Alex Bratic Dental Care and Dental Spring Cleaning
Now that we are into the fresh start of spring, many of us start to feel the need to clean.
We usually think about spring cleaning in relation to our house, office, car, or desk, but spring cleaning shouldn’t only be about these predictable places, it should also be a part of your oral health care routine!
A few changes at home and regular preventive dental care from Alex Bratic Dental Care can help you start this spring and summer off with a big, beautiful smile.
Broken or Dislocated Jaws – What You Need to Know and Do
The jaw plays a pivotal role in breathing, eating and speaking. Unfortunately, any form of jaw pain can inhibit these critical functions.
Chronic jaw pain can result from many conditions: teeth-grinding, TMJ, periodontal disease, and some kinds of sinus issues.
However, pain can also be caused by a fractured jaw, and this can be a severe problem indeed.
Cold Sores and your Dental Appointment at Alex Bratic Dental Care
Cold sores are a common condition, particularly when the weather cools down. In fact, 25 per cent of people have recurring cold sores!
Cold sores are characterized by small blisters on your lips and are sometimes confused with canker sores, which can have similar symptoms.
Gift Ideas to Make Your Dad Smile on Father’s Day
Everybody likes to see their Dad smile. This is particularly true on Father’s Day, when we all try hard to please him.
And seeing your dad grin in pleasure is a great reward for a great Father’s Day gift. But what if your father doesn’t feel great about his smile? What if his dental health isn’t perfect?
At Alex Bratic Dental Care, we suggest you do something slightly untraditional this Father’s Day.
Sparkling Water – Is It Tooth-Safe?
Today, everyone is aware of the hazards of soft-drinks, both those containing sugar and diet versions. We’ve also been reminded of the importance of drinking water.
Drinking water makes sense, as our bodies are approximately 60 per cent water (more in the brain and heart), and that water needs to be replaced.
Doctors tell us, in fact, that we should drink up to 2 litres of water daily. And because that can be boring, some of us choose to replace plain water with sparkling water.
Dental Care Week 2018 in Beenleigh
Dental Health Week (6 to 12 August) is the Australian Dental Association’s major annual oral health promotion event, and this year it comes with the semi-cheeky slogan, “Watch Your Mouth”.
The aim of the week is to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health by promoting four key messages:
- Brush teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste
- Clean in-between teeth once a day (with floss or interdental brushes)
- Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit sugar intake
- Regularly visit the dentist for check-ups and preventive treatment.
5 Tips to Prevent Gingivitis
Gingivitis is an infection in the mouth; it is a chronic bacterial infection that begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky film that constantly forms on teeth) causes inflammation of gum tissue.
Gingivitis is a mild form of periodontal disease that causes red, swollen, and bleeding gums, although initially it only brings minor discomfort if any discomfort at all.
Gingivitis is typically the result of insufficient oral hygiene. The good news is that gingivitis can be reversed with a proper oral home care regimen and professional treatment when needed.
Improving Your Dental Health With Home Tools!
As you browse the dental care aisle at your local pharmacy, you may notice a wide range of ‘tools’ intended to help you maintain your oral health.
There are multiple choices, even only for dental floss: Do you need waxed or unwaxed? Flavoured? Traditional or tape? And then there’s the assortment of mouthwashes, oral irrigators, and various tools you can choose to help you achieve maximum oral health.
Taking Control of Dental Tartar
Everyone knows it is important to brush, floss, and rinse with a mouthwash to prevent tartar buildup.
But do you know why this is important? Or what tartar is? How it gets on your teeth? And what happens if it does?
Get the facts straight ahead, courtesy of Alex Bratic Dental Care.
What Is Tartar?
No matter how well you take care of your teeth at home, you still have bacteria buildup in your mouth. The bacteria join with proteins and food byproducts to create a gooey film known as dental plaque.
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: Causes and Prevention
At Alex Bratic Dental Care we know all about the joys and trials of having a family, including an active infant.
