New Year’s Resolutions – make one a visit to your dentist!

It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn, and it’s a new year. Start off on the right foot by keeping a few of those New Year’s resolutions and maybe adding another one to the list – visit your Tower Dental dentist in Balwyn for a check-up.

Dentistry aims to improve the overall oral health of people through treatments and procedures such as aesthetic dentistry, restorative dentistry and orthodontics. The trouble is; we can only find problems with your teeth if you book your appointments! So our goal in this week’s blog is to help you spot signs that your teeth really need to be looked at so you can book that potentially overdue consultation/appointment.

Let’s start off with the basics…

How do you spot signs that you may be suffering from decay?

Well, toothaches are the start of trouble. If you are suffering from pain or discomfort, this is the first and most telling sign that you need a check-up. Toothaches can be largely attributed to cavities.

So what are cavities?

Cavities are the incisors or molars in your mouth that lead to decay. This decay can take place on the crown of the teeth or in the gap between the teeth. The causes of this are simple; improper or insufficient dental care and hygiene. This is such a common problem that most people in their mid to late twenties and upwards suffers from cavities. It’s amazing that with the ranges of cosmetic and aesthetic treatments available that people do not take more conscious effort to maintain oral health. Tooth decay is heavily influenced by lifestyle choices, especially what you eat and how often you clean your teeth.

There are an unpleasant variety of cavities that people can suffer from:

• Root cavities are down to receding gum lines leaving parts of your teeth exposed and vulnerable. These exposed roots have no more enamel left and begin to decay. This is a common cause for people of a mature disposition.
• Recurrent decay forms around existing fillings and crowns. These areas have a tendency to accumulate plaque build-up, which leads to the inevitable – nasty decay.
• Coronal cavities is the most common type of decay that occurs in both children and adults. These can be located between teeth or on chewing surfaces. If food gets trapped in these cavities it will accelerate the decaying process.

If these types of cavities are left untreated they can decimate your teeth and kill the delicate nerves at the center of each tooth. What is worse is that decay spreads! This is how infections and abscesses are formed. For anyone who has suffered from this kind of infection will know that the pain can be excruciating. If you let it get as far this, it can only be treated through root canal surgery or tooth extraction.

At the end of the day, if you suspect that you have a cavity or that you are suffering from tooth decay, only your dentist in Camberwell can tell you for sure. You cannot always see a cavity but eventually you will definitely feel it!

Of course, the best answer to this problem is prevention. Brush regularly, at least twice a day. Floss and mouthwash are important prevention techniques that can be used to your benefit. Eat a well balanced diet that cuts out to a certain degree starchy or sugary foods. Contact us for more information or to arrange a consultation if you would like to know more about cosmetic dentistry, treatments and general dentistry.