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Archive for the ‘tooth decay’ Category

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How Liverpool Dental Spa can detect tooth decay this Christmas

Wednesday, December 20th, 2017

Tooth decay is one of the most common preventable ailments out there. The best thing to do if you suspect that you may have a cavity or more extensive decay is see your dentist. As with many health issues, the longer you leave decay, the worse it becomes.

How we detect tooth decay

We check for signs of dental decay as part of routine check-ups and examinations. During your appointment, your dentist will use advanced magnifying techniques and powerful lighting to look deep into the mouth to check for the earliest signs of decay. The sooner these are spotted, the higher the chance of a successful outcome. Cavities can be very difficult to spot in the early stages and our dentists use the latest detection techniques to increase the chances of spotting potential warning signs at the earliest possible opportunity.

We strongly recommend coming in for a routine check-up every 6-9 months. Regular appointments help to reduce the risk of decay and gum disease and enable us to treat any developing issues as quickly as possible.

Treatment for decay

If you have signs of decay, for example, you’ve been suffering with toothache, your tooth feels weak when you bite down or your teeth have been more sensitive than usual of late, we urge you to book an appointment as early as possible. When you come in for your check, we will have a good look at your teeth and discuss treatment options with you. If you have got a cavity, we usually recommend placing a filling to prevent bacteria from spreading and protect the tooth. Fillings are usually made from composite and resins, and they help to strengthen the tooth and reduce the risk of further infection. The procedure to fill a tooth can usually be completed within an hour and the tooth will be numbed first to prevent pain.

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Five Tooth-Kind Christmas Food Swaps

Monday, December 11th, 2017

Christmas is a time of year when many of us tear up the diet rulebooks and go to town with edible treats. While it’s enjoyable to indulge your taste buds at this time of year, spare a thought for your teeth. If you’re keen to preserve your smile, here are 5 tooth-friendly food swaps to consider:

  1. Honey-roasted ham for salmon: ham is a traditional crowd-pleaser at Christmas, but if you’ve basted the joint in treacle, cola or honey, the sugar content will increase significantly. Instead of a honey-roasted ham this year, why not opt for salmon instead? You can use salmon as a main dish or create tasty canapes. Salmon is rich in omega oils and essential fats, which help to keep your gum healthy.
  2. Full fat for diet drinks: if you’re cracking open the pop or choosing mixers to go with spirits, opt for diet versions, as they contain very little sugar. Although diet drinks are sugar-free, they are still acidic, so use a straw and avoid drinking them between meals.
  3. Christmas pudding for a cheese board: Christmas pudding may taste great, but it’s packed with sugar and sticky raisins that will cling to the teeth. Instead, opt for a cheese board. Cheese is high in calcium and it also has a high pH value, which helps to neutralize acids in the mouth.
  4. Sugary cereals for porridge: it’s Christmas morning and you need plenty of energy to get through the day. Instead of reaching for sugary breakfast cereals, make a bowl of porridge. Porridge oats are high in fibre, they release energy slowly and they have a much lower sugar content. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, add blueberries, a banana or a spoonful of honey.
  5. Eggnog for prosecco: if you’re having a drink this Christmas, choose prosecco instead of eggnog. Prosecco has a much lower sugar content and it’s also less calorific. Try and stick to drinking at mealtimes only, as prosecco is acidic.

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Four Ways to Prevent Tooth Decay in Liverpool

Friday, July 28th, 2017

At Liverpool Dental Spa, we’re keen to give our patients the best chance to prevent dental issues. Tooth decay is very common, but it is almost always preventable. Here are 4 easy ways you can protect your teeth from cavities this summer:

