Xerostomia, more commonly known as dry mouth, is a condition caused by a lack of production of saliva. This can cause problems because saliva is integral in the mouth for eating, talking and the regulation of bacteria. There are hundreds of millions of bacteria that live in the warm and moist oral cavity controlled by saliva, so any interruption in this process can cause the numbers of bacteria to rise sharply. This can cause unpleasant oral hygiene conditions such as halitosis.

This lack of saliva can also lead to a dramatic rise in the number and seriousness of dental cavities. Saliva also removes bacteria that form part of the filmy substance called plaque, which causes enamel erosion. Plaque releases acid when the bacteria and food debris in it break down gradually destroying the protective layer of enamel and causing cavities. Saliva is the mouths natural defence against plaque so a drop in production can be dangerous for your teeth. Saliva also has the effect of re-mineralising the enamel, making it stronger and more resistant to attack from plaque acids.

Xerostomia is caused by a number of factors ranging from alcohol consumption in excess, diabetes and even physical trauma. It is also a common side-effects of many medications such as anti-depressants. Treatment usually involves eliminating the cause of the problem and paying extra attention to oral hygiene. This will certainly help to reduce the impact of bad breath and dental cavities. Central London dentists can examine your mouth for the signs and symptoms of xerostomia and can offer advice and improved hygiene methods to help you deal with this unpleasant condition.

One dental procedure conjures up fear more than all the others. The dreaded root canal treatment, with its association with drills, is one of the most iconic of the nasty dental surgeries. However, the reality is slightly different. A root canal treatment is actually one of the most useful dental procedures that can make the difference between keeping a tooth and losing it. A successful treatment can alleviate pain and significantly reduce the need for further expensive treatment.

When a tooth becomes infected it is attacked by the bacteria and begins to die. This can be very painful as the infection occurs in the sensitive centre of the tooth, where all the nerve endings are located. A root canal will remove all the infected pulp, before filling the cavity with medicine and sealing it so no further infection can occur. This way, you may loose the sensitivity of the tooth, but the pain and infection will be gone, and you still have your original tooth.

The procedure will be carried out under anaesthetic, so there is no reason why a root canal should be any more painful than a regular filling. Although the dentist may need to use the drill, it really is only the sound and image that terrifies patients. The dentist will even numb the area with gel before he injects the anaesthetic.

Once the cavity has been filled, a crown or veneer is usually placed over the top to preserve the integrity of the tooth. Root canals are often the only option available to dentists to save the tooth. If the tooth is not treated or removed, the infection can quickly spread to other teeth in the mouth and can even infiltrate the bloodstream causing further medical problems, including heart disease.

As you can see, far from being feared, a root canal can be one of the most beneficial dental treatments. For anyone who has experienced the searing pain of an infected tooth, a root canal can be the blessing that removes the pain. If you think you have an infected tooth, even if the pain appears to have gone away, make an appointment with a London dentist who will be able to fully examine your teeth for infections and abscesses.

As you may be aware, everything from stress to injury can cause facial pain. That said, in many cases, there are a number of dental conditions that may be causing this pain. When you visit a dentist in London, you can have peace of mind knowing that each possible cause of facial pain will be diagnosed and corrected.

Even though you may not have had any jaw or neck injuries, the jaw joints may become slightly dislocated. As with any other joint in your body, this will eventually cause an enormous amount of pain. Unfortunately, dealing with TMJ pain can be very difficult. Among other things, there are a number of muscles, ligaments, and nerves that can refer pain to and from this region. You may even be surprised to find that facial pain can be caused by back, leg, and foot issues.

Your dentist will also look for pain that may be coming from your teeth, and then transferring to a different region. For example, if you have a cavity beneath the gumline, it may have already done significant damage to the tooth. While you may not yet feel pain in this particular tooth, the sensation may be transmitted to parts of your face. Once the cavity issue is resolved, your facial pain will disappear.

Today, dentists can help resolve a number of issues that cause facial pain. This includes bruxism, as well as bite and chewing disorders. Without a question, if you want to end reliance on medications for facial pain, it will be in your best interest to have dentist evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums. You may be surprised at what just a handful of procedures can do to eliminate your pain. At the same time, you will also have the benefit of treatments that will keep your mouth and teeth healthier in the long run.

