Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin as it can be manufactured by the body when exposed to the sunlight. Approximately 80% to 90% of the required amount of this vitamin is made in this way. However it is estimated that up to half the population worldwide may have insufficient levels of this vitamin which can often be down to lifestyle. Vitamin D can only be found in a few foods such as fatty fish, and because of this it is often added to dairy products to make it more easily accessible. When you next buy dairy products or fruit juice then just take a look at the label to see if it has been fortified with this vitamin as you could be helping to improve your smile.

Vitamin D and Dental Decay

One of the problems faced by many of our patients here at Leeds City Dentalcare is dental decay, but research at the end of last year shows this vitamin may help lower the risk of cavities. The research looked at 24 different clinically controlled trials that took place over a 60 year period from the 1920s to the 1980s. Evidence collated from these trials showed that vitamin D was associated with approximately 50% reduction in the risk of cavities. This claim is something that has long been in dispute, as while vitamin D’s role in supporting healthy bones is well known, evidence for its role in preventing tooth decay has been the subject of much dispute. As early as the 1950s the US National Research Council and the American Medical Association reached the conclusion that vitamin D could be beneficial in helping to manage dental cavities, something that the American Dental Association disagreed with when reviewing the same evidence.

The trials that were recently reviewed took place in a number of different countries including Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Austria and Sweden. The participants were aged between two and 16 years and received increased amounts of vitamin D through supplements or UV light. Although the importance of this recent review is still up for debate, making sure you receive sufficient vitamin D certainly can’t do any harm. It is also important to remember that having a healthy diet won’t help you if you don’t receive regular dental care.

Leeds City Dentalcare can help Keep Your Teeth Cavity Free

Visiting Dr David Brown or another of our dentist in Leeds will help keep your teeth and gums free from disease. We usually recommend that most patients pop in to see us at six monthly intervals for a check-up and professional cleaning. We’ll be able to detect any early signs of dental decay through visually examining your teeth, and through the use of dental x-rays at regular intervals. If you have children then we recommend they have the chewing surfaces of their back teeth sealed as soon as their adult teeth have erupted. These surfaces are especially prone to decay as the grooves and fissures can be difficult to clean. You may also have these teeth sealed as an adult, provided they are free from decay and do not have any fillings.

Much of our focus in our Leeds surgery is on preventive dental care, and we are very keen on patient education. If you feel you would like additional information on how to look after your teeth, and the best way to prevent cavities from forming then we do encourage you to ask our dental team for advice.

Xylitol is one of those products that a lot of people have heard about, but may not know exactly what it does, or why it could be beneficial for their oral health. Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that is found in plant materials, in particular fruits and vegetables. It is best known as being a sugar substitute, and is commonly found in sugar free chewing gum and sweets. It also has a reputation for helping to alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth, and in helping to prevent tooth decay. It is something that patients visiting Leeds City Dentalcare occasionally ask about.

Up until now its usefulness in helping to prevent tooth decay or in being able to improve oral health has been questionable. Now a secondary analysis of a previous three year trial that compared the effectiveness of xylitol sweets with a placebo, has found results that are statistically significant, and which support its effectiveness. However before anyone gets too excited it is important to emphasise that the benefits found were relatively modest. In spite of this, researchers still think that xylitol can play a part in helping to improve oral health, and that daily use of lozenges containing xylitol can help to lessen the chances of cavities forming. They also think it would be worthwhile carrying out a larger trial on its effectiveness, especially if larger doses were to be used. This research may help those patients at higher risk of developing caries, but the importance of other conventional treatments should not be ignored.

How Does Xylitol Work?

Xylitol is naturally sweet, but unlike other sugars it cannot be used as an energy source by the bacteria that are commonly found in the mouth. Most sugars are used by bacteria in the mouth, which then create acids as a by-product of this process. As xylitol cannot be metabolised by these bacteria, the mouth remains neutral so the risk of tooth decay is not increased. In addition the sweet taste of xylitol stimulates the flow of saliva in the mouth, helping to rinse away any other sugars or any food remnants. This is something else that helps to keep the pH of the mouth neutral.

