What is TMJ disorder?

Do you have pain in your jaw or the side of your face? Do you have difficulty in opening your mouth or eating? You could be suffering from TMJ disorder or temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction syndrome.

This is the most common temporomandibular disorder and presents with symptoms of pain, restricted jaw movements and a clicking noise in the jaw. Other symptoms include: headaches, neck pain, ear pain and trismus (commonly called lockjaw).

The reasons for this disorder are not clear and are difficult to determine. These could be trauma to the jaw, damage to a disc in the joint, genetic conditions, arthritis, poor occlusion, missing back teeth, clenching or bruxism (grinding of teeth) but these do not necessarily cause TMJ disorder.

Sometimes the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorder is short-term and can be relieved with self-managed care. This can include physiotherapy, muscle relaxants, heat application or the use of a non-surgical treatment such as an occlusal splint. Surgery is typically a last resort after conservative measures have failed. Rather than reaching this stage it is best to take measures to take care of the jaw joints.

Here are a few ways to take care of the jaw joint:

• Keep your back teeth for life and as healthy as possible. It is true that only the front teeth are seen when we smile and no one will notice if we are missing the back teeth. Back teeth are there for a reason, and not only for chewing our food properly, but also to keep our right and left joints in balance. If we do lose the back teeth, it is important to replace them promptly so that we do not harm our joints.
• Refrain from excessive use of chewing gums. It is true that sugar free chewing gums help us to stimulate saliva that is very important to oral health; however, habitual usage of it may harm the TMJ. Be careful in stretching our mouth too much during yawning. Never test your mouth as to how far you can open it.
• Always keep your teeth apart when your lips are closed whenever we are not eating or talking. It is important to rest our teeth from touching each other, not only this is healthy for our teeth; it is also healthy for our joints. If you do clench your teeth during the day, you can train yourself by placing reminder everywhere with a note not to clench, and to smile instead for that very moment when you clench. Notice when you genuinely smile, your teeth are not touching.
• See your dentist if you think you might grind your teeth at night. You might need to be checked as well if this is only a stress-related issue or if it a sleep apnoea related condition. If you have noticed clicks with your joints, don’t be too worried, but make sure you mention this to your dentist. However, if you have had a locked-jaw or jaw pain, book an appointment to have this checked-out; we do not want it to worsen.
• Try to remain stress-free. It is true that stress can cause a lot of illnesses and that includes problems in our oral health. Regular maintenance is very important, see your dentist regularly and not only when there is a problem.

Come see us for an appointment today to have your teeth and jaw joints checked.

Blog by: Dr Beverly San Pablo

What are the 10 Foods Damaging your Teeth?

Getting the proper nutrition to keep your body healthy is something that many of us strive for each and every day. But do we ever give a thought of “What’s healthy for our teeth”? Do we ever stop and think, “Hold on, don’t have that, it eats the enamel off my teeth”?

Well here are some foods that you should stop and think about before putting them in your mouth.

• Ice cubes. “That’s not a food” I hear you say. Very true, but it is something that we frequently chew. Chewing on these even though they are sugar free does damage the enamel on your teeth, so it’s probably better to chuck this habit.
• Anything with sugar in it is bad for your teeth. We all know this. But why is sugar so terrible? Sugar feeds plaque which of course builds up from the bacteria in our mouths and settles on our teeth.
• Hard Lollies. So apart from being full of sugar they also dissolve slowly giving bacteria more time to multiply and release their terrible acids that eat away at your teeth. Plus these guys are rock hard and you could chip or crack a tooth if you bit down too hard on one.
• Chewy Lollies. Also full of sugar so, once again, bad for the same reasons as above. But what makes these guys so nasty is that they cling to teeth, enshrouding them in, yes you guessed it, sugar. So now the bacteria in your mouth  has even more time to eat away at your teeth in the crevices between them where chewy candies always seem to get stuck.
• Any type of sticky food is not good for teeth. For example, dried fruits are healthy but can stick to teeth so it is best to rinse after you eat sticky food and should brush and floss regularly.
• Citrus Fruit. Packed full of vitamin C and goodness, how can an orange or a lemon, or the innocent grapefruit be at fault here? They have citric acid as one of their main components and this eats away at tooth enamel. So eat them for their vitamin C but brush your teeth afterwards.
• Starchy Foods. Anything starch that can and usually does get stuck between your teeth is the culprit here. Popcorn, potato chips and their friends are the enemy, and while a movie just isn’t a movie without popcorn, it might be a good idea to take the floss along and clean out those bits that get stuck before they can encourage tooth decay.
• Soft Drinks. So apart from our good old friend, sugar, these guys are full of phosphoric acid and citric acid, both of which eat away your tooth enamel.
• This one is dangerous not only because of the sugars contained in it, but also because of another little side effect, dry mouth. Anything that dries out your mouth is hazardous to your teeth and should be avoided.
• Tea and coffee are alright in moderation but excessive tea and coffee is not good for teeth as can cause drying of mouth, staining of teeth and sugar added to them is also not good for teeth.

