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Tooth decay is a common disease throughout the world, and many children will go on to develop cavities in their teeth. An untreated cavity can cause toothache, greatly affecting a child’s well-being and health. Tooth decay will worsen without treatment because it is a bacterial infection that cannot clear up without professional dental care. In addition to toothache, children affected by tooth decay can suffer from:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Problems with eating can affect the growth and development
• Speech problems
• Lower self-esteem can lead to social isolation
• Untreated cavities can damage the permanent teeth developing underneath
• There is a higher risk of other teeth developing tooth decay
• Problems concentrating at school or missing a significant amount of schooling due to pain and the subsequent dental care needed for severely infected teeth

Although tooth decay may be common, it is preventable with the right oral hygiene habits. We have listed some points to follow below if you have a young child.

Make sure you do not put your baby to sleep with a bottle containing anything other than water. You can begin brushing their teeth as soon as they appear using a small baby toothbrush and either plain water or a smear of toothpaste. Ask us for advice on which we would recommend, as it is best to book your child’s first dental visit as soon as they get their first teeth.

From age one to eighteen months, you should be brushing your child’s teeth twice a day. We can show you how to brush them thoroughly when you bring your child to visit us using the proper techniques. From age one onwards, a child should be able to drink from a cup.

Between ages one and a half and five years, you can start brushing your child’s teeth with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. You will need to help your child brush their teeth until they are aged eight because, before this age, they lack the dexterity needed to complete this task. Milk and plain water are the best drinks for a child, and it is better to avoid fruit juice that can be laden with sugar, regardless of your child’s age. Instead, encourage kids to eat fruit that contains useful fibre.

General Tips for Looking after Your Child’s Teeth

We recommend an initial dental visit by age one, so our dentist can make sure your child’s teeth are developing properly, and we can talk to you about how best to care for them at home. Many parents find this initial visit extremely helpful, especially for first-time mums and dads. Make sure you use an appropriate child-sized toothbrush to clean your child’s teeth. As they get older, it can be a good idea to involve them in choosing a toothbrush as there are many appealing designs available for kids, which can help get them more interested in dental care. Please encourage your child to eat healthily and limit their access to processed foods and foods high in sugars, including sports drinks and energy drinks.

Getting older takes its toll on your body, and your teeth are no exception, but the good news is there is a lot you can do to help keep them in great shape with good preventative dental care. Read on to discover easy ways to reduce the wear and tear on your teeth and gums.

Avoid Damaging Oral Habits

Your teeth are covered with strong tooth enamel, but all that biting, chewing and grinding food can gradually wear down over the years. Over time, your tooth cusps also become flatter due to wear and tear. It’s impossible to prevent all wear and tear on teeth, but you can reduce your risk by avoiding very hard foods or habits like chewing on ice cubes. These can chip or crack your tooth enamel and may require restorative care.

Get Treatment for a Poor Bite

Teeth can be ground down if you have a poor bite, where your teeth do not occlude or bite together properly. Poor occlusion may mean you bite together with some teeth before others, wearing them down. A poor bite can also place stress on your jaw joints. One option is to look into orthodontic treatment to realign teeth, and these days there are several adult braces that are discreet and easy to use. Alternatively, depending on the problems requiring correction, we may be able to adjust your tooth surfaces, so your teeth meet together properly.

Teeth Clenching and Grinding

Many people have a clenching and grinding habit called bruxism, which normally occurs during sleep. It can significantly damage teeth, jaws and gums, causing problems with toothache and jaw ache and even chronic headaches. If you suspect you may have bruxism make an appointment to come and see us. Our dentist can gently examine your teeth and jaw joints for signs of damage and inflammation. Often, bruxism is easy to treat with a custom-made night guard. The night guard fits over your teeth and is made from a strong plastic material, so the opposing teeth grind harmlessly against it.

