November 2020 | Shoppingtown Dental | Dentist In Doncaster

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25/Nov/2020

There is nothing more aesthetically pleasing than having a complete set of pearly white teeth. Not only will it give you a perfect smile, but it will also boost your overall confidence. However, it’s easy to see most people, especially older individuals, with yellowish teeth or even stained ones. For the most part, people typically attribute teeth staining to the inevitable signs of aging. However, did you know that foods and beverages and other factors can even contribute to teeth staining?

In this article, we will share the major causes of teeth discolouration and what you must do and avoid:

Beverages

Let’s first take a look at some common drinks that can stain your teeth, such as the following:

White and red wine: They are particularly notable for discolouring your teeth. As you may or may not be aware, they contain acids that can impair the teeth’s enamel. While red wine can be the biggest culprit for teeth stains, white wine can cause more damages due to its acid content.
Tea and coffee: They both have long been known to cause teeth discolouration due to their staining properties. Same with wine, coffee contains acids that will damage your teeth. When it comes to teas, on the other hand, the black one is the most impactful as herbal, white, and green teas have less staining effects.
Soft drinks: They have a very damaging effect on the teeth, as they are rich in chromogens and acids. They are also full of sugar that can be detrimental to your overall oral health, which is why you must avoid them.

Foods

Now that you know several harmful drinks for your teeth, let’s now delve into some foods that can also cause staining:

Berries: As they are abundant in colour, they can cause teeth staining. With that being said, be sure to avoid blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, grapes, cherries, and pomegranates.
Sweets: Of course, they are delicious and can fill your tummy, but they aren’t recommended for your oral health. Not only do they stain your teeth, but they also lead to dental cavities and destroy your teeth. Be sure to avoid hard candies, popsicles, chewing gum, and similar sweets.

Other factors

As mentioned, other factors can lead to tooth discolouration as well, such as the following:

Tobacco: Smoking has long been proven to stain teeth. Not only is it harmful to your oral health but to your overall health as well. Tobacco can be the most detrimental in staining your teeth.
Advancing age and genetics: As pointed out previously, aging is one of the biggest culprits of teeth discolouration. As you get older, the enamel gets worn away and starts revealing the dentin underneath. Also, genetics can play an important role, which is why you see some people with naturally white teeth while some have yellowish teeth.
Poor dental hygiene: Having good dental hygiene also makes a difference in protecting your teeth and washing out the stains. For this reason, be sure to brush your teeth twice a day or after every meal. Likewise, don’t forget to visit your dentist regularly—every six months will do!

Conclusion

At this point, you now know the common causes of teeth discolouration—foods, drinks, and other factors. Be sure to avoid consuming those mentioned above or do so in moderation, and have proper oral care by brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily. Also, make it a habit to visit your dentist at least every six months for a dental checkup and cleaning. Ultimately, undergo teeth whitening treatments if you truly want to have a sparkling, bright, and pearly white smile!

We offer a wide range of dental services in Doncaster, VIC, from preventive dentistry to dental emergency down to cosmetic dentistry. If you’re looking for a teeth whitening dentist, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

jannentan

20/Nov/2020

It is only fair that children associate dental clinics as a scary environment, especially when they associate it with tooth extraction or dental injections.

However, it should not always be the case. Dental care is vital to one’s overall health. Early training of your kids will allow you to escape all the drama whenever the dental appointment comes.

Here are five effective ways to eliminate your child’s fear of dentists and dental clinics!

1. Get your child accustomed to the concept of a visit to the dentist early on

According to the Australian Dental Association, you do not have to wait until the child has a full set of teeth before you visit the dentist. After all, dental care is not just about the teeth, but also the gums, lips, and everything else inside the mouth. The ADA recommends that parents bring their children to dentists as soon as they get their first tooth, or as early as 12 months old.

Early visits are necessary so the dentist can track the development of your child’s teeth, monitor any issues, and help prevent dental problems from occurring. Once it becomes a routine, your child will get used to the yearly visits.

2. Talk about the process positively

Most of the time, children get scared of the idea of visiting dentists because of stories they hear from adults’ bad experiences. They learned that services offered by dentists could hurt them.

Instead of saying the statement “it will not hurt”, which implies that it can cause pain, make the message more positive. Say phrases like “it is going to be an exciting experience” or “they will tickle your teeth” to help make them feel better.

