Posts Categorized: Dental Advice

How to avoid the dental dangers of dry mouth

Dry Mouth Concept - Cracked Ground, Earthquake Background, Texture Parched Earth

You might not think that having a dry mouth is cause for dental concern. It’s irritating, yes – and often a side effect of medications – but not something to be concerned about.

However, that parched, dryness can lead to gum trouble and tooth decay, as well as being uncomfortable.

So how does dry mouth happen? It occurs when the glands in your mouth, those that produce saliva, aren’t functioning properly. This can be because of medication (such as those for blood pressure pain relievers), autoimmune disorders, chemotherapy for cancer, or radiation therapy (specifically targeting the head/neck region). read more

Choosing the Right Toothbrush

Do you feel overwhelmed when you walk down the toothbrush aisle? It’s not uncommon – there are a lot of options.

When it comes to picking out the best toothbrush, there are a number of factors you should consider.

Choosing the right toothbrush head

The shape of your toothbrush needs to fit the shape of your mouth in order to get the best clean possible. Consider the shape and size of a toothbrush head before you purchase. The bristles should reach your back molars comfortably and be able to cover each tooth. If your toothbrush isn’t reaching everywhere in your mouth, swap it out for a toothbrush with a different sized head – one that better fits your mouth. read more

3 Ways You are Brushing Your Teeth Wrong

We are all aware of how long we should be brushing our teeth (2 minutes) and that we should be brushing after every meal. And while we might not follow these guidelines strictly, it’s something we all know we either are or are not doing.

However, there are a few things that you might not know you are doing wrong when it comes to brushing your teeth.

1. You are brushing too hard

If you hold your toothbrush in a tight death grip and push the bristles firmly against your teeth, you are doing your tooth enamel more harm than good. It can also hurt your gums and lead to gum recession issues. This leads into point #2…. read more

Choosing the Right Mouthwash for You

Man Pouring Bottle Of Mouthwash Into Cap

Mouthwash freshens your breath and can help to improve your oral health. Mouthwash helps to kill the germs that cause bad breath, plaque, and gingivitis. There are many types of mouthwash, so how do you choose the right mouthwash for you?

Fluoride Mouthwash

Fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel, thereby preventing tooth decay. Whilst controversial, fluoride is an important inclusion in most toothpastes, and is also added to the drinking water as a preventative measure in many Australian regions. If you are more prone to cavities, using a fluoride mouthwash can help to maintain your tooth enamel and prevent cavities. read more

The Proper Way to Floss with Braces

Dentist Flossing Teeth With Ceramic Brackets

The dreaded question (and the one most people lie about) when going to the dentist: have you been flossing regularly?

Though everyone’s least favorite dental activity, flossing plays a vital role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Brushing removes much of the surface buildup on teeth, but it is only a partial job in keeping your mouth clean.

Flossing gets underneath the gum line to remove the buildup that causes issues such as gum disease. Each time you eat, food debris, plaque and bacteria build up along your gum line. Flossing pulls these particles down and out of your gums, leading to a cleaner, healthier mouth. read more

Your Exercise Routine – Good for your Health, Bad for your Teeth?

While we all know the physical and psychological benefits of exercise, one thing we don’t often think about is how our exercise routine might be affecting our teeth.

There are a variety of reasons your exercise routine may be negatively impacting your teeth. Below are just a few of the common causes:

Clenching Jaw/Teeth

You might not notice, but you likely clench your teeth when you exercise. Weightlifting, spin class, even strenuous yoga poses can cause you to clench your jaw while you focus. Continuous clenching can cause both short- and long-term damage to your teeth. read more

Pregnancy and Your Oral Health

Pregnant woman at dentist before treatment

So, you’re expecting a baby. Congratulations!

Life is exciting, your body is changing on a daily basis, and there is a lot to think about and plan for.

Pregnancy has a major impact on every aspect of your health, including your oral health. At Vivid Dental, we get many questions from mothers-to-be about the effect of pregnancy on your oral health (and that of your growing baby), and how to maintain optimum oral health during pregnancy.

Are there any common oral health problems I’m likely to experience during my pregnancy?