And sometimes putting that baby to bed, or keeping them calm, can be a real struggle, and a bottle might seem like a convenient answer to the problem.
Unfortunately, putting a baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice, or leaving the bottle with them for long periods of time, does more harm than good, because the calmer baby comes at the cost of the baby’s oral health.
Unusual Dental Beliefs & Realities
Alex Bratic Dental Care is your caring dentist in the Beenleigh Area. We are very serious about dental care.
But if you have visited our offices, you also know that we are friendly, funny, and interesting. Which also kind of describes dental myths – while they aren’t necessarily friendly, they are interesting and often funny.
Here are a few myths, ancient and modern, as well as a sprinkling of cool dental facts.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction In The Beenleigh Area
No one wants to hear the news that their wisdom teeth need to be removed, but if they do need to be removed, it is for your overall dental health.
The good news is that the treatment takes place in our Alex Bratic Dental Care office, and it takes a scant few days for you to heal and feel back to normal.
Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed?
Wisdom teeth are a third set of molars at the very back of the jaw. They are referred to as wisdom teeth because they usually come in between the ages of 17 and 25, when you are supposed to be older and wiser than when your permanent teeth first came in! Usually, wisdom teeth are first spotted by dental X-rays. In some cases they come in to the jaw without problems, but for many people they cause problems and must be removed.
Reasons for Bruxism and What to Do About it
Between 8-10% of the population are thought to grind their teeth regularly. This condition is called “bruxism.” Many people grind their teeth or go through a phase of jaw-clenching at some time in their lives, but a sizeable percentage of Australians grind or clench their teeth on a regular enough basis to lead to dental damage.
While bruxism occurs most commonly in 25 – 44 year-olds, many children also grind their teeth. Britain’s NHS records that one in five children under the age of 11 grind their teeth.
This figure could, however, be higher, as many parents don’t notice that their children are grinding their teeth. And in fact, one of the problems with bruxism is that it is easy to miss, avoid, or misdiagnose.
Improve Your Smile, Confidence, and Life
Your smile is the first thing most people notice about you. It’s your calling card on introductions, job interviews, first dates, when giving speeches, etc. Smiling makes you look younger and makes people around you feel better. An impressive smile can see you through awkward moments and help you defuse strong emotions.
A great smile is like a unhidden superpower.
But what if you don’t like what you see in the mirror or you’re smiling less because you don’t want people to see your teeth? Or if you don’t want them to see your missing teeth? In that case, it’s time to make a change. Here are eight ways Alex Bratic Dental Care can help to improve your smile.
The Dangers of Untreated Dental Infections
Untreated dental infections can quickly switch from a dental inconvenience into a dental nightmare, perhaps even one that threatens your life, or that of your family.
Many people think of oral health problems as nuisances – not a threat to general health. And in most cases this is true, but in some cases, such as untreated dental infections, the threat is very real.
At Alex Bratic Dental Care we want you to be aware of the threat of dental infections and know how to identify and treat them.
Dental infections pose a threat to life when they are allowed to develop, unchecked, and develop into dental anscesses. An abscess is an accumulation of pus, comprised of white blood cells, dead tissue and germs.
Dealing with Broken Dentures in the Beenleigh Area
If you’ve ever had dentures, you may have experienced the inconvenience of them breaking. And a broken denture is not uncommon, and with broken dentures, everyday tasks become much more challenging, even embarrassing.
If you wear dentures, you need to be prepared in case they crack or break, and at Alex Bratic Dental Care, we’re here to help you if they do break!
School-Ready Smiles With Invisalign In Beenleigh
Going back to school, or going to school for the first time, is an exciting time for kids, but it can also be full of anxiety. This anxiety can be ramped up in children with crooked teeth who expect teasing.
Thankfully, Invisalign makes it possible for kids with crooked teeth to go back to school with increased confidence, both today and tomorrow.