Gum Health

Maintaining healthy gums is extremely important, protecting your teeth and even your general health. Each day, a sticky biofilm called dental plaque coats your teeth and begins to build up just minutes after brushing and flossing. It contains bacteria that, if not promptly removed, will infect and inflame your gums. Eventually, these bacteria will destroy your gums and the bone around your teeth, loosening them so we may need to extract them. As the gums are infected, they start to bleed more easily, allowing these bacteria to enter your bloodstream, where they can cause serious health problems.

When you come and see us regularly, we always check for any early signs of gum disease because, at this stage, it is reversible. We can clean your teeth professionally, getting rid of plaque and hardened plaque, a substance called calculus or tartar. Our hygienist can also review your oral care routine with you, making sure you are cleaning your teeth thoroughly and using appropriate tools.

We can help ensure your teeth remain in great shape no matter your age by working with you.

Cold and flu season is here, and perhaps you have noticed others around you have started to cough and sneeze. You may not realise that general health is closely connected to oral health, so when you have a cold or the flu, it affects your dental health. If you get sick this winter, follow our easy tips to help protect your oral health.

Pay Extra Attention When Brushing Your Teeth

While it’s important to clean your teeth thoroughly at all times of the year, you are more likely to use medications that contain sugars when you have a cold. These sugars can harm your teeth, especially if you are sucking on cough drops continuously to soothe a sore throat. Although you can purchase sugar-free cough drops, these may be more acidic, and the acids can also damage your teeth. After sucking on cough sweets, it’s best to wait half an hour before cleaning your teeth.

When brushing your teeth, make sure you spend at least two minutes cleaning all tooth surfaces thoroughly. Try to brush methodically, and if you have an electric toothbrush, it will probably alert you when it’s time to move on to a new section of your mouth. 

Replace Your Toothbrush Regularly

Has it been a while since you replaced your toothbrush? You need to purchase a new toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if it begins to look worn. It can also be a good idea to replace your toothbrush after being ill because it can harbour bacteria.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated, especially if you are feeling ill or under the weather, is especially important, and it helps ensure you can create plenty of saliva. Saliva is an important part of controlling harmful bacteria in the mouth, helping keep your mouth fresher and cleaner. It washes away excess food particles that can feed these bacteria. If your mouth feels dry, it can be uncomfortable, and your chance of cavities and gum disease increases. Many medications, including decongestants, can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Also, if you have a cold, you are more likely to have a stuffy nose and need to breathe through your mouth, drying out your oral tissues. The best way to stay hydrated is to drink plenty of water, so keep a refillable bottle with you or have a large glass of water nearby to sip on frequently.

If You Have Been Sick, Swish Your Mouth with Water before Brushing

It’s quite common to feel sick or vomit when you have the flu, and your immediate reaction is probably to reach for your toothbrush. However, being sick exposes your teeth to strong stomach acid, so it’s best to wait a while for the acidity levels in your mouth to normalise. Try making a mouth rinse by dissolving a teaspoon of baking soda in water to help neutralise acids more quickly. If you have a sore throat, gargling with salt water can help to soothe it and reduce bacterial levels.

As women go through different stages in life, their hormone levels change, potentially impacting oral health. Understanding how this affects dental health will help you enjoy a healthy, attractive smile, no matter your age. These changes occur during menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.

Menstruation

During menstruation, changes in hormonal levels can increase the sensitivity of the gums to plaque bacteria. Consequently, you may notice your gums bleed more easily at this time, and they could feel a bit more tender. Another potential side effect is experiencing more mouth ulcers and cold sores in the days immediately before your period starts.

We very much hope you look after your oral health year-round, but it can be useful to pay extra attention to your dental care during your period, especially if you notice your gums are a bit more sensitive or that they are prone to bleeding slightly. Also, it can feel more comfortable to schedule your checkups and cleans outside of your period.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be an amazing and exciting time, but the changes in hormonal levels can be significant as your body accommodates your growing baby. Most women try to eat healthily during this time, but did you know pregnancy can affect your dental health? The increase in hormonal levels can cause pregnancy gingivitis, where your gums begin to bleed more easily due to increased sensitivity to plaque bacteria. Pregnancy gingivitis will clear up once your baby is born, but we might suggest more frequent dental cleanings while you are pregnant. Removing plaque and tartar buildup can help manage pregnancy gingivitis more effectively so you can continue to enjoy a healthy smile.

