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We all know that sugar is bad for your teeth, but why? How does sugar cause decay?
Let’s see how sugar helps the bacteria in your mouth.

 

Sugar + bacteria= acid.

Sugar is a relatively new addition to our diets. It provides us with a lot of quick energy. The bacteria on our teeth can also use sugars to grow and creates acid. This acid sitting on our enamel causes the tooth to become weak. This happens every time we eat sugar. Over time, if the tooth is not repairing itself quickly enough, the acid breaks down the tooth faster than the tooth can recover, leading to holes in your teeth.

Once the hole is past the enamel layer, it stops being able to fix itself and needs a filling.

 

Acid + time = decay

Bacteria get access into your tooth via this hole made by acid. As time goes on, the decay gets larger, getting closer and closer to the nerve.
Sometimes people feel hot, cold, and sweet sensitivity when the decay is small. And other times they don’t feel any pain at all until the nerve is exposed.

 

The easiest way to stop decay from forming is to limit your daily intake of sugar.

What counts as sugar? There are many different names for sugar:

• corn syrup
• brown sugar
• fructose
• barley malt
• malt syrup
• dextrose
• agave nectar
• cane sugar
• maltose
• beet sugar
• glucose
• fruit juice concentrate
• cane juice
• coconut sugar
• golden syrup
• lactose

When looking at the nutritional information on the back of a packet, look at the Nutritional Information Panel to see the total amount of sugar present. Something labelled ‘no added sugar’ may have a lot of natural sugars! This is how hidden sugar cause decay.

 

Make sure you look out for added and hidden sugars in your foods, and come chat with us about the best way to prevent decay.

 

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To have a dental emergency can be very scary. It usually happens without warning and you can have a lot of pain very quickly.
What should you do if you or someone you know has a dental emergency and what can you do until you can get us?

We will see most emergencies in our practice. There are certain cases where we will recommend that you seek care at a hospital to ensure that we have all the equipment necessary to take care of you.

These are some of the types of dental emergency and how to manage them until you can get in to the dentist:

Broken tooth

• • Take note if hot, cold, or sweet things affect the sensitivity of the tooth. Does it cause pain that hangs around for more than 30 seconds? Is it giving random pain? If yes, these suggest that the nerve is unhappy.
  • Avoid doing anything to irritate the tooth, eat on the other side.
  • There are temporary dental fillings that you can buy at the chemist to help fill the hole until you can get in to see us. These are for short term use only.

Pain from a tooth

• • Is it painful to eat on? Are you having pain in your muscles?
  • Do your best to keep the tooth clean. Brush and floss to remove any food and plaque around the teeth.
  • A cold compress over the cheek can help with pain.
  • Take over the counter painkillers to help with the pain.

Swelling in the mouth or abscess around a tooth

• • Rinse with warm saltwater (1 tsp salt in a glass of warm water) as often as needed.
  • If you have trouble swallowing or breathing, visit a hospital emergency department, or call an ambulance. Swellings can progress quickly at this stage.
  • Take over the counter painkillers to help with the pain.

Gum pain and swelling

• • Rinse with warm saltwater (1 tsp salt in a glass of warm water) as often as needed.
  • Chlorhexidine mouthwashes such as Curasept or Savacol can help.
  • Keep the area clean by brushing and flossing as best you can. Bleeding after cleaning is an indicator that the gums are inflamed.
  • When you see us, we will likely recommend a thorough clean around the gums and teeth.

Trauma to teeth and face

• • Make sure there are no broken bones. Attend to the emergency department if any abnormal movement in the nose or upper jaw, swelling in the eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • If there is a lot of bleeding, go to the emergency department of your closest hospital. Sometimes you may need stiches of the lip or skin which is best done by a plastic surgeon.

