In Swindon, we can quite often place a heavy burden on dentists to resolve problems that arise in our mouths, and then usually scoff at the prices they charge for treatments when the bill comes in. It rather highlights the ignorance we have towards oral health because if we just took a little time out to research how to look after our teeth and gums, then we wouldn’t need our dentist that often. Oral health starts at home, as does taking responsibility for how we look after our bodies and our teeth. For starters, good diet and taking everything in moderation, like smoking and drinking, can help to build up our immune system and give strength to our teeth. Not only this, there are enough oral products out there at reasonable prices that make poor oral hygiene inexcusable. A daily routine of brushing with the right paste and brush, flossing and mouth washing should be enough to keep plaque and gum disease at bay- that and a couple of visits to the dentist each year for check-ups. But the importance of keeping our mouths healthy affects our overall health. Poor oral hygiene can lead to gum disease and in turn, to heart and kidney complications as well as oral cancer. There is no excuse for ignorance in dental hygiene, seeing as not only do we have our dentist to consult with, the internet is a hive of information on how we can look after ourselves.
It can be a very unpleasant experience when dental pain kicks in. In Bristol, almost every one of us will have the experience at least once in our lives. Problem is, there’s rarely any warning attached to the dental pain, but any pain indicates a problem and treatment should be sort, sometimes immediately. Many toothaches arise from plaque and gum disease forming that can also lead to tooth decay. It may be just an aversion to hot and cold problems, but can also lead to something worse if untreated. The worst incarnation of pain is that caused by an abscess- this can be life threatening and can’t be ignored, (even if you tried). Of course, some pain can arise if you’ve had any work done at by your dentist. This is normally treated with medication that should also help in the healing process, though there are periods given over to this and if the problem continues, medical advice should be sought. Most pains can be treated with mild over-the-counter painkillers until help can be sought. Herbal remedies are also useful to have around as well; clove oil, Echinacea and tea tree oils are well known for their soothing qualities. But every one of us has our own pain thresholds and once they are reached and when can take no more, that is when we are into emergency situation and we should take no chances at this point. If we feel it’s an emergency, then we should seek emergency help
If you maintain a regular program of oral hygiene in Weston-super-mare, it can save you time and money, as well as protect your health, in the long run. Having an unhealthy mouth can lead to many complications throughout your body. Gum disease for example, has been linked to heart disease, gastric problems and kidney failure, to name a few, and the cost of having problems rectified in the mouth can be time consuming and escalate very quickly into the thousands. Yet, it’s such an easy problem to stay on top of, with a simple but regular regime, and it all starts at home. Regular brushing with the right brush and paste, and flossing can stop most problems escalating, further enhanced by the use of mouthwashes. Of course, against all our best attempts, we can slip up from time to time, which is why regular dental visits should be high on the agenda too. A dentist will be able to identify any complications and then treat them- from removing tartar and plaque to thwarting tooth decay and gum disease. They are also there to consult with and to get advice on how to maintain good oral health. Diet is also important for building the immune system and maintaining a high level of saliva in the mouth- the body’s natural way to fight against acids and bacteria that lurk in the mouth.
Although teeth seem to receive far more attention, it is vital that you look after your gums with just as much care and attention. In fact gum disease causes more tooth loss than tooth decay itself. And if gum disease is allowed to progress then it can turn into something far worse.
If you have gingivitis – the most common and basic form of gum disease – your gums will be rather swollen and red. You might experience extra sensitivity when eating or drinking hot or cold substances and may even be prone to bleeding. Gingivitis is not that serious in itself, more inconvenient than anything, but it is vital to nip it in the bud so it does not progress into periodontal disease.
Periodontitis is always preceded by gingivitis and it is a serious condition. It involves the inflammation of the bones which hold the teeth in place. Chronic pain will ensue as your gums swell and bleed, more severely than with gingivitis. The gums can then recede, making it appear as if your teeth are lengthening. Tooth loss is the eventual outcome as the inflamed bone and receded gums become unsuitable for holding your teeth in place.
Periodontitis is usually the result of a period of poor oral hygiene. If enough plaque builds up on the gum line of teeth and gingivitis is not reversed then periodontitis can occur. Plaque will harden into tartar which can only be removed by dental professionals.
Periodontal disease is just another reason to visit your Weston-Super-Mare dentist regularly. They can monitor your mouth and ensure that if you have a touch of gingivitis then it is dealt with before it can get any worse.
Gum disease is something that can affect anyone at any age. In its most common form it is nothing serious but it should be dealt with so that it doesn’t progress into something much worse. Having a good relationship with your dentist is vital in guarding against gum disease so that your mouth is regularly examined and monitored.
Gingivitis is the most basic form of gum disease and many people in Britain have and do suffer from it. As a result of a build of plaque on the gum line of teeth, the gums redden somewhat and become more sensitive and prone to bleed. Bad breath might occur, as well as the presence of odd tastes in the mouth.
If it is allowed to progress then periodontitis might take hold. In this case, the jaw bone holding the teeth becomes inflamed and tooth loss is the likely end result. Many of the symptoms of periodontitis such as receding gums are effectively irreversible, so it is best to deal with any gum issues you have before it gets to this stage.
Often combatting gingivitis is simply a case of tightening up your home oral hygiene routine. By brushing thoroughly at least twice a day for about three minutes you should remove most of the plaque from the gum line. Flossing plays a crucial part in this too as plaque can form between the teeth against the gums and is often missed by brushing alone. Your dentist might suggest that you use a special mouth wash designed to look after gums or that you try a herbal solution like chewing cloves. Your dentist might offer you a professional clean if tartar is beginning to take hold.
