Dental check-ups are essential for maintaining good oral health. However, many people still avoid making regular dental appointments, why is that? Perhaps it is dental anxiety that keeps your away from your local practice, or is it that you think you just do not have the time? Regardless, there are no excuses; dental check-ups are the only way to prevent the onset of tooth decay, abscesses and other painful dental problems.
Your dentist is professionally qualified to detect any problems you may be experiencing in your oral cavity, Bacteria and plaque are small micro-organisms that evade the naked eye, so inspecting your own teeth in the mirror is simply not a suitable alternative to a visit to your dentist.
Your dentist in Weston-super-mare will be able to offer your any treatments or equipment that may help you address any problems you may have. With a range of technologies at their disposal, you do not have to worry about your condition any longer. And if you are not yet suffering from any complications, you can ensure you stay this way, with regular check-ups.
Whatever your excuses for not visiting the dentist are, ignore them. Your mouth is too important to overlook, make and appointment for a check-up with your dentist every six months and you will be smiling happy.
Good dental hygiene requires a good understanding of human teeth, in Weston-Super-Mare your local dentist discusses what makes a tooth. Deciduous, commonly known as ‘milk’ or ‘baby’ teeth, normally appear around 6 months and will last until about 6 years old, at which point this will be replaced by your permanent teeth. Human teeth have many different forms and functions, with some primarily used for biting and others for chewing. Although taking different shapes, all teeth share the same internal structure of enamel, dentin, cementum and pulp. The outer layer of your teeth is the enamel. Made of high concentrations of minerals, although it is semi-transparent, the enamel is the hardest part of the tooth and forms a protective shell around the inside. Supporting the enamel is the dentin. This provides most of the colour for your teeth. Although still providing a protective layer to the pulp, dentin is more flexible than enamel and more prone to tooth decay due its tubular structure. Below the dentin is found the cementum, this is softer than both enamel and dentin but provides stability to the tooth and connection to the jaw bone. At the centre of the tooth is found the pulp, otherwise known as the ‘nerve’. Filled with soft connective tissue, it contains blood vessels and nerves. It is through the pulp that teeth can receive nourishment and teeth can communicate with the brain.
Perhaps you have heard a rumor going around that fluoride is actually bad for your teeth. Don’t let conspiracy theories frighten you off of a crucial component to practicing great oral health. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps your teeth by strengthening them and protecting them from tooth decay and gum disease. It is vital that you brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride therapy, also known as fluoride treatment, can completely reverse the earliest stages of tooth decay, saving your teeth from this dangerous dental disease. Fluoridation is the practice of adding fluoride to drinking water supplies. This is practiced most commonly in the United States. Some parts of England have adopted the practice, but not all. Fluoridation is a helpful step that has proven to have drastic improvements on the oral health of a population. Fluoride fortifies the enamel of teeth, fighting off the build up of plaque and bacteria that threaten to break down the hard surfaces of our teeth to cause cavities, rot, and infection. Fluoride can be helpful to your oral health in more than just toothpaste. Speak to your dentist about fluoride mouth washes and fluoride fortified floss. If you are hindered by dry mouth, dental disease, or wear crowns, bridges, or braces, you should consult your dentist in Swindon about extra fluoride intake to benefit your oral health.
Dentin is not only a major part of your teeth but makes up the entirety of elephant ivory. Found under the enamel it is key in support the harder outer service and protection of the sensitive pulp at the centre. Being under the semi-transparent enamel, dentin plays an important role in determining the colour of your teeth. Dentin is made of microscopic tubes of dentinal fluids containing many minerals, primarily calcium. The dentin is both more pliable and more permeable than the surrounding enamel. As your Bristol dentist will tell you, this gives your teeth the advantage of flexibility but the greater risk of tooth decay. Tooth sensitivity is often caused by the exposure of the dentin through the loss of the enamel. The dentin has three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary. The majority of dentin is primary and found in between the enamel and pulp chamber. Primary dentin is a mixture of mantle dentin, at the closest point to the enamel and newly formed predentin which is not fully mineralised. After root formation is complete (once it is a functional tooth), secondary dentin is produced incrementally around the pulp chamber and gradually shrinks the pulp chamber of teeth. Tertiary dentin only appears through the occurrence of cavities and other external stimulus. The severity and duration of external damage determines the formation and structure of tertiary dentin.
Dental extraction can be referred to as exodontias. Basically, dental extraction is the medical terminology for the removal of a tooth from your mouth. Dental extraction is a common occurrence for the removal of wisdom teeth before they break the gum line. Many people simply don’t have enough space for wisdom teeth, also known as impacted third molars, in their mouths. There are many reasons why you may need a dental extraction, but for most cases, it is a last resort effort. If you suffer from severe tooth decay or tooth abscess, you may require a dental extraction because the diseased tooth is beyond repair. In such cases, dental extraction may prevent the spread of infection or be the first step to a restorative solution such as dental implants. You may require a dental extraction for extreme cases of gum disease, unnecessary teeth that will overcrowd your mouth, or fractured teeth. You may also consider dental extractions for cosmetic reasons because a tooth has become poor in appearance and cannot be restored. Whatever the reason, your dentist will be able to help. Your friendly local dentist in Bath can provide you with more information if you have any further concerns regarding dental extraction. If you have questions at all regarding the safe removal of your teeth, please get in touch with our offices straight away and we would be more than happy to help.
