5: Gum Disease

One of the main causes of tooth loss, gum disease is an annoyingly easy problem to be afflicted with. It is often brought on by plaque that has been left to mature and make the mouth its own. When it is left to its own devices it can affect both the teeth and gums, corroding them and leading to infection. The longer the plaque is left the more harmful it can be.

Your gums will become red, tender and swollen when infected but fortunately it can be reversed in its early stages if you act quickly. And why wouldn’t you? Make sure you’re brushing and flossing correctly, get a shiny, new toothbrush, make sure you’re using an effective toothpaste and, of course, see your dentist for help. Otherwise it can develop into something much more serious.

4: Tooth Decay

Tooth decay happens when plaque is allowed to build up on teeth. If it gets a chance to combine with the sugars and starch we eat it can create acids which have a corrosive effect on our tooth enamel. Brushing and flossing is a surefire way to avoid this happening but it is important to take special care that there is nothing left behind. After all it is easy for food to get lodged between the teeth and if they go unnoticed it provides a nice little bacterial breeding ground that will turn into a plaque hotspot if left untreated. So brush carefully, floss thoroughly and try to cut down on sugary foods where possible.

3: Sensitive Teeth

Some people are just unlucky enough to have naturally sensitive teeth. This means that when they come into contact with particularly hot or cold food, drink, or even a cold blast of wind in some cases, they may experience pain or discomfort. However many people experience sensitive teeth at some point in their lives. One cause is gum recession as this can leave more sensitive areas of the tooth exposed when they would normally be protected by the gums. If sensitive teeth are unusual for you then it is best to get your teeth checked. You may need to change your cleaning technique and, if the recession is caused by debris lodged between the teeth, learn to floss properly.

2: Mouth Ulcers

These are usually harmless but they’re a real pain and can make eating, and even speaking, a painful or uncomfortable experience. More often than not an ulcer is caused by damage to the mouth. For example if you accidentally bite the inside of your cheek, and will present itself in the form of a small, round sore. Stress can also contribute to their formation. Ulcers generally go away on their own after a week or two, but you can always try medication to relieve the pain in the meantime. If you suffer from recurring ulcers however, there may be an underlying condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.

1: Bad Breath

Everyone has experienced bad breath at least once in their life and if they say otherwise, they’re lying! Of course, some cases are more severe than others. It’s only natural to wake up with bad breath in the morning as the ever-present bacteria in your mouth have had a chance to multiply uninterrupted. But this is nothing a brush and floss can’t fix. A good way to remove bacteria from the tongue is to eat something rough, such as toast, to scrape it away. This is a convenient solution as it coincides with breakfast time. However, if your bad breath is a bit more persistent there may be a more serious cause that needs to be determined.

One such cause is cavities, which make a perfect bacterial breeding ground and are more difficult to clean effectively. However, the smell could also point to gum disease or even oral cancer in more extreme cases, so if you can’t get rid of it and the cause isn’t immediately obvious then it’s time to visit your dentist.

Edgar Buildings Dental Care is situated in a restored Georgian House in the centre of Bath. Within, the Practice is very much 21st Century, incorporating the latest equipment and techniques.

The Practice is led by one of the countries leading implant surgeons, Dr Philip Pettemerides, who is supported by a highly trained team of dentists, hygienists and specialists. This has allowed the practice to become  one of the few practices in the United Kingdom to offer a ‘One Stop Shop’ in all aspects of dentistry.

It has a specialist in endodontics, Gillian Boswell, and a specialist in Orthodontics, Helen Knight. Scott Wetton, who has a special interest in Periodontics – gum treatment. Scott also offers facial rejuvenation treatments within the Practice.

In addition to be recognised as one of the South Wests leading practices is has also been recognised by the British Dental Association accreditation with the Good Practice scheme.

As testament to the practice’s skill it receives referrals from other dental practices in the UK and as far afield as the Falkland Isles!  Check out more information here

Sometimes people neglect their teeth to the point that brushing and flossing will no longer do the trick.

Your mouth is full of all kinds of little crevices that you may not even be aware of and these are primarily located around the teeth. A warm, moist crevice is an ideal breeding ground for harmful bacteria and may not only go unnoticed, but even the best brushing regime can miss these little crevices, allowing the bacteria to breed and weaken your teeth, while you remain blissfully ignorant.

When you look in the mirror, have you ever noticed a build-up on the back of your teeth along the gum line? This is tartar, or calculus, a rock hard mineral deposit caused by plaque. No amount of brushing will shift it and if left untreated it can cause further dental problems.

