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.

When your teeth or gums become infected it can be a very uncomfortable and unpleasant experience. Bacterial infection takes hold in teeth and gums that are suffering from decay. When the tough enamel is penetrated by dental decay it exposes the sensitive cavity at the centre of the tooth, where the nerve is located. This can then become infected leading to toothache and dental abscesses.

When a tooth is infected in its root, the bacterial infection irritates the extremely sensitive dental nerve causing toothache. When the body fights back it produces excess white blood cells to kill off the infection. These can sometimes build up in tissue around the infected tooth causing a small abscess. This can be very painful and can be prone to bursting which can easily spread the infection.

Toothache and abscesses can both be prevented with increased cleaning far before it gets to this stage. Effective cleaning removes plaque, one of the main causes of tooth decay, this means that enamel is kept strong and healthy and infections cannot penetrate to the centre of the tooth. If the infection has taken hold it is essential that you visit a London dentist as soon as possible. A dentist can remove the infection, possibly using a root canal treatment, before filling the cavity and sealing it with a dental crown. Dentists are also trained to remove abscesses without spreading the infection to other areas of the mouth. It is important to remove any infected matter as it can cause tooth loss and has strong links to heart disease and even strokes.

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.

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.

Taking good care of your teeth is a simple and effective way of looking after them and keeping them healthy for life. By following just a few simple rules you can keep your teeth free of decay and gum disease and keep your breath fresh. But it is amazing how many people are unaware of how to clean their teeth properly and the trouble this can cause.

Dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice a day for at least three minutes using a brush with appropriate bristles (too hard can be damaging, too soft can be ineffectual) and suitable toothpaste. A City of London dentist can recommend both of these products at a routine check up. By brushing at a forty-five degree angle to the teeth you are also cleaning the gums helping to keep them healthy. Again, a dentist can show you the best way to brush.

It is also crucial that you use dental floss on a daily basis. Not flossing is like having a shower and only washing two thirds of your body. Because food and bacteria can get stuck in hard to reach places and between teeth this often means that decay starts in places you cannot see. That is why it is crucial to floss everyday to remove this matter from difficult to reach places. Decaying food mater caught between teeth is also responsible for 90 per cent of cases of bad breath, which can be prevented with flossing.

Other cleaning tools such as tongue scrapers and inter-dental brushes, as well as mouthwashes, can be recommended by your dentist at your next six-monthly appointment, which is the most fundamental way of keeping your mouth healthy.

Brushing is the first line of defence against tooth decay and gum disease and if performed properly is an effective barrier against both. However, it would seem by the levels of decay still happening in the UK that many people are still not brushing their teeth correctly, or for long enough.

Bacteria in the mouth attach themselves to tooth enamel using their sticky outer membrane. If the bacteria are not removed by effective brushing they can build up forming a plaque acid. This acid erodes the protective enamel of the tooth causing cavities that lead to infection and eventually tooth loss. Brushing twice a day for three minutes with an appropriate brush and paste can remove plaque forming bacteria keeping your teeth clean and strong and your breath fresh.

Dentists recommend that you brush at a forty-five degree angle to the teeth pointing the brush towards the gums. This way the gums are also brushed clean from bacteria and debris, but it is important not to brush the gums too hard as gum tissue can be eroded. It is also important to floss your teeth at least once a day to remove bacteria and food debris from places a toothbrush can’t reach. Brushing without flossing is the equivalent of only cleaning two thirds of your teeth.

It is important to remember to change your toothbrush every six months as bristles become bent and flat and do not provide a thorough clean when overused. Central London dentists can advise you which is the most suitable brush for your teeth at your next appointment.

As children, we are always taught that if we take good care of our teeth then they will last a lifetime. While it is true that the standard of dental care has dramatically increased since our grandparents were children, many dental problems are still very prevalent.

Judging by the levels of tooth decay and periodontal disease, we are forgetting the lessons of childhood and not taking proper care of our teeth. With the first pace of modern day life, it seems that proper brushing and flossing are becoming the victims of complacency. We might not think it is that important if we forget to floss every now and then, or if we miss a dental check up a couple of times but the importance of proper dental care can not be overstated.

Our mouths are the gateway to our body and what goes on in there can have a serious impact on our overall health. In recent years, studies have conclusively proved the link between periodontal disease and heart disease. Oral infections can cause the arteries to narrow greatly increasing the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. Likewise, poor dental hygiene has been linked to both osteoporosis and diabetes. And we haven’t even mentioned the painful and costly dental complications that can occur if you neglect your teeth. Ask anyone who has undergone a root canal treatment and they will certainly tell you to look after your teeth properly.

The lesson is to start brushing and flossing as dentists recommend and to make an appointment for a check up every six months with a London dentist, regardless if you think your teeth are fine. Dentists can spot and treat the first signs if infection and help to keep you and your teeth healthy.