Teeth are essentially indestructible under the correct conditions. However, in the living person, teeth are continuously being assaulted by microbial challenges. Dental caries ranks as one of the most universal burdens of man, but are not life- threatening. Dental caries is widespread in London. Advances in preventive procedures to deal with this disease have significantly reduced the overall caries rate. In London, being poor is a risk factor for increased tooth decay. More than one-third of poor 2 – 9 year old children have untreated decayed primary teeth, and this number varies with age and race/ethnicity.

Dental caries is a multi-factorial disease requiring a susceptible host (a tooth), cariogenic microorganisms, and a suitable substrate (e.g., sugar) interacting for a sufficient length of time. Streptococcus mutans (Sm) is the primary etiologic agent of this disease. Sm is transmissible, and a positive relationship exists between the number of Sm and dental caries. Dental decay did not become an important health problem until sucrose (sugar) became a major component of the human diet. However, good oral hygiene can reduce the chance of caries by reducing the number of cariogenic bacteria and removing the substrate, sugar. Sm is the primary etiological agent of dental caries in man and other animals. Under normal circumstances of health, Sm procduces bacterial acids that cause a continuous minute demineralization of the hard tooth surfaces. In addition, the consumption of acidic foods and drinks, and even toothbrush abrasion can cause enamel demineralization53, 54. If this demineralization is limited, the body’s own remineralization capability is able to restore the tooth’s lost minerals by using minerals available in saliva12.
Dental decay (caries) is the result of irreversible solubilization (demineralization) of tooth mineral by acid, predominantly lactic acid, formed by plaque bacteria that adhere to teeth surfaces, after the consumption of foods that contain fermentable carbohydrates (sugar). Frequent sucrose ingestion increases the lengths of time that sucrose is available for fermentation and acid formation by plaque. Thus, eating frequency, the amount of sugar retained in the mouth (particularly on tooth surfaces), and the length of time that sugar is retained in critical areas, are more important than the total amount of sugars consumed12.
The chemical conversion of sugar into simpler substances causes a quick decrease in pH (5.0 or <) at the plaque-enamel junction. Frequently consuming sugar or sugar-based foods causes Sm to flourish and become the principal bacterial organism in plaque. A drop of pH to this level puts undue pressure on the buffers in the saliva and lactic acid (the end-product of Sm metabolism) spreads into the outer layer of the tooth (i.e., enamel) causing it to begin breaking down, and to discharge calcium and phosphate ions at areas below the top surface enamel. This low (acid) pH is derived from acid-producing bacterial organisms, and favors demineralization over a period of time, resulting in a cavity. The tooth enamel (which is made up predominantly of hydroxyapatite) is permanently dissolved from these acids, particularly lactic acid. These bacteria begin to adhere more strongly to the tooth surface and form bacterial colonies or communities called “plaque”. Sm and other bacteria, such as lactobacilli, store sugars and continue to secrete acid long after the food has been swallowed. Dental plaque will continue to build up on the tooth surface, unless it is adequately removed. These processes result in dental decay.

When you have dental pain, visit your dentist in London, as it may not be as bad as you think! Dental pain can occur as a result of disease or injury to the dental pulp or the adjacent structure (periodontium). Early on, disease(s) of the pulp, known as reversible pulpitis, have warning signs such as a transient sharp pain brought about by exposure to cold or sweet. Periodontal pain is usually associated with an acute periodontal abscess, which can also result in serious problems. Dental pain is generally acute in nature, and prompt and effective treatment by tooth restoration, root-canal therapy, extraction, or periodontal curettage will result in the resolution of pain.
Clinically, a dental caries lesion (a cavity) occurs when a hole appears outer surface of the tooth. However, when this is observed, dental caries has proceeded to the late stage. A clinically noticeable white lesion may precede the carious lesion. However, these white spots may not proceed to dental decay. Interproximal (between) tooth surfaces may only be visible with the use of a dental X-ray (radiograph), and the decay can go unnoticed in these areas until it is too late in the caries process.
Diagnostic tests for dental caries are non-invasive. This is due to the fact that the teeth are exposed to the environment and can be visualized by looking into oral cavity (mouth). During a clinical examination, the dentist will use a dental explorer to help diagnose dental caries. When the explorer is placed into a cavity it will usually stick into the decayed area. Dental radiographs (X-rays) are used to help the dental professional diagnose caries that cannot be viewed directly or detected by the explorer. Conventional dental therapy is based on response to symptoms.