Knocked out tooth

• • If there is no other damage to the face and head area, but the teeth have been knocked out or moved, assess the situation.
  • If a baby tooth has been knocked out, do not replace it in the socket. This can damage the underlying adult teeth.
  • If it is an adult tooth or piece of tooth, replace it as soon as possible and attend to us within 30 mins. To replace it, hold it by the white part on the top of the tooth (the crown). Avoid touching the yellow root of the tooth. Wash the tooth with cold water for 10 seconds, do not scrub. Replace the tooth into the socket gently.
    Make sure the tooth is facing the right way.
    Bite down gently on a soft material to keep the tooth in place.
  • If you are unable to replace the tooth, keep the tooth in milk or saliva and bring it to us immediately.

 

All dental pain is your body telling you that something is not quite right. While the symptoms can come and go, the cause of the problem rarely goes away by itself.

Come and chat with us if you are worried about any dental emergency or symptom you are experiencing.

 

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Using your superannuation (super) to fund dental treatment can be an option to accessing dental care. This falls under the Early access for release on compassionate grounds scheme. This might be the only way to access dental treatment for some people. However, using your super is not something to be taken lightly and should be well considered. The following is general advice and is not to be taken as financial advise.

 

Who is eligible to early access of their super?

Anyone with a severe need for dental treatment to alleviate pain, illness, or stop a life threatening  injury. You also need to prove that this treatment is not available through the public health system. You must also show that you are unable to pay for the treatment by other means. For example, through your savings, or private health insurer, or that a payment plan is not available for treatment.

 

What documents do you need?

You will need:

• An invoice or quote that is no less than 30 days old.
• A treatment plan stating all stages of treatment
• Two reports stating that this treatment is medically necessary. From either two dentists or a dentist and your general practitioner.

Will I get taxed on my super withdrawal?

The amount withdrawn is considered part of your taxable income for that year and is taxed accordingly. The tax rate depends on your individual circumstances such as age, income, and preservation age. Read more here.

 

How do I get started?

1. We encourage you to come in for a consult. Speak to us about your needs and dental health. From there, we can draw up a quote and discuss treatment. If there are other ways to get dental treatment, we can discuss those.
2. Contact your super to see if they will allow you early access of your super on compassionate grounds, check if there are sufficient funds, discuss any fees and implications to your super.
3. Contact the ATO and submit your application.
4. Once approved, we can start dental treatment and get you on your way to a better smile.

 

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Grinding your teeth is part of a bigger parafunction issue that can cause pain and damage to your teeth. Some studies quote that up to 90% of the general population have parafunction issues.
Grinding is just the tip of the iceberg here. Let’s take a look at how and why grinding occurs, and what we can do about it.

 

What is parafunction? Is it the same as grinding?

Parafunction is any habit that does not include eating or speaking. In most people, this is grinding your teeth either when awake or asleep. In others, it looks like clenching your jaw, lip biting, thumb sucking, or chewing on objects like pens.

The exact reason people grind is unknown, but it is linked to stress and pain. For example, someone with a sore shoulder may grind their teeth as a pain response. Someone who is about to sit exams may start to grind their teeth in the lead up to their exams. When you come in to see us, we will ask you about your lifestyle and medical history to try and pinpoint any underlying cause. Other people may grind for no obvious reason.

 

How do I know if I am grinding?

People commonly have a combination of these symptoms:

• Pain in their teeth that might get worse with chewing
• Generalised pain in their jaw
• Pain on waking up
• Sore muscles around their jaw, head, neck, and shoulders.
• Clicking temporomandibular joint, either on opening or closing.
• More instances of lockjaw.
• Headaches in the temples and back of head.

 

What should I do about my grinding?

1. The simplest thing to do is awareness. Being aware that your teeth are not touching in the daytime, when you are driving, at your computer, on your couch, etc, is the first step.
2. If you find you are still having tooth and jaw pain, the next step is to have a occlusal splint made. This is a small device worn on either the upper or lower. It is much smaller than a mouthguard.
3. In addition to an occlusal splint, remedial massage and physiotherapy can help with any tension in the head and neck area.
4. Some people may need botox in their chewing muscles to help the grinding. This therapy usually needs to be done every 6 months.

If you think you are grinding, the first step is to come and chat with us. We can help pinpoint the cause of the grinding, monitor your symptoms, and recommend therapies.

 

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The start of a new year brings reflection and resolutions.

