Bad breath is a social problem that will lose you more friends than anything else in life, says a Surbiton dentist. The problem usually arises out of a lax or badly orchestrated oral hygiene program, although eating spicy foods heavily laced with garlic, raw onions and chillies will also give you bad breath. Bacteria builds up in the mouth, and the odour is a by-product of the reaction between bad bacteria and those food bits. Rinsing will cure the problem temporarily, but you can’t beat a good and vigorous brush, floss and rinse every time you eat. It often isn’t possible to do this after every meal, and then flossing at least will help a lot in eliminating it. Cupping the hands and sniffing is a waste of time, the nose is filled with the odour and cannot usually detect it, and a bad taste will normally be a good indication of the problem. Sugar in coffee or tea, and these drinks themselves will encourage the production of acids and this will increase the smell quite quickly. Chewing will produce not just a minty taste and smell, but it will also produce saliva that will quickly neutralise acid build up and therefore bad breath. Smoking will also give you a bad breath problem, as will a beer breath the morning after a drinking session, the two combined will make it even stronger and harder to get rid of. It isn’t a good idea to keep disguising the problem; you need to work at eliminating the cause in order to have some long term relief. Giving up smoking and excessive drinking will not only make you healthier, but it will make your breath healthier as well. Flossing every time you clean your teeth, along with using the proper brush and brushing method is a must to keep your mouth healthy and your breath clean.

An abscessed tooth is a painful and uncomfortable matter, it is caused by bacteria leaking into the gums and infecting the inside. If it isn’t treated immediately then complications will quickly occur. These can result in other teeth becoming infected, and the loss of more teeth will generally follow. Oral hygiene is an important part of preventing infections in the mouth and a lack of it is a dangerous thing. Other complications can lead to heart problems, and diabetics are also prone to infections of the blood. Once bacteria gets a hold then gum infections will spread quickly says a dentist from Surbiton, one of the big problems facing a dentist is that some people have a morbid fear of the dentist, and the pain and discomfort of an abscess will often be better to bear than facing our fears. Although these fears have little foundation, they are no less embedded in our psyche, even a visit to the doctor can be complicated to a sufferer where a tooth problem is involved. However, the long term problems of an untreated abscess will be devastating for the teeth and could end in the loss of a lot of teeth, plus blood poisoning. A simple course of antibiotics is usually all that is needed, and within a week a dentist will be able to look at the root cause of the abscess and then teat it. If the infection gets into the cavity of the inner chamber of a tooth then a root canal treatment may be needed. This is only possible though if the tooth is saveable, and a lot of teeth won’t be saveable in cases where long term damage has been done to an abscessed tooth. Prevention is better than a cure, so to avoid an abscess it is better to have a good oral hygiene regime.

Tooth decay is caused by acid build up in the mouth, this is a by-product of the bacteria that is in our food says a Kingston dentist. The acid is produced when sugary products are left in the mouth after eating, sugar may well be a nice treat and an energy boost, but if left in the mouth it feeds the bacteria and then the acid produced attacks the enamel on our teeth. Cavities are soon formed by chewing food that is pressed into the cavities during eating, the softened enamel wear away quickly. Then cracks appear deep inside the cavity, this allows the bacteria to seep into the inner chamber of the tooth and infect the tooth and gums. The treatment needed to recover a tooth from this process can vary according to the extent of the damage. Cleaning the teeth properly and remembering to brush inside the top of the tooth is one way that will keep the decay at bay, but it won’t prevent it entirely. The dentist may be able to stem the decay by a fluoride cleaning treatment, but this is rare as it only really works at the very early stages. Drilling out the top of the cavity to get rid of the softer enamel that has already been damaged is the first stage, and then a clean up of the cracks to rid them of hidden bacteria comes next. A filling is then required and this is made up in the surgery as a paste, it hardens quickly and seals the cavity. If the cavity is a deep one, then a crown will be needed to top off the filling. A crown is a hard topping that does the job of the enamel on the tooth. In extreme cases a root canal treatment may be needed, this involves a deeper cavity filling, and is much the same as a normal filling.

