Tooth decay is caused by a number of factors- from poor diet that you practise on a day to day basis, to a build up of poor nutrition that has been handed down over generations. But, in today’s terms, poor oral hygiene is a major player; it’s important to keep the mouth, and its teeth and gums, free from the bacteria that come from the foods we eat, for in the long run, it leads to plaque, a build up of tartar and gum disease. Inevitably, these factors attack the enamel of the teeth and cavities form- causing tooth decay, and this can spread very quickly throughout the mouth. A dentist can spot this early on, if you have regular check-ups and can remedy the problem with a filling. But all it takes is to miss an appointment, and then the problem can become more serious. If tooth decay is not caught early on, it may take a root canal treatment to save the tooth followed by the fitting of a crown; at worse, the tooth may have to be ‘pulled’. Remarkably however, there have been cases of reversing the early signs of tooth decay, without dental treatment, that have been achieved at home through herbal remedies, extraordinary diets, and good oral hygiene. The internet has become a great source of information and it’s easy to source information about tooth decay and how to fight it. Remember, dentists and all the techniques at their disposal, will always be there to fall back on, if after everything you’ve tried, comes to nothing.

Dental care for your child in the City of London should start from the very first day they are born, for the way your child’s teeth grow can affect their oral health for the rest of their lives. Even when there are none showing, the teeth are growing below the gums and the gums need to be wiped after feeding whenever possible. The most important time of course is when your child begins to teethe, which is the same time you should have a good pediatric on board. They are there to maintain the health of children’s teeth and can advise you on diet, cleaning and then tell you the best time to see an orthodontist. Many children suffer from tooth decay around this time due to ‘bottle mouth’, a problem that stems from leaving the bottle in the child’s mouth to long and allowing bacteria from the milk to build up in the mouth; this along with a poor diet or too much sugar, can wreak havoc on your kid’s teeth. A good diet will build up the child’s immune system and encourage a good level of saliva in the mouth- one of the best natural agents to fight bacteria. Fluoride based toothpaste should also be limited around this time, as it has been linked poor health in children- children tend to swallow more toothpaste, which in some extreme cases, can be fatal. Of course, if you get it right at this stage, the healthier your child’s teeth will be, and possibly avoid the need for expensive braces later on. Teaching your kids to brush properly is imperative as is placing them with a dentist that can build up a good dental history that will support them as they grow through these, their informative years.

Gum disease is something that ought to be taken seriously given that as much as seventy five per cent of the adult population of Britain is suffering from it in some form at any given time. Gum disease is actually a greater cause of tooth loss than tooth decay itself and you ought to seek advice from your dentist if you think you are suffering from it. But there are also effective ways to relieve gum disease using herbal remedies at home.

Gum disease in its most basic form is called gingivitis and can occur as the result of sub-standard oral hygiene. If plaque builds up against the gum line on your teeth then the gums can become inflamed and swollen, giving you greater sensitivity and visible redness when they ought to be a healthy pink. Gingivitis is easily dealt with by making effective changes in the way you look after your teeth at home but herbal remedies can also help.

Certain toothpastes contain particular herbs which can benefit your gums, for example, sage, peppermint and basil. You can even get hold of certain substances and apply them directly to your gums. These include calendula, Echinacea and extract of grapefruit. This can sometimes be a little aggressive for those with particularly sensitive gums so you should always seek the advice of your London dentist.

If your gums are already rather inflamed then aloe vera and clove can provide effective relief. But of course the best way to guard against gum disease is to be sure to take the best possible care of your mouth as a whole and go and visit your dentist every six months for a check up.

However much we try to take care of our teeth in London, at some point in our lives, tooth decay will form in our mouths. Tooth decays starts where bacteria is allowed to thrive in the mouth- feeding off foods and sugars that get stuck between our teeth and gums, and this decay can start to set in after only 24 hours of being in the mouth. It allows plaque and then tartar to build up around the teeth and then breaks down the enamel on the teeth- and it’s all down to poor hygiene. Mild forms of decay can be filled by a dentist- in this case, the decay has not affected the nerve, so the tooth is ok, but if the problem gets out of hand, and the decay is well advanced, more advanced restorative treatment is called for. If the nerve has been affected, a root canal may be required to remove the rotten pulp of the tooth, along with the nerves, and then the tooth is capped. In cases of a root canal, this tooth will only last, on average, a further 10 years. Worst, you could lose the tooth altogether well before this, and this can get expensive to replace, needing a bridge or to have implant fitted. Fluoride treatments and dental sealants can be used in the earl stages of the problem to help the fight, but if you need a crown, there are many to choose from, from porcelain to gold, depending on the functionality of the tooth. Essentially, you should find out from your dentist on how to fight tooth decay and the treatments available to combat the problem.

There is a pretty good chance that almost all of us in the city of London, at some point in our lives, will succumb to some to some form of tooth decay, chipping or cracks, meaning that a crown placement will be required to restore the damage done. But such are the progress and refinements of dental procedures these days, having a crown fitted has never been easier, and will not only restore the look to the teeth, but also maintain the health of your mouth. The treatment requires x-rays and clearing out any decay in the tooth- it may even require a root canal, but once this has been done, the dentist can then take impressions of your tooth so that the crown can be made and then fitted. This would normally take a couple of visits, although if you are in a hurry, you can have CEREC treatment that can complete the restoration in one visit. It’s at this point you get to choose the material the crown is made from. Resin, porcelain and porcelain-over-metal are the more popular choices and look very natural, although, if a crown is required at the back of the mouth where the tooth undergoes a lot of pressure from chewing and biting, a more durable material such as gold alloy may be required.

