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Getting older carries a higher risk of dental problems, including oral infections and tooth decay. Tooth loss is normally due to tooth infections and can make it significantly trickier to eat comfortably, so it is harder to chew certain foods, including those that are more nutritious and can negatively affect appearance. Complete tooth loss is less common in developed countries such as Australia, where many people have grown up with the benefit of improved oral health care. However, it can still frequently occur.

As we age, the risk of gum disease is also higher, which is a real concern. Not only can gum disease cause tooth loss, but it can also affect general health. Severe gum disease, called periodontitis, affects as many as two-thirds of the population over sixty-five. The bacteria that cause this disease can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums. Once in the blood, they can travel throughout the body, potentially impacting heart health or increasing the risk of problems like diabetes, respiratory illnesses, or dementia. Sometimes people will need clearance from their dentist in preparation for heart treatment, especially heart valve replacements, and might need antibiotics if they have any signs of advanced periodontitis. 

Dry mouth or xerostomia is another frequent complaint when getting older. A lack of saliva is often a side effect of medications, and drier conditions in the mouth allow harmful bacteria to thrive, increasing the risk of dental diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease. 

How We Can Help Our Older Patients Maintain Good Oral Health 

If you are getting older, preventive dentistry is even more important for maintaining strong teeth and healthy gums and protecting overall health. We provide every patient with a preventive dental care plan that is continually adjusted as they age. It is designed to help you gain and maintain optimal oral health easily so you enjoy a healthy smile and protect your general health, even during older age. Regular dental checkups are especially important so we can monitor your oral health closely and provide any necessary treatment more quickly, making you less likely to suffer from tooth loss or more significant oral health problems. If you have issues like dry mouth, we can work with you to minimise its impact on oral health, perhaps by recommending more frequent hygiene appointments or using a saliva substitute to help your mouth feel moister and more comfortable. Our dental team can also work with you to ensure you have an excellent daily oral care routine and use the best toothbrush, toothpaste and flossing tools for your needs. 

You can help protect your dental health by eating healthily and avoiding too many sugary or starchy foods that could cause tooth decay. Instead, include plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein and whole grains in your diet, which will help protect your oral and general health. If you smoke, try to quit, as it greatly increases the risk of gum disease and oral cancer. 

Good oral health is important; practising good oral hygiene can help prevent common dental problems, including gum disease and tooth decay. This is because a proper oral care routine helps prevent the buildup of bacteria in dental plaque, a sticky biofilm continually forming over your teeth and gums. Taking care of your teeth can prevent premature loss and greatly enhance the chances that they will last for life. However, there is also a strong link between dental health and overall health. As we discover more about how the two are connected, it highlights the importance of good dental care.

How Can Oral Health Affect General Health?

While most people know that poor oral health will lead to tooth loss and can cause gum disease, not everyone realises it’s also linked to other general health problems. These health problems include cancer, heart disease, diabetes and dementia and rheumatoid arthritis. For example, if you have gum disease, it can increase your chances of developing serious health problems. If you already have problems with your general health, then developing gum disease could worsen them.

The connection is due to the bacteria found in dental plaque. Normally, if you practice good oral care, most plaque is removed when you brush and floss your teeth regularly, and these harmful bacteria are confined to your mouth. However, if you neglect to brush and floss regularly, these bacteria can infect and inflame your gums, causing them to bleed more readily. As they bleed, harmful bacteria can easily enter your bloodstream, where they can go on to create new sites of inflammation around the body. If you have diabetes, for example, these bacteria in your bloodstream can make it harder to maintain stable blood sugar levels. At the same time, uncontrolled diabetes can increase glucose levels in saliva, fueling the very bacteria that can cause gum disease and worsening this condition.

When you see our dentist, we can often tell quite a bit about your general health when we examine your mouth and may be able to detect early signs of disease. For example, diabetes can cause oral health problems like mouth sores, which can also be the case with other systemic diseases.

Did you know your saliva can reveal a lot about your dental health? Saliva testing can detect certain proteins and be useful when monitoring people with osteoporosis or checking cortisol levels.

