Archive for April, 2012

Patients from Birkenhead understand the Importance of oral hygiene for a healthy, white smile

Saturday, April 28th, 2012

In order to keep your mouth both healthy and clean you should follow a regular routine of both brushing and flossing your teeth. This will stop plaque build up, which ultimately leads to dental decay and gum disease, as well as problems with bad breath and tooth loss.

What are the effects of a good oral hygiene routine?

Regular oral hygiene for patients from Birkenhead can improve your life in ways that most people wouldn’t consider. We all know about gum disease and perhaps bad breath, but good oral hygiene will also make sure that both your speech and eating functions stay intact. Your teeth will last longer, you will need less dental treatments and you won’t be embarrassed by bad breath, bleeding gums, discoloured teeth or, even worse, missing teeth.

How else can you improve your oral hygiene?

As well as flossing and brushing, a healthy diet is also important. Avoid sugary, acidic and sticky foods and eat more foods that are high in fibre, rich but not sugary and fruits that contain a lot of water such as melons and grapes. When you want to reach for a sugary drink, try to replace it with either water or milk, which are much kinder to teeth.

Prevention

Apart from the advice already mentioned above, to keep your mouth healthy go to your dentist regularly, at least every six months, and take advantage of professional dental cleaning as this is much more effective that only cleaning your teeth at home. Have regular checks for any diseases or illnesses and make sure, if you need a treatment such as a filling, you have it as soon as possible.

If you are concerned about your oral hygiene or would like more help or advice do speak to your dentist.

 

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Patients from Toxteth receive important screenings for oral cancer

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

Oral cancer is a form of cancer that affects the tissue in the oral cavity. It is sometimes known as mouth cancer or throat cancer. Oral cancer diagnoses are on the rise, with many people still uninformed about the causes and symptoms. Dental practices and organisations such as the British Dental Health Foundation are trying to raise public awareness of the disease and alert people to the early warning signs. Oral cancer kills more people than testicular and cervical cancer combined, but thanks to media campaigns and high profile cases (such as Jade Goody) more people are aware of these types of cancer.

Causes

The main causes are smoking and drinking and people who do both have a much higher risk of developing the disease. Evidence also indicates a poor diet can increases risk and recent research has identified the HPV (human papilloma virus) as a major risk factor. HPV is a very common infection which people are exposed to. In most cases, the virus is harmless but there are certain strains of the virus that are linked to cancer.

Early diagnosis

Currently, the survival rate for oral cancer is poor in comparison to other types of cancer, and this is largely because the majority of cases are left undiagnosed until it is too late for treatment. Around 50 percent of people diagnosed with oral cancer die within 5 years, but the rate could be much lower if more people were diagnosed earlier.

Dentists are eager for patients to have oral cancer screenings and attend regular check-ups. Dentists are able to identify early warning indicators of the disease and refer patients for further tests, so that they can get treatment as quickly as possible. Symptoms are:

• Patches in the mouth of red or white colour.

• Abnormal lumps in the mouth of throat.

• Ulcers or sores which require prolonged healing.

 

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Patients from Birkenhead know how important flossing really is

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

Flossing is an essential part of a good oral hygiene regime. Most people focus on brushing, but it can be difficult to reach all areas of the mouth with a brush. Flossing helps to remove food deposits and plaque from such areas and reduces the risk of oral diseases. Dental floss is most effective in removing plaque from the gum line and tooth gaps. Flossing involves passing floss, a thin string-like flavoured thread, through the teeth and against the gum line.

Why do I need to floss?

Flossing is important because it is easy to miss areas of the mouth when you are brushing. Manoeuvring a brush into the corners can be tricky and the bristles are often too large to get into the tooth gaps, which can become breeding grounds for bacteria, leading to plaque collection and eventually tartar build-up. Tartar is difficult to remove and an increase in bacteria in the mouth increases the risk of gum disease and decay.

Recently, numerous studies have suggested that oral health plays an important role in determining general health. Gum disease has also been linked to an increased risk of serious medical conditions, including strokes, diabetes and heart disease.

Which type of dental floss should I buy?

If you’ve ever been to the dental aisle of a supermarket, you’ll be aware that there is a huge range of choice when it comes to oral hygiene products and this can be a bit daunting. The best thing to do to ensure you get the right product is to ask your dentist for advice. There are different brands, flavours and types of dental floss and some may suit you more than others. Your dental practice may sell products but if they do not they will definitely be able to advise you which products will best suit your needs.

 

 

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Patients from Toxteth receive help for their occlusion problems

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

Dental occlusion is the relationship between the top and bottom teeth. Occlusion is also known as the bite. The teeth should fit together, with the top row protruding slightly over the bottom row when the jaw is closed and in a relaxed position. If the occlusion is not right the teeth will be misaligned, and this can apply additional pressure to the jaw bone. It can cause problems in the gums, jaw joint and the muscles that control the jaw (occlusal problems).

Symptoms of occlusal problems

Few people from Toxteth or anywhere in the country have perfectly aligned teeth and occlusal problems are common. Some people adjust to the misalignment and do not suffer from symptoms, but there are signs to look out for (some people experience symptoms when they are suffering from stress or anxiety, for example):

• Worn teeth

• Heightened sensitivity

• Headaches

• Toothache which seems to have no specific cause

• Cracked or damaged teeth and broken crowns or fillings

• Stiffness in the jaw (most common in the mornings)

How can occlusal problems be treated?

Treatment depends on the severity of the problem and the nature of the symptoms. If the teeth are poorly positioned and this is contributing to misalignment and problems with the bite, your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist. Orthodontists are specialists that deal with abnormally positioned teeth. Treatments aim to straighten the teeth, usually involving wearing braces or a removable orthodontic device for a period of time.

If symptoms are caused by clenching or grinding teeth (known as bruxism), your dentist may advise you to wear a protective mouth guard or splint during the night to prevent contact between the teeth.

 

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Patients from Merseyside are benefiting from Paedodontics

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

Paedodontics is a branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of children. It is commonly known as paediatric (UK) or pediatric (USA) dentistry.

What do paediatric dentists do?

The aim of Paedodontics, or paediatric dentistry, is to promote good oral health, prevent oral health diseases and treat existing conditions in children. Children are often nervous and scared when they go to the dentist, which is why paediatric dentists undertake years of training to equip themselves to provide emotional support for children. There is of course training in the treatment and prevention of oral health conditions as well.

In recent years, the emphasis for children’s dentistry has been preventative care and dentists work on the basis that prevention is better than cure. They use different techniques, including oral health education, dental hygiene, healthy eating advice, and preventative treatments, such as fluoride varnish and fissure sealants, to try and reduce rates of decay and gum disease and improve standards of oral health among children.

Paedodontics is an area of dentistry in Merseyside with a lot of scope. Dentists carry out a wide range of treatments and procedures, from routine check-ups to complex treatment for facial abnormalities, and some also have training in treating children with special needs.

The importance of good oral health for children

Recently, dentists across the world have reported an increase in the number of young people requiring complex dental treatment and this is alarming as dental health during childhood is often an indicator of oral health during adulthood. Children who have good oral hygiene habits and good oral health are more likely to enjoy good oral health later in life. Dentists have attributed the increased rates of decay to an increase in sugar consumption (usually in fizzy drinks and sweets) and poor oral hygiene habits.

 

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