Orient your kid why you need to make this part of your routine. Telling them the reason will make them better understand the need to undergo the process. Explain how important their oral health is and how it is connected to their overall health. Tell them why they need to keep an eye on their mouth and why it should be part of their wellness routine. Sometimes, learning about the consequences of not doing one thing is convincing enough to make them want to do it.

3. Train them early

Let them start young with their oral health care. Give your child a toothbrush and a kid-safe toothpaste and let them clean their teeth even if they cannot effectively do it yet. Teach them how to make the proper motions of brushing and how to spit.

Do not forget to congratulate them after attempting to clean their teeth. Tell them that their dentist will be proud of them. It will make them feel more confident and prepared for their appointment.

4. Let them see how it is done

Whenever you or any from the family will visit your dentist for dental checkups, let them tag along. However, make sure that the person who will undergo the dental process will not scream or scare your kid even more.

Make sure also to choose the type of service that they will see during that visit. An easy checkup or cleaning is a more friendly view than an actual tooth extraction.

Familiarising themselves with the clinic – how it looks, who the staff is and what to expect – will help them prepare and feel at ease for their actual appointment.

5. Play ‘dentist’ with your child

Doing some role-playing will make your child feel more comfortable with a visit to the dentist. Pretending to be a dentist and a patient will help the child know what they should expect from an actual visit. Let them play the dentist role too, so they see the value in the job.

Conclusion

Setting a good example and exposing your child to the concept of oral health and the vital role of dentists will help make the process easier for them. Start early and focus on the positive so that they will appreciate the need to visit the dentist better.

Are you looking for a family dental care provider in Doncaster, VIC?

Shoppingtown Dental is a clinic with a team that provides high-quality yet affordable dentistry in a friendly, professional and caring environment. Allow us to take care of your family’s oral health.

Call us on (03) 9848 2399 to book an appointment today.

jannentan

20/Nov/2020

When you’re struggling with ongoing pain in your teeth, seeking dental services can be tricky to navigate. You may think that it will go away on its own with time or by changing your routine. However, putting off a visit to your family dental clinic can exacerbate the pain, resulting in an excruciating toothache.

Fortunately, there are many ways to achieve tooth pain relief. With some guidance, you can learn to avoid the common causes of tooth pain and the available options to remedy them. Here’s what you need to know about tooth pain:

Tooth Pain Causes

In general, tooth pains can come in two categories:

Pain caused by dental issues, like damaged teeth and gum disease, and
Non-dental problems, such as sinus infections.

If the sensation persists for more than a day, it’s best to visit a dental professional for toothache relief.

Dental Issues That Cause Tooth Pain

Here are some of the dental issues that cause tooth pain:

Malocclusions, or an uneven bite, may cause soreness in both the teeth and in the jaw.
Tooth decay, which is caused by bacteria in the teeth. It often starts with a cavity, which is usually not painful unless it significantly progresses. If it infects the tooth’s pulp, it becomes abscessed, which is often painful.
Damaged teeth, or chipped, cracked, and broken teeth may lead to tooth pain. It can also cut your inner cheeks and tongue if they remain sharp and untreated.
Gum disease or periodontal disease causes gums to become swollen, red, and painful. When left to progress, it often leads to tooth pain.

Non-Dental Issues That Cause Tooth Pain

You may be mystified at the cause of your tooth pain if you aren’t struggling with any dental issues. However, several non-dental problems lead to tooth pain. Here are some of them:

Muscle pain around the jaw or skull, especially when overused, can lead to soreness. It may manifest as a toothache.
Sinus infections are common non-dental causes of tooth pain. Congestion sometimes fills up the sinus areas at the back of the fluid, putting pressure on it. As a result, it leads to toothaches, which decongestants may alleviate.
Nerve conditions like trigeminal neuralgia can lead to sharp pain in the mouth.
Cluster headaches are a common symptom linked with tooth pain, although doctors have yet to uncover the exact connection.

Symptoms of Tooth Pain

If you feel pain in your teeth, then there is likely a problem in your mouth that requires immediate treatment. There are different types of pain to identify; it can be sharp, throbbing, aching, or dull, which is highly dependent on the issue.

If your teeth ache from consuming hot or cold food and beverages for a brief time, then that’s a regular occurrence. However, if it lasts for about a minute or more, then it may indicate an issue with your tooth’s pulp.

However, if you experience pain while chewing or biting may indicate a cracked tooth that had progressed to a more severe issue. However, loose fillings may also be the reason for this pain.