The Good Guys

So these are the bad guys that hurt your teeth but there are also a whole host of good guys who promote heathy teeth and gums. We can also give you a few tips on how to survive and keep your teeth healthy:

1. Eat your sugary food during meals. You make more saliva then, helping to wash the acid and sugar away from your teeth.
2. Limit between meal snacks. If you need to eat rather choose fruit and then afterwards chew some sugarless gum to promote more saliva production.
3. Drink more water. After all it washes your mouth clean and some water supplies have added fluoride that helps protect your teeth.

10 Tips to Keep Teeth Healthy

The only way to have a great smile is with proper oral hygiene and good dietary habits. Here are some tips to help you keep or get that beautiful, bright smile.

1.  Learn to Brush the Right Way

It should normally take two minutes to brush each time. You should be holding the brush at a 45 degree angle while brushing lightly against your teeth and gums. Pressing down too hard could damage the outer shell of the teeth, also known as enamel. Use a soft toothbrush and brush twice a day especially after meals. Don’t neglect the back teeth and tongue.

2. Floss

It is recommended that you floss once a day. Food and plaque can be found between our teeth in those hard to reach spaces that our toothbrush just can’t quite get to. Flossing prevents that leftover food from staying embedded between the teeth and hardening into tartar or calculus. It doesn’t matter whether you floss before or after your meal, just do it.

3.  Limit Sugar in Food

Be careful of the sugars that are hidden in foods. Try to switch out sugary foods and drinks for fruits and water. It’s no secret that sugar is the cause for cavities. According to Colgate.com, each time you consume food and drinks that contain sugars or starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack your teeth for twenty minutes or more. That’s more of a reason to ease up on the sugar if you ask me.

4. Avoid Staining Your Teeth

Want pearly whites? Avoid any dark food or drink items which are prone to stain and darken your teeth. Excessive intake of dark food and drink items such as wines, coffee and tea can cause staining of teeth. Red wines produce tooth-discoloring pigments. Red and white wines both contain acid, which can erode enamel and can cause stains from other foods or drinks to penetrate more deeply. Another thing is there is dryness of the mouth due to tannins  present in red wine. Smoking is the other main culprit.

5. Replace Your Toothbrush

Change your toothbrush every three months. Old bristles could be hard and can cause damage to teeth and gums.

6. Prevent Teeth Injuries

Ever use your teeth to open that stubborn package? Well stop! You are at risk of chipping or breaking your teeth. No more opening bottles, chewing ice or anything of that nature. Your teeth should be just for chewing food. Avoid hard or frozen lollies or foods. Also, when participating in sports, wear a mouth guard to protect against trauma to your teeth.

7. See your dentist

Many people fail to see a dentist each year. Most dental diseases can be prevented with regular hygiene appointments and good hygiene practices at home. The earlier a problem is detected, the better. Some other reasons to visit your dentist include sensitive teeth to cold or hot temperatures, persistent bad breath, or spots or sores in your mouth that never seem to heal or go away. However, just going regularly is best because some symptoms aren’t as obvious. Dentist visits should occur at least twice a year.

8. Use Mouthwash

Although not necessary, some mouthwashes can kill or reduce the bacteria in your mouth. Mouthwash also helps to freshen the breath.