These are just some reasons why we like to see our patients regularly, usually every six months. When you visit our practice for check-ups, we always like to review your medical history with you in case anything has changed so we can adjust your dental care plan if necessary. We will also do everything possible to help you gain and maintain good oral health between dental visits through dental education, and we can provide dietary advice if needed. By working together, we can keep your smile looking good and protect your general health at the same time. 

When considering oral health, you probably think about brushing and flossing your teeth regularly and visiting the dentist for check-ups and hygiene appointments. While these are important, other lifestyle factors, including sleep quality, can affect your oral health.

The quality of your sleep may be the last thing you have thought about when it comes to oral health, but getting a good night’s sleep ensures your body can rest and repair vital functions and helps reduce stress levels, helping protect your heart health. Poor quality sleep can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases, including those affecting your oral health. Below are just some of the ways sleep is linked to your oral health.

A Healthy Immune System Helps Fight Infection

A healthy immune system is essential for fighting infection and illness, including those caused by harmful bacteria in the mouth. When you have good quality sleep, your immune system produces proteins called cytokines that help fight infection. If you sleep poorly, your immune system is weakened, making it harder for your body to fight infections such as gum disease and tooth decay.

Sleep Apnoea 

Many people have a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea, where they have poor quality sleep and which is characterised by loud snoring where sufferers breathe through the mouth. It is caused when the throat muscles holding open the airway relax during sleep, allowing it to collapse inwards. As a result, the airway becomes partially blocked, and breathing ceases for several seconds. Sleep apnoea can affect sleep quality, negatively impacting the immune system, so it is less able to fight infection and disease. Sufferers are often unaware they have sleep apnoea unless a sleeping partner alerts them to their loud snoring, but they can wake up feeling ill-rested and continually tired.

Dry Mouth

Sleeping with your mouth open causes a condition called dry mouth or xerostomia. When the mouth becomes dry, it is more prone to infection and disease as saliva is a protective fluid that helps to keep your mouth clean and fresh. The risk of developing diseases like gum disease and tooth decay is higher when your mouth is drier.

Bruxism

Teeth grinding and clenching is a condition called bruxism and tends to be a nocturnal habit. It can be associated with sleep apnoea and causes considerable damage to dental health. People with bruxism can wear their teeth down to little more than stubs, and it can cause gum recession and problems with their jaw joints.

Ensuring You Get Good Quality Sleep Maintain Good Oral Health

Try to stop using phones, tablets or other technologies that emit blue light before you go to bed, and follow a regular routine at night to get eight hours minimum. Ensure your bedroom is at a comfortable temperature and 18°C is thought to be ideal, and that it is a welcoming, relaxing environment that is sufficiently dark to go to sleep easily. Immediately before you go to bed, make sure you brush and floss your teeth thoroughly and avoid snacking. It can be helpful to keep a glass of water beside your bed so that if you wake up, you can take a sip and moisten your mouth.

Everyone visiting our dental practice always receives a warm welcome from our kind and caring staff. We have worked hard to create a relaxing environment so people can feel comfortable visiting us, but we realise this isn’t always enough. 

Many people feel a little bit of anxiety when visiting the dentist, but they can overcome these feelings to make that appointment to come and see us. Some people have deep-seated anxieties and fears, so even scheduling an appointment feels uncomfortable at best. Unfortunately, these fears can prevent them from seeking regular preventive dental care, and the only time they will come and see us is when they are in pain or discomfort and when it is so severe, they can no longer tolerate these feelings.

If you find visiting the dentist tricky or visits promote feelings of fear or anxiety, please talk to us as we can help. Listed below are some of the most common dental fears that we can help you overcome and include:

• Embarrassment about your teeth
• Fear of being in pain
• Fear of having injections
• Fear of not becoming numb
• Having a strong gag reflex
• Fear of the sights, sounds and smells in a dental practice
• Fear of not being in control
• A previous bad experience in the dental chair

Whatever your reason, we know how to help you. 

