Mouth ulcers can most commonly develop when the sensitive tissues inside the mouth are damaged, which can happen with even the slightest pressure. Mouth ulcers can be really painful and uncomfortable, and can have an adverse effect on the way you speak, eat, and even smile.
There are also some other causes of mouth ulcers. These include:
- Poor Oral Hygiene – Improper oral hygiene can contribute to the development of mouth ulcers, as the presence of bacteria can result to the soft inner mouth tissues to be more susceptible to mouth sores.
- Stress – High stress levels can often have an impact on oral health, and can contribute to the development of mouth ulcers.
- Medical Conditions – if you have mouth ulcers that keep returning, it could be caused by a medical condition. Skin conditions, such as lichen planus can also be a contributing factor.
- Medication – ulcers can occasionally be caused by some medications such as Ibuprofen and beta-blockers
If you are suffering from painful ulcers, or an ulcer that is taking more than a couple of weeks to heal, visit our dentist in Buckinghamshire for advice.
Gum disease is very common. In fact in the UK it is estimated that half the population has some degree of gum disease and most people will experience it at least once in their lives.
Gum disease is caused by a build up of plaque on the teeth which is a sticky substance containing bacteria. Some of the bacteria are harmless, but some can be very harmful to the health of your gums.
It is very important to remove the plaque from your teeth by brushing them. If it is left, it will build up on your gums and cause them to become irritated and bleed.
If untreated, a condition called periodontitis can develop. This condition affects the tissues that support the teeth and hold them in place. Each year in the UK there are about six cases of severe periodontitis for every 100,000 people. Periodontitis can cause the bone in your jaw can recede and small spaces can open up between the gum and teeth which car harbour even more bacteria. Your teeth can in time become loose and may eventually fall out.
If your gums are inflamed, painful or bleeding it is important to make an appointment to visit our dental practice in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. We will thoroughly check your teeth and gums and prescribe you with the best treatment for gum disease.
If the disease is allowed to progress for a long time, treatment can become more difficult and sometimes irreversible.
Many people are apprehensive about dental treatments and a small number of people are so frightened that they put it off completely. Sedation dentistry involves the use of medication to help patients relax during dental procedures. It’s sometimes referred to as “sleep dentistry,” although that’s not entirely correct. Patients are usually awake with the exception of those who are under general anaesthesia.
Sedation dentistry involves performing dental treatment on a patient in a stress and anxiety – free environment. It’s a way for dentists to help patients overcome common dental phobias that cause them to neglect going to the dentist or getting their teeth taken care of. Often, dental problems are left unattended till the very last moment meaning that more extreme measures are needed. Through sedation dentistry, patients are able to undergo dental treatments without any of the panic and anxiety that accompanies the treatment. Furthermore, sedation dentistry can reduce the amount of visits required for dental treatment to just a couple of sessions.
We see many nervous patients at our dental practice in Buckinghamshire and can provide sedation with a consultant anaesthetist for those who wish.
Over time stains can build up on the teeth. The most common causes are related to everyday things we eat, drink and smoke. The most common things are: tea, coffee, red wine, curry and cigarettes.
There are also some other very common but less obvious causes for staining
- Mouthwash containing chlorhexidine digluconate such as corsodyl. This is usually recommended for patients to treat gum disease, bleeding gums and mouth ulcers. It can cause a dark brown stain on the teeth that can appear similar to cigarette stain.
- Herbal teas. With people becoming more aware of their health and wellbeing, many people are starting to prefer herbal teas to conventional tea. Herbal tea is a big cause of tooth staining as there isn’t any milk added, so the tooth surface is directly exposed to the dark liquid.
- Dark fruit juices such as blueberry, tomato or beetroot juice can stain teeth. Being acidic, berries and fruit juice will also destroy the enamel on teeth if left overnight without brushing.
What can we do to help reduce staining?
- Visiting a hygienist regularly to remove stains with a scale and polish
- Using an electric toothbrush, like an Oral B with an oscillating head, can provide a daily polishing effect which can help reduce staining.
