When your wisdom teeth emerge, it can be painful. On the other hand, there are plenty of people who do not feel any pain whatsoever! So why does wisdom tooth pain only affect certain people? What causes the pain? If your dentist says you need your wisdom teeth extracted, what can you expect?

Our wisdom teeth are the last of our adult teeth to emerge and they usually start to come through in our early to mid-twenties. They are large molars that are positioned at the back of the mouth, at both the top and the bottom. Therefore, you could have up to four wisdom teeth emerging.

Many people do not experience problems with their wisdom teeth because they do not emerge. However, other people do experience dental problems because their wisdom teeth try to emerge into a mouth that is already crowded with teeth. Under these circumstances, the wisdom teeth can become impacted, which means that they cannot grow out fully as the other teeth block them. Of course, this can also cause problems with the existing teeth, as the wisdom teeth push up from below and try to force their way through.

When wisdom teeth become impacted, they make the jaw feel swollen and tender; to ache; and to be painful to the touch. It can be painful to eat and drink, while on occasions the damaged wisdom tooth can also become infected. If you visit your dentist regularly, they will monitor the growth of your wisdom teeth over a period of time by taking x-rays. Therefore, any corrective treatment can be completed before the pain is noticeable.

 

If you do not visit your dentist regularly, you may only become aware of your wisdom teeth because of the pain they cause. Once the cause of the problem has been identified, your dentist may be able to remove the wisdom teeth. In complex cases, your dentist may instead choose to refer you to a dental surgeon.

Wisdom teeth extractions can be done in your dental practice (rather than in surgery), your dentist should be able to extract the tooth under a local anaesthetic.

Surgery is required because the impacted wisdom tooth is still trapped below the gum line. Therefore, the dental surgeon will need to cut through and lift away the gum, and in some cases cut away some of the jawbone to reach and remove the tooth.

Most wisdom tooth extractions are performed in a single day. If the surgery is performed under general anaesthetic or sedation, it is important that you have a friend or relative there with you. They will need to drive you home after the operation and to remain with you for 24 hours, as you will remain tired and disorientated for a period of time afterwards.

Wisdom teeth removals are very common and a routine procedure. After the operation, however, you may still feel some pain in your jaw and there may be some bruising. Over the counter painkillers from your local pharmacy are the best way to treat this and the bruising should disappear gradually over the next fortnight.

Having a wisdom tooth removed can also affect your ability to eat certain foods directly after the operation. You must be careful not to damage the stitches in your gum. Therefore, your dentist will probably recommend that you stick to softer foods and liquids for the first couple of days. You must also minimize the risk of the operation area becoming infected – therefore, smoking and drinking alcohol are also inadvisable.

Maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene is vital to ensuring that the extraction area does not become infected. You must continue to brush your teeth as normal, although for the first few days you need to avoid directly brushing the site where the wisdom tooth was removed. Your dentist may recommend using a mouthwash to compensate for this, which will help to keep your mouth clean without being as abrasive as brushing.

Wisdom tooth extraction is a very common procedure and serious complications are rare. If your gums continue to bleed or if the pain in your jaw does not subside after a couple of weeks, speak to your doctor. You should also consult your doctor if you feel unwell or have a high temperature.

The problem with teeth is that they are not always perfectly shaped. So sometimes, when you are cleaning them, you do not always manage to reach into every nook and cranny. There always seems to be one spot that you overlook or that your brush just cannot quite get into. A point where your teeth overlap perhaps? Or right at the back, where food always seems to get stuck in a gap between your teeth…

This weak spot is exactly the sort of spot where the bacteria that attacks your teeth can gather. Throughout the day, plaque builds up all over your teeth. It is a sticky film, full of bacteria, that turns into acid when it reacts with the sugary foods you eat.

Normally, plaque is removed fairly easily by brushing our teeth with a good toothpaste. However, what happens to those hard-to-reach spots that our brush cannot get to? In these places, the plaque continues to build up until it hardens into calculus or tartar. This is much, much harder to remove.

Hopefully, we have just built up a picture of why a regular scale and polish from your dentist or oral hygienist is so important. No matter how much you brush, there will always be some plaque that you can’t reach, and you need your dentist to remove. So, if you are not visiting your dentist regularly, this plaque will build up and cause you much more significant problems in the future. These problems can include tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.

To put it simply, dentists are better equipped to remove plaque and stubborn calculus, as they have a number of tools at their disposal. Most people who have visited the dentist for a scale and polish will probably be fairly familiar with them.

First of all, your dentist will probably use an electric scaler to remove the toughest calculus. Sometimes known as an ultrasonic scaler, an electric scaler has a very fine tip that vibrates at high speeds. It also emits a jet of water. Together, the electric scaler and water jet scrape away the calculus and clean away the debris lodged between the teeth.

Secondly, your dentist will also have a set of hand instruments which can be used to reach the more awkward spots around the teeth. The hand scalers are all different shapes and sizes, so they allow the dentist to clean the plaque from your teeth in fine detail.

The final aspect of the treatment is the polish. Your dentist will use a rotating brush and toothpaste to give your teeth a thorough clean. They will not only look cleaner in the mirror, but your teeth and mouth will also feel much cleaner too. To protect you against decay in the future, your dentist may use a fluoride toothpaste.

If you visit your dentist regularly, your scale and polish treatment will be short and painless as you will be regularly keeping plaque at bay – provided, of course, that you are always brushing and flossing your teeth effectively in between dental appointments. You may even begin to enjoy the treatment, as the final polish can tickle!

However, if you are not getting your teeth scaled and polished regularly, plaque will continue to build up. This will mean that your dentist has to work harder to remove it and the scaling can become uncomfortable. If calculus is allowed to build up around your gums and the roots of your teeth, this can require much more in-depth cleaning. It can be particularly uncomfortable and may require an anaesthetic, especially if your gums are already sensitive or suffering from gum disease.

You can find out more about the preventative steps that you can take to minimize plaque by talking to your dentist. Most dentists agree that some of the most effective dental work is usually done by the patient at home, in between appointments. So, if you want to keep plaque at bay, consult your dentist about brushing techniques. They will be happy to demonstrate the right approach to you and discuss which type of brush will suit your teeth the best.

From time to time, we all find that our teeth can feel a little bit sensitive. It could be a certain type of food that causes it. Alternatively, it could be something that requires more significant treatment, such as a cracked tooth. One of the issues for dentists is that sensitive teeth can have lots of different causes, so identifying and treating the problem is often a different process for each patient.

 

Because there are so many factors which can cause sensitive teeth, it is one of the most common reasons for visiting a dentist. When we talk about our teeth being ‘sensitive’, we are normally using it to describe a sharp, temporary pain that occurs when our teeth are exposed to a particular extreme. For some patients, it can be cold drinks or ice-cream that causes the pain. Even a cold day might make your teeth ache. For other patients, it can be the other extreme which causes the pain: so hot drinks and soups often need to be avoided.

 

Of course, avoiding the triggers for sensitive teeth is one way to manage the condition. But it can make life much easier if you can identify and treat the underlying cause of your sensitive teeth. A consultation with your dentist will help to begin this process. Your dentist will want to know which teeth are causing the pain and what sort of a pain it is. Is it a short, stabbing pain? Does it extend to your jaw, face, or neck? Do you particularly notice pain in the morning or after you have eaten a certain type of food? It can be helpful if you can think about how, you might answer these sorts of questions in advance of your consultation.

