Ponsonby Accident And Emergency Dental

Let’s talk about saliva

paedadmin — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 08:27:07 +0000

Saliva is one of the most neglected factors in your oral health. The normal secretion of saliva is vital to a healthy mouth, good digestion, and more. When we think oral health, many of us think immediately of the gums, teeth, and the tongue. But the hero of a healthy mouth is SALIVA. Let’s discuss the function and benefits of saliva.

What is saliva?

Saliva is an extracellular clear liquid produced by several salivary glands in your mouth. The salivary glands sit inside each cheek, at the bottom of your mouth, and near your front teeth. Saliva plays an important part in having a healthy body. It is mostly made of water, but also contains important substances that your body needs to digest food and other nutrients to keep your teeth strong. Healthy saliva is slightly acidic, ranging from about 6-7ph. This allows saliva to do its job of breaking down food and a buffer between your teeth and plaque build-up.

Benefits of saliva

Saliva keeps your mouth moist.
Helps you chew, taste, and swallow.
Fights germs in your mouth and it prevents bad breath.
Has proteins and minerals that protect your tooth enamel and prevent your teeth from decay and gum disease.

Function of saliva

Beginning the digestive system- Chewing and swallowing begins the digestion stage, but would not work without saliva. As you chew, the saliva in your mouth binds food particles together, that easily enters the oesophagus. The more you chew, the more saliva you make. The enzyme amylase breaks down food particles into simpler compounds, which is the first step to digesting food. The compounds in saliva also protect your throat and oesophagus from what would otherwise irritate or damage the sensitive tissue.

Tasting- Molecules in food that taste of distinct flavours must first be solubilized, or made more dissolvable before you can actually taste your food. Your saliva interacts with taste buds to unmask the tastes offered by different foods.

Clearing food debris- Saliva cleans away food debris in your mouth. When you have a good saliva flow, food particles are less likely to collect and ferment on your teeth or other areas of your oral cavity.

Important brushing tips for a healthy smile.

Samantha fletcher — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 08:36:04 +0000

Here are some important brushing tips for a healthy smile. As many of us know brushing twice a day, as well as flossing is really important for our oral health. Once these steps become a habit, they are easy to maintain and integrate into your daily routine. Sometimes, tasks that become a habit can also become automatic, causing us to stop considering the way in which we do a repetitive action. It is important to sometimes take a step back and revaluate how we are brushing to make sure we are doing the most thorough job we can to keep our teeth and mouth clean and happy. If you would like to brush up on your brushing techniques, keep on reading to see if you are making any of these common errors.

Time

Brushing for a short period of time is better than not brushing at all, but it is not a good habit to get into. The recommended time for brushing is two minutes each morning and night. A thirty-second brush will not do a satisfactory job removing food debris and plaque. Over time minimal brushing could lead to tooth decay and other oral health problems. If needed, set a timer on your phone so you get in your full two minutes of brushing, or you could consider an electric toothbrush that has a built-in timer.

Sharing is NOT caring

Although it may seem like a kind gesture and the right thing to do sharing your toothbrush, it really is not a great idea. Sharing your toothbrush is a good example of a bad habit that can negatively affect your oral health. The discussion among couples over whether or not sharing a toothbrush is gross, well we are here today to tell you that it is absolutely something to be avoided. It is best to let everyone use their own. Sharing a toothbrush with someone leaves you vulnerable to all sorts of oral and general problems. Viruses like the flu can stay alive on a surface for multiple hours and sharing a toothbrush with someone who has an oral infection can cause you to develop the same.

Change your toothbrush or toothbrush head

A common error people make is that they do not replace their toothbrush or toothbrush head often enough. A toothbrush or toothbrush head only has a lifespan of about three months or showing signs of wear, but many people use theirs for a lot longer than this. If the bristles are worn and are fraying then they do not do a thorough job clearing plaque and food debris away. This means you are not getting the deep clean your teeth and mouth really needs. Most dentists recommend using the change of seasons as a cue to get a new toothbrush or toothbrush head.

Overdoing it

Another common error people make is brushing too hard. While it may seem like brushing with a firm grip and harsh strokes gets plaque and foods debris away, it can essentially wear away your protective layer of enamel and cause gums to recede. Even and gentle strokes are best to ensure you are clearing away all the plaque while also treating your teeth with kindness. Avoid firm bristled toothbrushes or toothbrush heads as these can cause more damage than good. We recommend a soft-bristled or sensitive head toothbrush, as these are just right for clearing away plaque and food.