Pregnancy gingivitis is the most common oral health problem experienced during pregnancy. Symptoms include red, inflamed and bleeding gums. read more

Easter Means Sugar! Protect Yourself From Tooth Decay

Easter is a wonderful time of year. School holidays roll around and we have a long weekend. Often, family functions occur and lots of delicious food is consumed. This holiday season can be tough on your teeth. Sugar and acidic foods are really harmful to your teeth. This time of year can mean consuming a lot of these nasties!

Whether you celebrate Easter due to it’s religious significance, or just enjoy some time off with friends and family, this holiday can wreak havoc on your teeth. One thing is for sure across all faiths and backgrounds – and that’s sugar and treats at Easter time. Easter eggs, hot cross buns, lollies, big meals, the list goes on. read more

Gum Disease – The Quiet Health Threat

Sarah considers herself very healthy. She eats well, exercises each day and loves practicing yoga. Sarah is also diligent with her water intake and ensures she eats loads of organic fruit and veggies. She avoids alcohol and refined sugar. To Sarah, health and well-being was always a priority. It came as a huge surprise to Sarah to find out that she had gum disease. Sarah had neglected a very important aspect of her well-being for years – her oral health.

After noticing bleeding whilst brushing her teeth, Sarah booked in an appointment with our team. Following a thorough examination, Dr Finnegan explained to Sarah that she has moderate gum disease. Her gums are puffy, inflamed and have loosened from the tooth structure, allowing harmful bacteria and plaque to enter the blood stream. read more

Curious About Teeth Whitening? Read David

David took great care of his teeth, but was always unhappy with their colour. While he brushed and flossed regularly, he also enjoyed lots of coffee, red wine, and was a long term smoker. Over the years, David’s teeth had become heavily stained and he was feeling self conscious about it. David had been curious about teeth whitening but didn’t know how best to proceed.At his regular 6 monthly check up and clean, he discussed his concerns with our caring dentist Dr Theresa Leong.

Dr Leong was able to explain to David that the staining of his teeth may have been caused by several factors, including: read more

New Year, New You? Achieve a Healthy Lifestyle with Dental Care

Many of us start the New Year with resolutions we want to achieve. One of the most common resolutions, is aiming to implement a healthy lifestyle. Whether this means losing weight, quitting smoking, eating more vegetables or going for a jog every day, we can help. Many people don’t understand that achieving a healthy lifestyle is a result of many little steps, not one big change.

A healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul of your everyday. Even the tiniest changes can make a big difference. Did you know that by implementing one change everyday for 21 days, you set a habit? We challenge you to floss your teeth every night for 21 days – and see how inspired you are to continue living a healthy lifestyle in other aspects. read more

Fluoride – The Controversial Mineral Your Teeth Need!

Fluoride in water was an amazing step forward in strengthening teeth against decay.

Fluoride is a main component in most toothpastes, and in many parts of Australia and around the world, is also a main component in municipal water supplies. Fluoridated drinking water has been proven to make a significant difference in the development of gum disease and dental caries. Fluoride also helps determine whether weakened enamel will be remineralized or will form a cavity. Women who live in areas where water is not fluoridated are often advised to take supplements. If supplements are used, care must be taken not to consume more that recommended amount, as too much can also cause damage to your unborn child’s teeth. Research indicates that this powerful mineral can be transferred through the placenta, meaning that it will reduce the risk of caries in the unborn child as well. read more

Is it Safe to Have Dental Treatment During Pregnancy?

While improved home dental care is essential to proper dental development in your unborn child, it is equally important to ensure that you are continuing professional dental treatment. Many expectant mothers think dental treatment is unsafe when pregnant. It is absolutely safe to receive dental treatment during pregnancy. More importantly- it is actually recommended. Your dentist will be able to look at your health history and your dental history. Then, they will prescribe suitable dental treatment for you. This will manage your gum health and ensure you avoid pregnancy gingivitis. read more

Pregnancy Can Significantly Affect Your Dental Health

Prenatal Care and Dental Health
Taking care of your own health and needs while pregnant can have a surprising effect on both the dental and overall physical health of your child. While more research is still needed to provide specific numbers in terms of risk, there is rapidly growing evidence to suggest that there is a link between gum disease and premature birth. It seems that gum disease in pregnant women affects certain fluids and hormones that induce labor, and when gun disease worsens during pregnancy, the chances of premature birth go up accordingly. read more

Are You Neglecting Aspects of Your Child’s Health?