  1. Book a dental check: if you haven’t been to the dentist yet this year, now is a good time to pick up the phone and book an appointment. Even if you haven’t had any pain or any other problems, it’s important to see your dentist on a regular basis. Dentists are trained to identify early warning signs, and the sooner we can act the lower the chance of cavities forming or infections developing.
  2. Get to grips with dental hygiene: if you don’t spend at least 2 minutes cleaning your teeth every morning and evening, it’s time to improve your dental hygiene regime. Set a timer, cover every tooth, and devote an equal amount of time to each quadrant of the mouth. Brushing helps to reduce the risk of plaque formation, which will protect both your teeth and gums. We recommend using fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your enamel.
  3. Invest in an electric toothbrush: electric toothbrushes are proven to remove bacteria and food debris more effectively than manual brushing. You don’t have to spend a fortune. Electric toothbrushes are available from around £15 and once you’ve bought the brush, you only have to replace the head every 3-4 months.
  4. Reduce your sugar intake: sugar is a major cause of cavities. If you eat sweet foods or flavoured drinks on a regular basis, there’s a chance that you could be exceeding your recommended daily sugar intake. Use an app to keep track of what you eat and always read food labels.

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How do you Take Care of a Broken Tooth?

Monday, May 15th, 2017

If you have a broken tooth, don’t despair! We have a range of treatment options available to restore your tooth and put a smile back on your face.

What causes broken teeth?

Your teeth are incredibly strong, but they’re not unbreakable. General wear and tear, accidents and injuries can all take their toll. You may also find that your teeth are more susceptible to damage if you have weak teeth as a result of poor oral hygiene or you’ve sustained dental injuries in the past.

Mending broken teeth

If you think you might have broken a tooth or you’ve started experiencing increased sensitivity or dental pain, give us a call and we will arrange an appointment for you as soon as possible. When you come and see us, your dentist will examine your mouth, and they may do an X-ray if they suspect that the tooth is fractured.

If the tooth is chipped, we can often repair it with a filling or a procedure called composite bonding. Bonding uses dental composite, a tooth-coloured material, to patch up and reshape the teeth. The process takes an hour, there’s no pain involved, no injections and no drilling, and your smile will look perfect again.

If the tooth is broken, we may recommend fitting a new crown. Crowns are restorations, which are used to strengthen the teeth when they are either damaged or decayed. A crown is also known as a cap because it is placed over the top of the tooth. Before you have a crown, your tooth will be prepared; this involves removing any decayed tissue and shaping the tooth ready for crowning. We will create a mould of the tooth, and this will be used to create your bespoke crown. We can make crowns from precious metals or ceramics. Ceramic crowns are very popular because they provide very natural looking aesthetics.

If you’ve got a broken tooth, call us today and we’ll have you on the mend in no time!

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Five Tooth Friendly Foods

Monday, April 24th, 2017

It’s common to hear dentists talking about foods that are bad for your teeth, but what about the foods that are super for your smile? If you’re hoping to improve your diet, here are 5 tooth-friendly foods:

  1. Cheese: cheese is often one of the first things to be sacrificed when you go on a diet to lose weight, but it’s really good for your teeth. Cheese is rich in calcium, which is essential for healthy bones and teeth, and it’s also alkaline, which helps to reduce acidity in the mouth.
  2. Yoghurt: yoghurt is another great source of calcium, and it’s a much healthier dessert option than cakes, biscuits or chocolate bars. If you are eating yoghurt, make sure you go for natural yoghurt, rather than sweetened, flavoured versions, which are filled with sugar. If you’re keen to liven up your pudding, add a spoonful of honey, a chopped banana or some fresh blueberries or raspberries.
  3. Leafy green vegetables: leafy green vegetables offer a host of health benefits. They contain calcium, which is great news for your teeth, and they’re rich in fibre and sugar-free.
  4. Raw carrots: if you’re in need of a healthy snack, which will benefit your teeth and gums, look no further than raw vegetables like carrots. These foods contain barely any sugar and the chewing motion increases the production of saliva, which reduces acidity in the mouth, and also gives your mouth a good clean.
  5. Eggs: eggs are a really versatile food, which are packed with protein. They also contain phosphorous, which is good for your enamel.

If you need more healthy eating tips, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist.

