Cosmetic Dentistry Guide

Treating Gum Disease Can Help Prevent Tooth Loss

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is the name for a range of oral health problems ranging from inflammation of the gums ( gingivitis ) to the more serious periodontitis (where gums pull away from the teeth and serious infection can result). Many people may have the early signs of gum disease and not even realize it! Symptoms like persistent bad breath, swollen gums, gums that bleed when flossing, sensitive teeth or painful spots on the gums when chewing can all be early signs of gum disease. It is well established that gum disease can be devastating to the mouth and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss and other oral problems. What is less well-known is that gum disease can also have negative impact on other parts of the body. The mouth is not an isolated ecosystem, but an integral part of the immune system. The mouth is intimately connected to many other parts of the body and a bacterial imbalance or gum disease in the mouth can create immune problems and in...

There are currently many topics about e-smoking that get discussed time and time again. For instance, you can find out various benefits of switching to e-cigs by simply doing a quick Google search: no second-hand smoke, no tar, and no odour –just rich flavoured e-juice and pure vapour. And you may have also heard how e-cigs are the perfect travel partner, giving you the freedom to smoke almost anywhere you want, and at a lower cost than traditional smoking. We keep reading that e-cigarettes do not produce smoke, they produce vapour.  The vapour that we inhale when smoking an e-cig does not contain any of the harmful chemicals contained in a traditional cigarette. E-cigs use a liquid mix of nicotine, distilled water, flavouring ingredients, and a few other chemicals that turn into vapour when inhaled.  These liquid ingredients will not cause any teeth discolouration, plaque build-up, or bad breath. One harmful effect is that nicotine inhalation inhibits your...

You have undoubtedly heard how vital it is to get a professional teeth cleaning to diminish the risk of cavities and gum disease, but how often do you really need to have a cleaning with a dental hygienist? If you have good oral hygiene habits and a healthy mouth, your dentist and dental hygienist will probably suggest professional teeth cleaning at least twice a year.  Many dental insurance policies will cover two cleanings per year, but few people take full advantage of their benefits. The twice-a-year recommendation isn't random; there are good reasons behind it. How often should I see a dental hygienist to have my teeth cleaned? This is a very good question and one, with variations, that has been asked hundreds of times. The answer to that question varies according to you – your level of oral hygiene, your genetic predisposition to decay or gum disease and any other habits you may have.  As a general rule, the intervals that are shown by studies to be optimal ...

The common “dental hygiene” or hygienist appointment gets no respect! Many patients view their preventive dental cleaning as “just a cleaning or a polish”, but healthy gums are critical to long term oral health. Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing are inflamed, a condition known as gingivitis. Dental Hygienists and therapist are the best, and most under-appreciated, secret in dentistry: Their job is to ensure you never need to see your dentist for anything more than a friendly check-up. If a dentist focuses on diagnosis and treatment of a dental disease, the hygienist and the therapist focus on prevention. Good home oral hygiene habits combined with regular preventive dental care is your best defence against gingivitis and periodontal disease. Your dentist and dental hygienist work together to recommend a preventive periodontal care program that is right for you. A vast majority of teeth are lost due to the effects of gum disease and research has shown that ear...

With almost 90% of the population suffering from bleeding gums at some point of their lives, gum disease is today a real threat; sore gums that bleed with the slightest contact of a toothbrush or dental floss are a sign of a problem which requires careful attention and a professional dentist’s diagnosis. The accumulation of dental plaque where the teeth meet the gums is the main cause of gingivitis, the inflammation of gum tissues because of the bacteria contained in dental plaque. Long term gingivitis indicates plaque has been accumulating over time. It can lead to the formation of “pockets”, a separation between gum and teeth, where the process continues even if the bleeding stops. 10% of the patients who suffer from bleeding gums and develop “pockets” end up having periodontal disease, which is an inflammation around the teeth that usually leads to the loss of bone supporting teeth and, eventually, to tooth loss. Prevention and early recognition is the key to avoi...

Good nutrition and diet promotes oral health that acts as a channel to encourage overall health and development. This is because mouth is the beginning of the gastrointestinal tract and has the ability to chew and swallow, potentially, providing essential nutrients to the body for good health. Nutritional problems can manifests when there is inadequate dietary intake of a nutrient, which can affect our entire body including our dental health. Recent studies have shown that healthier immune system can mean healthier pink gums. Obviously we all need regular dental checkups. Daily flossing and brushing are a must, but even if proper dental hygiene  regime is already in place, unhealthy inflamed gums (gingivitis) and tooth decay may be caused by an inadequate diet. Below are several Vitamins and minerals that have a great significance in keeping our mouth healthy:

Periodontal or gum disease has been called the Silent Disease because initially there are no symptoms. If your gums are red, sometimes bleed when you brush, feel tender, or look swollen ... these are symptoms of periodontal disease. If your mouth tastes unpleasant ... that’s another symptom. If your gums have receded ...you may have had gum disease for some time. Receding gums, and bone and tooth loss, are unattractive alternatives to healthy gums. But there’s more at stake! Gum disease has been linked to cardiovascular and other systemic diseases. Studies have found oral bacteria from gum infections in arterial plaque, and have also shown that therapy for Periodontal disease lessens inflammation throughout the body. Poor oral health has been identified as a stronger predictor of heart disease than other risk factors such as low levels of good cholesterol, high levels of a clotting agent, and high levels of certain fats in the bloodstream. Long-term and short-term stud...

Maybe the discomfort you're feeling after too much fun at a football match simply is indigestion. But if you regularly experience spells of acid reflux disease, you may need to take action to protect your teeth. If left untreated, this condition can lead to serious complications with tooth erosion. Normally when you swallow, the food and drink travels from your mouth, down your esophagus and into your stomach, where the stomach acids begin digestion. A muscle connecting your esophagus and stomach opens and closes to allow food into your stomach and keep stomach acid out of your esophagus. Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when this muscle weakens and allows the stomach contents to flow back up into your esophagus. You may feel a burning pain in your chest, neck, and throat (heartburn), a sensation of food coming back into your mouth, and a lingering acidic or bitter taste. Your teeth are protected by a thin layer of hard tissue called enamel. Usu...