- Cutting down or giving up on cigarettes
- Using a straw when you drink helps acidic liquids and stains bypass the teeth.
- Tooth whitening will remove staining and make the appearance of the teeth much brighter. This unfortunately will not prevent staining from building up again, and to maintain white teeth bleaching will need to be repeated.
- Stain removing and whitening toothpastes are also on the market. These however can be abrasive and not all contain fluoride.
For any further advice, visit or dental centre in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire and speak to our dentist or hygienist.
Thumb sucking is a very common childhood habit which occurs in around 80% of children.
Sucking is one of a child’s natural reflexes and is used not only as a comfort but also when they are cold, tired, bored and hungry.
Although thumb sucking is a very common occurrence, it can be concerning to parents as it can cause the upper front teeth to become more prominent. This is not too worrying if the child still has their milk teeth, however if the child has now got their adult teeth it can mean that orthodontic treatment is needed to correct the misalignment.
It is important to try and discourage thumb sucking while the child still has their milk teeth. Most children give up this habit during their toddler years, however around 15% of children are still thumb sucking over the age of four.
How to get a child to stop thumb sucking.
- Keep the child’s hands occupied with books, toys and puzzles.
- Carefully remove your child’s thumb from the mouth during sleep
- Talk about the ‘bad germs’ that are on our hands and how they are put into the mouth during thumb sucking.
- Reward the child for not thumb sucking
- Try to avoid punishing or embarrassing the child.
If you are worried about your child’s teeth due to thumb sucking, contact our Dentist in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire for an appointment.
Emergency Toothache in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire
Toothache refers to pain around the teeth and jaws. It can be one of the most unbearable pains you will experience and can have many different causes. Seeing a dentist regularly will help to keep your teeth healthy and reduce the chances of this happening.
Causes:
- Cavities. A cavity is caused by dental decay. The bacteria in our mouth turns sugar in the foods that we eat into acid. Over time, the acid dissolves the enamel and the dentine in the tooth causing a cavity. Small shallow cavities are often unnoticed and cause no pain, but the deeper bigger cavities will start to become painful.
- Nerve dying inside the tooth. Once the decay spreads to the pulp chamber inside the tooth, the nerve becomes inflamed and will begin to die. Once the nerve is dead, the bacteria spreads down the root canals causing an infection to develop into a classic tooth abscess. Most people experience severe pain and require antibiotics and dental treatment.
- Pain following dental treatment. There is always a risk after having dental treatment eg fillings and crowns, that the patient could experience pain. This can be either due to the nerve dyeing, or trauma caused by drilling.
- Gum disease. Gum disease (also known as periodontitis) is a condition affecting the gums surrounding the teeth. This is caused by the bacteria in plaque irritating the gums and causing the gum to detach from the root surface creating a ‘pocket’. Once the gum is detached, plaque accumulates in the ‘pocket’ causing further destruction of the supporting structures around the tooth. In the late stages of this condition, the teeth will start to loosen up and fall out. Treatment involves regular hygiene visits for tooth scaling and root planing as well as meticulous oral hygiene at home. Once the disease gets to an advanced stage, it is irreversible but its progression can be slowed.
- Other causes. These can include cracked teeth, pain from orthodontic work, sinusitis and ulcers.
I’m in pain, what do I do?
The first thing to do if you are experiencing toothache is to take a painkiller. A combination of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen is very effective if you are able to take these.
Secondly, if you are near Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire, contact us at The Bank House Dental Centre for an emergency appointment. We try to see patients with dental emergencies on the same day if possible.
Plaque is a layer of bacteria which is forming on the teeth 24 hours a day; it makes the teeth feel ‘fuzzy’ to the tongue and is more noticeable when the teeth are not brushed.
Plaque is harmful to the teeth and gums because it lives off of the food left on our teeth and produces acid as a result. Over time this acid can start to destroy the enamel on the teeth causing decay. The plaque bacteria can also work its way under the gums causing a breakdown of the bone supporting the tooth. It can also cause bad breath.