Morning sickness is another common side effect, and if you are afflicted, rinse your mouth immediately afterwards but wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth. Vomiting exposes your teeth to strong stomach acid that weakens your tooth enamel. Waiting a while gives it time to re-harden, reducing the impact on your dental health.

Please don’t forget to come and see us regularly during your pregnancy. There is no need to be concerned as regular preventive dental care during pregnancy is perfectly okay, and it’s much safer for you both to have any dental problems treated. We take extra special care of our pregnant patients, making sure any treatment we provide is safe for you both.

Menopause

When menopause rolls around, most women are looking forward to an end to menstruation, but going through the change may affect oral health. As hormonal levels decline and become more erratic, it can increase the risk of gum disease and other issues like dry mouth, where your body cannot produce enough saliva to keep the mouth clean, fresh and comfortable. We have plenty of dental strategies to help you sail through menopause with a smile and with the right care, there is no need for it to negatively affect your oral health.

Customised Dental Care

We customise our preventive dental care plans for every patient, ensuring we factor in your unique oral health needs so you enjoy optimal oral health and healthy teeth for life.

Your teeth are meant to last you for life, but they can only do so if you look after them properly. Unfortunately, poor oral and lifestyle habits can all take their toll on your pearly whites. We have taken a closer look at these oral habits and how they impact your dental health, and how to overcome these effects.

Eating and Drinking

The foods and drinks you consume can significantly affect your dental health, and one of the worst culprits is sugar. Whenever you eat or drink anything sugary, the excess sugars are utilised by decay-causing bacteria found in dental plaque. Dental plaque is a sticky biofilm coating your teeth and builds up over your tooth surfaces between regular brushing and flossing.

The bacteria in plaque use leftover sugar for energy, excreting a weak acid as a byproduct. The acid removes essential minerals from tooth enamel, and repeated exposure to these acids eventually weakens enamel to such an extent that cavities form.

There are some simple steps you can take to reduce the impact of sugar. The first is to brush your teeth at least twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. Spit out the excess paste after brushing but don’t rinse your mouth as a thin layer of fluoride ions will remain to coat your teeth providing a little more protection.

Make sure you clean between your teeth at least once a day using dental floss or another tool like interdental brushes, soft picks, or a water flosser. If you aren’t sure about flossing, ask us for help and practical advice.

Last but not least, try to limit your sugar consumption to less than six teaspoons per day, which is the recommended amount for an adult, and when you have something sugary, consume it as part of your main meal and try to avoid snacking. The more frequently you snack on sugary foods, the more often your teeth are exposed to those weak acids.

Drink Water, Not Soft Drinks

Many of us don’t drink enough water, but it’s an excellent beverage for your teeth, and it’s sugar-free. Much of the water supply in Australia already contains fluoride, and drinking fluoridated water every day is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to prevent tooth decay.

In comparison, soft drinks are often packed with sugar. These include sports drinks and energy drinks. On average, a 600 mL bottle contains around 16 teaspoons of sugar. Fruit juice is no better, and if you read the nutritional label of a juice carton, you may be shocked to discover its sugar content. These sugary drinks provide very little or no nutrition and greatly increase your risk of tooth decay and developing other health problems like type II diabetes. Swapping to sugar-free drinks isn’t a good solution as these drinks often contain acid to make them tastier. Any food or drink containing acid will automatically attack your tooth enamel, eventually eroding it and causing cavities.

Clenching and grinding is a habit called bruxism. It is a tremendously destructive habit that can wear down your teeth, cause gum recession and affect your jaw joints. Luckily, when you visit our dental practice, we can easily diagnose the signs of bruxism and provide suitable treatment.

What Is Bruxism?

