The Importance of Dental Visits

Posted on 06.13.23 By Alf Le

Prevention is the key to good oral health

Regular dental check-ups are an essential part of maintaining good oral health. Many people assume that if they brush and floss their teeth regularly, they don’t need to visit the dentist. However, this is not true. Even if you have excellent oral hygiene habits, you still need to see a dentist regularly for professional care.
Here are some of the reasons why regular dental check-ups are so important:

  1. Early Detection of Dental Problems
    During a dental check-up, your dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and mouth for any signs of dental problems. This includes cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, and other issues. Note that a lot of these dental diseases can be present without any pain or other symptoms. If these problems are detected early, they can be treated before they become more serious and require more extensive treatment.
  2. Preventive Care
    Preventive care is an essential part of maintaining good oral health. During your dental check-up, your dentist will clean your teeth to remove any plaque or tartar build-up. This will help protect you from cavities and gum disease.
  3. Improved Overall Health
    Did you know that your oral health is closely linked to your overall health?
    Poor oral health can increase your risk of developing a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes. Regular dental check-ups will help ensure that your oral health is in good condition, which can in turn improve your overall health and wellbeing.
  4. Education and Advice
    At Redcliffe Smiles your dentist will happily answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding your dental health and provide you with valuable education and advice on how to maintain good oral hygiene.
  5. Cost Savings
    Regular dental check-ups can save you money in the long run. By detecting dental problems early, your dentist can treat them before they become more serious and require more expensive treatment. In addition, preventive care can help prevent dental problems from developing in the first place, which can save you money on dental bills.

Regular dental check-ups are an essential part of maintaining good oral health. By detecting dental problems early, or preventing them in the first place, your dentist can help ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy.
So If you haven’t had a dental check-up in the past six months, give us a call on 1300 428 715. It’s time to make an appointment. Your smile (and your overall health) will thank you for it!

Our top 5 tips to a healthy mouth

Posted on 09.2.16 By Alf Le

We understand that life gets busy and sometimes looking after ourselves can take the backseat for a while. We may forget to brush our teeth as we run out the door for a busy day or maybe it’s been a week since you flossed and that piece of steak stuck between your teeth is now the last of your worries? With that in mind, we have compiled our top five tips to a healthy mouth.

Oral Hygiene

tidy-teeth-1-1425487-640x480Good oral hygiene is the first step to an overall healthy mouth, but what does this entail and how can we achieve it?

Well firstly, regular brushing is imperative. This is the first step to removing all of the leftover food and debris we accumulate from eating. If we don’t brush after meals then plaque (a film that holds millions of bacteria) builds up and over time it hardens into tartar. Plaque and tartar are what cause tooth decay and gum disease. So regular brushing helps to remove this plaque and the germs that cause these problems.

When brushing it is important to ensure that all surfaces of the teeth and gums are gently scrubbed and that we spend some time giving our tongue a good clean as well.

The next step in maintaining good oral hygiene is flossing. Brushing alone only cleans three out of five surfaces of your teeth. Only flossing cleans the remaining two. It not only cleans the hard to reach surfaces between your teeth but also helps to maintain healthy gums. It is generally recommended that we should be flossing once a day at night before bed with your along with your brushing routine.

 

Be mindful of what you are eating

candies-1177401-639x430In this day and age, processed and sugary food and beverages are everywhere. We consume them daily and although we are aware of the health issues it can cause, it is good to remember the damage that it can do to our teeth and gums as well. Sugary food increase plaque formation placing you at higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Acidic food, including some fruits are also something we need to be aware of. If we are consuming too much acidic food or drinks then it can soften the enamel exposing them to wear, erosion and decay.  

It is best not to brush immediately after having something acidic as your teeth are more likely to be weakened at the time. The best thing to do is it to rinse with water and wait at least half an hour after eating before brushing your teeth.

Alcohol and Tobacco

Not only can alcohol and tobacco products affect your overall health, they also play a part in your oral health. Alcohol can decrease saliva production, resulting in a dry mouth which is a cause of tooth decay. Saliva contains proteins and minerals that help to protect your tooth enamel, prevent decay and gum disease. Tobacco use can raise the risk of oral cancer and other diseases, this can be detrimental to not only your oral health but also your general health. The nicotine in tobacco raises the chance of developing gum disease and inhibits the gum tissue from fighting infection.

Protect your teeth

A lot of us are involved in sports, whether It be recreational or professionally. With this being said, it is crucial to protect your teeth during contact sports. Wearing a custom made mouthguard from your dentist is the best way to prevent injuries to your teeth, jaw and gums that may be caused from a blow to the mouth. A properly fitted mouthguard absorbs impact, protects the gums from laceration and cushions the jaw from impact whilst playing sports.

Regular maintenance visits

Waiting roomIt is recommended that you see your dentist every six months to have a comprehensive check-up and professional clean. You still need to brush and floss daily between visits, as this will help to prevent any issues occurring during these periods. Brushing and flossing your teeth removes the majority of plaque but over time we a build-up of tartar is inevitable. This hardened dental plaque is impossible to remove by general brushing. If this is left on your teeth, it gradually worsens and can start to cause tooth decay and inflamed gums. Your dentist uses special instruments that cleans away the tartar under and around the gums and will then polish your teeth.

We only have one set of adult teeth and by following our 5 top tips you’re well on the way to minimising dental issues and keeping your smile for life.