Xylitol is called non-cariogenic, in that it does not contribute towards the formation of cavities in the teeth, and helps to prevent the formation of new cavities in the teeth. It can actually help to reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Xylitol is No Substitute for Good Oral Hygiene

In spite of its properties, chewing gum or eating lozenges containing xylitol is not a substitute for good oral hygiene. You still need to visit our Leeds surgery at regular intervals for check-ups with Dr David Brown or other dentist in Leeds, and for professional cleanings as implementing preventative dental measures is still the best way of ensuring your mouth remains free from disease. In addition you’ll still need to spend a few minutes a day brushing your teeth and flossing thoroughly. However it is easy to chew gum containing xylitol after a meal, especially if you cannot clean your teeth soon afterwards.

Xylitol is not known to be toxic for humans, but it is important not to eat too much of it each day as it can have a slight laxative effect if consumed in sufficiently large quantities. If you have pets then it is important to make sure products containing xylitol are kept out of reach as this substance can be pretty dangerous for them if they consume it.

If you’re vigilant about cleaning your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, and if you make sure you visit us regularly at Leeds City Dentalcare then you might think you’re doing all you can to look after your teeth. However it’s all too easy to get into bad habits that may inadvertently harm your teeth and gums, so it’s well worth keeping an eye out for them and making sure you break these habits before they cause any harm. We’ve put together a list of the worst offenders.

Crunching on ice cubes is something a lot of us do without really thinking about it. It’s such an easy thing to do when you’ve finished a nice cold drink, and it seems relatively harmless. However ice is cold and brittle and can lead to fractures forming in your teeth. Initially these may be extremely difficult to detect as they will start off as microscopic cracks in your tooth enamel. Every time you bite down on food then these cracks will open up slightly, and you’ll probably notice your teeth are more sensitive towards hot and cold foods.. If you do have sensitivity to hot and cold foods it’s well worth mentioning it to Dr David Brown or your dentist next time you visit our Leeds surgery. They’ll be able to examine your teeth and determine the exact cause for this sensitivity. Fractures or crack may need treatment to prevent bacteria from entering the tooth.

Using your teeth as if they were a pair of scissors or a pair of pliers will also put a lot of undue strain on them. It’s all too easy to use your teeth to open a packet of food or to rip apart plastic tags. This bad habit can place your teeth under real stress, and may lead to a weakened tooth cracking or chipping. Reaching for a pair of scissors as opposed to using your teeth could save you a lot of pain and money in the future.

Teeth grinding is a slightly trickier issue, as many people are completely unaware they have this habit given that it tends to happen during the night. It’s something that can arise due to stress or anxiety, and it can cause substantial damage to your teeth and gums, as well as your jaw and the muscles in your face. If you frequently wake up with a sore painful jaw, or if you’ve noticed your teeth look more worn down than before then it’s worth making an appointment to see a dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare just in case you need treatment. If we think that you’re grinding your teeth then we will probably prescribe a mouthguard for you to wear at night. This can often be enough to break the habit, but if not there are plenty of other things that can be done to help you quit this habit.

Brushing your teeth too hard can cause quite a lot of damage to your teeth and gums, as can using a toothbrush with very hard bristles. You don’t need to brush very hard to thoroughly clean your teeth, and over brushing can lead to the tooth enamel becoming worn away, increasing the sensitivity of your gums and increasing the risk of tooth decay.

These issues are all relatively common, but resolving them may help improve your dental health, and that’s something we think is well worth doing.

Toothache is a pretty common problem that is something we see quite frequently amongst our patients here in Leeds. It can be caused by a number of different things, but is generally due to the tooth becoming infected, decayed or injured in some way. While toothache is often caused by trauma or dental decay, it can also be a sign of gum disease or periodontal disease.

Sometimes pain can be felt after a tooth has been extracted and the socket has become infected in some way, and occasionally toothache may be caused by pain radiating from another area of the face. This might occur if the patient is suffering with disorders of the temporomandibular joint (the joint responsible for moving the lower jaw), or if they have ear pain.

The most common reason for toothache is due to the pulp in the centre of the tooth becoming infected and inflamed. The pulp contains many nerves that are very sensitive to pain and if it becomes inflamed then the pulp tissues begin to swell up, causing pressure within the tooth that increases the pain.

Symptoms of Toothache

Toothache can also cause pain in the jaw, and a number of additional symptoms. For instance it can be painful to bite down or apply pressure on an aching tooth, and it can be extremely uncomfortable if this tooth is exposed to hot or cold food and drink. This pain can sometimes continue even when the tooth is no longer receiving this stimulus. If the toothache is allowed to progress without being treated at our Leeds surgery, then the area of pain may begin to radiate out towards the cheek or the ear, or further along the jaw. Other signs that something is wrong can include noticing a discharge from the tooth, or that the gum nearest the tooth is bleeding, or that the gum around the tooth is beginning to swell up.