Talk to your Bristol dentist at your next appointment to find out how to avoid gum disease.
You should take just as much care looking after your gums as you do with your teeth. Gum disease is actually a great cause of tooth loss than tooth decay itself and having diseased gums can be painful and inconvenient. Nobody wants to have to go through the indignity of tooth loss or invasive surgery so read on to find out about how you can successfully beat gum disease.
The most common form of gum disease – gingivitis – results from an excess of plaque on the gum line of teeth. The gums become inflamed and visibly reddened, sometimes they will bleed and be rather sensitive too. You might experience bad breath and odd tastes in the mouth. If gingivitis is not dealt with then it can lead onto periodontitis, where the inflammation has spread to the bones holding teeth in place.
If you report symptoms to your Bath dentist and he or she diagnoses gingivitis, it is likely that you will simply be advised to tighten up your daily dental hygiene routine. This means taking better care brushing to remove more plaque and also being sure to floss to get to the plaque that can easily build up between the teeth and against the gum.
Your dentist might recommend that you use a special mouth wash, formulated to take extra care of inflamed gums. Sometimes, if your dentist fears that tartar (hardened plaque) is being to form against the gums then you might be given a professional clean as tartar cannot be removed by tooth brushes.
If you are worried about gum disease and want to avoid it progressing into something worse, talk to your Bath dentist today.
For all our best efforts to keep our teeth healthy in Gloucester, sometimes problems get through. Tooth decay starts with the build up bacteria, leading to plaque, gum disease and ultimately tooth decay. Often, tooth decay or caries are a result of poor oral hygiene and lack of dental visits over a period of time and getting treatment can be expensive. If the decay is in it’s early stages, the best course of action may be a flouride varnish or paste. Flouride with strengthen the enamel in the tooth and make it resistant to the causes of decay. If however, the decay is in a more advanced state, the tooth may require a filling, a root canal or a crown. A filling is used where the decay has not penetrated deep in to tooth, and can be made from various materials, the most common being a silver amalgam, but the more popular being a tooth coloured composite. Gold inlays and onlays can also be used to fill the cavity. If the decay is very bad, it may require a root canal to remove the dead nerves and pulp inside the tooth, then the tooth can be filled or have a crown fitted. Crowns too come in various colours and materials. But sometimes, the dentist will have no choice but to extract the tooth. Once this has been done, replacement can be expensive, in the form of a bridge or an implant.
One of the dangers to the mouth in Chepstow is gum disease and at some point, most of us will suffer from it unless we know how to maintain our gums. Gum disease starts with poor oral hygiene. Bacteria can build up in the mouth and plaque will start to form, attacking both the teeth and gums. The gums will start to bleed and if allowed to continue, will recede, leaving the teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. Dental repair work can be costly too, but with a little more attention to detail everyday, we can avoid any problems and retain healthy gums. Brushing and flossing twice a day, or after meals are a good place to start, but so are regular visits and consultations with your dentist. The dentist will remove any build up of plaque and tartar around the teeth. It’s also the time to ask about brushes, mouthwashes and toothpastes and find out what’s best for you. Ask about gum flossing, massaging and teeth exercises. These are excellent ways to keep the blood busy in the gums. Finally, find out about diet, what to eat and what to avoid. We all know that smoking and excessive drinking are bad for the mouth, but we can combat our bad habits by ensuring a good diet and a good program of oral hygiene.
If you are resigned to losing a tooth or in fact, all your teeth in Weston-Super-Mare, there are many reasons why you should get them replaced. The major factors behind tooth loss are injury or periodontal disease and this can be a very traumatic moment in your life. In the case of a single tooth, a replacement can prevent further health issues such as gum disease and movement in the teeth that are left behind, but this can be rectified by a bridge, implant or a partial denture. If all the teeth are lost, then the fitting of a full set of dentures is required. Such is the advancement in denture technology and the materials they are manufactured from, they can mirror the look of a full set of natural teeth. Fixing the dentures in place has also advanced with new adhesives and mini implants that keep the dentures solidly in position. Whatever the reason for having this treatment, dentures can have more health related benefits. Cosmetically, dentures can retain the look of the face. If teeth are not replaced, the cheeks will sag and age you very quickly, possibly causing difficult psychological problems further down the line. But the most important reason for having teeth replaced is to maintain the occlusion within the mouth or the ‘bite’. If this issue is not rectified, it can cause problems in the neck, head and upper back leading to ear, eyes and sinus complications.
In Bath, it’s not always obvious that you have bad breath and the first time you discover you do is when someone tells you. It can be embarrassing, anti-social and leave you wondering why people don’t talk to you anymore. Bad breath can be caused by many reasons and can be pinpointed to three major areas. The first is in the mouth. Teeth can harbour foods that stagnate and if left untouched through bad oral hygiene, can give off a pungent odour. Of course, this can lead to a build up of bacteria leading, to gum disease and tooth decay; diet and lifestyle can also add to the problem- excessive smoking and drinking contribute to bad breath. The second area stems from the airways to the mouth. Dryness and sinus problems can be affected by a mucous build up that can indicate bronchial problems or the approach of flu or pneumonia. The third cause of bad breath can indicate gastric problems and food stagnation in the stomach. From a personal level, a constant bad taste in the mouth is a sign that you have bad breath and that something could be seriously wrong with your health. Treatment should be sought either through your dentist or a clinic, but also an intense program of good oral hygiene should be practised at all times.
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