The nearly undetectable aligners used in Invisalign are perfect for children who are worried about noticeable metal brackets and wires on their teeth, but still hope for straighter teeth after treatment.
At Alex Bratic Dental Care, we’d like to offer a few reasons you should consider scheduling an Invisalign consultation with a family dentist, either before or during this school year.
Bad Breath Problems? Your Local Beenleigh Dentist Can Help
Halitosis or bad breath is a social no-no, but diagnosing it yourself can be difficult, as it is not always possible to easily detect an odour from ones’ own breath. So halitosis sufferers are often unaware they have the condition and often find out from friends or relatives. It is occasionally natural to have unfresh breath, for instance first thing in the morning. But bad breath needs to be looked at if it won’t go away, even after brushing your teeth or using mouthwash.
Chronic bad breath can be caused by a number of factors, but fortunately, with a few changes at home and a little help from your Alex Bratic Dental Care dentist, you can be assured that your breath is something you don’t need to worry about again.
Invisalign Care Tips From Your Beenleigh Dentist
If you are in search of straighter teeth and a stunning smile but don’t want to put up with the inconvenience and clunky appearance of metal braces, Invisalign might be the perfect choice for you.
At Alex Bratic Dental Care, we can show you how this modern and effective orthodontic treatment can give you the confidence of an attractive smile, and our skilled dentists take pride in creating beautiful, healthy smiles. But how good your smile looks also depends on how you take care of your Invisalign treatments.
We’re here to give you a few tips on how to maximize the results of your Invisalign treatment.
New Year Resolutions To Keep For Better Oral Health
Don’t you love New Years? Even if you aren’t the sort of person who makes formal list of resolutions, the idea of entering a new year can boost your determination to make it better. In January we pledge to get healthier, save money, quit smoking and generally feeling better and increasing productivity.
Often, though, we don’t think about the role of our dental health in all of these things. Which is a surprise, because if there’s one thing you should pay special attention to in the New Year, it should be your oral care.
Good dental care is a brilliant resolution, no matter the time of year, and at Alex Bratic Dental Care, we have several suggestions, all simple and achievable, as to how you can do it!
Oral Care Tips For Your Holiday Smiles
Keeping up good oral care during the holidays can be tough. We are surrounded by sugary sweets, sticky food, and delicious drinks. Threats to our dental health can also come from unexpected sources. For instance, counting down to Christmas with an advent calendar is a fun activity for your kids, but if an advent calendar is filled with chocolate and sweets, it isn’t that great for your teeth.
To help you out this holiday season Alex Bratic Dental Care has come up with 4 great tactics to make an advent calendar dental-smart as well as 8 bonus tips to make your holiday season a healthy and happy one for you, your loved ones, and their teeth!
The ‘Cure’ For Gum Disease – Prevention & Treatment
It’s impossible to have healthy teeth without healthy gums! Yet in Australia the average percentage of people with this disease is around 22%. People over 65 have rates approaching 53%! And gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. In addition, some studies link it to serious health conditions including stroke, diabetes, and ulcers.
At Alex Bratic Dental Care, we don’t want you to become an unhealthy statistic. Consequently, our talented dental team looks for signs of gum disease during every dental exam in our Beenleigh office, and has the skills and experience to treat it, no matter how severe it might be.
Can Diabetes Affect Your Teeth And Gums?
If you have diabetes, you probably know the disease can damage eyes, heart, nerves, kidneys, and more. Did you know it can also damage your dental health? The fact is that diabetics have a higher than normal risk of periodontal diseases.
Periodontal diseases are infections of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in place. In advanced stages, they lead to painful chewing problems and even tooth loss.
In this post, Alex Bratic Dental Care will explore the link between diabetes and periodontal disease. We will look at what it is, the prevention and treatment options available, and some other oral problems that are also linked to diabetes.