9. Watch your diet

Proper nutrition helps keep your teeth and gums healthy. The nutrients and minerals in your diet help can help you fight or resist infections.  Eating more fibrous food like vegetables and fruit is helpful and is best to avoid sugars. When it comes to drinks, water is the best!

10. Limit Alcohol 

Drinking alcohol can lead to a reduction of saliva production by drying out the mouth. Saliva plays an important part in oral hygiene health as it is responsible for bathing the teeth and removing some plaque and bacteria that have accumulated on the surface of the teeth. The less plaque you have the less risk of any bacteria causing teeth decay. Just try to keep water on hand and rinse every so often.

What is teeth whitening?

Despite brushing or cleaning your teeth every day, you may notice your smile begins to lose its shine with the passage of time. Though proper oral hygiene can go a long way in preventing stains; regular intake of several foods, medications, coffee, tea, etc. can contribute to your teeth yellowing or discolouring. If you research the market, you will be amazed to see a number of teeth whitening kits available, claiming to offer desired results. As a general rule, all DIY projects come with a set of risks.

Whitening lightens the colour of your teeth and helps to remove stains and discolouration, making it one of the most popular dental cosmetic procedures on offer. It’s important to know, however, that whitening is not a one-off process. It needs to be repeated over time to maintain brightness.

What is Professional Teeth Whitening?

Professional teeth whitening is a cosmetic solution to remove tough stains and spots from teeth. In the teeth whitening treatment, a whitening gel will be applied on your teeth. The gel will enter the tooth layers, effectively lightening the affected areas. The results of the treatment may vary from person to person depending on the condition of the teeth and type of staining.

One-hour in chair whitening is good if you’re looking for a fast and convenient way to whiten your teeth. We use Zoom Whitening which is safe and very effective. The bleach is activated with a special laser, allowing it to penetrate your teeth more easily and more quickly.

Our customised take home bleaching kits are also a great option, the only difference is the time required to achieve a whiter smile. The most common technique is to use both; wearing your take-home whitening trays for a few hours each day after your in-chair treatment. This allows you to get rapid and long-lasting results.

Even before you make up your mind to get the treatment, we advise you to book a consultation with your dentist who will evaluate the best options for you. You are an ideal candidate for the treatment if you have healthy teeth and gums and you do not suffer from excessively sensitive teeth or receding gums. A teeth whitening method is an ideal way to remove tough and stubborn stains from your teeth and improve your smile.

What about teeth whitening costs?

At Smile Craft Dental we make the cost of teeth whitening affordable. We have a one hour in-chair Philips Zoom special at just $575! Our customised take-home teeth whitening kits start at just $250!

Book a Consultation Today!

Smile Craft Dental offers a wide range of general, cosmetic, preventive and implant dentistry services. Book a consultation with the dentists to know your best options.

10 Tips for Your Child’s First Dental Visit

It is not uncommon for children to have toothaches and many times, it is stressful for both the child and the parents to deal with. Taking children to the dentist can be stressful as parents prepare themselves for their tears and tantrums but it does not have to be like that!

There are ways to make dental appointments less scary!

The foundation for a less daunting dental experience has to be laid at young age for children .As parents, we are used to helping our kids to overcome their fears and phobias but the main problem parents find with dental is how to help a child with their fear if you find it hard to conquer it yourself.

If this problem is not dealt in a timely manner, it can be difficult for a child in the long term to overcome this fear.

An early foundation of good oral health

• To lay a good foundation for kids, we need to incorporate oral health learning into their daily routine. It can be more educational and fun than lecture.
• While you are helping them to brush their teeth before school, talk about why doing so is important.
• Rather than making it a one way conversation, encourage questions from kids. You can also ask your child questions about teeth which make them think about their teeth and their importance.
• Ask them questions about brushing and why teeth need cleaning.
• Along with this, it is good to take your kids to the dentist at an early age. It is recommended to take kids as early as two years of age.

It is a good idea to use some of the following tips to take your kid on the road of healthy teeth.