A root canal treatment, also known as endodontics, is a procedure specifically designed to deal with infected matter or decay located in the centre of the tooth. To fully understand the procedure you must first know that the teeth are made of several layers of different material. On the outside is the tooth enamel, the strong protective layer which surrounds the softer dentine on the inside, supporting the structure. Inside that is the soft tissue centre of the tooth containing the nerve.

The root canal of the tooth is the pulpy soft tissue that runs down from the tooth into the jawbone and gum securing the tooth. The pulp contains nerve endings and blood vessels that form the living part of the tooth. When tooth decay happens, this pulpy centre and root canal can become infected spreading down into the gum and bone. Needless to say this can be very painful as the infection is directly attacking the nerve. This infection can also spread to the gums and can cause a painful swelling known as a tooth abscess.

The root canal treatment is designed to save the tooth and alleviate pain by preventing the spread of infection and ultimately removing it. To do this the dentist will need to drill down through the tooth to get to the infected area. In the hands of a well-trained dentist and with the proper anaesthetic this process should be relatively painless and no more painful than having a regular filling. Once the infection is removed the cavity is filled and then sealed with a dental crown to prevent further infection.

Root canal treatments have a bad reputation as being painful and unpleasant but the reality is quite different. A root canal treatment from a City of London dentist could actually prevent a lot of pain and stop the spread of dangerous infections in the mouth.

A porcelain crown is a tooth-shaped and coloured cap that is placed over a broken or damaged tooth to restore its structural integrity and cosmetic appearance. When a porcelain crown is fixed it completely protects the portion of the tooth that protrudes above the gum line.

Crowns are required for many reasons in dentistry. If a tooth has been weakened either because of a chip, crack or break a crown can be used to place over the remaining tooth to protect it from further damage. The crown therefore prevents the need for removal of the tooth and carries out all its natural functions.

Dentists also use crowns to hold in place fillings required due to tooth decay or root canal procedures. This extra security provided by a crown can prevent the need for any future dental treatment.

Crowns can also be used for cosmetic reasons. Teeth that are worn or unevenly spaced can be covered with specially designed, incredibly thin crowns which provide the appearance of healthy and well sized teeth. These thin crowns are a result of the advances in dental technology and can even be designed with a translucent appearance similar to that of real enamel. Computer aided technology has also significantly reduced the time needed to manufacture and install a crown. Using the latest digital imaging and 3D technology a dentist can design and manufacture a crown, using a computer guided mill, in as little as six minutes from a single piece of porcelain. This is an astonishing improvement on the days or even weeks of laboratory construction.

Dental crowns also now require less preparation than previously needed. Because they can be manufactured accurately and still be thin, not as much enamel needs to be removed to fix them. If you are suffering from a damaged or discoloured tooth ask a London dentist about the latest technology in the world of porcelain crowns.

The old adage that prevention is better than cure is nowhere more true than when it comes to your teeth. The most important weapons in the war against dental decay, gum disease and tooth loss is effective cleaning and regular six-month dental check ups.

Dentists recommend that patients brush their teeth twice a day for three minutes using an appropriate brush and the correct toothpaste for their teeth. Brushing helps to remove plaque, which is a filmy substance that builds up around the tooth enamel. Plaque is made up of bacteria and other debris that attacks enamel, eventually breaking it down and causing cavities. If a dentist does not repair these cavities they will penetrate to the root of the tooth causing pain and eventual tooth loss. Plaque can be removed by normal brushing but if it is not it will turn into tartar which cannot and will require a dental hygienist to remove it.

It is also very important to floss everyday. Flossing cleans the spaces in between the teeth that cannot be cleaned by regular brushing, where plaque can build up undisturbed. Flossing also cleans below the gum line, another hard spot to reach with a regular toothbrush. Brushing and flossing are the front line defence against dental problems and should prevent most dental disease. However, brushing and flossing alone are not sufficient to prevent all dental concerns. It is crucial that patients visit their dentist every six-months so that they can check for the first signs of any problems. Even the most ardent of brushers may still be susceptible to tooth decay and catching it early really can save a lot of pain and financial burden in the future.

Dentists are also trained to examine patients for the signs of other oral concerns such as cancer. Oral cancer is a particularly virulent form of the disease but has an 80 per cent survival rate if caught sufficiently early. A City of London dentist will examine for the signs of oral cancer as part of a regular check up and can take a swab of any suspicious looking material.

Maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene could save you a lifetime of costly and painful dental problems. Most dental issues are easily remedied at early stages but treatment becomes more and more difficult the more advanced the problem. A few minutes spent brushing and flossing each day, combined with a twenty minute check up every six months from a City of London dentist could be all it takes to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life.