13 Brilliant Tips for Getting the Most Out of Invisalign!
If you have crowded, rotated or spaced teeth, Invisalign may be the best treatment to straighten your smile out. A series of computer-generated, invisible plastic aligners are used to move teeth over a period of time, to their ideal position.
The process is often used instead of braces, and it causes less discomfort. Best of all, you won’t feel self-conscious- the aligners really are virtually invisible! Take care of your Invisalign aligners, and they will take care of your teeth!
Alex Bratic Dental is happy to offer a couple tips and tricks in order to make sure Invisalign does what it is supposed to do and straightens your teeth as quickly as possible.
The Right Teeth Whitening Option in Beenleigh
Statistics show that our smiles are actually more noticeable than we think. Smiles can be identified from up to 300 feet away, making them our most easily recognizable facial expression and influences how peoples see us.
In fact, a study by Golle, Mast & Lobmaier (2013) shows that emotional expressions of happiness influence the judgment of attractiveness!
So, give your friends and family a reason to smile proudly by sharing this important information about our professional take-home teeth whitening at Alex Bratic Dental Care in Beenleigh!
How to Manage and Treat Mouth Ulcers
A mouth ulcer is the loss or erosion of part of the soft tissue that lines the inside of the mouth, known as the mucous membrane, Some of the causes include canker sores, medications, chemicals, and infectious diseases.
The most common cause, however, is much less complicated – A simple injury to tissue, such as accidentally biting your cheek, or having your braces wear a hole.
In most cases, mouth ulcers are harmless and spontaneously cure themselves in a few days without the need for dental or medical treatment. However, in some cases they can be more complicated than that, or can be the sign of a dangerous underlying condition.
What You Should Know About Wisdom Teeth, Complications, and Removal
It might be during a routine teeth cleaning that you hear the bad news: “It looks like your wisdom teeth are coming in.”
Unfortunately, these teeth won’t bring you bouts of wisdom (They typically appear between ages 17 and 25, known as an “age of wisdom” – hence the name), instead they usually require treatment or extraction.
Not everyone develops the third set of molars (about 65% of us do), but the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons reports about 90 percent of people have at least one impacted wisdom tooth, meaning there’s not enough space for it to break through the gums.
Yellow Teeth Treatment: Secrets To Whiter Smile
In a world where social media encourages people to show their lives in pictures, it’s worrisome that only 18% of Australians are really happy with their teeth and 80% of Australian women feel self-conscious about their smile when they see a photo of themselves.
Unhappiness with your smile can be caused by many things, but one of the most common culprits is yellowing of teeth due to age or circumstance.
The good news is that at Alex Bratic Dental Care, we our patients a variety of dental treatments that can give you the awesome smile you need and deserve!
On-the-go Oral Health For Your Busy Schedule
In these busy days of hobbies, households, social lives, and work, we have to fit our self-care routines in somewhere.
So, how does the average Australian fit everything into only 24 hours a day?
Sometimes they don’t. And sometimes it is the routine, little things that end up not getting done. Routine little things like dental hygiene and care.
If your dental health routine has taken a back seat to your hectic schedule, you might be pleased to hear that the focus of Dental Health Week (7 – 13 August) this year is Oral Health for Busy Lives, with a focus on helping us all balance schedule and health.
8 Bad Dental Habits To Avoid
Whether we are eating, speaking, chewing gum, or holding something in our mouth while our hands are full, we often don’t thing about what we shouldn’t do with our mouth and teeth.
To help you protect your mouth, Alex Bratic Dental Care suggests some simple things you can avoid doing to protect your pearly whites. Encouraging your children to do the same and stopping bad habits now may save a lot of pain down the road.
Although most of the habits we will discuss here do not cause immediate harm, many can affect your smile over time.
How To Effectively Break Your Sugar Cravings
Here’s a shocker: The Australian Health Survey found that in 2011-2012, Australians were consuming an average of 60g of sugars each day, or the equivalent of 14 teaspoons of white sugar. This is well in excess of what the World Health Organisation recommends our sugar consumption should be about 25g or six teaspoons per day.
