Best Ways to Protect Your Gums

Your teeth may be nice and white and healthy looking, but are your gums in great shape too? It’s all too easy to overlook your gums, but they have a very important role to play, and without healthy gums your teeth will have no option but to desert your mouth. Chronic gum disease which is also called periodontal disease is frighteningly common, and is something that Dr David Brown sees all too often. It is a bacterial infection that affects all the structures surrounding your teeth. This includes not only your gums, but also the ligaments that help hold your teeth in the sockets, and the bony sockets themselves. It’s an insidious condition that can creep up on you, but it all boils down to allowing plaque bacteria to build up on your teeth and gums where they can create infection and inflammation.

Dentist LeedsDuring the early stages of this condition, something that’s called gingivitis, you might notice your gums bleed when you brush or floss them, and you may even be tempted to stop flossing for a few days to let them settle down. This is the worst thing possible, as the bleeding is an indication that your gums are infected, and the infection needs removing. By failing to floss you’re simply allowing the bacteria to remain in place where they will be able to multiply and create even more infection. So what can you do to prevent the infection from taking hold in the first place?

Brush up on Your Brushing Technique

It’s all too easy to get set in your ways when you brush your teeth, and it’s something that many of us learned how to do as children and have never thought about since. It can become an automatic response, but you might not necessarily be making the most of those few minutes you spend brushing your teeth in the morning and evening.

When you brush your teeth, just pause for a moment and think about what you’re doing, and ask yourself if you’re actually cleaning all surfaces of your teeth. Do they feel nice and clean when you run your tongue over them? Or are there areas that still feel a bit dodgy? The dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare can give you lots of advice on how to brush your teeth more effectively, and how to make every second count. There’s also no escaping the need to floss each day, as this removes all the bacteria in areas where your toothbrush simply can’t reach.

Watch Your Diet

Healthy gums also need a good diet that’s rich in fruit and vegetables that contain plenty of fibre, vitamins and minerals and antioxidants. This means your body will be able to fight any bacterial infection, and can send all the necessary nutrients straight to the tissues in your gums to help them heal and repair themselves. It’s worth cutting out snacks, and limiting the amount of sticky and chewy foods you eat. Every time you snack, the bacteria will get to work and will produce toxins and acids that will attack your gums.

It’s best to clean your teeth after every meal, but this isn’t always practical. Instead it can be worth chewing sugar-free gum. The chewing action will help stimulate the production of saliva which is beneficial in helping to wash away excess food particles. Chewing gum will also help remove all the pieces of food that can get stuck in between your teeth and in the deep pits and fissures in your back teeth. If you can, choose the gum that contains xylitol. This is a natural sugar substitute that has an antimicrobial effect which can help gum health.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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How Are Cavities Formed?

Everyone’s mouth contains bacteria, and these bacteria build up during the course of the day creating a sticky film over your teeth and gums. The bacteria are just waiting for you to eat something sugary or sticky such as sweets, biscuits and cakes. Whenever you do so, then they get to work on the leftovers as this will give them the energy to multiply. Whenever they feed they also create quite strong acid that will attack the tooth enamel which is the hard outer covering on your teeth.

Dentist LeedsRepeated attacks will eventually wear down the enamel, exposing the much softer layer of dentine which lies underneath. This will create a pit or lesion in your tooth which may not be easy to detect at this stage, and it won’t cause you any pain. This small cavity also provides the ideal place for the bacteria to hide, as it will be quite difficult for your toothbrush to reach inside. The bacteria will be able to rapidly multiply, and will continue to dissolve the dentine. By this stage you may begin to notice your teeth feel sensitive to hot or cold foods and you might even have the beginnings of toothache.

This is because the dentine contains lots of tiny tubules that lead directly to the nerves of the tooth right in the centre. Eventually the dentine will be eroded away, exposing the nerves in the pulp, and by this stage things are likely to be pretty painful.

What Happens When Tooth Decay Spreads?

Obviously dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare strive to prevent this happening, and it’s one of the reasons why we strongly recommend brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. This will minimise the amount of contact the bacteria have with your teeth, and will help prevent them from multiplying into unmanageable numbers. If you don’t do this, then you are likely to develop tooth decay, and it will eventually affect the inner part of your tooth, called the pulp.