Fortunately the dentist can sort this out for you and the procedure is completely painless, if a little uncomfortable for some. Others however have been said to enjoy it. Once you are seated comfortably your dentist will start the cleaning process with a periodontal scaler, an instrument used for carefully scraping away tartar and plaque above the gum line.

If there is a particularly large accumulation of tartar on the teeth, then the use of an ultrasonic instrument may be required. This instrument vibrates in such a way that helps break up and dislodge large pieces of plaque without causing any damage to the tooth itself. It also sprays a fine mist of water, which washes away any debris and keeps the area cool. This can be where it becomes uncomfortable for some as the mouth can fill with both water from the instrument as well as excess saliva, and holding your mouth wide open during the whole process is not much fun either.

Fortunately there will usually be an assistant present to help keep the mouth clear. The vibrations may also cause some discomfort to your teeth, and will seem louder to you than they really are as they are happening inside your own mouth. But this is all harmless and will be over before you know it. If the vibrations feel a bit too strong you can always ask the dentist to adjust the instrument.

Once this minor ordeal is over it is time to rinse your mouth out with that mysterious drink waiting on the side. As you spit you may notice your saliva is a strange colour, due to the tartar mixed in it but a few rinses will take care of that.

Once the tartar is removed you are free to go with a freshly cleaned mouth and after that it is up to you to take care of your teeth. But tartar is a fairly common problem that builds up over time, even if you do brush and floss carefully, so don’t feel too bad if you get it again, as it can easily be solved by another visit.

Dentures

Dentures are prosthetics made to resemble teeth and gums, and are to be worn where teeth are missing. They can come in full sets or be specially made to replace individual teeth. It can take several appointments over a few weeks, in which your dentist will take an impression of the structure of your jaw and teeth, create trial moulds, and finally produce the final prosthetic.

Dentures will help with chewing, as opposed to gumming your food, however it will be slightly impaired in comparison with real teeth. Dentures are designed to fit comfortably in the mouth but they can move when eating or speaking, especially the lower set which lacks the suction the upper set has against the roof of your mouth.

Added to this, the human mouth is not designed for holding things in it that aren’t food. The natural reaction when an object is placed in the mouth is salivation so for the first 12 to 24 hours you will have to put up with excess saliva in the mouth until your body adapts to the dentures.

However, once you become accustomed to dentures you will find that they are helpful and reasonably affordable. When teeth are missing your speech can become impaired as teeth are required for making certain sounds, which dentures can assist you with.

It is important to take special care of your teeth though, as plaque can build up under dentures so regular cleaning of both your teeth and the prosthetic itself is a particular necessity.

Replacements may also be necessary as you get older as the shape of your jaw can change over time, rendering your current dentures obsolete.

Implants

Implants are more expensive and take much longer to be fitted but will generally offer better results in the long run. A lot of time and care is required during the procedure as it involves creating an implant that will fit perfectly, allowing a synthetic tooth to fixed onto existing bone. This can take up to eight months as there really is no room for errors.

Dental implants are considered better than dentures for the following reasons:

• Implants fit firmly into the bone and have screws to hold the crown in place, making them incredibly stable.
• Chewing is much easier with implants than dentures.
• Implants are made from titanium, a material compatible with the human body that actually encourages bone growth to hold it in, whereas dentures put unhealthy pressure on the bone.

However they do have their disadvantages too:

• Implants are considerably more expensive than dentures. The benefits are plain to see but not everyone can stretch their budget that far.
• Implants can take the best part of a year to put in, especially since it takes some time for them to integrate once the procedure is complete.
• Some people grind their teeth. This is bad for real teeth as just as bad for implants.
• Not all bones are in a healthy enough condition for implants and bone grafting may be required to continue. This of course can add to costs.
• The procedure is more complex and requires anaesthesia, which could put some people off.

Needless to say, dentures are the easier, cheaper option, but are limited in how useful they are as a dental substitute. They can be uncomfortable and cumbersome for some but if you feel you can adapt to them and would prefer to save your money then they may be the better choice for you.

However, if you have the time and money to spare then implants can offer you a much more realistic, practical and lower-maintenance alternative that, with the correct care, can last you the rest of your life.

Flossing and brushing go hand in hand as one cleans the area that the other can’t. We all know that bacteria thrive in the moist, warm conditions your mouth offers, and they do this all day every day.