We meet many people who say they haven’t visited the dentist in a very long time. The anxiety surrounding the first dental appointment after a while can make it hard to take that first step. The funny thing is they always leave their first appointment saying ‘that wasn’t as bad as I thought!’ and ‘I should’ve done that sooner!’. To help you with your health goals this year, we are offering a GAP-FREE Check up, x-rays, and clean to eligible new, health fund patients.

A GAP-FREE comprehensive check up includes:

• Full examination
• Gum examination
• Oral health screening
• X-rays
• Photographs
• Scale and root debride
• Polish
• Fluoride treatment
• Dietary advise
• Hygiene instruction

 

GAP-FREE check ups are for health fund patients with an eligible health fund policy with dental benefits.

• Offer is valid for new patients only. Please book online or call our practice and quote GAP-FREE in the appointment notes.
• You must have your check up before the 31st of January 2025.
• If you do not have health fund extras, a fee of $275 will apply.
• This offer is not valid with any other offer.
• A deposit is taken upon booking and will be refunded at your appointment.

 

Corio Central Dental is located at 68 Bacchus Marsh Rd, Corio, Victoria.

 

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This is the question on everybody’s mind! How can I prevent cavities? The easy answer is simple- brush and floss more, and stay away from sweet things.
But you can be the best brusher and flosser with the best diet in the world and still get lots of cavities, while someone who eats a packet of lollies a day may never get a hole in their lives.

These are some things to think about and see if we can improve in our day to day lives:

 

Oral hygiene

• Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day is definitely the best and easiest thing you can do to prevent cavities.
• Make sure your brush and floss clean every part of the tooth, including underneath the gums.
• Use a soft bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• After brushing, spit out the toothpaste and don’t rinse with water afterwards.

 

Diet

• Avoid eating sugary and acidic foods regularly.
• If you do have soft drinks and juices, drink it with a straw.
• Have dessert close to mealtimes, rather than waiting too long.
• Avoid frequent snacking.
• Avoid snacking before bedtime. Avoid putting children to bed with a bottle of milk.
• Have a glass of water after sugary and acidic foods.

 

Smoking

• Smoking and vaping creates an oral environment that lets bacteria thrive.
• Cutting down on smoking and vaping will decrease your risk of bacteria, gum disease, and cancers.

 

Medications

• Antidepressants, diuretics, high blood pressure medications, painkillers and several other types of medications can cause a dry mouth.
• Drinking tap water frequently, smearing toothpaste on your teeth, and chewing sugar free mint gum can help with the dry mouth sensation.

 

Saliva quality

• Saliva is important for washing acids and sugars off your teeth, and repairing your enamel.
• Saliva can be of a poor quality and not cover your teeth effectively.
• Drink enough water through the day to stay hydrated.

 

Your oral hygiene as a whole is more important than any singular one thing you can do. While there isn’t a one size fits all approach to minimising the number of holes you get, we can definitely tailor an approach for you.

 

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Everyone knows that they have to clean their teeth, but sometimes there can be a lot of conflicting information to deal with. It’s not necessarily common knowledge either.
Let’s break it down and talk about cleaning your teeth clean at home.

 

Toothbrush

Manual or electric? This is up to you. Go for soft bristles (as soft as you can find!), and a small headed toothbrush. If you have an electric toothbrush, something with a pressure sensor and timer is best. Avoid pressing too hard with your toothbrush as these can cause toothbrush abrasions and receding gums.

 

Toothpaste

Any toothpaste with fluoride is good! Avoid whitening and charcoal toothpastes as these can cause damage to the enamel and sensitivity.
Once you are done brushing, spit out the toothpaste and don’t rinse after! Leaving the toothpaste on gives you more benefit from the fluoride.

 

Flossing

Your toothbrush does not clean in between the teeth effectively. This is why we have floss. You can use any type of interdental cleaner (interdental brushes, flossettes, floss, water pick) that works well in your hands.
Watch this video by the Australian Dental Association to learn how to floss.

 

How often?