 

Your dentist will be able to look beyond the symptoms of your sensitive teeth and discover the underlying causes. Usually, sensitive teeth are a result of the enamel being worn away from the tooth so that the dentin is exposed. There can be a number of reasons why this might happen. If you have gum disease and your gums are receding, the roots of the tooth can become exposed. The roots do not have enamel to protect them, so this creates a sensitive area that responds with pain to heat or cold.

 

In some patients, tooth damage is caused, and the enamel worn away because they grind their teeth in their sleep. This is a condition known as bruxism. If you do grind your teeth, you may notice that your jaw aches and your teeth are particularly sensitive when you wake up in the mornings.

 

Alternatively, a cracked tooth can also be sensitive, as the crack in the tooth exposes the dentin. Dentin can also be exposed simply by brushing your teeth too vigorously. Brushing your teeth too hard can damage the gums and cause theirs to recede, once again exposing the root of the tooth and causing sensitivity.

 

Many people with sensitive teeth will switch to a toothpaste which is specifically formulated to reduce sensitivity. This can help, if your sensitive teeth are merely a reaction to hot and cold food and drink. However, it will not necessarily make much difference if your tooth is sensitive because it is cracked, damaged or because the gums have receded. This is why it is so important to talk to your dentist.

 

For example, if the sensitivity in your teeth is caused by tooth grinding, your dentist may recommend that you wear a mouth guard while you sleep. Alternatively, if your tooth is cracked, it could be bonded. Or what if you are simply brushing your teeth too hard? Your dentist will be able to demonstrate how to brush them properly and may also recommend a different type of toothbrush. Perhaps an electric toothbrush would be more suitable for you.

 

Finally, it is also important that you discuss in detail any further tooth treatments you may be considering. Sometimes, tooth whitening treatments can cause your teeth to become more sensitive. If you have recently had your teeth whitened, your dentist should recommend a desensitizing or remineralising gel which will help your teeth to recover after the treatment.

Toothache can make life a misery. Whether it is a constant throbbing pain or a sharp, sudden stab when we eat or drink, it usually indicates that one of our teeth is not as healthy as it should be. A visit to the dentist beckons.

Many people try to delay their visits to the dentist for as long as possible. But this is a mistake and a quick look at what causes toothache shows us why.

Our teeth are protected by a hard outer surface, called enamel, and a tough inner wall, called dentin. At the same time, however, these tough defenses are constantly under attack. They come under attack from plaque, which builds up on our teeth and reacts with sugary foods to create acid. This acid then erodes the enamel on our teeth, leading to decay.

Decay is the major source of toothache. If plaque is not regularly removed from the teeth, the acid it produces causes cavities to form in the teeth which grow bigger and bigger. Eventually, those cavities reach the inner pulp of the tooth which then becomes exposed and infected.

Therefore, it is important that you visit your dentist regularly for two reasons. Firstly, your dentist can ensure that plaque is not building up on your teeth. Secondly, your dentist can spot cavities early and fill them before they become a serious problem.

As with most other dental issues if you ignore something it will not go away. A small cavity grows into a bigger cavity. From here, the pulp which contains the nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive becomes infected. If this infection is not treated, it can form an abscess which causes the gum and cheek to swell up.

What can you try to do to prevent toothache? Your first step must be to try and stop plaque from building up on your teeth. The best way to remove plaque is by regular brushing. You should brush your teeth twice every day. Most dentists will also recommend that you floss regularly too. Flossing helps to get rid of the food and other debris that builds up in between your teeth where your brush does not necessarily reach.

Secondly, you should try to avoid sugary snack and drinks. These are the kinds of foods that react with the plaque on your teeth to cause acid. It is this acid that erodes the enamel and causes tooth decay. Therefore, by avoiding sugary snacks and drinks, you can help to avoid the formation of tooth cavities.

While cavities can take a long time to develop, you will not necessarily experience any pain from a small cavity. Only your dentist may notice these. Therefore, the decay can be eating away at your tooth for a long time before the toothache arrives suddenly and without much warning. You should make an appointment to visit your dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, over-the-counter painkillers may help to ease the discomfort.

Most cases of decay and toothache can be caught early enough and remedied with a simple cavity filling. Your dentist will identify the hole in the tooth, which is causing the pain, clear away the decay and fill the hole with a tough, durable material.

On occasions, if the plaque has eaten away a significant proportion of the tooth, it may have become cracked, split or fractured. If this happens and the structure of the tooth is affected, a filling may not be possible. However, your dentist may still be able to save the tooth by fitting a crown.

As the decay progresses, the pain becomes even more intense, and the treatment required becomes more complex and costly. Once the pulp becomes infected and an abscess forms, root canal treatment is required. When the dentist clears out the infected pulp, the tooth’s links to the blood and nervous systems have been lost. The tooth, therefore, is essentially dead.

Often, pain is a warning sign from our body that we need to have something fixed. This is very much the case with toothache. However, as you can see, it is important that you do not wait until have toothache before visiting your dentist. The best approach to looking after your teeth is to be proactive; visit your dentist regularly and keep your teeth in tip-top condition. If you look after your teeth in the right way, decay should not be a problem.

Teething can be an uncomfortable time for some babies. As the teeth begin to emerge, they can cause the gums to become swollen and sore. This can lead to other problems such as irritability, an inability to sleep and an unwillingness to eat food because of the pain.

Of course, teething can also be a difficult time for the parents too. Once those teeth start to appear, some babies want to bite down on everything they can get hold of – including mum and dad’s fingers a lot of the time!

As well as behavior such as biting, it can simply be difficult for parents because they find it hard to soothe their baby’s hurting gums. Every baby teeths at a different time and it lasts for different periods. So, there is no manual you can consult to make everything run smoothly!

Most babies develop their first teeth between the ages of four and seven months old. However, your child may not have a complete set of teeth until they reach the age of three. During this time, the bottom middle teeth usually appear first, followed by the upper middle teeth, then the teeth along the sides of the mouth and the back.

The difficulty for parents often comes with knowing when your baby is upset because they are teething and when they may be exhibiting symptoms of something else. Teething has been known to cause a diverse range of symptoms such as rashes and fevers, which can of course be symptoms of other sorts of infections. So, if you are unsure whether your baby is showing symptoms of teething or not, you should consult your doctor for peace of mind.

As we mentioned, babies teeth at different times – there is no set schedule. Some parents find that their child develops their teeth late. Usually, your baby will have a 12-month check-up so that your GP can evaluate their all-round health. If teeth have not begun to appear by this time, you should raise the issue with your GP at this point and ask for their opinion.

For parents, the task during teething is twofold. Firstly, you need to be able to comfort your child and find ways to relieve the discomfort when it is at its worst. Secondly, you need to ensure that you child is getting into good oral hygiene habits early in life. Until they are old enough to brush their teeth themselves, you will ensure that your child’s teeth and gums keep healthy and are well looked-after.

So, let’s begin with the first stage: comforting your child and relieving the discomfort. Some babies find it helps to have something to chew on and there are lots of teething toys available that are safe. Cooling foodstuffs, like yoghurt, can sometimes help too.

If the discomfort for your child is severe, your doctor may recommend using a pain relief gel which can be rubbed directly onto the gums. This should only be used in very small quantities. Some children, however, respond to having their gums rubbed and massaged even without the pain relief gel.

