When we sleep our mouth is a hive of acid producing activity, this acid rots the teeth and gums, and causes bad breath. However, it is all avoidable says a South east London dentist and all it takes is a little forward planning and discipline. We tend to think of our teeth cleaning regime being first thing in the morning and last thing at night, and to an extent that is true. At night our saliva gland is also resting and so the acid in the mouth isn`t being neutralised enough, in the dark hours our teeth suffer the most damage, and so does our bad breath problem. Everyone has bad breath; it is a fact of life and one that is easily brought under control without expensive sprays and loads of mints. Flossing is the most underrated way of bacteria control in the mouth, the very bacteria that is in all our food. When food gets trapped in between our teeth the acid producing bacteria feeds of it and that damages our teeth enamel. Simply flossing properly will go a long way to preparing for brushing which will also remove food debris. We also need to do this during the daytime, especially when we have a snack that contains sugar and fats. There are many reasons for bad breath, but the most common is acid production, it is also the easiest to keep under control. Drinking just plain ol` water throughout the day will also keep your liver, kidneys and other organs in peak condition, as well as neutralise acid and stop that damage and bad breath.

A root canal is a very skilful procedure in dentistry, but thanks to modern day technology and training procedures it is now a routine procedure for most dental surgeons. A  London SE1 dentist says that although it involves quite a lot of work, it is thankfully painless and usually quite affective. We have an inner chamber in our teeth, and through hairline cracks and gum infections bacteria gets into that inner chamber and breeds. The problems it causes are not only painful, but also ongoing. Your surgeon will deaden the tooth and then drill out all the inside of the tooth to get to the chamber itself, once there they will scrape out any obvious bacterial infection. The next stage involves an intense light that is shone on the area to kill off any bacteria still lurking. The hole is then coated with an anti-bacterial spray and filled with a special mix that will harden like your natural enamel. That usually cures the problem within, and then your dentist can look at ways to stop this happening to other teeth, this is usually just a simple matter of you changing your routine of oral hygiene procedures to ensure that you keep infections down to a minimum, the cracks will be covered by the inner filling. Root canal work can save a tooth that would otherwise be lost early; it is also cheaper to have this done than to lose the tooth and have it replaced with an artificial one.

You may not have heard of TMJ but it affects thousands of people, mostly young men between the ages of twenty and forty, causing severe pain that ranges form intermittent to constant, and is located entirely in the head, jaw and neck. The pain can also last for years without ever improving unless the right treatment is sought from a South East London dentist.

One of the major problems with TMJ is that it is so little known. This means that many people with the condition suffer in silence or are sent away by their doctors who have told them it is a temporary muscular condition. Because TMJ affects the jaw and is often caused by a bite misalignment, it is very often a dentist who first notices or diagnoses the symptoms.

TMJ was thought for many years to have been caused by stress or head trauma but recent opinion has moved towards interruption of bite as a major cause. Bite is the way the top and bottom rows of teeth sit together and greatly affects the movement of the jaw. If movement of teeth occurs possibly as a result of a missing tooth, this can be altered causing a misalignment of the jaw muscles which causes the condition.

As the jaw is used a great deal for both talking and eating amongst other things it can be the cause of a great deal of pain and misery for sufferers but there is a cure. Once diagnosed a dentist may need to adjust the bite artificially to restore its position. This may be a simple procedure or may involve complex muscular diagnostics but in either case there is a definite end to the pain of TMJ. Don’t suffer in silence. See a dentist if you think you may have TMJ.

Oral Cancer has many contributory causes, although the actual cause is still a mystery to Oncologists says a dentist from SE1 in London. Oral hygiene is just one such contributory factor as is smoking and the use of chewing tobacco; drugs that are rubbed on gums are also now seen as a factor. The tumours come in different forms and grow on the lips, inner mouth, gums and tongue; they come in the form of lumps, lesions and white spots. It is a difficult cancer to see early in the development as the process is usually quite painless, a burning sensation is felt in the latter stages and this is generally the result of a cut caused by brushing. Swallowing along with throat infections and swelling are often associated with Oral Cancer. Bad blood circulation caused by diabetes and other related blood disorders are now known to be causes. Alcohol is a major cause of triggering the cancer gene that all have in our DNA, excessive use of this drug, yes it is a drug, is not only harmful to the vital organs such as the liver and kidneys. Alcohol contains enzymes that have long been associated with cancer cell growth, and that’s in all parts of the body. In the oral area alcohol enters our mouths in its rawest form and is totally undiluted by our body’s defences. That makes Oral Cancer one of the most prolific cancers that affects us, and one of the hardest to detect in the early stages. A simple regime of oral hygiene will greatly reduce our chances of Oral Cancer, as will a reduction or a complete stoppage of too much alcohol and tobacco consumption. Thankfully today our dentists are more aware of this disease and are helping in the battle to reduce Oral Cancers, but you need to be vigilant and make sure you get your 6 monthly check ups.