Know When It’s Time to Seek Treatment from Leeds City Dentalcare

You should definitely call us to make an appointment to see Dr David Brown or another of our dentists if your toothache isn’t relieved by over-the-counter drugs, or if you have dental pain that occurs after the tooth has been extracted. Sometimes tooth extraction can result in a condition called dry socket developing. In this case the pain will begin to intensify a couple of days following the extraction, at a time when it should be subsiding.

It’s also definitely time to give us a call if you notice there is a discharge from the gums around your tooth, or if you notice your face is swelling up or if you are developing a fever. These symptoms are a sign of infection, as straightforward tooth decay doesn’t cause fever. Seeking treatment early on will greatly increase the chances of saving the tooth, and will hopefully help lessen the pain more quickly.

If you recently suffered trauma to a tooth and have subsequently developed toothache then contact us to make an appointment. If your tooth has become broken or damaged in any way it could allow bacteria to enter the tooth, increasing the risk of infection. It’s also possible that any trauma could have damaged your temporomandibular joint and it may have become inflamed.

Toothache can also be caused by your wisdom teeth. A lot of people have problems when their wisdom teeth try to erupt due to a lack of space in their jawbone. Sometimes the wisdom teeth can partially erupt, and this can cause inflammation around the gum which may in turn become infected.

Most cases of toothache can be avoided simply through practicing good oral hygiene. It also helps immensely if you visit our dentist in Leeds for regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings.

Tooth extraction is sometimes necessary if the tooth is too badly damaged or decayed to be saved. It may also be required if root canal therapy fails to save a tooth, something that can happen occasionally In this case it will need extracting, and this is generally a relatively straightforward process. Dr David Brown or another dentist at Leeds City Dental care will give you a local anaesthetic to numb the area with the affected tooth. The actual extraction should be pretty quick, and you may need some stitches although this isn’t always necessary. You may experience some bleeding afterwards, but this should cease as a blood clot will form in the empty tooth socket.

Looking After the Extraction Site

Afterwards you will be given precise instructions on how to look after the extraction site, and how to keep it clean. You may need to take painkillers for a day or day or two after surgery, and you might experience some swelling. Some people find it helpful to use a rinse of warm salt water to relieve discomfort and swelling. It is not advisable to carry out strenuous exercise following an extraction, as physical activity can increase the bleeding. You may also want to stick to eating soft foods for a day or two to give the site a chance to heal. Avoid touching the extraction site with your tongue or fingers, but do make sure you continue to brush your teeth.

Possible Complications Following Tooth Extraction

Complications following a tooth extraction are rare, and are generally simple to treat, but it is worthwhile knowing what they are, and the type of symptoms to look out for. Dry socket can sometimes occur, and is caused by the blood clot that forms in the extraction site becoming dislodged. The whole purpose of the blood clot is to help protect the bone that is exposed by the extraction. Exposure of the bone can lead to an infection developing, and the main symptom is feeling pain a couple of days after the extraction.

This pain can be quite intense, and can radiate outwards from the extraction site. Other symptoms include bad breath, or noticing you have a nasty taste in your mouth. Dry socket is something we can treat quite easily, but you will need to make an appointment to see a dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare to have the extraction site properly cleaned and dressed. We may need to see you quite frequently to change the dressing, and to ensure the extraction site is healing properly. If the infection is particularly bad then we may need to prescribe antibiotics to help clear it up. Dry socket should generally clear up within a couple of weeks.

Another problem which may occur is called a reactionary haemorrhage, and is where the extraction site can begin to bleed several days after surgery. This can be due to an increased flow of blood to the socket, or because the blood clot has become dislodged. If this happens then it is important to place pressure on the extraction site to try to stop the bleeding, and if it fails to stop within twenty minutes or so call our dental surgery in Leeds for further advice. We may need to stitch up the extraction site under a local anaesthetic.

Complications are Rare

These problems are relatively rare, as for example dry socket only affects between 2% and 5% of extractions. Provided you follow the instructions given to you about keeping the extraction site clean then you are unlikely to experience any problems.