Once the teeth have arrived, you need to look after them. For the first year, brushing teeth is not necessary. However, the gums and mouth still need to be kept clean – this should be done by wiping them after meals with a soft damp cloth.

By the time your child reaches 18 months old, he or she should have a few teeth and be ready to start learning how to brush them. It will be awkward, and the first attempts will probably be quite clumsy. Your dentist will probably recommend using a soft brush and a small amount of toothpaste. When your child is this young, it is not recommended to use a fluoride-based toothpaste. Too much fluoride can lead to fluorosis.

As well as teaching your child how to brush their teeth, you should also ensure that you are taking care of their diet to encourage good oral health. As much as possible, you should avoid giving them too many sugary foods or drinks, as these can rot the teeth. You should also ensure that your baby is not allowed to take a bottle of milk to bed. Milk contains sugars which can rot the teeth – so drinking milk right before sleeping means that these sugars have all night to attack the newly emerged teeth.

What role can mouthwashes play in your oral hygiene program? The majority of dentists and oral hygienists view mouthwashes as an ‘added extra’. This means that using a mouthwash may help to keep your breath fresh and to remove food debris. However, a mouthwash is not a necessary part of your daily regimen. It should be sufficient to clean and floss your teeth if you want to keep them healthy.

However, many of us enjoy using a mouthwash, especially in the morning. It freshens our mouths, freshens our breath, and wakes us up. But are there really any dental benefits to mouthwashes? There are so many products on the market, with such variations in cost, how do you know what works and what does not? It is not easy.

 

Various different types of mouthwash make various different claims. Some claim to freshen your breath. Some claim to fight bacteria. Some claim to stop plaque from building up. So how effective are they? And how do you choose the product that is right for you?

Broadly speaking, there are three types of mouthwash. The first group could be called cosmetic mouthwashes and they are designed purely to combat bad breath. They may freshen your mouth, mask stale odors, and make your teeth feel clean, but they rarely have the power to combat bacteria or plaque. Therefore, they do not protect your teeth against decay.

The second types of mouthwash available are antiseptic mouthwashes. These are mouthwashes that claim to do more than simply mask bad breath. They actively fight plaque and protect your teeth against decay. Most dentists will agree that these kinds of mouthwashes work to varying degrees – some research has shown that mouthwash can reduce plaque by up to 25%. However, this kind of mouthwash should never be used as a substitute for proper brushing and flossing of your teeth.

Finally, fluoride mouthwashes are also available for people who are particularly susceptible to tooth decay. Most of us get the fluoride we need from drinking water and fluoride toothpastes. Therefore, you should never add extra fluoride supplements to your oral health regimen without consulting your dentist first.

Before settling on your choice of mouthwash, therefore, you should consider what exactly you require. Your dental practice may sell a particular brand which it endorses, so it is definitely worth asking your dentist what their professional opinion is.

One other issue to be aware of is that many mouthwashes contain alcohol. This is a controversial issue for two reasons. The first is that many mouthwashes are manufactured in bright colors, with flavors which mask the antiseptic and alcohol in them. People argue that this makes them more appealing to children and toddlers who may want to try and drink them. Of course, the alcohol content makes these mouthwashes particularly dangerous for children and they must be kept out of reach. Alternatively, many parents simply choose not to use mouthwashes which contain alcohol as they put the health of their children first.

The second controversial issue about alcohol in mouthwash is that some research has suggested that it can be a contributing cause to mouth cancer. Some mouthwash can contain as much as 25% alcohol and as recently as January 2009, The Telegraph newspaper was reporting on recent research which concluded that the increased possibility of cancer after using certain types of mouthwashes was four or fivefold. It is this kind of research that leads most dentists to reiterate that, if you do not wish to use mouthwash, you should not need to. Brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist should be adequate protection.

Increasing, there are more and more alcohol-free mouthwashes on the market which do not have the association with mouth cancer. But it is still important to remember that you need to think carefully about why you want to use mouthwash. If you are using a mouthwash to combat halitosis or mouth ulcers, for example, the mouthwash could simply be masking a more serious, underlying problem. Therefore, it is essential that you also consult your dentist to ensure that there are no other health issues affecting to your oral hygiene.

Most of us get mouth ulcers from time to time. They are those painful sores that can appear on the inside of the cheeks, lips and gums that look a little bit like blisters or heat lumps. They are often also called cankers.

Receding gums can be caused by a number of reasons. But one of the biggest problems is that it is actually quite a difficult condition to spot. If the gums are receding very slowly, it is always difficult to identify very gradual erosion. By then, it could be too late to take the necessary steps to slow it down.

Gum recession is most common in people over the age of 40. However, you could probably amend that to say that it is identified most often when people are in their Forties. In many cases, the gums have begun to recede very slowly before that so there were probably several opportunities for them to be diagnosed and for treatment to start.

So, what causes your gums to recede? In the first instance, it can be something as simple as brushing your teeth too hard. We all want to get our teeth as clean as possible, but it is important that you clean your teeth in the right way. Your dentist can explain the right approach to oral hygiene and demonstrate brushing techniques that can ensure that your gums are not damaged. They will also be able to recommend an appropriate toothbrush.

A more serious cause of receding gums is gum disease. If plaque and bacteria are allowed to build up on your teeth, then the bacteria can attack the gums and become embedded into gaps between the gums and the roots of the teeth. Advanced gum disease will need to be treated by a dentist. In the majority of cases, it involves a deep clean of your teeth which includes clearing out the hardened plaque from between the gums and around the roots of the teeth. It requires a local anaesthetic as it can be painful.

The third most common reason for gum recession is orthodontic treatment. When teeth are moved into a better position through an orthodontic treatment, it can often result in the roots of the teeth becoming more prominent. So as the tops of the teeth move to become straighter and to refine the bite and smile, the roots of the teeth can be pushed in the other direction and appear more visible above the gum line.

In cases of serious gum recession, either caused by gum disease or by orthodontic treatment, the only solution may be surgery. Gingival grafting is a treatment that involves grafts from either neighboring gums or the roof of the mouth onto the affected areas. The surgical procedure is usually performed by a specialist periodontist rather than a dentist and the patient will require a local anaesthetic. Your new gums will usually be healed within the space of about a month. In some cases, once the gums have healed the periodontist may be required to perform some additional shaping to ensure that the gum grafts look as natural as possible.

If you are concerned about your gums receding, there are a number of symptoms that you can watch out for. Of course, you should keep an eye on your gums, but it can be difficult to tell whether they are receding or not unless you have a professional eye. However, if you find that your teeth are becoming more sensitive, this can be an indication that more of your tooth is becoming exposed as the gums recede.

You may also notice a change in the color of some of your teeth. As the gums recede, the lower part of the tooth which becomes exposed may be whiter than the original crown of the tooth.

It is important that you take responsibility for the health of your own teeth. However, one of the most important things you can do is regularly visit your dentist. As a professional, you dentist will be able to spot whether plaque is building up on your teeth and causing gum disease. They will also be able to identify whether you have cavities below the gum line, which is another indication that gum disease is causing your gums to recede.

Regular visits to your dentist should mean that problems are spotted early and dealt with accordingly. If this happens, then you should be able to maintain healthy gums and healthy teeth for a long time beyond your Forties.

If you visit your local pharmacy or supermarket, you’ll find that there are usually a plethora of electric toothbrushes on display. There are toothbrushes that claim to be ‘ultra-sonic’, toothbrushes with brushes that move in different directions, from side to side, clockwise, anti-clockwise or which oscillate. The question is, are they any good?

