Category Archives: health

Newington Dental

Mouthwash

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Newington Dental

At one point there was concern that mouthwash might increase the risk of oral cancer. But this proved unfounded. It was only the mouthwash containing alcohol that was under suspicion.

A mouthwash containing alcohol apparently does raise the risk of oral cancer, but it depends on the exposure. Research indicates that alcohol mouthwashes would need to contain 25-40% alcohol, and be used three times per day for a full minute to really increase the risk of cancer. This is a fairly high amount of alcohol exposure.

More commonly, when people do use mouthwash it is gargled for half a minute, twice per day. This level of alcohol exposure is a little high, but probably not too bad.

There is a possibility that some individuals already had oral cancer, and were using mouthwash to remove the oral cancer sores. So the alcohol mouthwash was correlated with the cancer, even as it was not the cause.

Ironically, alcohol mouthwash can cause the mouth to dry out, leading to more bacteria and bad breath. This means it causes the very problems that it is supposed to remove. It is best to avoid alcohol mouthwashes.

Alcohol free mouthwashes are readily available. These can be used two or three times daily, and your teeth, not to mention you breath, will be benefit.

Dentist Newington – Types of Mouthwash

Antiseptic / general mouthwashes – The most common type. It does a decent job of killing off germs and bacteria, especially if you have already brushed you teeth, and it gives you fresh breath.

Fluoride mouthwashes – These are designed for sensitive or slightly damaged teeth. If the outer tooth enamel is damaged the fluoride in these mouthwashes will help re-calcify the enamel, and reverse the damage. It takes a few week to feel the benefits, but these mouthwashes can stop decay from getting worse, and reverse the process if we start using them early on.

Cosmetic Mouthwash – These just freshen the breath. they do no harm, but it would be better to use an antiseptic mouthwash that helps fight decay and bacteria.

Natural Mouthwashes – Mouthwashes with all natural, non-chemical ingredients. They shouldn’t cause any harm, but their effectiveness varies.

Prescription Mouthwashes – An extremely strong mouthwash that fights infections and gum disease. This will only be used for a short period, until the infection is removed.

Braces Rydalmere

Braces make regular brushing and flossing is difficult, but mouthwash still work well here . Mouthwash adds that extra bit of protection. We also recommend a Waterpik for cleaning between the teeth as flossing with braces is difficult.

Newington Dental

Invisalign

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Newington Dental

Some of us were blessed with naturally straight teeth. But most of us needed either braces as teenagers, or some corrective dental work latter on. A few of us needed both.

Some of us still have less-than-straight-teeth as adults. These teeth alignment problems can be fixed with braces; it is possible to have braces at almost any age. But many adults dislike the look of braces, thinking they look too ‘teenage’, or just finding them inconvenient.

An alternative to braces is Invisalign. These will rectify most teeth alignment problems, without the inconvenient or appearance of braces.

Dundas Dental

Invisalign is a series of clear plastic aligners that are worn over the teeth, rather like a small mouthguard. Over time each aligner brings the teeth closer to the correct shape. it may take anything from 6 month to 2 years to achieve the final result.

Invisalign, unlike braces, can be easily removed for eating and drinking. So they cause minimal inconvenience. Talking with Invisalign might be slightly unusual at first, but this is very mild compared to braces. Invisalign are the easy way to get straight teeth with minimal hassle.

Dental Denistone

Invisalign will require dental visits every few weeks; the clear retainers will constantly need to be replaced. Otherwise, people will hardly notice that you are receiving treatment.

Dentist Newington

Harmful Foods for Teeth

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Dentist Newington

Our modern diet is a mixture of processed and sugar heavy food that are pretty bad for teeth. Even some of the food that has been retained from nature is harmful. This all makes matters difficult for our dental healthy.

High carbohydrate foods are bad at many levels. The diet science of the last generation has blamed carbohydrates for modern obesity; and this appear to be valid. These same carbohydrates feed the bad bacteria in our mouth. Simple carbs like white bread are by far the worst. It is better to use more complex carbs like wholegrain pastas, oats, brown rice, and eat more vegetables and fibre.

