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.

In London, a good complete dental exam will identify the factors that can contribute to oral health problems. A complete exam must be performed in order to decide upon the appropriate treatment plan for a patient. If anything is overlooked, it can result in future oral health complications, such as dental caries and gum and bone diseases. Included in this exam will be information about your occlusion (i.e., the way your teeth bite together), a jaw exam, and possibly an extra-oral exam as well. These are all recommended in London, as certain parts of any system can affect the whole system. A carefully performed dental exam requires a talented diagnostician who understands all signs and symptoms of disease(s) that can affect your health.
A dental exam consists of performing a complete intra-oral charting of the mouth which includes; present dental restorations, visible dental caries, dental caries index, visible abscesses, missing teeth, visible removable and fixed prosthetic devices or appliances, and a complete periodontal charting using a periodontal probe to find any existing periodontal pockets and gingival inflammation. The periodontal examination should also examine the teeth for any mobility, recession and teeth sensitivities. Also required are a full mouth series of dental X-rays and study models. Diagnostic models should be mounted on an articulator. The patient’s occlusion should be examined both inside the mouth and on the diagnostic models. Any excessive wear, interferences, improper dental arch relationships, occlusal plane disharmonies, and TMJ problems should be noted in the patient file. If teeth are missing, should they be replaced and how should they be replaced? The aesthetic appearance of the teeth should be noted, as well as any medical complication, lifestyle habits, medications that are currently being used, and any other pertinent information should be written in the patient file. An oral cancer exam should also be performed. When you visit your London dentist for the first time for a dental exam, all of these above procedures will be performed.

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.

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Root canal treatment (or therapy) in London is performed when dental caries (tooth decay) extends in very close proximity and/or into to pulp of the tooth. The pulp of the tooth is composed of nerves, a blood supply, connective tissue, etc., and when the bacteria or their end-products come into contact with these, the tooth begins to die and the result is usually pain, bone loss, tooth loss, loss of attachment of the tooth to the bone, or combinations of these aforementioned events. During a root canal procedure, the dentist or endodontist (i.e., root canal specialist) will anesthetize the tooth or area of the mouth involved, will place a rubber dam to isolate the area, and will then drill an access opening through the enamel and dentin, and into the pulp tissue. The pulp and other infected areas (i.e., the tooth dentin) are then removed from the root canal chamber and the tooth roots using drills and hand files, and then these areas of the tooth are sterilized using chemical solutions. The inside of the tooth is then thoroughly dried using paper points, and root canal filling material is then placed inside the roots and chamber to keep bacteria from penetrating into the tooth pulp. This also prevents the spread of the infection to adjacent teeth. Usually an antibiotic is prescribed, and the infection is neutralized and healing begins. The toothache is usually relieved within twenty four hours, and at time pain medication may be required. Since the tooth is now dried out, more brittle, and broken down quite a bit, a crown is placed on the tooth.

Your London dentist can help you pick the best sugar substitute. The polyol class of sugar substitutes contain the smallest amount of acidity. These include xylitol, sorbitol, and mannitol. Xylitol is a polyol that has the same sweet taste as sugar, but is not fermentable by the bacteria that causes dental caries, S mutans. When xylitol is used in chewing gums or certain foods, it does not have the same cavity causing activity as foods and gum that contain sugar. As a matter of fact, when young adults used 6-7 g of chewing gum that contained xylitol for 1 year, there was an eighty percent lowering of dental caries incidence when compared to the sugar gum chewing group. Therefore, xylitol containing products can gratify the desire for sweets, single out S mutans, and appreciably decrease the occurrence of dental caries. It is also known to have saliva-stimulating properties. If you have any questions about sugar substitutes, visit or call your London dentist to get answers.