 

Some electric toothbrushes can be very expensive. So if you are a customer, how do you know that you are getting value for money? How do you know that you are choosing the most appropriate kind of brush? And can you be sure that it is actually doing your teeth any more good than an everyday, run-of-the-mill, hand-powered toothbrush?

 

The most recent research was produced in collaboration between the Universities of Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Sheffield. This research concluded that, despite the wide variety of electric toothbrushes currently on the market, there was only one type which consistently produced better results than its hand-powered rival.

 

The most successful brush was the rotation-oscillation brush. The rotation-oscillation brush has a round head which spins back and forth in short bursts, rather than simply continuing in the same motion at the same pace.

 

So do we now conclude that electric toothbrushes are waste of our time? As with all research, you have to be careful about the conclusions you choose to draw. While electric toothbrushes may not necessarily be better than a traditional toothbrush, it is certainly no worse. Plus, for a lot of people, the electric toothbrush is also a lot easier and a lot more fun to use.

 

In spite of this sort of research, many people still prefer to use and electronic toothbrush and continue to buy them. One aspect of this is that we all love gadgets. From our mobile phones to our electric toothbrushes, from our iPods to our flatscreen TVs, everyone loves a gadget.

Of course, like all gadgets, electric toothbrushes vary widely in price. A top of the range brand can comfortably cost over 1500 Egyptian Pounds. However, you do not necessarily need to spend that much. But as long as you know the amount you want to spend, you can find good deals on electric toothbrushes. And like lots of the other gadgets in our lives, while they may start out as a luxury purchase, they quickly become your preferred choice.

On a more serious note, many people use electronic toothbrushes because they find them easier. They can be very helpful for disabled people or people with restricted movement. People with arthritis can also find electric toothbrushes very useful, as they do not need to grip them too tightly or brush too hard. Similarly, carers who brush the teeth of people in their care can find electric toothbrushes much easier to use than a traditional toothbrush.

The most important aspect of using an electric toothbrush is to remember that there are no short cuts. An electric toothbrush may mean that it is less effort to clean your teeth, but that does not mean that you should take less care. Your electric toothbrush may look good and feel great, but it will not do the job for you!

It is vital that you maintain a good routine and an effective program of oral hygiene. Whether you use an electric toothbrush or a conventional one, you should brush your teeth for twice each day. An electric toothbrush will not make brushing your teeth any faster either; try to spend at least two to three minutes cleaning your teeth so that every surface is covered and cleaned.

An electric toothbrush should make it easier for you to reach your back teeth and to ensure that they are cleaned effectively. It simply takes patience and care. You should also continue with other areas of your oral health routine, such as flossing and using mouthwash.

Using an electric toothbrush can make life easier for many people and many people enjoy the experience. But it is important to remember that an electronic toothbrush is no substitute for looking after your teeth – it’s another tool that can help you do so.

What causes mouth ulcers?

There is no definite answer to what causes mouth ulcers. What we can all agree on however is that they can be very painful. The inside of the mouth is one of the most sensitive and tender areas of the body. Mouth ulcers constantly seem to catch on our teeth, become inflamed when we eat and irritated when we drink. They often appear in clusters too, which makes things even worse.

Chronic Ulcers

For some people – perhaps as many as one in five of us – mouth ulcers are not just a one-off that causes us discomfort every now and again. They are a constant worry and a chronic, recurring problem. For chronic sufferers, mouth ulcers return on a regular basis, stay for longer and can often be much larger than usual. The worse cases can involve people having more than ten ulcers in their mouth at a time.

Sounds unpleasant, doesn’t it? Well, it most certainly is. For chronic sufferers of mouth ulcers, life can become difficult during an attack. It can become very difficult to eat, drink and even talk. It makes every day a torment and a trial, whether you are trying to talk to business contact on the phone or eat a pizza in a restaurant. It can make people depressed, anti-social and irritable.

There is no medical consensus on what causes mouth ulcers. However, most doctors agree that they are not contagious. The most likely is that they are an allergic reaction or that it is our auto-immune system over-reacting. On other occasions, they can simply be caused by damage to the inside of the mouth. As it is so tender, even brushing too hard may be enough to harm the cheek or gums.

Treating mouth ulcers

As there is no real understanding of what causes mouth ulcers, there is no defined approach about how to treat them. Ultimately, however, you just have to tough it out. If ulcers are very painful, most people will try gargling with soluble aspirin or rinsing your mouth with iced water. You should also try to avoid eating anything which might unnecessarily inflame your ulcers – hot, spicy foods and hot drinks will probably fall into this category for most of us.

There are also a number of over-the-counter treatments for mouth ulcers. While there are different brand names, the majority take the same approach which is a gel containing analgesic. You may have to try a few until you find a brand that works for you.

If treating them is not a great success, how about preventing them. Is there anything that you can do to prevent mouth ulcers? Most doctors will recommend eating a healthy diet that gives your body an abundance of vitamins and minerals. This will usually include lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Taking vitamin supplements may also help while some sufferers recommend natural live yoghurts and pro-biotic products.

You must also make sure that you maintain a good oral hygiene and health programme. For a start, you must make sure that you are not using any products that irritate your mouth. Use a softer toothbrush and try and find a toothpaste that is less abrasive. Similarly, you may find that an alcohol-free mouthwash is the best choice (or no mouthwash at all). Make sure that you visit your dentist regularly, so that you dentist can help to remove plaque and debris from your teeth. This will stop the build-up of bacteria that can damage your gums.

Finally, if you do suffer from mouth ulcers on a regular basis, it is important that you consult your doctor rather than suffering in silence. There are a number of conditions of which mouth ulcers can be a symptom. These include immuno-deficiency diseases and mouth cancers, so you should always seek a professional opinion and advice from your doctor or your dentist.

It goes without saying that root canal treatment has got a bad reputation. It has become widely thought of as one of the most painful types of dental treatments that a patient can go through. The very phrase can strike fear into many people, and it is not unheard of for patients to ask to have their tooth removed rather than face root canal treatment. So, is it really as bad as people say? Let us take a look at exactly what the treatment involves.

Root canal treatment is also called endodontics. Root canal treatment is required when tooth decay has broken through the outer enamel and dentin layers and infected the heart of the tooth.

The aim of your dentist should always be to try and save your natural teeth and avoid extractions. The reason for this is because removing natural teeth leaves gaps which can cause the other teeth to compensate. It can therefore affect your bite and cause a host of other affiliated problems as a result.

But what happens when a tooth has become infected right in the center? Surely there is no avoiding an extraction, as the pulp is infected. Essentially, this means that the nerves at the heart of the tooth are slowing dying. Not to mention the fact that you will probably also be experiencing great pain.

Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that most people just want a quick fix – extraction!  However, while extraction may remove the offending tooth, it is not the best option in the long term. Therefore, the majority of dentists will prefer to try root canal surgery first. This way, the infection can be cleared, and the tooth can be kept in place.

What does the procedure involve? The inner part of your tooth, which contains nerve endings and blood vessels, is called the pulp. A passageway connects the pulp to the jawbone and the rest of the body, and this passageway is called the root canal. When the pulp becomes infected, the danger is that the infection can travel down the root canal and form an abscess. This can be extremely painful.