You should be cleaning your teeth at home at least twice a day. Ideally morning and night. Avoid eating for 30 minutes before and after brushing for the best results.
You should floss once a day.
Wondering about your children’s teeth? See our article on how to keep your children’s teeth clean.

 

How do I know I’m doing it properly?

Ideally you are wiping every surface of every tooth with your brush and floss. If you are unsure, you can find plaque disclosing tablets and solutions at the chemist that can highlight the areas you are missing. To use these, brush first, then use the plaque disclosing solution according to the package directions. Any plaque and food that is left behind changes colour so it is easily seen. This is a great activity to do with kids to show why it’s important to brush our teeth!

 

Come in for a chat and we can go through your technique with you

What is a deep clean and do I need one?

A deep clean refers to removing calculus and build up from underneath the gum. Calculus (tartar) build up can accumulate when you miss areas when brushing and flossing.
The build up causes an inflammation response in your gums and over time, the gum and bone recedes to try and get away from the calculus build up. This can look like receding gums, bleeding gums, and pain from your gums. If there is a lot of build up, or if the gum has receded significantly, a thorough clean is needed to remove all the calculus and for your gums to heal.

 

What happens in a deep clean?

There are a few ways to do a deep clean. Depending on you and how you feel at the dentist we usually numb up the gum. From there we tackle the mouth in halves or quarters. For example, at appointment one, we numb up and clean the top right, appointment two, numb and clean the top left, etc. Some people are happy to have more teeth numbed and cleaned at once.

During cleaning, we use ultrasonic and hand scalers to clean all the build up off your teeth and gums. You should expect a few days of gum tenderness.

 

What happens if I don’t get a deep clean?

Any calculus that is not removed stays and continues to cause inflammation. Over time the gum and bone will continue to recede. This is called periodontitis. Eventually, the teeth become loose and give pain.

How do I keep my gums clean to avoid a deep clean?

Proper home hygiene is important to make sure that plaque and calculus do not collect on your teeth.

• Brush twice a day
• Brush for 2 minutes each time
• Use toothpaste and a soft bristled toothbrush
• Floss or use an interproximal cleaner once a day
• Come in every 6 months for a normal clean to make sure plaque and calculus does not accumulate.

 

Come and chat to our dentists about your gums and the best treatments for you.

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Everybody wants whiter teeth, but what is involved in teeth whitening, and what are the benefits? Today on the blog, we’ll break down the reasons to get teeth whitening, what to expect from it, and where to fit it in your treatment plan.

 

Why do our teeth discolour?

Teeth are porous and can pick up staining from all sorts of areas. Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking are a big cause of teeth staining. Stains are intrinsic (meaning on the inside of your tooth) or extrinsic (meaning on the outside of your tooth). Extrinsic stains can be removed with a clean and polish. When people talk about teeth whitening or bleaching, usually they mean targeting the stains on the inside of your tooth.

Teeth whitening comes in all forms:

 

In chair whitening

We use a product with higher concentration of peroxide to get better results. This appointment usually takes about 60-90 minutes.
There can be some sensitivity after having your teeth professionally whitened. We usually recommend using a desensitising toothpaste for 2 weeks prior to your whitening appointment.

 

Take home whitening

This is a type of bleaching you can do from the comfort of your own home. You get trays that fit in your mouth, along with some take home whitening gel. This gel has a lower concentration of peroxide, which makes it safer for at home use. Expect to have to wear the trays and gel a few times a week for the best results. The benefit of this method, is that over time, when your teeth revert to a stained colour, you can get more take home gel to freshen up the colour.

 

Internal bleaching

Internal bleaching is required when you have a root canal treated tooth that has discoloured. This process involves opening up into the root canal area slightly, placing some whitening gel on the inside, and then leaving it for 1-5 days. You return when the tooth has whitened to remove the gel and replace the filling.

 

Scale and clean (polish)

A scale and polish can do wonders for those extrinsic stains! This removes calculus, plaque build up, and smoking stains and can give us a better idea of what intrinsic stains are present on your teeth.

 

 

The best way to know which of these would work for you is to come in and chat to our friendly dentists. They can talk you through the options and the benefits of each one.

 

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