If the pulp becomes infected it will begin to die, and the tissues contained within the pulp will begin to rot, allowing the bacterial infection in your tooth to spread even further right down to the roots. If you don’t seek help by this stage then you’re in danger of developing an abscess. If you do seek help, then Dr David Brown is likely to recommend root canal treatment to remove the diseased and dying pulp. Provided you have acted quickly, there’s a very good chance the tooth will be able to be saved, as otherwise the only option would be to have it extracted, but this is very much the last resort. This is something that our dentists in Leeds will always try to avoid, as there’ll always work with you to try to save your teeth. Root canal therapy is an excellent preservative dental treatment, and afterwards it will be possible to restore your tooth to full function. Root treated teeth can last many years, although they are highly likely to need crowning.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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Love Your Sugary Cereal? Perhaps you Ought to Follow It with a Big Glass of Milk

Cereal has a reputation as being a healthy food, but not all cereal is created equal, as many contain high amounts of sugar. Leeds City Dentalcare certainly doesn’t recommend having a high sugar breakfast to start the day, but recent research has shown that drinking milk afterwards could at least help reduce the risk of tooth decay. The study was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association and shows that drinking milk after eating a bowl of cereal that is high in sugar could help to reduce the acidity levels in the mouth that would otherwise lead to cavities.

Dentist LeedsResearchers think that milk can help mitigate the damaging effects of eating sugary carbohydrates, and that it can help overcome low pH levels in the mouth. Participants in the study were asked to eat 20 g of dry sugary cereal before washing it down with several different types of drinks including tap water, apple juice and whole milk. The result showed that the order in which food is eaten can help reduce the risk of cavities.

This means it is possible to modify your diet to help keep your teeth healthy; for example ending a sugary meal with a small piece of cheese has been found to help protect the teeth against tooth decay. This is because cheese is rich in calcium and casein, and it can help to repair the tooth enamel. It’s important to remember that not all milk is the same, as many people now choose to drink soy milk, and an earlier study has found that this could actually increase the risk of cavities.

Why is it so Important to Avoid Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is incredibly common, and is one of those things that’s very easy to underestimate, especially as it usually doesn’t cause any pain or discomfort until it’s quite well advanced. Even though Dr David Brown is able to repair your teeth using the latest composite resin materials, it’s always better to try to preserve your teeth for as long as possible. Once you lose that tooth structure it can only ever be replaced artificially, and you will continue to need fillings in that tooth for the rest of its life.

Early detection is essential, and it’s something that is easily achieved through having regular check-ups by our dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare. Our dentists will use a variety of different techniques to check for any small lesions or pits in your tooth enamel that may indicate the beginnings of a cavity. They will visually examine your teeth to check for any small signs, and will regularly take x-rays that allow them to see the areas in between each tooth, as cavities often develop in these regions.

If detected early enough, small lesions can sometimes be halted in their tracks with fluoride treatments, as fluoride helps to repair and harden the tooth enamel, but this is something that can only be done when the lesion is still very small. The best way is to practice preventative dental care is through brushing and flossing your teeth every day, and making sure you visit our dental surgery in Leeds at regular intervals.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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What’s the Difference between a Cold Sore and a Mouth Ulcer?

Dentist LeedsLots of people aren’t quite sure about the difference between a cold sore and a mouth ulcer but the two are quite different. Cold sores develop on the lips, normally on the junction between the lips and the rest of the facial skin, whereas mouth ulcers develop inside the mouth. Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, and the fluid from the blisters is extremely contagious. Mouth ulcers are not contagious and are not caused by a virus.

Common symptoms of a cold sore include:

  • Developing a sore throat
  • Noticing the area around your mouth and lips is beginning to tingle or burn
  • The lymph glands in your neck may sometimes swell up
  • You may develop a fever

Cold sores generally look like small red blisters, and will often burst after a few days. Once this has happened they’ll begin to crust over and will begin to heal. You need to avoid having close contact with anybody who has an active cold sore, and it’s best to avoid sharing personal items such as towels and eating utensils.