If you or your child likes to play a lot of sports then it could be well worth investing in a custom-made mouthguard from Leeds City Dentalcare. Although you can buy mouthguards quite cheaply over-the-counter or online, there are several major advantages to having one custom-made. A ‘one size fits all’ mouthguard will not offer significant protection for the teeth and lips, and is likely to be extremely uncomfortable to wear. It’s important that a mouthguard is comfortable to wear as otherwise it’s less likely to be used. In comparison a mouthguard designed by Dr David Brown or another of our dentists in Leeds here at our Leeds surgery will have been made to take into account a number of different factors. If it’s being made for a child whose teeth are still erupting and whose jaw may still be growing then this will all be taken into consideration during its design.

Custom-made mouthguards are constructed using an impression of the mouth which will be taken at our Leeds surgery. This is then sent to our dental laboratory where the impression will be cast up in dental plaster and used to construct a mouthguard that fits precisely over the teeth, and which is comfortable to wear and won’t restrict breathing. A properly made mouthguard should offer excellent protection, should be tear resistant, odourless and tasteless, and it shouldn’t be bulky but should be comfortable to wear and have good retention. It will be constructed with sufficient thickness in critical areas to give good protection to the teeth. Mouthguards can be made out of one layer of material or they may be constructed from several layers of material depending on the sport involved. With proper care a good quality mouthguard may last several years. They are easy to care for but they should be:

• Rinsed thoroughly before and after each use
• Cleaned after use in cold, soapy water or with a mouthwash before being thoroughly rinsed
• Stored in a study container that has vents
• Kept away from sunlight or very hot water
• Regularly checked for any signs of wear and tear

But Are They Really Necessary?

If you’ve been playing sports for a long time and have never suffered any significant physical injuries then you may question whether or not it’s necessary to get a custom-made sports mouthguards from Leeds City Dentalcare. The answer is definitely yes, as according to the British Orthodontic Society, between 13% and 39% of all dental injuries are sports related, and approximately 25% of children in the UK will injure and possibly lose a front tooth at some stage during their sporting career at school. If you have private dental insurance then you might find they won’t pay out if a sports injury occurs while not wearing a proper mouthguard.

Sports Mouthguards and Braces

Children who wear fixed braces are recommended to wear a mouthguard over their brace to avoid suffering any lacerations to the mouth from the brace. In this instance a fixed brace can offer quite a lot of protection and support to the teeth, so the whole purpose of a sports mouthguard is to protect the oral tissues or soft tissues of the mouth from the hard parts of the brace.

Canker sores are also called aphthous ulcers and are ulcers that can be very uncomfortable. They can occur on the tongue, right at the back of your mouth, or inside your cheeks. There are two different types of canker sores that we see at our Leeds surgery, which are:

• Simple canker sores that occur two or three times a year and only last a week. This type is most commonly found in people aged between 10 and 20.
• Complex canker sores can be more problematic. They are less common and tend to occur in people who have had them before.

Causes of Canker Sores

The exact reason as to why canker sores appear isn’t really known, but it’s thought to be partly due to stress, or possibly to the oral tissues becoming injured. Some people find that certain types of foods can trigger an attack, or can make existing canker sores worse. These include acidic fruits and vegetables such as oranges and lemons, tomatoes and pineapples. The problem can also arise if you have an ill-fitting dental appliance such as a denture or an orthodontic brace.

Sometimes complex canker sores may be due to some other underlying health problem such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease, or having a compromised immune system. They may also be due to nutritional problems such as having a folic acid or iron deficiency, or being deficient in zinc or vitamin B-12.

Patients at Leeds City Dentalcare often ask if canker sores are the same thing as cold sores, and the answer is no as they are quite different. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and are very contagious. They also occur outside the mouth, usually on the lips or on the central portion of the face. In contrast canker sores occur on the inside of the mouth.

Common symptoms of canker sores include:

• Noticing a burning or tingling sensation before the canker sore actually appears
• Developing a painful or sore area inside your mouth
• Developing sores that look white or grey in colour, and which may have a red border

Some people also feel feverish or sluggish, and their lymph nodes may swell up.

Getting Treatment for Canker Sores at Leads City Dentalcare

Most people find their canker sores will begin to clear up on their own after a few days, and will be completely gone within a week or two. However if you find your canker sores are persistent then you may want to make an appointment to see Dr David Brown or another dentist in Leeds surgery. We might be able to prescribe you something to help reduce the pain and irritation, and we may also prescribe an antimicrobial mouthwash.

