FAQ’S

Pain Relief

Toothaches

Toothaches range from mild, short-lasting sensitivity to cold and hot foods/drinks to severe longer-lasting pain.

When your teeth are sensitive to the foods or drinks that you consume, it usually indicates that there is an underlying problem. Sometimes this may be due to causes that do not require any dental treatment, but often it could be a sign that something more serious may be happening.

More severe toothaches normally worsen at night and will require some urgent treatment from your Beyond Smiles dentist. Symptomatic relief prior to your appointment can usually be achieved with hot/cold packs, salt water rinses, or a mouth rinse.

If you require painkillers, please read the instructions on the packet carefully or speak to your pharmacist, to determine which is best suited to you. Most importantly please see your Beyond Smiles dentist immediately to have the problem attended to.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Teeth that are prominent, usually upper front teeth, are commonly subjected to trauma when a person is injured in the area of the lower face. These injuries often occur whilst playing a sport, or due to unfortunate accidents.  The use of properly fitted mouth-guards in sports has decreased the incidence of injuries to teeth during sporting activities, but accidents can still occur unexpectedly at other times, or with other leisure pursuits.

When an accident has occurred and it involves an avulsed tooth or a large fragment of the tooth, there are some very important steps to follow to ensure the best possible outcome.

Find the knocked out (avulsed) tooth. Put the tooth back into the socket with one quick forceful maneuver using the other teeth as a guide as soon as possible. If you are unable to reinsert the tooth into the socket, store the tooth in milk, or saline.

If the tooth has fallen in dirt, DO NOT SCRUB IT CLEAN, rinse it with milk or saline. In the event that milk or saline is unavailable, you can simply place the tooth in your mouth until such time you are able to transfer it into milk or saline.

You will need to seek dental attention immediately as the longer the tooth remains outside the socket the higher the chances of complications following replantation. When the avulsed tooth has been replanted and splinted, a root canal procedure would be required on the tooth.

TMJ Disorders

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint between your lower jaw and the base of your skull. There is a joint on each side of your head, located just in front of your ears. TMJ and muscle disorders are problems or symptoms of this joint and the muscles of your head and neck. Many TMJ related symptoms are caused by the effects of physical stress on the structures in and around the joint. These include the joint disc cartilage, the muscles of the head, face and neck, surrounding neuro vasculature, ligaments, and teeth.

Symptoms of TMJ disorders may manifest in any of the following ways:

  • Difficulty or discomfort when chewing or jaw aches
  • Clicking, popping or grating noises when opening or closing the mouth
  • Headaches
  • Earaches

In the majority of people who are afflicted with TMJ disorders, the cause remains unclear, however, there have been some causes provided for this problem, and they include, bruxism, orthodontic problems and/or muscle spasms in the head/neck region.

Bruxism

Bruxism is a common condition in which you grind, or clench your teeth consciously or subconsciously, and can occur during the day or night. It can be caused by anything ranging from stress, lack of sleep, poor posture to misalignment of teeth. Bruxing results in unnatural tooth wear and if left untreated it can cause teeth to chip or fracture leading possibly to needing root canal therapy or even tooth loss. Apart from tooth damage, bruxing may also result in headaches, and pains in the head/neck muscles. Please alert your Beyond Smiles dentist if you have concerns regarding your bruxing.

Oral Hygiene Instructions

An effective at-home oral hygiene routine is vitally important in maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.  Brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste and flossing at least once a day, in conjunction with regular professional cleaning appointments at Beyond Smiles, will keep your teeth and gums healthy and your breath fresh. If you require further instructions on how to brush or floss, please feel free to ask your friendly Beyond Smiles team member.

jpg-flossing1j

Dietary Advice

Your diet is just as important to the health of your teeth and gums as it is for your overall health.  Frequent consumption of sugary foods or drinks results in acid production by oral bacteria, attacking teeth, causing decay and potential tooth loss. Reducing the frequency of intake of sugary and starchy drinks and snacks is a good first step towards better oral health.

shutterstock_5880844j

Smoking and your Oral Health

Today we are all aware that smoking is hazardous to our health.  But, did you know that smoking also has an adverse effect on your teeth and gums?  Smoking causes some of the biggest dental problems, such as infection, gum inflammation, chronic bad breath, tooth discolouration, teeth loss, and even cancer of the mouth.  The best advice we can give our patients is to quit smoking.  Without this, any kind of treatment for your dental problems will be difficult, and maintaining oral health will be virtually impossible. For this reason, the Beyond Smiles team will help you quit smoking so that you can start enjoying the fresh feeling of clean teeth and a healthy mouth.

For more information and help about how to quit smoking today, you can also visit Quit Now,  a dedicated national website with all the information you need to begin quitting today.

Quitline 13 7848

Periodontal Diseases

Plaque and tartar contain high levels of bacteria, thus when not removed properly from teeth and gums, it can cause decay, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a combination of disease of the gums and the supporting tissue of the teeth. Smoking has been linked to the increased severity of periodontal diseases.

Gingivitis 

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums. Inflamed gums appear red or swollen, and will commonly bleed on brushing or flossing. This occurs when plaque and tartar are not removed from the base of the tooth. The gingival inflammation causes a pocket to develop between the gum and tooth, which then fills with plaque and tartar leading to periodontitis.

Periodontitis 

Periodontitis occurs when gingivitis is left untreated. The inflammation and Infection spread from the gums to the supporting ligaments, and bone around the tooth. This progressive and irreversible loss of support causes the tooth to loosen, and eventually fall out. Periodontitis is the primary cause of tooth loss in Australian adults. Periodontitis is uncommon in childhood, but increases in incidence from adolescence.