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What to Do if You Break a Tooth

Wednesday, April 19th, 2017

If you break a tooth, don’t panic! There may be a very simple solution. If you have a fractured tooth, you may need a new crown or a filling, but often, we can repair minor damage with dental bonding.

What is dental bonding?

Dental bonding is a cosmetic treatment, which also has restorative benefits. It can be used to improve the aesthetic of misshapen and worn teeth and to repair chipped teeth. You may also come across the terms cosmetic, aesthetic or composite bonding when dentists are talking about dental bonding.

To carry out the procedure, your dentist will use a material called dental composite to patch up chips and jagged edges. Composite has a similar consistency to putty at room temperature, and it comes in a range of tooth-coloured shades. Your dentist will choose the shade that is closest to your natural teeth to make sure that it’s impossible to tell the difference between your tooth and the composite.

Your dentist will clean the tooth and then start the bonding process. They will use a small amount of material to carry out the necessary repairs, layering the composite if required. As the composite is soft at this stage, it can be shaped, and this is why this treatment is so versatile. As well as repairing chips, bonding can also be used to fill in gaps between the teeth and alter the shape of the teeth slightly. When the composite is in the desired place, it will be set firm using a curing light. Although composite isn’t quite as strong as natural tooth enamel, it is very robust and durable.

The advantages of dental bonding

Dental bonding is a rapid, painless and affordable solution for chipped teeth. In less than an hour, we can restore your smile and make you feel more confident, and you don’t need to worry about injections or pain.

To find out more, call us now or fill in an online inquiry form.

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Top Five Biggest Risks for Your Teeth

Friday, February 3rd, 2017

Your teeth are made of sturdy stuff, but they’re not immune to disease, infection or damage. If you want to enjoy a bright and healthy smile for years to come, it’s important to take good care of your teeth and minimise the risk of dental problems. Here are five of the biggest risks for your teeth to bear in mind:

  1. Smoking: Smoking is harmful for almost every part of your body. Smoking stains the teeth and increases the risk of gum disease. It’s also the most significant risk factor for mouth cancer.
  2. Sugar: We all enjoy a sweet treat now and again, but excessive sugar consumption is one of the biggest threats to dental health today. When you eat sugary foods, bacteria feed, and this results in them producing harmful acids, which erode the tooth enamel. This puts you at risk of cavities, dental injuries, infections and gum disease.
  3. Snacking: You may think the most important consideration when it comes to your diet and dental health is the amount of sugar you eat, but the frequency with which you eat is actually even more important. This is because your enamel becomes weak when you eat. At this point it is vulnerable, and it takes time to recover. If you’re snacking all the time, your enamel never has a chance to recover, and there’s an elevated risk of cavities and sensitivity. If you are hungry between meals, stick to sugar-free snacks.
  4. Poor dental hygiene: If you neglect oral hygiene, you have a much higher risk of developing gum disease and dental decay. Every morning and night, devoting just two minutes to oral care will stand you in good stead to enjoy a healthy, attractive smile for the foreseeable future. We recommend using fluoride toothpaste, and setting an alarm to make sure you brush for long enough.
  5. Missing dental appointments: Research suggests that if you attend regular dental appointments, you can reduce your risk of developing cavities and gum disease by up to 60 percent. If you haven’t been to the dentist in the last 12 months, we strongly recommend booking a check-up. Call us today, and we’ll arrange an appointment for you.

If you have questions about oral health or you’d like some pointers, our dental team will be happy to help.

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The Decay Detectors: How We Spot Problems Before They Take Root

Friday, January 20th, 2017

When it comes to dental decay, time is of the essence. The sooner we are able to spot and treat signs of decay, the lower the risk of serious damage. We take the role of preventing dental issues very seriously, and we use the latest technology and techniques to identify early warning signs long before symptoms become apparent.

Spotting the signs of decay

It can take time for symptoms of tooth decay to become noticeable, and this is why regular routine appointments are so important. Our dentists are trained to identify very early warning signs, and this enables them to act quickly. They can nip problems in the bud, long before they start to cause you issues.

