Posts Tagged ‘gum disease’

Tips for your child’s healthy smile from Bootle dentist

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Chronic tooth and gum disease in young children is worryingly on the increase in the UK. This means it is more important than ever to make sure your child has clean and healthy teeth. As many parents will tell you, getting your child to do things they don’t want to do can often be a struggle but it is important that you don’t let cleaning their teeth become a factor of resentment. While it is important to stress how important having healthy teeth is, you don’t want to make it seem like a chore that can be ignored. Creating good oral hygiene habits in their infancy can stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

A healthy smile indicates a healthy child, so start early. As soon as the first tooth appears, start to wipe it gently with a damp cloth after meal times. When more teeth appear, use a very soft brush to carefully clean them. You can start to use fluoride toothpaste, usually after the age of two but always remember to check with your Bootle dentist first.

When your child is old enough to start cleaning their own teeth, you will need to supervise to make sure they are doing it correctly. Again, don’t make this seem like a chore. Make it fun or even reward them for doing it well. Creating a positive relationship with oral hygiene is vital for a lifetime of healthy teeth.

Make yourself aware of the signs of decay and gum disease and have the occasional check to see if there are any symptoms. Finally, always remember to take your child to the dentist regularly and don’t be afraid to ask for any advice that you might need. Your dentist is there to help you deal with any concerns that may arise.

Birkenhead dentist gives tips for good oral hygiene

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Looking after your teeth is very important. Good oral hygiene can help to keep your teeth free from decay and your gums disease free, as well as keeping your breath fresh. But recent statistics show that tooth decay is on the increase in the UK and over 90% of adults will suffer gum disease at some point in their lives. Birkenhead dentists recommend a few easy steps to ensure that you are keeping your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.

The most important aspect of good oral hygiene is brushing. Most people brush their teeth twice a day but there a few things to remember for more effective brushing. Firstly, you should brush your teeth for at least three minutes twice a day, preferably after eating. Ideally you should brush your teeth after every meal but this is not always possible. It is best to use a soft-bristled brush with a small head for the most efficient and gum friendly cleaning. Try to angle the brush at a forty-five degree angle in order to stimulate the gums when brushing.

After brushing comes flossing. This helps to remove plaque and bacteria from areas that can’t be reached with a toothbrush. This is very important because it is often these areas that are the source of much decay and disease. Flossing also helps to remove food particles from between the teeth, one of the main causes of bad breath.

Your diet can also have a large impact on your oral hygiene. Eating sugary and starchy food is especially bad for your teeth. Try to eat more fruit and vegetables and avoid processed sugars. It is also a good idea to drink water regularly through the day to remove plaque from your teeth. This is especially effective after eating. By making an effort to do these things you will be giving your teeth the best chance of staying healthy.

Reverse your gum disease at Wirral dentist

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

Gum disease is a very common condition in the UK. It is estimated that 90 per cent of adults in the UK will suffer from it at some point. About one in ten people will suffer from the more severe form of the disease, periodontitis. However, it is important to remember that gum disease is reversible with the right treatment and the right attitude to do something about it.

Gum disease can be very unpleasant, making eating and drinking a painful experience. It can also result in bleeding of the gums, which isn’t exactly the most attractive look to have. Many people who have gum disease think that they just have to live with it and don’t attempt to make the condition go away. But gum disease can be relatively easily treated and by making just a few changes to your lifestyle you can help to keep it away for good. There is no reason why anybody has to accept that gum disease is just an inevitable fact of aging or why they should have to alter their life to accommodate it.

Although gums do become slightly more at risk with age, they can still be kept clean and disease free for as long as you live. The first thing to do if you think you have inflamed gums is to visit a Wirral dentist. They will be able to offer you advice on how to deal with the problem and also make sure that the disease isn’t serious enough to require more immediate treatment.

Improved tooth brushing and flossing are the most effective ways to beat gum disease. Gentle brushing with an appropriate brush will stimulate the gums and flossing helps to reduce the inflammation around the base of the teeth. This may initially cause some bleeding but this will pass after a couple of days as the gums recede and heal.