It’s a fact of life and we can never stop it completely. But regular cleansing will at least prevent the bacteria causing any problems. When you brush properly it does a great job of removing the bacteria and other debris, but no matter how well you brush it can never remove everything. At best, brushing will clean around 65% of the mouth but the job just can’t be completed without flossing.

You see, brushing only scratches the surface (not literally, that wouldn’t do any good at all) but the tiny spaces between your teeth will remain neglected. If the bacteria are allowed to breed here, and they will with a vengeance, you will find yourself with a more difficult problem to solve than plaque, which can still be brushed away in the early stages of its development. Tartar, or calculus, is a hardened form of plaque that can build up when the minerals in your saliva accumulate on pre-existing plaque. Tartar cannot be so easily removed and bacteria thrive in it.

Leave tartar untreated and the bacteria will grow stronger and more destructive, and before you know it you have a nasty case of gingivitis. When the build-up gets this bad, no amount of brushing or flossing will remove it and it will take the help of a dentist. Fortunately this is a painless process, albeit a slightly uncomfortable one but it is not one you should need to have done in the first place.

All this can be avoided if you take a few minutes to floss between your teeth. Whether you choose to floss before or after brushing is entirely up to you but it is both cheap and easy to do, and will save you from a lot of dental problems in the long run.

Put simply, an anaesthetic is used for the temporary blocking of nerves to eliminate sensation, most notably pain, during a procedure. However in practice there is a lot more to consider as there are many types of anaesthesia, which are administered in different ways and for different purposes.

Sedation can be used for a drowsy effect, allowing the patient to remain conscious but comfortable, and general anaesthetic can be used to knock them out completely and block any stimulation at all. However the most commonly used type in dentistry is local anaesthetic, which only blocks sensation in a very specific part of the body. Anything more powerful than that is usually unnecessary.

Local anaesthetic will usually be administered with a needle, which ironically is painful but only slightly, and the pain you are spared from the procedure greatly outweighs the minor pain to be expected from an injection. You will most probably be injected with Lidocaine, which blocks sodium channels in the nerve membranes. This makes the nerve temporarily unable to conduct any impulses so any pain that would be caused cannot be transmitted.

Following the injection you will lose sensation in your teeth, lower lip, chin and tongue, an effect that lasts for around 2 hours, depending on the dosage.

As is the case with any kind of medication there may be side effects so before undergoing any kind of procedure that involves anaesthesia it is vital to inform your dentist of any underlying health problems you may have.

Some things cannot wait and if certain problems are left they can develop into something much more serious. Here are some symptoms that really should not be ignored:

Gum Inflammation

Any problem with the gums should be investigated straight away as you may be suffering from gingivitis, a treatable disease but also one that can lead to serious infection and tooth loss if left alone. One visible warning sign is a change in colour.

Healthy gums are pink but inflammation will make them much redder. You should also take notice if the gums recede, which is quite easy to spot as the teeth will appear larger and more gaps will appear between them. Other symptoms include swollen gums, a spongier texture and bleeding.

White spots on teeth

White spots on the teeth themselves are an early sign of tooth decay. As the protective enamel layer dissolves it will give way to a whiter layer underneath. Whiter teeth may be everyone’s dream but in this case it is a sign that your teeth are weakening and it must be stopped while it is still treatable.

Sensitive teeth

Sensitivity to hot or cold food is a common symptom that may not even point to a problem. However, if it comes on suddenly then you should maybe sit up and take notice as it may point to advanced tooth decay. In this case the decay has made its way through the enamel and is already affecting the nerves and blood vessels inside so it is vital to get the cavity treated before it results in tooth loss.

Pain

Pain is never a good sign, indeed the human body allows itself to feel pain so we can tell when something is wrong. If you are feeling persistent pain in your tooth then it could potentially be a rather serious problem, especially if the tooth in question is sensitive not just to heat but also to touch. This is most likely down to an infection which must be treated. The pain may go away by itself after a few days if your body manages to fight the infection but there is every chance it may return so even if it stops you should have it looked at.

Changes in the mouth

Your teeth are not the only things that can be affected in your mouth and it is important to report any changes you see or feel. White or red patches on the tongue or cheeks that do not go away, lumps developing, and anything else that was not there before should all be checked. It could be something as simple as an ulcer but any of these symptoms, especially the persistent ones, could point to something much more serious.

Of course, as is often the case, once you do decide what to do it is often difficult to know exactly how you go about achieving it. So, if you do come to the decision that a career in dentistry is for you, here is how you do it.

