All the things you need to know about Dental Check-up and Teeth Cleaning
How often should you go to the dentist?
Dental Check-up and Teeth Cleaning Melbourne CBD
In the pursuit to maintain good oral hygiene, there’s no underestimating how crucial regular visits to the dentist’s office can be. Visiting a Dentist periodically may not only prove essential to preserving an attractive smile, but for an array of health reasons as well. There are many risks associated with poor oral hygiene such as gum disease, cavities, infections and worse, but these risks can most often be entirely averted with just two yearly teeth cleanings.
Dental check-ups are best done every six months. Six months is the average time span between two check-ups, but depending on your dental health Dr. Castro may increase the number of annual check-ups. For example, if your teeth and gums are in good condition, and there is no significant plaque build-up in-between visits the dentist may agree to one annual check-up.
On the other hand, high-risk patients may need to increase the number of annual check-ups to three or even four. People who fall in this category are:
- Patients who smoke or chew tobacco
- Pregnant women
- Patients with diabetes
- Patients who suffer from gum diseases
- Patients with abnormal plaque and tartar build-up
- Persons with low immunity to infections.
Looking for the Best Dentist in Melbourne? VOGUE SMILES MELBOURNE
Dentist have the dedications and expertise to deliver exceptional dental care. We offer gentle and affordable services from simple Check-up and clean to complex and advanced Cosmetic -Full mouth reconstructions. Call us now 9629-7664 to book an appointment.
The Importance of Preventative Dentistry
Dental Check-up and Teeth Cleaning Melbourne CBD
Does this year to-do list include two visits to the dentist? If regular checkups aren’t on your calendar, you may be putting your oral health at risk.
Why dental visits are so important
Tooth decay doesn’t immediately produce any symptoms. In fact, by the time your tooth starts to hurt, your cavity may be very big. When you visit the dentist every six months, we can spot and treat small cavities before they can destroy large areas of your tooth. Treating cavities when they’re small can help you avoid more extensive procedures in the future.
Cleanings are an important part of your dental checkups. Although brushing and flossing is an excellent way to keep your teeth clean, it may be difficult to brush away plaque if your teeth overlap even slightly. During your cleanings, special dental instruments will be used to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth.
Tartar is a hard, unsightly deposit that forms on your teeth if plaque isn’t removed after as little 10 days. Brushing and flossing is an effective way to get rid of plaque, but it has no effect on tartar. Unfortunately, the longer it remains on your teeth, the greater your risk of gum disease. During your visit, we’ll get rid of tartar deposits that mar your smile and increase your chances of developing gum disease.
Protecting your smile starts with good oral hygiene habits
In between dental visits, a good oral hygiene routine can help you avoid cavities and gum disease. The simplest way to avoid these issues is by brushing and flossing daily. Too many people don’t spend enough time brushing. Experts recommend that you brush for at least two minutes if you want to get rid of plaque from every surface of your teeth. Don’t forget to brush your tongue too.
Ultimately, the health of your teeth and mouth affects all aspects of your life…medically, socially, and professionally
Looking for the Best Dentist in Melbourne? VOGUE SMILES MELBOURNE
Dentist have the dedications and expertise to deliver exceptional dental care. We offer gentle and affordable services from simple Check-up and clean to complex and advanced Cosmetic -Full mouth reconstructions. Call us now 9629-7664 to book an appointment.
4 Ways to Check on Your Brushing and Flossing Effectiveness
Dental Check-up and Teeth Cleaning Melbourne CBD
For most of us, brushing and flossing is a routine part of daily life. But has it become such a routine that you may not be getting the most out of your daily regimen?
First, let’s be clear about what you’re trying to accomplish with these two important hygiene tasks, which is to remove as much accumulated dental plaque as possible. This thin film of bacteria and food particles is the primary cause for both tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
So how can you tell if you’re effectively cleaning dental plaque from your teeth? Here are 4 ways to check your brushing and flossing skills.