Facts about whiter and brighter teeth

Sunit Antony — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 08:28:52 +0000

More and more people are heading into the dentist wanting to enquire about cosmetic dentistry, how they can improve the look of their smile. We all want the most attractive smile possible, but just how can we achieve it? It seems as if there are hundreds of teeth whitening procedures on the market today and there is no way to tell which one is the best. Whitening is BEST performed in a professionally supervised manner, with a proper examination, diagnosis and using appropriate materials for the patient and situation. Professional teeth whitening is any whitening product sold at a dental practice under the supervision of a dentist or dental hygienist. If you are not properly informed, teeth whitening can seem like an overwhelming task. We want to help you get your teeth to the place that you want them.

Facts about whiter and brighter teeth

There are many factors that influence the whiteness of your teeth. If the build-up of plaque is not removed regularly by brushing and flossing your teeth, it becomes hard and forms calculus (also known as tartar) and can affect the colour of your teeth.
Food and drinks such as tea, coffee and red wine can stain your teeth over time, as well as smoking. Genetics may also influence how bright your teeth are. You can help to keep your teeth white by cutting down on the coloured foods and drinks that can stain your teeth. Don’t forget, stopping smoking can also help prevent discolouration and staining.
The natural colour and genetic makeup of an individual’s teeth are set at birth. Some people may have staining under the surface. This can be caused by some antibiotics or by tiny cracks in the teeth, which absorb stains.
Professional bleaching is the most usual method of tooth whitening. The ‘active ingredient’ in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.
Tooth whitening can only lighten your existing tooth colour and won’t be able to get rid of deep stains. The effects of whitening will vary from person-to-person. Continuously eating coloured foods and drinks as well as smoking, it is possible that the whitening will not last as long, so taking care of your teeth is still very important.

Teeth whitening potentially damage’s your tooth enamel? This is a myth that continues to haunt our profession. Overusing whitening products past its recommended dosage can be harmful. We recommend asking your dentist about a wide range of whitening products. Currently here at Ponsonby A&E Dental, we offer to have whitening trays made custom for your mouth. The trays hold the whitening product and for those sensitive patients, can also hold fluoride gel. With all the whitening options your dentist gives you, it is a guarantee that you can find a SAFE product that will brighten your pearly whites by New Year!

Professional teeth cleaning

Sunit Antony — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 08:13:38 +0000

Unfortunately, professional teeth cleaning is not something most patients love. There is prodding, poking, strange noises, and slight discomfort in the jaws for good measure. Though, a teeth clean is easy and painless in most cases. Read on to find out why this procedure is vital for your oral health.

A professional teeth clean starts with a dental examination

A dentist can perform teeth cleaning, but mostly it is performed by a dental hygienist. They begin with a dental examination of your oral cavity, by checking for signs of inflamed gums, oral cancer and any other dental issues. Teeth cleaning involves, getting rid of the build-up of calculus from your teeth. This is to prevent cavities and gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. Dental hygienists can remove the build-up of calculus, which patients cannot do on their own at home. Professional teeth cleaning also include debridement and tooth polishing. If there is too much calculus, debridement is mandatory. Using an ultrasonic scaler as well as hand scaler’s, the dental hygienist/dentist removes the calculus and plaque between the teeth and around the gum line. The process will take longer if you have a lot of calculus on your teeth. Flossing and brushing regularly keeps plaque from building up and hardening.

Toothpaste cleaning

After removing all of the calculus, the hygienist/dentist brushes your teeth with a special toothpaste. You will find the consistency to be somewhat gritty but other than that, it tastes and smells just like normal toothpaste. Teeth cleaning is called prophylaxis and cannot be done at home. Even with very careful brushing and flossing, you face the risk of developing problems. This is mostly in areas that are hard to reach with regular brushing.

Flossing and rinsing

Even regular flossing at home, can not beat the professional procedure. Your dental hygienist/dentist can reach between the teeth and find issues like gum bleeding. They also remove any leftover toothpaste or plaque from earlier in the cleaning process. Then, the dental hygienist/dentist will get you to rinse your mouth out using a liquid fluoride-containing product to eliminate any residual debris.

Twice yearly

A professional teeth cleaning is done twice yearly. Dentists recommend getting some x-rays done once a year. Further, an examination might be recommended depending on their findings. A dental hygienist and dentist might recommend molar sealants for children. This prevents cavities in parts that are difficult to brush.

Final step

Dental professionals place fluoride paste on high-risk patients to protect the teeth so that you don’t develop cavities, at least in the near future. This product is a paste, which the hygienist/dentist paints on your teeth with a small micro brush and floss between your teeth. It stays on your teeth for about a minute. When it comes into contact with saliva, it gets harder. It is recommended that you do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after it has been applied.

To prevent problems from occurring, you need to have professional teeth cleaning done regularly. Ponsonby A&E Dental is proud to offer this service.