Grinding your teeth during sleep may be the result of stress in your life, that is manifesting itself subconsciously during the night. Alternatively it might be due to an interruption in bite caused by a change in the position of teeth. This is very common for patients who have recently lost teeth in an accident or due to decay.

Subconscious teeth grinding is known as bruxism and can result in painful jaw conditions called TMJ. It can also grind down tooth enamel causing major dental problems and very painful toothaches. When the enamel of a tooth is lost it can expose the very sensitive part of the tooth to the extremes of temperature experienced when eating and drinking. It can also expose the central part of the tooth to infection.

Bruxism can also be a major reason behind bad sleep and stress which in turn makes the situation worse. It is important therefore to see a City of London dentist if you or a partner grinds their teeth during sleep. Dentists can design and fit special mouth guards that prevent teeth grinding during sleep. They may also be able to restore your bite so that there is no muscular stress causing the grinding.

Bruxism or teeth grinding can be a hard and unpleasant habit to break but dentists are there to help you get the pain-free nights sleep you deserve.

Maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene is crucial in the war against tooth decay and gum disease. Just a few minutes of brushing and flossing each day could save you a lifetime of costly and painful dental treatment.

When it comes to oral hygiene, prevention really is better than cure. Dental problems are very easy to prevent but often very difficult to cure. Dentists recommend that patients brush their teeth twice a day for three minutes using an appropriate brush and toothpaste. This helps to prevent the build up of plaque on the tooth enamel. Plaque is a filmy substance made up of bacteria, decaying food particles and other debris. It breaks down the enamel causing cavities to develop, which if left unchecked will eventually penetrate to the root of the tooth causing toothache, abscesses and even tooth loss.

Flossing helps to remove plaque from between the teeth which is very hard for regular toothbrushes to reach. It allows you to clean below the gum line which is also hard to clean with a normal brush. This can be significant in the prevention of gingivitis, or gum disease as it is more commonly known.

Brushing and flossing are the front line defence against all forms of dental decay and disease and their importance cannot be underestimated. However, it is important, no matter how much of a fervent brusher you are, to keep up six-monthly check-ups with the dentist. Even patients with good standards of cleaning are susceptible to tooth decay, and a dentist will be able to spot the first signs of any problems.

Keeping teeth and gums clean can also have the added advantage of keeping your breath fresh. Flossing removes trapped food particles from between the teeth which are the cause for over 90 per cent of all cases of halitosis. Using tongue cleaners and inter-dental brushes can also help to keep your mouth free of bacteria. A London dentist will be able to offer you advice on which brushes are most suitable for your teeth and give further instruction on the best methods of maintaining good oral hygiene.

Have you developed a sudden, “ooh, ah ouch”? It can happen to any one, at a wedding, during your honeymoon, at picnics or late at night! Imagine a sore throbbing ball of pain vibrating your teeth and your head with no recourse for relief! It’s too late to find a local London dentist and you don’t have any medication! What can you do?Dental pain can be severe and crippling and you do need to get yourself checked as soon as possible but here are a few tips for you to follow when you can’t find a darned dentist nearby.

• Most toothaches are caused by retained food debris. Swish a little warm water around your mouth to dislodge the debris and you could get a little relief.
• Alternatively soak a little yarrow in a teaspoon of warm water and soak a pad of cotton in the place the cotton pad against the sore tooth.
• You can try common painkillers like acetaminophen or mefenamic acid to soothe toothache but you need to find specific doses and these are not indicated in pregnant women and people with allergies. You can also try local anesthetic gels like ORAGEL to soothe local area but the amount of relief you get is really variable.
Please do remember that the more the tooth aches before you visit the dentist the more difficult it gets for the dentist to treat.