TCI Weekly News

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
February 22nd 2014
 

Going to the dentist is an important part of maintaining good overall health and goes well beyond just your teeth. Many health issues are connected to poor dental health, ranging from simple bad breath to more serious issues such as heart problems. Sometimes there is an obvious reason to visit the dentist, such as pain, but there may be problems in your mouth that you are not aware of and it is only through regular visits to a dentist that these will be detected.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
February 8th 2014

Even before a baby has teeth there are certain good practices that should be followed. Get into good habits early! When bottle feeding, infant formula, expressed breast milk or cooled, boiled water should be used. Sugar water, sweetened milk, or juice should not be given to an infant. These liquids are unsuitable as they encourage a sweet tooth as the child grows older.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
January 25th 2014

I’ve recently spoken with several patients who have all been experiencing similar problems with jaw pain & clicking sometimes also connected with aching in the face, head or neck.

Although there are a number of possible causes for this, including injury or disease (such as arthritis) the most common cause is bruxism or the clenching and grinding of teeth. Typically people do this without being aware of it and therefore sometimes the cause of the pain is not immediately obvious.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
January 11th 2014

At this time of year I like to use this column to take the opportunity to look at the basics of good dental care. Most people know generally what they should be doing but it’s easy to slip into bad habits. Therefore this is a friendly reminder to encourage you and your family to get on track with a healthy dental care regime for 2014! It’s not tough, it’s not expensive and it doesn’t take much time!

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
December 21st 2013

Season’s Greetings to all our readers! It’s that wonderful time of year again where we all enjoying spending time with family and friends, and celebrating the holidays. And for most of us these festivities will include enjoying great food and drink- I know I’m certainly looking forward to my Christmas cake, mulled wine and Ferreo Rocher!

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
December 7th 2013

Whatever you are doing, having the ‘right tools for the job’ is always sensible and makes the work more effective and efficient. This is definitely true for brushing teeth and so following on from my last article which discussed mouthwash, I’m going to look at toothbrushes and floss.

Toothbrushes
When I look at the selection on sale in most stores I find a large number of the toothbrushes have a considerably larger head size than I would recommend.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
November 23rd 2013

I am often asked by patients if they should be using a mouthwash and if so, which one should they be using. Mouthwash can be used for several reasons and the requirement for use determines which type I would recommend.

Antibacterial
If I see a specific bacterial infection or sore areas that have the potential to become infected are present, then I would recommend a mouthwash based on chlorhexidine. This is sold under several brand names- your pharmacist will be able to assist you. Chlorhexidine is a very effective antibacterial agent and should only be used under direction from your dentist.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY
November 9th 2013

There are three main reasons why a tooth may become loose: gum disease, abscess or trauma.

In the situation of advanced gum disease- where the gums become swollen, sore and infected- the body’s response is to take the healthy bone away from the area of infection, ie. the area around the gums and teeth. The result is the destruction of the bone support around the tooth which leads to the tooth becoming loose. Initially the bone loss is at an angle to the root and with treatment there is hope that the bone will heal and the tooth can become firm again.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
October 26th 2013

A mouth ulcer is a painful round or oval shallow lesion in the mouth, often on the inside of cheek but can occur on the gums, palate or lips. They are not infectious so cannot be passed on from sharing a drink or kissing someone. Whilst they are very common and generally self-limiting, it is often not known exactly how one has been caused.

PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
October 11th 2013

A dental abscess is an accumulation of pus that forms inside a tooth or gum. The abscess typically originates from a bacterial infection that makes its way into a tooth.

Your mouth is full of bacteria, which combine with small particles of food and saliva to form a sticky film called plaque, which builds up on your teeth. If the plaque is not removed by regular and proper tooth brushing, the bacteria can attack the teeth and gums, which compromises their health and can lead to the formation of a dental abscess.