Dental Health Advice

Maintain good dental health throughout adulthood by adopting good oral hygiene practices and by having a healthy diet.

Common oral health conditions include tooth decay (dental caries), gum disease, tooth wear, dry mouth and tooth sensitivity.

Eat well

Proper nutrition is necessary for healthy teeth and gums. Eating a well-balanced diet gives gum tissues and teeth the important nutrients and minerals needed to stay strong and resist infections. Soft, sticky foods tend to remain on the grooves and between teeth.

• Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods.
• If you eat sugary foods and sweets, limit their intake (especially between meals).
• When you do snack, choose nutritious foods such as cheese and dry crackers, vegetables, natural yogurt or fresh fruit.

Drink well

• Drink plenty of tap water.
• Avoid acidic and sugary drinks such as soft drinks, sports drinks, cordials, fruit juices and flavoured or carbonated water. If consumed, these are best to have with meals rather than between.
• Choose plain milk instead of flavoured milk.

Play well

• Wear a professionally fitted mouth guard when training and playing sport where there is risk of oral injury.

Stay Well

• If you smoke, quit for good.
• If you drink alcohol, limit your intake.
• Protect your mouth and face from the sun to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
• Have regular oral health checkups – don’t wait for a problem.
• Seek advice from an oral health professional about how often you should have checkups.
• Those without natural teeth also need checkups.

And the most obvious:

Daily brushing and cleaning between your teeth is important because it removes plaque. If the plaque isn’t removed, it builds up and can cause tooth decay and gum disease.

You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and toothbrushes should be replaced every 3-4 months, or when the bristles get worn or frayed.

The five steps below show you how to brush your teeth correctly.

Daily flossing is required

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.

It’s always best to floss when you’re not in a rush or when you’re too tired to do it well.

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

There are  floss threader available (a nylon loop through which you thread the floss) or floss pick (the floss is held taut between two prongs on a handle) that can be used for flossing.

Going to the Dentist

Confirm the appointment with the dentist’s office

You may have already made the appointment a couple of weeks earlier, but it is a good idea to confirm it again 24 hours in advance in order to prevent miscommunications. Some dental offices will do this for you, but if you do not hear from them make the call yourself.

Transfer old dental records to the new clinic

If you’re visiting a new dentist for the first time, get in touch with your old dental clinic and arrange to have your previous dental records sent to the new clinic.

Prepare all your information

Your dentist will need detailed information about your previous medical and dental history. Make a list of all the medications that you’re taking and be prepared to provide information about your dental insurance and preferred form of payment.

Brush and floss

Clean your teeth before you arrive at the dentist’s office. This will make it easier for the dentist to examine you.

Arrive well on time

The checkup is not going to start moment you arrive at the office. Get there early so you have enough time to complete the required forms, and to relax and calm your nerves before the actual appointment.

Discuss the problem in depth

The better the quality of information that your dentist receives, the easier it is to arrive at the right treatment. Hopefully, you have made enough notes about the problems that have been experiencing such as when the pain started, the level of pain that you feel, and other issues such as swollen or bleeding gums. Be completely honest about your medical and dental history and answer all the questions of the dentist truthfully.

Be upfront about your anxieties

Be advised that there are a lot of methods that are available to reduce your anxieties. Be upfront to the dentist about your anxieties and fears about the treatment.  Many people experience anxiety before their dental treatment. This dental anxiety may stem from past experiences or just a perception that the dental procedures will be painful. Many methods are available to help reduce or remove dental anxiety. Some people can relieve their anxiety simply by discussing their fears with their prosthodontist and learning more about the planned procedure.

Be open with your prosthodontist about your anxiety and have a discussion on the treatment that is right for you.

Schedule appropriate treatments and follow-ups

Dental procedures often take much longer than dental exams, so you may need to come infor a later visit if a procedure needs to be performed. Check with your dentist how long the procedure would take and what to expect after. Schedule the appointment at your convenience and also check about the post procedure guidelines to follow. You have anything else to add to this list? Share with us how you prepare for your dental visit in the comments below.

Can nitrous oxide help with my anxiety?

Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” is given to a person with a mixture of oxygen and has a calming effect that helps anxious people relax during their dental treatment. When using nitrous oxide, the patient remains conscious and can talk to the prosthodontist during their procedure. The effects wear off almost immediately allowing the person to drive home following the treatment. Nitrous oxide rarely has side effects when given properly by a prosthodontist. Using nitrous oxide during a dental procedure will reduce dental anxiety for a number of people, but very anxious patients may require a prescription medication.

Can I be sedated before my dental treatment?

Sedation is meant to help people calm their nerves through the use of medication or inhaled gas prior to and/or during a treatment procedure. Sedation is helpful for patients with fears related to dental treatment, for patients with a low pain tolerance, or perhaps for patients requiring longer dental appointments. There are different types of sedation used depending on the situation.

Sedation is an effective way to help many patients feel comfortable during their dental visit. Before using sedation or anesthetic, it is important to tell your doctor about any medications or herbal supplements you are taking or medical treatments you are receiving.

Any prescription anti-anxiety treatment, including IV sedation, will require the individual to be in good general health and to have a driver to take him or her home after the dental procedure.

There are extra costs involved with sedation.

Will I receive anesthesia before my dental treatment?

Anesthesia relates to blocking or temporarily removing sensation from your body or mouth to allow medical or dental treatment without discomfort. Local anesthetics are typically used for dental procedures to remove sensation or “numb” a specific area. General anesthesia is more commonly used in a hospital setting to remove sensation from the entire body during a medical surgery.

Will I be given antibiotics in dental treatment?

Several antibiotics exist that are well-suited to treat dental infections (used as antibiotic therapy), and your dentist can decide the best antibiotic based on the type of infection and your medical history

People with certain medical conditions such as specific heart conditions (including artificial heart valves) or total joint replacements of the knee and/or hip may need to take antibiotics (antibiotic prophylaxis) before any invasive dental procedures. Some dental procedures may allow bacteria to enter the blood stream. The bacteria in the blood stream can eventually reach either the damaged area of the heart or the artificial joint and cause an infection. In extreme situations, the risk may become life-threatening. Your dentist  may consult with your other health care providers to determine the appropriate protocol for you.