London cosmetic dentistry

Posts Tagged ‘Gums’

Being a Diabetic and caring for your Gums in London

Friday, November 11th, 2011

There is sadly an awful link between gum disease and diabetes in London. It hard enough being a diabetic as it is- you have a weakened immune system that you have to keep on top of everyday and keep in check just to survive. You may even have to use medication in order to keep your body and its sugar levels stable. Now this makes you a prime candidate for gum disease. This can be caused by over medication that dries up your saliva and then encourage gum disease to flare-up, so you have to work doubly hard to avoid such problems occurring. Weirdly, having gum disease has also been linked with bringing on diabetes. It does appear like a vicious circle at first and one you are stuck in. But if you feel you are fighting a losing a battle, you do have a good ally- the dentist. They can set your mind at rest and help you with these issues and so you can get through any problems that may come along.

How to look after your Gums in the City of London

Saturday, October 29th, 2011

Like the rest of your body in the city of London, the mouth is a complicated institution that relies on you being able to ensure that you doing your best to look after every tiny corner of it. The gums are one of those special little elements that add to the make-up of the mouth. They house your teeth and protect them from such horrors like plaque and tooth decay. But they are a very fragile entity and rely on you looking after them with good oral hygiene. The real dangers to your gums come from plaque and tartar, heavy medication, dry mouth and an eclectic and wayward lifestyle and as soon as you start being complacent about the way you look after your teeth, you are putting your gums at danger to disease. If you have a good dentist in your corner and look after your mouth, you should be able to care for your gums; they respond well to a good old fashioned clean, but also a bit more on top. Herbal remedies are beautiful if they are worked gently into the gums as this tends to keep the blood flowing nicely and keeps the gums in a state of joy. And if you know the joy of a having a good massage and how it feels afterwards, then apply this principle to your gums, and with a few choice products and good advice from your dentist, and your teeth will last you forever and your gums will last forever too- look after them and they’ll look after you.

Don’t compromise the health of your gums, say Central London dentists

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

As all of the different parts of your mouth work together to stay healthy and retain high levels of functionality, it is not a good idea to neglect one part of the mouth. Doing so will have repercussions for the general health of the mouth. This is the case with your gums because failing to keep them healthy can actually negatively affect the health of your whole mouth.

Gums are sensitive to the acidic plaque which is formed after you eat and drink. Plaque causes them to inflame and eventually they can recede and some of your teeth themselves might fall out. So keeping your teeth clean is actually about the health of your gums as well the actual teeth. Plaque on the gum line of teeth has to be removed.

One of the places where plaque often escapes without being removed is in between teeth. This is why it is vital to floss. Gum disease might start off as a fairly benign set of symptoms including reddening of the gums and greater sensitivity to different temperatures in food and drink, but the inflammation can spread to the bones which hold teeth in place. At this point, tooth loss becomes a palpable risk.

Visiting your Central London dentist every six months is a central part of the fight against plaque and keeping gums healthy. Dentists are trained not just to look out for your teeth, they are also experts in the wellbeing of your gums. As such they can spot the early signs of gum disease and offer you the appropriate advice that will restore your gums to health. The good news is that the basic form of gum disease – gingivitis – can usually be reversed by following some simple advice.

Looking After Your Gums in Central London

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

Keeping up with oral hygiene in central London, is not just all about the teeth, it’s also about the thing that houses them- the gums. Caring for your gums is just as important as caring for your teeth, and this starts from the basics. Finding a tooth brush that suits you is important; it should be too abrasive as to damage your gums and should be changed regularly. Learning to brush correctly helps, for so many of us have never ever been versed in the art. Tooth paste and floss should be high on the agenda too, especially after meals to ensure that the complete removal of food stuffs that cause bacteria and plaque- this can be backed up with a mouthwash. Good diets can also help build an immune system that is resistant to bacteria and promote saliva levels in the mouth that keep the gums healthy. However, they will always be of a delicate nature, but they do respond to stimulation- gentle massaging with herbal remedies, can promote growth in gums, rinsing with warm salty water and clove oil will also help in situations where the gums bleed or weep when brushing. But this can indicate that there may be problems that you have overlooked, so regular appointments with your dentist should be enough to correct any issues your gums may have and keep them truly healthy.

