London cosmetic dentistry

Posts Tagged ‘Gum disease’

Beat deadly gum disease at Central London dentist

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

It is one of the most common diseases in the UK with over three quarters of adults suffering at some point in their life. It can be the source of great pain and has been linked to causing heart problems and even fatal heart attacks. Yet this problem is often ignored or dismissed as not being serious. Even more astonishingly, this disease is easily treated and in most cases completely preventable by taking a few easy steps each day.

Gum disease is often overlooked as a serious dental problem but dentists for years have been trying to emphasise the importance of looking after your gums as well as your teeth. Gum disease occurs when plaque and bacteria build up on the gums and begin to irritate the tissue. This ultimately leads to an infection that will cause redness, soreness and will spread quickly to other parts of the mouth. Because the soft tissue in the mouth is linked to the bloodstream, the infection can also easily pass into the blood and travel to other parts of the body. This can cause a narrowing of the arteries and ultimately lead to high blood pressure and heart issues.

Gum disease can be prevented easily by brushing and flossing your teeth more regularly and more effectively. Central London dentists recommend that you brush your teeth for at least three minutes twice a day using an appropriate brush. This will remove plaque and bacteria and keep the teeth and gums clean. It is also important to maintain your six-monthly appointments with your Central London dentist who will be able to monitor the gums for any sign of disease and offer the necessary treatment.

Have your bleeding gums examined by London dentist

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

Bleeding gums can occur for a number of reasons but for whatever reason it occurs it is never a pleasant experience and can even be quite frightening. The reasons for bleeding gums can range from the relatively innocuous to the very serious. The rule of thumb is that if your gums are bleeding you make an appointment with your London dentist to check it out.

The most common reason for bleeding gums and the most likely is thankfully the most harmless. It occurs when you have not been cleaning your teeth effectively and plaque and bacteria build up around their base. Then if you begin to make an extra effort to clean the teeth or begin to floss, the gums are a little sensitive and may bleed slightly. This will usually stop after day or so as they become used to the new cleaning regime. However, it is still worth seeing your dentist to be on the safe side.

Another reason for bleeding gums is the result of gum disease. This is when the gums develop an infection due to insufficient cleaning. Gum disease affects nearly three quarters of all adults at some stage in their life and is very easily treated if caught in time.

The most serious cause of bleeding gums is as the result of oral cancer, which is treatable at the early stage but will be fatal if not treated. It is for this reason that it is so important to have your bleeding gums seen to in case it is the sign of a serious illness. In most cases it will not be the result of oral cancer but you can never be too careful when it comes to the health of your teeth.

Gum disease and heart disease. A Central London dentists says they are connected

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Recent research has shown that there is a connection between heart and liver disease, and gum infections says a Central London dentist. The fact that receding gums bleed raised the issue that this may have an effect on other parts of the body, so research was started to determine if there was any connection between bad oral hygiene and other vital organs. Bleeding gums are a casualty of bad oral behaviour, and this allows bacteria to enter the body via the gums and the blood system. That bacteria is a bad one and is totally alien to our body, it can enter all the vital organs and infect them causing other diseases that wouldn’t normally affect us. Oral Hygiene is a very vital part of our body`s defence system as it is an open void that allows in any foreign body, there is no protective barrier in the mouth to stop this happening. Patients with early heart and liver disease have been part of the research and it has surprised researchers that many of these have a poor Oral Hygiene regime. Bacteria comes with our food and if we are not careful enough to keep our mouths free of food debris, it will sneak into the crevices between our teeth. This provides the food for bacteria to feed off; this dies off and becomes compressed onto the teeth as tartar. It also rots our gums through the acid that bacteria produces from sugar and fat deposits. So it is vital we clean our teeth more often.

London dentists stress importance of oral hygiene

Friday, July 16th, 2010

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.

Understanding the link between gum disease and heart attacks at Central London dentist

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Gum disease occurs when the gums come under attack from plaque and bacteria. Acid is released which begins to irritate the tissue and cause an inflammation. If this is not treated in time it can become infected, which poses a more serious problem.

In its milder form, gum disease is known as gingivitis, which can be treated with relative ease by a dentist and with improved oral hygiene. However, if the problem is allowed to persist it will eventually become periodontitis, a more dangerous form of the condition. In recent years several studies have identified a link between periodontitis and heart disease, one of the biggest killers in the UK.

The link occurs because infected matter in gum tissue enters the bloodstream. There it causes a chemical chain reaction which leads to a narrowing of the arteries and heart concerns. Treatment of periodontitis ranges from antibiotics to tissue removal and even hospitalisation.

The key symptoms of gum disease are swollen, red or inflamed gums, an unpleasant smell and bleeding gums. Gum disease can be prevented by maintaining regular check ups with a Central London dentist every six months.

In an age where heart disease is a very serious problem and affected by so many aspects of our modern life it is important to give yourself every possible chance of avoiding this very serious condition. Heart disease can result in high blood pressure, heart attacks and even fatalities. Ask your dentist for more information about the link between the two.

Avoid dental problems with preventative dentistry from London dentist

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

When it comes to the health of your teeth, it is never more true that prevention is better than cure. This is what has led dentists to adopt an approach to treatment called preventative dentistry. It aims to stop any dental problems occurring in the first place rather than attempting to treat them when they arise and it has proved to be very effective.

The first stage to preventative dentistry is to make an appointment with your London dentist. Together, and also working with a dental hygienist, you will devise a plan to keep your teeth in the best possible condition. Then the dentist will address any dental problems you may currently be suffering from. This will include treating any gum disease or tooth decay that could potentially cause damage. Once all this treatment is carried out you will need an appointment with the dental hygienist for the next stage of the process.

