South Yarra Dental Group

Author: Boris Zaslavsky

World Oral Health Day

To mark World Oral Health Day, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) and the Australian Health Policy Collaboration (AHPC) have launched Australia’s first comprehensive Oral Health Tracker  report, revealing a series of damning statistics about the state of the population’s teeth.

The research found 90 per cent of adults have some form of tooth decay, and risky alcohol consumption and smoking habits are contributing to poor oral health.

The Australian Health Policy Collaboration data also found almost threequarters of children eat too much sugar and more than one-third of five-year-olds had decay in baby teeth.

Too many children are also ending up in hospital with preventable dental problems, with five to nine year olds having the highest rates of admissions.

The Oral Health Tracker also found about one-quarter of teens had not had a dental check-up in 12 months.

Adults aged 18 to 35 and women were more likely to feature in the 51 per cent of adults who brush their teeth twice a day, with brushing habits dropping off as people aged.

 

Dental Health Week- Diet and Nutrition

Diet and Nutrition

Everything you eat and drink can have a major effect on the health of your teeth and gums, particularly whether you develop tooth decay, a diet related disease which is caused when the sugars in the food and drinks you eat are taken up by bacteria; these in turn produce the acids that can attack the outer layer of tooth enamel.

To ensure that your diet doesn’t negatively affect your teeth, there’s a few key things to keep in mind:

Drink lots of water

It’s calorie free, there are no ingredient labels to stress over, and it’s almost free! Even better, tap water in most areas of Australia contains fluoride, one of the easiest and most beneficial ways to help prevent tooth decay. If you choose water over anything else, and regularly sip it throughout the day, you’re going a long way to making real difference to the health of your teeth.

Limit snacking between meals

A key component in helping to prevent decay is saliva which helps your teeth recover from these attacks by neutralising the acids. Its good work, however, can be undone if you snack frequently between meals, which means your teeth don’t get a break from the acid attacks that occur when you eat.  Also, limit sugary treats to meal times, rather than between meals.

Watch what you eat

It is not just the obvious sweet foods and drinks such as lollies and soft drinks that can cause decay. Frequent snacking on foods with hidden sugars like biscuits, crackers, cereals, chips and even dried fruit (these foods break down into sugars in the mouth) can cause acid attacks on your tooth enamel.

Gum anyone?

Chewing sugar-free gum (and that’s the crucial qualifier, it must be sugar-free!) may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re thinking about good dietary habits that benefit your teeth. But studies have shown that chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after eating can prompt your mouth to produce more saliva, which helps neutralise decay-causing acid attacks.

Dental Health Week- Flossing

Flossing

If you’re relying solely on brushing to keep your teeth clean, you’re missing nearly half the surface area of your teeth which, not surprisingly, lies between them. For that reason alone,  flossing should be an essential part of your oral care routine and never an optional extra.

By using floss to remove the plaque from between your teeth, you’re helping to prevent gum disease, tooth decay, and halitosis (otherwise known as “bad breath”), a considerable amount of upside for just a couple of minutes effort each day.

A part of your routine

It’s always best to floss when you’re not in a rush or when you’re too tired to do it well. If you find you’re exhausted at the end of the day, then it’s a good idea to floss first thing in the morning or after lunch. Alternatively, if you like to go to bed with a clean mouth then floss before your nightly brush. If you have kids, they should begin flossing, with your help up until about age 8, as soon as they have two teeth in contact.

How to floss

Your dentist is the most qualified person to instruct you on flossing correctly but there are some basic tips you can follow:

Tip 1. Wind approximately 45 cm of floss around your middle fingers and grip it tightly between your thumbs and index fingers.

Tip 2. Keeping the thumb and forefingers close together, gently guide the floss between the teeth, taking care not to cut or damage your gums with abrupt movement. You should use a side-to-side motion to ensure the sides of both teeth are cleaned equally.

