School is out and those long lazy days of summer are upon us. It is little wonder that many children regard this as one of the best times of the year, but the reverse may be true for their teeth. Daily routines can quickly go to pot, and unfortunately tooth brushing and flossing can be a casualty, as it is all too easy for kids to forget or to ignore the importance of twice daily brushing and flossing.

So What Can Busy Parents Do To Help?

Leeds City Dentalcare suggests trying to get your kids to stick to a regular schedule, even though that is easier said than done. Try to make sure your children are aware of the need for great dental health, and explain to them how it can affect their overall health. You can also help by making sure you set a great example to your kids, and that you practise what you preach.

This can be a great time to book check-ups with Dr David Brown for the whole family, and to schedule professional cleanings, especially if you have been too busy to have a check-up recently. Our dentist in Leeds will be able to check your kid’s teeth to make sure there are no cavities forming, and they can also advise you on the use of preventative dental care treatments, in particular dental sealants.

Dental sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, and help to protect these vulnerable areas against decay. The chewing surfaces are especially susceptible as they contain lots of little grooves and fissures that help make it easier to grind up food, but which can be tricky to clean thoroughly. Dental sealants are best applied as soon as your children’s adult or permanent teeth erupt as they can only be applied to healthy teeth that don’t yet have any fillings.

Stock Your House with Healthy Snacks

Another problem with the school holidays is that children tend to eat a little less healthily, and may want to indulge in ice-cream, crisps and other treats. You can help by removing some of this temptation and through stocking your cupboards with more tooth friendly snacks such as fruits, vegetables, and cheese and sugar free yoghurts. Cutting back on fizzy drinks, chocolate biscuits and sweets will help their dental health and their overall health.

Allowing them to eat lots of foods that are bad for their teeth will mean their mouths will contain more sugar, and this is the most accessible food source for plaque bacteria. This will enable these bacteria to thrive and multiply, especially if oral hygiene is somewhat lax. It is even worse if they like to snack a lot in between meals, as plaque bacteria produce acids as they feed, and these acids will attack the tooth enamel, softening it and weakening it, making it more susceptible towards tooth decay. As the plaque bacteria congregate in the mouth they will begin to irritate the gum tissues, and this could even lead towards the development of gum disease. Gum disease is taken very seriously in our Leeds surgery, and is one of the reasons why we advocate preventative dental care so strongly. All of these preventative measures will not stop your child from having fun, but they could save them a lot of pain and money further down the line.

While some creatures are lucky enough to be blessed with an endless supply of teeth throughout their lifetime, humans have to make do with just two sets. It’s something that scientists have been investigating for a very long time in the quest to see if humans could somehow regrow that elusive third or even fourth set. They have even said that our teeth are no longer fit for purpose, and put this down to the fact that life expectancy is getting longer, and having a limited supply of teeth isn’t ideal with today’s modern diet.

It’s been suggested that one day in the future humans could evolve to grow beaks, something that will be a far more robust and practical but which seems a little strange right now. Of course this is something that will take millions of years and the race is still on it to see if human teeth can somehow be regenerated. Dr Fraser, a biologist at Sheffield University recently identified the cells responsible for tooth regeneration which have been rather quaintly named the tooth fairy cells, and it’s hoped that scientists will eventually discover how these cells work so they can apply the technique to humans. Unfortunately it’s estimated that it will be at least 50 years before this technology is available, and even then it might not be possible to produce perfect teeth or teeth that are in the correct alignment. Fifty years is quite some time away, so most of us will have to stick to trying to make our natural teeth last for as long as we can, and this is where Leeds City Dentalcare can help.

Preventative Dental Care Will Help Your Teeth Last Longer

Preventative dental care can do a lot to help and is easy to do. Regular check-ups with Dr David Brown, combined with professional cleanings will help to keep your teeth and gums free from disease. Gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss and is very common, but it doesn’t need to be. The early stages of gum disease can be easy to miss or ignore, but regular dental care with a dentist in Leeds will ensure the symptoms are picked up quickly when the condition is simple to treat.

Cosmetic Dental Treatments Will Give You the Smile You Really Want

Being able to grow perfect teeth might be a very long way off, but modern dental technology can give you the smile you really want in the here and now. Our Leeds surgery uses all the latest and most up-to-date techniques to provide our patients with quality cosmetic dental treatments, including teeth whitening, all-ceramic crowns and bridges and veneers.

