London cosmetic dentistry

Posts Tagged ‘Flossing’

Go on- Floss and keep healthy in Central London

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Flossing is quite a new way of looking after your teeth in central London if you look at it in the overall scheme of dentistry things, but it has its place and you should ensure that you should incorporate it into all your oral hygiene routines. Flossing can get into places where toothbrushes fear to tread, or frankly just can’t get to. The essential essence of oral hygiene is to ensure you remove all the rubbish you have been bunging into your mouth over the course of the day and give your pretty teeth and lovely pink gums a chance to fight off the evils of decay and disease. Working dental floss in and around your teeth will ensure that you get rid of all those little bits of food that brushing may have missed and ensure that bacteria cannot develop in the mouth at all. You can also take the process another step further by daubing the floss with something like tea tree oil first- such herbal gems not only help as you work in the floss, but they can also help stimulate the gums into action and help the blood to circulate around the mouth. There are many flosses on the market so there are a lot to choose from and so maybe after trying some out first, you will find one that suits you and hence, give you the optimum chance of keeping your teeth and gums clean and healthy for life.

Central London dentists tell patients how to floss their teeth and stop gum disease and cavities

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Many people are aware of flossing but either don’t get around to it or think it is unnecessary to carry it out. In fact flossing is a vital weapon in the fight against plaque in the mouth and the failure to floss can have, in the long term, consequences as serious as tooth loss through advanced dental decay.

Dental floss is easily available in super markets and pharmacies and is affordable too. It comes in handy, small boxes which means that it can easily be carried around and taken on trips and holidays. Within the boxes you will find a long roll of dental floss that can be torn off into small lengths using a serrated section on the lip of the box. Tear off an amount that will be easily manoeuvrable with both of your hands and pull it in between two teeth. Move it backwards and forwards and then repeat the process in the next gap.

This is necessary to do regularly because brushing alone cannot always remove plaque from what can be tight gaps between teeth. If plaque stays in these gaps then it will begin to erode the protective enamel from the surface of teeth and also cause gum disease. Too much contact between gums and acidic plaque causes gums to become inflamed. If this inflammation spreads to the jaw bone then tooth loss becomes a serious concern.

Central London dentists report that many people are put off flossing because the first time they do it they experience bleeding from the gums. This is quite normal and should cease after a few more time as your gums become hardier.

Flossing with dentists in Central London: how it can save you from tooth loss

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

It probably adds only a minute onto your dental hygiene routine at home yet too many people neglect to floss in between their teeth. The evidence for this widespread omission lies in the high rates of gum disease in adults in the United Kingdom. Nobody wants to have to deal with health issues concerning their mouth yet if you don’t floss you could be leaving yourself open to things going wrong.

Dental floss can be bought from super markets, pharmacies and your dental surgery and comprises a roll of thin tape in a small, handy box. It is very cheap and can conveniently be packed into a small space so that you can take it with you on holiday or on a business trip.

It is used by pulling a length of it from the small box and tearing it off, using a serrated edge that lies next to the hole. You should then manoeuvre the floss in between two of your teeth and pull it back and forth.

The purpose of this is to remove plaque and food debris from the slim gap between your teeth. Brushes are simply unable to reach these parts of the mouth and if you leave plaque in these places then you are leaving yourself open to tooth decay and gum disease.

If you have not flossed before then you might want to ask your Central London dentist to tell you the best techniques that you can use. Many people get put off from flossing because the first few times can yield a little blood as the floss cuts the gum. But you should carry on with it so that you don’t have to deal with the pain and indignity of suffering from gum disease.

