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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.

You will often hear the terms plaque and tartar used interchangeably, so it is easy to think they are the same. While similar, there are some important differences, and understanding these can help you manage your oral health more effectively.

Everyone has dental plaque and, to some extent, tartar because everyone needs to eat! When you chew food, it is mixed with saliva, which helps the food to break down so your body can absorb the nutrition more easily. However, your mouth is host to over 500 different species of bacteria that also like to eat, and these feast off the leftovers whenever you have a meal.

Eating Produces Plaque

These bacteria are found in dental plaque, a sticky biofilm continually forming on your teeth day and night. The bacteria, saliva and food particles all combine to form dental plaque, and if it has been a while since you brushed your teeth, you can even feel this film by running your tongue over them.

The bacteria in dental plaque also produce toxins and acids that attack your tooth enamel, and gums. These are the same bacteria that can cause cavities and gum disease if their growth remains unchecked. The main reason why it’s important to brush and floss your teeth regularly is to get rid of dental plaque and interrupt bacterial growth. When you don’t brush and floss your teeth thoroughly, any plaque that remains on your teeth soon hardens into tartar.

What Happens When Tartar Develops Over Teeth?

If plaque remains on your teeth, it begins to harden into tartar between one and three days afterwards. Tartar, also called calculus, is a hard substance that strongly bonds to your tooth enamel. It is a crusty substance that can easily become stained, so you may notice a yellow or brown buildup around your gum margins, where your teeth meet your gums.

You cannot remove tartar or calculus by brushing or flossing your teeth, as it must be removed professionally during your dental cleanings when you visit our practice. Unfortunately, so long as tartar remains on your teeth, the bacteria within it continue to produce toxins and acids that infect and inflame your gums.

The risk of developing calculus is greater if you smoke or have a dry mouth, where you cannot produce enough saliva. Even people who clean their teeth thoroughly will have some tartar on them, which is why dental cleanings are such an important part of your preventative dental care plan.

Fighting Plaque and Tartar Buildup

The easiest way to prevent excessive plaque and tartar buildup is to ensure you have an excellent oral care routine. When you brush your teeth, pay attention to cleaning each tooth surface thoroughly to remove plaque buildup. Regular daily flossing removes plaque buildup and the food debris that feed harmful bacteria trapped between your teeth. When you visit our dental practice, we can clean your teeth professionally and offer advice on how to brush and floss effectively.

We certainly hope you are, as this is the percentage of people who floss their teeth daily. Unfortunately, we know many people ignore this essential task, but it is important if you want to have strong, healthy gums and healthy teeth.

If you don’t currently floss every day, here is why it is important and some easy tips on how to make it a habit.

Why Is Flossing Necessary?

Daily flossing protects your teeth and gums against a host of dental problems. When you brush your teeth, you can only clean around two-thirds of each tooth. The contact areas between your teeth account for the other third; these areas can easily trap food particles and bacteria in dental plaque. These bacteria will feast on the food particles, eventually causing tooth decay, and gum disease frequently begins in these contact areas. When you floss before or after brushing your teeth, it removes dental plaque and food particles, protecting your teeth and gums.

What Happens If I Don’t Floss?

If you fail to floss regularly, plaque quickly builds up between teeth. In just a day or two, plaque starts to harden into tartar or calculus, and this crusty substance can longer be removed by brushing and flossing your teeth. The only way to remove calculus is to have your teeth cleaned professionally at our dental practice.

The bacteria in calculus will continue to feast on the leftover food and produce toxins that infect and inflame your gums, as well as acid that weakens your tooth enamel, so your risk of developing gum disease or cavities increases further. The presence of calculus makes it easier for more plaque to stick to your teeth.

While cavities are a problem, we are particularly concerned about gum disease as the inflammation in your gums can gradually destroy them and result in a loss of jawbone, so ultimately your teeth become loose and will either fall out or need to be extracted. Also, gum disease is linked to serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes and respiratory problems.

How to Get into the Habit of Flossing Daily

If you keep forgetting to floss, then place a reminder on your phone to alert you, or even a sticky note on your bathroom mirror can be sufficient to make you reach for the dental floss. Another trick is to try listening to a podcast or music while you brush and floss; the time will fly by. Initially, you could also try rewarding yourself when you remember to floss daily, such as having a specialty coffee or indulging in a Netflix binge.

Lastly, if you find flossing difficult, please talk to us. We can demonstrate easy ways to floss effectively or talk about other alternatives, such as a water flosser, interdental brushes, or pre-threaded flossers.

