Dental Health

We use our teeth to talk, chew, and smile. But did you know there are many other “teeth facts” you’ve probably never thought about. To celebrate dental health week, Dr. Emma shares the top five things you probably didn't know about dentistry and your pearly whites.

This year’s Dental Health Week theme is “Watch Your Mouth” which promotes the importance of brushing and flossing, eating well and seeing your dentist. But, did you know that 65% of Australians haven’t seen a dentist in the last two years? With this alarming statistic in mind, we caught up with Dr. Emma, to chat about never missing a dentist appointment and the common things dentists check for that don't directly involve our teeth.

Have your gums ever bled during a scale and clean or even when brushing? There’s a good chance it was gingivitis! According to dental health expert and HIF blogger Dr. Emma, “Well over 90% of the population has experienced some degree of gingivitis”. In this article, Dr. Emma explains what gingivitis is, what causes it and why we should have regular scale and cleans.

Is being "too busy" an excuse to neglect your dental health? According to HIF dental health blogger, Dr. Emma, "The answer is no. Being "too busy" has become glamourised in our society. It's seen as a sign of being driven and achieving your best. But being busy isn't always good for your health, and unfortunately it's easy to think "I'll brush properly tomorrow" when you're constantly on the go." With this in mind, we've asked Dr. Emma for her three top tips on how to squeeze effective dental care into our busy day.

Have you ever thought about what happens when you have a filling? According to our resident dental health blogger Dr. Emma, “A filling is one of the most commonly performed dental procedures, but perhaps the most misunderstood. It seems simple, right? There's a hole in a tooth, fill it up with stuff. Well, this isn’t the case – teeth are tricky creatures, and the mouth is an incredibly hostile environment in which to get materials to stick and last. There's a lot that goes into preparing a tooth to be filled, as well as selecting the right material.” In this article, Dr. Emma helps us to understand by detailing her step-by-step procedure when completing a common filling.

When was your last visit to the dentist? If you can't remember then that probably means it's been too long. Seeing your dentist for a just a couple of hours in a single year could mean the difference between advancing dental disease and a clean bill of dental health. According to dental health expert, Dr. Emma, "Early decay is mostly painless and undetectable to the layperson, but can be fixed with remineralising agents or small fillings. Wait until the holes get big, and you're in for bigger fillings which cost more. Consider also the risk of needing more complex treatment like root canal therapy and crowns, and the costs add up fast. In this article, Dr. Emma discusses why a regular check-up should be something you set as a high priority. 

Many of us make resolutions at the start of a new year to be healthier but do your health resolutions for 2017 include improving your dental health? Healthy teeth can lead to a better smile and overall better health, so if you've decided to make your teeth a priority this year, follow Dr. Emma's four simple steps to ensure your smile is in tip top shape.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe for Teens? This is a question dental health professional Dr. Emma is being asked more and more frequently and according to Dr. Emma "The clinical aspects of whitening teenage teeth are very relevant, as there are some differences compared to adults which need to be considered.So is teenage whitening a good idea for you or your child? It can be done safely, but with caution." In this article, Dr. Emma discusses the risks associated with whitening and shares her advice on the best option to treat your teenager. 

Flossing our teeth is something we're supposed to do on a regular basis, yet a new review by the Associated Press states there's little evidence to support the effectiveness of floss - so why do dentists worldwide still recommend it? We caught up with our resident dental health blogger, Dr. Emma, to hear her thoughts on this topic...

How long do I have to wear my retainers? If you’ve ever worn braces before, this is probably the first question you asked your dentist. According to Dr Emma. “After months and months of sporting dental hardware, it's not surprising that people are keen to have their mouths free of metal. The answer however; is pretty disappointing -  you need to wear your retainers for as long as you want your teeth to stay straight. Why? Well, essentially, retainers keep teeth from moving back into the position from which they started. Without being held in place by retainers, your post-braces teeth will drift back to the most natural position they can find.” In this article Dr Emma discusses the main differences between a fixed and removable retainer and explains why wearing one for life is the only way to keep our teeth straight after orthodontic treatment.

In recognition of ‪‎Dental Health Week‬, our resident dental blogger Dr Emma caught up with Everyday Health TV to provide her top tips on a preventive, hands-on approach to your oral health care.