Now, evidence shows sugar can do even more damage than previously thought, setting you up for poor oral health, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Unfortunately weaning yourself from sugar can be daunting. Sugar hides in many foods and it provides a nearly addictive buzz, thanks to a surge of the neurotransmitter dopamine it causes in your body.
Oral Care Tips for Seniors
With proper care, your teeth can last a lifetime. However, as we age the treatment our teeth needs often changes. For instance, older adults are more prone to cavities, teeth sensitivity, and may have other health conditions that affect teeth and gums. Seniors who have or need dentures also have special care needs.
Good dental hygiene is important to overall health, and chronic illnesses and medications can worsen oral health. On the flip-side, your mouth can be a “window” to the state of your general health – sometimes visiting the dentist is your first line of defence for your general health!
As we get older, it becomes even more important that we take good care of our dental hygiene. Alex Bratic Dental Care is your partner in that effort!
Overcome Dental Anxiety: Feeling At Ease In The Dental Chair
If you get nervous when your dental appointment comes near, you are not the only one. Many people fear the dentist. The Dental Research Journal estimates that “Depending on the population and the measurement technique, 2.5-20% people endure high dental anxiety.” Sometimes this is because they have had a bad or painful experience in the past.
Sometimes it is because they have not been to see a dentist in a long time. Sometimes the clinical setting of the dentist’s office is intimidating. But while dental anxiety is perfectly normal, it is also crucial for your dental and overall health that you get in to see a dentist regularly.
Which is why, at Alex Bratic Dental Care, we are committed to giving you a dental experience with the least possible amount of anxiety and discomfort!
The Ultimate Toothpaste Guide
The shelves in the dental hygiene aisle at stores are overstuffed with a variety of dental care products. The large selections make it overwhelming to choose the product that best suits your needs. The real question is, are all of the products offered appropriate for your teeth? How can you know which toothpaste is the best for your smile?
The role of toothpaste has always been to keep teeth clean and to assist in optimising oral health. With the enormous selections available at your grasp, it’s crucial to understand the benefits that each provides.
All toothpaste products are all unique in regards to the different formulas that are used. Below, Alex Bratic Dental offers you a description of the most popular toothpastes used for specific goals.
Use this guide as your aid when choosing the most suitable option.
Improve Your Life With A Smile Makeover
Smiling with confidence can make you feel awesome. A beautiful smile is also a social and professional asset.
Sadly, there are those who hide their teeth because their teeth are unattractive, missing, stained, or crooked.
Unfortunately, studies show that when you don’t smile, or if you hide your smile, you are likely to feel less confident and your ability to succeed decreases.
If that describes you, then why not begin the process of getting the smile you’ve always wanted? At Alex Bratic Dental we can help you get the smile you want with a smile makeover!
Tooth Bonding For A Long-Lasting, Beautiful Smile
Did you know that you are better looking when you smile? In fact, you’re seen as more attractive, reliable, relaxed, and sincere.
A study published in the journal Neuropsychologia reported that seeing an attractive smiling face activates people’s orbitofrontal cortex, the region in their brain that process sensory rewards. In other words, your smile rewards them!
But what if you don’t like to smile? What if your teeth are stained, chipped, gapped, or otherwise unattractive? What should you do if you feel like you have to hide your smile?
How Long Do Dental Crowns Last?
You paid for your crown – so the crown should last and last, right? In fact, this is the number one question that patients and perspective patients ask us about crowns, “How long will they last?”
The good news is that crowns are a long-term dental treatment, and while they may not last forever, there are things a patient (and dentist) can do to help keep them a very long time.
At Alex Bratic Dental Care we are dedicated to helping you get the crown that is just right for you and also help you keep it for a very long time. Properly looked after, crowns have been known to last for decades.