If you have bruxism, you will clench and grind your teeth subconsciously. Although this habit can occur while you are awake, it most often happens during sleep. Most people will grind their teeth occasionally, which won’t cause any lasting damage, but if you begin to clench and grind your teeth more frequently, it’s important to seek proper treatment.

What Causes Bruxism?

Bruxism is often linked to other sleep disorders like sleep apnoea and insomnia. It can manifest during periods of high stress or when someone feels anxious or depressed. Other factors that can cause bruxism include occlusal problems, where your teeth don’t bite together properly. When you have an improper bite, it can make you more likely to clench and grind your teeth. Bruxism may also be due to acid reflux and has even been linked to excessive consumption of caffeine.

What Are the Signs of Bruxism?

Because bruxism often occurs during sleep, people are frequently unaware they have this habit. They may be alerted to the problem by sleeping partners because, as you can imagine, teeth grinding can become pretty noisy.

Potential signs of bruxism include waking up with a headache or jaw pain, or painful teeth. You may notice your jaw joints make a clicking or popping sound when you open your mouth, and it could be painful to move your jaw or perform everyday actions like chewing food. You might find your teeth become more sensitive to hot and cold, and this is because bruxism wears away the protective layer of tooth enamel so the sensations can more easily penetrate the teeth and reach the tooth nerve. If you look at your teeth, they may appear worn, chipped or cracked. In severe cases of bruxism, teeth may be so damaged that they become loose.

Diagnosing and Treating Bruxism

If any of these signs sound familiar, please book a consultation with our dentist. We can soon diagnose signs of bruxism and discuss suitable ways to treat this problem. One of the easiest treatments is to provide you with a custom-made nightguard. The nightguard will fit over your teeth, usually your upper teeth, so your lower teeth grind harmlessly against the guard. Wearing a nightguard can be enough to break the habit of bruxism.

Other possible treatments include restorative dentistry to mend teeth damaged by bruxism. We will also want to check your bite to make sure your teeth bite or occlude correctly, and if necessary, we can make adjustments so they bite together more smoothly.

Self-help treatments can also be useful, so try to reduce your stress levels and avoid consuming too much caffeine before bedtime. Make sure you have a regular bedtime routine, limiting your screen time before sleeping, so you feel more relaxed.

Easter is a great time for family celebrations, but you may be worried about the impact of all that chocolate and candy on your family’s dental health. Consuming too much sugar feeds decay-causing bacteria found naturally in your mouth, increasing the risk of cavities.

How Much Is Too Much?

The World Health Organisation suggests women should consume no more than 25 g daily, while men can eat a little more at 35 g. When you look at the amount of sugar in popular Easter treats, you can see how easy it is to exceed this level in no time at all. For example, Lindt Easter bunnies are extremely popular, and you’d assume one bunny was a serving size, but you be wrong. Just half a bunny contains 25 g of sugar, and it’s tricky to find the willpower to stop at just half! It’s a similar story with peeps that usually weigh around 28 g but have 14 g of sugar. Peanut butter chocolate eggs are another popular treat, each potentially containing between 20 and 30 g of sugar.

It’s easy to consume your daily sugar intake even before eating other meals. The situation worsens if you have an Easter basket full of sweet treats ready to snack on.

Follow our easy tips this Easter to help protect your family’s dental health.

Choose Chocolate

If you want something sweet, choose chocolate and the darker, the better. Chocolate with more than 70% cocoa can satisfy that sweet craving with just a few squares. Look for individually wrapped sweets as it is easier to control portion sizes or use plastic eggs to provide an individualised portion which is a great option for children.

Opt for Soft and Easily Chewable Sweets

We often see patients who have broken teeth on hard sweets like toffees, hard candy and caramel. Nobody wants to spend their holiday seeing an emergency dentist, so instead, pick sweets that are easy to chew, will melt more easily and are washed away more quickly. In comparison, something very sticky or hard will tend to get stuck between your teeth for longer. The longer your teeth remain covered in sugar, the higher the risk of cavities.

