Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash are the best ways to maintain your good oral health, as numerous problems can develop if an oral hygiene routine is not maintained. These conditions include:

Tooth decay

Tooth decay occurs when plaque is left to eat away at the enamel of the tooth, then the dentin and finally finding its way into the dental chamber. This inner section of the tooth contains pulp, nervous and other tissues, which keep the teeth healthy and strong. Once the decay has entered here the tooth is technically dead and the only way to maintain its strength is to undergo root canal treatment and have a crown fitted over the damaged tooth, which should provide support for 5 years or so.

Gum disease

Gum disease is a silent problem, which can be categorised into different levels of severity. Starting as gingivitis the problems can quickly exacerbate into full blown periodontal disease, after which it is likely that you will start losing teeth. Signs of gum disease include bleeding gums when brushing.

Tooth loss

An accumulation of the two problems above ends in tooth loss, which not only damages the appearance of your smile but also its function. After tooth loss you will then require dental restorations, which can cost several thousand pounds for patients in Central London.

Dental abscess

A dental abscess occurs when tooth decay has eaten its way through your tooth, destroyed the dental chamber and then spread into the surround jawbone. Dental abscesses are incredibly painful and can cause lasting damage to the actual bone supporting the surrounding teeth.

It is therefore important for the sake of your own health and the health of your wallet to stick to a daily oral health regime, which takes little to implement, but makes a big difference to the health of your smile.