Invisalign, The Invisible Secret for Straight Teeth!
The quickest route to a beautiful, aligned smile is through heredity -beautiful teeth often run in families. But for those who weren’t naturally blessed with aligned teeth, orthodontic correction provides well-aligned, healthy teeth to millions of people of all ages.
In the past, the normal treatment for orthodontic correction was braces, but today Alex Bratic Dental Care in Beenleigh often recommends Invisalign clear aligners for teens and adults who want the benefits of braces without the “metal mouth” look, complicated hygiene, and dietary restrictions that come with traditional orthodontics (braces).
Top 7 Best Practices for Good Oral Health
Looking for the Best Dentist in Beenleigh?
Choosing a dentist is one of the most important decisions in our lives that we don’t normally think too much about. But a dentist treats a range of things from cavities to oral cancer and can diagnose and prevent a wide range of diseases. Which is why having the right dentist is so important.
But finding a dentist can be difficult. There are many potential dentists. How do you know which one to choose?
Finding a dentist that you like is part research and part feeling. You want to feel comfortable and be able to be open with your dentist about your treatment and expectations. You know you want a wide range of available treatments and reasonable fee structure. You also want to ensure that you get the best possible treatment. At Alex Bratic Dental we are pleased to offer you some tips to help you filter through your dental choices.
The Best Valentine’s Day Present—A Healthy Mouth
Valentine’s Day is that special day on which we all express our feelings for our loved ones. But bad oral health can have a negative affect on such expressions. It doesn’t matter if you are kissing your 5-year old, your spouse, or someone else you care deeply about. On Valentine’s Day (and any other day!), no one wants to kiss or be kissed by anyone with bad oral hygiene or teeth.
Valentine’s Day should also be a day of wide smiles. But if you have dingy or stained teeth, it might be harder to smile. Which is why at Alex Bratic Dental Care we want to work with you to make your smile brilliant, and your breath good, on Valentine’s Day and beyond!
Better Kisses for All!
Let’s face it; if your dental health is more ordinary than optimal, it decreases the chance that someone will want to kiss you.
The Problem With Bleeding Gums
You’re brushing your teeth and when you spit out your toothpaste you notice a trace of crimson. Perhaps you notice some bleeding at your gum line when you floss. The amount of blood involved might not seem like a big deal. However, if your gums are bleeding regularly, it is dangerous ignore it.
Bleeding gums are often a sign of gingivitis or some more serious condition. If you do notice tenderness or bleeding, your first stop should always be at Alex Bratic Dental Care in Beenleigh.
What Causes Bleeding/Tender/Inflamed Teeth?
Most cases of bleeding gums are due to dental plaque (bacterial deposits) and calculus (tartar) building up where the teeth and gums come together. This causes the gum tissues to become inflamed, which is known as gingivitis. If plaque and calculus continue to accumulate over time, continuing inflammation can lead to bad breath, tenderness and bleeding.
New Year Dental Health Tips
It’s that time of the year again! We try to sum up last year and make resolutions for the New Year.
Resolutions are an important part of the New Year because they provide us with goals and directions. Resolutions encourage us to surpass our previous achievements and challenge ourselves in new ways.
Why not add some dental health based New Year resolutions into the resolutions you have already made? Healthier teeth can create a brighter smile, better health, and even save you money.
‘Tis the Season to be Healthy: Dental Tips for Holidays
‘Tis the season for sweets and treats! Unfortunately sweets and treats can come with damage to your dental health. But if you maintain good oral health and habits during the holiday season, you can keep your smile bright and give yourself a precious gift: healthy, attractive teeth!
Holiday parties and events come along with sugary treats and drinks. During the holiday hustle and bustle oral hygiene can be put aside. The holidays, however, are among the most important times to practice good oral hygiene. Alex Bratic Dental Care in Beenleigh wants to help keep your teeth safe from the damage that sugary treats and drinks can cause.
