Baby Bottle Decay in Children’s Teeth

Does your child fall asleep with a bottle of milk? While very common, this isn’t ideal for your children’s teeth. Milk is a great source of calcium and calcium is good for building strong bones and teeth. However the lactose in milk is a naturally occurring sugar. This sugar, despite being natural, can decay your children’s teeth.

The constant washing over your children’s teeth caused by sleeping with a bottle, means that your children’s teeth are basically soaking in these sugars overnight. Baby teeth have much softer enamel than adult teeth and are therefore much more prone to decay. read more

Easter is a wonderful time of year. School holidays roll around, 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.

For those who are Christian, Easter has a wonderful meaning of new life and hope. For those who don’t celebrate the religious meaning of Easter, it’s a great time to rest and relax with friends and family.

One thing is for sure across all faiths and backgrounds – and that’s sweet treats at Easter time. Easter eggs, hot cross buns, lollies, big meals, the list goes on. read more

You may have seen the many advertisements for Colgate’s new toothpaste – containing a ‘sugar acid neutraliser’. Colgate claims that after eight years of research, they have finally developed an ingredient that neutralises the acidic effect of sugar on teeth.

While there may have been advances in chemical technology that aid in the prevention of tooth decay, we believe that no matter what fluoride toothpaste you are using, proper brushing and flossing is the only way to prevent tooth decay. read more

Mouth Guards are crucial for protecting your teeth from impact. Whether this impact is from a sport, or from grinding your teeth, you need to protect your mouth with a mouth guard. Tooth trauma can occur easily if your teeth are not protected by a mouth guard.

Without protection from internal or external forces, your teeth will gradually wear down over time. During high impact sports such as football, hockey, water polo or boxing, teeth can be broken, chipped or even knocked out if a mouth guard is not worn. read more

Many people are subconsciously grinding teeth throughout the day – at work due to stress, perhaps when they’re nervous due to public speaking, or while concentrating. Others maybe be grinding teeth during the night, without even knowing.

Signs that you may be grinding teeth include a sore, tender jaw especially in the morning, or worn down and chipped edges on some of your teeth. Your partner may notice the sound of you grinding teeth during your sleep and often patients don’t realise they grind but their partner insists they do. read more

We all lead such busy lives – juggling work, kids, family, health, leisure, relaxation, finances, the car, the house, the list goes on! At Vivid Dental, we make your life that little bit easier – by organising your dental appointments and reminding you in the way that suits you best.

We are proud to have Five Dock’s only dental hygienist, Leanne Smith, who takes care of all our six monthly check-up and clean dental appointments. She is so experienced and diligent with thorough cleaning of teeth, and monitoring the health of your smile. Working Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, she has even more dental appointments available to you. read more

Are you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after the holiday break? Well the chances are, your teeth are feeling quite the opposite!

Amalgam Dental Fillings replaced with Composite Dental Fillings

Fillings are one of the most common dental treatments to exist. Dental fillings can be amalgam (silver) or composite (tooth coloured). Either type of dental filling can chip or crack over time.

A fantastic way to kick-start your new year and better your health, is to book in an appointment for a check-up and clean with the dental hygienist. Our lovely Leanne specialises in thoroughly cleaning between your teeth in all those nooks your toothbrush can’t reach. read more

Caring for Kids Teeth

2014 is a new school year for kids! Parents often ask us how to care for their kids teeth, so this blog will explain why kids teeth need extra care. This year, start your children off on the right foot.

Try some of our healthy lunchbox ideas which are great for kids teeth. One of the leading causes of decay in kids teeth is constant snacking and sipping on sugary drinks. Help maintain healthy kids teeth by limiting consumption of sweet drinks.

Drinks such as juice or flavoured milk should be had at meal times only. Throughout the day, kids should sip on only water. Tap water is excellent for kids teeth as it contains slightly higher levels of fluoride which strengthens and mineralises enamel. read more

Many of us start the New Year with many resolutions we want to achieve. One of the most common resolutions, is aiming to implement healthy living and stay well. Whether this means losing weight, quitting smoking, eating more vegetables or going for a jog every day, we can help.

Healthy living doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul. Even the smallest changes can make a big difference to your health.

Vivid Dental discusses healthy living and how oral health can affect the rest of your body.

How can a dental practice help me achieve healthy living, you ask? There have been many studies conducted to identify the link between oral health and healthy living. Everybody’s mouth is teeming with bacteria. read more

As we age, our body’s change in several ways. Your dental health will also change as you grow older, and it becomes even more crucial to take great care of your teeth. Dentures, implants and restorative dental work can all be used to improve your dental health throughout the ageing process. Implants provide the most natural replacement of a tooth – as they are physically attached to your jaw, making them sturdy and durable. Dentures are removable and less like your own teeth, however are more affordable. read more

Flossing for Kids

Flossing for kids may seem unnecessary, however it is a great way to start kids off with good dental habits from an early age. If flossing becomes second nature to them as children, they will carry the habit throughout their adult lives too. Flossing cleans the surfaces between the teeth, where a toothbrush simply cannot get to.