How We Can Help You Conquer Your Feelings

There is no need to feel embarrassed if it has been a while since you saw a dentist, as our dental team is kind, compassionate and respectful, and you can rest assured we never judge. There is no need to worry that dental care will feel painful, and please remember your initial appointment will only be a dental examination, and no treatment will be provided. However, if you come to see us with a dental emergency, we can provide immediate treatment to help relieve pain and discomfort. 

If you need treatment, we will explain exactly what will happen and allow plenty of time to answer your questions. Sometimes simply knowing more about a procedure and what to expect can be very reassuring. Some people also find deep breathing exercises can help them relax before seeing their dentist, or listening to music while in the dental chair is a great distraction.

Before any treatment begins, we will ensure that your mouth is comfortably numb, and we can use various techniques to ensure the injection feels pain-free, using topical gel to numb the injection site first. Slowly administering the injection is another technique to ensure it feels more comfortable.

During treatment, we will regularly check to make sure you feel okay for us to continue, and remember, you can stop treatment at any point just by raising your hand or using another prearranged signal. Knowing you can stop treatment can help conquer feelings of not being in control. If you feel particularly nervous or need lengthier treatment, we can discuss dental sedation to help you feel more comfortable.

The great thing about receiving dental care to restore dental health is that subsequent appointments should feel easier, especially as you have more positive experiences when visiting us.

Most people know they need to brush their teeth regularly and frequently floss to help avoid problems like tooth decay. Not so many are aware of how their dietary choices can make a real difference to dental health, and it isn’t just sugary foods that are a problem. Eating and drinking too many acidic foods and drinks can significantly damage tooth enamel, causing enamel erosion which in turn can lead to cavities. Acidic foods and drinks have a pH below seven and include citrus fruits, vinegary dressings, fizzy drinks, energy drinks, and tomatoes.

What Happens When You Have Anything Acidic?

When you eat anything acidic, the acids attack tooth enamel, removing essential minerals, including calcium and phosphorus, during a process called demineralisation. This leaves your tooth enamel softer than before and more vulnerable to damage. Your mouth remains more acidic for at least half an hour after you finish eating before pH levels begin to normalise. 

At this point, some of the minerals removed remain in your saliva and are redeposited back into your tooth enamel, helping to re-harden it during a process called remineralisation. However, repeated exposure to these acids eventually erodes your tooth enamel, breaking it down so cavities can start to form. Another side-effect of eating too many acidic foods is tooth staining. When your tooth enamel is softer, it is more vulnerable to becoming stained and discoloured, especially if you eat highly coloured foods like berries.

How to Protect Your Teeth against Acid Erosion

It might not be possible to cut out acidic foods altogether or even desirable, but you can take steps to limit the time your teeth are exposed to these acids. When you have something acidic, include it as part of a main meal. At this point, your mouth will already be more acidic, and you will also be producing more saliva. Saliva is a protective fluid that helps wash away excess food particles and restore a more neutral pH more quickly. 

Try to avoid having acidic foods as snacks because this increases the time your teeth are exposed to acids. After you have something very acidic, rinse your mouth with water. Another tip is to finish your meal with cheese or milk. Both contain calcium and phosphorus, which will help to re-harden your tooth enamel and neutralise harmful acids. 

Finally, resist the temptation to brush your teeth immediately after having anything very acidic. This is because your tooth enamel is softer, so if you brush your teeth, it is more easily damaged and worn away. Waiting at least half an hour gives it time to re-harden, at which point it is safe to brush your teeth. When you do brush your teeth, use a soft-bristled toothbrush that will not damage your tooth enamel and good quality fluoride toothpaste. After brushing, spit but don’t rinse, so a thin layer of fluoride remains, coating your teeth and offering just a bit more protection against tooth decay. 

If you are concerned about acid erosion, please talk to us during your next checkup. We can check your teeth for signs of this problem and offer more personalised advice.