Root canal treatment is performed with the patient under local anaesthetic. In the past it needed multiple visits but with modern technology it can be done in a single session. First of all, your dentist will drill down into the top of the tooth until the root is reached. The infection and decay are then scraped out until the tooth is clean. Of course, this cannot be down without also removing the pulp.

If there is only a small amount of infected matter and the structure of the tooth remains sound, your dentist may be able to simply seal up the cavity with a filling. In many cases, however, the tooth will be too decayed at this point for a standard cavity filling to seal the tooth adequately.

 

If this is the case, the dentist will normally pack the tooth with a substance named gutta percha. Gutta Percha is a latex derivative that fills the gap in the tooth where the pulp has been removed. As the pulp has gone, the tooth no longer has any connection to the bodies blood supply via the root canal. Therefore, the tooth is effectively dead.

This means that, even though the dead tooth can remain in place and continue to function, it is more vulnerable to being knocked out and damaged than  your healthy teeth. Your dentist must therefore perform one final stage of the root canal treatment – the tooth requires a crown. The crown will help to seal the whole of the tooth, so that no it will not continue to decay any further. It will also help to protect it, so that it will continue to stay in place in the future.

Hopefully, that has provided a more reassuring overview of root canal treatment. In modern dentistry, it is very much a routine procedure that is performed by the majority of dental practitioners. What is more, the myth about root canal treatment being painful is not true. As it is performed under local anaesthetic, you should feel no more discomfort than when you have a standard filling.

Some people look at themselves in the mirror and cannot see beyond their smile. After all, your smile is one of your most important attributes. It makes your attractive to other people, warm, welcoming, and friendly. Your smile can open a conversation as well as close a business deal. It can make people feel comfortable around, respond to you and get to know you.

So, when there is something, you are not happy about with your smile, it is sometimes not so easy just to ignore it. It can affect your confidence and your self-esteem and, if you do not smile so freely, it can take longer for people to warm to you.

For these reasons, cosmetic dentistry is becoming increasingly popular. Many of the techniques being introduced into the UK have been practiced successfully in the United States for many years. Now, as more and more people in the UK begin to recognize how important their smile is, more and more dentists are offering cosmetic treatments to a wider range of patients.

One issue that many people have with the quality of their smile is that they are too ‘gummy’. Gummy? Yes, that is the technical word for it. Some people just show a lot of gum when they smile. It is not due to any medical condition and nor is it detrimental to the long-term health of your teeth or gums. The sole reason for having treatment for a gummy smile is for cosmetic improvement.

If you mention the phrase ‘cosmetic dental work’ to most people, they immediately start to think of Hollywood, celebrities, and very expensive treatments that people who live in the real world cannot afford. But let us just hold on a minute. Not all cosmetic improvements have to cost a small fortune and a gummy smile is one of those cases where an improvement can be made at a much more affordable cost.

The most popular treatment for a gummy smile is called gum contouring. Your dentist will use a special laser to trim and shape your gums into the perfect smile. It is a fairly straightforward process done under local anaesthetic. It has also made much easier by the fact that the laser naturally seals up the wounds it makes as the gums are cut away. Therefore, there is no need for any messy stitches which increase the healing time.

Gum contouring is really only suitable for cases where the gums need to be trimmed and shaped lightly. In cases where the cosmetic work needs to produce a greater effect, a different surgical procedure may be required. This is a procedure known as crown lengthening, during which the gums are re-shaped, the cut away from the tooth and replaced in the optimum position. Stitches will be required to hold the gums into their new positions, so the healing time is longer for this procedure.

For many patients interested in improving the aesthetics of their smile, gum contouring is only one part of the solution. As a treatment, it often forms part of a broader plan. This plan may, for example, also include orthodontic work to straighten a crooked smile. Alternatively, it may also include veneers or whitening to make your teeth gleam – after all, now the gums have been trimmed then the focus really will be on your pearly whites!

First things first, let us start with the bad news. The fact is that most of us have gum disease. A lot of people look surprised when their dentist tells them that. However, gum disease is usually caused by the build-up of plaque and plaque, unfortunately, builds up at a constant rate. So, to some extent, gum disease – even in a fairly mild form – is inevitable.

 

The second part of the bad news is that gum disease, as well as being inevitable, is also incurable. Most of us suffer from gum disease and, as we grow older, it is more than likely going to get worse. In fact, gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. That means it is even more dangerous to the health of our teeth than tooth decay.

So far, then, it is not a pretty picture, is it? But the truth of the matter is that, if we want to keep our teeth healthy, we cannot ignore gum disease.

There are two types of gum disease. But before we look at those, let us learn a little bit more about plaque. Plaque is essentially the name given to all the debris that gathers on and around our teeth during a normal day. Bits of food get caught in our teeth after meals and if you do not clean them away regularly, these bits of food attract bacteria. It is this bacteria that can lead to decay, halitosis and gingivitis.

Gingivitis is the first form of gum disease. If plaque is allowed to build-up without being removed, it hardens into calculus and this can begin, over time, to irritate your gums. The gums become tender and inflamed, and you may notice some spots of blood on your toothbrush when you clean your teeth.

Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease, and its development can be arrested. If you have the symptoms mentioned above, you should contact your dentist. A thorough scale and polish by a hygienist will help to remove the calculus and stop your gums from being irritated and damaged by bacteria.

If you have gingivitis, it is also important to discuss with your dentist why you may have developed it in the first place. The build-up of plaque is unstoppable, so there will always be some deterioration of your gums. However, regular teeth cleaning and visits to the dentist should be enough to ensure that gum disease does not become a serious issue. Ask your dentist if you are cleaning your teeth correctly. Alternatively, if you are missing check-ups, make sure you are stricter with yourself in the future.

If plaque is allowed to build-up on your teeth unchecked, it can turn into gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated, then it can develop into periodontitis. This is the second form of gum disease and is more serious than gingivitis. It usually means that the gum disease has spread from the gums and attached the bone around the roots of the teeth. In some advanced cases, this may have already caused the teeth to become loose.

The solution to periodontitis is a much deeper clean of your teeth, which is usually done under local anaesthetic. This allows your dentist to clean deeply around the roots of the teeth and into the areas where the gums have receded and allowed plaque to collect. This type of clean can take a couple of appointments to complete effectively. In very advanced cases, your dentist may have to cut and lift the gums away to clean effectively around the base of the teeth, that stitch the gums back into place.

For most people, the issue with gum disease is not whether they have it; it is whether they allow it to accelerate and cause problems with their teeth. As plaque builds up constant, the battle to remove it must also be constant. Always clean your teeth twice every day – remembering to spend time reaching those difficult areas. Never miss an appointment with your dentist, as they will remove plaque that brushing misses. You should also floss in between your teeth regularly to remove trapped food. Other factors, such as smoking, can also accelerate gum disease.

Many people feel paralyzed at the thought of visiting their dentist. It is not simply a case that they are worried about the pain. It is much more than that. Dental phobia can result in anxiety, panic attacks, difficulty breathing, nausea, and fainting. And that is before we have even considered the impact that avoiding your dentist can have on your oral health.

One of the biggest issues surrounding dental phobia is that is can be a very isolating condition. Sufferers feel nervous and embarrassed, especially if their teeth are in poor condition. Very often, they also find it difficult to talk to someone about it, as they worry that people such as doctors and dentists will not appreciate how severe dental phobia can become.

