oral health Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Tell-Tale Signs You Need Root Canal Treatment

January 17, 2020 by Mandy

Ask any dentist and they will gladly confirm that tooth extraction really is a last resort, and root canal treatment is often the preferred option that allows the tooth to remain in place. If you are wondering why it is so important not to extract teeth unless absolutely necessary, once a tooth has been removed, the teeth on either side have now lost the critical support and this means they will loosen over time.

Here are a few of the signs that tell you root canal treatment might be required.

Sensitivity To Heat & Cold– If you wince when drinking hot or iced coffee, this is because of exposed nerves, which might be due to a cracked or chipped tooth, or possibly gum disease that has reached the nerve section of the tooth. The best solution if you are experiencing this kind of discomfort is to make an appointment with a local dentist, who can carry out a thorough oral examination to determine the cause of the sensitivity. Sensitive teeth are a problem for many Australian people, although root canal treatment is not always the answer, and the only way to know for sure is to visit your dentist and ask them to examine you.

Constant Pain– If you are suffering with a constant pain at the base of a tooth, this could well be due to a serious infection, and in some cases, root canal treatment is recommended, and by making an appointment at a Brisbane endodontics clinic, an expert can give you a diagnosis. Of course, toothache can be caused by many things and in a lot of cases, other forms of treatment are advised.
Swollen Gums– Swollen gums signify that something is wrong under the surface of the gums and it is usually accompanied by pain, which might be due to a deep infection. In many cases, the tooth is fine and the inflammation will clear up with some medication, yet there are times when the root is damaged, and rather than losing the tooth, root canal treatment is the best option.
Dark Tooth Discolouration – This could be due to root damage, which affects the small blood veins and causes a dark discolouration, and this is often because of extended periods of tooth decay, due to poor oral hygiene. If you notice a dark discolouration at the base of one of your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist and he or she would carry out a thorough oral examination to determine the cause and recommend a treatment.

Without root canal treatment, many people would have no choice but to have teeth extracted and this can cause a whole new set of issues, as the teeth on either side will soon work their way loose and this is a very difficult thing to treat. Only a qualified dentist can perform root canal treatment, which involves removing the substance in the root canal, cleaning out the space, then filling it with a special composite material that retains the tooth’s strength.

What You Need to Know About Dental Hygiene

October 15, 2019 by Mandy

We don’t realize how important good dental hygiene can be to our health. Ensuring that your mouth is clean means that you will avoid bad breath, gum disease and tooth decay. But it does much more than that. Do you know that keeping a healthy mouth can help you avoid more serious health problems too? Let’s learn more.

What is Good Dental Hygiene?

Before we discuss how good dental hygiene can help us, let us first find out what it is.

Dental hygiene is the process of keeping your mouth, gums and teeth clean and healthy. Your teeth should be free of debris and clean, your gums should be pink and not hurt or bleed when you floss or brush, and you don’t have a problem with bad breath.

If you have bleeding gums, pain in your gums or have bad breath, then it’s time to visit the dentist. Any of these problems could indicate for serious issues.

How Do You Maintain Good Dental Hygiene?

Here are the steps you need to take to maintain good dental hygiene:

Brushing your teeth thoroughly two times a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
Flossing after brushing to get out the debris between your teeth.
Eating a well-balanced and healthy diet.
Avoiding snacking between meals.
Use mouthwash that contains fluoride for added protection.
Avoid sweetened drinks (or at least reduce your consumption of such drinks).
Drink lots of fluoridated water to wash away sugars and acids from your mouth.
Get your teeth cleaned professionally regularly since plaque is not completely eradicated by brushing.

Oral Diseases Caused by Poor Hygiene

If you don’t take care of your mouth, you could end up with oral diseases such as:

Tooth Decay

When you don’t clean your mouth properly, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. There are, in fact, more than 300 different types of bacteria that live in our mouths. Many of these bacteria can cause infections that lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay is an infection disease that can spread to other teeth in your mouth. If it isn’t treated on time, you could end up with cavities at the best, and actually lose your teeth at the worst.

Periodontal Disease

This is an infection of the gum where the bacteria destroy the tissues of the gums and bone. As the disease progresses, your teeth become loose, and chewing becomes difficult and painful. Severe periodontal disease can lead to the loss of your teeth and severe health problems.

