Bad breath is one of those personal hygiene problems that can be really unpleasant. Like body odour, it seems like everyone else is aware of the problem but the sufferer them self and being stuck in a confined space with someone with bad breath is an experience we all want to avoid. One of the major problems with bad breath is that it can be very difficult to know when you are suffering from it, unless someone tells you, and that’s never an easy thing to either do or hear. But you can take action against bad breath by simply following a few dental hygiene rules.

Over 90 per cent of all cases of bad breath are caused by poor standards of oral hygiene leading to bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria build up on decaying food matter trapped between teeth and in the grooves of the tongue. This decays releasing a nasty smelling sulphurous compound, which is carried out on the breath. This is the source of the condition also known commonly as halitosis. This bacteria can be easily removed by effective brushing and flossing. Brushing twice a day at least, with a suitable brush and paste helps to remove bacteria and trapped food that cause bad breath. Flossing is equally important in removing the food and bacteria from parts of the mouth hard to reach with a brush such as between teeth and below the gum line.

It may also be a good idea to use either a tongue cleaner or an inter-dental brush to remove even more bacteria. By following this advice and also remembering to see a Central London dentist every six months for additional cleaning you can easily help prevent bad breath and live your life confident in the knowledge you are not the person everyone is talking about.

The terms scaling and polishing can sound scary especially when you know it’s happening at the dentist. In a recent survey, over 90 per cent of people in Britain admitted to having some fear of the dentist. The reality is however, that scaling and polishing are relatively painless procedures and could prevent years of dental health problems in the future that really will be painful.

Scaling is the process of using hand tools to remove built up plaque that has hardened into tartar and calculus. This usually takes place near the gum line and on the back-side of teeth which are areas often overlooked during tooth brushing. The procedure can hardly be called a pleasant one, but it should not involve any pain if performed correctly by a Central London dentist. For many patients it is the noise and sensation that are slightly unpleasant rather than any feeling of pain. However scaling is one of the most important procedures in dental hygiene and can prevent cavities even at a late stage of plaque build up.

Polishing is the process of using an electronic, rubber-tipped tool to polish teeth once all cleaning work has been done. This is a painless procedure and only involves some mild tickling sensations. Polishing and scaling can leave your teeth feeling extremely clean and fresh. It prevents discolouration and cavities occurring to damage the appearance of your teeth and makes your teeth look cleaner, whiter and healthier.

A porcelain crown is a tooth-shaped and coloured cap that is placed over a broken or damaged tooth to restore its structural integrity and cosmetic appearance. When a porcelain crown is fixed it completely protects the portion of the tooth that protrudes above the gum line.

Crowns are required for many reasons in dentistry. If a tooth has been weakened either because of a chip, crack or break a crown can be used to place over the remaining tooth to protect it from further damage. The crown therefore prevents the need for removal of the tooth and carries out all its natural functions.

Dentists also use crowns to hold in place fillings required due to tooth decay or root canal procedures. This extra security provided by a crown can prevent the need for any future dental treatment.

Crowns can also be used for cosmetic reasons. Teeth that are worn or unevenly spaced can be covered with specially designed, incredibly thin crowns which provide the appearance of healthy and well sized teeth. These thin crowns are a result of the advances in dental technology and can even be designed with a translucent appearance similar to that of real enamel. Computer aided technology has also significantly reduced the time needed to manufacture and install a crown. Using the latest digital imaging and 3D technology a dentist can design and manufacture a crown, using a computer guided mill, in as little as six minutes from a single piece of porcelain. This is an astonishing improvement on the days or even weeks of laboratory construction.

Dental crowns also now require less preparation than previously needed. Because they can be manufactured accurately and still be thin, not as much enamel needs to be removed to fix them. If you are suffering from a damaged or discoloured tooth ask a London dentist about the latest technology in the world of porcelain crowns.

Are you alone and pregnant in London? Wondering how you can protect your teeth better? Pregnancy is a state where your body is vulnerable physically and mentally. Lots of changes happen in your body. Emotions, weight and hormones work together creating weird but necessary cocktail of materials required to keep your baby healthy. Your body will be focusing on nurturing and caring and sharing of your baby’s growth within. As a result your body’s immune system gets slightly overloaded.It is possible for formation of pregnancy tumors to take place which look like red, raspberry colored lesions. It’s nothing to worry about but if you don’t take care of the plaque formation on your teeth then it rapidly increases in size. Prevention is the best solution and keep your gum area and teeth clean by brushing and flossing.

If you are suffering from morning sickness along with your pregnancy you should be extra cautious. The acids in the stomach can destroy your teeth’s enamel to cause a chalky white ring at your gum line. It can even cause cavities along the gum line. Keep a careful eye on these lesions and get them filled at the earliest opportunityMake it a practice to clean your teeth at the dentist in every four months. Take a little time more to clean your teeth gently. You can even use a fluoride rinse to prevent formation of cavities.