Daily oral hygiene by patients makes Kirby dentist’s job easier

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Kirby dentists play a large part in keeping their patient’s teeth clean and healthy. At regular check up appointments they can conduct checks for gum disease and tooth decay and address any problems that may arise. They can also carry out deep cleans to offer further protection against any dental conditions. They are also trained to look for the signs of oral cancer as early detection of the disease could make the difference between life and death. These are just some of the reasons why it is important to see your dentist on a regular six-monthly basis. However, your dentist can only help you so much, and a large part of effective oral hygiene is left for you to carry out at home. Daily oral hygiene is perhaps the most important aspect of keeping your teeth healthy.

A good daily hygiene routine should ideally involve brushing at least twice a day for three minutes. Try to use a soft-bristled brush with a small head. This has been proven to remove more bacteria and plaque, which are responsible for tooth and gum disease. Ideally you should be brushing after meal times, as this is when plaque is at its most damaging. This may not always be practical so try to drink water after meals to rinse your mouth of any remaining food particles.

It is also recommended that you floss at least once a day. This will help to remove plaque and trapped food from between the teeth which can often be missed by tooth brushing. It is often the small areas between the teeth that are the starting point of a lot of decay so it is very important you keep these as clean as possible. Good daily oral hygiene can include far more than just brushing and flossing. Ask your dentist to find out more about how to look after your teeth.

Dental hygiene tips from Toxteth dentist

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Dental care is quite straight forward if you follow a few simple rules given to you by your Toxteth dentist. Although each patient is different and our teeth do differ, there are certain bits of advice that are almost universal.

Firstly, remember that your dental health is in your own hands. With effective cleaning you can help to prevent painful tooth decay and nasty gum disease. Your dentist will be there to support you and check on your progress but ultimately it is up to you to keep your teeth as clean as possible.

This can be achieved by better tooth brushing. Dentists recommend that you should brush your teeth at least twice a day (after lunch as well if it is feasible but this is often not the case) for three minutes. Use a soft bristled brush unless instructed otherwise by your dentist as this removes more plaque from the surface of your teeth. Try to use a brush with a small head as it has a greater degree of mobility in the mouth. Finally, hold the brush at a forty-five degree angle to the gums so that they are also cleaned simultaneously and never press too hard as you can damage the gum tissue.

As well as correct brushing it is advised by dentists that you floss daily also. Flossing removes bacteria and plaque from hard to reach places, which can often be the first places where decay begins. Flossing cleans between the teeth and round their base removing pockets of bacteria and trapped food particles. Your dentist can demonstrate the proper technique.

Lastly, although it is up to you to keep your teeth clean, it is very important that you see your dentist every six-months so he can assess your progress.

Don’t let diabetes affect your teeth with help Everton dentist

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Diabetes affects thousands of people in the UK each year and if you are one of them you may know that diabetes can affect your nerves, kidneys and heart but you may not have been told how it can affect your teeth. Diabetes can have very negative effects on your oral health because it lowers your resistance to infection and also slows recovery time.

Dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, fungal infections and taste impairment are all associated with diabetes and its effects on the health of your mouth. If you are a diabetic, it is important to let your dentist know when you were diagnosed and any medication you may be taking.

If you are a diabetic the chances of suffering from a serious problem of tooth decay or disease are greatly heightened so you must contact your Everton dentist if you notice anything unusual about your teeth. This could include bleeding gums, swollen or tender gum tissue, persistent bad breath or bad taste or any change in your bite.

It is also important, even more so than for none sufferers, that you make regular visits to the dentist to check for the first signs of dental problems. Dentists recommend that everybody should see a dentist every six months but if you have diabetes it may need to be more often. In addition, it is important to keep up a very strict routine of oral hygiene, brushing and flossing correctly for the suggested time each day and making sure your teeth are free from plaque and tartar.

Well fitting dentures from Everton dentist replace teeth

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Loosing some or all of your teeth can be a very traumatic experience. Whether it happens due to tooth decay, gum disease or even some kind of head trauma it can be painful and very embarrassing. Missing teeth can also have further consequences for your health. Some missing teeth can cause remaining teeth to lean, altering the bite of the patient. This can cause complications with the jaw joint and lead to a painful condition called TMJ. Gaps left by missing teeth are also breeding grounds for bacteria and infection leading to further dental problems. Teeth act as rigid supports for facial muscles, which will be inclined to sag and hollow if they are missing. This can cause patients to appear older and unwell and can be irreversible if not corrected in time.

