Dentist in Leeds - Dental Blog - Leeds City Dental Care

Do You Hate That Gap in between Your Front Teeth? Leeds City Dentalcare Can Help

Many people have a gap in between their front teeth, something that is called a diastema. A diastema can be hereditary, or it can be caused by habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. Sometimes it can be caused by the loss of bone under the gum tissue which allows teeth to separate. While some people don’t mind the gap in their front teeth and feel it is just part of their personality, we know some of our patients who visit our Leeds surgery would much prefer the gap was closed up completely or at least narrowed.

There are several different ways to close up the gap, and these include using orthodontics Leeds, changing the shape of teeth through bonding, crowns or veneers, or in extreme cases removing the teeth and replacing them with either a bridge or an implant. We should stress this last option is only ever used as a last resort, as it is always much better to conserve healthy teeth, and is definitely not something we’d normally recommend.

Closing up a Diastema through Orthodontics

Closing up a gap in between your teeth with orthodontics is a long-lasting and conservative approach. Dentist Leeds can offer a range of orthodontic appliances that are nearly invisible so most people will be completely unaware you are undergoing orthodontic treatment, unless of course you choose to enlighten them. Clearstep aligners are removable clear aligners that are excellent at closing up gaps in between teeth. The Inman Aligner orthodontic system is also a removable orthodontic appliance that works from the inside of the mouth. This particular system can produce results extremely quickly, as typical treatment times can take as little as a few months.

Using Dental Bonding to Close up Unsightly Gaps

Dental bonding using composite resin is another way of closing up a diastema. It is perfect for people who want immediately results, and can be combined with cosmetic contouring to create a more pleasing smile. Dental bonding usually needs redoing every 3 to 5 years depending on whether or not you eat a lot of staining foods, and how well you look often your oral health. Having your teeth cleaned professionally every time you visit our Leeds surgery will help prolong the life of composite resin restorations.

Using Crowns or Veneers to Close Diastemas

Another option is to use dental crowns or veneers to close up unsightly gaps. This isn’t quite as quick as dental bonding, but it’s definitely faster than orthodontic treatment. However the main disadvantage with going down this route is that you’ll almost certainly have to have some tooth structure removed, especially if you choose to have your teeth crowned. Crowns and veneers typically last 10 years, although some may last longer while others will need replacing more frequently. Once you have had any tooth structure removed then you’ll always need to have your teeth either veneered or crowned. Although this solution is long-lasting, it isn’t as permanent as having orthodontic treatment.

The choice of how to close up your diastema is obviously yours to make, but we would almost certainly recommend choosing the most conservative method possible. This would undoubtedly be orthodontic treatment. While it might cost a little more initially, it could be cheaper in the long term than having to replace composite resin restorations or porcelain veneers or crowns.

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.

Should I Be Worried If I Grind My Teeth

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.

Dr. David S Brown

Implant Supported Dentures at Leeds City Dentalcare

Implant supported dentures might be of interest if you currently wear full dentures and struggle with keeping them in place. Even if your dentures are relatively stable, we find many of our patients at our Leeds surgery are concerned that they may move about, especially in social situations. This embarrassment and worry over wearing full dentures can stop some people from living life to the full, something that isn’t a concern to people wearing implant supported dentures that are held securely in place.

What are Implant Supported Dentures?

Implant supported dentures are full dentures that are attached to implants in the mouth which support them and hold them firmly in place. This is quite different from an ordinary denture which is supported by the gums. Dental implant Leeds supported or implant retained dentures are an excellent solution for anyone who has lost all their teeth in the upper or lower jaw, but who has sufficient bone to support several implants. These implants are quite different from those that support crowns and bridges as they have special attachments that allow the dentures to snap into place.

This system is usually recommended by Dr David Brown and other dentists in our Leeds surgery to replace lower full dentures. The reason for this is that lower dentures tend to be much less stable than upper dentures. Upper dentures have a full acrylic palate that helps give good retention whereas lower dentures rely on just the bony ridge that used to support the teeth for retention. Over the course of time this bony ridge is gradually reabsorbed and becomes flatter, making it more and more difficult for a lower denture to be firmly retained.

What Is the Process for Having Implant Retained Dentures?

The process for having implant retained dentures is very similar to having any type of implant. You’ll need to book a consultation with our dentist Leeds City Dentalcare to find out if you are suitable for this type of treatment. The implants used for retaining dentures are generally placed towards the front of the mouth, simply because there’s more bone in this area than at the back of the jaw. It’s also a good area to place the implants as there are fewer nerves that may interfere with placement. It might be necessary to have a bone graft if you don’t have sufficient bone in the required area.

