FAQs

Fluoride can help to strengthen your teeth, making them more resistant to attacks from sugars and acids.

A soft bristle toothbrush is more effective in removing food debris without damaging tooth enamel or gums.

An electric toothbrush can achieve similar results and is often recommended for patients with limited dexterity.

Improper care of a dental implants may cause the prosthetic to fall out. However, if the implant still feels loose after healing, it may be necessary to visit your dentist with this concern.

A useful rule of thumb is to visit the dentist at least every six months. The frequency of dental visits should be based upon a person’s oral hygiene, habits and medical conditions. Asking your dentist about the recommended time between visits for you will ensure that your dental health stays in top-notch condition.

Brushing your teeth thoroughly and flossing to remove plaque and food debris is important to get the most out of your dental appointment. Just giving your teeth a quick once-over brush with a toothbrush won’t have the best results. Finally, finishing with a swig and swirl of mouthwash will leave your breath minty-fresh and ready to impress.

Brushing your teeth helps you remove most plaque, bacteria and food particles stuck on your teeth. Flossing gets in between places your brush can’t reach, so where does Listerine come in?

Mouth wash is important as it helps target bacteria that causes gingivitis and plaque. This will also help you have fresher breath and greater protection against cavities, gum disease and bacteria.

The bleaching element in baking soda can remove stains on teeth and can also help to clean them by removing and dissolving plaque. However, if overused, it could have negative side effects for your dental health. This is because it is abrasive, meaning it will erode your natural enamel overtime and cause your teeth to be worn down.

Additionally, if you have bad breath issues, baking soda can balance the acidic levels of food residuals left in your mouth.

In very early stages gum disease can be reversed by maintaining cleaning. However, if gum disease progresses the only way to cure it, is to seek professional help.

Make certain you brush and floss at least twice a day; and use an antibacterial mouthwash. Any concerns about gum disease should be raised with the dentist.

Dental implants have one of the highest success rates of any type of dental treatment. If you’re a non-smoker with good oral hygiene, your success rate is almost 100%.

Routine preventive care and dental check-ups help keep your implants lasting for years.

Over the counter kits don’t come with custom fitted trays or strips, which can cause uneven bleaching across teeth. The bleach also has the potential to burn or scar your gums. This, although not typically dangerous, can lead to gum discolouration and discomfort.

Come in and see us at All About Teeth to see if you’re a candidate to get a whiter, brighter smile today.

Most patients experience minor, temporary discomfort for the days following the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This is completely normal and is described as a feeling of slight pressure. The pressure is a signal that Invisalign is working to move your teeth to their final place.

If you use your manual toothbrush for the recommended amount of time and with a proper technique, it can perform just as good as an electric toothbrush. However, many patients don’t brush for two to three minutes.

Kids are also a good candidate for electric toothbrushes as their brushing habits aren’t as good as adults.

Dental implants can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or even your entire smile. Since the titanium root is so strong, it can support larger restorations than a natural tooth.

From single crowns, multiple-tooth dental bridges, to full mouth implant-supported dentures, your implant options are limitless.

A root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. The procedure involves removing the dead or decaying middle tooth pulp and filling it in and sealing the tooth up.

The most common causes of infected pulp are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, repeated dental treatment to the tooth or trauma. Root canal therapy is not considered a quick and easy treatment and millions of teeth are treated and saved yearly with a root canal treatment.

Firstly, don’t panic and try to locate the tooth and place it in milk. If the tooth has broken or shattered, gather all the pieces together and rinse off any debris and avoid touching the root of the tooth.

Call us immediately on our emergency ph. number (07) 4771 2244 because the more time that goes by the less likely that the re-implantation will be successful.

The main reason a patient would experience bleeding gums is a build-up of plaque at the gum line and if left untreated can lead to gingivitis or inflamed gums. Excess plaque that isn’t removed can harden into tartar and can lead to increased bleeding and a more advanced form of gum and bone disease known as periodontitis.

Bleeding gums can also happen for a number of other reasons, like a side effect of pregnancy or changing your oral care routine.

Your teeth may become extrinsically or intrinsically discoloured for a number of reasons, however age plays an important role in many people. With extrinsic discolouration, the outer layer of the tooth, called the enamel, becomes stained usually through certain foods or smoking. Intrinsic discolouration occurs when the layer beneath the enamel (dentin) becomes darker, or the tooth takes on a yellow colour and is usually caused by certain medications, dental fluorosis, having amalgam fillings or suffering from a condition called Dentinogenesis imperfecta.

Bad breath, or halitosis, can be caused by poor oral hygiene, gum disease, the types of food you eat, or it may be a sign/symptom of a health issue. Failure to brush and floss frequently will result in a bacterial growth caused by the remaining food particles and debris stuck in your mouth, causing bad breath. There are also other illnesses that cause bad breath, such as respiratory tract infections and chronic sinusitis, amongst others.

A good sign that you should invest in a new toothbrush is generally after you begin to notice that the bristles of your brush are starting to wear out. We suggest that both adults and children change their brushes at least every three months. This also applies for electric toothbrushes.

A cavity is a small hole that forms inside the tooth as a result of tooth decay. An unhealthy diet coupled with poor oral care can see an influx of bacteria enter your mouth. Cavities are formed when plaque build up on the outside of the tooth combines with sugars and starches in the food you eat to create acid that eats enamel. If a cavity is left untreated, it can lead to more serious oral health problems.

A filling is a synthetic material that your dentist uses to fill a cavity after all of the tooth decay has been removed. The filling is comprised of a variety of different materials, including composites, gold, or ceramic. Together with your dentist, you should decide which the best option for you is.

Dental x-rays are images of your teeth that your dentist uses to evaluate your oral health. They are generally not dangerous as they are used with low levels of radiation to capture images of the interior of your teeth and gums. With new digital x-rays, dosage is even lower.

The possibility of a dental x-ray causing harm to you or your unborn child is unlikely, and the procedure is considered safe to carry out during pregnancy.

We take x-rays to:

1. Look for decay
2. Check for bone loss
3. Look for infections

Unfortunately, teeth whitening treatments are not able to whiten your caps, crowns, fillings or veneers. This is because the whitening gel that is used is not able to alter the colour of your restorations, though they will help to remove any stains from them. Your teeth and your restorations are both stained by certain foods and drinks but at different speeds and severity.

Teeth with a yellowish stain will respond very well to teeth whitening treatments. Teeth with a brownish stain will respond less and teeth stained with a greyish or purple hue may not whiten at all.  If your teeth are stained blue-grey, then it may be caused by tetracycline which can be incredibly difficult to lighten. This type of staining might require up to 6 months of take-home treatments or several in-office appointments in order to successfully lighten your teeth.

Avoiding products and beverages that stain your teeth, or If they can’t be avoided for whatever reason, then try to use a straw so that they bypass your teeth and don’t make contact with them. Brush or rinse your teeth directly after you have had anything that qualifies as a staining beverage and make sure to practice good oral hygiene. Also remember that teeth whitening treatments aren’t permanent, so you will need to come and have them touched up regularly in order to maintain their brightness.

We recommend that you do not use toothbrush until your child is 18 months old.  Before your child’s first tooth has erupted, you should use a damp washcloth and lightly rub the gums.

Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal can help to prompt your mouth to produce saliva which can help with neutralising decay-causing acid attacks.

It is recommended that you brush twice a day and also not forgetting to floss.