Don’t Graze

Resist the urge to snack on sweets all day because every time you do, your mouth becomes more acidic due to the acids excreted by oral bacteria thriving on sugary leftovers. The longer your mouth remains acidic, the greater the chance that the acid will weaken your tooth enamel, eventually causing cavities. Instead, try to eat candy as part of your main meal when your mouth is already more acidic.

Drink Plenty of Water

After eating sweets, swish your mouth with water to help wash away food debris and cavity-causing bacteria. Water also helps ensure you can make plenty of saliva, which is essential for a healthy mouth.

Plan Ahead for Road Trips

If your Easter plans include a road trip, go prepared with a cooler full of sugar-free drinks and healthy foods, so it’s easy to resist buying fast food on sugary treats on the way.

We usually suggest people come and see us regularly for dental checkups every six months, sometimes more frequently if they have existing dental problems or medical issues that affect dental health. It’s a simple routine that can benefit everyone from childhood onwards.

When people come to see us for the first time, we evaluate their dental health, review their medical history and use this information to create a preventive dental care plan. However, people don’t always realise their dental health changes as they get older, so we regularly review preventive dental care plans. Following a personalised dental care plan ensures you receive the most appropriate treatment, helping natural teeth last for longer, so you benefit from a beautiful smile, no matter your age.

Dental Health during Your 20s

Your 20s is a time of change when many people leave home and lead increasingly busy lives. If you have moved away from your family dentist, it’s important to find a new dental practice and schedule regular dental checkups just like before. Two dental checkups and hygiene appointments annually will typically take two hours or less to complete, which is time anyone can afford.

At this age, wisdom teeth may also begin to cause problems as they come through. We monitor the position of wisdom teeth yet to erupt and can suggest their removal is necessary. During the late 20s, people often think about improving their smile and teeth whitening is increasingly popular. Others are interested in adult orthodontics, especially if they didn’t have the chance to wear braces during childhood.

Dental Health during Your 30s

You should have a well-established dental home by this age, where you can visit a dental team you trust to care for your oral health. It’s important to keep up with a good preventive dental care regime, especially as people sometimes develop unexpected dental problems. These may be due to lifestyle or dietary changes, and the first signs of gum disease can start to show.

Dental Health during Your 40s

Life can become stressful when you are in your 40s, and we can check to make sure you don’t have any signs of bruxism, where people clench and grind their teeth during sleep. It’s also when some people start needing more extensive dental work such as root canal therapy or crowns. Making sure you visit us regularly greatly minimises the risk of more severe dental issues, including tooth loss.

Dental Health during Your 50s

Oral health needs during your 50s are similar to your 40s, but there can be an increased risk of gum disease and other health conditions like sleep apnoea. Also, it’s worth planning for the day when you stop working. Increasingly, older people will choose treatments such as dental implants to restore missing teeth. Others are celebrating retirement with a smile makeover, perhaps having procedures like teeth whitening or veneers, or are straightening their teeth with invisible braces like Invisalign.

Why Your Six Monthly Checkup Is More Important Than You May Think

You might not think skipping your regular dental checkup is that important, especially if your teeth generally seem healthy and disease-free. However, if you continue to put off your dental checkups and cleanings, it can lead to substantial plaque and tartar buildup. The consequences can eventually result in far more serious issues.

Reasons Why People Avoid Seeing a Dentist

We realise not everyone finds it easy to see a dentist. Some people feel embarrassed, but they shouldn’t worry as we never judge and are simply here to help you achieve optimal dental health. Dental fears and phobias are very real, but you can trust our kind and caring dental team to take care of you and make sure you feel relaxed in our comfortable dental practice.

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Miss That Appointment

The reasons for not missing your dental appointment are compelling.

Plaque and Tartar Buildup

Even if you brush your teeth exceptionally well, some plaque will remain and quickly hardens into tartar or calculus. Calculus makes it easier for more dental plaque to stick to your teeth and is so hard it can only be removed by your dental hygienist using special hand tools.

