The development of holes in your teeth, known as cavities, is definitely something to be avoided. Teeth cannot grow back once a hole has formed in them and you will need to have a filling installed to protect the rest of the tooth. Most people are aware of the main cause of dental cavities: the build up of plaque which breaks down the protective layer of enamel. But what many are unaware of is that having a persistently dry mouth (known clinically as xerostamia) can be a contributing factor in the formation of dental cavities.

Xerostamia is fairly common amongst older adults and there is panoply of potential causes for the condition. Smokers often suffer because their saliva production is stymied. Those on certain medications and people undergoing certain cancer treatments can also experience extended periods of dryness in the mouth. The mouth often feels sticky and dry and sores can develop.

If this is the case then less saliva is being produced. Aside from aiding in the eating of food, saliva is absolutely crucial in strengthening the enamel which protects your teeth. If there is less saliva then your teeth can be weakened; if they are weakened then there is more opportunity for plaque to break them down and cause cavities.

Your Central London dentist will have been trained in all aspects of xerostamia. They will be adept at spotting the signs of it and then being able to act. Certain mouth washes can help increase saliva production and moisten your mouth and chewing gum and sugar free sweets can do the same. There is several medical solutions too that your dentist might prescribe.

Green brushes, red brushes, short brushes, tall brushes, bent brushes, straight brushes, hard bristles, soft bristles, electric or battery- all from a factory……You could go on for ever about the amount of toothbrushes on offer in London, there’s a hell of a of choice out there and some would say it’s just another money spinner for the industry. But if you look deeper, past the cynicism, the amount of choice can only be good for your teeth and oral health. We all have different shaped mouths, gums and teeth, so what brush is good for one person, may not be good for another. Some people are suited to hard abrasive brushes, where others require a more delicate touch. The problem of choice can be difficult to get right at first, so for a sound bite, you would do well to check in with your dentist for a little advice on the subject; they can also show you how to brush correctly. How many of us have actually been shown how to clean our teeth correctly?? Then with this information to hand, the choice becomes simpler. In vogue right now are electric tooth brushes, for they do the work for you and get ‘right in there’ where it matters to remove bacteria and plaque- the prime objective. On the subject of bacteria, a brush makes the perfect home for germs, as it starts to wear down. This is why it needs to be changed regularly to maintain cleaning efficiently.

Protecting your teeth is crucial at all ages. Children can be particularly vulnerable to ailments in the mouth, not only because their teeth are still developing, but also because they lack the responsibility of adults. As parents it should be a part of your duties to ensure that your children’s teeth stay healthy and free from disease, the consequences of which they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.

One way of helping children to stay free from these problems is for their dentist to apply dental sealants to their teeth. This basically consists of a plastic coating that is applied to the surface of teeth. It acts as an extra barrier protecting them from plaque and as a useful supplement to the enamel which exists on all healthy teeth.

The ages of six and twelve can be good times to have your dentist apply sealant to your child’s teeth. This is because of the developments in the mouth at those ages which facilitate the application of dental sealant. At six the permanent molars usually erupt and around the age of twelve the second molars do the same.

Dental sealants are an affordable way to help with the protection of your child’s teeth and they last for a good few years before they need topping up. This is very much worth doing because of how vulnerable children can be to tooth decay. Of course you should still ensure that they are brushing properly but anyone who has been a parent will know how difficult this can be. The propensity that children have for sweet snacks can also put their teeth at risk and so dental sealants are worth asking your Central London dentist about.

When most people think about plaque they conceive of it as a threat to their teeth. This is of course true, plaque breaks down the enamel which the usually robust layer of protection on your teeth. Painful cavities can then ensue which need to be filled by a dentist. But plaque does not only threaten your teeth, it can cause your gums to become diseased too. This is a threat that is worth taking seriously because gum disease – known medically as periodontal disease – is actually a bigger cause of tooth loss than cavities themselves.

This is why it is so important to brush your teeth properly, including along the gum line, and also floss as well. If plaque builds up on your teeth next to your gums then in can inflame them. This will be rather painful and you might notice that eating cold foods like ice cream or drinking hot tea will give you feelings of sensitivity that you are not accustomed to. This most basic form of gum disease is called gingivitis and it can usually be rectified by making sure that you are taking care of your teeth properly.

But if it is not sorted out then the consequences for your mouth are dire. The inflammation can easily spread so that it affects the bones which securely hold your teeth in place. This is not edifying prospect as your gums will become red, swollen and begin to recede away from your teeth. Extreme pain will follow and, ultimately, tooth loss if the problem is not dealt with.

Don’t put your gums at risk of disease that can threaten tooth loss. At your next six months check up, ask your City of London dentist what the best ways are to avoid periodontal disease by combatting plaque.

You only get one set of healthy, natural teeth. The options for replacing them are varied and hugely effective but you will probably want to do your best to keep your original, natural set in good working order. One of the biggest dangers threatening the health of your teeth is that of cavities forming. If you are worried about the problem then you should read on for more information.

The greatest enemy of teeth is plaque. This is substance that is formed when you eat or drink. It comes about not just when you consume sugary and starchy foods, although more of it is formed by these types of food. If it sits on your teeth without being removed then it will begin to break down the enamel on the surface of your teeth. Enamel is the guardian of your teeth’s structural integrity and once that starts to go, your teeth will be compromised.

The plaque can then wear down the prone tooth beneath the enamel and begin to create holes. These cavities need to be filled because the process will not just stop. Eventually there just won’t be any useful tooth left at all. Central London dentists used to fill cavities with metal, which was not always as effective as it could be and many patients found the results unsightly too. Now many dentists use cosmetic bonding which amounts to white fillings that are far easier for dentists to work with and produce aesthetically pleasing results.