It is never too late to start a career in this field, within reason of course as it will take at least 10 years of studying to become a fully-fledged dental practitioner. Ideally you want to make this choice early on though as relevant GCSEs will be required, but you can always do a course of equivalent value later on in life and since GCSEs cover most topics anyway, you just need to make sure you get good grades all round.

It is a long and difficult road to becoming a dentist however and it all starts here, you will need to aim for As and A*s during this time as even your GCSE results are taken into account. Being accepted onto a dentistry course is very competitive and every stage of your education will be taken into account. Only the best will do.

Ultimately though, it will be you’re A Level choices that determine whether you will be accepted onto a dentistry course, and the preferred subjects will usually be Chemistry and Biology, as well as a third one (or more if you like) of your choosing.

Of course it helps if your third subject is relevant but it shouldn’t harm your chances too much as long as you do well in the sciences. Universities will almost certainly ask for a B as a minimum in their entry requirements, and that’s if you’re lucky. Most places will want at least one A so you really need to aim high. This is a serious course after all.

You will need to look at prospectus well in advance to see what different course can offer you, as well as check out different entry requirements. It is important to apply through UCAS as soon as possible when you make your choices. After that you will need to attend interviews so be prepared to explain exactly why you are right for this degree. It will take a lot of preparation and it will always help to have relevant work experience and other skills to talk about.

A degree in dentistry lasts 5 years and includes both the undergraduate stage and the postgraduate degree of training. This will be an intense course that covers many scientific fields, such as anatomy, pathology, biochemistry and even psychology. It will be hard to get in, and it will be hard to complete, but if your heart’s in it you will get where you need to be.

If you have already previously completed a related degree with at least a 2:1, you may be able to apply for an accelerated 4 year degree. But then, why rush it?

If you make it this far then you are showing a lot of promise indeed, but you’re not quite ready yet. Once you graduate, with a 2:1 or better, you will be required to undertake at least one year, but preferably two, of vocational training to ensure that you are capable of putting all of your studying into practise. You will need to register with the General Dental Council and will have to work under supervision for some time.

Of course, as is the case with any medical professional, you will never really finish studying. Your education will continue throughout your career as more advanced techniques and treatments develop and it will be vital to stay up to date if you wish to enjoy a successful career. Being a dentist is a lot of hard work so you have to be prepared to apply yourself.

But if this is the path you want to follow then you will find it to be a constantly rewarding profession.

Although the best time to have braces is earlier on in life, usually before 14 years of age, adults can also wear them if necessary, although it will probably take longer to correct their teeth. Braces work by applying mild pressure to teeth and gradually pushing them into a straighter position. This is generally painless, although in some cases it may be necessary to have some teeth removed to accommodate them. In more severe cases, the patient may even need corrective surgery on their jaw beforehand.

Braces can come in different forms, depending on the type you get. Removable braces tend to be made of plastic with wire clips that are attached to the teeth. They sit comfortably in your mouth and should be worn at all times, even when eating. This may prove challenging at first but is easy to adapt to. It is important to take this brace out and clean it on a regular basis but otherwise it should be kept in, even at night.

Fixed braces are metal brackets joined together by wire and are actually stuck to your teeth, so they can only be removed safely by your dentist. These very slowly pull your teeth back into position with gentle pressure and encourage them to grow straighter. In some cases orthodontic headgear may also be required to aid in correcting bite problems. This is a frame connected to a headband that can be removed any time but it may be necessary to wear it for long periods every day. Many patients choose to wear it at night while sleeping.

A more recent development in orthodontics are invisible braces that come in the form of plastic, transparent aligners. Apart from removing them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing, they are to be worn at all times and replaced every two weeks, although they are only suitable for a full set of adult teeth. This is an increasingly popular choice among adults.

Once the braces are on your teeth may feel tender at first but some over the counter painkillers should sort this out. Wearing a brace may take some time to get used to. It can become difficult to speak clearly but this is usually a minor setback that can be fixed simply with a little practise. The most notable issue is eating, especially if the teeth are tender so it might help to switch to softer, easily chewed foods for a while. Unfortunately it is all too easy to trap bits of food in your braces when eating so extra care must be taken with brushing to keep them clear. Foods to avoid include anything sticky, especially gum, while juices and fizzy drinks can also be damaging due to their citric acid content. However you should soon get used to them and even if it does feel like an inconvenience, the ends do ultimately justify the means.