Sugar has been a known cause of tooth decay for decades. We tend to eat fat too much of this in our modern diets. And even if we clean our teeth after eating the sugar is still in our body and making our mouths acidic. Brushing removes most, but not all, of the problem. Keep sugar to a minimum.

Fruit and Acidity

Fruit juice and even natural fruit can be harmful to our teeth. The juice tend to be far worse as all the fibre is left out and all the sugar is left in. So we get a massive hit of sugar, an perhaps a little vitamin C.

Whole fruits like oranges are’t too bad, having only mild acidity. But lemons are very acidic, and really harm tooth enamel. Grapes and some berries are more acidic than we realize. And they are worse when processed into wine and jams. It helps to drink water afterwards

Sports Drinks and Soft Drinks

These remain one of the worst things for our teeth. Both are full of sugar and acidic. Even the diet versions, without the sugar, are acidic.

Dental Newington

Acidic food and drinks can start to harm teeth in less than 30 seconds. And this damage can be exacerbated if we brush our teeth while the enamel has been softened by the acid.

Drink water after any acidic food or drink, and wait 30 minutes before brushing. Chewing sugar free gum can also help.

Dentist Newington

Night Breathing

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Night Breathing

Dentist Newington

We all need sleep in order to survive. If our sleep is compromised then every aspect of our life is compromised. We will lack energy, suffer poor memory and impaired thinking, and be prone to many illnesses because of a compromised immune system.

Some if us get enough hours in bed, but suffer poor sleep because we breathe poorly. Either we snore or our breathing stops and starts. This causes us to partially wake up during the night. Under these circumstances we get little actual sleep, so we suffer tiredness for the nest few days. If suffered long term these conditions can be fatal.

Newington Dentist

Moderate night breathing conditions can be treated by the dentist. We may snore because we cannot breath though our nose while lying down. And we may not be able to breath through our mouth because the airways are blocked, not that breathing though our mouth is ever the right thing to do.

Dentist can make a mouth-guard that holds the jaw in the correct position for breathing at night. This may mean holding the jaw closed so that we breathe through the nose, or holding the lower jaw forward so that the airways are clear.

Some breathing problems are caused, or at least exacerbated, by being overweight. Losing weight can fix this issue, though losing weight is very difficult for some people.

Dental Newington

Sleep apnea is a night breathing problem where the individuals stops breathing for extended periods of time, perhaps a minute or two. This causes a multitude of health problems, including heart problems and an increase risk of stroke. It can be fatal in itself.

Sleep Apnea is treated with an electrical breathing mask that forces warm moist air into the airways.

Newington Dental

Breathing through the mouth, especially at night, leaves us with dry teeth and gums. This greatly raises the problems with decay and infections as the bacteria thrive in these dry conditions. Measures that help us breathe through the nose will greatly reduce the risk of gum and tooth problems.

Night breathing

A mouth-guard may may nose breathing easier
A nasal strip will keep the nostrils open. Available at chemists or on eBay.
In extreme cases a CPAP breathing mask is used.

Dentist Newington

Is you suspect night breathing problem, which may led to tooth decay and gum infections, the see the dentist. A custom mouth-guard is the first remedy to try.

Toothache

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There are many causes of toothache. It is always a symptom of a problem/ toothache that requires professional treatment or at least professional advice. While proper cleaning and good health goes a long way to preventing the problems that cause toothache even the most diligent brusher may suffer the occasional problems.

Dentist Oatlands

Toothaches come in many forms, though none of them is pleasant. Some aches are mild, some are so severe that they prevent the individual from being able to adequately function. The pain of a toothache may be intermittent, or continuous. It may throb, or it may only occur with hot or cold temperatures (sensitive tooth). Else the paint may only occur under physical pressure.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell exactly where the pain is coming from. It might be the tooth or gum, or even deeper inside the jaw.