The next stage is to plan the implant placement and to decide on the type of attachments that will be used to retain your denture. Sometimes dentures are retained with a thin metal bar that is attached to several implants, and the denture then fits securely over the bar. Another choice is to use a type of ball and socket system, where the sockets are located in the denture and fit securely over ball attachments on the implants. The exact timeframe for placing the implants and the finished implant supported denture will vary from case to case, as some people will be able to have it fitted more quickly than others. There’s no need to worry that you will be left without teeth at this time, as you will be supplied with a temporary denture after the implants are placed which can be used until your implant supported denture is ready to be fitted.

Caring For Your Implant Supported Denture

The dental team at Leeds City Dentalcare will give you lots of advice on looking after your new implant supported denture. You’ll need to remove it every day to clean it thoroughly in much the same way you would an ordinary full denture. You should leave it out of your mouth overnight. If you think this might be a problem then ask Dr David S Brown or another of our dentists whether you would be suitable to have an implant supported bridge instead, that can be firmly fixed in place and which cannot be removed.

Dr. David S Brown

Do I Need to Use a Mouthwash?

This is something our patients at Leeds City Dentalcare often ask, and while its use is generally not strictly necessary, many people do like to freshen up their breath by using mouthwash. There are lots of different types for sale, and the choice can often seemed quite bewildering. It is worth paying a bit of attention to the label, as mouthwashes can be considered to be either therapeutic or cosmetic.

Therapeutic or Cosmetic?

Therapeutic mouthwashes contain ingredients that actively help oral health, for instance they might help fight plaque bacteria and they may contain antimicrobial agents, or other useful ingredients such as fluoride. You’ll find some are designed to help reduce the risk of gingivitis or gum disease, while others help fight tooth decay. Some even contain small amounts of bleach to help whiten teeth, although their effects will be very subtle. In contrast cosmetic mouthwashes are merely used to freshen up breath, and will only have a temporary effect. Most mouthwashes have at least a few other ingredients in common including water, flavouring, colouring and some type of cleansing agent.

Deciding If Your Mouthwash Needs to Be Alcohol Free

A lot of mouthwashes, including some of the most popular brands contain alcohol, and this particular ingredient can produce a burning sensation when used. It may be well worth choosing a mouthwash that doesn’t contain alcohol, especially if you are in a busy household with young children who might accidentally swallow this liquid instead of spitting it out. It’s also worth avoiding if any of your family members have ever had a problem with alcohol in the past.

Mouthwash for Sensitive Teeth and Gums

Many of our patients looking for dentist Leeds for their sensitive teeth and gums, and this problem may be exacerbated by using a strong mouthwash. In this case it’s well worth looking for a mouthwash especially made to soothe the gums rather than irritate them, and to choose one that doesn’t contain any alcohol. You may even find some mouthwashes contain natural ingredients.

Using Mouthwash Correctly

It is important to read the label on your mouthwash and to use it correctly. The label should tell you how long you need to swirl it around your mouth before spitting it out, and whether or not you need to dilute it. You’ll definitely get maximum benefits from following the instructions. You should never swallow mouthwash, and if somebody in your household accidentally swallows a large quantity then it’s worth seeking professional advice, just in case.

Prescription Mouthwashes or Those Containing Chlorhexidine

If you have recently had some form of oral surgery or are currently fighting gum disease then Dr David Brown or one of our other dentists may prescribe you a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine. You can also buy mouthwash containing this active ingredient from your local chemist. Chlorhexidine is a very powerful antibacterial agent, but it can sometimes stain the teeth brown, and this is one of the reasons it’s not generally recommended for longer-term use. However these brown stains can be removed during a professional cleaning with one of our hygienists at Leeds City Dentalcare so these effects are purely temporary and it is a very useful ingredient in helping patients regains their oral health.

Dr. David S Brown

Dealing with Chipped or Broken Teeth

If you chip or break a tooth then it is a good idea to make an appointment at cosmetic dentistry Leeds to see one of our dentists. The reason for this is that dealing with a chip or crack early on could help to save the tooth. When a tooth becomes chipped or fractured, the immediate concern is whether or not it has affected the pulp or the central part of the tooth. It’s quite possible for a fracture to expose the pulp area, and this may cause sensitivity, discomfort or even pain as it will expose the nerves in the pulp. The condition of the pulp, alongside the amount of remaining tooth structure will determine the best course of action.

Dealing with Minor Fractures

Minor fractures often involve the biting or incisal edges of the teeth and are usually relatively simple to repair. In this case the most straightforward course of action might be to bond the tooth with composite resin. It’ll help preserve the maximum amount of remaining tooth structure while adding strength to the tooth. You’ll find dentist Leeds are concerned about preserving as much of the healthy tooth structure as possible.

Dealing with Serious Fractures

Serious fractures can often be caused by trauma, and treatment in this case is highly dependent on whether or not the pulp area is salvageable. If there’s any sign of damage to the pulp, then Dr David Brown or another of our dentists may recommend root canal therapy to remove the damaged nerves. This area is then repaired with a root canal filling. Unfortunately serious to fractures can mean that much of the tooth structure is gone, and in this case the best way to restore the tooth to full function will be to place a crown.

