Are you experiencing a bad toothache or are you noticing drainage, blood and/or pus next to a tooth or teeth? Then you should telephone your London dentist immediately! You most likely have an abscessed tooth. A tooth abscess is the result of an infection(s) that occurs in the tooth itself due to dental caries or in the gum tissue next to the tooth. It left untreated, the problem can extend further, to the point where the tooth is lost and further problems arise. If dental caries is left untreated, the harmful microorganisms within the tooth itself will continue to spread and will most likely cause pain or a dental abscess. An abscess associated with gum disease results in the spread of bacteria in the gum tissue next to the tooth, creating loss of supporting bone and a periodontal pocket where the abscess forms. This can result in the loss of teeth.
The signs and symptoms of a tooth abscess are: dental pain; swelling of the gums and redness in the area; a horrible smell coming from the mouth; a bad taste in the mouth; you may have a temperature and; a boil in your gum adjacent to the abscessed area.
How will your London dentist help you once he determines that you have a tooth abscess? Your dentist will prescribe an antibiotic for the infection, which will help to kill the bacteria involved with the tooth abscess. However, in order to treat the tooth abscess, your dentist will drill a hole in either your tooth or its supporting structure to alleviate the pressure built up in your tooth or gums to allow the abscess to drain, thus relieving the pain associated with the abscess. If the tooth is infected, a root canal will be performed if you and your dentist agree to the procedure, or the tooth may require extraction. The dentist will have you place an ice-pack on the area outside your mouth, rinse with salt water (i.e., one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water), and may prescribe a pain medication or instruct you to use an over-the-counter pain medication.
In order to prevent an abscess, you should take proper care of your teeth and gums by: brushing two times a day, using dental floss to clean between your teeth, eating healthy foods and limiting sugar-based snack foods, and visiting your London dentist regularly for routine dental checkups.

Dental crowns, also referred to as “dental or tooth caps,” envelop the visible section of the tooth that lies above the gum line, and may even be extended slightly below the gum line, depending on the extent of the dental decay and/or support required by the affected tooth. A London-based dentist might recommend inserting a dental crown using numerous rationale, however the majority of these typically include the following; restoration of a tooth to its unique form and function, and for aesthetic reasons.
Dental crowns become the new external tooth shell, and are made-up of many types of materials including; all porcelain (a type of ceramic), metal (gold or other metal alloy), or a combination of both (i.e., porcelain fused to gold/metal, with the gold/metal being the undersurface of the crown and the porcelain being baked onto the gold/metal and shaped to replicate the tooth).
A broken-down, extremely worn, or extremely decayed tooth, generally require a full crown to properly restore the tooth. Local anesthesia is used when the dentist prepares a tooth for a crown. The remaining tooth enamel and some of the dentin layer (i.e., second layer) of the tooth is prepared using a variety of diamond drills, with the walls of the tooth kept in a parallel orientation to help with the crown retention. When an adequate amount of tooth structure is removed and the dentist is pleased with the preparation, gingival cord is packed around the tooth so that an impression can be made of what is left of the tooth. The dentist then sends this impression, an opposing impression, and bite registration to the lab, so that they can fabricate a dental crown. The dentist writes the instructions on a laboratory prescription so that the laboratory knows exactly what the dentist needs and also the proper shade of the tooth. The finished product is sent back to the dentist, and the dentist then cements the crown in place, and adjusts your bite properly. There are many other methods to improve your dental aesthetics, and these should be presented to you by your dentist before you decide that you want your front teeth prepared into peg-like structures for cosmetic reasons.

It is not difficult to maintain good oral hygiene; all you have to do is to follow these tips on oral hygiene. These tips are not difficult to follow; and you need not use any expensive equipment, potions or lotions to follow them.Bleeding gums is a problem most complaints dentists in London receive from their customers. However to cure this problem, you only have to examine the way you brush your teeth. Brushing away from the gums exposes the roots of the teeth; this is why it is better to use a gentle ‘up and down’ motion when brushing.

Frenzied side to side brushing motion also causes recession of the gums. Try to clean the areas between your teeth using floss; pieces of food found here only decays and will otherwise be detected only with toothache or gum disease. Even smoking is bad for gums as over time, it affects the deterioration of gums.

If you have sensitive teeth, I suggest you use specialized toothpastes to prevent sensitivity. Try rinsing with warm water if you have sensitive teeth and just resent rinsing with cold water.

Bad breath develops with poor oral hygiene. Though an antiseptic mouthwash improves your breath, drinking lots of water is an easier option as it prevents the mouth from drying. Also make it a point to clean the back of your tongue using your toothbrush and to dislodge pieces of food in your teeth to prevent it from rotting in your mouth.

Most important, visit your dentist regularly. If you have any problems, don’t hesitate to consult professionals as we are here to look after the single set of adult teeth you have to maintain throughout your life.

If you are a person with good dental hygiene habits you don’t need to read this. Do you know taking care of your teeth and gums is very important to prevent infection of heart valves? Yes. You heard it right.A recent study by London researchers shows that the bacteria that cause dental infections can enter into bloodstream and can cause endocarditis or an infection of heart valves. This infection will attack the lining of the heart or heart valve causing a gradual decrease in the functioning of the heart and eventually stopping it. This infection occurs more in people who extract their teeth because of dental decay. There is a chance that bacteria will enter your blood stream when your brush and floss and then infect your heart valves.

That’s not the only infection poor oral hygiene can cause! German scientists have found a link between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis! Most patients who have rheumatoid arthritis have very poor oral hygiene. Some researchers have also suspected a link between poor oral hygiene and diabetes as well as premature labor!

I think this is reason enough to brush well!