Telopea Dental

Any toothache pain is most likely felt in the soft pulp of a tooth’s insides, though gums and jaws might also cause similar pain.

Tooth Decay – if decay breaks down the outer tooth’s enamel, forming a cavity, then the tooth’s inner nerve will be exposed and cause pain. This will require at least a filling. If the pulp in the tooth is infected then a root canal treatment will also be necessary.

Cracked tooth- A tooth can become cracked because of an accidental impact, or from very cold temperatures. This will cause pain when chewing or biting.
A cracked tooth is very prone to decay because it is difficult to clean.

Thin enamel – If the enamel of a tooth has grown thin, either from over-brushing or exposure to acidic liquids, then it will be sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.

Some toothpaste will greatly reduce the sensitivity of teeth. But these take a week or more to be fully effective. Always consult the dentist about sensitive teeth.

An abscess – This is a serious infection either in the gum or tooth. It requires serious dental treatment lest it leads to bone and tooth loss.

Denistone Dentist

Wisdom teeth are notorious for not emerging properly. A wisdom tooth that is partly or fully buried in the gum will often be painful. These teeth are often removed.

Sinus problems can cause an ache that feels like a toothache in the upper jaw. While this pain is real it is one of the few dental pains that are not too serious. If the sinus problem (perhaps just the flu) clears up the pain in the upper teeth will disappear. Talk to a doctor if this continues for more than a day or two.

Damaged filling- a former filling can be painful if the tooth suffers more decay. The dentist will need to fix the filling, and the patient will need to take more thorough cleaning measures.

Teeth grinding can cause problems by steadily wearing away teeth. This can make the teeth very sensitive.

Jaw alignment problems can cause problem pain, especially if the misalignment causes the individual trouble when chewing or speaking. This may require long-term orthodontic treatment.

Cosmetic Dentistry

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The idea of cosmetic Dentistry is slightly misleading. As the name suggests it is about appearances. But appearances and functionality tend to be closely tied together. In most cases improving the function of the teeth and jaws leads to better physical appearances. And where the dentist does a purely cosmetic procedure it is because the optimal functionality and health of the teeth have already been achieved.

Teeth whitening Denistone Dentist

Teeth whitening is one of the few examples of a purely cosmetic procedure. It lightens and whitens the teeth to make them look better, and perhaps match the patient’s skin tone.

The one health advantage of white teeth is cleaning; it is easy to see if white teeth and clean or not.

Implant Oatlands

Implants replace a lost or badly damaged tooth. While almost everybody agrees that a natural healthy tooth is the best option an implant is so close to the natural tooth the patient soon forgets that the implant is artificial.

Modern implants are made from lithium disilicate or zirconia. These are both extremely strong, and lithium disilicate (almost always used for front teeth) looks realistic and natural.

Cosmetically an implant looks better than a missing tooth.

Braces Rydalmere

Braces are the best example of combining functionality with improved appearances. Braces are about neatly aligning teeth and jaws. The aim is to produce a set of teeth that neatly fit together. This makes chewing and speaking much easier. It almost always means a noticeable improvement in the appearance of the teeth.

Modern options, like ceramic braces, are less conspicuous than old models. 

Braces during our teenage years mean straight teeth during our adult years, though diligent cleaning is important.

Invisalign Telopea Dentist

Adults who suffer tooth alignment problems may have them corrected with Invisalign. These are a series of clear retainers that can alter the position of the teeth. They cannot fix all the dental problems that braces can, but they work very effectively for most minor to moderate alignment issues.

Invisalign, being transparent, is not very noticeable.

Mouthwash Types and Concerns

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Denistone Dentist – Mouthwash Concerns

There was a lot of concern a few years ago over mouthwash causing oral cancer. This was very misleading. It was only the mouthwash containing alcohol that was under suspicion.