A dentist in South East London has spoken recently on the subject of Mouth Guards. Most of us associate a mouth guard with boxers, but most other sports can cause damage to the mouth and teeth and a mouth guard is advisable in all sports. They come in 3 types; general gum shields are available at most sporting shops, they are non adjustable and usually uncomfortable making it difficult to focus on your breathing and talking. The next type is called a `Boil and Bite` shield; this type is a lot better and is so called because in order to get a good fit you need to soften it by boiling it, then you use your fingers to push it into shape around the teeth. They are better to wear, you can talk with them and they offer better protection between the teeth and the mouth. The last type is a custom made one; this type is specially made by a technician for the individual and is usually associated with semi or professional sports people. The good news about Mouth Guards is that they can be, and it is recommended that they are, worn over braces to offer better protection. The Mouth Guard should be carefully cared for to keep the strength of the protection; they should be rinsed with cold water before, and after use then kept in a case to avoid squeezing. Using a tooth paste and a tooth brush to clean them is also recommended by the manufacturers. Storage is important as the most common cause of damage is improper storage, any damage such as a tear or a hole should be taken as being a sign that the guard be replaced. Damaged guards can cause more damage to a mouth and teeth than not wearing a guard at all.

Tooth decay is the disease which is the most common cause of pain in patients, say a dentist from SE1 in London. It usually starts off in early life and quickly gets a grip to follow us all through our teens and adulthood. The most disturbing thing is that it is so easily prevented if an Oral Hygiene regime is taught and adhered to from an early age. Tooth decay is caused mainly by the build up of acid that is prevalent in bacteria and food deposits that sit in between our teeth, the build up eats away at the enamel and gets in between fillings and cracks in our teeth. This is especially damaging to young teeth and is now the most common cause of mouth problems in the world. It’s a big problem to solve as it mostly occurs in children and is often associated with a bad diet. As parents and relatives of children we buy them sweets which contain all the wrong things for their teeth. Sugar and bad fats are the most deadly of them and these are the worse enemies of our teeth, they all have acids in them which cause cavities that need filling, then the bacteria and acid gets into and below the fillings. Tooth ache follows and the only real way to eliminate the problem is a root canal treatment, and more fillings. Using a fluoride toothpaste and teaching the children to floss and brush properly, will go a long way to preventing the decay that will follow them through life. It takes just a few minutes a day to keep the decay away, but the regime must become a habit or the whole process is worthless. The old saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away should be applied to flossing and brushing, for these two simple applications will indeed keep the dentist away.

A dentist in SE1 in London has spoken out about Root Canal treatment in order to dispel some myths about it. It may sound like a torture from the Spanish Inquisition, but it is in fact a painless and effective way of curing and preventing diseases of the teeth. The problem with bacteria is that it is small enough to penetrate to the root of the tooth, not even the most effective antibiotics are good enough to kill it off entirely. Root Canal work involves drilling deep down into the cavity of the tooth, and then scraping out the bad bacteria. This is usually the cause of a constant and reoccurring infection of the gums and teeth. The gap that is left is then filled with an anti bacterial material and the tooth is capped to seal it in. The end result is a clean and healthy tooth that has been saved to serve the patient for many years to come. It is more expensive that extracting the tooth, which will usually be quite a healthy one apart from the bacteria problem. The dentist will feel better as well as the patient for having saved the tooth, after all the job of the dentist is to give our teeth the best fighting chance of surviving well into our sixties. It is considered to be preventative dentistry as opposed to just dental repair and general maintenance. Infections caused by bacteria are the most common reason for premature tooth loss, and preventative procedures such as a Root Canal are preferred by the dentistry profession. The procedure is painless and any swelling is usually gone in a few days, and the patient will be back to normal with no further problem from infections in the future.

Modern dentistry is one of the most technologically advanced areas of health care. As more and more importance is put on the appearance and health of our teeth, dentists have devised more efficient and remarkable procedures to help improve patient’s teeth. It is now possible to completely transform even the most neglected and unattractive teeth into a beautiful, white smile using a series of amazing dental procedures.

There are too many dental treatments available to name here but it is possible to give a few examples of what is possible. For teeth that are discoloured or worn dentists can cover the surface enamel with specially designed porcelain veneers, specifically designed for the patient in terms of size, shape and shade. These veneers can be manufactured in minutes and fitted in a matter of hours. This can completely transform a patient’s smile in only one afternoon.

Fitting veneers might not be possible with crooked or uneven teeth but the latest in orthodontic straightening means that teeth can now be straightened in less time than ever. Some braces such as the Inman aligner promise straighter teeth in as little as six weeks. When your teeth are straight you may prefer to keep the natural look of enamel rather than opt for veneers. In this case teeth can be whitened naturally with dental cleaning, or even artificially bleached to look whiter. Teeth whitening is capable of brightening a patient’s teeth by up to ten shades and is readily available at all London SE1 dentists.

By using one or a combination of these and other treatments it is easy to change the appearance of your teeth and give every patient the beautiful, confident smile they deserve. Dentistry has come a long way in the last twenty years so why don’t you make an appointment to see what is possible.