When we are young we are often told how important it is to clean our teeth everyday. Like anything we are told when we are young, we assume we know best and can often overlook the seriousness of the advice. When it comes to dental hygiene, the things we are told as children about looking after our teeth are absolutely true, as anyone who has suffered from dental decay will be able to tell you.

If you do not clean your teeth effectively each day with brushing and flossing, using the right kind of brush and tooth paste your teeth will come under attack form plaque and bacteria, which will gradually begin to erode the protective enamel layer around the outside of the teeth. When this layer has been breached, the more sensitive inner parts of the teeth are exposed to the bacteria which may cause infection. If the infection takes hold it can destroy the inner parts of the tooth and the dental nerve, which will ultimately lead to the tooth falling out and the possible spread of the infection. This whole process is called dental decay, and while very real and very unpleasant, is easily preventable with improved oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing will help to keep levels of plaque and bacteria low. This limits the damage that can be done by plaque and protects teeth.

It is also vitally important that you see a City of London dentist every six months so they can examine your teeth for the  signs of dental decay and offer any necessary treatment. By following these few simple steps just like you were told as a child you will be able to keep your teeth free from the pain and discomfort of dental decay.

Everyone has heard the old saying that prevention is better than cure. This saying is often very true, especially when it comes to the health of your teeth and gums. Dental problems can range form being easily treatable to being very serious and cause for urgent treatment. However, in many cases, dental problems are caused by factors that can easily be prevented. These include tooth decay and gum disease, both of which can be virtually eliminated with improved oral hygiene.

The two main prongs or oral hygiene are brushing and flossing. Brushing the teeth is perhaps the most important defence against dental disease. Brushing removes plaque and bacteria that builds up on the surface of the teeth and gums. Using toothpaste, gently brush the teeth angling the brush towards the gums. This should be done for about three minutes, twice a day after eating. Ideally you should brush your teeth after every meal but this is not always convenient. London dentists recommend using a soft-bristled brush with a small head for maximum efficiency when cleaning.

After brushing comes flossing; this helps to remove bacteria from the areas between the teeth and around the base near the gums. These areas are very small and almost impossible to clean with a toothbrush. This means they can often be the most dangerous areas for the start of decay and disease. Flossing at least once a day will help to remove bacteria and also any trapped food, which may be the cause of bad breath.

However, even if you have a very strict oral hygiene routine, there is still no substitute for a regular dental check up at least every six months. This will ensure that the first signs of any decay or gum disease are identified and dealt with before they can become a problem.

There are few dental treatments that cause as much fear and anxiety as the root canal treatment. Everybody has probably heard the tales about the dentist’s drill and the excruciating pain, but just what is the truth behind this much-feared procedure?

In reality, using anaesthetic and modern treatment methods there really is no reason a root canal should be any more painful than having a filling and if anything could be responsible for bringing an end to the pain of dental infection. Root canals are needed when dental decay has led to the formation of a dental infection in the central part of the tooth. This can be very painful because this is where the very sensitive dental nerve is located.

If this infection is not treated in time it could lead to even more extreme pain, the spread of the infection and the loss of the tooth. With a root canal, the dentist aims to make a hole to gain access to the root part of the tooth. This is accomplished either using a drill or in modern times even with a dental laser. Once inside the root, the City of London dentist will attempt to remove all the infected matter from inside the tooth. They will then fill the cavity with medicine and seal it using filling material and then possibly secure the tooth with a dental crown.

This will kill the infection and ultimately preserve the tooth, even if the dental nerve has for the most part been destroyed. The root canal has a bad reputation but if you’ve ever suffered from severe toothache and had the pain relieved by a root canal you will know this reputation is unjustified.

We all know the importance of keeping ourselves fit and healthy and the benefits to your well being this can bring. But sometimes it can be easy to overlook the health of your teeth and this could be just as important for your overall health. Dental problems can be very painful and costly to treat. They can also have wide ranging and serious health concerns including links to heart disease and even strokes.