Flossing Correctly in Central London

Monday, June 13th, 2011

In all honesty, how many of us in central London cases truly say we know how to floss correctly? Flossing has come from nowhere to become one of the most important elements in oral hygiene today. Normal brushing has been around for years, but for all our best efforts to do it properly, it fails to get right in amongst those places that hold onto foodstuffs and breed bacteria. Floss can- getting between the teeth and in and around the gums. If you take a look at what’s available, there is a heck of a lot of choices in the shops these days, from tapes to threads, to some holders that have the floss strung between two small prongs. It’s a matter of ‘try it and see’ to get the one that suits you and when you do, it’s then down to your technique and this may take a little while to master too. Try asking your dentist if you are unsure, but it’s basically down to working the floss gently between your teeth. This is done by wrapping a length between the middle fingers of each hand and then once it is between the teeth, you can use your thumbs and index finger to direct it around the teeth and into the gums. When you’re ready to move onto the next tooth, you simply use a fresh piece of floss and so on and so on. You may like to develop a system, top teeth first and then the bottom. But importantly, crack the technique and get into a daily routine (maybe whilst watching the television), and you will be giving your teeth the best chance in life to be with you until the end.

London dentists help patients with their flossing technique

Monday, May 9th, 2011

The fact that there are such high rates of gum disease in the United Kingdom provides a worrying piece of evidence that just not enough people are flossing their teeth, or if they are, they are not doing it well enough. If you have not flossed before then it might seem like a daunting task and you might believe that you will not be doing it correctly. When you brush your teeth you can feel whether you have done it properly by running your tongue over your teeth, but the beneficial effects of flossing are more subtle and not as immediately noticeable.

The aim of flossing is to remove potentially damaging plaque from between your teeth where it is just as at home as one the surfaces if your teeth. This is vital in the fight to stop dental decay and also gum disease, which actually causes the most instances of tooth loss amongst British adults. The good news is that dental floss is easily available from super markets and pharmacies and is very cheap too.

You should floss after you have brushed by tearing off a manageable length of the floss from the container in which a roll of it is housed. Then pull the floss between the gaps of your teeth, gently moving it back and forth and up and down to rid the area of plaque. Many people are put off after just a single attempt at flossing because it can often causes light bleeding from the gums. This should not carry on after the first few goes as your gums become hardened to the process.

If you have any questions about flossing, your London dentist will be able to answer them and help you to become an expert in a part of your dental hygiene that is very important and beneficial.

Central London dentists tell patients all about the importance of flossing their teeth

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Taking care of your oral health is not simply a matter of brushing your teeth twice a day. That is a very important factor but there are a number of other things to bear in mind too. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and diet and keeping sweet treats to a minimum are also paramount, as is paying regular visits to your dentist to have your mouth checked out for signs of disease. One aspect that can slip under peoples’ radar is flossing but this just as important as the others and failure to do it can have unpleasant and undesirable consequences.

The main aim of flossing, like tooth brushing, is to remove plaque from the teeth. This bothersome substance is formed every time you eat and drink, to a greater or lesser extent depending on what it is that you are consuming. It needs to be removed from the teeth consummately so that dental decay does not occur. By brushing your teeth you will remove most of the plaque in your mouth if your technique is adequate. But there is one place in particular where plaque can lurk, undisturbed by your brush.

This place is in between your teeth. The best way to get to this plaque and remove it from harm’s way is the pull dental floss between your teeth. This will gather the plaque and safely get it out of the way. If you have not flossed before then it might cause you a little discomfort to begin with as it might lacerate your gums somewhat. Although sensitive, your gums are also resilient and the bleeding should stop after a few sessions flossing.

Ask your Central London dentist about flossing and they will be able to go into detail about why it is very much worth doing as part of your oral health routine at home.

A Dental Emergency in the City of London

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

A dental emergency, like any emergency, needs to be addressed immediately, but it is also important not to overreact to a problem that may arise in the mouth. Dental emergencies come in many shapes and sizes, so it’s important to educate yourself with an understanding of the nature of the emergency. Most problems can be attended to at home until a dentist can be seen. If you lose a filling, a veneer, a crown or even chip a tooth, exposure to cold air can be painful, but until you can get treatment, gaps can be plugged with gum and treated with clove oil or painkillers; as can toothaches- these can arise at any time, but can be treated in the same way. If you lose a tooth, again the gap should be filled and if possible, the tooth retained until a dentist can be seen. But as well as keeping the emergency in perspective, you should never underestimate a problem either. Some wounds can become infected if not treated, leading to further complications. In the case of an explosion of an abscess, the situation can easily become life threatening. It’s always useful to have products lying around the house or in a first-aid kit to cope with minor emergencies. Some dentists within the city of London may offer a 24 hour emergency line that you can call, but if you feel there is a real emergency at hand, a hospital should be sought- self awareness in an emergency is important.

