Tooth whitening is a process by which the discolourations or stains on the teeth are chemically lightened. When a whitening product is applied to the teeth, it breaks down into water and oxygen ions. The oxygen ions enter the enamel and attack the long stain molecules to effectively break them down to be short and colourless. These short and colourless molecules are then naturally removed from the tooth by saliva. The intensity of whitening is related to the number of oxygen ions available and the length of time they are on the tooth. You may consider tooth whitening if your teeth are …
A dry socket is a painful condition that you may experience after having a tooth extracted. Normally when a tooth is extracted a blood clot forms over the area, the clot protects the nerves and bone in the empty tooth socket. The blood clot plays an important role in the healing process by protecting the empty socket. The condition called dry socket occurs if the blood clot fails to form over the tooth socket, or if the clot that does form either dissolves or is somehow dislodged, leaving the socket exposed to food, fluids and other debris. Because of the …
1) Using roughly 15 inches, start by wrapping the floss around both middle fingers, leaving about an inch or two to work with 2) Hold the floss between your index finger and thumb 3) Slowly slide the floss between your teeth 4) Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth (make sure you go beneath the gum, if your floss can get there then so can the bacteria in your mouth!) 5) To remove the floss, slowly slide the floss back towards the middle of your mouth and move on to the next ones! Ian, the Mosman dentist. Dentist …
Most people are aware that smoking is bad for their health and can cause many different health problems. However, many people don’t realize the damage that smoking does to their mouth, gums and teeth. Smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and it more severe cases mouth cancer. Smoking stains teeth due to the nicotine and tar that is in tobacco. It can make your teeth yellow in a very short amount of time. Smoking can also lead to gum disease. When people smoke they are more likely to produce bacterial plaque, which then leads to gum …
A dental implant is actually a replacement for the root of the tooth. Just like the root of the tooth, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and are not visible once surgically placed. They are used to secure the crown (the part of the tooth you can see). Dental implants are typically made of titanium, a biocompatible material that is accepted by the body are serves as a strong and study foundation for replacement teeth. Your natural bone locks the implant into place by fusing, or attaching itself, to the implant. To receive implants, you need to have healthy …
Impacted wisdom teeth are third molars at the back of the mouth that don’t have enough room to emerge or develop normally. They are the last adult teeth to come into the mouth. Most people have four wisdom teeth, two on the top, and two on the bottom. An impacted wisdom tooth can be painless. You may not even realize it’s there. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth tries to come in, the flap of gum on top of it can become infected and swollen. This can hurt. You might even feel pain in nearby teeth or in the ear on …
Broken teeth can occur for many reasons such as biting down on something hard, being hit in the face or mouth, falling, having cavities that weaken the tooth or even having large, old amalgam fillings that don’t support the remaining enamel of the tooth.When a tooth cracks or breaks, it may not hurt but your tongue usually feels the sharp area quite quickly. If it isjust a minor chip your dentist may suggest repairing the damage with filling material to prevent it from getting worse or to make the tooth look and feel better. If the chip is very small, the …
As the saying goes “prevention is better than cure”, this can relate to many things, including your dental hygiene. Most dentist suggest 6 monthly check ups, flossing daily and brushing at least twice a day. Here are some things to consider before putting off your next dental check up & clean: *Prevention of gum disease – Gingivitis is early gum disease and occurs when plaque builds up on teeth. Signs of gingivitis are bleeding gums, redness and swelling. If its not treated it advances into periodontal disease. The margin of the tooth is weakened and spaces form between the tooth …
Ever wake up with a headache and wonder why?Maybe you’re grinding throughout the night and you don’t even know it! Feeling stressed could be the reason for your grinding. If you are waking up with a headache, stiff or sore jaw muscles, pain in the temple area or even notice your teeth wearing down, grinding may be the reason. Wearing a dental splint to bed at night may be the answer you’ve been looking for, because who doesn’t want a good night sleep, right!? Ian, the Mosman dentist. Dentist Mosman. Image: www.pixabay.com
With so many different brands, shapes and sizes of toothbrushes it’s hard to know if you’re choosing the right one. Most dental professionals recommend using a soft bristled toothbrush. Some people seem to think that hard bristled toothbrushes will give your teeth a more vigorous scrub, so they’ll clean your mouth better but that is incorrect, It’s a common misconception that hard bristled toothbrushes clean better. The truth is, they can actually damage your teeth and gums. The goal is to remove plaque as gently as possible to protect your teeth and gums as you get them sparkling clean. Gentle pressure is all that’s needed …