Mouthwash containing alcohol may raise the risk of oral cancer. The concern is over the heavy exposure. The mouthwashes would contain 25-40% alcohol, and individuals would gargle this for a full minute three times per day. This is a high amount of alcohol exposure.

Realistically, when people do use mouthwash it is gargled twice per day for half a minute. This level of alcohol exposure is a little high, but probably not too bad.

However, alcohol tends to dry out the mouth, which is bad for teeth and breath. Ironically the mouthwash can cause the very problems that it is supposed to remove. It is best to avoid alcohol mouthwashes.

Really, it is now easy to buy alcohol-free mouthwashes, including most good quality, brand names. These can be used two or three times daily, and your teeth, not to mention your breath, will be noticeably improved.

Dentist Oatlands – Types of Mouthwash

There are a few different types of mouthwash, designed to treat other dental concerns.

Antiseptic/general mouthwashes

This is the most common type. It does a decent job of killing off germs and bacteria, especially if you have already brushed your teeth, and it gives you fresh breath.

Fluoride mouthwashes

These are very good for sensitive or slightly damaged teeth. If the outer tooth enamel is damaged by de-calcification then the fluoride in these mouthwashes will reverse the process. It takes a few weeks to feel the benefits, but these mouthwashes can stop decay from getting worse, and reverse the process if we start using them early on.

Cosmetic Mouthwash

Basically just to freshen your breath. It would be better to use an antiseptic mouthwash if we are already quite healthy, or a specialized mouthwash if we have a specific problem.

Natural Mouthwashes

Mouthwashes with all-natural, non-chemical ingredients. Their effectiveness varies.

Prescription Mouthwashes

Patients with gum disease may be given a prescription for a powerful mouthwash that fights infections. This will only be used for a short period until the infection is removed.

Braces Telopea

Mouthwash is of particular use to those of us still wearing braces as regular brushing and flossing are difficult with braces. Mouthwash, adds that extra bit of protection.

We recommend interdental brushes or Waterpik when teeth with braces. 

Dental Implants

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Implants Dental Dundas

Dental implants are a more modern method of replacing a missing or badly damaged tooth. And recent advances in material have made implants even better.

Older methods or replacing a tooth included a dental bridge. This supported an artificial tooth between two healthy teeth. Unfortunately, this meant heavily modifying the healthy teeth, which seemed a great pity.

Implants consist of an artificial tooth attached to a titanium post that is embedded in the jaw. This is an excellent replacement for a natural tooth.

Osseointegrated Titanium Denistone Dental

Titanium is used for the post because this metal has a unique property – it bonds to the jawbone of the patient. This bonding is termed osseointegration. It produces a very strong connection at a biological level.

Osseointegrated implanted teeth last for many years.

New Implant Materials Dental Telopea

Older implants were made of porcelain. These provided fairly realistic looking teeth. But technology has improved on this.

Newer implants are made from either lithium disilicate or zirconia. These have proved stronger than older porcelain implants, and have other advantages.

Lithium Disilicate looks very like a natural tooth, and is stronger than porcelain. It is used for teeth at the front of the mouth.

Zirconia is even stronger than lithium disilicate, though it is less realistic looking than other materials. It is used for the back molars where the extra strength is an advantage.

Oatlands Dental

A dental implant will require a few dental visits. But the results are impressive.

Dental implants will only require the same diligent cleaning required of regular teeth. Though a dental implant is immune to decay the surrounding gum is still prone to infection, so the implant must cleaned on a twice daily basis. 

Better Breath

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Denistone Dental

Fresh breath is important.

Bad breath will compromise our social life. It is also an indication of something wrong with our mouth or with some other part of our digestive system. Quite possibly bad breath is a symptom of tooth decay, or a symptom of something that can cause tooth decay. It is important to remove the cause of the breath problems before it leads to serious damage to teeth or our health in general.

Dental Telopea

The first thing to look at with breath problems is basic dental hygiene.