Vertical Root Fractures

These are the most serious fractures to deal with, as often there’s no practical way of saving the tooth, and extraction may be the best option. Occasionally it may be worth trying root canal therapy, but there’s often no guarantee that this will work on a fractured tooth, and it may be better to spend the money on having it extracted and an implant placed.

Porcelain Crown Fractures

Porcelain crowns don’t last forever, and occasionally porcelain fused to metal crowns may fracture. One sign that this might’ve occurred is noticing a dark line appearing at the gum line. This may be due to gum recession, or it could be due to porcelain fracturing and crumbling away from the gum line. It may be possible to make some temporary repairs, but you’ll probably have to budget for a replacement crown. Depending on the location of the crown you may want to investigate the possibility of having a CEREC restoration, or of having the crown replaced with an all ceramic crown. These often have a base made from a material called zirconia which is incredibly hard and unlikely to crumble.

Getting Old Fillings Replaced Can Help Prevent Small Fractures

Sometimes tiny micro cracks can develop around the edges of old fillings, especially if you have older style fillings made out of amalgam. This is because amalgam has a tendency to expand and contract whenever it comes into contact with hot and cold foods, increasing the risk of small fractures. Leeds City Dentalcare can replace these older style fillings for you with more cosmetically pleasing alternatives such as composite resin fillings, CEREC inlays and onlays, or indirect porcelain fillings.

Dr. David S Brown

Dental Bonding at Leeds City Dentalcare

Dental bonding is where Dr David Brown, or another of our dentists at our Leeds surgery, will apply composite resin to an existing tooth. It can be a very conservative and cost-effective way of masking stains, or it can be used to help makeover your smile. It is an alternative, and less expensive option than porcelain veneers. Dental bonding can be used to:

Mask teeth that have become discoloured
Create a more aesthetically pleasing contour to teeth
Repair teeth that have become worn, cracked or chipped
Replace stained fillings
Mask stains caused by antibiotics such as tetracycline
Straighten up teeth that are slightly crooked

This versatile treatment is ideal for anyone who wants to rejuvenate their smile within a short space of time, without having to spend a fortune. It is best for someone who isn’t a heavy smoker, or who likes to drink a lot of coffee, tea or red wine as composite resin does stain after a few years. The advantage of this treatment is its conservativeness, and it might be possible for it to be completed in just one visit to Leeds City Dentalcare. It’s an excellent way of giving teeth a better shape, as they can be cosmetically recontoured which involves removing a minimal amount of tooth material, before being bonded.

How is Dental Bonding Done?

The process for dental bonding is very quick and easy. It simply involves your tooth enamel being lightly etched as this will allow for better and stronger bonding with the composite resin. Dentist Leeds will select the correct coloured composite resin to exactly match your existing teeth. The resin is carefully applied to your teeth before being shaped and hardened with a special curing light. This helps it to bond to the tooth. Afterwards the composite resin will be contoured and polished so it will look just like natural tooth enamel.

Taking Care of Your Newly Bonded Teeth

After you’ve had your teeth bonded you’ll need to take good care of them to make the results last as long as possible. This means you should try not to chew or bite your fingernails, and you shouldn’t bite ice cubes. If you have bruxism or teeth grinding then make sure you use a night guard as otherwise you could damage your new bonding. It can also pay to avoid biting into very hard foods such as boiled sweets and nuts and very crisp apples.

If you have had an extensive amount of bonding done then you may want to eat soft foods for the first day or so until you’re sure your bite is absolutely perfect. Sometimes it may need slight modifications for it to be ideal. You’ll also need to take excellent care of your oral health, which of course all of us here at Leeds City Dentalcare hope you’re doing anyway. You should be brushing at least twice daily to remove plaque, and flossing at least once a day. When you floss pull it out horizontally rather than vertically to avoid placing any stress on your bonding.

Composite resin does stain after a few years but you can help make the effects of your bonding lasts longer by minimising your consumption of food and drink that could increase staining. This includes cutting down on coffee, tea and red wine, and other highly coloured foods such as curries and tomato based sauces.

Dr. David S Brown

What is oral cancer and what are the symptoms?

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.

Dr. David S Brown

Dental Sealants May Help Prevent Cavities

Most people have at least one cavity in their teeth, and this is highly likely to develop in the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. The reason for this is that the surfaces of the molars and premolars are covered with lots of tiny fissures and grooves to help grind up food more effectively. However these fissures can be very difficult to clean thoroughly and it’s all too easy for plaque bacteria and food particles to get trapped in these areas, eventually causing cavities to develop.

