An abscessed tooth is a painful and annoying one, and it can take a bit of time to clear it up. A Sunbury dentist has advised his patients that extra care must be taken to ensure the infection doesn’t return. The problems arise not just when the tooth becomes infected, but afterwards, and especially when the patient is avoiding that particular tooth because it is sensitive. In extreme cases of reoccurring infections, a root canal treatment may be required and this isn’t a pleasant experience. At the first sign of an abscess the dentist will try to save the tooth, antibiotics are prescribed to get the infection down, and pain killers will usually be recommended as well. An infection can take over a week to completely be treated, and in the meantime the dentist can do nothing to the tooth. After that the tooth can be removed if it is in a bad way, but your dentist will try to save it. Taking the tooth out will usually stop further infections, as will a rot canal treatment. Root canals are done where bacteria has managed to infiltrate deep down into the cavity of a tooth, the dentist will remove much of the inner part of the tooth and then clean it out. The hole will then be filled with an anti bacterial paste that hardens to replace the normal enamel of the tooth; this will leave no room for bacteria to accumulate in the future, and will usually cure the problem. Where the tooth is damaged by the abscess the dentist may find no alternate to an extraction, but as long as the jaw line is O.K. then a dental implant may be placed in the gap to replace the tooth, this will then take a few months to infuse with the bone, but the result is a natural feeling tooth and no more abscesses.

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.

Multiple dental implants are not unusual these days, the cost of this treatment has dramatically come down says a Shepperton dentist. A dental implant is a false tooth that is screwed directly into the jaw, it acts, feels and can be used just like a natural tooth. The many problems they solve are a God send to the patient; this is usually a single tooth that is replacing a problem natural tooth. A misaligned tooth can make a smile look awkward; a chipped tooth is painful and will constantly catch on the flesh in the mouth. These are just two problems that dental implants solve. The other main advantage with implants is that they can be used successfully to replace more than a single tooth, and keep the line and colour of the remaining teeth. Once the problem teeth have been removed and the jaw line cleaned, a plate is fitted directly onto the jaw to take the new implants. The plate requires drilling into the jaw to take the screws that anchor the teeth. Where a line of implants are needed individual plates can be fitted to take all the new ones, and in one sitting. The reason this is done is so that in the future a new individual tooth can be replace a worn out or damaged implant. The implants are made together from digital photos taken at the first sitting; the dentist will make the implants so the colouration matches not just the natural teeth, but the other implants. The implants are then just literally screwed into place; the infusion with the bone takes around 3-6 months. The patient can then use the teeth just as they used their natural teeth before they lost them, although they can start using them straight away to chew soft foods.

Porcelain veneers can become yellow over time says a Moseley dentist. The average life span of porcelain veneers is around 10-15 years, which is the time span that most dentists tend to agree on. Yellowing has been reported around the 10 year mark, but no specific reasoning has yet been clarified. Smoking is an obvious reason as the stains that porcelain will take on, are similar to that of natural enamel. Porcelain is a natural material just like enamel, and as a type of clay it will yellow just as a statue or similar object made of porcelain will do. This generally happens when the material is left for long periods in natural sunlight, as in the placing of a statue in a window. White wine may also be a contributor as it contains acids that will react with porcelain, and cause a yellow stain to develop. The solution to the problem is two fold, first choice would be to replace the veneers altogether, that would be preferable as the matching of colour would be better. Next would be to try a polish up with a semi abrasive brush, the dentist would lightly brush the stain to take the discolouration off, but the deeper the stain is, would determine the success of this method. If it was too deep then the colour below the stain would be much brighter than the white shading of a 10 year old veneer. If the veneer needs to be replaced then the patient would be waiting around 4 weeks for new ones, the procedure is a little more complex than the original one as the old ones have to be ground down to remove them. Once that is done though, the new veneers are simply cemented back in place of the old ones.

Just because our children will lose their milk teeth and grow adult ones, doesn’t mean they don’t need to be taught oral care. A Sunbury dentist has spoken out about the lack of oral health care in children; it seems that children aren’t being taught about oral hygiene until later in life. The problem may be that we tend to think about our children’s teeth at a much later stage in their development, than we do about talking and walking. A baby can develop teeth problems from the moment they are born, even before our children get their milk teeth they can develop dental disorders. Acid build up in their mouth is a by-product of milk formula which is counteracted by their saliva production, but we tend to feed them just before they are due for a sleep. When sleeping their saliva gland stops producing and acid builds up, this eats at the enamel when they get their first molars. If we start associating cleaning the teeth with a fun attitude, then they will pick up good oral hygiene habits early. We also need to make sure that they have the right tooth brush, use the correct tooth paste and learn to floss as early as possible. It is also important that they get into the habit of regular dentist visits; this is to get them into the habit and also to eliminate any dental phobias they may develop. As we teach them to do simple things like learning to swim, so they don’t develop a fear of water, we would be doing them a big service in our parental duty in teaching them to keep their teeth and have no fear of getting treatment when they need it. A nice smile and a building of confidence will also be a reward of early learning in oral hygiene care.