Women are affected by hormonal changes throughout life. Hormonal changes occur during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause. Hormone levels are also affected by birth control pills, injections and IUDs that release certain hormones to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuation is inevitable and can affect mood, weight, sex drive and overall health. However, it can also increase the risk of developing oral health problems. 

How Do Hormones Affect Oral Health?

Changing hormonal levels, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, can affect gum health and occur during puberty, menstruation and pregnancy. The increase in these hormones increases the blood flow to the gums. As a result, the gums become more sensitive to the toxins produced by bacteria found in dental plaque. The increased sensitivity causes the gums to become red, swollen and more tender, so they are more at risk of bleeding when you brush and floss. The problem can be particularly noticeable during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Oral Health

During pregnancy, the increased sensitivity of gums can lead to a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. The problem can be worsened if a woman has gum disease before becoming pregnant. While pregnancy gingivitis should clear up once the baby is born, it needs careful monitoring. This is essential to prevent gingivitis from worsening or causing permanent damage to the gums and oral health.

Menopause and Oral Health

When women go through menopause, hormonal levels decline. This can cause a condition called xerostomia or dry mouth, where insufficient saliva is produced to keep the mouth clean, fresh, moist and comfortable. A lack of saliva can increase the risk of dental problems, including tooth decay and gum disease. At the same time, women going through menopause can experience a reduction in bone density which may impact their jawbone and overall dental health.

How Dentists Can Help

We provide tailored dental care for everyone visiting our dental practice regardless of age and which is carefully adjusted over time and can accommodate changes in hormonal levels. It is just one reason why we always ask if there have been any changes to your oral or general health and recommend regular checkups and hygiene appointments.

If you are pregnant, we strongly suggest seeing our dentist as soon as possible. Ideally, we would like to conduct a prepregnancy checkup, but we realise this isn’t always feasible. During pregnancy, we like to monitor your oral health carefully, looking for changes like pregnancy gingivitis that may require additional treatment. For example, we might suggest you see our hygienist more frequently than normal, perhaps every three or four months rather than every six months. This is because getting rid of plaque and tartar buildup helps control the number of bacteria producing the toxins that can inflame and infect gums. It is a simple way to help you maintain good dental health during pregnancy.

It is a similar situation for older women going through menopause who are finding it is affecting their oral health. More frequent checkups and hygiene appointments can help control problems like xerostomia, reducing the impact on dental health.

With the right dental care combined with good oral hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, we can help you maintain strong teeth and gums throughout life.

Severe gum disease is a condition that is also called periodontal disease or periodontitis. It is, unfortunately, extremely common, affecting around one in ten of the world’s population. Periodontal disease is often called a silent disease, as the early symptoms are very easy to miss or ignore. Consequently, when it is finally diagnosed, the condition might be chronic, meaning it cannot be completely cured but only controlled by ongoing dental care. 

Periodontal disease can result in tooth loss, as it destroys the tissues supporting teeth, including gum tissue, the jawbone and ligaments that hold teeth in their sockets. However, the potential impact on overall health can be equally, if not more serious. This is because gum disease is an inflammatory condition. Over the past few years, a significant number of clinical studies have revealed a strong link between periodontal disease and other serious health problems like heart disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory illnesses and diabetes and mental health problems. People with a gum disease history are more at risk of developing health problems. Those who already have existing health problems could see them worsen. 

A large study conducted in the UK discovered that people with gum disease at the beginning of the study were more likely to go on and develop health problems over a three-year period than those with healthy gums. The study discovered that people with gum disease at the beginning were at 37% increased risk of developing mental health issues, had an 18% increase in developing cardiovascular problems, and had a 33% increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease. Existing gum problems also increased the risk of developing type II diabetes by 26%.

These statistics are extremely concerning, especially as gum disease is a preventable condition, which is why we strongly recommend patients visit us regularly for checkups and hygiene appointments. 

The Importance of Preventive Dentistry

We know that if patients receive the right preventive dental care and are educated in proper oral hygiene techniques, they can most likely maintain healthy, strong gums. Regular checkups allow us to detect the earliest signs of gum disease, at a stage when we can often reverse the disease completely simply by cleaning your teeth professionally.