You should definitely call our dentist Leeds for advice if you think your canker sores look especially large or that they are spreading. Contact us if you notice your sores last longer than three weeks, or if you’re finding the pain intolerable in spite of taking over-the-counter painkillers. We’ll also want to see you if you develop a high fever during an attack, or if you find you have difficulty in drinking sufficient fluids.

Reducing the Frequency of Canker Sores

There isn’t any known cure for canker sores, and many people do find they reoccur. However there may be some things you can try to help reduce their frequency. These include:

• Avoiding foods you think may trigger and attack such as spicy foods and acidic fruits and vegetables
• Avoiding chewing gum
• Using a soft bristled toothbrush to clean your teeth, and being sure toothbrush after meals and floss daily as this will help keep your teeth and gums free from food which might trigger an attack

Teeth grinding, or to give it its proper name, bruxism, can cause considerable damage to teeth and gums if it occurs on a regular basis. Most people grind their teeth or clench them together every so often, and this probably won’t do any damage if it happens only occasionally, but it’s quite a different matter if you find you are grinding your teeth on a regular basis. If this is the case then it’s worth making an appointment with Dr David Brown or another dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare to have the problem diagnosed properly, and to find a workable solution.

How Does the Problem of Teeth Grinding Begin?

Bruxism is thought to be linked to stress and anxiety, and it’s a problem that generally occurs when sleeping. It can also be caused by having an abnormal bite, or through having crooked or missing teeth. It can be quite an easy problem to miss, and a lot of people only become aware that they are bruxist when informed about the noise they are making when grinding their teeth at night, often by a disgruntled sleeping partner. Other symptoms include waking up with a sore jaw or noticing your teeth meet together slightly differently. Sometimes teeth can also appear a little shorter than before, and people with chronic bruxism can even wear their teeth right down to stumps. It is obviously better to seek help before this happens, as in the worst case it might be necessary to have teeth restored through root canal therapy and bridges and crowns, and in the very worst cases they may need extracting completely and replacing with either implants or partial or full dentures.

The Effects of Teeth Grinding on the Temporomandibular Joint

Teeth grinding can also affect the temporomandibular joint. This is the joint that hinges the jaw open and shut and is responsible for moving it from side to side. Bruxism can cause this joint to become inflamed and tender, and if the problem is left unresolved it can cause damage to this joint. In this case you may need specialist treatment from a maxillofacial surgeon. Getting treatment early on from your Leeds surgery is a far better option.

Treating Bruxism

There are a lot of different things that can be done to treat this problem. One of the most common is to simply to provide you with a mouth guard to prevent you from grinding your teeth while asleep. This works by putting your jaw into a more relaxed position. Teeth grinding is a learned behaviour so wearing a night guard can often be sufficient to help break the habit. Other things to consider include trying to cut down on anything that is raising your stress levels. This might mean taking more exercise, trying yoga or meditation, or possibly getting a prescription for muscle relaxants.

You may also want to look at your diet and to cut back on foods and drinks that contain caffeine. This includes coffee and tea, and unfortunately chocolate. It can also help to become more aware of when you’re clenching or grinding your teeth. If you notice you’re beginning to clench your jaw during the day then try placing the tip of your tongue in between your teeth as this helps train your jaw muscles to relax. Other things that can help include using a warm flannel to help relax the muscles in your jaw at night.

The main thing is to seek help from dentist Leeds City Dentalcare before this problem can cause permanent damage to your teeth and gums.

Oral cancer can affect any part of the oral cavity. This includes the cheeks, the top and bottom of the mouth, the lips and tongue, and the throat and sinuses. The most recent figures show it was the 15th most common cancer in the UK in 2009, and during that year there were 6,236 new cases diagnosed. It’s something that is more likely to affect older people, and men are at greater risk. It’s something we take very seriously here at Leeds City Dentalcare, and an oral cancer screening is an important part of your check-up. Dr David Brown or another of our dentists will check all the oral tissues in your mouth, and will gently feel your neck. It’s still a pretty rare condition, but treatment is much more successful if it’s caught early on.