Dental sealants can help protect these areas and are something Dr David Brown may recommends for younger patients as they are most effective when applied to the newly erupted permanent teeth of children and teenagers. Although they are most commonly used in younger patients there’s nothing to stop them being applied to adult teeth provided they are cavity free. The sealants are made out of a thin plastic like substance that doesn’t affect the way the teeth bite together. Once it’s applied it’s virtually invisible, or it may appear slightly white very close-up.

The Process for Applying Dental Sealants

The process for applying dental sealants is very quick and straightforward, and should only need one visit to our Leeds surgery. It doesn’t require the tooth to be modified in any way, and no tooth structure is removed. First of all the teeth will be thoroughly cleaned and dried before a special gel is applied which slightly roughens the tooth surface, increasing the bond between the tooth and the dental sealant. The next step is to remove the gel, dry the teeth once more and apply the dental sealant. The sealant doesn’t take very long to harden, and only covers the fissures and grooves in the teeth, and that’s really it. There’s no need to do anything special to look after the dental sealants as dentist Leeds will be checked at every visit to Leeds City Dentalcare. They generally need reapplying every 5 to 10 years.

Preventative dental care at Leeds City Dentalcare

Dental sealants are a great part of a preventative dental care plan as they can prevent cavities from forming in the teeth, lessening the need for any fillings. The problem with fillings is that they do need replacing periodically, and may require a little more tooth structure to be removed each time. Dental sealants are a non-invasive way of protecting the chewing surfaces of the teeth. In spite of this it still necessary to have a great oral hygiene routine, and to brush twice a day and floss once a day.

While dental sealants are generally used on healthy teeth that are free from any signs of disease, it can sometimes be possible to use them on teeth that are only showing very early signs of dental caries but which don’t yet have any cavities. It’s thought that sealing in the bacteria with dental sealants can greatly slow down the progression of tooth decay. This is only possible in a small minority of cases, and is something we’ll discuss with you when you visit our Leeds surgery.

Dental sealants have been successfully used for decades, so they’ve been extensively studied for their effectiveness, and the technology used is extremely safe.

Dr. David S Brown

Fluoride, its Effects on Oral Health and Dental Fluorosis

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.

Dr. David S Brown

I’m Worried I Have Bad Breath, What Can I Do?

Bad breath or halitosis is something many of us worry about having as no one likes to offend! Most of us have it at least occasionally due to eating something that’s highly flavoured, but this quickly passes as soon as the food has been eliminated from the body. Proper halitosis is quite another matter. The easiest way to tell whether or not you have bad breath is to simply ask a friend or relative to tell you the truth. The next thing to do is to try and find out what’s causing it. Common reasons for bad breath include:

Bacteria building up in the mouth can cause infections and inflammation, and can create sulfurous odours.
Most cases of bad breath are due to some kind of oral disease or inflammation. One of the most common reasons is gum disease, and bad breath can be one of the first symptoms.
Poor oral hygiene can result in pieces of food becoming trapped in between the teeth which will gradually begin to rot and smell.
Failing to clean dental braces or dentures properly can also cause bad breath as the appliances are likely to be covered in plaque bacteria and old food.

Bad breath can also be due to certain medical conditions including infections of the respiratory tract, acid reflux, bronchitis and diabetes. If you’ve gently been informed by someone that your breath is less than fresh then why not make an appointment to come and see us at Leeds City Dentalcare? An appointment with Dr. David Brown or another Leeds dentist should help discover the reason for your halitosis, and then we can work with you on clearing up the problem. If we can’t discover any reason for your bad breath then we might recommend you visit your doctor, just to make sure there isn’t any underlying medical cause. There are lots of different things you can do to improve your breath, and which will help prevent you from developing any problems in the first place.

Improve your Oral Hygiene Routine

One of the most essential is simply to practice good oral hygiene. Our Dental Leeds surgery recommends all our patients brush at least twice a day and floss once a day. Good quality fluoride toothpaste should help keep the teeth and gums clean, and if you want to use a mouthwash it might be worth choosing one that contains antibacterial agents. These will help fight bacteria that could cause noxious smells.

Regularly cleaning your tongue will help remove bacteria and food particles, and this can either be done with your toothbrush or by using a proper tongue scraper. If you’re not sure how to brush correctly or how to floss then ask one of our hygienists for a quick demonstration.

Visit Our Leeds Surgery for Checkups and Cleanings

Visiting our Leeds surgery every six months or so for regular checkups and cleanings will help make sure you don’t have any underlying dental problems. Getting early treatment for gum disease on Leeds or tooth decay will help keep your breath fresh. Regular cleanings are a great way to freshen up your smile as they help remove all the hardened plaque bacteria that build up on the teeth.

There’s certainly no need to put up with bad breath, and preventative dental care at our Leeds surgery can help prevent this problem from occurring in the first place.