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When and why should you change your toothbrush?

Jul 9, 2015

When and why should you change your toothbrush?

Your toothbrush plays has an important role keeping your teeth clean twice a day. It is recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) to replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles become flared. If you are replacing it sooner than 3 months, you may be brushing too hard. Some toothbrushes have indicators that fade after about 3 months of use. Don’t forget to change electric toothbrush heads and check your children's toothbrushes as they may ch

What is a Fissure Sealant?

Dec 11, 2014

What is a Fissure Sealant?

Before and After Fissure Sealant What Are Fissure Sealants? Fissure Sealants are a thin protective layer, which protects the chewing surface of the tooth and protects the adult teeth from tooth decay. The sealant forms a protective layer preventing food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth. Sealants can be placed on an adult tooth after it has erupted, usually at 6 years old. How are they applied? It is quick and easy, taking only a few minutes per t

How to Brush Your Children's Teeth

Nov 21, 2014

How to Brush Your Children's Teeth

Tooth decay is the number 1 disease affecting young children today * Upon eruption of the first tooth 0-2 years old encourage brushing your child’s teeth using a soft toothbrush with only water. Sit the child the in your lap, facing away from you and supporting the head with your arm or rest the head in your lap. As the child gets older stand behind to brush the teeth. It is not recommended to use fluoride toothpaste for children under 2 years old. When brushing, brush the in

What happens to my teeth during pregnancy? Is it safe to go to the dentist while pregnant?

Nov 3, 2014

What happens to my teeth during pregnancy? Is it safe to go to the dentist while pregnant?

If I’m pregnant, is it safe to attend my dentist. It is very important to attend your dentist before, during and after pregnancy. It is 100% safe to attend your dentist for an examination. Most elective work at a dentist will be deferred ideally until your second trimester. Emergencies such as pain and infections can be treated safely. Are there any problems I might experience with my teeth or gums during pregnancy? You may experience swollen and sore gums. Changing hormone l

Pacifiers and Digit sucking in infants

Sep 25, 2014

Pacifiers and Digit sucking in infants

Pacifiers can be beneficial to infants when used at the correct stage of their development. Negative outcomes can occur if pacifiers are used for longer than necessary. General guidelines for pacifier use: • Avoid dipping pacifier in any sweet substance. • Anatomic (also called ‘orthodontic’ or ‘physiological’) pacifiers are preferred, as they stimulate normal muscle movements. • Should never be tied or affixed to child with any material. Timeline for best use of pacifiers. 0

What to do when someone knocks out a tooth

Jul 7, 2014

What to do when someone knocks out a tooth

Ring a dentist to organise emergency treatment Check that this tooth is a PERMANENT/ADULT tooth. If so, find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (whiter part) of the tooth. Avoid touching the root at any time. If tooth is dirty, rinse under cold clean water for 10 seconds. Try to replant the tooth back into the socket it was knocked out from if possible. Bite on a handkerchief to hold it in position. If this is not possible, store the tooth in: a) Saline b) Inside the mouth

What toothbrush is best?

Jun 3, 2014

What toothbrush is best?

People who want the best possible care for their mouths often ask if they should be using an electric or manual toothbrush. The short answer is both electric and manual toothbrushes can properly clean teeth. Which one to get depends largely on the person, their attitude, and how they brush. Electric • Can tell you how long to brush for • Some models can stop you placing too much pressure on teeth • Rotate faster than manual brushes so can 'cover more' for less effort, ideal f

Should I bring my child to a dentist? At what Age?

Apr 29, 2014

Should I bring my child to a dentist? At what Age?

''But they're only baby teeth'' These words are the bane of any family dentist. Why Baby teeth are of course very important for children while growing up. Problems with baby teeth can lead to issues with crowding, and weakened enamel for adult teeth, as they grow directly beneath them. The last baby tooth falls out at age 12, so a problem detected at age 6 can have a long way to stay in the mouth until then. When The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends bringing

What causes cavities? How can I prevent them

Feb 25, 2014

What causes cavities? How can I prevent them

Those dreaded words: 'You have a cavity in your back tooth'. How can we avoid the problem of cavities? We'll look first at the graph pictured above (bear with me): Stephan Curve It's called the stephan curve, and it describes what happens in your mouth when you eat something sugary. The middle red line is the PH or acidity of your mouth, if the blue line dips below it, cavities start to be formed. So we can see that a few minutes after eating or drinking, the blue line will d

The amount of sugar in our breakfast

Feb 24, 2014

The amount of sugar in our breakfast

Breakfast the most important meal of the day? There's been a lot of talk about sugar in your breakfast recently. The reason that this is so vital for dental health, is because what you eat in the morning will stay with you the whole day. Often, the next time people will brush their teeth is at night, and so if you have something really sugary in the morning, changes are it's going to have a long time to damage your teeth. N.H.S. Article http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/02February/