Fortunately, most people who are brave enough to face up to their dental phobia now have a much different experience. Rather than finding that dentists and doctors are unsympathetic or lacking expertise in dealing with the condition, you are far more likely to discover that dental phobias are very common. In fact, thinking about how to treat dental phobic patients is now a standard part of dental training.

What sort of techniques, technologies and approaches can dentists deploy to help treat dental phobic patients? There are a number of tactics that dentists can use, although a great deal will depend on what kind of phobia the patient has. The term ‘dental phobia’ is actually used to describe a wide range of fears that center around the dental experience. For example, some patients are phobic about pain. Other patients can be phobic about being under anaesthetic. Other can have a fear of choking or a fear of the dental drill. All of these types of fears are usually included under the umbrella of ‘dental phobia’.

Therefore, most dentists will usually treat each case on its own merits. What has been acknowledged by the dental profession is that an important element in treating dental phobia patients is how successfully the dentist can build up a relationship of trust with the patient. If this trust can be developed, then that can form the basis for treatment in the future.

If you suffer from dental phobia, your dentist will usually recommend following a process like this. First of all, you should benefit from a consultation. Ideally, this should not include dental work. It should simply be a conversation with your dentist where you can outline your fears and your dentist can begin to work out the best way to treat you.

Once your dentist has a clear understanding of the nature of your condition, it is much easier for them to consider how you could be treated. For some mild cases of dental phobia, it could simply be a case of your dentists altering their ‘chairside manner’. It could be that they can explain treatments to you more fully and take more time to ensure that you are comfortable with what they are about to do. They may even use some simple distraction techniques to enable you to relax more fully during treatment.

 

Many people who avoid visiting their dentist do not realize how much the dental industry has evolved. Dentists now have a broader range of products and treatments at their disposal. Drills are quieter and less intimidating, needles less painful. Dentists themselves are better trained and many dental practices are much warmer, welcoming, patient-friendly places.

Of course, some phobias are deeply ingrained. In these sorts of cases, it could be worth considering more carefully your choice of dentist. There are many practices available nowadays in the UK that specialize in treating dental phobic patients. Their dentists are specially trained, and they use the latest technology to offer a ‘pain free’ approach to dentistry. For example, they may offer to treat you while under light sedation, which many phobic patients find acceptable.

If you are dental phobic, the chances are that you will be avoiding a visit to your dentist. This, in turn, means that your teeth and oral health will be deteriorating. Therefore, it is important that you start rebuilding a relationship of trust with your dentist. If you can be open and honest about your fears, then your dentist will be able to find a way to ensure that you get the treatment you need.

Brushing your teeth is one of those things that should be beautifully simple. I mean, how difficult can it be? You have got the brush. You have got the toothpaste. You have got the teeth. It is as easy as 1,2,3. Isn’t it? Unfortunately, no, it is not. The unpalatable truth is that if you are brushing your teeth wrongly or badly, it can be just as detrimental to your oral health as not brushing them at all.

Really, brushing your teeth well comes down to two things: time and technique. By time, we are talking about the amount of time you spend each day brushing your teeth. Most dentists will recommend that you brush your teeth twice a day. Brushing your teeth less than twice each day will probably mean that you are not removing the trapped food and reducing the build-up of plaque regularly enough. Brushing your teeth more than twice each day can mean that you begin to damage your teeth, especially the hard-wearing outer enamel which is nature’s way of protecting them.

Dentists will also recommend that you should brush your teeth for between two and three minutes at a time. This will give you enough time to give your teeth and gums a thorough clean, ensuring that you use the right brushing techniques to clean right to the back and in between your teeth.

Which brings us neatly onto talking about brushing technique. As we mentioned above, if you brush your teeth too hard, it can damage the enamel and be detrimental to the health of your teeth in the long term. Brushing your teeth hard can also cause your gums to recede and your teeth to loosen.

Therefore, you need to strike a balance when you are brushing your teeth. Not too hard, yet firm enough to remove the plaque and tartar that builds up during any normal day. Experts recommend that, to protect your gums, you should brush your teeth with a downwards motion. So, start at the top near your gums, then brush down, or if you are brushing your bottom teeth, brush up from the bottom. Alternatively, another option is to brush your teeth in a light circular motion.

You will find it is difficult to reach your back teeth using this technique but do your best. It will help you maintain healthy gums in the future.

Of course, brushing your teeth is only part of the picture. There are plenty of other things that you can do at home to ensure that your trips to the dentist are easier. First of all, you should floss regularly. During the day, no matter what we eat or do not eat, we all accumulate trapped food in between our teeth and gums. If this food is not removed, it will cause decay, gum disease and bad breath. Brushing usually removes some of this debris, but flossing is a far more effective way of getting rid of trapped food between your teeth. In short, if you are really serious about looking after your teeth, flossing is a good habit to get into.

Secondly, you should ensure that you are using the right toothbrush and toothpaste. If you pay a visit to the supermarket, it can be a little overwhelming when you look at all the products on sale. Do you need a soft, medium, or hard toothbrush? Should it have a small head or a large head? Does it need a flexible neck or a stiff one? And that is before you have even started looking at the electronic versions…

 

Toothpastes are just the same. There are toothpastes with extra whitening power. Toothpastes with extra freshening power. Toothpastes that harden the enamel. Toothpastes that come in different flavors. Toothpastes that attack plaque. Toothpastes that contain fluoride. Which is the best?

If you are not sure that you are using the toothbrush and toothpaste that are right for you, you should ask your dentist what their view is. Most people are best using a soft or medium toothbrush with a small, angled head so that they can reach right to the back. Fluoride toothpaste is usually the best for a healthy mouth too.

However, we are all different and no-one knows your teeth better than your dentist. Ask them what they think, and many practices will often stock the products that they recommend.

Ah, halitosis! It is one of the great social stigmas. One of those things that we all worry about, but we are all too polite to mention. It is something that everybody in a room can be aware of, except for the person who has it. You can notice it immediately on somebody else. But it is often nearly impossible to detect it on yourself. And if a good friend does one day have a quiet word in your ear, how do you go about treating your halitosis? A supply of mints and chewing gums will only take you so far…

In all seriousness, halitosis can be a socially debilitating condition. It can make people shy, awkward and self-conscious. So, let us take a closer look at what causes it.

Halitosis can be caused by a number of different factors and some of them can be very obvious. Smoking is a good example. Most people who do not smoke and smell the odor of cigarettes on a smoker’s breath immediately. But the smoker might be so used to it they do not realize that the smell is there. The obvious (and only, in this case) solution is to stop smoking.

Many people try mints, chewing gums and mouthwashes. They can often help with bad breath, but they only really mask it rather than removing it. They can be useful after a spicy meal, for example, or when you have just woken up in the morning and your breath is dry and stale. But if the causes of your halitosis run deeper, they are only really a short-term measure until you get a proper diagnosis and treatment.

What are the deeper causes of halitosis? In the vast majority of cases, it is caused by the buildup bacteria in your mouth. As you can imagine, there is a lot of traffic going through that mouth space. Most of it is also being chewed up and mashed around, so it gets stuck in every little nook and cranny in between your teeth and gums. The bacteria is there to break down the debris in your mouth, which releases noxious gases as it does so. If you are a smoker, then that will make things worse. And if you are not looking after your teeth properly, through careful brushing and flossing, then the situation will get even worse still.