Already Lost Teeth? We Can Replace Them with Dental Implants

Until we can regrow our own teeth, dental implants are the next best thing. Tried and tested technology is used to replace your natural tooth root with a titanium post that can be used to support a crown, bridge or to stabilise a denture. Dental implants in Leeds are more affordable than you might imagine, and can replace your teeth in a way that looks very natural.

Our natural teeth may have difficulty keeping up with the rigours of modern living, but dentistry has evolved tremendously over the last few years, and you’d be amazed at how good restorative and cosmetic dental treatments can be.

If you have recently had a tooth extracted by a dentist in Leeds then you’re probably contemplating the best way to replace it. It is important to replace an extracted tooth as otherwise the teeth adjacent and opposing the missing tooth will begin to move and shift out of position. This can create problems with your bite, and could lead to spaces forming in between other teeth. There are several different options for replacing missing teeth and these include:

Partial Denture

A partial denture is the most cost-effective way of replacing a missing tooth and is a removable appliance that will need to be cleaned thoroughly each day. It consists of a pink acrylic base that has the replacement teeth attached, and is held in place with clasps that fit around the remaining teeth. Partial dentures need replacing every 3 to 6 years. Many people will find partial dentures perfectly comfortable to wear, but some people do have problems. Another thing to consider about having a partial denture is that the metal clasps may require healthy teeth to be modified in order to provide sufficient retention to hold the partial denture firmly in place.

Dental Bridge

A dental bridge is fixed permanently in position and is attached to the adjacent teeth. There are several types of bridges that can be used. A conventional fixed bridge will be supported by two crowns attached to the adjacent teeth either side of the gap which are then attached to the replacement tooth, providing a stable and long-lasting restoration. Sometimes a cantilever bridge may be used which is where just a single tooth that has been crowned is used to support the replacement tooth.

The third alternative is called a Maryland bridge and is an adhesive or sticky bridge that has one or two wings that are bonded to the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. This last option is the most conservative as it requires little if any healthy tooth structure to be removed, but it’s also the least stable as Maryland bridges are not really designed to withstand any substantial biting forces.

Bridges are easy to care for and can look extremely good. One of the major disadvantages of having a bridge is that it does require healthy teeth to be crowned, and these teeth will need to be ground down to create sufficient room. A well cared for bridge can last for up to 10 years.

Dental Implant

A dental implant is considered by many people to be the best way of replacing a missing tooth which is partially due to the way it replicates the natural tooth root, and partially due to the excellent aesthetic results that can be provided. A dental implant will help keep the remaining teeth in their correct positions and will help ensure they remain more stable as it prevents bone loss in the jawbone. However this treatment does require a surgical procedure to insert the post into the jawbone, and the treatment time can be a little longer than having a partial denture or a bridge fitted. It’s worth taking into account the potential longevity of a dental implant, as it should last a very long time provided it’s looked after correctly with good home care and regular check-ups at Leeds City Dentalcare.

The treatment isn’t for everyone, as it is necessary not to have any uncontrolled diseases such as diabetes, to be a non-smoker, and to be in good oral health as otherwise there is the risk the implant could fail. It’s well worth making an appointment with Leeds City Dentalcare to discuss all these options with Dr David Brown to discover which would be best for you.

All the dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare will do their best to help your natural teeth last as long as possible, but sometimes the tooth may be too badly damaged or infected to save. In this case extraction may be the only possible choice, and will be necessary to prevent the infection from spreading.

Infected Teeth

A tooth can become infected if the pulp or central part of the tooth is exposed to bacteria through decay or damage. If not treated soon enough then the infection can spread out through the roots of the tooth and into the surrounding tissue and bone. This can cause a dental abscess, and is something that can be extremely painful. Infected teeth can often be saved through having prompt treatment, usually root canal therapy. This is a very conservative treatment and is usually successful, but occasionally it may fail or the tooth might fracture leaving little option but to extract it.

Problems with Wisdom Teeth

Tooth extraction may also be required if you have problems with your wisdom teeth. Many people simply don’t have sufficient room in the mouth for wisdom teeth to erupt normally, and they can often become impacted. If you are a regular patient at our Leeds surgery then Dr David Brown or whoever you see will have been keeping an eye on your wisdom teeth. They will let you know if your wisdom teeth require extraction. This wait-and-see approach ensures they will be extracted before they can affect the adjacent teeth. If you haven’t visited a dentist for a while, and think your wisdom teeth may be causing you problems then it’s best to make an appointment with our Leeds surgery.