Preferable to having your cavities filled is to prevent them forming in the first place. This can be achieved by twice daily brushing with a tooth paste that contains fluoride to strengthen enamel and flossing to stop cavities forming between the teeth.

One of the more common procedures that a London dentist will carry out when you pay a visit is a scale and polish. This is designed to remove any plaque and tartar that may have developed since your last appointment and to remove any stains that have built up. This form of cleaning is there to maintain oral hygiene, along with the flossing, brushing and mouthwashes that you do at home, and to fend off decay and gum disease. Scaling involves very similar techniques to that of sandblasting by firing blasts of air or finite aluminum particles at the affected areas, as well as ultra sound, to break down tartar. The dentist may also use curettes and small scalars that can remove tiny deposits and smooth the enamel. Depending on the level of build up of tartar to the teeth and if there are any signs of gum disease, you may require a deep scaling below the gums to remove any deeper deposits- this is a more delicate operation that may require a local anesthetic. Once this has been done, your teeth will be polished with a spinning, electric rubber cup and paste to restore the sheen to your teeth. It’s at this point your dentist can determine any signs of acid erosion to the enamel of your teeth and apply a fluoride treatment.

It’s considered by most dentists in the city of London that flossing is an integral must in oral hygiene. Foods can get lodged in tight areas between the gums and teeth, and if not removed, can lead to plaque and tartar building up- this process can start within an hour of brushing and the bacteria that builds and grows can become destructive to your teeth within a day, if left unchecked, this can then lead to gum and periodontal disease and cavities. The purpose of brushing and flossing is to break up the development of bacteria. However, regular brushing will not reach these areas where foods get stuck, whereas flossing can. There are various types of floss on the market and your choice may well be influenced by how tight together your teeth are. Flossing should be carried out at least twice a day before brushing. Once you have attached around a foot of floss between your fingers, it should be fed gently between the teeth in a sawing motion until it is against the gums and then worked between the gum and teeth to remove any foodstuffs. This is a delicate and time consuming operation but will snap the build up of any bacteria around the teeth before brushing- a mouthwash will also help in the removal of foods. It’s a small price to pay for holding off any diseases that develop in the mouth. These disease are not only painful to stop, once they have set in, but can be very expensive to correct in the long run.

Oral hygiene should fit into your regime in London as importantly as anything else in your life, for it can have very serious implications to your overall health, let alone your bank balance in the long run. If you have any doubts about how you should care for your teeth, the first point of contact should be your dentist (for a check up anyway!). Every mouth is different as are most people’s constitution, so your dentist can advise you on what is best for you. Your choice of toothpaste and brush are the important tools to start with and sometimes this can be a little bit of trial and error to get right at first. Mouthwashes are also useful to have in the bathroom cabinet as they help to fight plaque and tartar. Dental floss and tiny brushes are very good for getting into areas that general brushing misses. Yet, along with these obvious products, it’s also helpful to plan ahead for any crisis that may arise. There is no harm in having a few herbal remedies such tea tree, Echinacea, clove or aloe vera oils lying around the house- all of which can be used with general products anyway, but along with painkillers, they are great for soothing any discomfort that may crop up. Of course, it’s quite important what you put in your mouth too. Smoking, heavy drinking and poor diet can reduce the immune system and allow gum disease to have its wicked way in your mouth. And lest we forget, all this information is readily available on-line so, do a little research yourself and keep your mouth healthy.

It seems incredible that a large percentage of us in the city of London do not consider a visit to the dentist a priority, but see it rather as a chore. But this could be a very fatal attitude, as what goes into the mouth and what happens in the mouth can affect the rest of the body. The build up of plaque can lead to gum disease, tooth decay cavities and eventually tooth loss. Gum disease can lead to halitosis, problems in the kidneys, heart and premature birth in women, whilst losing teeth can affect the ‘bite’ in the mouth, and that can lead to problems with the ears nose and eye, cause headaches and pain in the neck and upper back. A simple visit will address all these problems. Your dentist can check for all these problems and assess the health of your mouth. An x-ray can check for decay or cavities forming, how your teeth bite together and then solve any problems. The dentist will remove any build up of plaque and tartar to stop gum disease, and if you already have a problem, recommend solutions. You can talk about any cosmetic work you are thinking about having. It’s also a chance to discuss how to keep a good level of oral hygiene going in the home. Your dentist is there to look after your mouth and keep you healthy, but start missing check-ups at your peril. Apart from the health implications, there’s the cost-getting your teeth back in shape can put a dent in your pocket.

Often commonly known as tooth ache, dental pain can take a number of forms. It can be very inconvenient and might be a sign that you have more profound problems with your teeth or gums. Every day activities like eating, drinking and talking can be made much more difficult by dental pain and it is very important that you contact your City of London dentist quickly if you find yourself experiencing it.

A common form of dental pain is one that you might experience when eating or drinking things which are particularly hot or cold. This can mean that the enamel which protects your teeth has been worn away, allowing plaque to interfere with nerves and cause greater sensitivity. This can lead to chronic pain which is basically a permanent tooth ache which won’t go away, even if you are not eating or drinking.

Having an accident or the formation of an abscess in the mouth might cause what is known as excruciating pain. This can be accompanied by a swelling in the face and needs to dealt with immediately. If your teeth are especially painful when you eat or drink you might even have a cracked tooth which is leaving the nerves exposed. Dental pain might be a sign of a medical problem that doesn’t even have anything to do with your teeth. It is best to report pains to your dentist swiftly so that complications do not ensue.

It is even possible that pain in a certain tooth has nothing to do with that tooth at all, and your City of London dentist is trained to examine your mouth thoroughly to determine the exact cause of tooth ache and offer the appropriate solution. This might involve having a cavity filled or root canal work or simply the fine tuning of your home dental hygiene routine.