FAQs

Why is visiting the dentist regularly so important?

Regular dental visits are important for several reasons. It helps to maintain the proper health of your mouth by;

• Preventing the decaying of teeth.
• Preventing diseases related to your teeth and gums.
• Helping prevent the spread of bacteria in the mouth, which results in bad breath.
• Making your teeth and smile attractive.

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Do you still need to visit a dentist if your teeth feel fine?

Don't neglect dental health. Just because you're not feeling any dental problems doesn't mean they don't exist.

Regular visits to the dentist can prevent an emergency that leaves you in pain or worst still, leaving you looking like a mess.

Your smile is one of the most important parts of your body. You can make your smile attractive and look beautiful with the help of a dentist.

Dentistry has come a long way and now offers teeth-whitening, fillings, veneers and more that can help you make your smile look amazing. 

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What should you consider when choosing the right dentist?

Choosing the right dentist is an important decision, and it's important to take your time to find the perfect one for you and your family.

There are many Dentists to choose from, and you should take your time finding the right one before making a final decision.

Before you make an appointment, here are some things to consider:

• Is the office easily accessible and nearby?
• Do you have to commute far to get to the Clinic? Very much like you wouldn't want to drive to the other side of town to visit the Coles / Woolworths there. 1-2x might be fine, but if there are more regular trips for you or your family, this becomes an issue. 
• Is the workplace clean and orderly?
• Are the team and the Dentists warm and friendly or easy to get along?
• What is the mission statement of the Dental Clinic. Ie: What do they stand for and what do they believe in?
• Does the dentist provide all options for you regardless of the cost and condition?
• Does the dentist allow you to choose which options you want to go with? Do they pressure you to choose a particular treatment?
• Do they have interest free payment plans?
• Or better still, do they have options on saving money on Dental Treatment?

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How can you take care of your teeth between dental checkups?

• You must always brush your teeth two times a day.
• Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and talk to your dentist about fluoride rinses. Doing this aids in preventing cavities.
• Don't eat foods with too much sugar (sugar leads to more bacteria in your mouth, leading to cavities and plaque).
• Please stay away from smoking, as it can cause gum disease, staining, and potentially oral cancer.
• Brush your tongue! This simple act will remove food particles, reduce bacteria, and keep your breath fresh.

At what age should i start bringing my kids to the dentist?

Children should see the dentist by the time they are six months old. The earliest is six months, but no later than one year.

Seeing the dentist earlier could help pick up on things like tongue ties or frenum ties that may potentially impact on your child's ability to feed.

The first set of teeth will grow during this time, and your dentist can examine their health.

Schedule regular checkups with your dentist after your first visit.

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How often should you see the dentist?

It is important that everyone, no matter what age, sees the dentist every six months for a routine checkup.

Patients with an increased risk of gum disease or oral cancer should visit the dentist more than once every six months.

If you're not sure how often to see the dentist, you must consult your Dentist. They will look at your risk factors for tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities, then advise you on what your regular dental visits should be.

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How often should you brush your teeth?

It would be best if you brush your teeth at least two times a day as it removes bacteria-causing plaque from teeth, gum, and mouth.

It is advised to use a toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride in the toothpaste you use to brush your teeth.

Fill your mouth with water, not toothpaste. Spit it out. Place your toothbrush on the top of the teeth. Brush using broad strokes back and forth. Brush the teeth on top, then brush the teeth on the bottom; don't forget about the tongue!

Repeat until at least 3 minutes has lapsed.

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When should you change your toothbrush?

If you brush your teeth using a toothbrush twice per day for two to three minutes, it will eventually wear out.

Children and adults should replace their toothbrushes with a new one after every three months. If you're using an electric toothbrush, read the instructions and be sure you know how often you should change the brush head.

Gum disease spreads very easily, so patients with advanced gum disease are advised to change their toothbrushes once in four weeks.

If you've become ill, it's important to change your toothbrush as soon as possible as this may cause you to catch the same illness again when using the same toothbrush again!

After brushing, wash your toothbrush using hot water to kill the germs. Doing this not only keeps the bristles clean but also ensures that bacteria are gone.

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If you have braces, do you still need dental checkups every six months?

Orthodontic patients should regularly go to the dentist. It is important not only for keeping their teeth healthy but also for ensuring they get all their orthodontic treatments on time.

Braces can cause food to get stuck. It will make bacteria buildup, ultimately leading to cavities, gum disease, and gingivitis.

Your Dentist should work together with the Clinician that put the Braces on for you to ensure that your teeth stay healthy and clean while you're wearing braces.

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What causes bleeding gums?

Gums start bleeding when they are inflamed or irritated.

Plaque is a bacterial film at coats the teeth and leads to gingivitis. It can develop into gum disease if not properly addressed.

The plaque that builds up if not taken care of can turn into tartar or calculus. Scaling, which is also known as professional cleaning, will be needed to remove this.

Regular brushing and flossing are recommended to prevent this buildup.

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What should you do if your gums are bleeding?

If your gums are bleeding and you stop brushing your teeth, bacteria will build up and make gum inflammation worse, so you should continue brushing your teeth even if they are bleeding.

If you keep brushing and flossing, your gums should stop bleeding.

