People always ask us, what toothpaste should I be using? Is it important to use a particular brand?

So we thought we would review the most common types of toothpaste.

Normal fluoridated toothpaste

• This is what you should be using if you are 6 years of age or over
• Ensure the toothpaste has Fluoride! Most of the common brands are fluoridated but if you’re not sure, just check the packaging.

Kids Toothpaste

• Kids under 6 should generally use a children’s toothpaste. Main difference is that the flavour is not as strong as adult toothpaste and it has a lower dose of fluoride as they don’t have any adult teeth yet and they tend to swallow toothpaste!

Whitening Toothpaste

• Whitening toothpaste does little to whiten your teeth!
• It is quite abrasive so daily use is not recommended.
• It is good for smokers and heavy coffee/tea drinkers to reduce the stain build-up on teeth

Sensitive Toothpaste

• As the name suggests, this is for people who have generally sensitive teeth- mainly cold sensitivity
• Most sensitive toothpastes require continual use for it to be effective

Dry mouth Toothpaste

• Help lubricate the oral cavity and provide more sustained relief for dry mouth sufferers.
• It also generally has less/no SLS in the toothpaste

Higher Fluoride Toothpaste

• If you are at high risk of developing decay, a higher fluoride toothpaste may be better for you.
• This should be discussed with your dentist.

There is no real need to buy a particular brand of toothpaste. Just ensure that you are using the right toothpaste for your situation. It is always best to check with your dentist about this!

Although it may sound obvious, you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes with the toothpaste for it to work :).

As always, contact us here and give us a call or book online to discuss further.

Happy Brushing!

So everyone has heard about veneers! I get so many people coming in and asking me about veneers and most people don’t really understand what they are!

What are veneers?

Veneers are facings/covers that are bonded onto the tooth to change the shape/colour/alignment of teeth. Generally all 6 front teeth are done at the same time. Sometimes you may only need fewer done- this really depends on your teeth.

What are they made of?

 There are many different types of veneers:

• Composite (these are made from filling material layered onto your tooth)
  • Will not achieve the same level of aesthetics as a lab made veneers but in some cases are a good option
  • Need replacement/polishing more frequently according to your diet- it can catch stains/discolour with time
  • Cheaper than the lab made veneer
• Porcelain/Ceramic
  • The teeth are first prepared at the dentist and a mould is taken of your teeth. You will have temporary veneers placed while the proper veneers are being made
  • The veneers are custom made in the lab
  • They are then tried in and bonded onto the teeth

Indications for getting veneers

 Fix mild-moderate alignment issues e.g. crowding, spacing

• Stained teeth that cannot be whitening
• Change the shape of the teeth

Other options to veneers

 Sometimes, there are better options than veneers. It may be better in some cases to think about braces/clear aligners to correct your crowding instead of veneers. At other times, whitening and enamel micro-abrasion may also brighten up your smile. This is why it is always best to consult your dental professional

Things to note

 Veneers can chip and break over time so it will need to be redone as required. This is why it may be better to get something like orthodontics done instead so there is no continual treatment required to maintain it (other than retainers of course!).

They are a great option in the right case and sometimes you will need to wear a night guard to ensure that you don’t break your veneers!

If you would like more information or want to book in for a consult for veneers just give us a call or book online now  🙂

You can also contact us here.

What are fissure seals?

So you’ve taken your child to the dentist and the dentist has recommended fissure sealants. What are sealants and why do they need them?

Dental fissure sealants are a protective layer applied to the fissures in your teeth to prevent tooth decay.

Why Fissure seals?

All teeth come in varying shapes and sizes. At times, the adult tooth can form with a lot of grooves and ditches. When a new adult tooth erupts, the tooth is at a higher risk of decay.

This is because:

1. The child is young and so they are not as good at their cleaning
   • This is why an adult should help them brush their teeth until they are 8!
2. The tooth has so far been buried under their gum and protected from the harsh environment of the mouth
3. It takes time for a tooth to erupt so it will have a flap of gum over it until it erupts fully.
   • This flap of gum can get food and plaque trapped around it.
4. Unfortunately a lot of kids tend to have a very high sugar diet.

Due to these varying factors, fissure sealants can be a good way to seal the top of the tooth and reduce the amount of plaque accumulating on it. This makes the tooth easier to clean.

HOW?

1. The dentist will clean the tooth first, sometimes they will have remove a bit of a stained area first
2. They will apply some material to prepare the tooth for the sealant
3. They may place some special dental bonding material (this step is not always required)
4. They place the sealant material on the tooth and set it

For a sealant to be effective, the area needs to be very dry so it will depend on how your child does in the chair as well.