One way is to tackle the surface of the tooth itself, and there are various kits and methods of doing this to varying degrees of success. But the tried and tested way is to use a bleaching agent in the form of a gel, as approved by your dentist. Various bleaches are available but if you choose the wrong one you may end up harming the tooth’s enamel. After all, bleach can be a powerful, corrosive substance so it is important to use one you can trust.

The procedure can be carried out by your dentist for the first time, before you carry on the treatment yourself at home with a kit. While starting it yourself is also an option, it is probably wise to let your dentist help you initially so you can see exactly how it is done correctly. Your dentist will apply the bleaching agent to each tooth individually, and it is important to be careful here as if bleach gets in any small cracks or crevices you may have in your mouth, it can temporarily render your teeth much more sensitive than usual. Once this is done, your teeth will be exposed to an ultraviolet light to set the bleaching process in motion. This may be done three times to make sure optimal whiteness is achieved, although this will vary from patient to patient as leaving the agent on too long can be damaging.

After this you will be given a kit comprising of the bleaching agent and a tray in the shape of your teeth. This tray is where the gel must go before being fitted over your teeth and worn for an extended period of time. The trays are custom made for your own mouth in order to fit firmly and comfortably until the whitening process is complete. Repeat this as many times as necessary, with your dentist’s guidance if required, and you will soon have the pearly, white smile you have been missing.

Of course, you may not wish to interfere with the natural progression of your tooth enamel in case you do cause any permanent damage to it. Another way to achieve whiter teeth is not to change the colour of them, but to cover them up. Porcelain veneers are a popular choice and can either be used for cosmetic purposes, or to protect a damaged or vulnerable area.

Veneers are always custom made to match the shape of your teeth and fit over them. With a natural appearance they are indistinguishable from the real thing and give you a completely natural-looking set of white teeth. Primarily they are used for the front teeth but you can have more made for the others if you so desire, although it will cost more. Not only do they give you white teeth, they can also restore cracked, chipped or crooked teeth and enhance your smile greatly. Many people prefer this option and it requires very little preparation of your teeth beforehand.

A routine dental check-up is nothing to be scared of. Indeed, as its name suggests it is merely a precaution we should all take to check that our teeth are healthy and if nothing seems to be wrong beforehand, chances are it isn’t. But it is better to be safe than sorry as the dentist is there just as much to prevent problems as they are to fix them. The procedure is quick and painless.

If it is your first time visiting then you will most probably need to complete a questionnaire about your medical history so be sure to arrive early. It is important for the dentist to know about any health problems you have, or medication you might be taking so they can prescribe various treatments accordingly. Once this is done you will meet your dentist and discuss any problems you might be having and what it is you want done. They will also need to know details about your diet, whether you smoke or drink, and your teeth-brushing habits. It is best not to lie about any of this as it is all for your own benefit.

Once you are comfortable in the dentist’s chair, they will perform a visual check using a small mirror and a light. They will check your teeth and gums from every angle to make sure they get a clear look at everything. Anything they do see, cracks or chips for example, they will make a note of as they go.

Your dentist may also have a poke around with a probe, which may be uncomfortable, but then if it does cause any pain it means they have most likely identified a potential problem and hurting you a little bit now allows them to act on it and prevent you suffering more pain later. They will not poke too hard though as this could cause more damage, they simply need to examine the surface of the tooth and look for any evidence of decay so pain from this procedure is unlikely. Another probe will be used to check the gum line to check for any signs of gingivitis or other gum diseases but again, the procedure can be carried out without pressing too hard.

Your dentist may also wish to take an x-ray picture of your teeth to check for any problems occurring under the surface. This is done by holding a small piece of plastic film in your teeth while the x-ray is taken. It may be slightly uncomfortable holding the film in place but this shouldn’t last long.

Afterwards your dentist will advise you on any treatment you might need and you will organise another appointment to have it done. Otherwise if everything is shipshape and shiny you won’t need to take any further action until your next check-up.

There are two ingredients that work very well together as a team to do as much damage to your teeth as possible, which is just one reason why you shouldn’t drink them too often. The good news is that carbonated liquids are harmless and the fizziness is the least of your worries, unless you’re on a bumpy car journey anyway.

Sugar is one of the main troublemakers but we’ll get to that in a second, after all there are sugar-free alternatives available which must surely be harmless, right? Not exactly. Unfortunately there is another ingredient that plays its own part in the destruction of your teeth, as well as helping the sugar do its dirty work, and that is citric acid.