London dentists say that “dental caries can be prevented by good oral hygiene and regular professional care, and can be effectively treated by adequate brushing and flossing of the teeth and by the use of fluoride based oral care products.” Mouth rinses, gels, and toothpastes, when used in conjunction with toothbrushing and flossing, are probably adequate to deliver the needed preventive measures. If the carious lesion reaches the underlying dentin layer of the tooth the dentist in London will treat it. The dentist will place a filling (amalgam or composite) to restore proper functioning of the tooth.
The role of fluoride in caries prevention has been extensively documented. The decrease in dental caries that occurs after adding fluoride to the water supply is by and large accredited to the fluoride molecule being substituted for hydroxyl molecules in the tooth enamel, forming fluorapatite in the place of hydroxyapatite. Fluorapatite is less acid soluble than hydroxyapatite, causing enamel to demineralise more slowly when under attack by plaque. Fluoride containing enamel also remineralises more quickly between the times it is being bombarded with sugar. This does not explain all of the mechanisms of action of fluoride.
More recently the spotlight has shifted to deleterious effect on fluoride on tooth development. The prevalence of fluorosis in infants and young children is increasing. The increase in fluorosis among infants and children in both fluoridated and non-fluoridate communities has led to the following recommendations: 1) the use of low-fluoride water in infant formulas; 2) adult supervision of children during brushing; and 3) rigid fluoride application standards when administering fluoride supplements to children. Nonetheless, community water supply fluoridation is the most effective way to prevent dental caries.
When neutral 1.0% sodium fluoride was used on a daily basis by high risk adults (i.e., those with mouth dryness after jaw carcinoma radiation), the finding was minimal to zero dental caries. Children, aged five to six years were treated with 1.2% F- fluoride gel versus a placebo gel twice daily, and the children receiving fluoride showed approximately 40% caries reduction when compared to the placebo group after a 2 year period; S mutans (the bacteria that causes decay) were also lower. Thorough cleaning with the fluoride paste significantly reduced the streptococci (sanguis, mitis, and mutans), preventing colonization of these bacteria. Higher fluoride paste doses (i.e., 5%) instantly stop these bacteria. Also interesting, is that fluoride levels of 1-5 ppm stopped oral streptococci at low pH levels. These doses are commonly found in people using fluoridated oral care products and/or fluoridated water. For more in depth prevention measures, visit your London dentist!

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.

Keeping your teeth can be pretty boring. All dentists say brush your teeth two times daily and don’t forget to floss at least once a week, right? But what if you had yet more different and unique products to use to clean your teeth rather than boring old toothpastes and dental floss?
London specialty stores as well as online stores are now offering one of kind specialty dental products to suit your every need. I did find a few really weird and a few really useful but do use them with caution as we don’t really have the scientific basis or proof of thee new products.1. Melaleuca Tooth Polish- Really weird toothpaste which contains tea tree oil. Now I do know that tea tree oil is a great antiseptic is really effective in controlling bacteria but the taste is really nauseous and made me throw up. And to add to that no one in my family agreed to use the toothpaste due to the disgusting taste and color of the toothpaste. I’m now stuck with three pairs of this really revolting herbal toothpaste .Any taker out there?
2. Fresh Umbrian Clay Toothpaste. Hellooooooooo, was the marketing department sleeping while making this product? Who one earth will use mud or clay in their mouth can you just imagine the taste? The box does say that it’s flavored with lemon and wild mint extracts for a refreshing feeling. OHH, I guess that makes it alright then!!!!!!!!!! Not for me any way!!!!!!!!

A few more really nasty one waiting in the wings so keep in touch guys!

Within no time, we London citizens would be licking lollipops daily. It is going to take up a position in our daily purchase list, not that we all love candies, but due to its ability to kill germs. Thanks to the now famous microbiologist Wenyuan Shi from UCLA who came up with his herbal lollipop, which help us kill the major culprit of tooth decay, streptococcus mutans. Mr. Shi and his team have developed a special candy infused with natural ingredients developed from licorice, which help fight the primary bacterium responsible for dental caries. This candy is now marketed by a candy manufacturer who got license from UCLA and has now started manufacturing this orange-flavoured candy. As it is sugar-free, diabetics can also use.

Dr. Shi had started his research 8 years ago with a vision of finding major pathogen causing dental decay and finding a ‘smart bomb’ to kill them without destroying the good bacteria in the oral cavity. With this vision, he travelled all over China and collected hundreds of herbs with bioactivity and potential for developing his dream product. He conducted more than 9600 experiments for this purpose, before arriving at this product. Now the manufacture who got license from UCLA has started marketing this product, “Dr. John’s Herbal Candy” from his Grand Rapids’ factory. It does not contain any sugar, fat, salt, or preservatives. This candy’s major ingredient is HSH (Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysates), which is a sweetener that doesn’t get metabolised by oral bacteria and hence doesn’t cause any plaque formation. Its caloric value is lesser than sugar, about 75% and hence does not increase the blood glucose level significantly. An extract of licorice root is used in this candy, which gives a scientific explanation to chewing of licorice root, scientifically named Glycyrrhiza uralensis. It is found that licorice root extract is effective against Helicobacter pylori too, a pathogen associated with development of gastric ulcer.

In another development, some researchers in Germany have found the effectiveness of lactobacillus, the bacteria present in yogurt in controlling streptococcus mutans in mouth. These streptococci are the pathogens causing dental decay by clumping on to teeth and producing acid, which breaks down the enamel of teeth. An experimental chewing gum containing lactobacillus was effective in controlling the growth of staphylococcus mutans. So, now on don’t wait, go and take a lollipop or chewing gum and relish the taste with added protection to your teeth and expect more such products in this line in London supermarkets.