Common symptoms of mouth ulcers include:

  • Feeling a tingling or burning sensation inside your mouth
  • Noticing raised white or grey sores are developing in your mouth
  • Having swollen lymph nodes
  • Feeling feverish
  • Feeling physically unwell or sluggish

As you can see the symptoms for both are quite similar, so it’s easy to understand the confusion. Most people will find their mouth ulcers heal up without any treatment within a week or two. However if you notice your mouth ulcers are growing or that they feel particularly painful, then it’s worth contacting Dr David Brown or another dentist here at Leeds City Dentalcare. We may be able to describe an antimicrobial mouth rinse or some prescription ointment that can help relieve the pain and irritation. It’s especially worthwhile doing this if you find it’s making it uncomfortable to eat and drink properly, or if you find you are developing a fever.

What Causes Mouth Ulcers?

It’s not really known exactly what causes mouth ulcers, but they can occur at times when you’re under more stress than normal, or if the tissues in your mouth have become injured in some way. Some people also find that certain foods may trigger an attack, especially spicy foods and acidic vegetables and fruits. If you find you do have recurring mouth ulcers then it’s well worth contacting our Leeds surgery for advice, as sometimes mouth ulcers can be caused by ill-fitting dental appliances, or having a sharp edge on a tooth that could be irritating the tissues in your mouth.

Our dentist in Leeds will be able to check that all dental appliances such as dentures or braces are fitting correctly. It’s worth having a check-up just to eliminate these possible causes, as otherwise your mouth ulcers might be due to some other underlying and possibly undiagnosed health problem. Sometimes mouth ulcers can be the result of having a less than effective immune system and they can also be down to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. If you are deficient in vitamin B-12, folic acid, iron or zinc then you may be more at risk. Mouth ulcers have also been linked to gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease and coeliac disease.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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Recent Reports Have Linked Alzheimer’s to Gum Disease, but Is It Really Cause for Concern?

You may have seen news reports fairly recently linking Alzheimer’s disease to gum disease, and obviously this is something that can be extremely concerning. A lot of research is being carried out into how gum disease is related to other health issues, and while there is definitely a link, it’s often not clear as to exactly what this is, and exactly what the risk is. This latest study focused on just 20 people, and the results showed that a bacterium associated with gum disease was found in the brain tissue of 4 out of 10 people with Alzheimer’s who had recently died. The hypothesis is that these bacteria could have played an inflammatory role in the existence of Alzheimer’s. Although the results are intriguing they are by no means conclusive, and the small sample size means the bacterium could have been there by pure coincidence. Much more research is required using a much larger sample size.

Dentist LeedsAlzheimer’s is a common form of dementia, and other studies have linked dementia with gum disease. Gum disease is a bacterial infection that causes the gums to begin pulling away from the teeth, as the body tries to fight back. The body’s immunological response causes the gums become inflamed, and can eventually end up destroying the gums and the supporting tissues, including the bone around the teeth. One of the problems with gum disease is that it creates openings in the mouth so bacteria can enter the bloodstream. They’ll then be able to travel around to other parts of the body creating similar sites of inflammation.

In the past gum disease has been linked not only to dementia, but also other conditions such as diabetes and renal disease. The researchers carried out this latest study as they wanted to see whether gum disease could be linked to Alzheimer’s, based on the results of previous research.

So What Does This All Mean for Patients of Leeds City Dentalcare?

Even though the link may not be definitive, there’s still no room for complacency when taking care of your teeth and gums. We know we might talk a lot about preventative dental care, but it really is so important. Quite a few people are still unaware of the link between a healthy mouth and a healthy body, whatever this connection might be. Even if you think you have a good daily oral hygiene routine, it is all too easy to miss areas of your mouth. Small problems may be developing that cannot be detected simply by looking in your bathroom mirror.

Regular dental check-ups help to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy, so that you can always enjoy the benefits of having a nice smile. In addition you’ll save yourself money in the longer term, as it’s much cheaper to treat problems in the early stages than to leave them to develop into something more complicated. Having a small filling now could help prevent root canal treatment in the future, and could mean that tooth will not require crowning. Picking up on early signs of gum disease means you teeth will last a lot longer, hopefully for your lifetime.

