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Richard III May Have Had Poor Oral Health, But You Don’t Need to!

Richard III was the last English monarch to die in battle and his remains that were recently revealed underneath a council car park, have shown much about his dental health. Apparently it wasn’t too good as our King was likely to have been a teeth grinder, a condition that is often stress-related, and he was also in poor oral health. There is evidence that he may have had several teeth extracted, something that probably was none too pleasant as this process was carried out by barber surgeons without the use of modern anaesthetics and equipment that we all take for granted today.

There is also evidence that he had decay in several of his teeth, as some of those right at the back are missing, and he almost certainly had a build-up of tartar or hardened plaque bacteria on his teeth. Interestingly these tartar deposits were less on some teeth than on others, showing that people during this time may have had a basic understanding about dental hygiene. It is expected that analysis of this tartar will give an insight as to which strains of bacteria were present at the time.

The king was unusual in that his diet was much richer in carbohydrates and sugars than the ordinary people of the time, increasing the chances of developing gum disease and tooth decay. History can be very interesting, but most of us are probably thankful we did not have to live in those times when dental technology had yet to make much progress. While Richard III may have had some excuse for having poor teeth there is no reason for Leeds residents to have poor oral health.

Decent Dental Care Can Make Your Teeth Last a Lifetime

Nowadays dentists, especially those at Leeds City Dentalcare, have the knowledge and the technology to take care of patients teeth. Combining great dental hygiene at home with regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings at our Leeds surgery will help keep your smile looking good for longer, and will ensure you don’t have any significant tartar build ups on your teeth. Our surgery believes patient education is very important, and our dental team can advise you on how best to improve your oral hygiene, and can even demonstrate techniques to make this daily task easier. Access to fluoride toothpaste, quality toothbrushes and dental floss are something we all take for granted, and when properly used can really make a difference in getting and maintaining oral health.

If you are like royalty, and are prone to grinding your teeth, then it does pay to take action to protect them, and to try to break this habit. We can supply you with a mouthguard that can be worn overnight, and which will protect your teeth while you are asleep, and we can suggest various things you can try to help bring down your stress levels so you no longer grind your teeth.

If you are missing teeth then talk to Dr David Brown or another of our dentist in Leeds about the best way to replace them. Wherever possible we would recommend dental implants as this method is the most natural and permanent method of replacement. However this method isn’t always the most suitable option as you do need to be in good general health. If we don’t feel it is right for you then we can still replace your teeth with either a bridge or partial denture, making it easier for you to eat and speak.

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