Prevent dental abscesses with appointment at City of London dentist

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Dental decay can be very damaging to the health of your teeth. It can be the cause of tremendous pain due to the exposure of the dental nerve to extremes of hot and cold and other stimuli. Once decay has penetrated the protective enamel layer this also exposes the softer central part of the tooth to bacteria and the possibility of infection. Should infection take hold in the central cavity the body will produce excess white blood cells to combat it. These white blood cells battle the infected material and eventually produce an unpleasant and nasty smelling substance called pus.

This pus can build up in pockets in the gum and around the tooth causing isolated swellings called abscesses. These areas can be very sensitive and can make even the simplest everyday activity such as talking and eating extremely difficult or even impossible. Furthermore, it is possible for the abscesses to swell to such a point that they become unstable. In these circumstances even a small knock can cause the abscess to burst. Not only will this be extremely unpleasant but it can also lead to a very dangerous infection spreading around the mouth and into the bloodstream. Recent studies have proved a link between dental infection and heart disease, and even strokes so it is important to prevent any dental infection entering the blood stream.

Visiting a City of London dentist every six months can help prevent dental decay reaching a point where it breeches the enamel and prevent infections and abscesses before they have time to start. If you think you have may have a dental abscess it is important to make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible to prevent the spread of infection to other teeth. Treatment may involve anti-biotics and even tissue removal in extreme circumstances but the earlier the infection or abscess is treated the less severe the treatment will need to be.

City of London Dentist removes dental calculus to prevent gum disease

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Dental calculus is more often referred to as tartar and is a hardened deposit of plaque found around the teeth and gums. Plaque is a filmy layer of bacteria that attacks tooth enamel and causes cavities and gum disease. Plaque can be kept at bay and removed by brushing teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day, but once it has hardened into tartar or calculus it will need to be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist.

Once the bacteria and mineral deposits in plaque have hardened they can often cause more bacteria to stick to the teeth causing more problems. The first sign that you may be suffering from calculus is yellow or brown stains appearing on the teeth. It is a very porous material and attracts staining materials, especially from substances like tobacco smoke and coffee. If left untreated it can lead to cavities, periodontal disease and can infect the tissue around the teeth leading to gum disease (also known as gingivitis).

A City of London dentist will be able to remove the build up of calculus using special tools, and may be able to blast away large deposits of tartar using ultrasonic dental cleaning devices. They are also able to clean below the gum line using a process called scaling (sometimes known as root planning) which can help prevent gum disease.

As is always the case when it comes to looking after your teeth, if you follow some fairly simple rules you’ll be able to keep dental calculus under control and stop it causing any long-term damage to your teeth. Firstly, brush and floss every day, avoid sugary food and snacking between meals and go for regular dental check-ups with a city of London dentist every six months at least.

Lasers in Dentistry Overtaking the Traditional Methods in London

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Dental lasers are taking over the traditional means of dentistry. Drills, gougers are being replaced by painless measures like lasers. They do not cause any sort of discomfort to the patients. Many people are undergoing these treatments in London. They are employed to shape up the gums and whiten up your discoloured teeth. The painless ray is very effective and does not cause any harm. The process of filling and route canalling has also been given a new look and dimension.
Now, you need not withstand the pain of injections and needles for delivering anaesthesia. The mechanism behind the process is stirring of water molecules. It leads to explosions at a microscopic level. The area gets vaporised and acts like a knife for cavities and gums. The eyes are covered by protective glasses because the stray light can damage your eyes and your mouth is filled with cotton swabs. Anaesthetic cream is applied in the mouth and laser is used to treat the desired area.
The process is very costly and time consuming too. The technology has faced many drawbacks since the day of launch. So, it’s always better to carry out under the guidance of a proper dentist. Maintain a good oral hygiene and stop the consumption of tobacco or caffeine containing products. The machines are costly too when compared with that of the traditional drills. The performance and functions of such lasers are increasing day by day. With the advent of new technologies, in few years, you will surely come across cost effective lasers too.