As parents, we all want what is best for our children. We work hard to ensure that they receive all of the medical care that they need, from vaccinations to checkups, medication, and anything else that doctors may recommend. For almost all parents, ensuring the health and well-being of our children is a top priority, and one that we will go to almost any length to accomplish. Yet a surprising number of parents overlook a critical element of their children’s healthcare – dental care.

Did you know that oral health is linked strongly to overall physical health? Did you know that teaching the right dental habits early in life can help to greatly decrease the chances of cavities and gum disease in your children as they get older? We all want our children to have healthy bodies as well as natural and confident smiles, and this starts with proper dental care. Not only should you use a finger or gum brush on babies and teach children as early as possible how to properly use a toothbrush and toothpaste, but regular visits to the dentist are critical. read more

How Can Myobrace Straighten Your Child’s Teeth?

Did you know that 3 out of 4 young children have crowded teeth or incorrectly developing jaws? This can be seen in children as young as age 5. Have you noticed any crowding in your child’s mouth as their adult teeth come through?

By intervening early, we are able to achieve results that are not possible once the face and jaws have stopped growing.

Myobrace is a more natural way help straighten teeth as it harnessing the natural growth process of the mouth. The treatment addresses the poor oral habits that are the main cause of crooked teeth e.g. incorrect tongue position and mouth breathing. read more

Sore Teeth in Children: Causes and Solutions

What causes sore teeth?

Sore teeth may occur at any age for a variety of reasons. In children, there are a few common causes of sore teeth we see most often.

Teething

Babies and young children often get sore teeth and gums when teeth are erupting. Their teething pain can be soothed with a teething ring (try chilling it in the refrigerator first) or teething gel. Sore teeth during teething may cause your baby to be grizzly, febrile and generally a little unwell. Many parents understand that extra saliva will develop when a child is teething. This is accurate and requires no intervention. However it’s important to note that around 4 months old, all babies can produce excessive saliva in order to assist their digestion of solids. This doesn’t mean your 4 month old is teething, and it is perfectly normal. read more

Why Does My Child Have Yellow Teeth?

Some parents are concerned that their kid’s adult teeth are yellow. Most of the time the reason for stained teeth is simple and does not require any treatment.

Why do teeth appear yellow?

The first reason is because they look more yellow next to their baby teeth. Baby teeth are so white that they are sometimes called ‘milk teeth’. When a new adult tooth is next to a baby tooth (milk tooth) they can look quite yellow. In this case it is normal and the colour difference will not be as noticeable when there are more adult teeth and less baby teeth. read more

Pregnancy Gingivitis: What You Need To Know

If you are pregnant and find that your gums are starting to bleed, don’t be alarmed. Pregnant women are more prone to pregnancy gingivitis because of the hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy. That is why it is so important to keep on top of your oral hygiene.

Thorough brushing and flossing will keep your gums healthy, along with a healthy diet, helping you to avoid pregnancy gingivitis. A healthy diet during pregnancy should include calcium rich foods like milk, cheese, yogurt and green vegetables. read more

Don’t Suffer With Sensitive Teeth!

Do you suffer from sensitive teeth? Drinking cold drinks, eating ice cream, having hot coffees or even breathing in cold air can be extremely painful if you suffer from sensitivity.

Dentin hypersensitivity is the term used to describe sensitive teeth caused by many different factors. Some of these factors include gum recession exposing the root of the tooth, worn enamel, cavities, chips in the enamel or tooth surface and grinding of your tooth surface. Sensitive teeth can be managed and there are strategies you can use to ease the discomfort of your sensitive teeth. read more

Posts Categorized: Dental Advice

How to avoid the dental dangers of dry mouth