Citric acid is present in most fizzy drinks, including their diet counterparts, and every sip you take is an acid bath for your teeth. The average pH of a fizzy drink is around 2.5, which is diluted to a safe level for consumption but when you consider how much comes into contact with your teeth and for how long, it still has plenty of opportunities to harm your teeth, especially if you drink on a regular basis.

Here’s a fun test to try. After enjoying a fizzy drink of your choice, run your tongue along your teeth and see if you notice anything different.  The surface of your tooth enamel will probably feel rougher and this is because the citric acid has started to demineralise it and wear it away. This should be no cause for concern during an isolated incident, after all we do have saliva that helps dilute the acid, as well as the common sense to clean our teeth. But excessive drinking over time will weaken and damage your teeth, which could lead to more serious tooth decay.

So, back to sugar. As you may know, when you eat sugar it provides perfect sustenance for the bacteria in your mouth. Even at its cleanest, your mouth will always contain bacteria as it is the perfect environment for them. This in itself is nothing to get scared about but what you do need to take into account is that when the bacteria eat the sugar they produce acids, which also has the expected effect on your teeth. This damage is made worse by the help it receives from the initial attack courtesy of the citric acid, which is why fizzy drinks are one of the worst things you can inflict on your poor teeth.

But this is no reason to give them up, you just need to keep an eye on how much you consume, how often you consume it, and how well you take care of your teeth. A good way to cut down on contact with your teeth is to drink from a straw but this alone won’t save you. Once weakened, your teeth will need a chance to strengthen themselves before you go brushing them and a good way to speed up this process is to rinse your mouth with water. This will help neutralise the acids and slow down their corrosive effect. After that it is simply a case of following a good oral health routine and you can enjoy your drinks without having to worry too much about losing your teeth.

Some things cannot wait and if certain problems are left they can develop into something much more serious. Here are some symptoms that really should not be ignored:

Gum Inflammation

Any problem with the gums should be investigated straight away as you may be suffering from gingivitis, a treatable disease but also one that can lead to serious infection and tooth loss if left alone. One visible warning sign is a change in colour.

Healthy gums are pink but inflammation will make them much redder. You should also take notice if the gums recede, which is quite easy to spot as the teeth will appear larger and more gaps will appear between them. Other symptoms include swollen gums, a spongier texture and bleeding.

White spots on teeth

White spots on the teeth themselves are an early sign of tooth decay. As the protective enamel layer dissolves it will give way to a whiter layer underneath. Whiter teeth may be everyone’s dream but in this case it is a sign that your teeth are weakening and it must be stopped while it is still treatable.

Sensitive teeth

Sensitivity to hot or cold food is a common symptom that may not even point to a problem. However, if it comes on suddenly then you should maybe sit up and take notice as it may point to advanced tooth decay. In this case the decay has made its way through the enamel and is already affecting the nerves and blood vessels inside so it is vital to get the cavity treated before it results in tooth loss.

Pain

Pain is never a good sign, indeed the human body allows itself to feel pain so we can tell when something is wrong. If you are feeling persistent pain in your tooth then it could potentially be a rather serious problem, especially if the tooth in question is sensitive not just to heat but also to touch. This is most likely down to an infection which must be treated. The pain may go away by itself after a few days if your body manages to fight the infection but there is every chance it may return so even if it stops you should have it looked at.

Changes in the mouth

Your teeth are not the only things that can be affected in your mouth and it is important to report any changes you see or feel. White or red patches on the tongue or cheeks that do not go away, lumps developing, and anything else that was not there before should all be checked. It could be something as simple as an ulcer but any of these symptoms, especially the persistent ones, could point to something much more serious.

Also known as Halitosis, bad breath can be caused by poor dental hygiene or even signify another underlying health problem. If you don’t brush properly then any bits of food left in your mouth will be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which will grow between your teeth, on the tongue, and in any other warm, moist crevice they can find, which is, more or less, your whole mouth. As the bacteria breaks down the proteins in these food particles, as well as in your own saliva, it produces an unpleasant-smelling gas. The longer you leave it the worse it gets, and plaque will build up, meaning without a little help from your dentist, no amount of brushing will completely cure it. Decay will make it worse yet, but if you have any sense you’ll start brushing before this has a chance to happen.