Tips for your child’s oral health

• You can organise a fun tour of the dental surgery with your local dentist. Most dentists will be happy to do so. Also, there may be a time where your child’s preschool arranges a dentist to visit their preschool so kids can be shown how to look after their teeth.
• It will be good idea to start visiting the dentist at an early age to get them familiar with what is involved and familiarity of surroundings.
• Be a role model for your kids. Always talk positively about your dentist visits
• It’s great to show some videos to your kids at home so they can get familiar with a dental office. You can also consider pretend play and role play about the dental visit, which could be helpful.
• Try and relax your child before their appointment as it is sometimes a parents own fear of the dentist, can tempt you to provide too much emotional comfort. In doing this, they can sometimes make promises and introduce words like pain and hurt while the child may still be thinking about it, which could be harmful for the child.
• Mostly as parents, we discourage our kids to take blankets and toys as we go out of the home but in a situation when a child is stressed and anxious about an unknown territory of the dental office, these items can be comforting. It can soothe kids if they have something familiar. In saying that, these items can also be a problem for kids to have something which can be too distracting for them to open their mouth.
• Give kids some control. Rather than ordering kids around in the dental surgery, make a plan with your kids as what to expect when his/her name is called. Let them lead the way and let them talk to the dentist if they are feeling confident.
• You can give control to your child by deciding a safety sign before their appointment. Your child then can let you know so that you can ask the dentist to briefly step away, which can give them time to control their breathing and relax and cuddle you before we re-commence the dental visit
• Most important is that you should be composed and relaxed. Children can pick up any negative vibes from you and it can make things worse.
• If all of the above is not helpful, then you can take your child to a dental specialist as well.

Having to pay a large dental bill can be very frustrating and stressful for many people on a low, middle or fixed income. While many people save money to cover medical expenses, dental work often isn’t included in those savings; which puts dental health at the backbench. This further leads to worsening of the situation and loss of teeth, smile, confidence and self-esteem for a person. After the eyes, the smile is considered to be the feature that enhances our facial aesthetics. It should be no more difficult to pay for your dental bill then paying for two coffees per week from a café or your visit to the hairdresser every few months.

So if dental care is managed well, then it should not be expensive. In fact, dentistry is not expensive, neglect is.

Tips to manage dental bills:

• Go to your dentist regularly. As we all know, prevention is cheaper than cure.
• Generally, if a filling of a cavity is detected early the cost can be as little as $200 but if left to decay and rot, the same tooth can cost up to $5000 to save. If the tooth needs extraction then it can cost up to $7000 to replace the tooth. Given a decision between spending $200 or $7000, the answer is pretty obvious.
• Also, there are weekly payment plans available for routine checkup and cleans which generally have huge savings as well. This takes stress away from that cost as well.
• Most dentists will also give some loyalty discounts as well for taking the initiative to look after your teeth. So dentistry is not much strain on your pocket if planned well.

Yes, there would be cases where teeth are already in poor shape due to neglect over a period of time. In that case, just the preventive approach may not fit.

You can finance dental work for both necessary procedures such as cavities  root canals, dentures as well as cosmetic dental work such as teeth whitening.

In a nutshell, the situation is not as hopeless as most of you would think. Most dental surgeries do have payment plans available to help you to bring your oral health on track. With these mostly interest-free payment plans, you can reduce the burden of your dental treatment and pay over regular instalments.

If you have been a long-standing patient at your dental office or if you have a payment history at the dentist that shows you can pay your bills on time, you may be able to arrange a payment plan with your dentist. You can then arrange to pay the remainder of the bill in fixed monthly payments.

Do not lose hope. You can call us today if you need to pay off your dental treatment. We offer Afterpay as well as finance and payment plan options both for preventative check-ups and treatments at all our surgeries in Willoughby East, Elermore Vale, Wingham and Tuncurry.

7 Things that Can Be Harmful to your Teeth

1. USING YOUR TEETH AS CUTTERS TO TEAR PLASTIC WRAPS, OR PACKAGING TAPES; NAIL-HOLDERS, OR EVEN HABITS OF NAIL-BITING.

Self-reliance is a good virtue, but not when it comes to our teeth. We might feel untouchable and cool, tearing packaging tapes without using scissors. Teeth are like glass; like our windshield, micro cracks will definitely happen. But unlike our windshields, we cannot see the little signs. The first symptom you will have, if you get unlucky, is pain. Some cases may only lead to wear and chips, but worst cases are split teeth that may lead eventually to tooth loss.