Wisdom teeth are not a nice thing to have when they start to play up, says a Shepperton dentist. Not everyone develops wisdom teeth; they usually appear in the late teens and generally by the age of 21. They are the last teeth that we grow, and they grow on the end of each row of teeth on the inside of the jaw line. Wisdon teeth in general don’t cause us a problem, but sometimes they grow bigger that the space allowed for them, and that’s when the problem starts. Impacted wisdom teeth are the extreme of the problem and these are the worse case scenario, pain follows a swelling of the gums and infection will set in where the tooth cracks and allows bacteria to seep into the inner cavity. Extraction is only possible after a course of antibiotics and when the swelling has disappeared completely, but it may not be necessary and your dentist will advice you on all the options. Your dentist will generally be able to extract the tooth or teeth, but in some extreme cases it may need the skills of a surgeon. Infection is a big risk so keeping the wound clean is a very must-do after a wisdom tooth extraction; this may include not smoking for a few days while the deep wound heals. It is generally done under a local anaesthetic although a general may be needed in some rare cases, this will be done by a dental surgeon in a hospital theatre. Stitches will be needed and a follow up appointment will be made at the dentist afterwards, these are usually self dissolving stitches and the healing process can take up to a few weeks to completely heal the wound. The removal will stop any further problems, and it is usually the end of any future tooth pain on those particular teeth.

Dental plaque goes hand in hand with periodontal disease, but they are not the sort of bed fellows that you want to be associated with says a Surbiton dentist. Plaque is the dead bacteria that has already attacked our mouth area and produced acid that will wear down the enamel on our teeth, it sounds disgusting and it is, so let that thought always be with you and help you to keep it at bay. If left to accumulate on the teeth plaque will turn into tartar, which although it is removed every 6 months at our dental check ups, it will damage the tooth root and weaken it. This is the most common reason for premature tooth loss in the U.K. Gum infections are caused by the same process, and it is all down to the food that we leave in our mouths after eating. Flossing and the neutralisation of acid production will go a long way to preventing this process happening in the first place. Once periodontal disease occurs it will eat away the gums and cause irreparable damage to the part of the gums that protect the root of the tooth. Gingivitis is the worse case scenario, and this is a serious incurable problem. The best any dentist can hope to do for you is to keep the disease at bay, and prevent it progressing along the gum line. Washing the mouth constantly by drinking water throughout the day, will also keep acid production down and subsequently the production of plaque. Brushing in between the teeth should be a part of normal oral care on a daily basis, which will assist the flossing in keeping these areas clean and residue free. It is part of every dentists program of preventative care, ask your dental nurse for more advice on keeping plaque down in the mouth.

Dental cavities are caused by the wearing down of the enamel of the tooth, this is a natural process of eating, but the matter is exasperated by bacteria that produces acid and wears away the enamel much quicker, says a Weybridge dentist. The symptoms are a soreness in the tooth (toothache) and an infection of the gums; this is caused by the bad bacteria in the mouth seeping into the cracks that are prevalent in most cavities. Gum and teeth infections can be a simple infection, or it can develop into a more complex problem. An abscess is probably one of the worst things that can come out of a cracked cavity, and the symptom of that is an excruciating pain, swelling and a few sleepless night. The treatment for dental cavities can be a simple filling or a more complicated root canal treatment. A filling would involve a dentist drilling out any enamel that is likely to crumble and cause problems under a filling. The filling is a mix of metals that are antibacterial, and will fill the cavity whilst also sealing in the chamber of the tooth to prevent further infections. This is then topped off with a porcelain crown to make the tooth harder and better wearing. The other method is a root canal, this involves drilling out all the inside of the tooth, then scraping out the bacteria that has got into the cavity chamber. Again the hole is filled with an antibacterial material and sealed off with a porcelain crown. It then needs the patient to start a regime of good and disciplined oral hygiene; this includes flossing which prevents further tartar building up on the tooth root, making it weaken, which results in the loss of the tooth prematurely. Prevention is always preferable to a cure, just ask any dentist.

Mouth guards are fairly common in certain sports such as rugby and boxing but you might not know that dentists recommend wearing a mouth guard when playing any physical sport involving contact, balls or high speed. This is because the majority of dental injuries resulting in dental trauma are caused by accidents occurring during sport, and not just high contact sports such as rugby and boxing.

Cracked, damaged or knocked out teeth cannot only be very painful, but they can also be the cause of months or even years of painful and costly dental complications. A knocked out tooth that cannot be instantly replaced will need to be repaired with a dental prosthetic such as a dental implant or dental bridge. These replacements can cost thousands of pounds and usually only last between ten and twenty years. This means that they will need to be replaced possibly several times throughout your life and will never provide the same level of security and comfort of a real tooth.

Mouth guards can provide protection against damage to teeth limiting the risk of the need for this treatment. Although mouth guards are available from most sporting good stores, Molesey dentists recommend you have a mouth guard fitted especially by a dentist for the maximum degree of protection as generic mouth guards can often be ill-fitting and slack.

