Dental Hygiene
I know; this is a more serious blog topic than we usually tackle but it’s worth talking about. Sadly, chances are we all know someone who’s fought or is fighting against some form of cancer. If we want to be part of making cancer history, building awareness and sharing vital preventative information is the key!
Oral health
At Dental O So Gentle our hygienists and dentists care about your complete health, including oral health and preventing oral cancer. We not only treat your teeth and gums, but we’re trained to look for abnormalities that could affect your greater health. If we notice something amiss, we’ll work together to find answers, offer support and decide on a solution to keep you fit and well.
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There are very few things upon which the whole of humanity can agree. But our revulsion towards bad breath can certainly be counted as one.
No one wants bad breath and no one wants to be around someone with bad breath. But is there anything you can do about it? To find out, let’s start at the beginning.
What is bad breath?
Bad breath, or halitosis, is mostly the product of sulphur-producing bacteria, normally living on the surface of the tongue or the throat. The bad odour is caused by the bacterial wastes left in the mouth, as well as decaying food particles and other debris in your mouth. Poor oral hygiene, dry mouth, disease, infection, tobacco use and severe dieting can all contribute to halitosis too, but fortunately, while unpleasant, halitosis is not infectious.
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Q: Which teeth should I floss?
A: Only the ones you want to keep!
Q: When should I start flossing my children’s teeth?
A: As soon as two teeth touch each other.
Starting to floss your children’s teeth from a young age is super important. The best way to ingrain healthy dental habits is through leading by example. When they see you undertaking important tasks, like using dental floss, they’re more likely to copy what you are doing. Of course, initially, you’ll need to floss your children’s teeth for them because they lack the dexterity to do it themselves. As they master the necessary skill involved, it is important you show them how to do it themselves. In no time at all, you’ll find that not only are they able to floss independently but you’ve successfully managed to help form a fantastic lifelong habit that will keep their teeth and gums healthy.
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Pregnancy is an exciting time for expecting Mums, and is the first stage in a long and rewarding journey.
Dental hygiene during pregnancy is just as, if not more, important than ever, and your teeth and gums require close attention.
Is it possible to loose teeth as a result of pregnancy?
I’ve heard this many times, but the truth is that this is a myth. Pregnancy does not cause tooth loss – untreated tooth decay and periodontal disease does.
What causes tooth decay?
Tooth decay results from repeated acid attacks on enamel and poor dental hygiene. It all begins with a film of bacteria forming over the teeth – called plaque.
This bacteria transforms the sugars and starch found in common foods into harmful acids, leading to gum irritation, gingivitis, and more seriously gum disease.
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It’s hard to scroll through a Facebook newsfeed without seeing some pet-obsessed friend posting an image of their dog/cat/fish/komodo dragon in a Halloween costume, Christmas elf-hat or ill-advised flowery bow.
People get a real kick out of treating their pets like human beings, and I should know, I’m the first person to admit that I’m completely wrapped around my dog’s little paw!
But in our never-ending crusade to inflict our own fashion choices on our unsuspecting furry companions, most people forget the really important facets of human conduct we should share with our pets: dental care!
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Did you know that there are a variety of conditions that can affect the health of your mouth, which can in turn affect different areas of your body?
Let me give you an example: Dry mouth.
What is dry mouth?
A dry mouth means there is far less natural irrigation by your wonderful saliva. While saliva may seem like a gross by-product of your mouth, it’s actually vitally important, as it rinses, cleanses and balances your mouth. This in turn keeps the pH or acid level down, protecting your teeth from a higher rate of decay.
Things that can cause dry mouth include:
- Medications e.g. antidepressants, diuretics, epilepsy medication
- Recreational drugs
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Dehydration
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It’s a stressful time of year! Work has the added burden of the pre-Christmas break deadline, the kids are about to finish up the school year and there are the holidays to plan! You might be having house guests, cooking an important family meal (catering for everyone’s tastes and dietary requirements) buying gifts – carefully balancing the budget with the perfect representation of how much the recipient means to you and if your NOT hosting – the drive from place to place catching all the friends and relatives. It’s a wonderful time – but pulling it all together can take a lot of time and effort, which many of us just don’t have to spare. This can lead to stress, and stress can be really bad for your health.
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Juicing & Your Oral Health
The latest juicing trend has completely taken off with more and more people jumping on the bandwagon. You can barely turn on your TV without an advertisement for some kind of juicer! While there are many benefits of boosting the amount of vitamins and minerals in your diet by consuming these juices, we have a few concerns; particularly when it comes to your dental health.
Often these juices will contain high quantities of sugar which can contribute to tooth decay. Fructose, the sugar found in fruit is a common cause of cavities as oral bacteria feed on it, and should be only consumed as part of a balanced diet. This combined with the acidity of the juices can lead to dental issues, especially if taken long term.
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How did the toothbrush come about?
Before we even start talking about what kind of toothbrush is best for you, lets look at how toothbrushes even came about. Toothbrushes have been around for thousands of years; Babylonians and Egyptians made a toothbrush by fraying the end of a twig (doesn’t sound very glamorous!). A while later the Chinese developed some sort of “chewing stick” which were made from aromatic tree twigs used to freshen peoples breath (sounds a lot like chewing gum!).
Interesting, but what about the first tooth brush with bristles, not leaves?
It is believed that the Chinese invented the first natural bristle toothbrush. The Bristles were made from pigs necks and were attached to a bone or bamboo handle. This design was brought to Europe and refined to use softer horsehairs which many Europeans preferred (do you blame them?). During this time there were many variations of toothbrushes but they all were made with a natural bristle.
Only with the invention of Nylon did natural bristles fade aware and the development of the truly modern toothbrush take its place.
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We all know we should be brushing our teeth twice a day, once in the morning and again at night. But is there a chance we’re doing it all wrong? Could brushing your teeth the wrong way be harmful to your teeth?
The answer is yes; brushing your teeth consistently is not enough. We need to be brushing our teeth well to avoid gum recession (toothbrush abrasion and of course cavities. So, how do you brush your teeth well? Do you just brush harder?
Dental O So Gentle has highlighted some important tips to remember to help you brush your teeth well:
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