Bad breath in the morning is perfectly normal however, as your mouth dries out while you sleep. This reduces the flow of saliva that would normally help rinse bacteria away, giving it freedom to breed and feed. It is important to have clean teeth before bed, because the more food particles there are left in your mouth, the worse your breath will be in the morning. There is of course a simple way to deal with this in the morning and it involves a toothbrush.

But Halitosis can also be caused by something as simple as the food you eat, as well as other habits like drinking and smoking. When you eat, your food is broken down and parts of it are absorbed into your bloodstream. Blood passes through your lungs retaining the smell of the food, which in turn is transferred to the air you exhale. Although the smell can be covered up temporarily, it won’t be gone completely until the food is out of your system. The easy solution to this is to cut down on strong-smelling food but there is no real shame in this kind of bad breath, as long as you don’t overdo it. Garlic flavoured blood might be great for repelling vampires but it could have the same effect on your mortal friends too.

Alcohol can irritate the gums so drinking on a regular basis will increase the chances of gum disease, which will smell unpleasant. Smoking is even worse as it also has this effect, but the smell of stale smoke will also get into your bloodstream and your lungs. There’s a simple solution here as well, although smokers won’t like it.

The simplest measure you can take against bad breath is to maintain a healthy, hygienic routine. Brushing and flossing properly will greatly reduce the risk of Halitosis. Keep hydrated, be sure to get rid of bacteria on the tongue too, and chewing sugar-free gum doesn’t do any harm. If the cause is simply down to what you eat, drink, or smoke then it is merely a case of cutting down. However if there is a more serious cause, such as gum disease, then it is recommended that you see your dentist.

John Henry “Doc” Holliday

Doc Holliday is a controversial choice as his reputation as a gunslinger overshadows his career in dentistry but he is undoubtedly famous, or infamous at least. He began studying dentistry at the age of 19 and went on to open a dental office in Atlanta. However, after being diagnosed with tuberculosis he moved to Dallas, a place with a healthier atmosphere he believed, but it wouldn’t be long before he was drawn into the lucrative but dangerous world of gambling and gunfights. He may not have contributed much in the way of dental research but he remains a notable figure.

Norman W Kingsley

One of two men named The Father of Orthodontics, Kingsley was a multi-talented man, whose areas of expertise included art, sculpture and of course dentistry. He undertook extensive study of the cleft palate and wrote a hugely influential piece called “Treatise on Oral Deformities” in 1880, which would influence dental research for years afterwards. His work is still seen as a key source for study today.

J N Farrar

The second Father of Orthodontics, who wrote “A Treatise on the Irregularities of the Teeth and their Corrections”. His work, alongside that of Norman W Kingsley, remains in use today due to its in-depth study, as well as its detailed illustrations. Farrar also designed dental appliances and the designs of modern dental braces could be credited to his ideas for moving teeth.

Edward Angle

Another father, which historians seem to be very fond of, this time of modern orthodontics as it is he who first made occlusion, and indeed malocclusion his primary field of expertise. He came up with the original system for classifying malocclusions, as well as inventing appropriate appliances to fix them. His treatments are still put into use today.

Pierre Fauchard

Before orthodontics became a focus, Fauchard earned himself the title of The Father of Modern Dentisty, and with good reason. This French physician wrote an extremely well researched book in 1728 called “The Surgeon Dentist” which covered oral anatomy, removing and restoring decaying teeth, and periodontal disease. This book is quite possibly the first comprehensive work about dentistry and paved the way for the dentists of the future.

The earliest known use of anything resembling toothpaste can be traced back to a recently discovered ancient Egyptian manuscript, describing a recipe for a powder that forms a cleansing paste in the mouth. The recipe was a mixture of rock salt, pepper, mint, and dried iris flower, which would all be crushed together and taken orally. This is a surprisingly advanced recipe that, while not entirely successful, proved to be superior to later efforts in the 19^th century. This is the first example of an actual toothpaste but people had been trying different methods for cleaning teeth for a long time before then, many involving abrasives such as crushed bone to clear out any debris. Another recipe is said to have been formulated by Persian polymath Ziryab in the 9^th century, although the ingredients remain a mystery.

However toothpaste didn’t truly evolve until the 19^th century, when a dentist, whose name is cited simply as Peabody, developed a toothpaste containing soap as an active ingredient in 1824. Following that John Harris tried adding chalk to the mix in the 1850s. By 1873 Colgate were mass producing it, although it was sold in jars at the time and was more of a powder than a paste. In this incarnation it contained baking soda, glycerine and flavouring. It would not be until 1892 that an American dentist called Washington Sheffield came upon the idea of containing it in a squeezable tube, taking his inspiration from tubes of paint, and modern toothpaste was born. Almost. He marketed it as Dr. Sheffield’s Crème Dentrifice and the recipe itself was still rather old fashioned.

