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 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

Are you concerned about your children getting cavities and needing fillings?

Or are you concerned about the lifelong implications that poor dental health has on your child’s overall health? Fillings can be difficult for young children and multiple fillings can give them dental anxiety for the future. Fillings don’t last forever and overtime, they may need bigger fillings and more complicated treatment.

Fissure sealants may be the solution for your child!

Fissure sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your child’s teeth from tooth decay. It is a plastic, tooth coloured coating that covers the deep grooves (fissures) on the back teeth (usually the adult molars). The sealant forms a hard protective layer that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the grooves of these teeth; an area where the most tooth decay occurs. 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

Achieve A Straight Smile Without Braces

Are you self conscious about crooked teeth or gaps between your teeth? Many adults have concerns with their smile – whether it’s straightness, gaps, overlapping or overbites, but they don’t want to have braces. There are now many treatment options for adults to straighten their teeth and improve their smile, without the need for traditional bulky orthodontics. Some options are:

Invisalign:

– Invisalign is a series of clear retainers, which gradually improve the alignment of your teeth. As they are clear, they are virtually undetectable, and give patients great results in minimal treatment time. Impressions of your teeth are taken in order to make the retainers, and highly advanced technology and imaging creates a prototype of how your teeth will reach their ideal straightness. read more

Dental Abscess: A Serious Dental Condition

A dental abscess is a serious but common problem. An abscess is a type of lump or swelling due to pus and infection. A dental abscess is exactly that – but in your mouth. Sometimes a dental abscess will present with no pain, but just look like a pimple type lump on the gum. However if there is pain associated with a dental abscess, it’s usually an intense, nerve pain.

The lump itself will usually be above or below a tooth, on the gum. Redness, swelling and pus are all visible signs of a dental abscess. As a dental abscess is an infection, antibiotics are often used to treat them. A course of antibiotics will often reduce pain, swelling and clear up the infection immediately. read more

Dental Cavities in Baby Teeth

Dental cavities are the most commonly treated tooth problem in both adults and children across the globe. However, few people understand what they are, how they occur. It’s important you know the correct treatment and how your children’s dentist will prevent them. It’s important to understand how your tooth is made up, to understand how cavities are formed. baby teeth cavities

Every tooth has a ‘crown’ (the part you see in your mouth) and roots. The crown is coated in natural tooth enamel, which is a hard surface designed to keep bacteria out. However, children’s tooth enamel is not as strong as fully formed adult enamel. Because children’s tooth enamel is not as strong, cavities can form in baby teeth much more quickly and easily than adult teeth. read more

Teeth Whitening: David’s Story

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. 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

Dark, Stained or Yellow Teeth?

Many patients come to us hoping to improve the appearance of a black tooth or generalised yellow teeth. There can be many reasons that may result in black or yellow teeth over time. Some of the reasons can be:

Smoking cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco
Frequent drinking of coffee and black tea
Frequent drinking of red wine
Consumption of deeply coloured foods such as curries, cherries, berries and some tomato based sauces
Antibiotic usage as an infant
Dead or damaged nerves
Leaking amalgam fillings
Cavities

It can be difficult to know where to start – often patients think there is no easy fix, and that they just have to live with their current condition. However, at Vivid Dental, we can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Whether you haeve generalised yellow teeth, or a dark grey or black tooth, we can help you. read more

Is Organic Toothpaste Better For You?

With a significant movement towards organic lifestyle choices becoming increasingly popular, many patients ask us if organic toothpaste is better for their teeth and their children’s teeth. While some people are concerned about fluoride being ‘toxic’ and chemicals being ingested, organic toothpaste isn’t always a better option.

Vivid Dental supports the controlled use of fluoride for strengthening teeth. Most brands of organic toothpaste don’t contain fluoride to strengthen teeth, or sufficient ingredients to effectively remove plaque and bacteria. While organic toothpaste may sound appealing as a holistic option, the lack of fluoride can mean soft, weak tooth enamel and ineffective removal of bacteria, which ultimately leads to cavities and dental disease. read more

Orthodontic Treatment Relapse

Did you have orthodontic treatment as a teen, but find years down the track your teeth have reverted back to crookedness? Many patients who have had braces, retainers or other appliances find that later in life their teeth relapse into their original alignment. This can be caused by a number of factors, particularly not wearing a prescribed retainer, and sometimes the age at which treatment was completed.

If you had orthodontic treatment as a child and your teeth have become crooked again over time, you may be thinking “I don’t want to go through braces again!” which is perfectly understandable. At Vivid Dental, we are proud to provide options that make straightening your smile easier, more comfortable and less visible. read more

Sugar Decays Baby Teeth

The number of children under 12 having fillings is rapidly increasing and has more than doubled since 1970. Deciduous teeth (or “baby teeth”) decay more quickly and easily than adult teeth. High levels of sugar and acidity in your child’s mouth can cause their baby teeth to decay.

Monitor how much sugar is in your child’s diet, and remember, this isn’t just ‘bad’ sugars like lollies and biscuit. Fruit, juice, milk, cordial, even white bread, all also contain high levels of sugar. If your child frequently sips from a bottle or cup, make sure they are only having water. The frequency of sugar in take is more relevant than the quantity of sugar itself – eg to sip on cordial or juice over the entire day is more damaging to the teeth than to eat one high sugar chocolate and then have a glass of water. read more

Do You Need a Dental Crown?

If you have had root canal treatment, or have been advised that you need it, it’s often recommended that you have a dental crown placed over that tooth after treatment. Many patients ask why dental crowns are so highly recommended. If you have broken a tooth or have a heavily filled tooth, a dental crown may also be the answer.

During root canal therapy, the nerve and pulp of your tooth is removed. This leaves just the outside shell of your tooth – which appears normal, but is missing its blood supply and nerve system. read more

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

Fluoride – The Controversial Mineral Your Teeth Need!

Is it Safe to Have Dental Treatment During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy Can Significantly Affect Your Dental Health

Are You Neglecting Aspects of Your Child’s Health?

How Can Myobrace Straighten Your Child’s Teeth?

How Fissure Sealants Help Prevent Tooth Decay

Are you concerned about your children getting cavities and needing fillings?

Fissure sealants may be the solution for your child!

Sore Teeth in Children: Causes and Solutions

Why Does My Child Have Yellow Teeth?

Pregnancy Gingivitis: What You Need To Know

Don’t Suffer With Sensitive Teeth!

Achieve A Straight Smile Without Braces

Dental Abscess: A Serious Dental Condition

Dental Cavities in Baby Teeth

Teeth Whitening: David’s Story

Dark, Stained or Yellow Teeth?

Is Organic Toothpaste Better For You?

Orthodontic Treatment Relapse

Sugar Decays Baby Teeth

Do You Need a Dental Crown?

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Are you concerned about your children getting cavities and needing fillings?

Fissure sealants may be the solution for your child!

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