2. ACIDIC WATER (lemon infused or flavoured water) AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR PLAIN CLEAN WATER.

It is true that lemon-water is good for our gut; however, like any other health advises there are pros and cons. And, it is better to be in the middle.

If we do drink this, it is better that it is only once a day and we finish the glass of flavoured water all at once, instead of sip by sip throughout the day. You see, things other than water, can release acids. Sugars have acid by-products too. The environment in the mouth cannot be acidic for the whole day, or else it will make our teeth brittle, and hello cavities, white spots and worn teeth!

This is the same with chew-able acidic vitamins, if we can take it with water; the better it is for our teeth. We are only talking about the acidic vitamins. Please follow the instructions provided by your doctor when placing emergency medicine under the tongue or around the inside of the mouth.

3. BRUSHING WITH HARD BRISTLES, NOT CHANGING YOUR BRUSH WHEN WORN, AND NOT ALLOWING YOUR TOOTH BRISTLES TO DRY EACH AFTER USE.

Just imagine your teeth as a high-gloss kitchen tiles/counter. You don’t want to brush it with a steel-brush nor harmful gritty cleaners right? It’s the same thing with our teeth; we need to exercise our tender-loving-care, with gentle, longer strokes. When it is already sharp at the tips, or splayed, or it has been 3 months, time to change!

Letting your toothbrush dry is not allowing the bacteria to grow. Anything that is moist all the time, invites germs. You do not want to reintroduce these.

For bamboo toothbrushes, we do recommend wiping the handles with towels after every use to allow it to dry quicker and not letting it develop mold.

4. BRUSHING SOON AFTER EATING OR DRINKING SOMETHING ACIDIC

Remember, when I told you sugars turn to acid somehow when breaking, it is our saliva in the rescue. Let the ambulance of saliva save you, allow 30 minutes at least. However, if you had eaten something sticky at it rests from the chewing tables of your back teeth, oh, that is the gray side, brush now but gently, just take off those sticky ones.

5. FAILING TO PROTECT YOUR TEETH WITH MOUTH GUARD WHEN ENGAGING TO CONTACT SPORTS, OR ACTIVITIES THAT MAY CAUSE YOU TO CLENCH.

Sports are way to be energetic and be healthy but to protect ourselves too with a mouth guard. There are two types, the custom-made and the over-the-counter ones. The custom-made fits better and are more protective. However, for growing individuals or patients undergoing braces or aligners, the over-the-counter ones are advisable as your teeth keep changing positions.

6. THINKING THAT THE FRONT TEETH ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BACK TEETH AS NO ONE SEES THE BACK WHEN SMILING.

Oh, no, this is like saying that the front wheels of a car are the only ones we need to drive and forget about the back.  Everything is created for a reason. The front is to show our nice smile, and the back to chew our food. If we chew using our front teeth, we may not have anything to show off when we smile after a period of time.

7. FAILING TO MAINTAIN THE SIX MONTHLY PROFESSIONAL EXAM AND CLEAN

Visiting a dentist regularly is part of self-care believe it or not. It is not only about professional cleaning, but the examination is equally important. Checking the whole mouth for any signs of abnormalities is very essential as is screening for oral cancer, growths and others. A sleep apnea risk assessment is done too.

Blog by: Dr Beverly San Pablo

It’s highly recommended to visit your dentist twice a year. Is there a logic behind it? Why is it recommended to go to the dentist twice a year? 

Six monthly checkups are recommended to the majority of the population, but  it can be more or less frequent depending on multiple factors, such as, oral hygiene, dietary habits, general wellbeing, habits of smoking and many other factors. Your dentist will be best to advise the frequency of checkups.

The reason to attend regular appointments is that some serious problems can go undetected, if there are longer gaps between checkups. There is a strong need for regular checkups to reduce the chances of a dental problem going unnoticed. Within six months, a majority of people will produce enough plaque and calculus build up to cause inflammation and damage of the gums. This calculus needs to be cleaned off  regularly to prevent gum damage, gum disease and bone loss. The bone loss starts off slowly but will accelerate if left undiagnosed leading to loosening of teeth and eventually tooth loss. 