Once you get the flossing habit, skipping it will soon feel wrong, especially when your reward is stronger, healthier gums and a nice clean smile.

New Year is a time for making changes. Most New Year resolutions are centred on improving your health or personal growth and development. Instead, why not resolve to be different this year and resolve to improve oral health? You will help to protect your overall health and your wallet, and you’ll benefit from a healthy, confident smile.

Overhaul Your Daily Routine

A proper daily dental care routine is easier than you might imagine, and it doesn’t take long for something that feels like a chore to become a well-established habit. Flossing is a good example as many people will avoid this task, but when you perform it regularly, you will soon get to enjoy the sensation of having a cleaner and fresher mouth and gums that look and feel in the pink of health, not to mention praise from our dental team on caring for your teeth and gums so well.

Your daily dental care routine should include the following:

• Twice daily brushing using a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid harming your teeth and gums.
• Fluoridated toothpaste to help protect against tooth decay. After brushing, spit, but don’t rinse, so a thin coating of toothpaste will remain on your teeth, offering a little extra protection.
• Daily flossing ensures you clean thoroughly between each tooth. If you can’t get on with flossing, ask us for help. We can discuss other tools to try, like interdental brushes, soft picks or an electrical flossing device and can guarantee there will be something you will find easy to use and which will quickly become second nature.

If you wish to use mouthwash, pick an alcohol-free brand that won’t dry out your mouth and preferably contains fluoride or is antimicrobial.

Choose Tooth-Friendly Foods

Your diet and when you eat certain foods can impact your oral health. When you eat foods that feed harmful bacteria, allowing them to thrive, your risk of dental disease increases. These include anything sweet or carbohydrate-rich, so these foods are best kept as part of your main meal. Avoid snacking on sugary or starchy foods between meals, and ensure you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods. If you are unsure, we can always review your diet and make some useful suggestions.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is a popular resolution at this time of year, and if it is on your list, make this the year you finally stop for good. Tobacco stains your teeth, causes bad breath and increases your risk of gum disease and oral cancer, not to mention the detrimental effect on your general health.

Keep Up to Date with Professional Dental Care

Regular dental checkups and hygiene appointments are vital for ensuring you enjoy optimal oral health year-round. Most people need to see us twice yearly, and you only need to spend about an hour each time. It is the perfect way to prevent any dental problems from developing or worsening and will save you time and money in the longer term.

With summer just around the corner, there are plenty of reasons to smile. It’s also the perfect time to think about your dental health and how to make sure your teeth look their best. We’ve listed six easy tips below.

1. Professional Teeth Cleaning

Usually, everyone will benefit from having their teeth professionally cleaned every six months, and it’s one of the easiest things you can do to protect your oral health and ensure you can smile confidently. We carefully remove all plaque and tartar buildup during your professional dental cleaning before gently polishing your teeth. It’s a treatment that helps reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease while ensuring your smile looks it’s sparkling best.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

The body consists largely of water, so it is essential to remain well-hydrated. Instead of reaching for sugary juice, soda or dehydrating alcoholic beverages, ensure you have a refillable bottle of water nearby so you can drink water regularly throughout the day. Water helps ensure you can make plenty of saliva, and it helps rinse away leftover food particles and bacteria, helping to keep your breath fresh.

3. Eat Healthily

A healthy diet ensures your teeth, gums, and jawbone have all the nutrients they need to fight infection and disease. Make sure you avoid foods and drinks high in sugar and instead make the most of all the wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables available at this time of year.

4. Keep Up-To-Date with Your Dental Work

If you know you have a loose or crumbling filling or need a new crown, or have one or two missing teeth that could do with replacing, get in touch with our dental practice. We can create your custom treatment plan and will work closely with you to ensure you get the dental care you need to protect and preserve your smile.

5. Stick to a Routine

The summer months can get busy, and it’s easy to forget to brush and floss your teeth regularly. However, sticking to a regular daily routine will help maintain your smile and protect your oral health, ensuring you can enjoy good oral health year-round and not just during summer.

6. Have a Professional Whitening Treatment

If you are still unhappy with the appearance of your teeth after having them cleaned professionally, ask us about a professional teeth whitening treatment. It is quick, safe, easy and very affordable. Our professional strength whitening products will help lift the colour of your teeth by several shades, sometimes in as little as an hour. Opt for an in-chair whitening treatment if you can’t wait to see the results. Otherwise, ask us about a custom home whitening kit using mouth trays specially created to fit exactly over your teeth. All you need do is wear the trays for several hours or overnight for a couple of weeks to get excellent results. You can almost certainly reuse the trays later on when you need a top-up treatment.