If you are not looking after your teeth properly, then the debris that builds up between your teeth and gums can lead to more serious issues, such as plaque, gum disease and tooth decay. Of course, this is not going to make your breath smell any better either – in fact, a decaying tooth in your mouth will make it smell noticeably worse until you visit your dentist and have it treated.

By now, you should be starting to get a clearer picture of what causes bad breath. There are some other factors that come into play for other people –some medical conditions, for example, can cause bad breath. But for most sufferers, it is the long-term result of poor oral hygiene.

Fortunately, this should not be too difficult to tackle. First of all, a trip to your dentist is a must. A thorough check-up will reveal any tooth decay or cavities. Then a thorough scale and polish should help to remove much of the debris stuck between your teeth. Nowadays, many dental practices have an oral hygienist as part of their team, who can provide specialist consultations of maintaining good oral hygiene.

Once you have had your teeth cleaned, it may help for the future to think about your diet. Nicotine and coffee are big culprits when it comes to bad breath. Now is also the time to floss and clean regularly.

Throughout it all, do not forget too that your dentist is someone that you can definitely trust. Whereas many of your closest friends will avoid telling you that you have bad breath, your dentist will certainly have noticed and will certainly tell you if you ask them. They are used to treating cases of halitosis, so get over your embarrassment, ask them what they think and find out what they recommend. It may feel awkward, but it could save many more awkward social situations in the future if you do not get your halitosis treated!

Have you noticed how dentistry is changing? In the past, going to the dentist usually meant ‘a check-up’. Definition: you sit in the chair and try to think of something else while your dentist has a look at your teeth. If you are lucky, you are ok for six months. Unlucky means the drill comes out.

Let us be honest, it was rarely any more complicated than that. Nowadays, however, there is a whole new emerging field of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of dental irregularities. It means that if you pay a visit to your dentist now, you can expect access to many more treatments that can help to improve your teeth, your smile, and your confidence.

We thought it might be helpful to take a closer look at Orthodontics. What does it involve? What does it mean for customers? And most importantly, what will the end result look like? These are just a few of the questions most patients want their dentists to answer.

First things first. Can you explain more about Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is formally defined by the American Association of Orthodontics as ‘The area of dentistry concerned with the supervision, guidance and correction of the growing and mature dentofacial structures, including those conditions that require movement of teeth or correction of malrelationships between and among teeth and facial bones by the application of forces and/or the stimulation and redirection of the functional forces within the craniofacial complex’.

So far, so confusing. And maybe that’s part of the problem. Orthodontics is really fast-growing. More and more products are appearing on the market, at different costs, with different benefits, most of which claim to make a dramatic difference to your teeth. If only someone could explain it without all the dental jargon!

So, in less the 50 words…?

Orthodontics help move teeth, cure overbites and overcrowded mouths, with the aim of improving your smile and allowing your teeth to grow naturally. It’s what we used to call ‘wearing a brace’. (32 words exactly!).

How does orthodontics work?

Recent developments in dentistry means that there are now a number of different types of braces on the market. Your dentist will recommend a particular type of product based on your requirements. For example, in milder cases, the patient may require a brace that is less forceful and less visible. Alternatively, it could be that you choose a brace that has a faster-working mechanism, or a brace that uses ceramics rather than metal. A wide range of products means a wide range of choices.

Ultimately, the type of procedure that suits you will be decided through an open, clear discussion with your dentist or specialist orthodontist. Everybody has a unique mouth, and no two sets of teeth look or grow the same. So, the choice you make will probably be based on a number of factors.

Such as?

Well, the first factor to take into consideration is why you need the treatment in the first place. There are a number of dental irregularities that orthodontic work can help to fix. We have already mentioned crooked teeth or a crowded mouth. However, orthodontic work will also help with missing or extra teeth, misaligned teeth or jaw, a bad bite or malocclusion.

In essence, therefore, your orthodontist can help with a wide variety of issues that range from purely cosmetic to functional dental work such as improving chewing and biting.

What is a malocclusion?

A ‘bad bite’, or malocclusion, is a misalignment causing difficulty in chewing and talking and/or affecting the cosmetic appearance of a person. It could occur for genetic reasons, because of a trauma, or for a number of factors in childhood, such as prolonged thumb-sucking or premature loss of baby teeth. Orthodontic treatment of a malocclusion can improve oral hygiene, improve speech and improving chewing.

What other factors will affect my choice?

Cost will obviously be an important factor. Orthodontic work is not cheap (and if it is cheap alarm bells should be ringing and you should ask yourself why!) and fees vary from dentist to dentist and according to the complexity of the work involved. At the same time, orthodontic work is becoming more affordable and more accessible. As more dentists become qualified to perform more complex procedures, treatment is becoming more widely available. More and more practices are also offering finance deals that allow you to pay monthly on very low interest rates.

If you decide to have treatment privately, the orthodontist will be able to estimate the cost of your treatment and give you details. It is always a good idea to discuss the cost fully before treatment and, if necessary, have the cost confirmed in writing to avoid any confusion.

What is the orthodontic process?

Broadly speaking, there are two stages in an orthodontic treatment:

The active phase — which involves the use of braces or other appliances to correct the alignment and bite. The orthodontist will assess the teeth that need to be aligned and create either a fixed or removable brace, which can be adjusted during the course of the treatment to achieve the desired effect. The fixed braces, as their name implies, are permanent fixtures and are removed at the end of the treatment period, whereas removable braces can be taken off for eating and cleaning but are generally worn at all other times. This improves the function of the teeth and the general appearance of the person.

The retention phase — involves the use of a retainer to hold the teeth that have been adjusted into their new position and ensure their long-term results. How long you have to wear your retainer braces for will depend on how much your teeth needed to be realigned. Every patient is different.

Does it matter how old you are?

Many orthodontic problems are diagnosed in childhood and treatment is at its most effective during adolescent and teenage years. However, more and more adults are having orthodontic work as the products, treatments and results become more widely available. Sometimes, the only difference is that the process can take longer for adults.

Should I be nervous about orthodontics?

Orthodontics is becoming a very advanced field. As new treatments become available, greater emphasis is being placed on braces that are comfortable to wear, discreet and fast working. So, there is no need to be nervous. Just do not forget that this is not an overnight fix. Most people wear their braces for between one and three years, so you have got to be prepared to stick to the treatment if you want the best results.

Is orthodontic work permanent?

Even after retention, it is normal for minor tooth movements to happen throughout life. So, no permanent guarantees can be given. As a rule of thumb however, it is unusual for teeth to alter enough so that further treatment is required.

How do I look after my brace and teeth?

While you are having orthodontic treatment, it is important to have your teeth checked regularly by your dentist. Dentists recommend that you clean your teeth thoroughly but also with care. Braces can be delicate, and you need to make sure that they do not break. Ask your dentist for more information. They will usually be able to show you different brushing techniques to avoid damaging your brace.

You will also probably have to change your diet slightly while you wear your braces. Sugary, sticky, and hard foods are out. Fizzy drinks are too.

Are you one of those people who needs orthodontic work but never quite gets around to having it done? Maybe you wish you had bitten the bullet  – so to speak – as a teenager and put up with metal braces. Because it is probably too late to fix those teeth now, isn’t it? And if it is not too late, it’s probably going to be too uncomfortable, take too long and just be too embarrassing to put up with as an adult. Won’t it?

A few short years ago, you would have been right. Adult orthodontics was not seen as a particularly rewarding field for dentists to get into. Then, as new products appeared, more dentists and their patients began to see the potential. And for all those people who had been putting off their orthodontic work, it suddenly looked like it might be a good time.