Failure to treat a dental problem in time can lead to some irreversible conditions. For example: Decay left untreated will worsen the cavity to the point of needing root canal treatment. To avoid the occurrence of such a problem, it is advisable to see your dentist at least twice a year. Also, having your mouth checked regularly can help detect any oral cancers at an early stage.

Sometimes there is a factor of finances. There are many patients who would want to receive dental treatment, but they fear the financial aspect which goes along with the treatment. Many people chose to totally forgo their regular treatment on the issue of finances. This makes it impossible for them to have the check up  twice a year. Call our surgery to find out how we can help with this.

Regular 6 monthly checkups or even sometimes at 3-4 monthly are recommended for: 

• Smokers
• Poor oral hygiene and poor dietary habits
• Dry mouth
• Past extensive dental treatment 
• High caries risk
• Chronic health issues like diabetes or heart disease,
• Pregnant and nursing mothers
• Older people
• Taking bisphosphonate medication for osteoporosis
• Radiation in head and neck area for cancer
• History of gum/periodontal disease that has caused damage and loss of bone levels around the teeth.
• Older people with less manual dexterity to brush teeth properly
• Crowded and overlapped teeth and find it hard to clean
• Inadequate saliva flow
• Acidic saliva
• People on non fluoridated water

Sticking to your 6 monthly dental check up, will ensure dental treatment can be done at the right time. Solving the problem in its early stages helps in treating the problem in the least invasive manner as possible. An act that saves you time, money and pain. Make the smart choice today – visit your dentist. It only takes an open mind!

My dentist has advised an emergency tooth extraction. How could I avoid it?

Do you have an achy tooth?  Your tooth, as well as gum, can cause severe pain, which must not be avoided or taken for granted. Rather, immediate treatment or medical assistance is required. You should not falter in communicating with your dentist.  

The best way to avoid any extractions is to prevent the tooth from reaching the condition where it needs emergency tooth extraction. If the tooth has gone beyond scope of restoration, you can discuss with your dentist an alternative option like root canal treatment , periodontal treatment or you can seek a second opinion.

If the tooth can not be saved with any treatment and is advised extraction, it could have some possible complications of keeping the tooth.

 Before things move out of your hand and vision, take proper care of your dental issues and do frequent check-ups. 

Are you wondering why it is necessary to do emergency tooth extraction? Here are some reasons for you. Let’s have a look at them!

Keeping the tooth can lead to emergencies like facial swelling, abscess, severe pain. This can happen at any time like during office hours, late at night at home or during holidays. etc. 

Thus, it is necessary to have an emergency tooth extraction to avoid extra cost, pain, swelling, and much more. Isn’t it true?  Moreover, having broader idea on the situation with intense knowledge is necessarty before taking a decision. 

Leaving an infected tooth in the mouth can affect the health of other teeth and also it is not healthy to have infected teeth in your mouth for your general well-being. Evidence suggests that poor oral health is a risk factor for heart conditions, stroke, low birth weight babies etc.

Whenever you are observing any signs of a toothache or infection, you immediately need to head over to a relevant dentist or surgeon right away. Sometimes emergency tooth extraction can be painful and tedious work, but it is necessary to perform such activities to eliminate or reduce the infection quickly. After this, you will have a peaceful sleep at night without any tension and stress. 

Reason for Tooth Extraction

Accident 

In this technology-prone era, accidents are happening abruptly, which further leads to severe consequences like dental problems, and much more. Thus, the victim needs to seek medical assistance to fix the issues. And if the problem is serious,and the tooth can not be saved, then the dentist will perform emergency tooth extraction.

Risk of Infection

Due to your negligence and careless attitude, you confront such situations to eliminate infection from the mouth, as well as to prevent it from spreading. The dentist aims to reduce the chances of additional problems, which can further cause serious issues in the future. There are various possibilities of having an infection in the tooth, which often requires emergency tooth extraction.

Excessive Decay 

Trauma or excessive decay could lead to serious consequences like tooth extraction. In most of the cases, damage and decay in the centre portion of your tooth can be troublesome and leads to pain and agony. Bacteria can move deep into the pulp and can cause you an infection. If the response of medicine is not impressive, then tooth extraction is a must.