What Happens during a Tooth Extraction?

You will be given a local anaesthetic before your tooth is removed to ensure you are kept comfortable. A diseased or damaged tooth is often loose and requires very little force to remove. Once the tooth is removed then the socket will bleed a little, and you’ll be given a gauze pad to bite down on to help stop the bleeding. After a short while a blood clot should begin to form in the socket, beginning the healing process.

Afterwards you may experience a little bit of discomfort, and it’s the best to avoid eating on that side of your mouth until the socket has settled down. You might notice a little swelling around the extraction site but this should soon subside. You still need to continue brushing your teeth but should avoid the extraction site for a day or two. You may want to use an antimicrobial mouthwash, or alternatively you could try rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water solution as this will help alleviate swelling and any pain.

Tooth extraction is far less scary than you might think, and most people have minimal discomfort afterwards. It is important to take care of the extraction site and to make sure it doesn’t get infected, or that you don’t dislodge the blood clot that forms in the tooth socket. Any problems are rare, but if you notice the extraction site is becoming more painful a few days after the tooth was removed then it’s best to contact a dentist in Leeds for advice. Very occasionally a condition called dry socket may develop which will require additional treatment.

Leeds City Dentalcare places great emphasis on preventative dental care. This is not only due to the fact that it can make your natural teeth last longer, but also because of the links between dental health and general health. There have been numerous research studies carried out into these links, and it’s surprising just how many general health conditions are now associated with dental health and dentist Leeds could be the first to spot something is wrong. Our surgery has put together a list of the top general health conditions, and the way they could affect your dental health.

Diabetes has one of the most well documented links with oral health, in particular gum disease. If you notice your gums bleed when you brush or floss then it’s time to make an appointment to come and see Dr David Brown or another of our dentists for diagnosis and treatment. Ignoring these signs can increase the risk of diabetes, and may make this condition worse for people who have already being diagnosed as diabetic.

Anaemia is something that can be diagnosed by your dentist, as if your tongue is particularly pale that it could be an indication that you are deficient in iron. This condition affects 20% of women so it’s much more prevalent than you might think.

Coeliac disease is often accompanied by mouth sores or mouth ulcers. If you have persistent mouth ulcers then it is well worth making an appointment with our Leeds surgery to try to determine the exact reason, especially as undiagnosed coeliac disease can negatively affect your teeth and bones.

Eating disorders can have a detrimental effect on dental health, and it’s not uncommon for dentists to pick up on the early symptoms of these disorders. Anorexia often means that sufferers are malnourished and this is something that can lead to a condition called dry mouth which is where insufficient saliva is produced, or which can cause bleeding gums. Bulimia can cause huge damage to the teeth as the acid from the stomach attacks the tooth enamel causing erosion and dental decay.

Heart disease has been linked with periodontal disease or advanced gum disease, and the reason for this is that the open wounds created by gum disease allow plaque bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Gum disease is an inflammatory condition, and it’s thought these plaque bacteria are able to create inflammation in arteries, contributing towards heart disease.

Acid reflux is another very common problem which can damage the teeth due to the acids entering the mouth. It is also though that gastroesophageal reflux disease could increase the risk of oesophageal cancer due to the fact that it erodes the oesophagus.

Alzheimer’s disease has also been linked to gum disease, as it’s been found patients with this condition have more bacteria related to gum disease in their brains. The theory is that these bacteria could cause inflammation in the brain resulting in damage.

Parkinson’s disease is a condition that often causes dry mouth. This is where the mouth is unable to produce sufficient saliva to keep it clean and comfortable. If you think you may have dry mouth then it’s well worth talking to the dental team at Leeds City Dentalcare regarding cosmetic dentistry in Leeds as we have lots of suggestions on how to cope with this condition but that will not only help you feel more comfortable, but which will also help protect your dental health.