Brushing twice daily is essential. Individuals should also Floss and use mouthwash at least one per day. Using mouthwash more frequently is a good idea if the bad breath continues.

Smoking will almost always cause bad breath. It is always healthier to quit smoking.

If the bad breath persist there may be a diet problem.

Try removing strong food from the diet, like garlic, onions and spicy foods. These do have general health benefits, but they may also cause bad breath. Else, coffee causes breath problems for some people.

Some people find that processed / frozen food cause bad breath, and perhaps associated stomach unrest. Try eating more natural foods.

Atkins Diet – High carb diets can cause bad breath. This type of bad breath is not harmful, but it can be socially awkward.

Oatlands Dental

Bad breath can be caused by bad bacteria in the mouth and digestive system. This is often the same bacteria that causes tooth decay, gum infections and other problems. Some good practices beyond regular brushing can help here.

  • Green tea is good for breath and helps fight bad bacteria. Drink a few cup per day. Decaffeinated green tea is available.
  • Chewing sugar free gum is good for freshening breath, though it can sometimes cover up the problem causing the odour. Xylitol sweetened gum is the best option.
  • Chew some parsley to freshen breath.
  • Eat some foods with healthy bacteria to help digestion and mouth bacteria. Kimchi (Korea), sauerkraut (Germany), probiotic drinks and yogurt are all good for health bacteria.
  • Cashew nuts help fight some forms of bad bacteria. They are high in calories, but otherwise healthy.
  • Breath mints can remove the bad breath, but use a sugar free variety. And make sure the underlying cause of the bad breath isn’t a health threat.
  • Just eating more healthy fruit and vegetables can help with our breath.

Dundas Dental

Bad breath could be a sign of a serious dental problem.

Gum disease like periodontitis will cause bad breath, this needs to be treated by the dentist as it will quickly lead to serious problems like tooth loss.

An Abscess will cause bad breath. This also need to be treated by a dentist. Untreated abscesses will lead to even more serious problems.

Mouth breathing, especially at night, will lead to dry teeth and gums. This will often lead to bad breath, or at least make the problem worse. Dentist can provide mouthguards to facilitate better breathing.

Have any persistent breath problems checked by the dentist.

Healthy Habits For Teeth

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Diligent Brushing, Flossing and use of Mouthwash are essential for healthy teeth. But we can also help keep our teeth healthy with the right diet and good habits.

Crunchy Food

Apples, carrots, celery and other fruit and vegetables will teeth clean. The physical action of chewing these foods will get rid of some plaque from the tooth surface. They also keep the mouth moist, which reduced decay.

Water

This generation has been taught the importance of keeping well-hydrated for good health. Drinking water also helps keep our mouths clean and breath reasonably fresh. A dry mouth is prone to decay because the bacteria count increases, and this is one reason for bad breath.

Bottled water does not usually contain fluoride, which is a slight issue. Fluoride in tap water helps to reduce decay.

Make sure to take some salt. Too much water can leave our bodies without sufficient salt, which is a serious health problem, leading to fainting and disorientation.

Water with additives like lemon juice is too acidic for teeth.

Breathing

We should breathe through our nose. Breathing through the mouth leads to dry teeth and gums, and that increases the risk of tooth decay and bad breath. It also tends to make us feel lethargic due to the reduced nitric oxide. Some people find this is a big problem at night, especially if there is snoring. A mouthguard or nasal strip can help. Talk to the dentist.

Chewing Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum keeps our mouth moist and helps clean out teeth. It is also good for fresh breath. Gum that is sweetened with xylitol is preferable as the xylitol helps fight bad bacteria. Gum that is sweetened with aspartame is popular with many people, though aspartame is a common allergy.

Cashews

Cashews have been found to fight the most common decay-causing bacteria in the mouth. A few cashews after a meal is a healthy option, though these nuts do contain a lot of calories.

Green Tea

This has many general health benefits, fighting bacteria in the mouth and keeping breath fresh are only two dental benefits. Cold green tea (in place of water) is a good option.

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