All About Smiles Ettalong
7/382 Ocean View Rd, Ettalong Beach NSW 2257
All About Smiles Kincumber
1 Oberton St, Kincumber NSW 2251
Thanks to advances in technology, restoring damaged teeth has improved over recent years. Amalgam (silver) fillings or gold restorations were the main techniques used to repair teeth in the past. However, due to improved dental materials and techniques, teeth can now be restored with materials that mimic tooth structure in looks.
Preventative Dentistry and Oral Hygiene
The future of dentistry is moving towards a preventative approach rather than a restorative approach. Preventative dentistry is the foundation for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Furthermore, healthy teeth and gums lead to a better overall health for the rest of your body.
Oral Hygiene
Poor oral hygiene can lead to significant health conditions within your mouth and the rest of your body. These health conditions include tooth decay, gum disease and infections — to name a few. Increasingly, research is showing a substantial link between poor oral hygiene and systemic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, increased risk of stroke and even dementia.
Here at All About Smiles Ettalong and All About Smiles Kincumber, our dentists and oral health therapist have a strong focus on maintaining a healthy mouth. We believe that each patient should be able to achieve optimal oral health by following a strict at-home care routine along with regular dental visits.
At-Home Care
At-home care can be challenging and different for each individual. Many people don’t spend enough time properly looking after their teeth and gums when they are at home. Optimal at-home care includes three steps: brushing twice a day, flossing or using interdental cleaning aids twice a day and rinsing with an appropriate mouth rinse
Brushing Twice a Day
Our mouths are full of good and bad bacteria. A proper brushing technique removes the majority of this bacteria within the mouth. Brushing involves cleaning the surfaces of your teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day. The brushing should be performed in the morning and before you go to bed.
Flossing and Interdental Cleaning
Although proper brushing removes the vast majority of bacteria within the mouth, there are still areas where the bristles do not reach. These areas are in between the teeth. The most commonly used product to clean your teeth is floss. However, the majority of people who use floss use it incorrectly. The floss should be wrapped around each tooth in a C-shape.
Flossing is an effective way to clean your teeth, however, there are products available that are more effective in cleaning your teeth. These include Piksters© and WaterPiks©. If you’d like to know whether or not you’re suited to use one of these products, please ask your dental professional.
Mouth Rinse
Over the years, certain mouth rinses have received a bad reputation in regards to causing adverse health problems. However, a lot of this reputation was built upon poorly performed and documented trials. Mouth rinses that contain essential oils and/or alcohol have been shown to be an effective addition to your oral hygiene regime. The essential oils and alcohol help to fight bad bacteria and, in return, reduce your risk of gum disease and dental caries.
Regular Dental Visits
At-home care accounts for the majority of keeping your mouth healthy. However, it is vital that you see your dental professional at least twice a year for regular dental examinations. Your mouth can change rapidly due to a number of different factors. If there is a change or an early cavity forming, your dental professional can address it early, in turn reducing the risk of further health complications and pain. Generally speaking, the majority of the population builds up a hard tartar/calculus buildup within six months which requires a professional dental cleaning by either your hygienist or dentist.
Dental X-Rays
Dental x-rays allow the dental professionals to complete a comprehensive examination and assessment of any possible problems which may go undetected to the naked eye. X-rays show areas of the mouth that aren’t possible to see normally, such as below the gum line and in between teeth. There are a number of different types of dental x-rays that can be taken and your professional will advise you on which ones are needed.
Detecting Problems
Many of these X-rays are used to detect dental problems such as caries, abscesses, defective fillings/margins, periodontal (gum disease, developing teeth, the presence/position of wisdom teeth, the assessment of dental pulp after a traumatic injury) and provide assessment during root canal treatment. Dental X-rays are extremely important in diagnosing and providing the correct and appropriate treatment for any of these above conditions.
How Often Should Dental X-Rays Be Taken
You may hear your dental professional suggest having routine X-rays every two years. This is a general statement which should be tailored to each individual. Some individuals require routine X-rays of a far shorter time frame largely due to their caries risk. On the other hand, individuals that have a very low caries risk may not require the X-rays every two years.
