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Part 1: Commonly available mouthrinses

There are different types of mouthwashes and they have different benefits depending on the active ingredient.

However, all mouthwashes, however beneficial, are only useful as an adjunct to brushing and flossing. Mouthwash alone is not enough to prevent decay and gum disease.

This article looks at the more commonly available mouthwashes and their active ingredients

Chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwashes ...

The answer is a definite YES.

Unfortunately, most people do not floss.

While toothbrushing is a habit usually taught since a young age, flossing is not.

Why floss? Toothbrushing, if done properly, will remove the sticky film of bacteria (plaque) from the teeth surfaces. However, the brush bristles do not reach the surfaces between the teeth. Plaque left between teeth contributes to bad ...

A common question many patients ask is which toothbrush to use.

First of all, manual or electric toothbrush? The answer is- it does not matter as long as it is being used properly.

It is important to use the correct toothbrushing technique- angling the bristles along the gum lines and moving the brush in small circles around all the teeth surfaces.

For people ...

Did you know that there is more and more evidence that early onset alzheimer’s disease (or dementia) is linked to poor oral health?

Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain condition characterised by the accumulation of a substance call amyloid in the brain. The amyloid molecules coalesce inside the brain tissue and form plaques that interfere with normal cellular brain function leading ...

Are you unhappy with how your teeth look, but feel unsure about how they can be improved?  

Digital technology and AI can give you an idea of how your teeth will look after dental treatment. At the Melbourne Smile Clinic, your dentist in Northcote, digital simulation of treatment results is possible thanks to the use of our iTero scanner. With ...

Good dental health starts with good habits from a young age. These include good oral hygiene at home but also regular checks at the dentist.

When is a good age for a child to have their first dental check up?

The recommendation is to have their first visit when the first teeth start to appear or by the age of 1, whichever ...

Should you ban sugar if you don’t want tooth decay?

Most people like a sweet treat every now and then, but it is also common knowledge nowadays, that sugar causes tooth decay. Does that mean we should ban sugary foods completely from our diet?

This is an extreme solution that many might find challenging. The good news is that completely cutting out ...

Does eating ice-cream make your teeth ache? Some people experience a sharp, stabbing pain when cold is applied to their teeth, almost like an electric shock. Sometimes this can also be triggered with very sweet foods. Is there something wrong with their teeth?

The answer is – not necessarily.

Sensitivity of teeth to cold and/or sweet foods and drinks is ...

Do your gums bleed easily during brushing, flossing or sometimes spontaneously? The most common cause of bleeding gums is inflammation. Inflammation of gums can range from mild to severe.

In mild cases, the condition is known as gingivitis. The main cause of gingivitis is plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria lining the teeth surfaces. Plaque is not always visible until ...

Accidents can happen- while playing sports, while riding a bike. What should you do if a tooth gets knocked out (avulsed) from its socket?

The following is a set of guidelines determined by experts in dental trauma on how to manage a tooth being knocked out (avulsion).

Most of the time, the affected tooth is likely to be an upper front one. ...

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are just a set of molars that erupt later in life (late teens to mid -20s or even older). Molars are the big chewing teeth towards the back of the mouth. Adults usually have 2 molars on each side of the mouth in the top and bottom jaws, hence 8 molars in total by the ...

Grinding and/or clenching of the teeth while asleep is a habit called bruxism. It can lead to excessive wear of the teeth enamel, causing permanent damage to the teeth. The jaw muscles and jaw joints can also become over- exerted and develop painful symptoms. Bruxism can happen while the person is awake (awake-bruxism) or during sleep (sleep-bruxism). Bruxism can become ...

White and brown spot discoloration of teeth

A common question from concerned patients is about the speckled appearance of their teeth enamel. The teeth are not uniform in shade but have chalky white and/ or yellow to brown specks, giving the teeth a mottled appearance. The specks can vary in size and several front teeth are sometimes affected. This can ...

Cosmetic dentistry refers to all dental treatment that aims to improve the appearance of the teeth and hence of the overall smile aesthetics. Cosmetic dentistry can also involve replacement of missing teeth to restore a full smile and proper function.

This could include just one tooth or several.

At the Melbourne Smile Clinic, however, we believe that all dental treatment relates to ...

What is Invisalign®

The Invisalign® teeth straightening system offers a series of clear aligners that are worn in a sequential manner a week at a time. The sequential aligners gradually move the teeth in place until the desired result is achieved. The aligners must be worn for 22 hours a day and are removed during eating and drinking anything other than ...

A toothache can start suddenly and catch you by surprise. The severity of pain can vary from a mild, dull ache to severe throbbing that radiates to the other areas of the face. The pain can be constant or intermittent, spontaneous or triggered by chewing, cold and/or hot drinks and foods.

What causes toothaches?

In the absence of obvious ...

We all know prevention is better than cure. But too often, we forget that this applies to our oral health as well. Gum disease and tooth decay are silent diseases in the early stages. Both are caused by plaque. Plaque is a biofilm lining the teeth and gum surfaces and consists of food debris and bacteria which constitute the microflora ...