If several or all the teeth are missing, the best option is to have a denture fitted. Dentures, or partial dentures, act as a genuine alternative for real teeth. They are specially designed to fit your mouth and appear like your teeth. The days of ill-fitting and unrealistic dentures are in the past and with recent advancement in dentistry no one need ever know that they are not your real teeth.

Most modern dentures are made form acrylic resins and can be constructed to a stunning degree of accuracy. A well fitting set of dentures should require no further support than suction alone but many patients opt to use denture adhesive or strips for extra security. A loose denture can be a cause of great anxiety for patients who are worried they might become dislodged, but there is no reason this should be the case. Dentures that are prone to falling out are dentures that do not fit properly and need to be refitted. Many patients recently have opted to have mini-implants attached to their jaw to which they can solidly fix their dentures. This provides an extra degree of security and can put their mind at ease. It also means that some foods which are a problem for normal dentures, can be eaten without anxiety or mess.

Patients who wear dentures should make regular visits to their dentist as they can suffer from gum erosion. After years of denture wearing the gums tend to disappear, which can often be the cause of a loose denture and gum irritation.

Dentures can last a long time if properly maintained and kept clean. They should be removed at night and cleaned twice a day with a regular toothbrush. Visit an Everton dentist if you have any questions about having dentures fitted or if you think you might need your existing set adjusted.

Your Wirral Dentist Can Stop the Progression of Gingivitis

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Once gingivitis gets started, it won’t go away by itself. Unfortunately, as time goes by, the condition of your gums will continue to get worse. Therefore, if you notice that your gums are sensitive, red, or bleeding, you should visit your Wirral dentist and get treated for gingivitis.

In most cases, if you get treatment for gingivitis early on, your dentist will have a better chance of pinpointing why you are having this particular problem. For example, if you eat a lot of sweets, it may be contributing to an excess buildup of plaque. On the other hand, if you are missing spots when you brush your teeth, it may also give germs a chance to proliferate and reach your gums. At the very least, your dentist will be able to check for these issues and help you correct them before serious damage occurs to your teeth and gums.

Each year, thousands of gum surgeries, infections, and tooth extractions could be avoided if gingivitis was treated early on. Without a question, seeing your dentist for routine exams will help you reduce the risk of developing advanced cases of gum disease. This is very important to consider regardless of your age. Unfortunately, individuals that are middle aged, or beyond may think that it is not as important to take care of gingivitis. In most cases, they would be surprised to find out that this condition can take its toll on all parts of the body.

While gingivitis may advance more slowly in some people than others, eventually it will result in tooth loss, pain, and infections. These issues can cause all kinds of nutritional deficiencies, and may also increase your risk of developing heart disease. Today, gingivitis is treatable and manageable. When you visit your dentist, you can have peace of mind knowing that you will not develop future problems caused by gingivitis.

Gum Disease Diagnosis and Treatment by Expert Birkenhead Dentist

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Although most people would think that tooth decay is the main reason for tooth loss, it is actually gum disease. In fact, this oral condition is quite common that 3 in 4 adults in the United Kingdom suffer from gum disease. It is important that periodontal or gum disease is treated early by your Birkenhead dentists to prevent its progression.

There are basically three kinds of periodontal or gum disease:

• Gingivitis – a condition characterized by gum inflammation. First sign could be bleeding while brushing or flossing teeth. The gums can also become red and sore.
• Periodontitis – a more serious inflammation of the gums and affects the bones which results to the tooth becoming loose in their socket. If left untreated, the tooth will likely fall off.
• Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis – a rare gum condition that affects severely-malnourished individuals. This gum disease is characterized by ulcers and inflammation.

Diagnosis of gum disease is usually based on the symptoms presented. Your dentist might even refer you to a periodontist, who specializes on these kinds of oral diseases. Usually, an x-ray image will be taken to identify the extent of the damage.

Treatment of gum disease is relatively-simple if the condition is detected early. They could include:

• Scaling
• Root Planing for receding gum or bone loss
• Gum Surgery
• Laser
• Antibiotic

Of course, you will need to improve you oral hygiene to prevent recurrence after treatment. Your Birkenhead dentist will advise you on the right oral hygiene program for you.