If you think about it, the mouth is the gateway to the rest of you, and what you put in it and how you look after it, can directly affect the health of your whole body. In central London, oral hygiene should be high on everyone’s list because if gum disease is allowed to develop in the mouth, it not only leads to oral problems such as tooth decay and loss, but it has been linked to more serious problems throughout the body. For starters, gum disease can lead to inflammation in the heart, causing disease and stroke; also, the problem can cause digest problems, leading to diabetes and kidney disease. But women are further at risk- when pregnant, they are more vulnerable to gum disease because of hormonal changes and this can lead to premature birth. Aside from this, the occlusion of the mouth is very important- this is how the jaws come together, or the ‘bite’. A bad bite needs to be rectified (normally done through orthodontic procedures such as braces) because there is a lot of pressure placed upon to small joints where the jaws are hinged. A bad occlusion can lead to the joint becoming worn, causing the jaw to click and directly affects the upper body. Head, ear and eye aches and neck pains are directly caused by a bad occlusion and can lead to the whole upper back being put at risk.

If you have bad breath in London, chances are you may not be aware that you have it, but others around you most certainly will and they might well feel too embarrassed to point it out to you. Bad breath can be caused by a myriad of things from poor oral hygiene, gum disease to poor diet, yet there are simple ways to combat the problem, though you have to be prepared to put the effort in. The first port of call is the dentists- they will be able to advise you on a good course of hygiene; brushes, pastes and mouthwashes to start with. But if you seriously suffer from the problem, it will take a lot more than this to remedy. For a start, if something tastes bad in the mouth, rest assured it won’t smell nice either. Apart from the obvious hygiene methods, these following little tips will get you there. Eat well for a start and slow down on the smoking and drinking. Chewing mint leaves or cloves can fight the odour and gargling with warm, lemon and salty water is great for the mouth especially if you are using strong alcohol based mouthwashes; (best to avoid as they can have the reverse effect). Baking soda and tea tree oil have long been good deterrents against bad breath and they can be used on the toothbrush or in water and in the case of the oil, it attacks gum disease and is best when soaked into dental floss.

Given that gum disease is a greater cause of tooth loss than tooth decay itself and that as many as three quarters of British adults have gum disease in some form at the moment, it is time to start taking the health of your gums seriously. Gum diseases can be extremely painful but they are often entirely reversible. Your London dentist will be able to spot all the early signs of gum disease.

Gingivitis is the most common form of gum disease and you might have it if your gums are more red than pink and have a tendency to bleed during brushing. Gingivitis is easily avoided by pursuing the recommended dental hygiene routine at home of brushing and flossing twice a day but you should report to your dentist if you think you might have it. Leaving gingivitis untreated can lead to worse problems.

If gingivitis is allowed to progress it might turn into periodontitis. This painful condition is an inflammation of the gums and, in worst cases, the bones holding your teeth in place are affected too. This can lead to teeth falling out and the subsequent pain and difficulties with eating, drinking and talking. It is a good reason to be vigilant about the health of your gums.

Signs of gum disease that you ought to look out for include an odd metallic taste, bad breath, blood in your mouth when you brush your teeth or the feeling that your teeth don’t ‘fit’ in your mouth anymore. You might also wish to examine your mouth for patches that are red or swollen. Contact your London dentist if you spot any of these indicators of gum disease. Allowing your dentist to examine you early lessens the risk of painful advanced diseases and invasive procedures.

Gum disease or gingivitis, is a major problem in London that affects more than 50% of adults with natural teeth At first, most people will be unaware of a problem, but if allowed to develop into periodontitis, (where the gum forms a pocket around the tooth), plaque can set in, leading to tartar, cavities and decay, and in the long run, tooth loss. Early symptoms of the problem start with swollen gums and bleeding teeth after brushing. A more serious sign of gum disease are wobbly teeth and roots being exposed. Causes are many-fold. The build up of plaque can be down to poor oral hygiene and/or bad diet. Diabetes, low immune systems and hormonal changes, such as in pregnancy, can lead to gum disease, as can smoking. Gum disease is not exactly treatable, but it can be halted. Treatment will depend upon the severity of the problem. It will start with the removal of plaque and tartar from around the teeth and gums by scaling and cleaning. The dentist may give advice on mouthwashes, brushes and toothpastes to use. But if the disease is a lot more advanced, deep scaling of the pockets and post treatment check-ups are required to combat the problem. It is why regular visits to the dentist are imperative to spotting any early signs of the disease.

Unsightly, stained teeth can often prevent us from smiling, leading to low self-esteem and confidence and as many times our teeth are brushed, it will not remove those deep entrenched stains. But according a city of London dentist, you would be well advised to recapture that clean and healthy smile by trying a new teeth whitening technique called Zoom!, made popular by makeover TV shows. Before starting the treatment, a consultation with a dentist is required to check for signs of gum disease, which must be treated before any whitening can take place. Once given the all-clear, the procedure can begin. Your gums and lips will be protected by a heat and bleach resistant cover to prevent damage, before applying the gel. Then as the lamp is activated, it heats the gel and starts the bleaching process, dissolving the stains as it goes. The beauty of Zoom! treatment is that it is very quick; three sessions in a dinner hour and the affects are immediate. It can also be used on crowns, veneers and dentures. In some cases, further treatments may be required for heavy staining in conjunction with home bleaching sessions.

