Reducing your risk of oral cancer

1. As recommeded by the Australian Dental Association – www.ada.org.au
2. Don’t smoke.If you are a smoker, consider quitting. Talk to your dentist or doctor about how smoking affects your oral and general health.
3. Drink alcohol in moderation. Don’t underestimate your consumption – a 150 ml glass of wine is 1.6 standards drinks, a 425ml bottle of full-strength beer equals 1.6 standard drinks. Have regular alcohol free days.
4. Protect your skin. Avoid getting sunburnt, apply broad spectrum sunscreen to any exposed skin including your lips or apply lip balm with a high SPF rating. Wear a hat when outdoors and it possible, avoid being outside in the middle of the day when UV rays are at their highest.
5. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, particarly those high in antioxidants.
6. Talk to your health professional about the HPV vaccination. The vaccination protects against the strains of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and may also protect against the types or oral cancers caused by HPV.
7. If you notice a spot or sore on your lip or in your mouth that looks unusual or doesn’t heal, or if you have any numbness, pain or tenderness in your mouth, visit your dentist as soon as possible.
8. Look after your teeth and mouth. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily.
9. Have regular dental checkups. Your dentist checks not only your teeth but also the rest of your mouth.

Fastbraces

1. What is Fastbraces®?  Fastbraces® were developed to straighten teeth differently. Fastbraces® is the revolutionary system of fast, safe, easy and affordable braces that is changing the field of orthodontics.  It is a complete, non-extraction system for most cases, which provides patients with outstanding results.
2. How does it work? Traditional braces move teeth into position in two stages, usually over a period of about two years. In the first year, the crown of the tooth is moved into alignment. In the second year, treatment addresses the position of the root of the tooth. However, the brackets used with Fastbraces® work on a different mechanical principle altogether. The patented system uses an innovative triangular bracket and a specially- shaped square wire to correct the position of the root of the tooth, from the beginning of treatment. This combination is key in realigning the root and crown simultaneously.
3. How long is Treatment Time?  Fastbraces® Technology gently allows for movement of the roots of the teeth towards their final position from the onset of treatment, achieving root parallelism at the beginning stages, thus completing treatment from 3 months to about a year. Some patients see results in just weeks
4. Are Fastbraces® less Painful? University research has shown that Fastbraces® Technology has low mean frictional forces, a clear-cut reduction in sliding friction and pain reduction with fitting front and back teeth together.
5. How Can You Decide if You’re a Good Candidate for Fastbraces®?Here are a few simple questions to ask yourself that can help determine whether or not you are a good candidate:
   • Would you like a straighter, more beautiful smile?
   • Would you like that beautiful smile in a few short months instead of years?
   • Would you like to experience less discomfort?
   • Would you like to pay less for your orthodontic treatment?

   If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, then CONGRATULATIONS, you could be a great candidate for Fastbraces®!

Food tips from your dentist

1. Avoid muesli bars, chewy fruit bars and other sugary foods that tend to stick to the teeth.
2. Eat foods that are fresh and healthy such as nuts, vegetables, cheese and drinking water instead of soft drinks and juices.

Pregnancy and infant tips from your dentist

1. Many women develop bleeding gum’s during pregnancy and this can affect the unborn baby, if you suspect you may have gum disease it’s important you make an appointment to see your dentist.
2. Do not use any sweet substances on your babies dummy (e.g. honey) as this can cause serious tooth decay.
3. Never clean your baby’s dummy with your mouth as this can transfer bacteria from your own mouth increasing the risk of tooth decay in your baby.
4. Pregnant women who experience morning sickness with vomiting are at high risk of tooth erosion. If this is to happen immediately rinse with water and do not brush for at least 1 hour.

5 good reasons to wear a mouth guard

1. Cushions teeth against impact
2. Protects against jaw joint injuries
3. Protects against soft tissue injuries
4. Helps prevent neck and jaw injuries
5. May help to reduce concussion

Keep acid under control and protect your enamel with these simple tips

1. Drink plenty of fluoridated tap water. It’s much better for your teeth than the bottle stuff. And cheaper, too!
2. Only drink acidic beverages with main meals, so the effect of the drink is lessened by the presence of food.
3. Limit your daily intake of fruit juice, soft drink and sports waters as well as herbal teas and alcohol.
4. Use a soft toothbrush and brush your teeth twice a day, but not straight after eating or drinking.
5. Chew sugar-free gum to encourage saliva in the mouth. It helps any softened enamel to remineralise and harden.
6. Visit your dentist regularly. Tooth wear is an easily preventable problem if you have periodic dental check ups.

10 toothbrushing tips for young and old

1. Proper tooth brushing should take two minutes.
2. Use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles. Anything harder can damage your gums and teeth as it is too abrasive.
3. Brush your teeth, gums and tongue in a small circular motion every morning and night.
4. You should have your own toothbrush: do not use anybody else’s.
5. Store toothbrushes in a clean, dry, airy place so that they can dry out between use.
6. Store toothbrushes separately so they do not touch other toothbrushes.
7. After brushing, the toothbrush should be rinsed thoroughly under fast running water to remove toothpaste and plaque. Then shake off the water from the toothbrush to help with drying.
8. Replace toothbrushes regularly and when the bristles spread, become shaggy or clogged with toothpaste (approximately 3 monthly).
9. Also replace toothbrushes after illness such as colds and flu’s or mouth infections.
10. Fluoridated toothpaste helps to protect the teeth from tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. It helps to make the enamel more resistant to the acids produced by plaque bacteria.

Helpful tips for when drinking acidic drinks (like soft drink, juice and alcohol)

1. Avoid holding or swishing high-acid drinks (coke) around the mouth, as it increases the likelihood of decay or enamel erosion.
2. Don’t hold sweet or acidic drinks in your mouth before swallowing – use a straw to minimize the acid exposure to teeth.
3. Cold drinks are thought to be less likely to cause tooth erosion than room temperature ones.
4. Drink fluoridated tap water as much as possible, rather then bottled drinks.
5. Chewing sugar-free gum can stimulate saliva flow and wash the enamel-eating acids away.
6. After you finish a drink or a meal, wait an hour before brushing your teeth or you’ll risk removing the softened layer.
7. Rinse with water or a fluoridated mouth rinse – this will help to remove any acids that remain in the mouth.

5 tips for toddlers teeth

Looking after your little ones teeth is very important.

1. To soothe the irritation of teething, give your baby a teething ring to chew on.
2. If your baby needs a drink between feeds, use cooled boiled water.
3. After feeding, wipe your baby’s teeth with a moist cloth.
4. Introduce your infant to tooth brushing as soon as teeth appear. As infants can’t control swallowing don’t use toothpaste.
5. At about 18months take your child to the family dentist for a check-up to become accustomed to regular dental visits.