Gum Disease

The presence of plaque and tartar increases your risk of developing gum disease as the bacteria within these substances produces toxins that infect and inflame your gums. Initially, gum disease is a silent disease, producing few symptoms. Regular dental checkups help detect the early signs of gum disease, called gingivitis, at which stage it is reversible. Prompt treatment is essential as otherwise, gingivitis soon develops into periodontitis or advanced gum disease. This serious condition can result in tooth loss and jawbone loss.

Tooth Decay

Those harmful bacteria in plaque and tartar also increase your risk of tooth decay, producing acids that gradually erode your tooth enamel, eventually causing cavities. When regularly checking your teeth, we can easily detect any tiny lesions. Sometimes it’s possible to re-harden your teeth with applications of topical fluoride. Otherwise, we can fill any tiny holes with tooth coloured composite resin. In comparison, leaving a cavity untreated allows the infection to progress, and you could end up requiring root canal therapy, or even worse, lose that tooth.

Tooth Loss

Teeth are designed to last for life, but only if you care for them properly, including regular preventive professional dental care. When you visit us regularly, we can monitor your dental health closely, soon detecting any signs of oral disease or damage to a tooth that could otherwise result in its loss.

Protecting Your General Health

Perhaps one of the most important reasons for regularly seeing us is to protect your general health, which is closely linked to your oral health. If you have untreated oral disease, especially gum disease, it could affect your overall health. Increasingly, clinical studies link gum disease with diabetes, stroke and heart disease, and certain cancers and dementia.

By taking a proactive approach towards regular professional dental care, you can maintain strong, healthy teeth and gums more easily, protecting your smile and overall health.

World Oral Health Day falls on 20 March this year, and there is a continuing campaign theme urging people to be proud of their mouth. The three-year campaign launched last year promotes a simple but very important message, urging everyone to value their oral health and take care of it. This year, the message highlights how important it is to have a healthy mouth for general well-being.

In many countries, including Australia, oral disease is a major concern. Gum disease and tooth decay are very common and can cause significant pain and discomfort. Oral disease can become isolating, causing a loss of self-confidence when you know your teeth do not look their best. Yet these diseases are preventable and are easily treated during their early stages.

Focusing on Preventive Oral Care

World Oral Health Day and the entire month of March are ideal opportunities to encourage patients to focus on oral health. We firmly believe in preventive oral care, encouraging everyone to have six-monthly checkups and dental cleanings. It is the easiest and most cost-effective way to maintain a healthy mouth you can feel proud to show the world. Additionally, when you visit our practice, we can provide useful information and practical advice on caring for your mouth at home.

Why Is Oral Health Important for General Well-Being?

People often overlook the importance of a healthy mouth when thinking about their general health, but they are closely connected. You need healthy teeth and gums for everyday activities, including eating and speaking. Speaking confidently is tricky without a full complement of teeth. Some people may avoid speaking in public or will hide their mouth.

Without strong teeth, it’s impossible to eat many foods comfortably, and digestion begins in the mouth. You need to chew food thoroughly, and saliva contains important digestive enzymes. Moistening the food with saliva makes it easier to swallow, ensuring your body can extract maximum nutrition from the foods you eat. With strong and healthy teeth, you can enjoy a better diet, helping to protect your general health.

Gum disease is of particular concern and, unfortunately, is very common. Your mouth contains many bacteria, most of which are harmless and are kept under control with good oral care, including brushing twice daily and flossing every day. But, without a proper oral care routine, these bacteria can build up to unmanageable numbers, infecting and inflaming your gums and eventually causing them to recede and destroying the tissues supporting your teeth, including gums and bone. Severe gum disease results in gums that bleed easily, letting these harmful bacteria enter your bloodstream via the capillaries and blood vessels in your gums. Currently, gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and problems during pregnancy.

The early stages of gum disease are often overlooked but easily detected when you visit our practice for regular checkups. Early gum disease is reversible by removing the infectious bacteria during a professional dental cleaning and working with you to improve your oral care routine.

Even if you haven’t visited the dentist for a while, it’s never too late to start improving your dental health so contact us to book your appointment.