Many dental treatments in central London rely on X-rays in order to make a correct and early diagnosis and they are used in nearly all aspects of dentistry. X-rays make everything visible, the extent of tooth decay, bone loss caused by gum disease, an abscess, tumours, impacted teeth and the extent of tartar build up. They help in monitoring fillings, bridges, veneers, crowns and root canals in order to maintain good, healthy hygiene. But as technology has advanced, so have X-rays- they’ve gone digital. Long gone are the days of filing cabinets full of large cumbersome images, now X-rays can be stored on computer and an image can be processed and viewed in seconds. In the case of deciding precise treatments, images can be sent via e-mail to specialists in their field, such as orthodontists for example, who can make a faster diagnosis and get the treatment underway more quickly. The procedure of having a digital X-ray isn’t that far removed from the old methods, you stand in front of a camera with a barrier in the mouth and an image is taken. But digital can incorporate colour coding to highlight problems like decay inside the teeth and the greatest advantage of all is the X-ray can be developed into 3-D images, pinpointing problems precisely. Like any new technology, digital is expensive, though, prices will fall in time- but no price should be put on a correct and accurate diagnosis to perfect treatments.

Toothpaste is the soft substance that is applied to toothbrushes to aid with the cleaning of teeth. It is very effective at removing plaque and bacteria from the surfaces of the teeth and often contains fluoride, which helps to protect the teeth against gum disease and tooth decay. It is also a great way of keeping the breath fresh and the smile looking healthy. Toothpaste, along with dental floss and mouthwash make up a strong defence against al forms of dental disease.

Toothpaste is mostly made of fluoride, thickener, detergent, flavouring, humectant and flavouring and in the case of specialist toothpaste for sensitive teeth, also contains potassium chloride which helps to stop the pain of sensitive teeth.

There are many types of toothpaste available on the market to suit different types of teeth. As well as the toothpaste for sensitive teeth there is also different kinds for dealing with tartar, pastes that offer extra protection against cavities and pastes that aim to whiten the teeth. Some pastes may suit one person but not the other so it is always a good idea to check with your London dentist before you start to use a particular brand. It is also necessary to check with your dentist when using toothpaste that contains fluoride, specially if children are using it as excessive amounts can be damaging for children’s teeth and can cause fluorosis.

Toothpaste forms an integral part of the dental hygiene routine and helps to keep the teeth safe and protect against damage. Toothpaste is especially effective against sugary foods which is why dentists always recommend brushing your teeth after eating meals.

City of London dentists have been replacing lost teeth with dentures for many years but the dentures they are able to fit these days are a vast improvement on the dentures of the past. Modern dentures are made of modern plastics and ceramics and look more lifelike, feel more comfortable and are better fitting than ever before. This comes as some relief to the many thousands of patients each year that have lost their teeth and need to be fitted with dentures. But how and why do patients lose their teeth and end up needing dentures?

The most common reason for needing dentures is lost teeth due to decay and disease. Tooth decay and gum disease are very common amongst adults due to a lack of oral hygiene and understanding about how you need to look after your teeth. Once decay has taken hold it is very hard to halt the process, which affects more and more teeth in the mouth. The other very common reason for needing dentures is having teeth knocked out in an accident such as a car crash or sporting injury. These can be very damaging and result in the loss of many teeth in the same instance.

Luckily for patients who have lost teeth, dentures can now be fitted with the minimum of fuss and they can completely restore the appearance of lost teeth. Modern dentures should fit by suction alone and should not require any messy dental adhesives but some patients often feel that these are necessary. In these cases, the dentist can fit small metal screws called mini-implants. These are drilled directly into the jawbone and act as a secure clip base for the dentures. They can easily be fitted in and removed and allow the patient to carry on with life without the fear of their dentures falling out.

There are many types of dental visit depending on the nature of treatment you require, if any, and the condition of your teeth. It is important that you are clear what it is you are going to the dentist for and what is likely to take place when you are there.

The most obvious and straightforward type of dental visit is the check up. You should have a dental check up every six months on average (your dentist may recommend more or less frequently depending on the nature of your teeth). This is to ensure that the teeth are healthy and there is no sign of nasty dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Spotting these conditions early is the key to effective dentist treatment and will save you much time, pain and money in the long run. This is because treatment is much easier and less expensive if the condition is caught in its early stages. A dental check up will therefore involve the dentist checking your teeth and gums for any signs of dental problems and also for other conditions such as oral cancer. Thousands of lives have been saved as a result of early spotting of this killer disease during dental check ups.

The other types of dental treatment include cosmetic dental appointments where the teeth are visually improved without any structural or health reasons (these are usually arranged and desired by the patient themselves). Then there is the dental appointment that requires dental work. This will usually have been suggested by the dentist as the result of them spotting some work that needs to be done. Commonly this could include a dental crown, filling or some composite bonding to repair damaged teeth.

Whatever the reason, Central London dentists will carry out the appointment with the maximum regard for your comfort and well-being.

Many people who suffer from dental phobia can see no way or time when they will be able to overcome their fear. A phobia is a severe form of fear characterised by an urgent desire to avoid the thing that causes the anxiety. Phobias can be very debilitating and frightening and be the cause of long-term anxiety and panic disorders.

When it comes to the dentist, phobias are doubly damaging because they result in the person not getting the necessary dental treatment and their dental health suffering as a result. This could mean suffering from dental decay or gum disease, both of which can have serious and long-term consequences for both the teeth and wider health. Gum disease in particular has very strong links to heart disease and even fatal heart attacks.

However, despite it not seeming like there is a solution, it is very possible to overcome dental phobias with the help of an understanding City of London dentist. Modern dentists are trained to deal with anxious and worried patients and have many ways of helping anxious patients to relax. This could even be as simple as talking through the treatment before hand. This is successful because many phobias are caused by a fear of the unknown and the unexpected. By simply knowing exactly what is going to happen many patients are more able to relax.

As well as this, there are many relaxation and breathing techniques that can be easily taught to help prepare patients for their treatments. No matter how great the fear, dentists can help you to overcome them and get the treatment that you and your teeth deserve. Make an appointment to talk through your fears and worries with your dentist and make the first step top conquering your phobia.