Yet the truth is that looking after your teeth and dental health can be very simple if you follow a few simple rules. The most important of these is to make sure you are brushing your teeth correctly and for the necessary amount of time each day. London dentists recommend that you brush for three minutes at least twice a day, preferably after eating. This will help to remove plaque and bacteria that build up on the teeth and cause dental decay that leads to all manner of nasty dental complaints. It is also advised that you use a brush with a small head to allow greater access to al the teeth in the mouth. Try to angle the brush at forty-five degrees so that the gums are also cleaned at the same time. This is because gum disease can be just as damaging as dental decay.

It is also very important that you are flossing your teeth every day. This removes bacteria, plaque and particles of food trapped in the small areas between the teeth and in pockets between the teeth and gums.

Finally, it is crucial that you have your teeth monitored by a dentist every six months with a simple check up appointment. This will ensure that your teeth are not suffering and allow the dentist to treat any problems that may occur as early as possible.

Looking after the health of your teeth and gums is very important. This is true, not only because this will keep your teeth and gums looking healthy but also because a healthy mouth is a good indicator of your overall health and any oral problems could be the result or even cause of wider health problems.

There are many mild and series dental problems that can affect the teeth and gums. Dental decay begins with small dental cavities in the surface enamel. Although easily treated, like with all dental problems, if left without attention it can quickly become something more serious. For instance, if the cavities penetrate to the centre of the tooth, they can cause an infection that will attack the dental nerve. This is not only pretty painful but can also result in the loss of the tooth and spread of the infection to others in the mouth.

It is a similar story with the gums. Constantly under attack from plaque and bacteria, it is not uncommon for the gums to become irritated and suffer from mild infections. Again, if the problem is addressed it can be easily cleared up but if left can lead to more serious concerns. This includes periodontitis, the most serious form of gum disease, characterised by bleeding gums and swollen tissue. This may well need treatment with antibiotics and even some tissue removal.

Bleeding gums can also be the sign of more serious concerns in the oral cavity including oral cancer so it is always wise to visit your Central London dentist if you notice that your gums are bleeding.

When teeth are damaged, either by decay, discolouration or dental trauma, there is often a need to repair them using dental restorations. These come in three main forms:

Dental crowns – These are caps that are placed over the whole part of the tooth above the gum line to protect it form further decay or damage.

Dental veneers – Like crowns, they are placed over the top of the teeth but usually to cover worn enamel or discolouration. Veneers are more often used for cosmetic affect, to restore the appearance of the teeth.

Inlays – These are used when a dental cavity is too big to fill with composite bonding alone.

All three are cemented in place using dental bonding which is then set firm with the heat of a dental laser.

Dental restorations used to be manufactured from ceramic or a mixture of ceramic and metal, and involved a painstaking process in the laboratory. In the last few years, a new technology called Cerec has emerged that has drastically cut down the manufacturing time.

Using the latest digital x-ray technology, the City of London dentist is able to create an image of the patient’s teeth and then produce the restoration on the computer. This information is then sent to a computer–guided mill, which sculpts the ceramic, usually porcelain, form a single piece in a matter of minutes.

This new technology, often referred to as chair-side restoration is changing the face of modern dentistry and offering patients vastly more accurate and speedy treatment. It is now possible to have a crown or veneer designed, manufactured and fitted in one single appointment, an improvement on the average time of two weeks it previously took.

If you have a crown or filling that needs replacing, ask your dentist about the latest Cerec technology and experience for yourself, the future of dentistry.

Besides brushing and flossing, the most important thing you can do for the health of your teeth is to have a dental check up every six months. Check ups are crucial because it allows the dentist an opportunity to assess the health of your teeth and check for any signs of dental decay or infection. This could be crucial for your chances of avoiding costly and painful dental treatment in the future, and as with any kind of condition or disease, the earlier you catch it the easier it is to treat.

Dentists recommend an average time of six months between check ups. This could be more or less depending on the nature of your teeth but it is important to listen to your London dentist’s advice about how often you should be visiting. A routine check up will take little more than twenty minutes to half an hour and involve no pain. As long as you are regularly visiting the dentist for a check up, you stand a pretty good chance of avoiding dental pain altogether.

Dentists are also able to investigate the signs of any decay or possible gum disease. With both on the increase in the UK it is very important that you have your teeth and gums checked. If you allow decay or disease to progress unchecked, it could lead to the need for antibiotics, extraction and even hospitalisation.

