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Most of us have experienced the shock to the system when hit by a noticeably unpleasant odour exhaled on the breath of someone in close proximity.
Bad breath, or halitosis, is a subject that needs little introduction, We are all familiar with how the consumption of foods such as garlic and onions can affect our ‘morning after’ breath, which fortunately needs be only temporary and which can be overcome by some simple remedies.
Your Chelsea dentist will tell you that most breath odour problems come from food particles trapped in our mouths, where they become a breeding ground for bacteria. Other causes can include poor oral health, failing to clean dentures, periodontal disease and smoking. Bad breath can also be sign of an underlying medical condition of the stomach, lungs and bloodstream.
Another cause of halitosis is dry mouth, when saliva, our natural mouthwash, decreases, leaving the mouths natural ability to clean itself impaired. Alcohol, some medications, breathing through the mouth instead of the nose or a salivary gland disorder can contribute to having a dry mouth.
Ways to combat bad breath include brushing your teeth and tongue, and rinsing your mouth thoroughly, after every meal to remove food particles; regular visits to your Chelsea dentist and Hygienist to rule out gum disease and to correct any faulty fillings or crowns which can trap food in the mouth; chew sugarless gum or suck a lozenge to increase the flow of saliva, and take a regular drink of water.
Remember that alcohol and caffeine can dry the mouth, and that smoking, tar and nicotine can build up on the surface of the teeth, tongue and cheeks. It can also dry the mouth and inhibit saliva flow.
Chlorophyll is a natural breath freshener found in leafy green vegetables like parsley, while a few drops of peppermint or tea tree oil applied to the tongue or toothbrush can help freshen the breath – and their antibacterial properties can kill mouth bacteria.
Your hygienist at the Chelsea Dental Clinic will always be happy to advise on how to avoid that bad breath problem.
Painful or unusual sensations or marks in your mouth should prompt you to make an immediate appointment with your dentist, and could be a life-saving decision when cancer statistics show one-third of the population suffer from the disease at some stage in their lives.
The disease can be treated effectively if caught in time, and underlines the importance of being extra vigilant about the way we react to and seek advice about strange or unusual signs on any part of the body.
While a regular appointment at the Chelsea Dental Clinic is a wise move, you should not hesitate to report any symptoms such as small red or white sores that are very painful and do not clear up naturally after a week or so. The sores are often very sensitive to hot and cold food and drink and may also be bleed. Other signs of oral cancer include bleeding in the mouth, unexplained weight loss and pain in the neck or head.
If you have any anxieties about anything in your mouth it’s really essential to have it checked out as soon as possible by a Chelsea Clinic dentist. It may be nothing more than an annoying mouth ulcer, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry – and your dentist will be very pleased to take a look, as you stand a more than 80% chance of surviving the disease, but the odds decrease quickly the longer you leave it.
The other important thing to remember is that by keeping up regular appointments with your dentist they will be able to examine your mouth for any signs of the disease.
Although the actual cause has still to be determined, the lack of oral hygiene, smoking, chewing tobacco and drugs that are rubbed on gums are seen as a factors. Tumours can grow on the lips, inner mouth, gums and tongue, forming lumps, lesions and white spots.
Difficulty with swallowing, throat infections and swelling are often associated with Oral Cancer, while poor blood circulation caused by diabetes and other related blood disorders are among accepted causes. Excessive use of alcohol not only harms the liver and kidneys, it also contains enzymes long associated with cancer cell growth in all parts of the body.
Ask your Chelsea dentist about how oral hygiene will greatly reduce the chances of Oral Cancer. Our dentists are helping in the battle to beat cancer, but you need to be vigilant and make sure you have your regular check ups.
Gum or periodontal disease affects about one in three adults, and can lead to more serious ill health problems – one of many good reasons for a regular visit to the Chelsea Dental Clinic.
Problems indentified in studies have shown that gum disease contributes to heart, stroke, diabetic and pregnancy complications, as well as breathing problems and brain cell degeneration.
Gum disease symptoms include painful, bleeding, receding or infected gums, plaque formation, bad breath, loose teeth and toothache. What may start as a minor inconvenience, however it can quickly spread and become established in the mouth, gums and teeth.
Among the causes of gum disease are inadequate home dental care, not seeing your dentist or dental hygienist on a regular basis, a genetic history of periodontal disease and teeth loss, grinding and clinching your teeth leading to excessive wear and smoking.
If caught early it is very easily treated by a periodontal or gum specialist at the Chelsea Dental clinic, where minor problems such as cavities or chipped teeth, which can also lead to a risk of gum inflammation, can be quickly treated.
Gum disease can be avoided by a regular schedule of good home dental hygiene: brushing the teeth with the right toothbrush in the morning and before going to bed, and flossing before brushing at least once a day helps in cleaning away the small food particulars and bacteria from mouth, gums and teeth.
As a sensible safeguard, investing in an Affordable Dental Plan at the Chelsea practice will ensure that you can have the financial peace of mind to make a regular visit to your dental consultant part of your long-term health plan.
These days a tongue piercing is a popular fashion statement in the western world, and has been available since the Aztecs used it as one way to honour the gods.
But if you are thinking of having a tongue stud or jewel attached, it may be worth discussing it with one of our experts at your next appointment at Chelsea Dentists.
Research in the USA points to the risk of gaps appearing between front teeth, as well as potential infections and chipped teeth, any of which could lead to the need for cosmetic dentistry.
Problems can arise if people with tongue piercings get into the habit of pushing their prized stud or jewel against their teeth, which over a period of time can cause unsightly gaps to appear in the upper front teeth.
Tongue piercing can cause infections, speech impediments, breathing problems, broken teeth and the risk of infection, says the British Dental Association (BDA).
The BDA recommends that people should ask their dentists for advice on oral hygiene while the piercing is healing.
This includes advice on brushing to avoid inflaming the tongue and the need to use mouthwash to clean the bits of the mouth which the brush cannot reach.
Certainly, if you are thinking of having your tongue pierced then a discussion with a hygienist at the Chelsea Dental Practice before you decide could benefit your future dental health.
People who don’t brush their teeth twice a day are more likely to suffer from heart disease, according to a recent study.
The study published in the British Medical Journal found that people who never or rarely brush their teeth are 70 per cent more likely to suffer from heart disease than those who brush their teeth twice a day. The study looked at the habits of 11,000 adults and found those with poor oral hygiene had a higher risk of getting heart disease, compared with those who brushed twice a day.
The study backs up previous research linking gum disease with heart disease. It is known that inflammation in the body, including in the mouth and gums, has an important role in build up of clogged arteries, which can lead to a heart attack.
However, this is the first time that researchers have examined the frequency of teeth brushing to see whether it has an impact on the risk of developing heart disease. In the study, six out of 10 people said they visited the dentist every six months and seven out of 10 reported brushing their teeth twice a day.
During the eight-year study there were 555 cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, 170 of which were fatal. Those with poor oral hygiene also tested positive in blood samples for proteins which are suggestive of inflammation.
Study leader Prof Richard Watt, from University College London, said Our results confirmed and further strengthened the suggested association between oral hygiene and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, inflammatory markers were significantly associated with very simple measure of poor oral health behaviour.
Further experimental studies will be needed to confirm whether the observed association between oral health behaviour and cardiovascular disease is in fact causal or merely a risk marker.