Root canal therapy is one of those things that often seems to strike fear into people’s hearts, in spite of the fact that it is a relatively benign treatment that can be little worse than having a filling. However the news that root canal treatment may one day be consigned into history is something that will be welcomed by most people, not least the dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare. Studies are on-going at the University of Liverpool in developing a new strategy for treating infected and damaged teeth that would otherwise have required this treatment. It’s thought that creating tiny areas of damage in the root area of infected teeth would trigger bleeding leading to the formation of blood clots. These blood clots serve the purpose of helping to stimulate the blood supply to the tooth nerve, potentially helping it to re grow and avoiding the need for root canal therapy.

Root canal treatment is usually necessary if the pulp area of the tooth becomes infected or damaged in some way. The pulp is located in the centre of the tooth and contains all the nerves and blood vessels. Root canal treatment is an extremely effective way of saving a tooth simply by removing the infected pulp before sealing the root treated tooth. Afterwards the tooth is usually restored through having a filling or by having a crown fitted. Although the treatment is quite straightforward it usually requires several visits to Leeds surgery. First of all the infection has to be diagnosed by Dr David Brown or another of our dentists before treatment can be arranged. This involves drilling into the crown of the tooth to access the root canal before cleaning out the root canal system with specially shaped files. Afterwards the tooth may be temporarily sealed to ensure all the infection is removed before being fully restored.

If this new procedure is found to be effective then it could take just two visits to Leeds City Dentalcare. The first step would be to drill into the tooth before applying a special antibiotic paste to help disinfect the root canal. The next visit would see tiny cuts being made to the root canal system, encouraging the tissue to bleed and subsequently clot. The closing process would encourage the growth of new blood vessels, and would boost the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the pulp, allowing it to repair itself. It’s not exactly known how this repair process would work, but it’s thought to be due to the fact that the blood clot contains certain growth factors that can help to repair damaged tissue. This technique is currently being used on a group of patients at the University of Liverpool and early studies are encouraging. It’s not yet certain how long it would be before this new technique will be available in dental surgeries around the country, including Leads City Dentalcare.

Even if this technique is perfected we still believe that prevention is always better than the cure. You can help prevent infections and dental abscesses by making sure you visit our Leeds surgery at regular intervals for check-ups. Early detection of any cavities that may be forming will allow us to halt them in their tracks, greatly lessening the risk of needing any type of root canal treatment, old or new.

We quite often see patients at our Leeds surgery who have problems with either an aching jaw or toothache, and this can be due to several different reasons. The pain can also differ considerably as it can be triggered by hot and cold foods and liquids, it may be constant or a shooting pain, or it might be a dull ache. Any signs of dental pain are always worth investigating just in case they are being caused by a serious health condition.

Bruxism or Teeth Grinding

This is a common cause of tooth pain and jaw pain, and many people are completely unaware they have this habit as it generally occurs during the night. This means the condition can go undiagnosed for quite some time. Bruxism damages the teeth and the jaw, and your dentist is often the first to notice this is happening. Teeth may appear shorter than before as they become worn down, and chips and cracks may develop in the tooth enamel. The constant grinding and clenching also affects the jaw, specifically the temporomandibular joint that’s responsible for moving the lower jaw as it can become inflamed and painful.

It’s thought this problem can arise in response to stressful situations, but it can also occur if the upper and lower jaws aren’t aligned correctly. If you visit Leeds City Dentalcare for regular check-ups then any signs of this condition are more likely to be picked up quickly before it can cause any extensive damage.

Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth can present a problem and might cause pain as there’s often too little room for them to erupt normally. This means they can become impacted and need removal. If you’re a regular visitor to our Leeds surgery then it’s highly likely any potential problems with your wisdom teeth will have already been detected through dental x-rays, so hopefully the offending teeth can be removed before they cause you any pain.

Dental Abscesses

Dental abscesses can arise due to a bacterial infection in the tooth which results in pus building up around the root of the tooth or in the tissue surrounding it. An abscessed tooth can be extremely painful and may even cause localised swelling. If you think you may have an abscessed tooth then you do need to seek treatment as soon as possible as the abscess will need to be drained and you might need antibiotics to treat the infection. Having regular dental check-ups with Dr David Brown or any of our dentists is the best way to avoid dental abscesses as they occur when the tooth becomes damaged or decayed, allowing bacteria to enter the central part of the tooth causing infection.