London Dentist Talks About Oral Hygiene

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

Oral hygiene is very crucial to oral health maintenance. At your London Dental Clinic, the dental hygienist will teach you how to properly care for your teeth and gums. Good oral hygiene practices should begin at a very early age, and a dental hygienist will demonstrate proper teeth and gum brushing, and also flossing. Then they will watch you brush and floss, and aid you in making any changes in your brushing and flossing routines. Plaque is the sticky material on your teeth that needs to be removed every day, at least twice a day. You should have a set of goals for yourself that include keeping your mouth clean, odourless, and healthy. Proper oral hygiene will help to prevent cavities, gum problems, and periodontal disease. The dental hygienist will also review your diet and obtain a dental caries index, and make some suggestions about your diet and habits that you may need to look at. So, visit your London Dental Clinic to learn how to perform proper oral health.

Here are some pointers. Use a soft or medium bristled toothbrush. Hold your brush so that it is comfortable in your hand. Place a small amount of toothpaste on the brush, wet it, and place it against your teeth and gum at a 45 degree angle, and move it back and forth in a vibrating motion. Make sure that you brush all of your teeth on both the outsides and insides. The brush should be held in a vertical position to brush your front teeth on the insides. Then scrub the biting surfaces of your teeth, and floss your teeth (even behind your last teeth, as plaque also forms there). Brush for at least 2 minutes at a time and at least twice daily.

Get a London Dental Bridge to Replace Missing Teeth

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

Dental bridges are offered in London to replace a missing tooth or teeth. There are varying kinds of dental bridges including; traditional, resin-retained, and cantilever bridges. These bridges will be explained to you when you visit the London Dental Clinic. Traditional and cantilever bridges require that the surrounding adjacent be properly shaped so as to be able to accept the new bridge. The adjacent teeth are prepared into peg- or barrel- shaped forms and the bridge will go over these forms and replace the missing tooth/teeth as well. The tooth being replaced is referred to as a pontic, and can have many different designs depending on the patient’s needs. A pontic also replicates a tooth crown, and its underside usually touches the gum tissue. However, a sanitary pontic will not touch the gum tissue. A cantilever bridge is designed so that two or more teeth are prepared next to each other, with the pontic extending out in one direction and not being attached to an adjacent abutment tooth on one side. A resin-retained bridge does not require as much tooth preparation, and is usually used for front teeth, or if the patient is missing a tooth and the surrounding teeth contain no fillings or dental caries. This allows a bridge to be worn without damaging good tooth structure.
A missing tooth or teeth can cause several dental problems, and lead to more serious dental problems with time. If you and your dentist agree on a dental bridge, your London dentist will perform a detailed dental exam, take X-rays, and make study models, prior to performing the dental bridge procedure. Your other teeth and supporting structures must be in good shape in order for the bridge to succeed. The dentist will also perform an occlusal examination to make sure that your other teeth are contacting each other properly. After your dentist numbs your mouth and prepares your teeth to accept the dental bridge, impressions are taken of the prepared teeth and opposing teeth, along with a bite registration. A shade is then chosen to match your other teeth. These are then sent to the dental laboratory so that they can make the final bridge. In the meantime, your London dentist will make a temporary bridge so that your teeth won’t become sensitive or shift while waiting for the final bridge. The temporary bridge is then cementedin place and you will be given an apointment in about two weeks so that your final bridge can be placed and cemented in your mouth

Dental Crowns by London-Based Dentists

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

London dentists may recommend a dental crown for many reasons including but not limited to; restoration of your tooth to its original shape (usually following extensive tooth decay or damage), or for cosmetic reasons. Dental crowns replace the original outer surface of the tooth, usually above the gum line, but in some cases they may have to be extended below the gum line. Dental crowns are usually made up of metal (gold or other metal alloy), porcelain (a type of ceramic), or both (i.e., porcelain fused to gold/metal).
Severely broken-down or decayed teeth usually require full coverage. Your London dentist will use local anaesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding area, and will then remove the enamel of your tooth and some of the dentin layer (i.e., substructure). This will be performed using special drills. When your London dentist is pleased with the result, he will place a gingival cord around your tooth in order to take an accurate impression of the tooth preparation. The dentist will then take an impression using some type of dental putty, an opposing impression, a bite registration, and will choose a shade for the tooth from a shade-guide. These will all be sent to the laboratory in order to pour models that will replicate your mouth upon which the dental crown can be made. A temporary crown will be made by the dentist to protect the tooth from sensitivity and keep it and the surrounding teeth from shifting. The dentist will cement the temporary crown and you receive a follow-up appointment in about 2 weeks to have your final crown inserted. If you want a crown for cosmetic dental purposes, your London dentist will review other alternatives available to you before making the crown.