13/12/2017
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
We wanted to take a moment and share with you how much we value our clients.
It means the world to us that you have continued to trust and rely on us throughout the year and we are confident that our dental practice would not be the same without your presence.
Very Warm Wishes from Dr Malisano and her Team
Dr Leanne Malisano, Chantelle, Renee & Jenny
Our Practice will be closed from
Thursday 21st of December 2017 @ 5pm
Re-opening
Monday 15th of January 2018 @ 8am
Our Vacation Emergency Care details are:
Mavin Dental - Phone: 07 5591 3433
419/1 Como Crescent, Southport
Emergency Dental Care Advice from Dr Malisano
Sensitivity
The holidays are known for sweet treats and tempting goodies, but that doesn't mean that you have to end up at the dentist with cavities in January.
How do sweet foods and drinks cause cavities?
When you eat sugary foods or drinks, naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth feed on the sugar and create acids as a by-product. These acids then wear down the tooth enamel, making it weaker and more susceptible to tooth decay as well as a host of other problems, including gingivitis.
Snacking on sweets throughout the day or during an extended period of time is especially harmful, since damaging acids form in the mouth every time you eat a sugary snack. Snacking on sugary sweets can increase the chance of tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing and flossing after snacks definitely reduces bacteria.
5 tips to stay cavity-free these holidays.
Keep cavity-causing bacteria in check by adding these strategies to your holiday routine.
•Balance out your sweets with other foods. Eating sugary and carb-rich foods as part of a balanced meal can lessen their impact on your teeth.
•Choose sweets that don’t stick around. Instead of sticky foods that get on and in between your teeth, go for items that dissolve quickly, limiting their contact with your enamel. For example, swap out caramels and candy canes with plain dark chocolate.
•Brush afterwards. Always keep a toothbrush to brush away foods and plaque after you eat. If you’re consuming foods or beverages that are high in acid, like oranges and wine, make sure to wait 30 minutes. Acid can soften the enamel, so brushing too soon can actually damage your teeth.
Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth such as Colgate Sensitive Pro-relief or Sensodyne.
•Stay prepared. You’ll have no excuse to skip brushing and flossing if you always keep a toothbrush, travel tube
of toothpaste and container of floss in your bag or car.
•Rinse to refresh. When you can’t brush, rinse your mouth with tap water to wash away food particles and bacteria. Also, chewing sugar free gum can help increase salivary flow and therefore speed up this process. The saliva keeps our mouth to a neutral PH.
Tooth Ache
A persistent toothache is always a sign that you should see your dentist as soon as practicable. If the pain you are experiencing is:
Aggravated by hot and cold and lingers, aggravated by chewing pressure, aggravated by tapping the tooth. It is most likely that there is an abscess. It is recommended to arrange an appointment with a dentist. Tooth pain can come from many other sources such as gum disease, cracks in teeth or fillings, decay and tooth clenching or grinding.
In the meantime:
•Try to obtain relief by rinsing the mouth with salty water or mouthwash (alcohol free).
•Try to clean out debris from any obvious cavities.
•Use dental floss or interproximal (between the teeth) brushes to remove any food that might be trapped.
•Brush and floss your whole mouth thoroughly twice daily.
•If swelling is present, it is best to see your dentist or doctor to issue you a script for antibiotics.
•Take pain relief if necessary (Ibuprofen based pain relief (eg nurofen) is recommended more than codeine. Ibuprofen should be taken with care. If you need an alternative, paracetamol is advised.
Knocked out or chipped Teeth
With new gifts and toys given at Christmas time it’s easy to get into situations where we may knock or break teeth. We have listed some immediate actions that can help until you are able to get to see your dentist.
Knocked out tooth.
•If an adult tooth is dislodged, rinse not scrub briefly in milk (or have the patient suck it clean, or use contact lens saline) and only hold the tooth by the white smooth crown and not the root.
•Either place back into the mouth (from where it came, or in the cheek space) or if this is not possible or appropriate, place the tooth in some milk or wrap it in cling wrap.
•See a dentist within an hour of the incident. If left longer, greater is the chance for not saving the tooth.
•If a baby tooth is dislodged and your child is younger than 5 years old, rinse and not scrub the tooth with milk and wrap in cling wrap. Arrange to see a dentist as soon as possible. Do not place the tooth back in its socket.
•If there is swelling of the lips and cheeks, a cold pack (eg bag of ice, packet frozen food) over the area will help.
Broken tooth.
•Clean the area with warm water.
•Reduce swelling with a cold compress pack.
•Keep all the broken bits, they may be useful (keep them moist and best to wrap in cling wrap).
•Check inside the mouth for any pieces as there is a risk of inhaling these when a sneeze or cough occurs.
•Visit a dentist as soon as possible to ensure no further damage is caused.
Losing a filling or crown
•It is best to see a dentist as soon as possible for emergency care. Cracked teeth or fillings are sharp and can ulcerate your tongue and cheek. If left exposed, there is a higher chance of a tooth abscess.
•If you have lost a crown, it is advised to see a dentist as soon as possible. The crown may not fit if it is left out of the mouth for too long as teeth do move.
There is a product that can be purchased from your local chemist (Terry White Chemist) called 'DentalFix' from Ozdent. A strong temporary fix to recement your crown to avoid pain and discomfort until you can get in to see your dentist.
