Articles

Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can occur to anyone, at any time.

Prevention is always better than cure, however, if you do require immediate dental care the following information could save your tooth.

Your teeth are something that you want to last a lifetime, so it is extremely important to see a Dentist as soon as possible after the incident. What do I do if My Tooth gets knocked out?

The most common form of dental emergency is the loss of a tooth. If you have lost a tooth, it is imperative to see a dentist as soon as possible. By attaining medical treatment within 30 minutes, there is an 85% chance the tooth will survive. After you have lost your tooth, the first thing you must do is find the tooth. Once you have found your tooth, handle it very delicately – not touching the fragile root (necessary intact in order to encourage re-attachment).

You must also resist the temptation to clean your tooth off with water. If the tooth is clean, place it gently back into its socket immediately and apply slight pressure. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it using milk and place it back into its socket. Otherwise keep the tooth moist by placing it in a glass of milk or tuck it into you cheek. The sooner you visit the dentist, the greater the chance of saving the tooth.

Are Mouthguards really that important?

A mouthguard is the very best protection you can offer your smile. Imperative during any form of contact sport; a properly fitting mouthguard can prevent broken teeth as well as injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. Accidents can happen at any time on the field. A mouthguard will help cushion the blow to your face, which otherwise may have resulted in tooth loss.

Chips or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss; are all much more likely to occur if you are not wearing a mouthguard. Correctly fitting mouthguards will stay in place whilst you are wearing them; enabling you to breathe and talk as usual.

Banish Bad Breath

A healthy mouth means fresh breath! Bad breath can affect those nearest and dearest to us. It can place strain on relationships as well as being socially embarrassing.

The main culprit behind bad breath is bacteria! Our mouths contain millions and millions of bacteria, which can quite easily get out of control. Plaque, tartar, gum disease, tooth decay, dentures and your tongue are all places where bacteria can thrive. Breath Fresheners and mouthwash are only temporary camouflages to bad breath (usually keeping you fresh for just a few hours).

To resolve your bad breath, we recommend the following steps:

• Determine the cause of your bad breath. If your bad breath is caused by tartar, gum disease or tooth decay – these can only be remedied by a dentist.
• Attend regular dental check-ups Regular scale and cleans will help keep your breath fresh.
• Brush your tongue. Approximately 50% of oral bacteria can be eliminated through brushing your tongue daily with a soft toothbrush.
• If you wear dentures you will need to thoroughly clean them daily. Use a cleaning product specifically designed for dentures.
• Breathe through your nose. People who breathe through their mouth are more likely to have bad breath, due to a dry mouth.

If you are concerned about your own breath, contact us today and arrange a consultation. We will be able to isolate and fix the cause of your bad breath, helping you recapture your confidence and dental health.

The Danger of Soft Drinks

In general, we all agree that soft drinks taste good. What many people do not realise is the dangerous toll this takes on your teeth. Sugar found in soft drinks react with the natural bacteria in your mouth and forms acid. This acid erodes your tooth enamel over time which causes dental cavities.

What is even more alarming is the fact that soft drinks EVEN THE SUGAR-FREE KIND contain additional acids that also erode your teeth’s enamel.

We recommend drinking soft drinks in moderation, using a straw when you do drink them or better still – DRINK WATER!

Teeth Not Perfectly White – Don’t Feel Embarrassed, its Normal

Contrary to many advertisements, it is difficult to obtain perfectly white teeth. Natural, healthy teeth have extremely subtle yellow, brown or grey tones. Shine a flashlight behind your front teeth and look in the mirror to see for yourself.

Pure white teeth are like purple hair – they appear synthetic and distracting! However, light tooth shades are extremely attractive. What marketers refer to as “teeth whitening” should more accurately be called “teeth lightening.”

Tooth shade varies between people and even between teeth from the same person. Generally, permanent teeth are darker than primary teeth, and they have a yellow or grey tint to them. This colouration depends upon the natural shade of the outer layer of tooth structure (enamel) and the tooth layer under the enamel dentin). It also depends upon the thickness and translucency of the enamel.

Dentin can be very yellow. If the enamel layer is thin and/or very translucent, the yellow dentin will show through the enamel. These factors help explain why some teeth respond better to bleaching treatments than others.

Brilliant Smile = Confidence!

Art has been described as “the accomplice of love” and science the creative application of natural law. In tandem, these energies can be combined to produce a masterpiece.

A dazzling smile can ignite a room, projecting an image of self assurance and high personal esteem. It glows with embers of delight from an explosive source of pride. That magnificent smile is no longer a fantasy. Now it can be yours!

Recent advances in techniques and materials offer modern practitioners of Aesthetic Dentistry many alternatives in the creation of brilliant smiles, bursting with energy and radiating enthusiasm. We have not yet discovered the magic wand, but we are getting closer. There are many exciting options.

Since no single approach serves the needs of every patient, careful evaluation of alternative or combined approaches is essential to a pleasing and lasting result.

Our teeth not only serve to chew the foods we eat, but they dramatically affect the way we look and feel about ourselves. Teeth help to keep us healthy by allowing us to eat and chew the foods we enjoy. Teeth help us to look younger. Our teeth, gums and bone support the facial structures and keep them from sagging and caving in. Without teeth to support our facial tissues, we would appear much older.

Teeth help build our self esteem and confidence, by giving us an attractive and youthful smile.
Investing in your teeth is an investment in your health. Aren’t you worth it?

Situated in the heart of Melbourne, DesignDentistry is at the forefront of General and Cosmetic dentistry services. We will work with you to achieve the results you desire. DesignDentistry looks forward to caring for you, soon. Contact us now for your obligation-free consultation.

« Previous Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6