the bones holding your teeth in place are affected too. This can lead to teeth falling out and the subsequent pain and difficulties with eating, drinking and talking. It is a good reason to be vigilant about the health of your gums.

Signs of gum disease that you ought to look out for include an odd metallic taste, bad breath, blood in your mouth when you brush your teeth or the feeling that your teeth don’t ‘fit’ in your mouth anymore. You might also wish to examine your mouth for patches that are red or swollen. Contact your London dentist if you spot any of these indicators of gum disease. Allowing your dentist to examine you early lessens the risk of painful advanced diseases and invasive procedures.