Lots 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.

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.

Alzheimer’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.

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?

Leeds 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.

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.

However 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.

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.

Gum 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.