Mouth ulcers can be incredibly painful and difficult to get rid of. These are only one kind of oral sore. If you bite your lip or cheek, the small cut may become inflamed or infected, and irritated from rubbing on your teeth. There is no specific one cause for mouth ulcers – however they can be a result of many different things.Being extremely tired, run-down, sick, low in immunity or intolerant to certain foods can all produce mouth ulcers. Deficiency in certain nutrients such as iron or vitamin B can also lead to mouth ulcers. Patients with braces or other orthodontic appliances may find that wires rubbing on their cheek or gum can cause localised ulcers or abrasions. 
Using a zinc supplement can really help speed up and encourage the healing process and strengthen cells. There are also other varieties of sores that can affect the mouth and it’s important to be familiar with your mouth and what’s normal for you. Canker sores are a term used to describe sores extremely similar to ulcers – but can be more viral and can present many sores at once.
Posts Categorized: Dental Advice
Caring for Teeth with Orthodontics
If your child or teenager is having orthodontic treatment, it can be tricky to maintain great oral health. It’s crucial that your child maintains healthy teeth and gums throughout the orthodontic treatment, as this may severely affect the outcome. Teeth that are partially covered by braces, bands and wires are particularly difficult to clean, however they are even more at risk of cavities and decay, so its imperative that your child pays extra attention to these areas. Spending an extra minute or two while brushing (3-4 minutes instead of 2 minutes) is recommended for orthodontic patients.
Medical Conditions Can Become Dental Conditions
Patients with diabetes can be slightly more likely to suffer from gum disease and tooth decay than patients without diabetes. While there is no guarantee that anyone will be decay-free whether they are diabetic or not, patterns from studies show that 62% of diabetic patients suffer from gum disease or active decay in their mouths. It is important to manage diabetes, whether it is type one or type two. If you or someone in your family has diabetes, please speak to your GP before booking your dental visit. Dental treatment for diabetic patients is more or less the same as treatment for non-diabetic patients, however it is important that we are aware of any medications, allergies or recent episodes related to your condition.
Making Dentistry Painless!
We understand that dental treatment can be uncomfortable for adults and kids, but it doesn’t have to be! We have many ways to relieve the discomfort of dental treatment at Vivid Dental, so let us make your visit easy.
There are three things we use to make your treatment as comfortable as possible.
– Topical Anaesthetic
This is gel or cream applied to your gum to topically numb that spot, so you will feel nothing when we give the local anaesthetic injection.
– Local Anaesthetic
Smoking and Dental Health
So you may know that smoking is harmful to your oral health – but do you know why? Tobacco and nicotine are vascular-constrictors, which means smoking cigars or cigarettes restricts the blood flow to your mouth. Why is this a problem?
One of the first warning signs of gum disease, is bleeding gums. If you smoke, and your gums do not bleed when you brush or floss, you cannot tell if you have developed gum disease or not. By the time it’s discovered, it is often severe. Another reason smoking is harmful for your oral health, is that it is one of the leading causes of mouth cancer. Mouth cancer isn’t the most common form of cancer, however it is serious and can be fatal. If you notice any changes to your tongue, insides of your cheeks or gums, like lumps, sores or discoloration, make an appointment right away.
Smoking also causes staining on teeth from the large quantity of tar in cigarettes. Dark brown or even black staining can occur on the inside and outside surfaces of your teeth. Smoking can also dry out your mouth – causing xerostomia. This greatly increases chances of tooth decay.
Orthodontics After Teens
Many adults admit to us that they are unhappy with their smile because of crooked teeth, however they don’t want to have braces during their adult lives. At Vivid Dental, we offer Invisalign, which is a clear, less visible alternative to traditional braces. 
While not every single patient is eligible for invisalign, if you are concerned about your bite, having crooked teeth or are unhappy with your smile, come in and have an orthodontic consultation. During this consultation, we take you through your options and predicted outcomes, costs, risks and limitations. These differ for every individual case, so it’s important that you have a consultation for yourself – don’t just go off the advice of somebody else who had treatment, as your mouth may be completely different. Invisalign uses a series of clear plastic retainers to realign your teeth over a period of time. Sometimes this can be done in as little as 6 months, however this too depends on each individual case.