Wearing a mouth guard may not be the most fashionable thing to wear when playing sport but when compared to the alternative of having a painful and unseemly missing or cracked teeth, it really does make sense. Make an appointment with your dentist to discuss the benefits and costs of mouth guards.

If you had to compile a list of the things that people are most afraid of, there would be a few things that would instantly spring to mind. Spiders and flying would certainly be up there and not too far behind, I imagine, would come the dreaded dentist. According to a survey of 1,500 people carried out by the Cosmetic Dentistry Guide a staggering 93 per cent of adults in the United Kingdom are afraid of visiting the dentist.

Interestingly it is men that are more likely to be afraid of dentists, and far less likely to actually confront their fears. Women are worried too but it seems they are more likely to take pride in their appearance and realize the importance of looking after their teeth.

Most cases of dental anxiety can be traced to an unpleasant experience in the past. Others attribute the fear to the lack of control and feeling of vulnerability when in the chair. Some people use excuses like the lack of NHS dentists and expected high cost of treatment to justify not going to the dentist, but these excuses often mask a more underlying fear. Many children who fear a visit to the dentist do so because the parent has passed on the anxiety. Many dentists report of instances where parents have said at the end of the appointment ‘That didn’t hurt too much did it?’, and that being the first time the child had associated it with pain.

However, a fear of the dentist is a very real fear for many, and comes in two main forms. Firstly, dental anxiety, a term coined in the 40s, which is a mild fear or apprehension and secondly, dental phobia, which is a much more serious fear affecting about one in ten people.

Fear, as we all know, is mostly irrational. Most people’s fears are based on experiences 40 years out of date. Dentistry has advanced to such a degree that many procedures now are almost painless. Dental surgeries have become more like health spas than the funny smelling institutional buildings they once were. Visit a Surbiton dentist to see how they’ve changed and put aside your anxieties. There really is nothing to be scared of.

If you’ve ever been unfortunate to suffer any kind of dental health problem you’ll know full well that it’s no laughing matter. Toothache doesn’t have a bad reputation for nothing after all, and with over 90 per cent of people in the UK admitting some kind of fear of the dentist, it would seem our teeth are something we should be keen to look after.

The key to good dental health is prevention. Although the advances in technology have meant that modern dentistry is able to cure most dental concerns relatively painlessly, the procedures are often costly and can still be unpleasant. The only way to avoid dental problems is to prevent them occurring in the first place. This is easily achievable by following three easy steps. Firstly, by brushing correctly twice a day using an appropriate toothbrush for your teeth (your dentist will be able to recommend a suitable brush) for three minutes. Secondly, by flossing at least once a day you will be able to clean the parts of the teeth that conventional brushing is unable to reach. This includes between the teeth and below the gumline. Flossing also removes food particles that get stuck in the teeth which are one of the main causes of plaque and bad breath. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is by having regular six-month dental check-ups. Even though many people are afraid of the dentist, by visiting regularly there really will be nothing to fear. In fact, the more you visit the less likely the chance of any problems occurring, the less scary your check-ups will be. It really does make sense.

There are other things you can do to protect your teeth and gums, such as drinking water after meals, eating the right foods and not snacking in between meals. These will all help to maintain good oral hygiene but will only work in tandem with effective cleaning.

The alternatives to protecting your teeth and gums is a lifetime of tooth decay, gum disease and costly dental procedures that doesn’t bear thinking about. A Surbiton dentist will be able to offer you regular check-ups and offer you advice about the proper cleaning methods.

Smoking can have a massive detrimental effect on your health in general and specifically on your oral health. It is responsible for causing oral cancers, gum disease and tooth decay and cavities. Smokers are far more likely to have dental problems and loose teeth than non-smokers.

Patients may see a dentist more regularly than a doctor and as dentists will be able to see visible evidence of smoke damage, they can play an important role in helping patients to kick the habit. Most smokers suffer from periodontal disease at some point, as well as other dental problems, and a dentist is well placed to offer advice about how to avoid these problems by quitting. By giving up, patients greatly increase their chances of having healthy teeth.

Dentists are increasingly receiving training in smoking cessation, meaning that they will be able to serve a dual role of dentist and cessation councillor. Using their unique position they can warn patients about the dangers of smoking to their oral health and can offer advice on the most successful ways to give up. They will also be able to inform patients about the greatly increased further health risks of smoking such as heart disease and lung cancer. The state of a smoker’s teeth might be indicative of this further damage and the brief consultation with a dentist can help to make them aware of this fact.

Sunbury dentists are trained, or receiving training, in smoking cessation. They are taking advantage of their unique position and regular contact with patients to offer the most effective and up to date methods of quitting. Hopefully they can greatly improve patients’ dental health and health in general.