Fissure sealants are not designed to be a permanent. It usually comes off a few years after, when the child is older and more able to clean the tooth well. They can come off sooner depending on their diet. We recommend not to eat chewy or sticky lollies (e.g. Minties, Fantales) because these can pull off the sealants.

So if you’ve got any questions or unsure if you child needs sealants- give us a call or make an appointment online! Contact us now!

The root cause of sensitive teeth is when there is enamel wear which then exposes the inside layer of the tooth called ‘dentine’. The enamel is like a shield and the ‘dentine’ makes up the majority of the tooth on the inside. Dentine can feel cold sensitivity quite sharply.

TOP 5 reasons where your teeth are sensitive

1. Gum recession
   • Are your gums shrinking away from your teeth? Does it appear that your teeth are getting longer? This is because your gums are receding and the area that is exposed near the gum does not have any enamel over it and is actually the root surface which makes it very sensitive!
2. Decay
   • Simple answer- decay creates a hole in your tooth creating sensitivity!
3. Acid wear
   • Acid wear from dietary habits, reflux, other habits can wear your enamel away as well.
4. Brushing too hard
   • Brushing too hard is a really common cause of sensitivity! Make sure you are using a soft toothbrush and brush in a gentle circular motion. Your toothbrush bristles should look nearly the same as when it was new, even when you replace it. The reason you replace a toothbrush is because of the bacteria growing on it. So if your bristles look like this –> INSERT IMAGE then time to brush softer or invest in an electric toothbrush. It isn’t as easy to scrub your teeth that hard with an electric toothbrush so it’s much gentler on your teeth!
5. Over-whitening your teeth
   • Whitening (done by the dentist or supplied by the dentist) is a perfectly safe treatment to do. This is obviously provided that you follow the method correctly. Some people whiten too regularly and for too long and this can create sensitivity. So as with anything – you must follow the instructions!
   • Whitening toothpastes are very abrasive and have little effect whitening your teeth. So do not use it as a regular toothpaste as it can wear your enamel.

What to do to reduce sensitivity?

First of all, see your dentist. You need to find out the cause of your sensitivity and then figure out ways to deal with it.

Other tips:

• Change your dietary habits and cut down acid intake
• Change your brushing techniques
• Try sensitive toothpaste – this doesn’t cure sensitivity and needs to be used daily for good results.

Come see us and let us help with your sensitivity so you can eat an ice-cream* drink a nice cold glass of water with no fear!

*Ice-cream is bad for your teeth but delicious so we’ll allow it as a treat (sometimes)!

We are here to help so give us a call on (03) 8759 4490 if you have any questions or contact us here.

If there was a tooth popularity test, the wisdom tooth pain would come last. Sadly for them they have received a very bad reputation over the years. They push and shove their way into the mouth sometimes and that could be why! Here’s a quick read about removing your Wisdom Teeth in Keysborough.

Wisdom teeth are so named because they tend to erupt when you are in your late teens/early adulthood and apparently “wiser”. Although we are not so sure about the wise part! They are very similar to the other molars and essentially a third molar that can help with chewing and biting.

Most important thing to remember is that not all wisdom teeth need to be removed!

As with anything, it depends on the particular case and person.

Top reasons for Wisdom Tooth pain:

• Unable to clean it properly due to position
• Decay (that is not possible to be filled to an acceptable standard)
• Pain (recurrent pain around the gums of the wisdom teeth)
• Affecting the tooth in front of it- higher risk of decay/bone loss

How many wisdom teeth should I have?

People have anywhere between 0-4 wisdoms. Sometimes they can have additional teeth (named supernumeraries) that can total more than 4 although this is rare.

Does a wisdom tooth cause crowding?

There used to be a thought that wisdom teeth “push” the other teeth forward and out of alignment creating crowding on the lower front teeth. This theory has been dismissed and the teeth naturally drift forward with the narrowing of the jaw as you get older. This is why, even people with no wisdom teeth develop the same type of crowding as they get older.

So I don’t need to get them removed preventatively?

This really depends on your particular case. If it looks likely that your teeth may cause problems in the future, your dentist may tell you to remove it while you are younger and can heal faster. There may be an option for you to wait and see but your dentist will let you know. If the teeth are ever half-erupted (covered by gum), then more than often they need to be removed because there is no way of cleaning it properly. Most of the time, if your bottom wisdom teeth are removed, your upper ones have to be removed as well. This is because they will continue to erupt and eventually even touch the gum on the bottom.

So if you’re not sure if you wisdom teeth are wise, come in and let us have a look and then we can decide what to do. We also have an X-ray machine (OPG) that can take wisdom tooth X-rays in-house so we can decide what to do straightaway!