During a routine check-up, we use powerful lighting and magnification techniques to get the possible view of your teeth and the soft tissue in your mouth. If we spot potential abnormalities, we can then discuss treatment options with you. It can be very difficult to spot tiny holes in the tooth surface, but if you have an expert eye, and the latest technology, this task becomes much easier.

We strongly recommend check-ups every 6-12 months for patients of all ages. However, if you do encounter problems between appointments, or you develop tooth pain, bleeding gums, or sensitivity, please contact us sooner. If you leave symptoms untreated, they’re likely to get worse.

If you’re keen to keep your dental health check, or you’d like to find out more about decay detection, call us and make an appointment today!

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A Step by Step Guide to Root Canal Treatment

Monday, December 19th, 2016

Root canal treatment is a commonly-performed procedure, which is often used as an alternative to extraction. You may be advised to have root canal treatment if you have an infected tooth or you have suffered an injury, which has damaged the pulp tissue.

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure, which is most commonly used when the tooth is infected, and the pulp tissue is affected. The pulp contains the living material of the tooth, including the nerves and blood vessels. If the pulp is damaged or decayed, the tooth will start to die, as the blood supply will be reduced. To prevent losing the tooth, root canal therapy may be recommended.

The actual procedure is relatively straightforward. In many cases, people are very anxious about having this procedure because it tends to have a bad reputation. It’s made out to be an awful process, but actually, it’s a painless and highly effective way of saving a decayed tooth. We carry out root canal treatment under local anaesthetic, so you won’t actually feel any pain during the procedure. Most people leave us wondering why on earth they were so worried beforehand!

What actually happens when you have root canal treatment?

Before your dentist begins, they will explain exactly what is going to happen, and answer any questions. Your tooth will then be numbed using local anaesthetic. Your dentist will drill into the tooth once the effects of the anaesthetic have become apparent. The aim of treatment is to remove the decayed tissue from the root canals and then clean, fill and seal them. The process helps to reduce the risk of decay spreading.

After root canal treatment, we often place a new crown on the tooth. Crowns are restorations, which make the teeth stronger and more resilient.

If you have questions about root canal treatment, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

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You Can Avoid Dental Decay in the New Year

Thursday, December 15th, 2016

At this time of year, many of us start thinking about making resolutions. Perhaps you want to give up smoking or make more an effort to hit your 5 portions of fruit and vegetable a day target. If you’re looking for inspiration, why not make it your aim to improve your dental health? Here are some easy ways to avoid dental decay in 2017.

Brushing tips

Brushing your teeth is a really easy way of preventing decay, but you have to do it right to get the best results. Brush for at least 2 minutes, and make sure you cover every individual tooth. Move the brush right to the back of the mouth to clean your moles, and don’t forget to brush along the gum line. Don’t be too vigorous when you’re cleaning; if you brush too hard, you will damage your enamel. We recommend using fluoride toothpaste; fluoride is a mineral, which helps to strengthen the enamel and reduce the risk of cavities.

Healthy eating

Many cases of dental decay are linked to sugar consumption. Today, we consume more sugar than ever before. Sugary foods increase the risk of decay because they cause bacteria in your mouth to release acids. These acids weaken the enamel. Once the enamel is damaged or worn, there’s a high risk of cavities. Try and avoid eating foods like sweets, chocolate and biscuits on a regular basis. Fizzy drinks are also another common offender. It’s particularly important to avoid sugary and acidic foods and drinks between meals.

Visiting your dentist

If you visit your dentist on a regular basis, you have a much lower risk of developing decay and gum disease. Dentists are trained to spot the early warning signs of decay, and they can act to make the situation better. Placing a filling, for example can help to prevent an infection spreading throughout the tooth. We recommend regular check-ups every 6-12 months. If you have toothache, or you’ve started to experience severe sensitivity, arrange an appointment as soon as you can.

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  • > 2007 Best Young Dentist Dr Marius McGovern