Archive for January, 2011

Simple but effective ways to fight bad breath: get advice from Merseyside dentists

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Having bad breath can really knock your confidence. Imagine being worried every time you smile and talk that you are emitting unpleasant odours from your mouth which are being noticed by your peers and colleagues. Bad breath is not something that you have to put up with and there a number of simple ways you can combat it.

Bad breath – the medical name is halitosis – is brought on by bacteria in the mouth. The best way to beat bad breath is to ensure that these bacteria are removed. The bacteria can be caused by excess plaque in the mouth so it is essential that this plaque is removed by brushing and flossing properly. Plaque is formed every time you eat food, especially food that is particularly sugary and starchy. You should brush and floss at least twice a day and after meals too if the problem with bad breath is bad.

The bacteria causing bad breath can build up on the tongue so you might wish to brush your tongue too as part of your home oral hygiene routine. Be sure to brush gently though as your tongue is a sensitive organ and you don’t want to damage it.

Chewing gum is an effective way to relieve the symptoms of bad breath, particularly if you are on the move. The often minty flavour is pleasant to smell and the motion of chewing helps to stimulate saliva and dislodge food debris.

Sometimes dentists might recommend that you use a special mouthwash to combat bad breath. In some cases bad breath can be a signal of a deeper problem with your mouth, gum disease perhaps. You ought to contact your Merseyside dentist if you are suffering from bad breath and want more advice about how to eliminate it.

Preventive dentistry and gum disease: get advice from Birkenhead dentists

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

When most people think of dentistry and oral hygiene it is usually the teeth which come to mind. This is understandable as your teeth are vital to the smooth running of the functions of your mouth. But the attention given to teeth should not obscure how much attention needs to be given to gums. With seventy five per cent of British adults currently suffering from some form of gum disease, which is a greater cause of tooth loss than tooth decay itself, it is imperative that we give more focus to how to look after our gums.

Gums can become diseased if plaque is not adequately removed from the gum line. Plaque is formed when we eat, especially sugary and starchy foods, and not only attacks teeth. It also affects gums, causing them to redden, become sensitive and even bleed. If gingivitis – the most basic form of gum disease – progresses, periodontitis might take hold. This particularly nasty condition causes inflammation of the bones holding teeth in place.

Preventive dentistry basically means guarding against these conditions before they take place. The best way you can take control of your oral health is to brush and floss twice a day and perhaps after meals too if you have eaten lots of starch or sugar. This will remove the plaque from your teeth. In tandem with this you should visit your dentist every six months so that your mouth can be checked. If the dentist thinks it necessary, he or she might give your mouth a professional clean so that plaque is removed with particular efficiency.

If you are worries about gum disease and want to know how to guard against it, contact your Birkenhead dentist today.

Over the counter teeth whitening products can be effective and convenient say Everton dentists

Sunday, January 16th, 2011

Who wouldn’t want a perfect smile? Having beautiful, shiny teeth can increase your confidence, allowing you to smile in social occasions. But over time teeth have a tendency to fade and lose their natural sheen. What’s more, many of the habits we pursue in our every day lives can actually cause teeth to become stained. Drinking tea, coffee, red wine and cola and smoking tobacco can all stain teeth.

Stained or dull teeth are not something that you have to put up with, however. Treatments are available at your dental surgery to have your teeth whitened. These are extremely effective but can cost rather more than some people are willing to pay.

Far more affordable are the tooth whitening kits which are available from retailers and pharmacists. These kits allow you to take control of the tooth whitening procedure and get back the natural shine of your teeth from the comfort of your own home without having to undergo treatment in the surgery.

Usually home tooth whitening kits come in the form of special trays that are filled with whitening gel which you wear over your teeth while you sleep. This method ensures that the gel gets maximum access to your teeth for extended periods of time while you are sleeping. The results can be amazing with some tooth whitening kits able to restore even the most stained or dull teeth to the whitest possible shade.

If you have a wedding coming up or are just sick and tires of not having the perfectly shiny smile you’ve always wanted, contact your Everton dentist for expert advice about over the counter teeth whitening kits and what they can do for you.

Easing gingivitis or gum disease with herbal remedies: get advice from Bootle dentists today

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Around three quarters of the adult population of the United Kingdom are currently suffering from gum disease in some form. Gum diseases are easily avoidable and usually quite easy to deal with in their early stages but they should be taken seriously because they are a leading cause of tooth loss, more so than tooth decay itself. What many people don’t know is that gum disease can successfully be relieved using a number of effective herbal remedies.

The most common form of gum disease is called gingivitis and it often occurs as a result of poor oral hygiene, leading to a build up of plaque against the gum line which causes inflammation of the gums. Usually gingivitis can be combatted by tightening up home oral hygiene routines and being sure to brush and floss as advised by dentists. But there are also herbal remedies which can be successful too.

You might wish to choose a tooth paste which contains substances such as sage, peppermint or basil, for example as these can be beneficial for gums. Calendula, grapefruit extract and echinacea can be rubbed into the gums to help them but you should seek advice from your dentist before pursuing this as the process is too aggressive for some.

Aloe vera and clove can also be very good for your gums and do much to relieve inflammation. Keeping up a stringent oral hygiene regime of brushing and flossing is the best way to combat gum disease and it is vital that you visit your dentist every six months for a check up, but herbal remedies can help too. Ask your Bootle dentist for more information and take the first step towards securing the health of your gums.

Stop dental and mouth problems affecting your general health with advice from Toxteth dentists

Saturday, January 1st, 2011

Keeping your mouth healthy is vital in ensuring that you are able to eat, drink and talk with ease. To do this you should make sure you brush for at least three minutes twice a day and floss too. This stops the plaque which can attack your teeth from building up. What a lot of people don’t know is that if problems with your mouth are allowed to progress then you might compromise the general health of the rest of your body.

Gingivitis is the most common form of gum disease and it affects many adults in the United Kingdom. It is not a serious problem in itself but if it takes hold and gets worse, it can lead to complications. Gingivitis occurs when plaque builds up on the gum line of teeth and causes the gum to become infected. If this infection then enters the blood stream, the rest of the body can be affected as well.

If gingivitis turns into periodontitis – a more severe form of gum disease – the jaw bones become inflamed. This can have consequences for a number of important nerves which serve the head and face.

Sleep apnea is a condition which causes the sufferer to stop breathing during sleep. The obstructive variety of sleep apnea occurs because of the muscles at the rear of the mouth and the throat relaxing during sleep and blocking the airways. If sleep apnea is not dealt with then hypertension can affect the patient and this might lead to heart attacks and strokes.

The fact that dental issues can affect the health of the rest of the body is just another reason to visit your Toxteth dentist every six months so that your mouth can be thoroughly checked by an expert.