Preventative Dental Care Is the Best Way to Minimise the Risk of Dental Pain

Being in any sort of pain is never pleasant, but preventative dental care with our dentist in Leeds can greatly help to minimise the risk. Regular dental care enables our dental team to pick up on any small problems so they can be treated quickly and effectively before you even begin to notice anything is wrong. Through attending our surgery at regular intervals, you’ll be helping to protect your teeth, gums and jaw from damage and infection. You’ll also benefit from the peace of mind that comes from having regular dental check-ups.

A recent report in a popular tabloid stated that some people have given up on going to the dentist in an effort to save money and are attempting DIY dentistry, sometimes with horrific results. Apparently there’s been an increase in sales of dental kits available in chemists to mend or stick down crowns. However these kits are only designed to be a stopgap until you can get the dentist for proper dental care and are perfect if you’re going on holiday and are worried about any of your crowns or veneers coming loose. There’s also been a huge increase in the sales of home teeth whitening kits.

People have been attempting to pull out their own teeth with pliers, or have been sticking back crowns with superglue. Superglue will damage the tooth, and could result in the need for surgery. Other attempts at DIY dentistry have involved using household bleach to whiten teeth, and popping abscesses and ulcers with pins. It doesn’t bear thinking about.

Regular Dental Care Is Much More Affordable Than You Might Realise

Not visiting the dentist at regular intervals is extremely short-sighted, as regular dental check-ups actually have the potential to save your life, and are much more affordable than you might think. Leeds City Dentalcare publishes its price list online so you know exactly what you’re in for before you even pick up the phone to make an appointment. If you do require any treatment then you’ll receive a treatment plan that gives you a full breakdown of all the costs involved.

In the longer term regular dental check-ups with Dr David Brown or one of our other highly skilled dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare will save you money while preserving your teeth and gums, as it’s far less expensive to have smaller fillings replaced than to be faced with tooth extraction and replacement at a later date. In addition our dentists are highly trained and can identify other problems such as mouth cancer, and oral conditions that may be linked to other serious diseases such as heart disease or diabetes.

Making Your Teeth Last a Lifetime

Your teeth are designed to last a lifetime, but can only do so if you look after them properly, and regular appointments with one of our hygienists are an extremely important part of your oral maintenance plan. They will scale and polish your teeth, removing any plaque bacteria that may have built up on the teeth, lessening the risk of infection and inflammation in your gums. Another nice side effect of this treatment is that your teeth will probably look a little whiter afterwards, so you may not need to bleach them after all.

If you do decide to go ahead and whiten your teeth then it’s really important to have a full check-up beforehand. Purchasing a whitening kit online or at the chemists can be risky if you don’t follow their instructions precisely. The whitening trays supplied with these types of kits often fit extremely badly and can allow the bleaching gel to leak out onto your gums. If you have any signs of dental diseases such as tooth decay or gum disease then you’re likely to find this very uncomfortable, and it could even end up damaging your teeth and gums. The whitening trays provided by Leeds City Dentalcare are an affordable and safe way of whitening your teeth as the trays are custom-made to exactly fit over your teeth, protecting your gums. Your dental health is important to us so we won’t supply these whitening trays unless your teeth and gums are strong and healthy.

Dental fluorosis is a condition that affects the appearance of the teeth. It is caused by being exposed to too much fluoride before the age of eight when the permanent teeth are still developing. Most people will only have very mild signs of this condition, and it is generally found amongst people who grew up drinking water that was naturally high in fluoride. Anyone who is native to Leeds is less likely to have this condition as the fluoride levels locally are quite low. However people do move around more nowadays and it is something we do see in patients visiting Leeds City Dentalcare.

This phenomenon is nothing new, as it first caught the attention of dental researchers early last century when it was noticed that people living in areas where the fluoride levels were naturally high were more likely to have brown, stained looking teeth. Researchers also noticed that the incidence of dental cavities in this group tended to be lower than in the rest of the population.

While generally caused by naturally occurring fluoride, this condition can also be due to overuse of fluoridated dental products. Some fluoride products such as mouthwash and toothpaste can taste nice, and this may lead to children swallowing the excess rather than spitting it out. This is one of the reasons that Dr David Brown and other dental professionals in our Leeds surgery may advise parents to exercise caution over using fluoride products on very young children, and parental supervision during teeth cleaning is always very important.

At its mildest level this condition simply causes white flecks that can look almost like lace to appear on the surfaces of the teeth, but discolourations can range from yellow to dark brown. If overexposure has been more extreme then fluorosis can even cause pitting on the tooth surfaces, and some of these pits can be quite noticeable. This can be distressing for the person involved, and the effects of dental fluorosis can be tricky to mask.