People continued to experiment with different recipes and by 1900 hydrogen peroxide was a common ingredient, while baking soda continued to be used.  In the years leading up to the First World War toothpaste started to gain more popularity and in 1914, fluoride was used as an ingredient for the first time but it was criticised by the American Dental Association for years before its benefits became more widely known. In 1955 the Procter and Gamble corporation produced Crest, the first medically-proven fluoride toothpaste to be sold, setting the standard for years of dental hygiene to come.

Wisdom teeth are molars, the teeth we use for chewing, and are identical to the molars we already have, the only difference being how late they present themselves. The upper and lower jaws both have sets of molars on either side, each consisting of two molars before the wisdom teeth push through. These new teeth form the third and final series of molars and are situated right at the back of the gum line behind the pre-existing teeth.

As is the case with the rest of your teeth, wisdom teeth develop inside the jawbone until they are ready to erupt through the gums. This is usually a very gradual process however and they tend to develop individually. Indeed it can take anything up to 10 years for all four wisdom teeth to finish growing.

In many cases this can prove to be a painful process, especially when occurring for the first time. In many cases the best solution is a mixture of painkillers and patience until the pain subsides on its own once the process is complete. However complications are also commonplace and should be treated as soon as they become evident, which is why it is always important to get your teeth checked when this process begins, in case they are not growing correctly.

The problems arise when the jawbone is not big enough to house these new teeth. This can cause them to become impacted and they may grow in the wrong direction. It may only partially make it through the gum, or in some cases not at all. This causes more pain, as well as potential infection. The severity of an impacted tooth can vary but some extreme cases even lead to cysts or tumours forming if left untreated.

Another possible problem can occur when the tooth has only partially erupted. Sometimes a piece of gum tissue can extend over the biting surface of the tooth, which not only makes chewing difficult but also renders the tooth harder to clean. The area under this lid also proves to be an ideal breeding ground for bacteria so special care must be taken to clean these teeth properly.

However there should be no major cause for concern as everyone experiences discomfort from wisdom teeth to some degree. As soon as they begin to develop, a simple check-up can determine whether the tooth should be allowed to develop further or extracted, in which case a simple procedure will put an end to your pain. However this should only be done if absolutely necessary as the wisdom tooth itself is useful once it has finished growing.

Advances in technology have now allowed the use of dental implants to give what many people call our third set of teeth. Dental implants can also be used to stabilise dentures giving a truely third set of teeth!

There are four types of tooth:
Incisors
These are the front teeth. They have flat surfaces and sharp, straight edge for biting and cutting food. There are four each on the upper and lower jaw.

Canine Teeth
These are sharp, pointed teeth situated on the corners of the mouth and are used to assist with tearing food. There are four overall, each bordering the incisors.

Premolars
Also known as bicuspids, these are used to crush and grind your food. They are wider and have mostly flat surfaces except for cusps on the crown. We have 8 of these, split into four groups of two.

Molars
Finally at the back of the mouth are the molars, which are large with flat surfaces, and are used to finish the chewing process before we swallow our food. There are 12 overall, although we only have 8 initially as the final four are wisdom teeth which typically emerge between 16 and 25 years of age.

Structure
The tooth is slightly more complex than its external appearance may suggest, and there are several parts that make up the tooth.

Enamel
The enamel is the part of the tooth we can see and is usually a greyish-white colour although it may also be pale yellow. Enamel is made primarily of minerals, very hard and provides protection for the tooth. Acids from foods are damaging to the enamel, which is why we must brush often to keep them clean and healthy.

Dentin
Dentin is the next layer, which provides support for the tooth. It is softer than enamel and decays more rapidly if damaged. Dentin also houses the pulp chamber.

Cementum
Cementum extends below the gum line and covers a large part of the root of the tooth. It is soft but similar to bone and helps provide stability to the attachment of the tooth.

Pulp
The pulp provides the nerve centre of the tooth. It contains blood vessels and nerves which connect the tooth through its root.

Gums
The gums are not part of the tooth itself but part of the mouth’s soft tissue. However they are attached to the bone and firm to touch. They surround the tooth and seal it in so it is just as important to maintain healthy gums as well as teeth.

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