Are you too embarrassed to smile?

You are not alone. People don’t talk about it, but you’ll find the majority of the population don’t smile as confidently or frequently because of their smile/teeth.

Culture throws the ‘perfect’ at us through social media and entertainment. We then compare subconsciously, and consciously, and it stops us from living free and fuller lives.

A couple of important points to note from someone who looks at teeth every day:

• Your smile is better then you think. You are likely your harshest critic.

• Minimal intervention can make a big difference to confidence. E.g. Teeth Whitening is quick, simple, and can make a marked difference to someones confidence.

• Even if there are big ‘issues’ with your teeth, we can help. There is always a solution.

  Reach out if you want to chat about options, or even if you want to be reassured that you are doing well.

Toothache

Toothache is horrible. It can begin with something as small as some sensitivity when drinking cold water, and become a full blown throbbing ache that keeps you awake at night and dreaming of pulling the tooth out yourself. So, what does it mean?

Normally, if your tooth is aching, it’s likely the nerve in the tooth has become infected with bacteria. And, once the bacteria has entered the main nerve of the tooth you are left with two long term options to help: root canal treatment, or removal of the tooth.

The tooth may have become infected from a cavity in the tooth, a crack, or a past deep filling. And, unfortunately, the only way to keep the tooth and get rid of the pain and infection is a root canal treatment. A root canal is where we remove the nerve from the tooth, and make sure the tooth and its roots are free of bacteria that caused it in the first place.

Otherwise, the only option to get rid of the infection and pain is to take the tooth out.

This is the biggest reason why you should come to the dentist as soon as you feel a niggle in a tooth, or better yet, before then. Prevention is alway better and cheaper than having to treat later. You will literally save thousands of dollars and all the pain associated with it. Share with a friend if you’ve found this helpful :).

Do you want white, straight, teeth?

A common request from our patients is wanting a whiter, straighter, smile. Everyone feels like they have yellow teeth, and want to smile with confidence more.

So, what can be done?

Like all things, it depends on the cause and the end goal. For some people, custom made take home whitening kits is all that is needed. For others, it’s a more complex mix of orthodontics to straighten, whitening, and veneers.

A couple rule of thumb’s that might be helpful:

• If there is crowding, yellowed teeth, and mis-shaped teeth= Orthodontics to straighten, whitening to lighten, and veneers to whiten and correct shapes/spaces/etc.

• No crowding, mis-shaped teeth, and yellowed= Whitening and veneers.

• Just yellowed teeth= whitening.

It’s important to remember that not everyone is the same or is bothered by similar things. However, if you have been mulling over these kinds of thoughts and questions; come in and have chat. At the very least you’ll know what can be done and achieved for you- even if you decide to do nothing.

What has my teeth got to do with my health?

We tend to separate the health of our teeth from our ‘health’. But, should we?

Increasingly, research is showing connection between the health of our mouth and the health of our body. For example, there is a developing connection between our gum health and cardiac disease. If you have gum disease, it’s like having a permanent ulcer on the body; this allows bacteria easy access into the blood stream straight to the heart. Or, another example is the connection of gum disease and the increased likelihood of premature births.

The connection is becoming so significant that the mouth is becoming am important mirror to bodily health. As it is in the mouth, so it goes in the body.

Fascinating and scary!

Either way, let us know if we can help your family or if you have any questions.

Do you have dental anxiety?

One thing you need to know about fear, anxiety, and the dentist: it is very common. You are not alone in your experience of being afraid to go to the dentist.

At Narangba Family Dental, we understand this. It’s one of the motivating reasons we started this practice. Too many dentists get tunnel vision and focus on ‘fixing teeth’, without much consideration for the ‘person’ the teeth are attached too. So, when you come in for a visit, we will want to walk you through this. Initially, we may need some supplements to help you relax, but our hope in time is you won’t need any at all.

Some things we can offer to help you get the dental care you need:

• Relaxants. This is like valium, a tablet you will take an hour before treatment to take the edge off. This is the most common solution. And, we normally find you don’t need these in time as you get more and more comfortable with us.

• IV Sedation. Sometimes the fear is a little more severe. In these situations, it might be helpful to get an anaesthetist in to administer twilight sedation; it will feel like you’ve had a little sleep while we do all the dental treatment you need. It’s a dream.

Worst case scenario, come and have a chat with us. We don’t need to go any further. Let’s talk about it, and ultimately it’s up to you if you want to take the next step. We’re here to help, not to judge.

I'm getting some sensitivity when I eat and drink. What’s going on?!

It’s one of the most common problems people experience with their teeth: sensitivity.

At Narangba Family Dental, we understand this. It’s one of the motivating reasons we started this practice for the community of Narangba.

Some common reasons for tooth sensitivity and what may need to be done:

• Dentine Hypersensitivity. Sorry about the weird name, I didn’t choose it. This is sensitivity caused by the removal of a microscopic debris layer that normally covers the surfaces of the tooth. This sensitivity generally feels like it’s coming from the part of the tooth that goes into the gum. And, the most common way to treat is by desensitising pastes E.g. Sensodyne, Colgate pro-relief. A little trick to improve results is to brush with these toothpastes, but also rub a small amount in the sensitive areas without rinsing it out afterwards. If this is the cause, relief slowly begins and is fairly normal within a few weeks.

• Decay/Chipped tooth. Another very common reason for sensitivity is if a tooth has decay or has a chip. This exposes the inner part of the tooth which has little nerve endings, making it sensitive whenever you eat or drink something cold, hot, or sweet. Treating this normally involves some kind of filling or crown.

• Cracked tooth. A less common reason, but one that happens enough is a crack in the tooth. An additional symptom you’ll sometimes get with cracks in teeth is a sensitive pain when you’re eating on a particular tooth occasionally. If you get to these soon enough, you generally need a crown/protective restoration, otherwise they can crack deeper into the nerve and the tooth needs to come out. Getting in early with these is very important.

If you are having sensitivity, it’s generally a sign you should come in and let us have a look for you. Hopefully it isn’t anything to worry about, but small problems become big problems if they aren’t seen quickly; and we want you to keep as many teeth for as long as possible.

Why come to Narangba Family Dental?

Narangba Family Dental is a team of dental professionals that want to help your family and yourself smile with confidence and enjoy chumping on the foods you enjoy.

We realise going to the dentist isn’t the most enjoyable thing to do. It can be uncomfortable, anxiety inducing, expensive, and confusing at times. And, if you’re honest, you’d rather be hanging out with family and friends instead.

We want to change this. We want you to spend more time hanging out with family and friends and less time at the dentist, and we aim to make this happen by posting affordable prices online, practicing collaborative dentistry, and ensuring you are comfortable and understand what is going on each step of the way.

If you’re not quite ready to take that next step with your teeth, that’s ok. Drop by and say hi, we’d love to connect with Narangba regardless.