Root Canal Treatment – An Effective Means of Saving Teeth
Rооt саnаl trеаtmеntѕ аrе оnе оf thе most drеаdеd of dеntаl procedures. If the dеntаl dесау іѕ left untrеаtеd, іt рrоgrеѕѕеѕ dеер inside thе tооth аnd rеасhеѕ the рulр tіѕѕuе. Root саnаl trеаtmеnt іѕ dоnе to rерlасе thе infected рulр wіth a fіllіng. Thе treatment іѕ used tо ѕаvе the tееth which would оthеrwіѕе nееd tо bе removed. Lеt us undеrѕtаnd the рrосеdurе іn dеtаіl.
Hоw does a tооth gеt іnfесtеd?
Thе rооt canals оf teeth соnѕіѕt of nеrvеѕ аnd blооd vеѕѕеlѕ, whісh nоurіѕh thе tееth рrоvіdіng oxygen аnd nutrients. Whеn the dental decay in thе оutеr lауеrѕ оf the teeth іѕ neglected, іt рrоgrеѕѕеѕ tо the rооt саnаlѕ, whеrе thе nеrvеѕ аnd blооd vessels get infected аnd іnflаmеd.
4 Ways To Protect Your Teeth from Juicing Damage
Juicing is known to provide tremendous health benefits and is a very popular way to boost your fruit and vegetable consumption. Because it only involves fresh fruits and vegetables, juicing can help fight inflammation and diseases such as arthritis and cancer.
On the other hand, when it comes to your oral health, juicing has both upsides and downsides. While juicing is generally healthy for your mouth, it has also a direct effect on your dental health, especially on your teeth.
How to Whiten Teeth At Home
One of the most popular, sought-after, and well-loved treatments in the world of cosmetic dentistry is teeth whitening, also referred to as dental bleaching.
But did you know that there are methods to whiten your teeth at home? Some of these techniques can be recommended by your dentist while others are just “do-it-yourself”. Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of these treatments is crucial when deciding on whitening your teeth.
Dental Crowns: When are they needed?
[dt_fancy_image type=”” lightbox=”0″ align=”right” margin_top=”6″ margin_bottom=”0″ margin_right=”0″ margin_left=”10″ width=”300″ height=”” animation=”none” media=”” image_alt=”Dental Crowns: When are they needed | Dentist Beenleigh” hd_image=”” image=”https://alexbraticdental.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Dental-Crowns-When-are-they-needed-Dentist-Beenleigh.jpg”][/dt_fancy_image]If you are planning to fill in the gap in your smile caused by missing teeth, dental crowns are likely one of your options. But you might ask yourself if it’s the right […]
Invisalign: Aligns your Teeth Perfectly
Nowadays, if you are planning to straighten your teeth, you don’t need to settle for traditional metal braces. Although braces are a standard option when it comes to straightening your teeth there are certain circumstances when you should consider other options.
In the past, there was no alternative to metal braces. The only way to realign the teeth was with braces combined with retainers. But those days are gone. Today, you can straighten your teeth in a more comfortable and discreet way, and that is through Invisalign – the most advanced clear aligner system available.
The Top Benefits of Regular Dental Cleaning
Brushing and flossing your teeth may not be enough to clean your mouth completely. While these activities are fundamental to your home dental care, nothing compares with the care provided by your dental team.
Professional dental cleaning is more than an elaborate version of your oral hygiene at home. It is vitally essential to the health of your teeth and gums, and skipping one appointment can trigger dental problems.
How to Manage Dry Mouth
In my last Blog, I discussed the cause of a dry mouth.
In Part 2, I will provide some guidelines for the management of a dry mouth.
Firstly, a little basic Chemistry- Saliva is made up mostly of water but also contains ions and minerals & enzymes that protect your teeth, gums and mucosa (the lining of your mouth).
