What is Gum Disease?

What causes gum disease

Gum disease is a very common condition in which ones gums become inflamed, sore and have a tendency to bleed very easily. With over half of the UK's population having suffered from gum disease at some point in their life, I felt it necessary to blog on its causes and how to solve this problem that affects so many of our patients. 

Gum disease is generally caused by the build up of a sticky substance known as plaque on your teeth. Plaque contains bacteria and usually forms on the surface of your teeth when you eat or drink.

Some of the bacteria that is found in plaque is harmful bacteria that can affect the health of your gums. The build up of plaque on your teeth can irritate your gums, leading to an inflamed red appearance that has a tendency to bleed when gently irritated i.e by brushing.

Complications of gum disease 

• Dental Abscess
• Loose Teeth
• Loss of Teeth
• Gum Recession

Seeing your Dentist

Generally gum disease in its early stages i.e gingivitis,reversible and very treatable. As a patient should go and visit your dentist to find out the potential cause.
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Your Dentist can carry out an extensive examination and inform you on the best ways to eliminate this gum disease. During this examination it is likely the dentist will assess your gum health, possibly take x- rays and placed a metal probe gently along the gum surface to measure the extent of the gum disease.

How can I prevent gum disease

Minor cases of gum disease can usually be treated by maintaining a good level of oral hygiene. This will include brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing your teeth regularly. You should also make sure you attend regular dental check ups. Your dentist will show you the best method of brushing your teeth and also how to floss.

With more advanced gum disease you may need a deep cleaning of your gums that may or may not require a surgical approach. Your dentist may feel it necessary for a specialist referral if this is the case.

It is important to have regular dental check ups so that any problems with your teeth and gums can be detected and treated early

If you have any questions or feel free to contact us via our website www.thewindsordentalpractice.co.uk 

When should you take your child to the dentist???

Here at Windsor Dental we are often asked by patients 'When is the best time for me to bring my baby to come and have their teeth checked?'... So here is the answer for you inquisitive excited new parents...

Your child's first visit to the dentist should happen before their first birthday. Bringing them in at such an early age will help your child become accustomed to having their teeth checked and also potentially eliminate any fear they may have later on in life if any treatment is needed. By introducing your child to the dental environment early, we as dentists are also able to advise you as a parent how you should be looking after your child's teeth and prevent problems such as tooth decay. We are able to give you dietary advice and also via the application of fluoride onto your child's teeth prevent any teeth from decaying, beyond the point of repair ( Fluoride is incredible in the prevention of tooth decay).

Bringing your child to see us at Windsor Dental leads to a lifetime of good oral care habits and acclimatises your child to the dental office, therefore reducing anxiety and fear.

I hope this has helped all of our new parents in when to bring their child to the dentist.

if you have any questions or queries feel free to contact us via our website www.thewindsordentalpractice.co.uk

Eco Friendly At Windsor Dental- Solar panels

 

Windsor Dental Practice in Leicester is proud to announce that we are now eco-friendly. 

We have just installed solar panels as we care for the environment as much as we care for our patients.

Changing your old unsightly crowns

Do your crowns that you had done many years ago no longer match the colour of any of your teeth?

This patient came to the Windsor Dental Practice in Leicester for a consultation regarding the replacement of her crowns. These crowns were placed over 20 years ago.  She was unhappy with their appearance and often felt embarrassed showing her teeth when picture were taken. From the picture above it can be seen that the dental crowns do appear a darker shade when compared to the other teeth in the mouth and also the margin around the gum appears a lot darker.

We at Windsor Dental discussed a number of options with the patient and came to the conclusion that we should start by replacing the crowns on the top left hand side ( UL3 and UL4) with all white porcelain crowns. The patient was more than happy to go ahead with treatment and this was the beautiful result that we achieved.

If you have any questions or queries feel free to email us via our website www.thewindsordentalpractice.co.uk or call us on 0116                                                                  2661432