The removal of a tooth from your mouth is medically referred to as dental extraction or exodontias. Dental extractions may be performed for several different reasons but severe cases of tooth decay and problems with wisdom teeth are common reasons that require dental extraction. Sometimes dental extractions are necessary for orthodontic treatments such as braces to correct your bite and the alignment of your teeth. There are two categories of dental extraction: simple and surgical. Simple dental extractions refer to the removal of any visible, easily accessible teeth in your mouth and can be done under local anesthesia. This is a simple procedure that can be performed very quickly by your dentist with minimal pain and healing time. Surgical dental extractions are performed on teeth that are not visible or difficult to access. For example, surgical dental extractions are required to remove wisdom teeth that are sill beneath the gum line. This can be to prevent crowding. Surgical dental extractions are typically performed under a general anesthetic. After a dental extraction, you may experience some side effects such as prolonged bleeding, swelling, or bruising. There have been rare instances of infection and nerve injury, but your highly qualified dentist in Swindon will care for your teeth with the utmost caution and prescribe any necessary antibiotics before or after surgery. There is nothing to fear with dental extractions because you are in good hands with us.
It is not normal for your gums to bleed. Be careful not to cause trauma to them when you floss and brush. If your gums are bleeding regularly, you may be suffering from gum disease. Bleeding gums typically indicate gingivitis and you should consult your dentist in Bristol as soon as possible before complications arise. Gingivitis is often caused by dental plaque and begins with inflammation of the gums, making your gums very red and tender. Your gums will bleed, especially when you clean your teeth. While you may not be feeling any pain, your gums are infected and need to be treated straight away. Gum disease also has a symptom called halitosis. Halitosis most unfortunately results in persistent bad breath that is extremely embarrassing for you. If ignored, your gingivitis will worsen into peridontitis. With peridontitis, the infection spreads to the connective tissues of your teeth and the core of your teeth. This will loosen your teeth from your gums and will inevitably lead to the loss of your natural teeth. The earlier gum disease is diagnosed, the easier and less costly treatment will be for you. When caught and treated early enough, your dentist will be able to preserve your teeth and restore your gums. Please do not ignore the serious problem of bleeding gums just because you feel no pain.
Temporomandibular joint disorder, also referred to as TMJ or TMD or TMJD affects the joint that connects your lower jaw to the temporal bone of your skull. TMJ also impacts the muscles, blood vessels, bones and nerves surrounding the area. Common symptoms of TMJ disoder includes intense pain in the face, jaw, and sometimes even the neck and shoulders of the patient. You may also experience muscle spasm, ringing in your ears, or hearing loss. Patients also report a clicking or popping sound when opening and closing their mouth and sometimes swelling in the face and mouth. TMJ disorder can also shift the position of your teeth, changing the structure of your overall bite. You may find it difficult to open and close your jaw fully or to swallow normally. There have also been reports of nausea or dizziness. The good news is that TMJ disorder very rarely calls for surgery. Your dentist in Bath will be able to treat you with personalised treatments suited to your individual case. Your dentist may need to alter the surface of your teeth to correct your biting. This can be done through veneers or braces. You may simply require a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding at night. There are several options to explore for treatment so come speak with your dentist as soon as possible to stop the pain of TMJ disorder.
Tooth decay, get it and you may well find that you are in the deepest parts of the ocean because it isn’t pretty. If you have been a bit stupid in Chepstow of late and been a little bit negligent of how you have looked after you teeth, there is every chance that your teeth are under the threat of decay. If you are up to date with dental appointments and have managed to look after your teeth at home by taking on board all of the great products to choose from, then you will be giving yourself a fighting chance against dental decay. But if you take the eye of the ball for just a few hours, you could be putting your health on the line. Tooth decay starts with the build up of plaque and tartar around the teeth and then they become vulnerable to acids on the enamel. This, if left unattended, can get you into the world of dental cavities and from that serious dental problems can arise in the guise of deep-rooted decay. The remedy isn’t pretty either because you are going to have any rotten matter cleared from inside the teeth, have to go through a root canal and then get a crown.
Whenever it comes to looking after ourselves in Bristol, we should always try to get into some form of routine so that it becomes automatic and that mind-set should also be the template for how we look after our teeth too. The problems such as plaque, gum disease and eventually tooth loss are borne out of bacteria being able to ply its ugly trade in the mouth; this comes as a direct consequence of poor oral hygiene on a daily basis- after all, it only takes 24 hours for bacteria to get its claws in. There are enough products on the market today to do the job required to keep your mouths healthy so there is no real excuse why you shouldn’t be brushing your teeth with a suitable brush and toothpaste at least twice a day- routine remember? Then there are a great range of back-up products to help; dental flosses and small inter-dental brushes are great for getting right into the nooks and crannies where normal toothbrushes cant. This can be also backed up by some excellent mouthwashes on the market designed to cater for all problems in the mouth. Herbal products are very popular too these days and can only help in the fight to look after your teeth: marry all of these together with regular outings to the dentist and there is no reason at all why you hold onto your teeth forever.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