If after doing so doesn't help, you may need to consider professional dental cleaning.

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What should you do if you knock your tooth out?

Try putting the tooth back into the socket if it is clean.

Gently slide the teeth back into the socket by holding the tooth firmly by the top. To relieve the pain of a toothache, bite on a clean handkerchief for 10-20 minutes.

If the tooth cannot be put back in, it is more likely to survive by keeping it in your mouth until you get to a dentist. If you cannot do this, then put in some milk.

The tooth should be looked at as soon as possible. Seek dental attention within 30 minutes to avoid any permanent damage.

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What should you do if you have sensitive teeth?

One potential solution is to use a toothpaste that is specifically designed for sensitive teeth. Apply some toothpaste on the sensitive teeth before sleeping. It will help to protect the surface.

It is best to eat healthy meals and avoid too much acidic food after eating; wait for an hour before brushing your teeth. If you do not wait, then this will cause even more sensitivity. Don't grind your teeth, as it can also make them more sensitive. A mouth guard might be recommended to address this.

If the pain persists, you should speak to your Dentist. Sensitivity is not easy to identify. Your Dentist is trained to recognize it and can offer the best advice on taking care of it.

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Why does my mouth always feel dry?

Drying of the mouth can be a sign of various issues, and it can also occur more frequently as you age. More commonly, it is a side effect of certain medications, particularly those that addressses blood pressure, depression, and heart medications.

It can be quite painful to have a dry mouth, and can make eating difficult.

Numerous prescribed medications can cause dryness of the mouth. If you take any medicines regularly from the doctor, it's worth talking to them about your problems to see if there's a better option without the same side effects.

There are great options out there to help reduce the effects of dry mouth, like BIOTENE. A product where you can buy off the local supermarket and it comes in a toothpaste and/or mouthrinse form. 

However, after trying it, you still notice dry mouth, you should contact your Dentist immediately

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What will happen at your first visit to a dentist?

At Tooth Heaven, we do things alittle differently here than most dentists.

Because you are our priority, your first visit here will be treated with the utmost respect.

It all starts off when you walk in through our main doors. You shall be greeted courteously and in a warm manner. You will then be invited to take a seat in the waiting lounge and to fill up a NEW PATIENT FORM on a tablet (if you haven't already done so beforehand - refer below). As we are a modern clinic, this form is done electronically on an iPad offered to you for your convenience. 

Once done, you may enjoy the funny, educational and entertaining videos we have on the TV, but within a few short minutes, our brilliant Clinicians (Dentists and Therapists) would personally walk up to the waiting room and introduce themselves and escort you to their Rooms. 

They shall then introduce you to their lovely assistants who would be very happy to assist the Clinicians to make your visit as comfortable as possible. They will also help inform you where you can put your stuff down and where you can take a sit at. 

We at Tooth Heaven don't just want to know your teeth, we want to know you too, so we might touch on other things not related to Dentistry briefly at the start. 

Afterwhich, as we are known for how thorough we are, your first visit may include photos, x-rays and a discussion on what you would like us to help you with.

Upon completion of the discussion and/or treatment, you will be offered some amenities to make your visit more comfortable (a Goodie Bag - with actual "goodies" ^_^ and/or a warm towel).

The Clinicians would then again personally escort you back to the Front Desk and introduce you to them again, to which the Clinicians would assist you by relaying the information to the Front Desk Coordinators on the purpose and the duration of the next visit. 

You may also be asked to do an anonymous survey on our readily available tablets so that we know what we can do differently to make your next visit alot more inviting and comfortable. 

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Does it hurt to get veneers?

Most patients report no pain at all during treatment because the procedure is very simple to perform.

For veneers, the only requirement is the removal of very minimal parts of your teeth. Because the enamel layer has the same thickness as the veneer, it is removed to guarantee a perfect match. Removal of the enamel layer is usually done with a local anesthetic, and the enamel layer is so thin that the patient usually feels no discomfort during and even after!

Especially with new technology now and modern techniques, like the intraoral scanners and Digital Smile Design, these days, the removal of teeth become so minimal that some don't even do it without any local anesthetic! 

And the outcome will be oh, so worth it as it will be your new smile for the years or decades to come!

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Do veneers cause sensitivity of teeth?

Veneers don't cause sensitive teeth. Veneers are frequently advised to treat sensitive teeth because they conceal the chewing surfaces and shield them away from cold and heat.

Due to the enamel removal, you may feel a little sensitivity in your teeth after they have been prepared for veneers. This sensitivity, however, is just temporary and will disappear after the veneers are installed.

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What are common dental problems?

• Bad breath
• Decaying of teeth.
• Periodontal or Gum disease.
• Oral Cancer.
• Sores in the mouth.
• Sensitivity of teeth.
• Dental Emergencies and toothaches.

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What are early signs of dental trouble?

• Unwanted sores, growths, or alterations in the mouth. Jaw pain.
• Swelling in the face or gums.
• Increased tooth sensitivity.
• Broken tooth.
• A bad odor or taste in your tongue, especially if it comes from a filling or crown.

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What are the signs of poor oral hygiene?

• Pain in your teeth.
• Bleeding of gums.
• Changes in the Tongue.
• Growths in the Mouth.

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