Tip 3. To clean the “neck” of the tooth, which is the point where it meets the gums, curl the floss and insert it gently under the gum.

If sticking your fingers into your mouth with a cord of thin filaments strung between them isn’t your idea of fun, then consider using either a less invasive floss threader (a nylon loop through which you thread the floss) or floss pick (the floss is held taut between two prongs on a handle) to do the job.

And finally, your dentist might also recommend using other items such as bottle brush-shaped interdental cleaners, if you have large gaps between your teeth, or interdental tips (flexible rubber tips) and irrigators (electrically-powered water-pumping devices) to compliment your flossing regimen.

Dental Health Week- Brushing

Brushing

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t give much thought to how you brush your teeth, beyond squirting on some toothpaste and scrubbing back and forth. But as your dentist will tell you, how you brush your teeth matters a great deal, with how often you brush, how long you brush, the kind of technique and the toothbrush you use are all major influences on the effectiveness of your brushing.

To gain the maximum benefit from brushing, you should brush for at least two minutes morning and night, using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head and a flexible neck. The advantage of these toothbrushes is that they remove the plaque and debris from your teeth without damaging your teeth and gums.

It’s all in the technique

You should clean your teeth systematically, starting at the back of your mouth with the toothbrush bristle at the gum line on a 45° angle, brushing gently in a circular motion. If you scrub too hard from side to side, you can run the risk of causing your gums to recede, as well as damaging the tooth enamel. You should take care to brush carefully along the inner, outer and chewing surfaces, making sure you tip the toothbrush so you can reach the inner front areas of the teeth, which are often missed.

And yes, while it may seem strange at first to brush your tongue, doing so actually reduces the bacteria in your mouth and helps your breath stay fresh. All you need to do is push the bristles on the tongue and scrape gently forward.
When you have finished brushing, try to spit out the toothpaste and don’t rinse with water. Leaving some toothpaste on your teeth is a really great way to give your teeth some extra ongoing protection.

Tools of the trade

If limited dexterity is an issue, you might consider using a powered toothbrush. They can be programmed to run for two minutes, making keeping to the correct length of brushing time easy. If you’re not sure which type of brush will work for you or your family, check with your dentist.

General tips

Tempting as it is to think that pressing harder on your teeth equals a better clean, the fact is that too much pressure can damage your gums and tooth enamel. If the bristles are wearing out on your toothbrushes well before the three-month mark, you’re pressing too hard and you should ask your dentist to show you a less damaging technique. It’s also a good idea to replace your brush, whether manual or powered, when either the bristles start to spread apart, or every three months, whichever comes first.

 

Health Mouth & Health Body

Taking good care of your mouth — teeth and gums — does more than help ensure you have a bright, white smile.

A healthy mouth and healthy body go hand in hand. Good oral hygiene and oral health can improve your overall health, reducing the risk of serious disease and perhaps even preserving your memory in your golden years. The phrase “healthy mouth, healthy you” really is true — and backed by growing scientific evidence.

It’s never too early to start teaching your children to take care of their teeth and gums: Healthy habits learned in childhood can pay off in adulthood. And, if you’re tempted to shrug off your good oral hygiene habits — brushing, flossing, rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash, and seeing your dentist regularly — remember that you’re a role model for your kids. Keep in mind these six ways that healthy teeth and gums boost overall health.

Boosts Your Self-esteem and Confidence

Decayed teeth and gum disease are often associated not only with an unsightly mouth but very bad breath — so bad it can affect your confidence, self-image, and self-esteem. With a healthy mouth that’s free of gum disease and cavities, your quality of life is also bound to be better — you can eat properly, sleep better, and concentrate with no aching teeth or mouth infections to distract you.

May Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Chronic inflammation from gum disease has been associated with the development of cardiovascular problems such as heart disease, blockages of blood vessels, and strokes. Experts stop short of saying there is a cause-and-effect between gum disease and these other serious health problems, but the link has shown up in numerous studies. The findings of these studies may suggest that maintaining oral health can help protect overall health.