Gingivitis

This is the first stage of periodontal disease, where your gums become inflamed. Some of the first signs of this disorder are bleeding gums.

Other Diseases

If you think that poor dental hygiene only causes problems in your mouth, you are very much mistaken. Poor dental hygiene can lead to or contribute to more serious health conditions such as:

Heart Disease

When bacteria spreads from your mouth to the other parts of your body via the blood stream, you can end up getting heart disease. These bacteria attach themselves to damaged parts of your heart (especially if you have artificial valves in your heart), leading to cardiovascular disease.

Endocarditis

This is heart disease where the inner lining of heart gets infected.

Atherosclerosis and Stroke

Atherosclerosis, which is the technical term for clogged arteries, and strokes have been directly linked to oral bacterial infections.

Low Birth Weight

Oral infections can cause your baby to be born with low birth weight.

Premature Birth

If you have a bacterial infection caused by poor dental hygiene and are pregnant, your baby could end up being born premature.

Common Dentals Terms Explained

October 11, 2019 by Mandy

Have you found yourself at a loss for words and having not a clue about what your dentist is telling you? While it is encouraged that you ask your dentist for further explanation, it wouldn’t hurt if you have an inkling on some dental terms beforehand.

Image Source: Stroyblocks

We’ve all been there, the dentist outlining the type of treatment you need and you having no idea what it really means. You are probably quite aware of what a filling is and also what a cavity is, you may also have probably heard of tooth decay, but what about endodontic treatment? Any ideas?

Before undergoing procedures such as root canal or endodontic treatment in Sydney or in any other cities, the dentist handling your case will be explaining everything to you. As the vast majority of us have never attended dental school, it will be helpful on your part to have a bit of an idea what your dentist will be talking about, and this article will attempt to unlock some of the mystery from these dental terms and outline the procedures in plain English. There are of course many other dental terms that you might hear from time to time, but the most common ones are detailed below.

Please see below for a list of terms and what they actually mean.

Common Dental Terms And What They Actually Are

As previously stated, you may have already heard of some of the terms detailed below but perhaps not know what they actually mean.

Filling – to fill a hole (cavity) in a tooth
Abscess– an infection in the tooth, soft tissue or bone
Bite– relationship between upper and lower jaw when closed
Bleaching– chemical process used to lighten or whiten existing teeth
Braces– devices designed and fitted by orthodontist to align teeth correctly
Bridge– a fixed partial denture to replace one or more missing teeth
Cosmetic Dentistry– a field of dentistry used to lighten or reshape teeth (bleaching is one of the procedures available)
Crown– dental restoration that covers all or part of the damaged natural tooth; made of metal, porcelain or composite
Decay– destruction of teeth caused by bacteria
Denture– removable or permanent artificial teeth
Enamel– the hard material that covers the outside bit of the tooth that lies above the gumline
Endodontics– an area of dentistry that concentrates on the biology and pathology of dental pulp and root tissues
Root Canal Treatment– an endodontic dental procedure (see above)
Extraction– tooth removal
Fluoride– a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent decay; present in most toothpastes and can also be applied by a dentist
Implant– a metal rod that is placed in the upper or lower jawbone which serves as a tooth root or crown anchor
Paediatric Dentist– a dentist that specialises in treating young children
Plaque –a sticky film of undigested food mixed with saliva and bacteria that can cause gum disease and other oral health problems if left untreated
Veneer – a custom made shell that is applied to the tooth to improve appearance
X-Ray– allows the dentist a detailed look at elements that are not visible with a regular inspection

Image Source: Pixabay

All of the above dentistry terms are in common usage in Australia and across the world. If you require further information regarding any other dental term or procedure, just ask your dentist.

How To Maintain A Perfect Smile

December 7, 2018 by Mandy

Image Source: Unsplash

If you feel that your smile is important, good oral hygiene practices are essential, and it is certainly a confidence booster if you have a pearly white smile. Some lucky folks are born with a Hollywood smile, but the rest of us have to work at it, and if you would like to know some trade secrets, here are a few must-do tips to ensure that you get the most out of your smile.