Having bad breath in London is a very delicate matter. Friends, if you still have any, can be put in a very difficult situation and will be wary to point it out, and it can make you very socially unacceptable to others. If you are aware that you have a problem, you would be wise to seek treatment. Your dentist should be able to give you a check up and correct any issues that may lie behind the problem, such as gum disease and tooth decay. They will also be able to advise you on how to keep your mouth healthy, but then it’s down to you. Looking after your mouth starts at home and this starts with regular brushing and flossing, but combating bad breath doesn’t stop there. Having a reasonable diet helps to settle gastric problems and keep the blood clean; it can build up your immune system and helps to promote a good level of saliva in the mouth to fight oral bacteria- limiting the amount you smoke and drink helps. Your choice of brush and pastes can also fight bad breath, but herbal remedies are also helpful. Natural products such as tea tee oil, cloves, mint and Echinacea are very good for neutralising odours and attacking gum disease, as is baking soda, and these can be incorporated with your toothpaste and floss. Some mouthwashes are alcohol based and can promote bad breath, so it’s important to remove this from the teeth by gargling again with lemon and salt based water. It may seem complicated, but keeping your breath fresh will greatly improve your lifestyle.

As we grow older in London, there is a greater chance that we may lose one or two teeth due to various reasons- the main one being gum disease and tooth decay. This can cause problems with the other teeth that remain, and as well as affecting your speech and the way you eat, it can also play havoc with your vanity and knock your self confidence. Dental implants are designed to rectify these problems. Implant technology has improved greatly since they were developed way back in Sweden and with modern laser surgery and healing techniques, having an implant fitted into the mouth has never been easier- it’s become quick, painless and most importantly, cheaper. Implants restore a natural look and feel to the mouth, maintain the oral health and will last a lifetime; such are the benefits of having an implant, we may well see the extinction of dentures for good in the future. Dentures can have a tremendously negative psychological affect. They can make you feel old, they can be uncomfortable to wear and keep in the mouth, and you are constantly aware that you have them- they also need replacing every so often. An implant is a permanent one-off, (as is the price) and requires no extra special treatment- they are cleaned and maintained like normal teeth and if a tooth becomes cracked, chipped or discolored, a new one can simply be fitted onto the implant. Implants are a proven restorative procedure for replacing a tooth, or teeth and will give you peace of mind.

Gum and tooth disease in the city of London go together like eggs and bacon, one goes hand in hand with the other and gum disease can affect over 50% of us. And unfortunately, it can go unnoticed until it develops into something more sinister like tooth decay. More worrying, it can have a knock-on affect throughout the body- gum disease has links with premature births, heart attacks and kidney failure. It all starts quite simply with poor oral hygiene and bad habits such as smoking and a poor diet, as this can lead to a weakened immune system that feeds gum disease. If plaque and tartar build up and are allowed to go unchecked and run wild, they can lead to periodontitis and eventually, cavities and tooth decay. Early signs of the problems are bleeding gums, weeping gums that leave a bad taste in the mouth, and loose teeth. Depending on how advanced the disease is, it is treatable, though not reversible. The dentist can administer de-scaling around the teeth to remove the plaque and can fill cavities via fillings and/or root canal work, but further treatment lies in our hands. The dentist can advise on a solid program of good, healthy oral hygiene and there are very effective herbal remedies that attack gum disease. But gum disease can come back very quickly, so regular check-ups and maybe, losing some of the bad habits, are essential in fighting the disease.

The greatest cause of tooth loss in Britain is not, in fact, tooth decay itself. Gum disease leaves your teeth at far greater risk and, with around seventy five per cent of Britons older than thirty five suffering from gum disease of some kind, it is something which needs to be taken very seriously indeed. If you begin to experience bleeding from your gums you ought to make an appointment with your London dentist as soon as you can.

The most common form of gum disease is called gingivitis and is usually indicated by bleeding of the gums. This may occur when you are brushing your teeth or flossing and you might find that eating and drinking have become painful. The good news is that gingivitis can usually be avoided by following a normal dental hygiene routine of brushing and flossing twice a day and keeping a schedule of six month visits to your dentist.

If bleeding gums and gingivitis are left untreated worse may follow. The advanced form of gingivitis is called periodontitis and is extremely painful. If contracted, periodontitis leads to the bones which hold your teeth in place becoming inflamed. This can eventually lead to tooth loss but it needn’t get to this stage if you are sure to inform your dentist of any problems you have with bleeding gums.

Your London dentist might recommend that you need to improve your home oral hygiene routine or advise that you use a special mouthwash suited for gums. In some cases you might be prescribed antibiotics. This can only happen if you keep your dentist up to date with what is happening in your mouth and report bleeding gums quickly.

Many dental treatments in central London rely on X-rays in order to make a correct and early diagnosis and they are used in nearly all aspects of dentistry. X-rays make everything visible, the extent of tooth decay, bone loss caused by gum disease, an abscess, tumours, impacted teeth and the extent of tartar build up. They help in monitoring fillings, bridges, veneers, crowns and root canals in order to maintain good, healthy hygiene. But as technology has advanced, so have X-rays- they’ve gone digital. Long gone are the days of filing cabinets full of large cumbersome images, now X-rays can be stored on computer and an image can be processed and viewed in seconds. In the case of deciding precise treatments, images can be sent via e-mail to specialists in their field, such as orthodontists for example, who can make a faster diagnosis and get the treatment underway more quickly. The procedure of having a digital X-ray isn’t that far removed from the old methods, you stand in front of a camera with a barrier in the mouth and an image is taken. But digital can incorporate colour coding to highlight problems like decay inside the teeth and the greatest advantage of all is the X-ray can be developed into 3-D images, pinpointing problems precisely. Like any new technology, digital is expensive, though, prices will fall in time- but no price should be put on a correct and accurate diagnosis to perfect treatments.