Preserves Your Memory

Adults with gingivitis (swollen, bleeding gums) performed worse on tests of memory and other cognitive skills than did those with healthier gums and mouths according the latest research. Those with gingivitis were more likely to perform poorly on two tests: delayed verbal recall and subtraction — both skills used in everyday life. Using an antibacterial mouthwash or toothpaste can help reduce bacteria in the mouth that can cause gingivitis.

Reduces Risks of Infection and Inflammation in Your Body

Poor oral health has been linked with the development of infection in other parts of the body. Research has found an association between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints. Experts say the mechanism of the destruction of connective tissues in both gum disease and RA is similar. Eating a balanced diet, seeing your dentist regularly, and good oral hygiene helps reduce your risks of tooth decay and gum disease. Make sure you brush twice a day and floss and use an antiseptic mouthwash once a day.

Helps Keep Blood Sugar Stable if You Have Diabetes

People with uncontrolled diabetes often have gum disease. Having diabetes can make you less able to fight off infection, including gum infections that can lead to serious gum disease. And some experts have found that if you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop more severe gum problems than someone without diabetes. That, in turn, may make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels.Reducing your risk of gingivitis by protecting your oral health may help with blood sugar control if you have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Helps Pregnant Women Carry a Baby to Term

Women may experience increased gingivitis during pregnancy. Some research suggests a relationship between gum disease and preterm, low-birthweight infants. Not all studies have found a solid link, but maintaining good oral health is still the best goal. If you’re pregnant, visit your dentist as part of your prenatal care. Consider it good practice for the role modeling that lies ahead for all new parents.

World Oral Health Day smartphone game

This exciting new game is available in English, French and Spanish is designed to help bring oral health education to life in a simple yet distinctive way. It challenges people to think more meaningfully about their oral health routine and the simple steps that could be taken to enhance it.

The game is available for download via the Apple Store and Google Play (simply search ‘Mad Mouths’).

Google Play

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.npb.MadMouths&hl=en

Apple Store

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mad-mouths/id1078998116?mt=8

 

World Oral Health Day Video

The short and engaging video is a montage of two people attempting (and failing!) activities such as dancing, meditating and shaving while brushing their teeth. These absurd scenes highlight the need to dedicate time to oral care and share a simple campaign message: It all starts here. Brush teeth for two minutes, twice daily to improve an oral care routine.

 

 

Phillips Zoom Whitening

https://youtu.be/5OyyNQ2itsQ

Philips Zoom in-chair whitening can achieve up to 8 shades whiter teeth in just 1 hour.

Teeth Whitening Melbourne

If you are considering whitening options for your teeth, please arrange an appointment with one of our practitioners to discuss your treatment options and to determine your suitability.

At South Yarra Dental Group, we offer the latest in Teeth Whitening Technology, Philips Zoom Whitespeed. Philips Zoom Teeth Whitening is a safe and effective way to whiten your teeth by up to eight shades. While other non-professional whitening products may cause harm to teeth and gums, using Philips Zoom with Relief ACP actually gives you greater protection and care for your whiter tooth enamel.

South Yarra Dental Group has extensive experience with Philips Zoom teeth whitening. We’ve been a provider of  Zoom Teeth Whitening in Melbourne & Australia over 10 years!

Zoom WhiteSpeed is the only in-office system that has a variable intensity setting so each treatment can be customised to maximize patient comfort. The system also includes desensitizers to help minimize sensitivity and protect your enamel. Our dental practitioners are given further training by Philips Zoom to ensure it is delivered safely and effectively. Philips Zoom has been clinically proven to whiten up to eight shades so you can achieve a brighter, whiter smile in just one hour. To determine your suitability, you must schedule an examination appointment.  Please call us on 98273314 or  CLICK HERE book online.