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.

Tooth abscesses are one of the most painful and least pleasant of all the dental conditions. Abscesses are caused when tooth decay has caused a breach in the protective enamel which has allowed bacteria to penetrate to the centre of the tooth and infect the nerve area. The human body responds to infection by producing an excess of white blood cells that attack the infection. This produces a yellowy substance called pus, which builds up around the infected area. In the case of a tooth abscess, this pus swelling occurs in the tissue surrounding the tooth and can become extremely sensitive and painful. This can make everyday tasks such as talking and eating very difficult or at times even impossible.

Tooth abscesses are therefore not very pleasant at the best of times. Not only are they painful and unpleasant but they also represent a wider risk to your health. In recent years, research has been carried out into the links between dental infection and heart disease. It has been proven that dental infection, if it enters the blood stream can cause a dangerous narrowing of the arteries around the heart that can cause heart disease and be potentially fatal. It also has links to strokes and cancer that need to be taken very seriously.

Your oral hygiene may be more than just an indicator of your dental health, as links have been proven between periodontal disease and a heightened risk or cardiovascular disease.

These links have always been suspected but a new study seems to conclusively prove the relationship. The study showed that adults who had lost more than ten teeth were much more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. This happens because bacterial infection affecting the teeth and gums can start a chain reaction of chemicals that causes inflammation throughout the whole body. Inflammation of the arteries causes a narrowing of the arteries, which can be the main cause of a heart attack.

The study followed 711 people over the age of 57 and found that those who had lost teeth due to decay and periodontal infection correlated with those most likely to suffer some form of cardiac disease. The study is particularly shocking because periodontal disease and tooth decay are so preventable with improved oral hygiene. More effective and regular brushing and flossing can reduce the amount of plaque in the mouth and severely cut the risk of infection. This in turn would keep the arteries free form the effects or inflammation helping to keep the heart and other major organs healthy.

Another important aspect of maintaining good standards of oral hygiene is by making regular visits to a Central London dentist for a check up. They can spot and treat the first signs of decay and infection, helping to keep your mouth and heart healthy. For the sake of a few extra minutes cleaning a day you could help to minimise the risk of heart disease, one of the biggest killers in the UK.

Bleeding gums caused by poor dental hygiene can end up causing heart disease according to health professionals.

People who don’t brush their teeth correctly, or who don’t floss regularly enough, often suffer from bleeding gums. It is thought that this might provide an entry to the bloodstream for the hundreds of millions of bacteria that call your mouth their home. This could result in an increased chance of heart disease and even a heart attack.

The mouth is one of the dirtiest places in the human body when it comes to bacteria. Allowing the bacteria into your blood stream from the mouth can be very dangerous. Once in the blood it sticks to the platelets, the cells responsible for coagulating to heal cuts and wounds. Once bacteria have attached themselves to the platelets it can cause blood vessels to become blocked which is obviously bad for the heart.

The only treatment for this kind of bacterial blockage is an aggressive course of antibiotics. But as bacteria become ever more resistant to modern antibiotic medicines this form of treatment is becoming less and less effective.

The one sure-fire way of beating this form of heart disease is prevention. Maintaining a healthy standard of oral hygiene can limit the number of dangerous bacteria in the mouth and ensure that they have no pathway into the bloodstream. Dentists in Central London recommend brushing teeth at least twice a day to help prevent the build up of plaque, the filmy substance around the teeth that is the breeding ground for bacteria. Flossing at least once a day can also help to destroy plaque, and kill bacteria.

Inadequate brushing or flossing can lead to cavities or gum disease (gingivitis) which can cause weakened gums to bleed and recede. Shutting this door once and for all could save your life and help you have a healthy heart, and for a few extra minutes a day, that really can’t be bad.