While we are able to offer various means of tooth replacement, we’d much rather help yours last longer. If you haven’t been to see us for a while, why not pick up the phone and make an appointment to see Dr David Brown or another of our dentist in Leeds.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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Chinese Scientists Use Stem Cells Extracted from Urine to Grow Replacement Teeth

The teeth were grown in a laboratory using cells called pluripotent stem cells that have been generated from human urine cells. Pluripotent stem cells are a special type of cell that is able to develop into any type of body cell. The pluripotent stem cells were combined with dental tissue that had been extracted from mouse embryos. The cells were then transplanted into mice. It might sound revolting, but apparently the main advantage of using urine is that it’s much easier to extract stem cells in this way.

After just three weeks nearly a third of the mice in the study had developed structures that could reasonably described as being teeth like. Apparently they looked like regular teeth, but lacked the hardness of a normal human tooth. It’s far too early to think about this type of research being used in humans, and in the meantime there’s little substitute for good preventative dental care.

But what happens if you have already lost a tooth? What are the choices for its replacement?

Dentist LeedsLeeds City Dentalcare is able to offer its patients several alternatives. These include a dental bridge, a partial or full denture, or dental implants. If you’re interested in finding out which replacement will be best for you then why not make an appointment with Dr David Brown or another of our dentist in Leeds? Each method of replacement has its benefits and disadvantages.

Dental bridges are often used as a means of replacing one or more missing teeth and they can look extremely nice. They use the teeth adjacent to the gap as abutments, or anchor teeth. These are ground down and crowned, and the crowns are attached to the replacement teeth which are called pontics. The disadvantage of this method is that you will need to sacrifice healthy tooth structure, as the abutment teeth need to be strong and in good condition to support the bridge.

Your second choice is to have a partial or full denture. Partial dentures are used to replace one or more missing teeth, and have metal clasps that fit around the existing teeth, and which hold them firmly in place. Full dentures are used to replace all your teeth, and consist of an acrylic base with acrylic teeth. It’s possible to have cosmetic dentures made that use teeth that are of an extremely high quality. These can look very lifelike, but one of the major problems with wearing dentures is that the ridge that used to support the teeth will gradually flatten, making retention increasingly difficult.

Your third choice is to have dental implants. The process may take a little longer to complete, but the results can be extremely good. Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth or even a full arch of teeth. They can be used to support dental bridges, and are extremely effective at stabilising dentures. Over time, dental implants can be a cost effective method of replacing teeth, but this treatment isn’t for everyone. It does require a small surgical procedure, and most implants need to heal before they can be loaded with the final restoration.

Each choice is worth considering and investigating and you’ll find the dental team at Leeds City Dentalcare are always more than willing to answer any questions you might have.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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Are You a Vegetarian? Then You Might Enjoy Better Gum Health

Vegetarians may have a new reason to feel good about their choice of diet; a recent German study has discovered vegetarians may have healthier gums than people who choose to eat meat. This means their gums are less likely to bleed due to gum disease, and therefore they’re less likely to lose teeth.

The study which was carried out in Hanover looked at the oral health of 100 vegetarians and 100 non-vegetarians. The results showed that the vegetarian’s gums were less likely to bleed when probed, and were less likely to have deep pockets. Their oral hygiene was better, and they had fewer loose teeth. They also found that vegetarians were likely to be better educated.

Dentist LeedsHowever the German study also revealed that vegetarians were more likely to have tooth decay, and for some reason, were less likely to visit the dentist even though they knew they should. Apparently this increase in decay could be due to the fact that people who have had followed a vegetarian diet for a long period of time are more likely to be deficient in calcium and vitamin D, both of which are essential for strong and healthy teeth. People lacking in these two elements are more likely to have softer teeth which will be more vulnerable towards developing decay.

The link between a healthy diet and healthy gums is nothing new, as gums need lots of vitamins and minerals that are found in fresh fruit and vegetables in order to stay healthy. Fresh fruit and vegetables are well known for having high levels of antioxidants that help to fight disease.

Gum disease has been linked to many serious health issues, including dementia, heart disease and diabetes. It’s a common condition that will affect most people during their lifetime, and it’s something that Leeds City Dentalcare strives to prevent. It’s something that often develops due to poor oral hygiene, and it can be avoided through having great preventative dental care.