Swollen and painful red gums frequently indicate an abscessed tooth, which means that the infection has spread to the surrounding soft tissues.

Meanwhile, dull, aching pain is often the result of clenching or grinding your teeth. It can cause soreness in the jaw and tooth.

Treatment for Tooth Pain

Your dentist can pinpoint the cause of your tooth pain and carry out many procedures to relieve it. If you have a minor issue, like a cavity, then filling it up is enough to remedy your toothache. However, if the case is more severe, you may need a root canal.

Dentists can also recommend new oral hygiene practices to treat the cause. If your tooth pain is a result of gum disease, then frequently flossing and brushing your teeth can help. Your dentist can also do a deep clean to refresh your teeth.

Conclusion

Tooth pain is a common yet uncomfortable condition that happens to millions of people worldwide. It is essential to be aware of the ways that it manifests, as the cause may not be immediately apparent. By understanding the ways tooth pain can occur and how to address it, you can prepare yourself for treatment at your family dental clinic.

Shoppingtown Dental offers a full range of preventive, family, and cosmetic dental services for people of all ages. Our team is comprised of the best dental professionals in the area, providing you with the highest quality of care with zero-interest payment plans available. Book your next appointment with us today!

Address:

Shoppingtown Dental

Suite 3004 Level 3

Westfield Tower

Doncaster VIC 3108

(Enter via lifts opposite Commonwealth Bank)

Phone:

03 9848 2399

Email:

info@shoppingtowndental.com.au

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jannentan

18/Nov/2020

One part of good oral hygiene is regular flossing. It should take priority in your daily oral care routine and not just be an afterthought. However, most people admit that they do not floss regularly. Brushing your teeth may clean some parts of your mouth, but it often leaves the others unattended. Without flossing, you will not successfully remove the plaque between your teeth, and it can cause bad breath, tooth decay, and even gum disease.

Two Types of Flossing

There are two types of flossing you can do today. One is the traditional use of dental floss, and the more high-tech version is using dental water jets or oral irrigators.

The second method works by flushing out food debris, bacteria, and plaque between your teeth and gums. It uses pressurized water to do its job.

The two methods almost produce the same results. However, some people say that a water flosser cannot remove as much plaque as traditional floss can.

The Correct Way of Flossing

The most important thing to keep in mind is never to force your dental floss inside your teeth. Flossing that way can damage your gums. Follow these steps to do it properly:

Flossing the Front Teeth

Use enough dental floss for your front teeth—about 12 inches should be enough.
Leave about an inch or two in the middle and wrap the rest around each of your middle fingers.
Hold the middle portion of the floss with your index fingers and thumbs for better control.
Gently slide the floss between your front teeth in an upward and downward motion.
Before moving onto the next tooth, make sure to slide the floss around the base of each tooth.
Work each tooth and make sure to use clean sections of the floss for each.
Repeat the process until everything is clean.

Flossing the Back Teeth

The back teeth are often missed by many. They are a bit challenging to clean because of their location, but some tips can help you successfully do so:

Clean them the same way you clean your front teeth, but use a longer dental floss so you can move more comfortably.
Instead of keeping an inch or two in the middle, you can extend it for better maneuverability.
If you need an easier option, use a floss pick or invest in an electric flosser.

Once you are done cleaning every nook and corner of your teeth, make sure to rinse your mouth with water or an antibacterial mouthwash to ensure all the debris is removed. Some may be surprised to see their gums bleeding after, but this is usually quite normal. Just make sure you are not flossing too hard.

Conclusion

A toothbrush will not reach all the crucial areas in your mouth, no matter how many times you brush and repeat. That is why interdental cleaners, like floss, are important to include in your oral care routine. Flossing can be a complicated task, but do not let that stop you from thoroughly cleaning your mouth to protect you from cavities and gum disease.

Forgetting to floss can lead to gum infection and other oral health problems. If you need affordable dental services in Doncaster, Shoppingtown Dental has a team that provides high-quality dental care to help improve your smile. Book an appointment with us today.

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Major Causes of Teeth Discoloration—What to Know & Avoid

5 Tips to Help Kids Overcome Fear of Dentists – How to Prepare Them

Our Guide To Tooth Pain When You Need To See a Dentist

Flossing Your Teeth: Two Options and the Right Way to Do It

The Many Advantages of Choosing to Wear a Night Guard

Debunking 4 Common Misconceptions About Teeth Whitening

Why You Should See a Dentist for Your Wisdom Teeth