Did you know that brushing and flossing remove bacteria from teeth and gums but as much as 50% of the bacteria in the mouth live on the surface of your tongue? And it’s these bacteria in particular that can be one cause of bad breath. The best and most effective way of neutralising bacteria that live on the tongue is to scrape them off. Your kids may think it sounds yucky but [...]
Are your teeth getting the minerals they need? We all know that ensuring your body gets the right nutrients and minerals is essential for good health. But what minerals do our teeth need in particular?Fluoride is the one we all know about, but there are also other beneficial minerals – calcium and phosphate. The saliva in our mouth helps provide essential minerals that strengthen your teeth and protect the enamel, but there [...]
Milk teeth, or baby teeth, are the first set of teeth that appear, starting from around 6 months of age up to around 3 years. There should be 20 all together. Baby teeth are generally whiter and resemble the colour of milk. Sometimes, teeth may appear a couple of months earlier or later than the expected time, depending on the child. Baby teeth are temporary, and will eventually fall out making way [...]
Tooth brushing either with an electric toothbrush or manual toothbrush helps physically reduce plaque build up in our mouths. There is evidence revealing that electric toothbrushing may assist with reducing plaque build-up provided that it is used correctly. Thus, electric toothbrushes are generally recommended for adults who have already developed the correct dexterity in toothbrushing appropriately. Children usually will require assistance with their tooth brushing and flossing. As a parent, if you [...]
Exploring options for your child’s first dental visit? Read on to find out why a paediatric dental clinic may be the best option for your child. What is a paediatric dentist? Paediatric dentists are registered specialists that have completed additional training to manage and treat children from birth through to adolescence. Infact, paediatric dentists study an additional 3 years on top of their bachelor of dental science to gain qualification in this [...]
It's Easter again, and time to eat chocolate without the guilt! The good news is, you can enjoy those yummy chocolate eggs and still look after your teeth! We have put together our recommendations on the best way for you and your children to enjoy this time of year, still have the yummy chocolate and look after those gorgeous smiles. One of the keys is to know the amount of sugar you [...]
Tooth eruption occurs when the tooth breaks through the gum, also known as teething. Teething is a great milestone in your baby’s development. The arrival of teeth can happen without causing any pain however, for some babies this can be an uncomfortable process and distressing for yourself and the baby. Teething usually begins anywhere from 6-9 months, in some cases this may be earlier or later. Common signs and symptoms of teething [...]
Why use toothpaste? There are many reasons to use toothpaste. Toothpaste physically helps remove thick harmful biofilm on teeth surfaces which may cause tooth decay or gum disease. Most toothpastes also contain fluoride, which makes teeth more resistant to dental caries and aid remineralisation of early carious lesions. Additionally, some toothpastes have special ingredients to address staining and/or bad breath! How much toothpaste should my child be using? For infants, toothpaste is [...]
In our work we see a significant number of children with restricted tongues or “tongue ties”. A tongue tie limits the movement of the tongue so that the other muscles of the face have to adapt during speech and swallowing. Many children have a restricted tongue that is not picked up early as they have been able to adapt their speech and swallowing at an early age. Tongue tie is defined as [...]
Wobbly baby teeth are one of the important developmental milestones for any child and parent. It can be an exciting time to look forward to, with the arrival of the big adult teeth, but can also spark anxiety and discomfort. This will usually start around the age of 6. From 6 to 12 years, children will usually have a mixture of adult and baby teeth. Wiggly and sore teeth can create anxiety [...]