Common symptoms of oral cancer include:

• Noticing you have thicker or rough areas in your mouth or on your lips, or that some areas appear to be swollen
• The colour of your oral tissues may have changed, and you might notice white or red spots
• Any sores in your head or neck area or in your mouth that fail to heal normally, and which bleed easily when touched
• Noticing it is more difficult to chew or swallow
• Your voice may become slightly hoarse, or you may begin to suffer from a chronic sore throat
• Your teeth don’t meet together in the same way as they used to, and dental appliances such as dentures may not fit quite so well
• Unexplained weight loss

If you do notice you have developed some of the symptoms then it’s best to book a check-up with our Leeds dentist, or ask your doctor for advice. It’s highly likely the reason is due to something else, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Who is Most at Risk of Developing Oral Cancer?

People most at risk of developing oral cancer are likely to be heavy smokers or drinkers. It’s estimated that smokers may be up to seven times more likely to develop oral cancer than people who don’t smoke. Using smokeless tobacco products is as bad and can increase the risk of this disease. Excess drinking can increase the risk by around five times. People who have a family history of cancer are likely to be more at risk, as are those who sunbathe to excess. However around a quarter of those diagnosed with oral cancer will not have been at any obvious risk.

How is Oral Cancer Diagnosed?

The earliest signs that something is amiss are likely to be picked up during your screening at Leeds City Dentalcare. The next step will be to perform a biopsy. This simply involves taking a tiny sample of tissue so it can be examined for any signs of abnormal cells. In the unlikely event that anything is found, a larger biopsy will be taken.

The treatment for oral cancer may involve surgically removing the growth, followed by radiation or chemotherapy to help destroy any cancer cells that might remain. The survival rates for this disease are very good provided oral cancer is detected early enough. Regular examinations or check-ups are a must for general dentistry in Leeds.

While visiting our Leeds surgery is an excellent way of minimizing the risk, it can also help to carry out self-examination every month. This simply involves examining the inside of your mouth and all the surfaces of your tongue. You can also keep an eye out to make sure you don’t have any thickened areas of tissue or lumps and bumps that weren’t there before.

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in certain foods and in some water supplies. It has been extensively studied and researched during the past 50 years, and its main benefit is the fact that it is able to strengthen tooth enamel which is the hard outer surface of your teeth. Fluoride does this by making the tooth enamel more resistant to acid attack. Your mouth becomes more acidic every time you eat something due to the presence of plaque bacteria, and the acid can weaken tooth enamel making it more susceptible to decay. This means fluoride is very good at helping to protect against tooth decay.

If you live in an area of Leeds were fluoride isn’t naturally present in the water supply then it may have been added to municipal drinking water systems in a process called fluoridation. It’s essential that children receive sufficient amounts of fluoride while their teeth are developing up to the age of about seven. If you have young children this is something Dr David Brown or another member of the dental team can advise you about as it’s also important to make sure they don’t receive too much fluoride! Parents should always supervise their children while they are brushing their teeth and should make sure they spit out excess toothpaste rather than swallowing.

Fluoride Treatments

Our dentist Leeds generally recommends brushing with fluoride toothpaste, and if we think you’re particularly prone to tooth decay we may suggest additional fluoride treatments. This may be in the form of mouthwash or gels, or tablets containing high concentrations of fluoride. Another treatment that may be offered at Leeds City Dentalcare is fluoride varnish, a substance containing high levels of fluoride that is painted onto the surfaces of the teeth every six months or so, helping to increase the strength of the tooth enamel.

Dental Fluorosis

Although fluoride is excellent at helping to strengthen tooth enamel it’s also important that children up to the age of eight don’t receive too much as it can affect the way their teeth develop, causing a condition called dental fluorosis. Most cases of fluorosis are very mild and simply cause the teeth to look as if they have been flecked with white, but occasionally excess fluoride can cause brown or black stains to develop in the teeth and can even create pits in the enamel. The critical time for exposure is between one and four years of age, and after the age of eight it’s generally not a problem. Dental fluorosis isn’t caused by fluoride that’s topically applied, but rather fluoride that is ingested.

Treatment for Dental Fluorosis

Dental fluorosis is something that can be treated by Dr David Brown or another of the cosmetic dentists here in our Leeds surgery. The exact treatment may depend on the extent of the fluorosis. Although teeth whitening might seem like an obvious treatment, it’s not always successful and can cause the white flecks on teeth to look even brighter. There are other ways of treating dental fluorosis, including bonding the teeth or using porcelain veneers in Leeds to cover up the stains. Other methods of treatments include micro abrasion which is where a minute amount of the tooth enamel is abraded away before fluoride is topically applied.