The tongue test. Move your tongue across the surface of your teeth, especially at the gum line, immediately after brushing and flossing. “Plaque-free” teeth will feel smooth and slick. If you feel any grittiness, though, you may be missing some plaque.
Floss check. For a similar effect after your daily hygiene take a fresh piece of floss and run it up and down your teeth. If the teeth are clean and you are using un-waxed floss, the floss should “squeak” as you move it up and down.
Disclosing agents. You can also occasionally use a plaque disclosing agent. This product contains a solution you apply to your teeth after brushing and flossing that will dye any leftover plaque a specific color. Disclosing agents are handy for uncovering specific areas that require more of your future hygiene attention. And don’t worry—the dye is temporary and will fade quickly.
Dental visits. For the ultimate test, visit your dentist at least twice a year. Not only can dental cleanings remove hard to reach plaque and calculus (hardened tartar), but your dentist or hygienist can evaluate how well you’ve been doing. Consider it your “final exam” for oral hygiene!
Be sure to also ask your dental provider for tips and training in better brushing and flossing. Becoming more effective at these critical tasks helps ensure you’re keeping your teeth and gums free of disease.
Looking for the Best Dentist in Melbourne? VOGUE SMILES MELBOURNE
Dentist have the dedications and expertise to deliver exceptional dental care. We offer gentle and affordable services from simple Check-up and clean to complex and advanced Cosmetic -Full mouth reconstructions. Call us now 9629-7664 to book an appointment.
How Often Should Children Have Dental Checkups?
Dental Check-up and Teeth Cleaning Melbourne CBD
The Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) advises parents to make biannual dental appointments for children, beginning approximately six months after the first tooth emerges.
These two important yearly visits allow the pediatric dentist to monitor new developments in the child’s mouth, evaluate changes in the condition of teeth and gums, and continue to advise parents on good oral care strategies.
The pediatric dentist may schedule additional visits for children who are particularly susceptible to tooth decay or who show early signs of orthodontic problems.
What is the purpose of dental checkups?
First, the pediatric dentist aims to provide a “good dental home” for the child. If a dental emergency does arise, parents can take the child for treatment at a familiar, comfortable location.
Second, the pediatric dentist keeps meticulous records of the child’s ongoing dental health and jaw development. In general, painful dental conditions do not arise overnight. If the pediatric dentist understands the child’s dental health history, it becomes easier to anticipate future issues and intervene before they arise.
Third, the pediatric dentist is able to educate parents and children during the visit. Sometimes the pediatric dentist wants to introduce one or several factors to enhance tooth health – for example, sealants, fluoride supplements, or xylitol. Other times, the pediatric dentist asks parents to change the child’s dietary or oral behavior – for example, reducing sugar in the child’s diet, removing an intraoral piercing, or even transitioning the child from sippy cups to adult-sized drinking glasses.
Finally, dental X-rays are often the only way to identify tiny cavities in primary (baby) teeth. Though the child may not be feeling any pain, left unchecked, these tiny cavities can rapidly turn into large cavities, tooth decay, and eventually, childhood periodontal disease. Dental X-rays are only used when the pediatric dentist suspects cavities or orthodontic irregularities.
Are checkups necessary if my child has healthy teeth?
The condition of a child’s teeth can change fairly rapidly. Even if the child’s teeth were evaluated as healthy just six months prior, changes in diet or oral habits (for example, thumb sucking) can quickly render them vulnerable to decay or misalignment.
In addition to visual examinations, the pediatric dentist provides thorough dental cleanings during each visit. These cleanings eradicate the plaque and debris that can build up between teeth and in other hard to reach places. Though a good homecare routine is especially important, these professional cleanings provide an additional tool to keep smiles healthy.
The pediatric dentist is also able to monitor the child’s fluoride levels during routine visits. Oftentimes, a topical fluoride gel or varnish is applied to teeth after the cleaning. Topical fluoride remineralizes the teeth and staunches mineral loss, protecting tooth enamel from oral acid attacks. Some children are also given take-home fluoride supplements (especially those residing in areas where fluoride is not routinely added to the community water supply).