Crowns, Bridges and Implants
Crowns and Bridges are terms used to describe the prosthetic replica of a tooth (or teeth) modelled on an individual’s own mouth and then cemented in place. If you have a tooth that has been filled several times or is heavily decayed or broken, a crown could be the best option for you. If you have lost a tooth and would like to bridge the gap between the teeth on either side of your missing tooth, a bridge can do exactly that. The preparation for a crown or bridge is very similar. The tooth to be crowned (or the teeth either side of the missing tooth) is shaped to be smaller and shorter than before. This is to make room for the prosthetic tooth to fit on top. Several moulds are taken throughout this process, so that the crown or bridge will be an exact replica of your natural tooth and will fit perfectly.
Dry Mouth: Causes and Treatment
Dry mouth is an irritating and uncomfortable condition many patients suffer with. It can be caused by many factors, such as medication, diet, smoking or dehydration. Many medications list dry mouth as a possible side effect, and if the medication is for short term use only, there may not be a problem. However having dry mouth for a long period of time can increase your risk of tooth decay and cavities, and lead to bad breath. Deficiencies in your diet can also add to dry mouth issues. Consult your doctor and our friendly team at Vivid Dental to find the cause of your dry mouth. For temporary relief, drink as much water as you can and dry consuming more fruits and vegetables. A range of dry mouth mouthwashes are available at pharmacies and supermarkets, which stimulate saliva production. Steer clear from alcohol and any dental products containing alcohol too. Sufferers of dry mouth may need to have their check-up and clean appointments more regularly than others – every 3-6 months.
Don’t Let Your Fears Become Your Child’s Fears!
Do you have fears and anxieties from previous bad experiences at the dentist? You’re not the only one. Many of our adult patients suffered from traumatic or stressful experiences at the dentist or orthodontist when they were young. We are able to help you overcome these anxieties with our happy gas, our 
painless injections and our friendly step by step approach. However, many parents subconsciously pass their fears onto their children. Saying things like “we need to be brave at the dentist” or “you need to be a big boy at the dentist” can actually worsen your child’s experience. Kids pick up on your emotions and expressions – especially if you seem anxious or fearful. They will then assume that the dentist is a scary place where they need to be brave and prepare for painful treatments, however at Vivid, this isn’t the case.
Top 5 Kids Dental Myths Uncovered!
Many parents have misconceptions about the importance of dental health in children. We have gathered the 5 most common children’s dental myths below, to set the record straight!
1. Cavities in kids teeth don’t matter because baby teeth fall out anyway.
This is false, but a very common misconception. Cavities in baby teeth can actually cause permanent damage to your child’s adult teeth – even when they are under the gum. Having active decay in the mouth is never safe, so if you think your child might have decay in their teeth, bring them in.
What Age Should I Start Taking My Kids To The Dentist?
Recently the team at Vivid Dental attended the Pregnancy Babies & Children’s Expowww.pbcexpo.com.au at Sydney Olympic Park. We had the opportunity to meet lots of new and expecting mum’s. Over the three days, the question most mums asked was “at what age should I take my children to the dentist?” Our answer?
Kids should see the dentist for their first dental check-up at the age of 3
There seems to be a lot of conflicting information given between dentists, midwives and baby books. The age seems to range from as young as 1 year. So, can your kids see the dentist earlier? The answer is yes, especially if you have a specific concern. Most importantly, if your child has been in a school yard accident and has hurt their mouth or teeth then they should see the dentist as soon as possible regardless of age.
Can Playing Sport Be Bad For My Teeth?
A patient recently came to see me as his teeth had become increasingly sensitive to cold. He mentioned that he had recently started long distance bike riding and alarm bells immediately rang in my mind. Discussing this further I discovered that as part of the sport, for energy riders drank gels which contained a high amount of sugar and acid for energy and electrolyte replacement. This sensitivity is an early warning sign and since we identified this problem early, he had not progressed to cavities. At this stage we can help reverse the damage and reduce the risk that these sensitive spots develop into cavities.