Remember, don’t blame your wisdom tooth, it’s not their fault!

Read more about wisdom teeth here on the Vic Gov website: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/wisdom-teeth

Contact us now to get in touch to deal with those pesky teeth!

Do you bad breathe?

There are a few reasons as to why our patients find they have bad breathe.

What is bad breathe?

Bad breath is typically caused by bacteria present on the teeth and debris on the tongue. So it’s no surprise that most cases of halitosis are associated with poor oral hygiene, gum diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, and dry mouth, a condition in which the salivary glands cannot make enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. It’s also commonly known as Halitosis.

How do I fix my bad breathe?

1. Not cleaning them properly
   • Make sure you brush 2x day and floss daily to ensure there is minimal plaque and food buildup (remember to brush your tongue as well!)
   • You can use mouthwash as well but just be aware some mouthwashes dry your mouth considerably.
2. Get a clean at the dentist every 6 months at the minimum!
   • Also make sure you get all your cavities and gum disease under control because that is the main cause of bad breath!
3. Reduce consumption of foods/habits that dry your mouth
   • Smoking
   • Alcohol
   • Caffeinated drinks (e.g. coffee / tea / energy drinks / soft drinks)
   • Some medications dry your mouth as well but definitely don’t stop taking them! There are special dry mouth products you can use.
4. Drink lots of water
5. You may be breathing through your mouth
   • This dries your mouth out and causes bad breath
6. If after all that, things still are not improving, then it’s worthwhile to check with the doctor too. Other causes include:
   • Mucus in the throat/post nasal drip
   • Tonsil stones/ Tonsillitis
   • Sleep apnoea
   • Other medical conditions

So don’t be shy to ask your dentist next time you see them to figure out how to fix your bad breath 🙂

CALL US or BOOK ONLINE NOW! Click here to go to our contact page to contact us directly.

How can you prevent cavities?

We promise they are all easy tips to follow!

1) Brush 2 x a day. You would think everyone knows this already but sadly not everyone does it! Brushing for a full 2 minutes every morning (as soon as you wake up) and every night (no eating after brushing at night!)

2) Flossing! This is the part where most of my patients sigh. Everyone knows they have to do it, but most can’t be bothered! It takes less than 30 seconds to do and makes such a difference to your oral health. You’d be amazed at the amount of stuff that comes out! If you’re not sure how to do it, then ask your dentist to show you!

3) Use an appropriate toothpaste – E.g. If you are at high risk of developing cavities, your dentist may recommend a special higher fluoride toothpaste to reduce your risk OR if you have a dry mouth you may need a special toothpaste formulated for dry mouth.

4) Eat well
a. Reduce your sugar consumption
b. Reduce your acid consumption
c. Try not to snack/graze between meals

5) Drink well
a. Water, water and more water! Good for your body and good for your teeth!
b. Sugary and acidic drinks destroy teeth!
c. Try to drink the “evil drinks” through a straw to reduce the contact it has with your teeth
d. Try to drink water straight after drinking “evil drinks” or rinse your mouth out.

In an ideal dentist-created world, there would be no sugar or acid but we’ll admit, even we have something sweet once in a while but the key is moderation!

You can have a treat sometimes (with your meal) rather than snacking between meals. This way your saliva protects your teeth and your teeth have a better chance of recovering from the sugar attack!

Your teeth are precious so try your best to look after them well! 🙂

CALL US or BOOK ONLINE NOW! Click here to go to our contact page to contact us directly.

Is fluoride bad?

Fluoride has been a topic of debate for as long as anyone can remember. It has also been a very emotive issue. What most people don’t realise is that fluoride is a naturally occurring element and is present all around us.

Some things that contain Fluoride:

• Air
• Water (even without addition of fluoride, there are water bodies that naturally have fluoride in them)
• Food!

So basically, all of us have some of it every day and will continue living with it forever.

Melbourne water has been fluoridated since the 1970s. The concentration in our water is 1 part per million (ppm) (1 milligram/1 litre). This is the recommendation by the World Health Organisation. Added to the water is one of the simplest, cheapest health initiatives that governments have ever done with great results. It is witnessed by the difference between children’s teeth in Melbourne compared to Queensland cities. Queensland hasn’t had water fluoridation for a long time and the oral health of the kids in Queensland is much worse!

How does it help the tooth?

Having fluoride in the water allows teeth to develop an even stronger outer layer of enamel called ‘fluorapatite’ which is much more resistant to decay than teeth that haven’t had fluoride exposure. This is so important when kids’ teeth are developing and erupting! When teeth are first erupted, they are at a higher risk of developing decay so the fluoride will help strengthen the tooth.