How We Can Help You Maintain Good Gum Health

Usually, most people need to see us every six months, and we recommend booking a hygiene appointment at the same time. During these checkups, we carefully assess your gum health, taking detailed notes to compare with your previous appointment. We also ask you about your medical health in case any changes could impact your dental health and require us to adjust your preventative dental care plan.

If we notice your gums are looking a bit red, tender or swollen or that they bleed slightly when gently probed, a thorough dental cleaning will get rid of the bacteria causing the infection and inflammation combined with improved oral care at home.

Have you noticed your gums have started to bleed when you brush or floss? Please make an appointment to come and see us, as you could have early signs of gum disease. Getting treatment now will help protect your teeth, gums and general health.

Are your teeth less than straight? Is their appearance affecting your smile? You might be suitable for teeth braces, and nowadays, there are several options available, and your choice is no longer limited to metal braces you might remember during childhood.

Why Have Braces?

In an ideal world, after you lose your milk or baby teeth, your adult teeth will come through beautifully aligned and perfectly straight. Unfortunately, the reality can be very different. Teeth can come through crooked because of problems with overcrowding, where there isn’t enough room in your jaws to accommodate all your teeth comfortably. Your jaws might not be quite the right shape or size to give you a perfect bite. Childhood habits like thumb or finger sucking, tongue thrusting or mouth breathing can all affect the development of your teeth and jaws. Losing your baby teeth too soon to an accident or decay can have a similar effect.

Straightening your teeth with braces will improve their alignment and correct bite problems. In addition to improving your smile, braces can also help to protect your oral health as straighter teeth are easier to keep clean, so your risk of tooth decay and gum disease can reduce. They will also wear more evenly, as your teeth will bite together properly.

When to See a Dentist for Braces?

If you have a child, we can closely monitor their teeth and jaws’ growth and development. Sometimes it is useful for a child to see an orthodontist around age seven as they begin to get their permanent teeth. At this age, early orthodontic treatment can help correct problems caused by thumb or finger sucking or tongue thrusting and can help guide the growth of their developing teeth and jaws. It may mean your child needs less or no orthodontist treatment when they get older.

Otherwise, the most common age to see people wearing braces is during their teens, but it’s becoming far more common to see adults wearing them. It’s never too late to have orthodontic treatment provided your teeth are generally strong and healthy.

Different Types of Braces

Traditional metal braces are still widely used, especially for children; they provide predictable results and are cost-effective. However, less visible braces are becoming far more popular. These include ceramic braces that have clear or tooth-coloured brackets fixed onto teeth and lingual braces that fit inside teeth and are nearly invisible. Removable braces consisting of clear plastic aligners are very popular. They can provide excellent results and are easy to use, but they need good compliance.

What Is the Cost of Braces?

The cost can vary considerably depending on the problems requiring correction and your treatment preference. As a rough guide, metal braces cost anywhere from $2000 upwards. Ceramic braces typically cost $5000 upwards. The cost of lingual braces tends to be higher as the brace brackets are made individually to fit inside your mouth. These can cost up to $9000. The cost of removable invisible braces like Invisalign can range from $6000 upwards, but if you only require minor corrections, treatment is shorter, and the costs may start from $4500 upwards.

The best way to get a better estimate is to come and see us and discover more about all the treatment options available.

A decent-quality toothbrush should last around three months, and if the bristles are beginning to look splayed or frayed, it’s time to retire it and replace it with a shiny new toothbrush. However, instead of dumping the toothbrush in the bin, why not give it a new lease of life?

Why Bother to Re-Purpose an Old Toothbrush?

The thought of re-purposing an old toothbrush might seem strange, but it is environmentally friendly. It helps to keep your toothbrush out of the landfill, reducing the amount of wasted plastic. Also, reusing your toothbrush for a different purpose can help reduce your overall carbon footprint.

Getting Your Toothbrush Ready to Be Reused

Before you can reuse your toothbrush, you need to clean it thoroughly, and the best way to do this is to boil it in water for a few minutes or pop it in the dishwasher the next time you run a cycle. Now your brush is ready for use once again.