Great Preventative Dental Care Is Essential, Regardless of Whether or Not you’re a Carnivore

If you haven’t visited Dr David Brown or another of our dentists at our Leeds surgery recently, then why not give us a call to book an appointment? Regular visits to the dentist will enable us to check the status of your oral health, and it’s a great idea to incorporate a quick visit to the hygienist alongside your check-up. Having your teeth regularly scaled and polished should be an important part of your preventative dental care regime. The reason for this is that it’s all too easy to miss certain areas of your teeth when you’re brushing and flossing, and this allows plaque bacteria to harden into a substance called calculus or tartar. Calculus is well known for irritating and inflaming the gums, and if not removed will cause gum disease. We can also give you advice on brushing and flossing that can help make it easier and more effective.

You need to make sure you brush your teeth for 2 minutes twice a day and you must floss once a day. It’s best to use good quality fluoride toothpaste and to just spit out the excess rather than rinsing your mouth. This is because some of the fluoride ions will remain in your saliva for a little while longer, protecting your teeth and gums.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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Healthy Gums for a Healthy Smile

Most people only look at their teeth when examining their mouth, but your dentist in Leeds will also be very interested in examining your gums. Healthy gums provide a strong foundation for healthy teeth, supporting them and making sure they remain in the correct position. It is important that you look after your gums, as they will reward you by keeping your teeth in place.

Dentist LeedsGum disease is the major reason teeth are lost, but having regular check-ups at Leeds City Dentalcare can help prevent this condition from developing. The early signs of gum disease can be surprisingly easy to miss, and for this reason it’s often called a silent disease. If you have noticed your gums occasionally bleed when you brush or floss, and you know you’re overdue for a dental visit, then it’s well worth picking up the phone and making that call. Gum disease can be easily cured if caught early enough, but things can get much more serious if you leave it to progress.

What Should Healthy Gums Look like?

If you take a look at your gums in the mirror then you should see gums that are a shade of pink. The exact shade can vary quite a bit. When you touch them they should feel firm, and shouldn’t feel painful or tender. The surface of your gums may look slightly stippled or almost like orange peel. They should fit tightly around your teeth, and the gum tissue should reach between each tooth so there are not any gaps. The whole idea is that these healthy gums create a tight seal, so that bacteria cannot enter your body through your mouth.

Treating Unhealthy Gums

Unhealthy gums can look quite different, as the gum tissue may appear stretched due to being swollen and infected. They may hurt if you press them, and you might even notice they have begun pulling away from your teeth. Quick action can help save your gums from further destruction, but if you fail to notice these early signs then there’s a strong possibility the disease will progress, and will develop into a condition called periodontal disease. It’s called periodontal disease because it affects the periodontium. The periodontium consists of several different structures, all of which support your teeth. It includes the gum tissue and the structures underneath your gums which are the ligaments and the bone surrounding your teeth.

It will still be possible to treat your gums, but it might be a case of only holding the condition in check rather than curing it completely. Dr David Brown will want to carry out a comprehensive assessment of your gums which will include x-rays to see the extent of the damage, and a test to see the depth of your periodontal pockets. These are the pockets that develop around the teeth as the gums begin to pull away.

Healthy gums will only have a depth of between 0 and 3 mm, but this depth can increase significantly in unhealthy gums. You gum treatment will aim to remove the bacteria in these pockets, and to reduce the size of the pockets. This can be done in a variety of different ways, and if there is extensive tissue destruction then it may be necessary to have some sort of reconstructive surgery to help replace or regenerate lost gum tissue, ligaments or bone.

 

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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What are The Main Reasons for Having Bad Breath?

Bad breath is something that we all dread having as no one wants to offend anyone else, but it can be very difficult to tell if your own breath is bad, and you may need to have a quiet word with a close friend or relative to find out the truth. If it’s bad news, then there are various things you can do, but the main thing is to find out why you have halitosis rather than to concentrate on masking the odour. The main reasons for halitosis include:Dentist leeds

