Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition that is frequently encountered in London with the use of certain systemic medications, such as cyclic antidepressants. The major effects of xerostomia are increased oral diseases (particularly caries), speech dysfunction, and difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and altered or diminished taste acuity.
Individuals with xerostomia and pre-existing periodontal disease are also at increased risk for developing root surface caries. Root surface caries can occur when there is a loss of supporting bone around the necks of the teeth. The neck areas of the teeth are more prone to caries development because the tooth structure is much softer there when compared to the hardness of enamel. Therefore, root surface caries can progress much faster than enamel caries and can be more detrimental to the tooth’s health.
Nutritionally, individuals with mouth dryness have been shown to have significant deficiencies in fibre, potassium, vitamin B6, iron, calcium, and zinc. Treatments may include the use of salivary substitutes and stimulants, ongoing dental treatment (i.e., fillings) and prevention. Your physician may also be able to help by reviewing your medications and possibly eliminating or substituting drugs that have an anti-cholinergic effect. Mouth care products can help alleviate mouth dryness. Xytitol, which is contained in toothpastes and gums, has been shown to stimulate salivary flow. So, visit your London dentist to receive the proper advice and treatment when you develop mouth dryness!

Gum disease is as prevalent in London, as it in the U.S. Gum disease, or gingivitis, happens when bacteria and dental plaque create an inflammatory response in the gums that cannot be protected by the body’s personal immune reaction. Clinical symptoms of gum disease consist of localized redness, swelling, bleeding, heat and/or visible pus in the area of the mouth that is infected. Gum disease can be categorized into two different types: 1) gum disease that is influenced by local factors (e.g., bacteria and plaque), and 2) gum disease that is influenced by local factors, and modified by host influences. Gum disease is reversible if caught and treated soon enough. However, if left untreated, gum disease can progress to periodontal disease (i.e., periodontitis). Gum disease is classified as periodontal disease once there is loss of tooth attachment to the surrounding tissues, e.g., periodontal ligament, gums, and/or oral bone.
The bacteria that are responsible for causing gum disease and periodontal disease, are usually those that are classified as anaerobic (i.e., they do not like oxygen). These bacteria release an abundance of detrimental by-products, and these by-products cause an inflammatory reaction. Periodontitis can cause loss of periodontal tissue, formation of periodontal pocket(s), tooth loss, which can go unnoticed until its later stages when pain occurs due to abscesses, bleeding gums, and/or bad breath. Your diet can also be affected by gum disease, due to your inability to eat without pain.
There are several treatment options and combinations of treatments that can help to both prevent and treat gum disease. You should be brushing and flossing your teeth regularly to remove any bacteria and plaque on your teeth. You should also visit your dentist regularly in order to receive regular examinations that can identify gum disease, and to also receive regular teeth cleanings and teeth scaling as needed. If your dentist recognizes a severe gum problem, you will most likely be referred to a periodontist (i.e., a gum specialist). If your gum disease has progressed, further scaling and root planning may be required, along with the correct antibiotic regimen(s), and possibly gum and oral bone surgery. So, make sure you take care of your gums.

In London, the standard of care for the treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease includes: 1) removal of bacteria (i.e., the source of inflammation) by mechanical cleaning; 2) providing and training patients to maintain optimal oral hygiene; 3) dietary evaluation and nutritional counseling and/or supplementation; 4) maintenance and optimization of host immune defenses; and 5) the use of the best available oral health care products.
Although patients with advanced periodontal disease can be effectively treated in London, it is certainly more desirable to take precautions early on, before the damage is done. Patient motivation and compliance are major obstacles to an effective preventive program, which can be dramatically improved when high risk patients are informed about their condition. Likewise, the dental professional needs to know when to proceed more aggressively with therapy, and which patients can benefit from considering future risk or benefits in making or not making this recommendation.
Significant periodontal research has provided evidence that chronic periodontitis is treatable. However, once periodontal tissue is lost, complete restoration of these tissues are limited, and are dependent upon the specific circumstances. The majority of periodontal treatments are aimed at arresting the progression of the disease in an attempt to prevent tooth loss; it has also been shown that the majority of individuals that have sought periodontal treatment significantly reduce their risk of tooth loss. However, there are those cases of periodontitis, even if adequately treated, still continue to progress and have poor prognoses. Why do some patients have excellent outcomes, while others do not? This answer may be found in the host response to the disease, as well as the individual’s nutritional status.

