Far too many people don’t take oral hygiene seriously enough these days, bad breath and constantly infected gums are the result of this lax regime says a London SE1 dentist. The best way to healthier teeth is through a simple, but disciplined program of brushing, flossing and rinsing. Flossing is the best thing you can do, but we don’t do it often enough and that’s a shame as it is the best way to keep down the production of oral acid. Yes, we do floss in the morning and at night, but it is during the day when we don’t floss that acid is produced in huge amounts. The times that mostly damage our teeth are during the day and at night, when we sleep and eat fast food, it is then that saliva is not produced and acid cannot be neutralised. That`s why our breath smells so badly in the morning. We need saliva to swallow, and to neutralise acid build up that is produced by oral bacteria. In the daytime we eat snacks and fast foods, it’s a sign of the busy times we live in, and that is good news for the bacteria, but bad news for our breath, gums and teeth. Drinking water during the day, and at nigh, will go a long way to neutralising acid that damages your gums and teeth; it is also good for taking toxins out of the body on a regular basis. Brushing also needs some attention to detail as most of us brush the wrong way, ask at your local dentists or chemists for information on brushing correctly.

Missing teeth can be a great source of embarrassment, especially when in a prominent position in the smile. They are very noticeable and can really knock a person’s self-confidence, even more so when the lost tooth has been the result of a sudden trauma or accident. But there are ways of replacing the teeth that are both very realistic and functional.

One of the most realistic ways to replace a lost tooth is a dental implant. This is the only kind of tooth replacement that restores the whole tooth from root to tip. Other dental prosthetics such as dental bridges and partial dentures only restores the tooth from the gum line and as a result are more prone to damage and are less sturdy. This can make it difficult to eat certain foods and can cause anxiety about breakages.

The implant itself is a smell titanium screw that is drilled directly into the jawbone. This sounds a lot more unpleasant than it actually is and the procedure is relatively painless. Once secured into the jaw, the implant is left for some weeks or months to fuse with the gum tissue and bone. When this is complete the dentist will then attach a post and ultimately an artificial crown which is usually made of porcelain. This closely resembles the colour and consistency of other teeth for a greater degree of realism.

Dental implants are a lot more solid because they are anchored to the jaw just like real teeth. Unlike other dental substitutes they can last a whole lifetime without needing to be replaced. South East London dentists can assess suitability for implants at your next appointment and also give some guide as to their cost. But whatever the price, it is surely worth it to restore the appearance of your smile.

Brushing and Flossing is probably the most important part of our dental hygiene regime, says a dentist from South East London. However, it has to be done properly in order to have the fullest effect and to keep gum disease away. The method of brushing is as important as the brush itself, there tends to be a fallacy about the fact that if you use an electric brush you don’t need to brush for too long, fallacies in dental care can cost you your teeth. A hand brush is the best method in a lot of cases as it allows you to feel the way around the teeth, and to get into all those awkward places that electric brushes often miss. That said, electric brushes are just as useful and effective as the old method, many of them have a timer and that is a handy tool in itself. A good mouthwash can dislodge recently consumed food particles, and that followed by a good flossing session will usually dislodge almost all the bits of food hiding in between the teeth. When we brush it should be the last part of the operation, a clean and healthy mouth will ensure that the teeth last a long time, and keep gum disease at bay. Carrying around a few floss sticks for cleaning in between the teeth after a sandwich or a light meal will also help in the fight against tartar, this is the hardened bacteria that accumulates around the base of the teeth where the gums meet the tooth. Tartar is usually removed at our 6 monthly visits to the dentist, but don’t let that make you lax in your regime, brushing and flossing should be kept to a high standard and never relaxed.

Dental hygiene is the process of keeping your teeth and mouth clean and healthy by following a correct brushing and flossing routine. The third and possibly most important factor is maintaining regular visits to the dentist every six months for dental check ups.

Brushing and flossing help to prevent the build up of plaque on the enamel surface of teeth. Plaque is a sticky, bacterial substance that releases enamel damaging acid causing tooth decay and gum disease. The purpose of dental hygiene is to use good brushing and flossing techniques to remove this plaque and prevent it turning into harder, immovable tartar. This will result in healthy, debris-free teeth surrounded by healthy pink gums that are not sensitive and a mouth that smells nice.

Teeth that are not clean and healthy are often prone to painful or bleeding gums, bad breath, yellow or brown stains on the teeth and teeth that become loose over time. These are all quite unpleasant conditions that can be easily remedied with better dental hygiene. Ignore these problems and they become worse and can eventually lead to painful periodontitis, tooth decay and eventually tooth loss.

In addition to brushing and flossing it may be necessary to use mouthwash or fluoride to protect your teeth but it is only recommended to use these products under advice from a South East London dentist. The dentist can also advise patients which toothpaste is most suitable to use and what brush is most suited to your teeth. Seeing a dental hygienist can also help to improve the overall quality of your dental heath.