A preventable problem such as dry mouth can have a negative impact on your teeth.

In general, our mouths are kept moist by the production of saliva. It plays an important part in maintaining our oral health by washing away food particles, along with the bacteria that form in our mouths.

Occasionally, our mouths may become dry and, whilst we probably think of this as little more than a slightly unpleasant feeling, the reality is that it can do damage to our teeth and gums over a period of time.

The good news is that dry mouth is, on the whole, largely avoidable and, provided they are noticed in the early stages, some of the problems caused by dry mouth can be treated in a relatively straightforward manner.

Symptoms of a Dry Mouth

Continue reading Prevention of Dry Mouth for Good Oral Health

When a simple filling is not enough to restore a badly damaged tooth.

During our lifetime, most people will have a filling or two. The lucky few with naturally resilient teeth may, with the addition of good oral care, avoid these, but for most of us, fillings are a likely consequence of our daily eating habits, especially if we have a sweet tooth!

At Beau Monde Dental Care, our patients have the benefit of being able to have tooth coloured fillings to replace the dark coloured amalgam ones that are commonly used to fill a tooth and which can spoil an otherwise healthy smile.

These tooth coloured fillings have improved greatly over the years and offer a level of strength almost equal to that of amalgam. Even this improvement though may not be sufficient if  a tooth has been badly broken or decayed and there is insufficient natural tooth remaining for the filling to bond to.

Dental Crowns

Continue reading Strengthening a Broken Tooth with a Dental Crown

Did you know that even a ‘healthy’ diet can cause oral health problems?

When we think of a healthy diet, we generally mean one that is relatively low in fat, and certainly saturated fat, but high in fresh fruits and vegetable. Sugar and too many carbohydrates are also usually ruled out too.

Although there is general agreement that this does constitute a healthy diet, is this also the case when it comes to our oral health?

Sugars

Continue reading Healthy Diets and Your Teeth

Are mercury free fillings a healthier option?

Amalgam fillings have been used for a long time and have proved to be a strong method of filling a damaged tooth.

Increasingly though, patients are beginning to question whether they want this type of filling due to its lack of aesthetic appeal but also to the potential dangers of the use of mercury in them.

Our Bristol cosmetic dentist takes a look at some questions about amalgam fillings and the white tooth filling alternatives below.

Q – Why the concern about the use of mercury?

Continue reading Your Questions About Traditional Amalgam Fillings

Taking care of your teeth and gums doesn’t have to take up a lot of time.

Life, it seems, just gets busier and busier and, as we rush about our daily lives, whether working or looking after the children, it is almost inevitable that some things fall by the wayside to make room.

Usually, the things that go first are those  that don’t seem to need our immediate attention. One of these may well be our oral health care. Whilst most of us will still, at least, give our teeth a cursory brushing morning and night, often this is done largely because it makes our mouths feel fresher rather than due to any concerns about our oral health.

Decay and Gum Disease

Continue reading 2 Minute Oral Health Tips

The rise of sugary drinks and their effect on children’s teeth.

The rise in consumption of sports drinks has seen an increase in tooth decay in dental practices throughout the country.  Despite being sold as beneficial to health, most of these contain high quantities of sugar or derivatives.

Even those with less sugar contain high amounts of fruit extract which also contains sugars which, although natural, are still damaging to our teeth.

One of the most worrying rises in tooth decay though, has been in young children.

Drink Consumption

Continue reading Tooth Decay in Young Children