There are alternatives to flossing that can be good for kids as they are a little less dextrose than adults. These are things like picksters, flossers and floss threaders. These are all tools which clean the space between the teeth and gums, but are a little easier for small hands to use. You can purchase these items from most chemists and some supermarkets, or at Vivid Dental. If your child has braces or orthodontic appliances, flossing can be tricky – but it’s even more important. Braces and appliances can also build up plaque and bacteria if not cleaned properly. This can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. It’s crucial to use floss threaders or ‘superfloss’ to ensure your child is flossing between braces or appliances. read more

Dos and Don’ts of Dental Health

There are some things in life you know you must do – like pay taxes, wear a seatbelt and eat your greens, but what are absolute necessities of maintaining good dental health? Many patients ask us if they really need to do all these things.

Do I really need to floss?… Yes! Flossing is often seen as an ‘extra’ of dental health. However, it really is just as important as brushing. Brushing your teeth only cleans the surfaces you can see – there is still plaque and bacteria between your teeth and gums. Leaving this plaque and bacteria can be highly harmful to your dental health. read more

Have you ever seen a celebrity whose smile seems to have suddenly changed dramatically in size, shape and colour? Dental veneers are often used for cosmetic and aesthetic improvement of teeth, but can also help to conceal chipped or discoloured teeth.

A veneer is a porcelain replica of the front surface of your tooth. Unlike a crown, it does not cover your entire tooth and all surfaces. It quite literally replaces only the front façade of your teeth. To prepare your tooth for a veneer, the top layer of your tooth’s front surface is buffed to create a rough feel. The veneer is then customised to your tooth and adheres with a permanent cement. read more

Pediatric Dentists

You may be wondering – what is the difference between a pediatric dentist and our team of My Kids Dentists? Pediatric dentistry is the general term given to dental treatment for children. However, there are practitioners who are specifically pediatric dentists and only see children.

At Vivid Dental, we aren’t only a paediatric dentist, we are a general dental practice seeing many young children. This means we can treat your entire family – and we have our dental therapist Leanne Smith who does specialise in children’s treatment. Fissure seals, fillings, pulp therapy, cleaning and stain removal and even extractions can be done on children at Vivid Dental – in very experienced, caring hands. Why not book in a visit for your children? They can play in our kids corner, meet Happy Henry and have their teeth comprehensively checked and cleaned, while you relax, knowing your children are in great hands. read more

Mouth Ulcers and Oral Sores

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. read more

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. read more

Stages of Gum Disease

We’ve all heard of gum disease and gingivitis, but what is periodontitis? Periodontitis is the term used to describe severe gum disease which has progressed through the early stages of gingivitis and is now more serious.

If you imagine your gums hug your teeth, like a tight shirt collar, this is the action of healthy gums. Gums exist to hug your tooth and protect the root of the tooth from bacteria, plaque, decay and exposure. Healthy gums are tight and snug against the tooth, so no germs can penetrate below. However, gum disease like gingivitis or periodontitis causes the gum to become puffy, soft and inflamed. Once the gum is unhealthy and infected with gum disease it become looser and does not hug tightly around the tooth. The unhealthy gum relaxes, and is soft and spongey – allowing bacteria, plaque and tartar to penetrate the root of the tooth. As this inflammation worsens, the gum becomes looser and looser, exposing more of the tooth’s root and trapping in more bacteria and tartar. The process of the gum loosening and affecting the tooth’s root, is called Periodontitis. As with most conditions, there are degrees of periodontitis. Mild forms are treatable but severe periodontitis can lead to loosing teeth. The first signs are bleeding, redness and puffiness of the gums. Many patients see bleeding gums and think they should stop brushing or flossing the area to let it heal, however this is the exact opposite of what you should do. Pay more attention to any areas that are puffy, red or bleeding when brushing and flossing. Our dental hygienist and dentists are very experienced with managing gum disease and can help you get your gums under control. read more

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. read more

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 read more

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. read more

Baby Bottle Decay in Children’s Teeth

Caring for Teeth at Easter

How to Prevent Tooth Decay

Mouth Guards – Protecting Your Mouth

Grinding Your Teeth?

Dental Appointments

Do I need Dental Fillings?

Caring for Kids Teeth

Healthy Living for 2014

Dentures and Dental Care with Ageing