Getting a Diagnosis from Leeds City Dentalcare

Our dentist in Leeds at our Cosmetic dentistry Leeds will be able to tell if you or anyone in your family has fluorosis, and will be able to diagnose the degree of severity. Sometimes this condition may only affect the back teeth that are impossible to see, or it may be so mild that no action is necessary. It is important to remember that fluorosis is not a disease, and that the effects are cosmetic.

Treating Fluorosis

Fluorosis can be treated in a number of different ways depending on the severity of the stains. Sometimes teeth whitening may be successful on very mild fluorosis, but the results can vary. Your dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare would be able to advise you on this at the time of consultation, but this would be one of the most cost effective methods of masking the stains.

Other ways of masking the stains include dental bonding, which is where a composite resin material is used to cover up the affected areas. This is another affordable treatment, and the composite resin should last several years before it requires replacement.

Fluorosis can sometimes be improved through a process called microabrasion. This is where a tiny amount of the tooth surface is removed to help improve the stains. Fluoride is then applied topically to the surface. This might seem a strange thing to do to treat fluorosis, but this condition is caused by ingested fluoride rather than fluoride that is applied externally, and the application of topical fluoride helps to harden the treated surfaces.

You could also choose to have the affected teeth veneered, as this is a very effective and long-lasting way of covering up the stains. This solution would be perfect if you had been thinking about having a bit of a smile makeover, and would like to improve their shape and overall appearance at the same time. You may also chose to have your teeth crowned, but this option would involve removing the most amount of tooth structure, and is not something our Leeds surgery is likely to recommend unless these teeth have substantial decay or damage.

The process of demineralisation and remineralisation is something that occurs throughout the day in everyone’s mouths. Demineralisation is where essential minerals, including calcium and phosphate are removed from the hard, protective layer of tooth enamel. This is the outermost layer of the tooth, and it is essential it is kept strong to protect the tooth from decay. Demineralisation results in this layer becoming weaker and softer, and more susceptible towards decay. One of the first signs that this is occurring can be noticing your teeth are more sensitive towards hot and cold foods, and tooth sensitivity is something we see quite a lot of in our Leeds surgery.

Why Does Demilitarisation Occur?

Every time you eat something then the plaque bacteria present in your mouth will feast on the excess food particles that remain in between your teeth and on your teeth and gums. They produce acid as a by-product which attacks in the enamel layer on your teeth and it’s this action that causes essential minerals to be leached out of the tooth surface. The acid is produced within just a few minutes of eating or drinking, and your mouth is likely to remain acidic for between half an hour and an hour after eating. Demineralisation can also occur as a result of eating foods or drinking liquids that are particularly acidic such as citrus fruits and juices. After a while your mouth will become less acidic as the pH levels return to normal, allowing the second part of the process to occur.

Re-mineralisation of Your Tooth Enamel

Some of the phosphate and calcium ions will remain in your saliva, and as the pH levels return to normal these irons are redeposited into the tooth enamel helping it to re-harden. This is one of the reasons why our dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare may recommend you wait a while after eating and drinking before brushing your teeth. This will allow these essential ions to be redeposited into your teeth, as brushing too soon could mean they are brushed away and are lost forever. Even so it is important to brush and floss every day.

You Can Help Protect Your Tooth Enamel through Having a Great Oral Hygiene Routine

The plaque bacteria on your teeth play a major part in this process of demineralisation and re-mineralisation, as they gradually build up throughout the course of the day creating a sticky biofilm layer over your teeth and gums. This can be removed through regular brushing and flossing and the most essential times to brush your teeth are first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Flossing last thing at night will help ensure you go to bed with a clean mouth. This regime is especially important as the flow of saliva decreases overnight allowing plaque bacteria to build up on the teeth and gums so brushing first thing in the morning and last thing at night will help decrease their numbers.

Visiting our Leeds surgery at regular intervals for check-ups with Dr David Brown and for professional cleanings will also help to protect your tooth enamel. This is because our dental hygienist will remove all the hardened plaque bacteria from your teeth so there will be fewer bacteria to attack your tooth enamel. Our dental team will also be able to check how well you are cleaning your teeth and can give you lots of helpful advice on how to improve your daily routine.