Importantly, saliva contains bicarbonate and ammonium, which neutralises acids produced by the bacteria in your mouth. This Acid acts to soften the tooth, which causes decay. Saliva is your body’s protection against decay. If there is no or little saliva, you have very little protection. While there is no cure for a dry mouth there are a number of steps that can be taken to manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of decay.
5 Causes of Dry Mouth
Having a dry mouth can be quite uncomfortable, unpleasant and limits normal daily functions like eating and speech. The sensation of a dry mouth is usually caused by a lack of saliva. This lack of saliva is not only uncomfortable but also increases the risk of many oral diseases such as tooth decay, gum disease and fungal infections.
Dry MouthWhat causes the lack of Saliva?
In-adequate hydration: Adequate hydration is required to produce the large volume of saliva we need to produce each day. I recommend 1.5 to 2 litres of tap water daily. Tap water is almost the only drink that has a neutral pH. Most drinks including fruit juice, soft drinks and energy drinks are both acidic (softening your valuable tooth enamel) and contain sugar. Tap water, as opposed to bottled water, also contains a low concentration of fluoride which helps to harden tooth enamel.
Childrens Treats? A Cause for Concern
Rates of tooth decay were steadily declining in Australia through the 1970’s and 80’s to a low point in the mid 1990’s. Since then rates have again increased back to where they were in the 1980’s. What is responsible for this increase?
As a father of two girls aged 6 and 9 I have noticed social and dietary changes that have contributed to this trend. In our house my wife & I keep the sugar to a minimum. In general, on a day to day basis in our house there is no soft drink, juice, biscuits, cakes, ice-cream, chocolates or lollies. I know, sounds like no fun but they do have tuckshop once a week, relatively healthy snacks at home & usually on the weekend if we are out the girls might score something special or two. We need to be firm with the “day to day” because too often sugary treats still come their way.
Gum Health: Healthy Gums, Healthy You
Most people know that being overweight, having diabetes, stress & smoking all increase your risk of heart disease. What you may not know is that Gum Disease also increases the risk of Heart Disease.
Gum disease is a condition caused by bacteria which results in the destruction of the bone and gum attachment around a tooth.
What are the signs of Gum Disease:
• bleeding gums
• red, puffy or tender gums
• ongoing bad breath
Should I Extract a Tooth or have Root Canal Treatment?
The most common cause of toothache is an infected pulp or nerve. This usually happens in the back molar teeth which are more prone to decay. At this point it is no longer possible to fill the tooth & treatment options are limited to root canal therapy or extraction. When faced with this dilemma patients often ask for my advice.
In the vast majority of cases the best decision is to retain the tooth with root canal therapy. Some patients will comment that if the tooth cannot be seen it is not important to keep the tooth. It is actually the back teeth which do most of the work when chewing. Loss of a back molar tooth will almost certainly reduce chewing efficiency with most chewing being done with the other side.
Dental Check-up: More than just looking for decay
In my last Blog, I discussed the benefits of a check up in the early detection of tooth decay but a dental check up involves so much more than just looking for tooth decay.
The dentist will also look for signs of premature wear from clenching & grinding. Early detection & implementing preventative strategies can potentially same thousands of dollars over the long term. Not to mention saving you many hours of operative dental treatment!
As dentists we also look for signs of acid erosion which has become more frequent with the increasing consumption of acidic beverages. Another cause of damage to teeth most people do not consider is that caused by incorrect brushing technique – either brushing too hard, using a hard bristle brush or both.
What sort of Toothpaste should I use?
There are a multitude of toothpastes available claiming to have advantages over other brands and designed to achieve different results. The active ingredient in toothpaste is fluoride. For most people a 1000 p.p.m. fluoride concentration is ideal. Virtually all toothpastes from most major companies such as Colgate, Oral-B and Macleans will use this concentration. Any of these products are satisfactory.
Specialty toothpastes
There are also many specialty toothpastes available on the market. I often make recommendations for certain types of toothpastes to my patients depending on their individual needs.