So why do people oppose it then?

Misinformation! There are organisations involved in spreading incorrect statistics and deliberating misleading to win their cause. Others mistakenly think that it does damage to your body. There is absolutely no scientific basis to claim that a low dose of fluoride in the water does anything harmful. Some councils have to bear the cost of water fluoridation so they prefer to run a campaign to take it out of the water because they don’t have the money to fund it!

So what should you do?

• Drink fluoridated water if available to you- it tastes JUST as delicious as non-fluoridated water!
• Brush your kid’s teeth with a lower fluoride kid’s toothpaste from the age of 2-6 under supervision
• When kids are 6 years and older – start brushing with an adult toothpaste (small amount)
• If living on tank water/non-fluoridated water – ask your dentist if any supplemental fluoride is required for you or your children

Other than that, rest easy, drink up and smile! Water is the healthiest drink for your body and your teeth!

CALL US or BOOK ONLINE NOW! Click here to go to our contact page to contact us directly.

It’s time for the school holidays soon. Have you started noticing that kids are getting braces and plates younger and younger than when you were at school. Why is this?

There is a big push towards early intervention orthodontic treatment. Lots of fancy words but it essentially means that when kids have problems with crowding/bite that they can be seen earlier and hopefully get the problems corrected earlier too.

As with all things, it’s not suitable for every cases and needs to assessed by the dentist.

The most common problem is crowding of the teeth where it looks like there are too many teeth for such a little mouth! In cases like these, sometimes a plate is fixed to open up the mouth and slowly expand to make room for the teeth.

Another problem is when a bottom tooth bites on the outside of the top tooth! This can create a lot of permanent damage on the top tooth so early treatment moves the tooth back where it is meant to be!

Why do early braces treatment?

• When kids are growing, teeth move a lot quicker
• Early treatment with plates can avoid braces later on (but not in all cases!) or even if they need braces later on, it will create a quicker and better end result for your child.
• Cheaper! Having a plate or limited braces when young is a lot cheaper than getting full braces when older.
• Everyone would like to get their teeth fixed when they are younger so by the time they are in high school, it’s easy to keep teeth clean and healthy and also to show off your smile!
• Kids adjust and tolerate things in their mouth a lot better when they are younger!
• Crowding can affect how well the teeth are cleaned and result in problems later on. Some deep bites or cross-bites can damage teeth if not corrected early.

If you’re not sure about your kid’s teeth and have any questions, let us know.

Dr Bruno does early intervention orthodontics at Dental at Keys so he can do a consult for you!

CALL US or BOOK ONLINE NOW! Click here to go to our contact page to contact us directly.

Are you wondering How can you whiten teeth for Summer?

Summer is the best time to flash your pearly white smile for those weddings, birthdays or events that everyone seems to be having! Here at Dental at Keys, we offer take-home and in-chair whitening.

What’s the difference?

The in-chair whitening has a much stronger concentration and is perfect if you’ve got a wedding or another special event coming up and you want a white smile quickly! You will still need to do a take home whitening to maintain the shade over time, which we offer with our all-inclusive price for in-chair whitening.

The take-home whitening is a kit that includes 2 custom made whitening trays (we take moulds your teeth) and product as well and you can whiten yourself in the comfort of your own home. You generally need to do it every day at the start and once you’re at the shade you’re happy with, we recommend doing a top up once in a while depending on your diet and lifestyle. E.g. if you drink a lot of coffee/tea or wine, you may need to top up more often!

What’s the difference between whitening at the dentist and other whitening?

Other whitening include: whitening toothpastes, kiosks at shopping centres, beauticians, online whitening packs.
The main thing to remember is that whitening is a medical procedure done in your mouth. If done incorrectly, it can cause a lot of damage including chemical burns to your face and mouth and extreme sensitivity. The only person trained professionally to do whitening is a dentist. So make sure you ONLY get it done at your dentist. Also don’t use standard (non-fitted) trays to do whitening- it doesn’t work as well and the whitening product can get all over your gums!

Now onto whitening toothpaste -> it’s a gimmick! It will barely do anything to whiten your teeth. It has a minimal concentration of the whitening product so it doesn’t have any noticeable effect. It does work well to keep stains off your teeth but you don’t want to use it too often as it is quite abrasive and can wear out your enamel with daily use.

So as with anything, you definitely only get what you pay for! So please be careful and make sure you see a dentist if you want to whiten your teeth.

If you want any more information about whitening, call us now or book online for a consult! You can also contact us here.