Should I get whitening if I have sensitive teeth?

If you're concerned about tooth sensitivity, you may decide to choose a product that is specifically designed for sensitive teeth. Mount Lawley Dental uses Philips ZOOM! Nite White – which is especially formulated for those with sensitive teeth.

What is endodontic treatment?

Endodontic treatment involves treating teeth with a diseased dental pulp, such as a dental abscess. The infected soft tissue is removed from inside the tooth and replaced with a root canal filling that seals the tooth from future infection.

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the last (third) molars to erupt in the mouth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. There are usually four wisdom teeth, but not everyone gets them. As these teeth are less necessary, dentists may recommend wisdom tooth removal if a tooth becomes impacted or causes problems such as teeth crowding.

How much do veneers cost?

The cost of veneers depends on their size, the number of veneers you have and what material they're made from. Porcelain veneers cost more than composite veneers. At Mount Lawley Dental, veneers start from $300 per tooth for composite resin and from $1400 per tooth for porcelain.

Why is oral hygiene important?

Good oral hygiene is about maintaining healthy teeth and gums in order to prevent dental issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. These dental problems when left untreated can erode teeth and cause gums to pull away, weakening the tooth structure and resulting in tooth loss. Tooth loss affects the way you eat and speak and can create teeth alignment issues, jawbone deterioration and a sagging facial appearance.

What is preventive dentistry?

Preventive dentistry is a proactive approach to dental care. The preventive approach aims to prevent common dental problems before they have a chance to develop and avoiding the need for more invasive and expensive procedures to correct them.

What causes gum disease?

Gum disease is caused by bacteria that can build up on teeth and form plaque. When bacteria reaches the gum, it can cause an infection that the body fights with inflammation, leading to swelling and tenderness of the gums.

How do I keep my mouthguard clean?

Clean your mouthguard under room temperature water and a cleaning solution to keep it in good condition. Avoid using hot water to rinse your mouthguard as it will warp it out of shape. By making sure you clean your mouthguard after every use, you’ll keep it free from staining and plaque build-up that can ruin the mouthguard and require you to replace it sooner than necessary.

Oral Health and Overall Wellbeing

Oral Health

The Link Between Oral Health and Overall Wellbeing: Why Dental Care Matters

Posted on: 14 August, 2024

Oral health problems like tooth decay and gum disease don’t only affect the mouth

3 minute read

In our complex bodies, no aspect of health is truly isolated. Physical health and mental health and wellbeing are intricately connected, and oral health is a vital component. Neglecting it and not taking proper care of your teeth and gums could have wide reaching effects on your overall health and quality of life.

Research into the connections between oral health and overall health is ongoing, but there have already been numerous studies demonstrating the many links between oral diseases like tooth decay and gum disease, other systemic diseases elsewhere in the body, and other aspects of wellbeing.

Read this overview to find out more and contact our team at Mount Lawley Dental for personal oral health advice or preventive dentistry in Mt Lawley.

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What is oral health?

Oral health is about more than just the teeth. It concerns the health of many structures in and around the mouth, including the tongue, gums, jaw bone, muscles, joints, nerves and glands, and oral health problems can affect multiple structures.

Oral diseases are among the most prevalent diseases worldwide. The most common is tooth decay, which can lead to cavities and tooth loss, and gum disease, known as gingivitis in its early stage and periodontitis when advanced. If these conditions aren’t treated promptly and effectively, they can cause permanent damage to tissues in the mouth and have other impacts.

Good oral health is important for enabling people to eat, breathe and speak normally, among many other benefits. Unfortunately, many Australians have poor oral health, which can be caused by factors such as poor daily hygiene care, poor diet, lifestyle habits and a lack of dental visits. If you’re due for a check-up or have other concerns about oral health in Mt Lawley, contact our dentists today.

Oral health and nutrition

A balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals is important for oral health and overall health and wellbeing, but oral health problems can impact on how much nutrition the body receives from food.

Problems like worn, damaged or missing teeth and conditions affecting with the jaw or jaw joints, such as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD), can make it more difficult to chew and grind food, which is essential for preparing it for digestion. People with these issues may swallow food in larger chunks that take longer to digest, or may avoid some healthy options altogether and miss out on their nutrients.

Dry mouth is another oral health condition that can affect digestion and nutrition. This causes less saliva to be produced, which is important for lubricating food and making it easier to swallow. Having dry mouth is in turn a risk factor for developing other oral health conditions and related problems.

Oral health and medical conditions

Poor oral health and care can increase a person’s risk of developing a range of serious health conditions, or increasing complications for existing conditions. Some diseases, such as oral cancer, occur directly in and around the mouth. Others can occur elsewhere in the body as bacteria travel through the bloodstream.

Gum disease in particular is linked with a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular (heart) disease, stroke and diabetes, and vice versa, making good oral care vital for people in high-risk groups. There is also evidence that gum disease during pregnancy can increase the risk of premature delivery and low birth weights.

An upside to the relationship between oral health and general health is that the mouth can sometimes offer early warning signs of medical conditions that can be crucial for their detection and treatment, in forms such as lesions and saliva tests.

Got questions about your oral health? Get inj touch with the Mount Lawley Dental team today.

Oral health and wellbeing

As well as its physical impact, poor oral health can affect a person’s mental health and wellbeing in many ways, which can be just as harmful.

Effects of oral health problems on appearance, eating and speech and other symptoms like bad breath (halitosis) can cause feelings of discomfort and embarrassment, and may cause an unwillingness to engage with others. This may lead to reduced participation in social settings and can affect everything from relationships to academic and professional performance.

How to prevent oral health problems

The good news about oral health problems is that they can usually be prevented with good care. By understanding what risk factors cause problems like tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancer to develop, you can take steps to lower your risks. Dentists recommend:

Brushing twice daily: Brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes reduces plaque on their surfaces to help prevent decay and cavities. Use fluoride toothpaste to help prevent further plaque buildup and a soft bristled toothbrush to avoid scratching tooth enamel.
Flossing daily: Floss or interdental brushes can reach the spaces between and around teeth that a toothbrush can’t. Daily flossing around the gum line can help prevent gum disease.
Cutting down on sugar: Sugar and starch in your food and drink feed bacteria in plaque, which release acids that wear down teeth.
Eating a balanced diet: Fresh fruit and veg, dairy, lean meats and seafood contribute vital minerals to support oral health.
Avoiding smoking and alcohol: Tobacco and alcohol use significantly increase oral cancer risk as well as other oral health risks.
Drinking plenty of water: Especially fluoridated tap water for extra protection.
Seeing a dentist every 6 to 12 months: Regular dental check-ups improve the chance of problems being caught before they become serious. Each check-up includes a comprehensive oral cancer screening and you can follow your exam up with a professional clean and scale to remove stubborn and hard-to-remove plaque and calculus, further improving your oral health.

Talk to us about preventive dental care in Mt Lawley

If it’s been longer than 6 to 12 months since you saw a dentist, or you think you might have a problem, contact our friendly team at Mount Lawley Dental so we can book you in for a check-up with one of our experienced dentists.

Call us now on (08) 9227 8777 or book online. We also welcome patients from nearby suburbs including Highgate, Inglewood and North Perth.

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References

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oral-health/oral-health-and-dental-care-in-australia/contents/introduction
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219661/
https://www.who.int/health-topics/oral-health