Another very important reason to visit your dentist for a check up is oral cancer. This is one of the most virulent forms of the disease but very treatable if caught in sufficient time. 80 per cent of patients who have the disease spotted early on survive, a number that drops rapidly as time passes. Dentists will carry out a routine check for any signs and investigate any suspicious looking areas. Proof that a dental check up could just save your life.

There is a lot of information around that gives conflicting opinions about what is best for your teeth. This can be very confusing and leave you not sure which advice is the most appropriate or useful for you. One example of such a confusing issue is whether or not fluoride in toothpaste is good for you. Some reports say that fluoride hardens teeth and therefore offers more protection but conflicting reports say that it may be damaging to the teeth as well as the rest of the body. It is also necessary to remember that most water supplies already contain fluoride so using toothpaste that also contains fluoride may be a further cause for concern.

There is little doubt that fluoride strengthens teeth, reinforcing them against decay and plaque. This is why for many years it has been added to water supplies. As a result, the numbers of people suffering dental decay has fallen. However, fluoride can pose a risk for children’s teeth. Dentists advise against giving children any kind of fluoride dental health products, such as toothpaste, as excessive fluoride may cause discolouration to occur later in life.

For most adults it is important to use small amounts of fluoride in dental health products. Once the teeth have fully developed they are less likely to suffer from flourosis but are still constantly under threat from cavities. The one sure-fire way to know if you are getting too much or too little fluoride is to ask your local dentist. Dentists in Central London will know the fluoride levels of the local water supply and can also examine your and your children’s teeth to see how they are reacting. Make an appointment today to be sure that you are getting the right information from an expert.

There is a lot of information around that gives conflicting opinions about what is best for your teeth. This can be very confusing and leave you not sure which advice is the most appropriate or useful for you. One example of such a confusing issue is whether or not fluoride in toothpaste is good for you. Some reports say that fluoride hardens teeth and therefore offers more protection but conflicting reports say that it may be damaging to the teeth as well as the rest of the body. It is also necessary to remember that most water supplies already contain fluoride so using toothpaste that also contains fluoride may be a further cause for concern.

There is little doubt that fluoride strengthens teeth, reinforcing them against decay and plaque. This is why for many years it has been added to water supplies. As a result, the numbers of people suffering dental decay has fallen. However, fluoride can pose a risk for children’s teeth. Dentists advise against giving children any kind of fluoride dental health products, such as toothpaste, as excessive fluoride may cause discolouration to occur later in life.

For most adults it is important to use small amounts of fluoride in dental health products. Once the teeth have fully developed they are less likely to suffer from flourosis but are still constantly under threat from cavities. The one sure-fire way to know if you are getting too much or too little fluoride is to ask your local dentist. Dentists in Central London will know the fluoride levels of the local water supply and can also examine your and your children’s teeth to see how they are reacting. Make an appointment today to be sure that you are getting the right information from an expert.

We are taught from a very early age that brushing our teeth is the most important way of making sure they are healthy and preventing conditions such as decay and gum disease. While it is true that brushing is the most effective way to stop decay, we must remember that it is not the only way, and judging by the number of cases of gum disease in the UK, it seems that many of us need to include other forms of protection.

Dentists recommend that we brush our teeth twice a day for three minutes. They also say however, that we should floss our teeth at least once a day. Brushing is great for removing the plaque from the flat surfaces of the front and back of teeth, but when it comes to the small gaps in-between and around the base of the tooth, the bristles of a regular toothbrush may be ineffectual.

Using dental floss after meals helps to remove plaque and bacteria from these small gaps. It also helps to remove food particles from between the teeth that can provide food for other bacteria in the mouth. Flossing helps to alleviate gums that are inflamed, which may create small pockets around the teeth, often the location of initial decay. As well as flossing, some dentists recommend using a tongue scraper. This, used once or twice a week, will help to keep the moist surface of the tongue free from bacteria and food particles. This will also help to keep breath fresh. Inter-dental brushes, with very small bristles are another way of making sure your mouth is as clean as it can be. If you are just brushing and are concerned your teeth are not as clean as they should be, make an appointment to see a London dentist to discuss how you could better care for your teeth.