Finally, the pediatric dentist may apply dental sealants to the child’s back teeth (molars). This impenetrable liquid plastic substance is brushed onto the molars to seal out harmful debris, bacteria, and acid.
Looking for the Best Dentist in Melbourne? VOGUE SMILES MELBOURNE
Dentist have the dedications and expertise to deliver exceptional dental care. We offer gentle and affordable services from simple Check-up and clean to complex and advanced Cosmetic -Full mouth reconstructions. Call us now 9629-7664 to book an appointment.
5 Amazingly Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Cavities
Dental Check-up and Teeth Cleaning Melbourne CBD
Brush and floss your teeth to avoid cavities.” Sound familiar? Just about everyone knows they should brush (and floss). But do you know why?
While we all know we’re supposed to brush and floss to keep our teeth healthy, cavities remain a common problem that we all have to contend with at one point or another:
Tooth decay, an infectious disease — is the second most common disease, after the common cold.
One in four adults have cavities. Oral health is often taken for granted, but it is an essential part of our everyday lives. It’s never too late to take control of your oral health, and prevent dental problems.
While brushing and flossing are two of the most important daily habits for maintaining healthy teeth and gums — there are several other simple things you can do to avoid toothaches or worse — tooth loss.
Know your cavity risk level.
The first step in taking control of your oral health is knowing what your cavity risk level is. The best way to know this is through a comprehensive dental exam. With regular examinations, and discussion with your dentist, you will know where you stand, which treatments may be needed, as well as which changes in oral hygiene and diet may help. Once you know your risk level, then you take a more specific, effective approach to improving your oral health.
Another advantage of knowing your cavity risk level: it will also determine how often dental visits are needed. The lower your risk, the less often you should need dental visits. Find out and discuss your risk level with your dentist during regular dental exams.
Looking for the Best Dentist in Melbourne? VOGUE SMILES MELBOURNE
Dentist have the dedications and expertise to deliver exceptional dental care. We offer gentle and affordable services from simple Check-up and clean to complex and advanced Cosmetic -Full mouth reconstructions. Call us now 9629-7664 to book an appointment.
Keeping the Lid on Acid to Protect Your Tooth Enamel
Dental Check-up and Teeth Cleaning Melbourne CBD
Enamel — that tough, outermost tooth layer — protects your teeth from all sorts of hazards, from bacterial attack to temperature extremes. But although the hardest substance in the human body, enamel has a mortal enemy — acid. High acid levels can cause the minerals in enamel to dissolve, a process called de-mineralization. And although saliva can neutralize these levels in approximately 45-60 minutes and restore some of the enamel’s lost minerals, a constant acidic environment can overwhelm this natural mechanism.
That’s why you should be careful with the amount and frequency of acidic foods and drinks like citrus fruits or coffee. You should be especially concerned about your intake of sodas, energy drinks or sports drinks. The latter in particular are designed to replace fluids and nutrients during intense exercise or sports events, but are often consumed as a regular beverage. And all these drinks mentioned are often sipped on throughout the day, resulting in a constant wash of acid in your mouth that can interrupt the protective response of saliva.
There’s one other source for high mouth acidity that comes not from outside the body but from within. GERD — Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease — is a condition in which digestive acid refluxes (flows back) into the esophagus. While chronic acid reflux can damage the lining of the esophagus and lead to ulcers or even cancer, it may also pose a danger to teeth if the acid regularly rises into the mouth. Individuals encountering this will know it by the awful, acrid taste of vomit in their mouth.
To reduce the chances of high mouth acid due to food intake, limit the consumption of acidic foods and beverages to meal times and sports drink consumption to strenuous exercise or sporting events. Better yet, consider the greatest hydrator of all, water — with a neutral pH of 7.
If you’re experiencing chronic heartburn or other GERD symptoms, make an appointment to see your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist as soon as possible. Many treatments are effective and will not only improve your general health but may also help preserve your tooth enamel.