  • Poor oral hygiene. Having poor oral hygiene will allow food particles to build up in your mouth, increasing the numbers of bacteria. Rotting food, combined with large amounts of bacteria will give off noxious odours, and will increase your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
  • Failing to clean dentures or other dental appliances will have the same effect. Allowing food and bacteria to build up on dental appliances will give you bad breath. Dental appliances need to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a day in order to avoid giving offense, and to keep your mouth healthy.
  • Certain foods can promote bad breath, and well-known offenders include onion and garlic. In this case there is simply nothing else to do but to wait for these foods to be eliminated from your body. They make your breath smell after they have been ingested and have entered your bloodstream, eventually being exhaled through the lungs, so it’s simply a matter of waiting and trying to mask the odours with mints and mouthwash.
  • People on low-carb diets and or those who are dieting often have strange smelling breath as the lack of carbohydrates can force the body to break down fats, releasing ketones as a result.
  • Anyone with dry mouth is also likely to have bad breath. Saliva is very important to oral health as it helps to neutralise the acids and washes away excess food particles and dead skin cells. Dry mouth or xerostomia, can be due to several different reasons, as it can be caused by mouth breathing or having problems with the saliva glands, or it may be due to prescription medications. Anyone with dry mouth should ask Leeds City Dentalcare for advice on dealing with this condition, as there are various things that can help.
  • Smoking will dry out the mouth, leading to similar problems as with xerostomia. A lack of saliva helps to promote the growth of bacteria in the mouth, and will give you bad breath.
  • Having a bad cold or sinusitis increases the risk of bad breath, due to the secretions dripping down the back of the throat.

If you have bad breath, and are not sure what has caused it then it is worth booking a check-up with Dr David Brown, or with another of our dentist at Leeds. If it is due to poor oral hygiene that has resulted in tooth decay or gum disease, then we can provide treatment to help clear up these conditions. Our dental team can also give you lots of advice on how to care for your teeth and gums. If we can’t find any reason for your bad breath, then we may recommend you visit your doctor, just to make sure it is not due to a medical condition.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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How Does a Dentist Assess Your Risk of Gum Disease?

Gum disease is often called a silent disease as the early symptoms can be quite difficult to spot. This is one of the reasons why you are encouraged to visit Leeds City Dentalcare at regular intervals. Dr David Brown or another of the dentists here in Leeds will be able to assess your gums to see whether or not you have any signs of this common disease.

Dentist LeedsIf this is your first visit to Leeds City Dentalcare, then you are likely to be asked about your medical and dental history. This will include information about your oral hygiene habits, and information about any medications you may be taking as this could affect your oral health. The early signs they’ll be looking for include:

  • Having bad breath. Persistent bad breath or halitosis is one of the first signs that something is wrong with your oral health, and it is caused by a build-up of bacteria in the mouth giving off noxious odours.
  • Your dentist will also be assessing the state of your gums. Healthy gums are pink and firm to the touch, and have healthy papilla in between each tooth. The papillae are the little sections of gum tissue that come to a point in between each tooth. If the gums are unhealthy then these sections of tissue may have disappeared, leaving spaces or dark triangles in between each tooth.
  • Receding gums are another sign of gum disease, and can be an indication of significant progression. As gum disease begins to take hold, it causes the gums to begin pulling away and detaching from the tooth, something that can make the teeth appear longer. One common sign that this is occurring is noticing your teeth are more sensitive than before as the roots will be more exposed
  • Your dentist in Leeds will also want to assess the depth of any pockets around your teeth. This is done by carefully inserting a probe in between the gum and your tooth, and if gum diseases present this can make them bleed, indicating inflammation. Healthy gums will have a depth of between zero and 3 mm whereas an unhealthy gum will have a pocket in excess of 3 mm. The larger the pocket, the more the disease has progressed.
  • If you have severe gum disease then your teeth may have begun to become loose, and they could meet together slightly differently due to the shifting position. In this case your Leeds dentist will be checking the way your teeth meet together.
  • They may also want to take dental x-rays, as this will show them the bone structure underneath your teeth. Loss of bone can indicate gum disease.

What Happens If I Have Got Gum Disease?

If you’re diagnosed with this disease then your dentist will work out a treatment plan. Early signs of gum disease can easily be reversed, but if it has progressed then treatment does become a little trickier, and it may not be possible to cure the disease completely. In this case the aim of treatment will be to halt its progression and to help your teeth last for as long as possible. This isn’t ideal, but it’s always best to try to prolong the life of your natural teeth.

Dr. David S Brown

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

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