Nearly 9 out of 10 adults suffer from gum disease at some stage in their life, which means it is very important to look after your teeth properly. Dentists always recommend that you brush and floss twice a day, every day and have check up appointments every six months. But the statistics would suggests that we are probably not good at heeding this advice we have probably heard hundreds of times throughout our lives. This makes it doubly important to start looking after your teeth and encouraging your children to do the same for life of good dental health.

Brushing your teeth twice a day for three minutes helps to remove plaque, the filmy substance responsible for tooth decay and gum disease. If allowed to remain, plaque releases acids, which gradually erode the protective layer of tooth enamel and irritate gum tissue. This will eventually lead to infection in both instances, the cause of more complicated and painful dental problems.

Central London dentists recommend that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head so that you can reach more areas of the mouth without causing any damage to the gums. Try and brush your teeth with the brush at a forty-five degree angle to the gums in order to effectively clean them.

Flossing is almost as important as brushing as it removes plaque and decaying food from small areas between the teeth and around their base. By doing these two oral hygiene tasks well each day and seeing the dentist regularly, and most importantly, sticking to it, you will be protecting your teeth for many years to come.

Looking after your teeth is very important. There are a few oral hygiene habits that are crucial to keeping your teeth in the best possible condition.

Most importantly is brushing. City of London dentists recommend that you brush twice a day for at least three minutes. This should be done with a soft bristled brush, to protect the gums, and preferably one with a small head to allow a greater access to all parts of the mouth. You should try and hold the brush at a forty-five degree angle to the gums so that they are gently stimulated as you brush the flat surfaces of the teeth. This removes bacteria and plaque from the teeth, substances that combine to release acids which gradually erode tooth enamel causing decay. Effective brushing can be the key to fighting decay and gum disease but it is more effective still when combined with flossing.

Flossing allows you to clean the parts of the teeth that are difficult to reach using a conventional toothbrush. This includes the areas between the teeth that are too narrow to be cleaned by the bristles on most brushes. Food particles and bacteria often accumulate in these gaps, which cause not only decay but also can be the underlying cause of bad breath. Flossing also allows you to clean the part of the teeth and gums around the base that are hard to get to with a brush. This helps to prevent inflamed gums which can trap bacteria and cause unpleasant bleeding.

As well as brushing and flossing you may also want to use a tongue scraper or tongue brush a couple of times a week to remove bacteria for the tongue.

We all brush our teeth everyday. It’s something that is instilled into us from a young age, but not nearly so many of us floss. Some people see it as an extra hassle, something that should really be done but doesn’t matter a great deal if it’s not. This could be a very dangerous attitude as dentists are urging all of us to realise how important flossing is for our oral health.

Brushing removes plaque and bacteria that build up on the flat surfaces of the teeth. This helps to prevent tooth decay that causes dental cavities. Brushing also stimulates the gums helping to remove bacteria that stop the dangerous and unfortunately common gum disease. But there are many areas of the teeth and gums that cannot be reached with a toothbrush. The bristles of a standard toothbrush are too wide to fit in the gaps between teeth where food particles and bacteria can accumulate. This allows plaque to take a foothold and start eroding the protective tooth enamel. Flossing allows you to clean these narrow areas between the teeth and also around their base.

In addition, flossing also helps to prevent inflamed gum tissue around the base of the teeth causing further problems. This is because inflamed tissue creates small pockets between the gums and the teeth, which can act as shelters for plaque and bacteria. By flossing, this tissue is cleaned and subsides to a more natural level making cleaning easier. For more information and techniques of how to floss most effectively, make an appointment to se a London dentist.

The important thing about treating tooth decay is that the earlier it is carried out, the easier it is and the more successful it will usually be. Dental decay is not a condition that will ever improve of its own accord. Enamel will never grow back once it has been removed and once the process has started it will only worsen making the situation more serious.

Patients can prevent tooth decay by effective and regular brushing and flossing and by paying regular visits to the dentist. However, if decay does happen it is usually accompanied by a toothache as the sensitive dental nerve is exposed to extremes of hot and cold and other stimuli. Early stage treatment of dental decay involves filling the cavities caused by plaque eroding the protective enamel. Filling material used to be commonly made of silver amalgam but due to controversy about its safety and metallic appearance in the mouth it is increasingly being replaced by composite bonding, which is tooth-coloured. The dentist will first clean the cavity and remove any infected material or bacteria that is in there. The cavity is then filled and set hard to protect the tooth.

For larger cavities it may be necessary to use a porcelain inlay as bonding can become brittle in large areas. The inlay will be cemented into place using bonding. For even larger damage and root canal treatments it may be necessary to cover the whole tooth exposed above the gum with a ceramic dental crown to offer a larger degree of protection. If you suspect dental decay or are suffering from a toothache, make an appointment to see a Central London dentist for treatment.

It’s a little known fact but gum disease is responsible for more lost teeth than tooth decay, yet so little focus is put on keeping our gums clean when compared to our teeth. Both varieties of gum disease, the milder gingivitis and the more serious periodontitis, are caused by a build up of plaque on the gums, releasing acid and gradually causing an infection.

We’re all aware of plaque but few of us realise exactly what it is. It is made up of a collection of bacteria and food matter that clings to the teeth and gums like a film. Gradually releasing acid from the decaying food and bacteria, it breaks down tooth enamel causing cavities and eroding gum tissue exposing it to infection. Gum disease is very common in the UK with over three quarters of adults experiencing gum disease at some point.