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.

Cosmetic dentistry these days can mean anything from teeth whitening to a precious stone being inserted in a tooth, vanity gets the better of us sometimes and the dentist profession has like all other related professions, adapted to the needs of the times. Teeth whitening is now available in home kits and at salons in every High Street, this is done by bleaching the teeth or using a gel that is activated by an intense light beam. Technicians usually do this rather than a dentist as it is just a one day course that is needed to apply it. Where a cosmetic dentist is involved you will usually be seeking a more complex procedure. Veneers are one of the most common things a dentist will apply to the teeth; they come in 2 types, a thin veneer and a porcelain veneer which are much thicker. The thin ones are like a false nail and are fitted in much the same way, with a glue or dental cement. The tooth is roughed up a little on the surface to make it bond better, and they don’t last as long as the porcelain versions. The porcelain veneers are thicker and that means the amount of tooth surface taken off is much more, it will be equal to the thickness of the veneer. This version lasts 10-15 years and is possible to polish when and if they stain around the 10 year mark. Thin veneers are possible to replace when they become damaged, and this can be done over and over again. With porcelain veneers it is a bit more complicated as the tooth is much thinner after the first fitting, and can generally be replaced just the once. Dental implants are another cosmetic procedure available; these are false teeth that are screwed into the jaw, just like a real tooth.

Baby bottle tooth decay is not a subject that usually gets brought up in Ante- natal classes, but it is an important part of baby care says a Molesey dentist. The problem isn’t just one that is easily solved by breast feeding; it starts almost as soon as the baby is born even though teeth won’t start to grow till much later. All baby formulas contain bacteria; we all have bacteria in our bodies as we need them to break down enzymes, acids and fats into the energy that we need to feed our organs. When a baby salivates the mouth is producing an anti acid agent to dilute the acid in the formula, but when the baby falls asleep this activity stops and acid builds up. That acid is what damages the teeth by destroying or weakening the enamel of baby’s first teeth. This comes at a time when your baby is beginning to develop a personality, and they will pick up on any negative vibes they feel from anyone around them. A baby can tell by the tone of a voice if it is receiving a negative compliment, bad teeth can cause problems that will affect their smile and facial features. The baby will also have constant pain problems with their first teeth from baby bottle tooth decay. The way to counteract this is a simple one, firstly keep your baby awake for at least 15 minutes after a bottle, that way the saliva production will be sufficient enough to dilute the acids. Secondly ask your doctor about safe fluoride levels in the water supply, and then enquire at your water supplier for their level tables. Fluoride is a big friend to our teeth, and your baby needs to have sufficient levels to fight tooth decay in their early years.

Braces aren’t designed for easy access to the teeth surfaces when they need cleaning; says a Weybridge dentist. Food residue get into the most smallest of places, and most braces have all the hidey holes that bacteria thrives in. The result of a bad or lax regime in cleaning your teeth and braces will be bad breath, stains and more visits to the dentist. The solution is quite simple though, and there are some very good devices to help you overcome the problem. Rinsing first will help to dislodge any bacterium that has built up in the night, when we sleep our saliva glands stop working and that gives bacteria a better chance to breed. Flossing is important as well, so floss with extra care and vigour to dislodge food residue and bacteria build up. Then comes the brushing, and this needs to be done with more visual contact than usual, making sure that you get in between the teeth and around the braces. Whether you use a hand brush or an electric one there are extra brushes you can get to help with braces. A proxabrush is what you are looking for in the chemist shop, these are designed to allow you to get under the braces and under the solder edges to remove that plaque. When flossing, remember that you need to also floss in between and under the wire, it will take a little longer, but it will reap you big rewards in the end. Remember that you will also need to see your dentist every 3 months as opposed to every 6 months on normal visits; they will rid you of any tartar build up. This will make your breath fresher and keep it fresher for longer, but drinking water throughout the day will also help a lot with acid production.

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.