This involves cleaning all the teeth to a very high standard, removing any tartar or plaque and even removing stains. Using a process called scaling and polishing, the hygienist will get your teeth in the best possible condition. The next stage of the process is then down to you. Your dentist and hygienist will have devised a cleaning plan that you are required to stick to for the best possible results.

By following the hygiene plan closely you will give yourself the best possible chance of avoiding any dental problems in the future. As always, you will need to return to the dentist every six months at least for a check up to monitor your progress. Any adjustments can then be made to your treatment plan.

Early check up from City of London dentist prevents gum disease

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

When it comes to the health of your teeth and gums it is very important to receive treatment for any problems as early as possible. Dental problems are relatively easy to treat in their early stages but this becomes more and more difficult, not to mention expensive, as time goes on. The easiest way to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy and do not suffer from unpleasant dental conditions is to have a regular six-monthly check up from a City of London dentist.

Most oral hygiene takes place at home with brushing and flossing but it is always necessary to have your teeth examined by a dentist. This is because even the best oral hygiene routines can fall foul of tooth decay and gum disease.

Gum disease has two distinct forms. The first is called gingivitis and is the milder form of the condition. This involves minor irritation of the gums and can be fairly easily treated by a dentist and with improved cleaning. It is important to try and catch gum disease in this early incarnation to prevent it worsening and becoming the more serious periodontitis. This requires more urgent attention and may also involve a significant amount of pain. In some cases peroidontitis may require tissue removal and even hospitalisation. Several recent studies have also highlighted the increased risk of heart disease as a result of gum disease. This is because infected matter is able to enter the bloodstream in the mouth and cause a series of problems that can lead to a narrowing of the arteries around the heart.

Regular dental check ups will help to prevent any gum disease that may occur from becoming more serious. Make a dental check up appointment today, it could be the best decision you ever make.

Look after you oral hygiene for healthy teeth at City of London dentist

Monday, June 21st, 2010

If you want to look after your body and stay healthy you need to eat healthily and do plenty of exercise. This will keep your body in the best possible shape and fit to fight off disease and infection. When it comes to the health of your mouth, maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene will have the same effect.

Dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease are caused by plaque and bacteria that build up in the mouth on the surfaces of the teeth and gums. This plaque releases acid that erodes the protective layer of tooth enamel around the teeth and irritates the gums causing infection.

The most effective way to prevent this happening is to brush your teeth twice a day and floss. This removes the bacteria and plaque, keeping the enamel free from attack, the teeth free of food particles, which attract bacteria and the breath fresh. City of London dentists recommend that you brush your teeth for at least three minutes twice a day, using a soft bristled brush at a forty-five to degree angle in favour of the gums. This will remove the majority of the bacteria responsible for enamel erosion and stimulate the gums to keep them healthy.

Flossing is equally as important as brushing as it helps to remove bacteria from the difficult to reach places in between the teeth and around their base. Normal toothbrushes find it very difficult to clean these areas and it is often in these paces where the decay takes hold.

It is also important for your oral hygiene to regularly visit the dentist for a check up. Every six months is the standard amount of time you should leave between check ups in order to give you the best chance of avoiding dental disease.

Catch gum disease before it becomes a serious issue at Central London dentist

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Gum disease is the most common form of dental health problem. It is estimated that three quarters of adults in the UK will suffer from gum disease at some stage in their life. For some this might just be a case of mild gingivitis but for others it could be periodontitis that results in the need for tissue removal, extractions or even hospitalisation.

Gum disease, like tooth decay, is caused by a build up of bacteria and plaque. This releases acids, which irritate the gum tissue and can lead to an infection. If the gum becomes infected it will swell, become sore and red and spread cross the tissue. Gum disease is particularly nasty because it has proven links to heart disease. If the infection enters the bloodstream in the mouth, it can cause a chemical chain reaction that leads to a narrowing of the arteries around the heart. This could potentially be the cause of a heart attack and other very serious cardio conditions.

Gum disease can easily be prevented with improved brushing and flossing. When brushing your teeth it is recommended that you use a soft bristled brush angled towards the gums. This will gently clean the gums and stimulate them at the same time. Flossing will remove bacteria and plaque form around the base of the teeth and gums, which will help to keep them clean and healthy.

Treatment for gum disease usually involve improved oral hygiene and in some more serious cases antibiotics to treat the infection. In most cases this will be enough to solve the problem but in severe cases some tissue may need to be removed. This is why it is so important to see a Central London dentist every six months so that gum disease can be treated before it becomes a serious problem.

Prevent tooth and gum disease with treatment from City of London dentist

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Most of us, if we knew something was wrong with our body, would go and see a doctor yet so many of us are reluctant to see the dentist, even if we know something is wrong with our teeth or gums. Even when some people are in pain, they still believe that the dentist will somehow make the situation worse. This is of course not the case, and with 90% of adults in the UK suffering from gum disease at some point in their lives it is all the more important that we visit the dentist as often as possible.

Tooth and gum disease is caused by a build up of plaque and bacteria. This is allowed to happen through a lack of or ineffectual dental hygiene. In this sense the problem is self-inflicted, yet we are still reluctant to ask for help to beat it. This could be making a very serious error, as tooth and gum disease have recently been proven to have a significant effect on heart disease and can even cause heart attacks. This is because infected matter from oral disease enters the bloodstream where it can head straight to the heart. This causes a chemical reaction that can cause arteries around the heart to narrow putting strain on the heart.

City of London dentists will be able to treat any signs of tooth or gum disease in its early stages to avoid it becoming a more serious problem. They can also provide you with tips and advice on how best to keep your teeth clean and which products are most suited to your individual teeth. Tooth and gum disease are both completely preventable with a little extra effort. Just one or two more minutes a day and you could avoid a whole range of unnecessary and unpleasant health complications.