Gingivitis is the mild form of the disease which can be treated with more effective cleaning and some minor treatment from the dentist. Improved brushing and most importantly flossing will usually sort it out, but if plaque is allowed to continue to attack the gums it may worsen, eventually becoming periodontitis which is much more difficult to treat. In serious cases, periodontitis needs to be treated with anti-biotics, surgical tissue removal and even hospitalisation. It also commonly results in tooth loss and the spread of infection. With the recent research indicating a link between gum disease and heart disease it is important to prevent gum disease reaching these proportions. City of London dentists are trained to treat all forms of gum disease but can also be integral in its prevention with regular check ups.

Making sure your teeth are clean and healthy is very important, but it is important never to forget how important it is to look after your gums. Gum disease is responsible for more tooth loss in the UK than tooth decay and gum disease has recently been established to be a major contributing factor to heart disease and even strokes.

Keeping your gums clean is a simple matter of removing plaque. Plaque is a filmy substance that sticks to teeth releasing acid which erodes tooth enamel causing decay. It also sticks to gums destroying tissue and causing infections we know as gum disease. Most gum disease is mild and can be treated with improved cleaning but if it becomes the more serious periodontitis it can require tissue removal and hospital treatment.

The gums can be cleaned easily by angling the toothbrush at a forty–five degree angle when brushing. This gently clears gums of plaque and food debris which cause disease. Flossing below the gum line also helps to remove bacteria and food trapped in small pockets between the gums and teeth.

It is also important to make regular visits to a Central London dentist who can examine teeth for the first signs of gum disease and carry out thorough cleaning. Don’t get caught out by gum disease, as it can be a painful and unpleasant experience and one that is easily avoided.

Our teeth have small grooves, especially in the chewing surfaces of molars, that are too small to be cleaned by regular toothbrushes but not too small for plaque to build up and cause cavities. Dental sealants aim to fill these grooves preventing the build up of plaque offering 100 per cent protection from decay. Sealants not only prevent decay but can also prevent any further erosion in cases of decay that is already occurring.

Dental sealants are increasingly being used for children to prevent early decay as their teeth are still developing and not as strong as they will be in their adult years. Although sealants are not needed for teeth that have already been filled. Children should ideally have dental sealants applied to permanent molars as soon as they erupt in the dental arc. This is usually between the ages of six and twelve.

Sealants are applied after a gentle acid has been applied to make the surface of the teeth etched and rough for added grip. Once dried, the Central London dentist will apply the liquid sealant into the grooves of the teeth before setting it hard with the high intensity heat of a laser. Sealants are safe and painless, and best of all for kids, require no drilling.

Sealants can last up to ten years but the average lifespan is probably more likely in the area of two or three. They are highly effective tools against dental decay and can be reapplied by a dentist if it has started to wear off.

Dental cavities, also known as dental caries, are caused by a bacteria-rich substance called plaque. Most of us know the name plaque from dental adverts for toothpaste and dental floss but few people actually know what it does. Plaque is a filmy substance that is very sticky. It is made up of bacteria and decaying food matter and clings to the teeth and gums. As the bacteria and food break down they release acids, known commonly as plaque acids, which gradually erode the enamel, which is the protective layer of the tooth.

Plaque can be removed easily by brushing and flossing which has the effect of preventing this dental erosion. Brushing scrapes the plaque from the surface of the teeth leaving them clean and flossing removes plaque form more hard to reach places, such as between teeth and below the gum line of teeth, helping to stop decay in these areas.

If plaque is not removed due to insufficient cleaning it will continually erode the enamel until it ultimately causes a breach. This is a cavity and exposes the more sensitive and softer inside parts of the tooth to bacteria and infection. These cavities can be filled with amalgam or bonding material by a dentist to protect the central part of the tooth but often the cavity has reached the dental nerve located at the centre of the tooth. This causes a very painful toothache and often a very nasty infection because of the bacteria which may need more serious treatment.

Dental cavities can become very serious if not treated. Effective cleaning and regular, six-month appointments with a Central London dentist should help to keep cavities at bay, or at least repair any damage before it can get too serious.

Children need strong and healthy teeth when they are growing up to help them develop strong and straight teeth when they are adults. Tooth decay can begin at a very early age and can cause a whole series of dental problems later in life. This early tooth decay, also known as baby bottle decay, is often caused by giving children too many sugary drinks.

The sugar contained in many drinks such as fruit juices, baby formula and even milk can encourage the growth of bacteria that causes plaque. Plaque is a filmy substance that surrounds the teeth and causes the break down of tooth enamel. There are several easy tips to help avoid baby bottle decay that if followed can help your children to develop healthy teeth.

Avoid giving your child drinks with a high sugar content. Breast milk is far better for your child’s teeth than formula as it contains less sugar. As your child gets older, try to give them water rather than juice or milk. Try to remember to remove the bottle when the child has fallen asleep and try to teach children to drink form a cup as early as possible. Try to discourage your child from prolonged use of a dummy and never dip the dummy in honey or sugar to get them to use it.

Always encourage your children to clean their teeth and begin to floss at an early age. London dentists can give you more advice on how best to clean your child’s teeth and can recommend which products will be most suitable. Children should visit the dentist every six months just like adults to ensure their teeth develop as healthily as possible.

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.