1. Cleaning Your Bathroom

Your toothbrush is designed to reach right to the back of your mouth, making it perfect for cleaning hard-to-reach areas in your house. It’s great for cleaning the bathroom, especially around the taps and tiles and in all those nooks and crannies.

2. Cleaning Kitchen Appliances

You can use a toothbrush in the kitchen to clean appliances thoroughly. It can also receive a new lease of life for cleaning your computer keyboard.

3. As a Substitute Paintbrush for Creative Projects

A toothbrush makes a great substitute for a paintbrush, especially if you like to do art projects with your kid. The toothbrush bristles can create new and interesting effects that would otherwise be hard to achieve. It’s also a nice way to teach your child about the importance of trying to re-purpose objects rather than throwing them away.

4. As a Beauty Tool

An old toothbrush can be excellent for taming messy brows. It is also a good device to tame frizzy hair and flyaway hairs. Just spray a little hairspray onto the bristles and use the toothbrush to comb those annoying little hairs sticking up, putting them into their proper places, and giving you a smoother and more polished appearance.

Storing Your Re-purposed Toothbrush

When you re-purpose your toothbrush, store it somewhere different from your bathroom. So put it with your art projects or with your cleaning supplies for your bathroom or kitchen to make sure it doesn’t get mixed up with your brand-new toothbrush.

Once you begin to reuse old toothbrushes, you may find all sorts of other ideas about re-purposing them. It can also be a great way to ensure you remember to replace your toothbrush every three months, just in time to use it for a brand-new project you have in mind.

Finally, if you ever want more advice on buying the best toothbrush, please just ask us. Choosing a toothbrush with soft bristles that won’t damage your teeth or gums yet still clean your teeth effectively is important.

If you stand in front of the mirror and open your mouth wide enough to look at your throat, you will see a small piece of tissue that looks a bit like a pendulum hanging right at the back. It is worth taking a look, especially if you haven’t noticed it before, as this little piece of tissue is called a uvula, a Latin word that translates to little grape. The uvula is attached to the soft palate right at the back of your mouth and is made from muscle and flexible connective tissues, ensuring it remains hanging right at the back, just above your tongue. The size and shape of a uvula can vary tremendously, and it comes in many different colours. Generally, a uvula is pink but can also appear red, brown or even purple. What you might not know is that only humans have a uvula. Other animals might have similar structures, but nothing is quite the same.

What Is the Purpose of a Uvula?

There has been a lot of debate about the exact purpose of a uvula, and experts rarely agree upon it. However, it is thought that the uvula helps block the passageway to your nasal cavity whenever you swallow, preventing food from going up your nose! As you swallow, the uvula moves backwards. It is also thought that the uvula helps speech. If you snore or live with someone who snores, then part of this noise is caused by the uvula vibrating. If you have an overactive gag response, you might be able to blame it on your uvula. Touching the uvula can induce vomiting or make you gag, and it could be a safety feature preventing food from going down the wrong way to prevent you from choking.

However, one of the main purposes of a uvula seems to be to produce saliva, helping to moisten your mouth and throat. An adequate flow of saliva is extremely important for oral health as it helps keep your mouth clean, moist and comfortable. As you chew food, it is moistened by saliva so you can form the food into a bolus and swallow it more easily. Saliva contains digestive enzymes, so the process of digestion actually begins in your mouth and ensures your body can extract maximum nutrition from your food more effectively.

Can a Uvula Develop Problems?

Generally, your uvula will just hang at the back of your throat without any problem, but it can sometimes become inflamed or swollen, perhaps because of seasonal allergies. In this case, taking antihistamines can help, or you might find it useful to drink more water or use a humidifier. Other times a uvula becomes swollen because of a bacterial infection, and you might need antibiotics.

Very rarely, a uvula may need to be removed, perhaps if the person has severe sleep apnoea. You can function perfectly well without a uvula, although it may initially take a little time to get used to swallowing or speaking.