Why Floss in the City of London

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

It’s considered by most dentists in the city of London that flossing is an integral must in oral hygiene. Foods can get lodged in tight areas between the gums and teeth, and if not removed, can lead to plaque and tartar building up- this process can start within an hour of brushing and the bacteria that builds and grows can become destructive to your teeth within a day, if left unchecked, this can then lead to gum and periodontal disease and cavities. The purpose of brushing and flossing is to break up the development of bacteria. However, regular brushing will not reach these areas where foods get stuck, whereas flossing can. There are various types of floss on the market and your choice may well be influenced by how tight together your teeth are. Flossing should be carried out at least twice a day before brushing. Once you have attached around a foot of floss between your fingers, it should be fed gently between the teeth in a sawing motion until it is against the gums and then worked between the gum and teeth to remove any foodstuffs. This is a delicate and time consuming operation but will snap the build up of any bacteria around the teeth before brushing- a mouthwash will also help in the removal of foods. It’s a small price to pay for holding off any diseases that develop in the mouth. These disease are not only painful to stop, once they have set in, but can be very expensive to correct in the long run.

Don’t underestimate gum disease say Central London dentists

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

Gum disease is often overlooked as a serious threat. For some reason we often assume that the health of our teeth and gums is somehow less important than that of the rest of out body. If a person has an eye infection, the first thing they will likely do is pay a visit to a doctor to have it examined and treated but the same is not true for our teeth. A fact underlined by the statistics that show that over three quarters of adults in the UK will have gum disease at some point but only a fraction will have it treated.

You may be asking yourself what all the fuss is about, and if gum disease is really such a big deal. Well the truth is that it really is a big deal. Over the last few years more and more links have been found between gum disease and overall health. It has been found to have links with heart disease and in extreme cases can even be the cause of fatal heart attacks. And this is to say nothing of the pain and damage it can inflict upon your teeth. It has also been found that something as simple as flossing can actually add years onto your life expectancy, such is the importance of healthy gums.

Gum disease starts when plaque attacks the gum tissue around the base of the teeth. This irritates and ultimately leads to an infection. If not treated this can become very serious and painful and will spread around the mouth. Gum disease can easily spread into the bloodstream in the mouth, where it will be carried to the arteries around the heart causing a narrowing of the arteries that characterises heart disease.

The ironic thing is that despite being so serious, gum disease is easily treated providing you see your Central London dentist in sufficient time. As with all dental problems, the best form of treatment is prevention so remember to brush and floss well twice a day, every day.

Cleaning your teeth with braces on, here are some great tips by a Central London dentist

Saturday, May 15th, 2010

Cleaning your teeth is hard enough at the best of times, but when you`re wearing a brace it can be really awkward says a Central London dentist. The most important thing with braces is flossing; this will remove more food debris and therefore bacterium, than any other method of cleaning your teeth. You should also buy yourself a specially designed tooth cum brace brush known as a Proxabrush; ask your dentist about these particular brushes or at a major chemist shop. With flossing, if you choose non-waxed, thin thread floss then you will be able to get around the frames on the teeth. You will also find that using the thin floss you will be able to thread it through the wires and get into places that are hard even for the Proxabrush. Always give your mouth a good rinse out, using a good mouth wash, floss first then brush. Usually you will see your dentist every 6 months, but with braces you will need to halve that to 3 monthly appointments as they will need to remove the tartar build up more frequently. Braces needn`t always be a burden, it just needs a bit more better planning when it comes to the cleaning regime. Bacterium and acid builds up in the mouth and will cause you extra problems with braces, at night the saliva gland stops working, so throughout the day and night keep some water handy to swig, and swish around your mouth. There are now braces that do all the usual things a brace does, but they are removable when you need to clean your teeth or eat, they are called Inman Aligners and Invisalign Braces and are used mainly with adults, but the old style braces are still out there; and it just needs a little careful planning and common sense when keeping them clean and sterile.