Tooth decay- that old enemy we are trying to avoid over and over again in central London; yes the products are on the market and if we work hard at learning to look after our teeth, we will all benefit in the end. However, life just refuses to be that simple and it only takes a few hours of misjudgment and your into a possible nose-dive of plaque developing. Now your good old friend the dentist can counter all the things that you may have missed at home and if there is any indication of a cavity forming, they can solve the problem by filling your tooth- that is of course, if you stick to your appointments. Miss a couple though and a cavity can lead to tooth decay, threaten the longevity of your teeth and set off gum disease in the process. There is only one answer to serious tooth decay and that’s by your dentist administering a root canal- this is ugly reading. It involves clearing the tooth of rotten pulp, drilling out the roots, then filling the tooth again and topping it with a crown. Modern processes and new laser treatments have removed the pain and difficulty of such problems and made solving tooth decay a lot easier. However, oral hygiene and help from your dentist and you should be able to avoid it in the first place.

It’s a fair bet that most of us that living in the city of London waft through life without a care in the world- fine dining, marvelous parties, breakfast at Harvey-Nicks and then back out there again to do it over and over again- fantastic. But be sensible and be aware of what you are doing to your teeth and your body, because, if you’re avoiding looking after yourself by doing the basics- especially when it comes to your teeth, you can find yourself in some very messy situations and fighting for your life in hospital. One of the greatest dangers to ever threaten the mouth is that of a tooth abscess. Poor oral hygiene can quickly lead to tooth decay and thus, exposing yourself to an abscess. The first signs are that your face will begin to swell- though at the same time, the abscess will have already started to release evils into your bloodstream and starting to get into your brain. Now, if this sounds alarmist, then bear in mind that people have died from a tooth abscess. The thing to do is to seek help immediately, don’t take any chances. If you can’t get hold of a dentist and things are spiraling out of control with the swelling and the pain, then get to the hospital. Once the problem has been averted, there is a good chance that you will have to have the problem tooth removes because an abscess has a habit of re-offending.

Looking your very best starts with sorting out the little things: the things that you might not immediately think of. To this end, if you want to improve your look in a quick and simple way that won’t cost the earth, consider one of the different methods of getting your teeth whitened. Your wedding photos can’t be taken again if you look back at them and don’t like the look of your stained teeth. Similarly, if you don’t make the right first impression at that job interview, you won’t have another chance.

Teeth whitening comes in many different forms and brands but on a basic level there are two different types: those that are administered at home and those that are carried out by the dentist. Those administered at home are often known as ‘over the counter’ teeth whitening kits because they can be purchased from pharmacies and increasingly from super markets and websites too. The immediate advantage of these kits is that you can complete the treatment in your own time at home.

Those carried out by the dentist might require you to take a few hours off work and can be more expensive but often the results are better. Many people prefer the peace of mind that they get from knowing that it is a dental professional who will be in charge of the work they are having done.

Your Central London dentist ought to be familiar with all the different types of teeth whitening procedures which are on offer. Next time you are in the surgery, have a chat about your options and put an end to dull and stained teeth.

Caused by acid erosion of tooth enamel, dental carries is an alternative medicinal name for tooth cavities or erosion. Bacteria builds up in the teeth forms a thin film called plaque which damages the enamel and leads to cavities. This damage can occur at various places on the tooth and between teeth. Once the enamel has been breeched bacteria infiltrates the damaged area and causes the problem to rapidly get worse. Eventually, the bacteria will erode away the pulp of the tooth meaning extensive and often painful further treatment.

The first sign of dental carries or cavities are usually teeth sensitive to hot or cold food and drinks. A visit to the dentist as early as possible could help prevent carries. If the erosion is stopped early enough it may even be possible for the tooth to repair itself.

Caries can usually be prevented by keeping plaque and bacteria to a minimum in the mouth, which can be achieved by regular brushing and flossing. Avoiding snacking in between meals and also chewing certain types of gum can also help prevent painful carries.

Once the carries have gone through the enamel the only real option for the dentist is to fill the cavity. It the cavity is significantly large enough, an artificial crown may need to be used to keep the filling in place. If the cavity has reached the pulp of the tooth this may need to be completely removed by a root canal procedure.

As is often the case with teeth, prevention is better than cure. Regular trips to a London dentist will help to prevent painful carries appearing and they will also be able to treat any that do appear to prevent further long-term problems. It is important to remember that once carries develop past the enamel, the process can not be reversed and will require dental treatment, so regular check-ups really are the answer.