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.

It is an often-used adage that prevention is better than cure. Nowhere is this more true than when it comes to looking after your teeth. As anyone who has suffered from any kind of dental problem, ranging from toothache to gum disease, will tell you, it really does pay to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

The easiest way to do this is to have regular six-monthly dental check ups, as advised by dentists. No matter how busy you are, or how frightened you may be, a regular check up with your dentist could save you years of dental related pain, not to mention thousands of pounds.

All sorts of problems can arise with your teeth if you do not visit your dentist on a regular basis. Even patients who brush correctly twice a day, and floss regularly, can develop dental problems they may not be aware of until it is too late. A tooth infection can very quickly develop into an abscess or spread to other teeth in the mouth if not picked up early enough by a dentist. In some circumstances, an infection may be so deep rooted that it will lead to the tooth itself dying and falling out. In extreme cases, a dental infection can cause a wider infection in the body and lead to heart disease and even heart failure. It really is not worth running the risk for the sake of half an hour every six months.

A regular appointment will help to catch these problems early, or even before they arise. For patients who have suffered toothache but believe it to have gone away, it may only be that the infection has killed the nerve endings in the tooth, thus stopping the pain. Only a dentist will be able to diagnose and locate these sorts of problems.

Dentists will also be able to spot the onset of various forms of oral cancer, including cancer of the tongue and throat. An early diagnosis of oral cancer means an 80 per cent or greater chance of survival. Missing the symptoms altogether leads to the unthinkable. City of London dentists will be able to thoroughly examine patients for tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer as part of a regular check up appointment. Prevent dental problems and save yourself the pain, cost and possible heartache of having to treat them.

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.

Apart from brushing, the most important thing you can do for your teeth is to floss. Dentists recommend that you should floss at least once a day to maintain good oral hygiene. The gaps between your teeth can be home to millions of bacteria, especially when particles of food become lodged there and begin to decay. Decaying food particles are attacked by bacteria and can be the source of bad breath, tooth decay and assorted other dental health problems.

By not cleaning these areas, the bacteria will eventually produce acid that will begin to erode away the enamel and start to cause cavities. This acid will also emit foul smelling sulfurous compounds, the primary reason for bad breath.

The mucus like substance that bacteria live in is called plaque. Brushing removes plaque but it can be hard to clean between teeth with a conventional brush. Flossing also cleans below the gum line which can prevent the onset of gingivitis (gum disease).

If left, plaque will turn into tartar, which causes the teeth to stain and is impossible to remove by brushing and flossing. Tartar also attacks teeth through cavities and can lead to tooth decay and eventual tooth loss. Ask a London dentist about the correct way to floss and when is the best time of day to do it.

Recent research has also found that flossing can help to prevent heart disease. There really are lots of good reasons to floss thoroughly every day. It might just save your life.

A dental abscess can cause pain, swelling and redness of the gums, bad breath, draining pus, and a temperature. If you have a bad toothache and/or are experiencing any of the above symptoms, call and visit your London dental clinic immediately. A dental abscess results from an infection either within the tooth itself, and immediately adjacent to the tooth/teeth in the gum tissue and/or supporting bone. If not treated, more serious problems can result, such as a cellulitis. This will cause massive swelling to that area of your face and can be life-threatening. The treatment may include root canal therapy and/or gum surgery to resolve the infections. Antibiotics will be prescribed, and possibly pain medication if the pain is severe. A dental abscess can result in tooth loss if not treated immediately!
The first thing your dentist will do is to examine your mouth and take the appropriate X-rays, so that they can determine which tooth or teeth are involved. There are also other tests that can be performed, such as percussion, heat and cold tests, and electrical stimulation tests to see if the tooth is dead. Your bite will also be checked to make sure that the pain is not caused by your tooth/teeth touching prematurely or at a wrong angle to each other. The dental abscess may be too far progressed to save the tooth, in which case the tooth/teeth will require removal. If an infection is present, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics to clear up the infection before the tooth is removed. If this is not done, the infection may spread through the blood system. In addition, your dentist will place an ice-pack on your face and have you rinse with warm-salt-water (e.g., one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water). There are things that you can do to prevent a dental abscess, which include brushing and flossing your teeth, and avoided sugary snacks between meals. Visit your London dental clinic regularly to prevent getting a dental abscess.