Teeth Alignment – Tremendous advances have been made in the world of dentistry and with Invisalign, a revolutionary corrective device, you can straighten your teeth to improve your smile. Contact Swish Dental experienced dentist Everton Park provides and they can see just what can be done to realign your teeth. These corrective devices are invisible to the naked eye and can be removed, which is great for cleaning.
Regular Dental Examinations– It is imperative you see your dentist at least every 3 months, and should there be any issues, prompt treatment can be carried out. Preventative dentistry will help to ensure that your smile is always fresh and healthy, and should the dentist spot something untoward, he or she can carry out prompt and effective treatment before the problem develops.

Good Oral Hygiene Practices– This is essential and should include correct brushing techniques, flossing and regular use of an antiseptic mouthwash. You should brush your teeth first thing in the morning, after every meal, and, of course before going to bed. This will ensure that decay has no time to set in. There are great articles available online on what are the correct toothbrushing techniques, complete with pictures.
Cosmetic Dentistry– Teeth whitening treatments are available, and if your teeth have become stained, which is perfectly normal, you can have a treatment to restore the whiteness. If you have recently relocated and as of yet, do not have a regular dentist, Google is certainly your best friend and will connect you to a local clinic.
Losing A Tooth– Should the worst happen and you lose one of your front teeth, it isn’t the end of the world and if the tooth cannot be reattached, dental implants will restore your smile. This is a permanent solution and when the treatment is completed, no one would know you ever lost a tooth.
Watch What You Eat And Drink– Certain substances are not good for our tooth enamel, mainly coffee and red wine, and if you do like either of those, make sure you thoroughly rinse your mouth after drinking. Avoid sugary foods if at all possible as these are the root cause of tooth decay, especially among children, who tend to have a sweet tooth.

With so many affordable treatments available today, there’s no excuse for not maximising your healthy smile and with regular dental examinations, you can keep tooth decay at bay. You are never too old to improve your smile and many professional people have reaped the benefits of cosmetic dentistry to enjoy a brighter smile. If you would like to explore the potential that modern cosmetic dentistry offers, all it takes is an online search to find a local dental clinic that specialises in cosmetic treatments.

Annual Dental Exams are Essential

December 7, 2017 by Mandy

There is a ton of anxiety surrounding dental visits and this is pretty common amongst people. What you should think about apart from the money factor, is that while it may seem intimidating, a visit to the dentist can tell you about your dental health. People avoid going to the dentist for several reasons and some of those may be concerns about your dental health, fear of dentists, cost factors and so on. However, if you consider the fact that you may end up paying several times more when you do have a problem with your teeth, you may have issues with your partner or spouse about the condition of your teeth or you may end with a much larger problem with your teeth than just a tough plaque. Here are some good reasons why the annual exams can be a blessing!

Some common problems caught early: Plaque, cavities and other gum problems can be caught early on if you keep those dental appointments. Even the most diligent and sincere people can miss a spot or two when they are brushing or flossing. The problem is that there are certain spots on our teeth that can be tough to catch. Over a period, you will realize that there can be quite the build-up of plaque and tartar. The clean-ups will ensure that the plaque and tartar do not make holes in your teeth which is what results in cavities. There are several websites online such as health row that can give suggestions and good advice about dental hygiene. Signing up here will also encourage you to make sure you keep your appointments with your dentist
X-rays: A huge part of the set up in the dentist is the X-ray machine. While it is true that it is the most uncomfortable thing to do to keep your mouth open while someone takes snaps and pictures of your teeth, think of it as an investment in your health. The x-rays that are taken at the dental clinics can give a good idea of the health of your jaw and the gums. There are a ton of things that are not visible to the naked eye and hence it is essential that this is done.
Early detection of major problems: Gum disease is a major concern. This is simply because it is tough to detect at an early stage on your own. The pain and bleeding begin only when it has set in completely. Avoiding your periodical visits can cause tartar to build up which can eat away at your gums causing gingivitis or gum disease. Once the gum disease sets in, you will find that it eats away the gum tissue and also loosens the bones that hold your teeth together. If there is anything you do not want then it is to live your life without teeth! So, don’t cancel your dental appointments

So, go ahead book your appointment with the dentist and be sure to keep it!