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.

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.