Looking for answers to our frequently asked questions?
Find them right here!
As a local family dental practice, we often have patients ask the same questions. That’s why we’ve prepared these FAQ’s.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, be sure to ask one of our dentists or the friendly reception team. They’ll point you in the right direction.
We’ve all had the experience of a loved one telling us we have bad breath, but what are the causes and how is bad breath prevented? Let’s dive in and answer that question!
Bad breath – or halitosis – is often present first thing in the morning, occurring due to a lack of saliva and oral cleansing during sleep. In many cases, the fix is simple – it can be remedied easily by eating, tongue-brushing and rinsing the mouth with fresh water.
Bad breath can also occur as a result of eating certain foods, such as onion, garlic, and spices. Habits such as smoking and consumption of alcohol can be a contributing factor too. Gum disease – or periodontitis – may also cause bad breath.
Improved oral hygiene habits, such as daily brushing and flossing, regular visits to your local dentist for professional cleans, can help keep bad breath at bay. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to treat infection which has caused the bad breath.
At Lillybrook Dental, we will work with you to diagnose the cause of bad breath and devise a treatment solution that is ideal for you. Our aim is to build confidence and understanding in our patients and we do this through education and awareness raising about the important elements of sustainable oral hygiene to create a healthy smile you love.
In addition to asking about brushing techniques, our lovely Lillybrook Dental patients often ask When do I floss? Is it best before or after brushing teeth?
While there are arguments for and against for each, recent research suggests the most ideal sequence is to floss teeth first before brushing. Why? Because it provides the opportunity for the most effective removal of plaque and food. Following this order of care – that is, flossing first and then brushing – allows for the most amount of plaque and food debris to be removed. It’s been identified that flossing first helps loosen and remove plaque between teeth, allowing brushing and rinsing with water afterwards to further assist the process.
Still have questions about flossing or brushing technique? Be sure to ask us when you visit for your next check and clean at Lillybrook Dental.
Greater understanding about the links between our oral and general health have emerged as science and technology research has advanced. Studies indicate oral health problems can be related to general health conditions, which include among them serious chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. It is believed this is because there are common risk factors associated with both oral health and general health conditions.
Not surprisingly, a regular visit to your dentist to check the health of your teeth, mouth and gums can help identify any unusual signs and symptoms of general health conditions, even before a doctor can. Apart from aiding in the prevention of decay (along with daily brushing and flossing), regular visits to your dentist help keep your overall health on track as links between the two can be identified and acted on with appropriate measures and in good time.
Our approach at Lillybrook Dental is to get to the heart of your oral health but taking time to understand your needs, including the way your general health is impacted by your oral health and vice versa.
Although there are volumes of information about which foods are best for maintaining the health of teeth, there is still confusion among parents about what is reasonable for children eat, particularly snacks.
A good rule of thumb to work by is to limit snacks generally and aim only to have healthy snacks as much as possible. This is because whenever we eat, we’re exposing our teeth to the sugars in food which make acid and become plaque once they interact with bacteria in the mouth. Ultimately, this leads to tooth decay.
Guidelines for healthy snacks include:
At Lillybrook Dental we encourage parents and carers to be active in educating their children about the importance of taking care of teeth, gums and mouth. Working together, we encourage our youngest patients to develop these skills early as they make an important contribution to their overall health for life.
Taking care of your oral health is a journey and we’d love to be part of yours. As caring members of your community, we encourage new and existing patients to contact us for all their dental needs. We’ll walk with you every step of the way.