One of those new products that hit the market was Invisalign. Invisalign makes all the usual claims about being ‘fantastic’, ‘revolutionary’ and ‘state-of-the-art’. But while it is easy to be cynical, it is also important to note that Invisalign is one of the few products that has stood the test of time and grown more popular as time goes on.

Unless you have already spoken to your dentist, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about. If so, you should find reading this article a useful way of getting all your questions about Invisalign answered.

What is Invisalign?

As we said, Invisalign is ‘fantastic’, ‘revolutionary’ and ‘state-of-the-art’. What else do you need to know? Well, quite a few things actually. In a nutshell, Invisalign is a fast new way to move teeth so that you can close gaps, re-align crooked teeth and cure over- or underbites. In that way, it performs exactly the same function as conventional braces. What makes Invisalign different is the technology behind it. Invisalign is based around a series of clear plastic aligners, rather than the conventional metal track braces. These aligners are each less than one millimeter thick and are also removable. So, while you are wearing them, they are very discrete. Perfect of course if you are a Hollywood celebrity worried about being snapped by the paparazzi!

Are the aligners really invisible?

No, if you look closely, you can see them. They are, however, barely noticeable, and very comfortable to wear too. So, most people find that they still have the confidence to smile, talk and socialize naturally.

How do the Invisalign aligners work?

Using the latest 3-D technology and modelling techniques, your dentist or orthodontist works closely with you and the Invisalign laboratory to render an image of how you want your perfect teeth to look once the treatment has finished. Once this final image has been agreed, a set of aligners are produced that will gradually move your teeth towards the desired position.

Why is Invisalign better than other braces?

Unlike traditional braces, there are no brackets or wires. So, it is generally agreed to be a more comfortable, less intrusive, and more aesthetically pleasing orthodontic treatment. The other appealing aspect of Invisalign is that the aligners are molded to suit your teeth and how you want them to look. Conventional braces are constantly being tightened and screwed in again as they lose their shape and tension every few weeks. Invisalign works more effectively and efficiently, exerting the right amount of pressure without the need for tightening. For you, that means fewer visits to the dentist.

Does Invisalign work for everyone?

Invisalign can correct a large number of orthodontic problems. However, not everyone is a suitable patient for this treatment as Invisalign is not always appropriate for more complex problems. The best way to find out is to talk with an Invisalign-certified dentist. Even if Invisalign is not right for you, your dentist will be able to recommend a more suitable form of treatment.

What about teenagers and children?

Invisalign is not suitable for children because it is only appropriate for patients who fully grown teeth. However, there is a version of Invisalign which has been adapted to suit teenagers, called Invisalign Teen. This is a slightly modified version of the Invisalign system that allows for a little bit more of an active, rough-and-tumble lifestyle. For example, it includes replacement aligners in case any are lost or broken.

How fast does Invisalign work?

Some people who have mild conditions can complete their treatment in 12 months. Others, however, if their problem is more severe, may need to wear their aligners for anything up to three years (similar to conventional braces, just better looking). Because the aligners are removable, people can sometimes extend their treatment time by not wearing them enough. Dentists recommend that they are worn for around 22 hours per day.

For people who require a very minor correction, there is a new type of Invisalign product available – Invisalign Express. This uses the same type of system but are only required to be worn for up to 6 months. Needless to say, it is worth consulting your dentist initially, as not all people can see a change in their teeth in such short timescales.

 

What exactly does the Invisalign treatment involve?

The procedure usually involves four clear steps.

In the first step, you will sit down with your dentist and talk about how exactly you want your teeth to look. ‘Perfect’ is normally the right answer! After this, the dentist takes X-rays and then creates the 3-D model of your teeth. This is one aspect of the procedure that really makes Invisalign stand out. You have the opportunity to see how your teeth could look at the end of the treatment. Invisalign can be an expensive treatment, so it is definitely worth talking to your dentist honestly and giving him or her your opinion clearly. After all, you won’t get a second chance.

The third stage of the process is having the aligners made and fitted. These aligners are designed exactly to suit the shape of your mouth and teeth. So they gradually move your teeth into position, rather than forcing them through a rigid metal structure like conventional braces.

On average, treatment times are probably 12 to 18 months, but your dentist will give you a plan with clear timescales. The fourth stage of the procedure simply involves regular trips to your dentist, to ensure that you are looking after your teeth, wearing your aligners regularly and seeing some visible change.

Does it hurt?

Invisalign can cause slight soreness in the gums when you change your aligner, which you should do at fairly regular intervals. But to be quite honest, it’s nothing compared to how uncomfortable conventional braces can be. The aligners are also removable, so it makes life much easier when you want to clean your teeth, eat certain types of food or smile for a photograph.

Similarly, because the Invisalign system works more efficiently and faster than conventional braces, it does not need to exert so much force on your teeth. This also makes the treatment more comfortable.

What sort of food can I eat when in Invisalign treatment?

With the Invisalign system, there should be no restrictions over the kinds of food you can eat. But, of course, you do have to use a bit of common sense. Your aligners are removable, so you can feel free to eat all kinds of foods without worrying about food getting stuck to your braces.

Some patients assume that they can also eat while wearing their aligners. It’s not a good idea, but it is also not as daft as it sounds. It can be tempting to try and eat while wearing your aligners because new aligners can be tight-fitting and painful to remove. However, dentists will always recommend that you remove them before eating.

Any debris that accumulates in your aligners will look ugly and could promote tooth decay. So if you eat with your aligners in, the first thing you would need to do is take them out and clean them. So it makes more sense to remove them beforehand, doesn’t it? Even more so when you remember that your Invisalign aligners are constructed out of thin plastic. Chewing can easily damage them, distort their original shape and disrupt your treatment. Your aligner might even encourage your teeth to move in unexpected ways – probably not the outcome you were hoping for when you decided to invest so much money in treatment!

Anyway, regardless of the technical issues, if you do try to eat while wearing your removable braces, you probably won’t enjoy your food very much. Your aligners can make chewing awkward at times, with food becoming stuck around your aligners. It might be okay at home, but it certainly wouldn’t be very pleasant if you were eating in public!

Can you chew gum while wearing Invisalign braces?

Chewing gum is probably one of those habits you might have to break with while you are wearing your braces. It sticks to your aligners and can be difficult to clean off. File alongside bubblegum, toffee and caramel.

Anything else I need to know?

Some patients find that their eating habits change slightly. When they change their aligner, some patients shy away from hard foods that require greater biting pressure – just because their gums can be a little bit sore. Some people can experience slight soreness when reinserting their aligners – so they find themselves eating larger meals, less regularly. Of course, less snacking between meals is hardly a bad thing anyway!

What should I do next?

At this stage, most people start worrying about cost. But initially, the best thing to do is to visit an Invisalign approved dentist for a free consultation. Obviously, the treatment can be expensive. But the consultation is free and if you want to know more about the procedure, it is a good place to start.

Invisalign: the costs

It’s fair to say that Invisalign is one of the more expensive procedures for correcting teeth. Yet many people believe that the price is worth paying because the braces are so discrete and the timescales are so greatly reduced. Of course, the length of time you have to wear your aligners will vary from case to case, and will also be affected by where you go for the treatment and the skill of your dentist or orthodontist. The cost of your treatment will also vary according to similar factors.