Many dental care products available in London contain various nutritional supplements; coenzyme Q 10 is one of these supplements. Historically, the benefits of coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) in oral health have been known for decades. Oxidative damage occurs in periodontal disease, and research has demonstrated possible therapeutic effects of anti-oxidants in treating and/or preventing periodontal disease are useful, with special attention on CoQ10. Clinically, topical application of CoQ10 to periodontal pockets was evaluated with and without professional cleaning below the gum tissue, and significant improvements were seen that included the reduction of gingivitis, bleeding on periodontal probing and gingival enzyme activity, only at the CoQ10 treated sites. Another clinical study demonstrated that topical application of CoQ10 was extraordinarily effective in reducing periodontal pocket depth, and that healing was so excellent after 5-7 days of treatment that diseased gingival sites were difficult to locate.
Additionally, a clinical study demonstrated that patients with periodontitis frequently have significant gingival and white blood cell CoQ10 deficiencies. This white blood cell CoQ10 deficiency indicated a systemic nutritional imbalance, and was not likely caused by neglected oral hygiene. A gingival deficiency of CoQ10 could predispose individuals to gingivitis and periodontitis, and periodontitis could even augment CoQ10 deficiency. Also, the beneficial effect of CoQ10 has also been reported in an individual case study, where three dentists separately and independently scored clinical improvements of five symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis, with the initial benefits being observed only three weeks after the beginning CoQ10 treatment.
Although, significant clinical reports demonstrated beneficial effects with CoQ10 on periodontal disease, the mechanism of the role of CoQ10 in periodontal disease was not known until, from 1971 to 1974, when CoQ10 gum tissue deficiencies were observed in patients with periodontal disease when compared to patients without periodontal disease. Clinical results suggested that topical application of CoQ10 improves adult periodontitis not only as a sole treatment, but also in combination with traditional non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Dental floss is a man-made fibre, usually nylon and comes on a spool. It is inexpensive, ready to use and always available in the market. Dental floss is used in cleaning the crevices between the teeth and below the gum line where bristles of ordinary toothbrush can’t reach. It mechanically removes the bacteria that build up on our teeth and gums. Brushing alone cannot remove these bacteria. If the bacteria are not removed, they turn into plaque. Afterwards, the plaque will then turn into a hard substance that is commonly known as tartar. This will lead to the growth of more dangerous types of bacteria that produce toxins which is harmful to our bodies. The toxins will irritate the gums and can lead to gingivitis or inflammation. It will then result to Periodontal Disease wherein the toxins harm the gums and the bones that support the teeth and lead to tooth loss.
Dental flossing can also eliminate bad breath. It prevents the bacteria from breaking down food particles left in the mouth and turning it into volatile sulphur compounds that cause bad breath.
When flossing, use about 18 inches of floss. Wind some of it around one of your middle finger and the rest around the other middle finger. Use the thumb and forefinger of each hand in grasping the floss and leave an inch of floss between the two hands. Insert the floss in-between teeth. When the floss reaches the gum flap, gently slide it into the space between the tooth and the gum. Scrape up and down along the side of the tooth. Repeat five to six times. Do the same on the adjacent tooth. Repeat the procedure on the rest of the teeth. Turn each middle finger to use a fresh section of the floss. Don’t forget to gargle with water after flossing.
Dental flossing is easy… Try to make it a habit for an odour free healthy smile!

Are you a smoker? Do you suffer from chronic dental problems? Research has now proved that smoker lose teeth more readily than non smokers due to the irritation of the tar products in cigarette smoke. Smoking is a very important factor for developing severe periodontal disease. Even if the smoking patients get periodontal surgery done, healing post-surgery takes a much longer time. A few common signs of smoker which can develop to severe periodontal disease are
• Calculus is a hard calcified deposit which occurs in nearly every mouth. But it seems to form faster in smokers. These deposits accumulate along the gum line and on the inner surface of your tooth and are usually colored dark brown for smoker. This has to be cleaned away by a professional and cannot be removed by brushing alone.
• Calculus then continues to push below the gum line causing the gums to separate from the teeth. This forms a deep sack between your teeth and gums whish is the beginning of periodontal disease or gum disease.
• If calculus is not removed in time by a professional; it sediments below your gum line giving protection for bacteria. These bacteria can destroy your gum tissue and in turn can pull away the gums from your teeth. Causing teeth to loosen and fall out.