To prevent plaque build up it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste paying particular attention to the junction where the teeth and gums meet.
Cleaning between the teeth is important to remove the plaque and food debris that can accumulate here and cause decay between the teeth.
Finally, seeing a dentist and hygienist regularly for check-ups and cleans every 6 months will ensure that you keep your teeth as long as possible. Visit our Buckinghamshire dental practice based in Princes risborough.
For many years now, studies have been proving that the use of fluoride in our daily routines can reduce dental caries (decay). Fluoride does this by strengthening the tooth, making the enamel more resistant to decay, and also by remineralising early carious lesions before they turn into a cavity.
Fluoride is available in many forms:
- Toothpaste: Most toothpastes contain fluoride. For best protection it is recommended to use a high fluoride toothpaste such as that found in Colgate total at 1400ppm (parts per million).
- Toothpastes containing higher fluoride levels are available on prescription from the dentist. These contain 2800 ppm and 5000 ppm. This is recommended for patients at higher risk of caries.
- Mouthwashes: To obtain best possible results using fluoride from a mouthwash it is recommended to be used at a different time to brushing. A recommended mouthwash is fluoriguard, this contains 0.05% sodium fluoride.
- Fluoridated water (both naturally and artificially): Fluoride is often added to water in areas with reduced natural fluoride content. Your local water board can provide more information on the level in the water where you live.
- Fluoride varnish: Is applied in surgery by your dentist or dental hygienist. This is a varnish containing 26,600 ppm.
See our dentist in Princes Risborough, Bucks to discuss fluoride or any other aspect about your teeth.
The correct term for clenching and grinding teeth is bruxism, and it is a habit that can affect 8-10% of the population. Some people grind their teeth only while sleeping. This is called “nocturnal bruxism” or “sleep-related bruxism.” Others grind or clench their teeth during the daytime as well.
Bruxism can have a variety of causes. Some experts view bruxism as nothing more than a habit. It also can be a result of the body’s reaction when the teeth do not line up or come together properly, or finally it may be related to stress or anxiety.
People with severe bruxism can break dental fillings or damage their teeth. Rubbing the teeth together can cause the outer layers of enamel to wear away, exposing dentine. This can result in tooth sensitivity. Severe bruxism has also been blamed for:
- Some cases of jaw dysfunction, also called temporomandibular disorders (TMD)
- Headaches when you wake up in the morning
- Unexplained facial pain
The treatment of bruxism can vary depending on the cause. The usual treatment is a bite guard. This is something you can wear at night which will protect the teeth and relieve the pressure on the jaw. It cannot cure bruxism completely but the idea is to break the habit until eventually the use of a bite guard can be reduced until it is not worn at all.
If you suffer from any of these symptoms it is important to see your dentist, who can determine the problem and provide the best treatment.
Wisdom teeth are the very back teeth or third molars, which usually appear between the ages of 16 – 25. Wisdom teeth do not always cause problems, however there are a few complications related to them that can present themselves during this eruption period. The most common problems are as follows:
Impaction. In some cases the wisdom teeth can fail to erupt into their expected position becoming impacted or “coming in sideways”. Not all impacted wisdom teeth necessarily need to be removed. It is commonly seen that a person with an impacted wisdom tooth could live their entire life without ever experiencing any problem with it. If, however, it is causing damage to the adjacent tooth, it will need to be extracted.
Another common problem that can be caused by wisdom teeth is pericoronitis. This is a temporary problem created when the tooth is only partially erupted, leaving a flap of gum covering the tooth. Food particles and bacteria can collect under this and cause the gum to become sore and swollen, as it is difficult to keep clean. Special mouthwashes and occasionally antibiotics can deal with this problem, but in some recurrent cases it is better to have the tooth removed.
You should make an appointment to see us at the Bank House Dental Centre if you’re experiencing pain or discomfort from your wisdom teeth. Dr. Sanjay Narda will check your teeth and advise you on the best course of treatment.