Your dentist may still use a pik to remove any tartar that is proving to be stubborn, but this is far less harsh than many years ago when piks were used predominantly to clean teeth. One of the real benefits of ultra-sonic cleaning and polishing technology is that it is completely painless – there’s certainly no need for any local anesthetic.

If you are visiting a well-run dental clinic, then you will most likely see a dental hygienist rather the dentist. A dental hygienist is someone who is trained in dental hygiene techniques (including the cleaning and polishing of teeth). They are also trained in the detection of dental caries (tooth decay) and will report any findings to your dentist. Your dentist is the person who then determines what the best course of treatment is.

A regular visit to your dentist to see a dental hygienist can be a fairly inexpensive way to keep your teeth in top condition. Most dental plans have healthy refunds for any preventative work done with some paying as much as 80% of the cost of a visit. For you, that regular visit will help to prevent much more expensive treatment in the years ahead. Ultra-sonic cleaning and polishing is good for teeth, and good for your wallet, both now and into the future.

What is the common error that leads to tooth decay? Food, in particular sugar, but all foods can cause problems. What’s the answer? Removing any food matter that may cause problems. How do you achieve this? Easy, follow these simple but effective tips:

Prevention – Use a straw when drinking sugary drinks such as soda or fruit juice. Try drinking a little more water instead of frequent sugary drinks. Instead of drinking fruit juice, eat the fruit – you still get the juice.

Cleaning – Brush regularly, floss regularly, and rinse your mouth with plain old water regularly. By regularly, we mean a couple of times a day. You know the routine – brush after breakfast and before bed. If you’re at home then there’s no reason why you can’t brush after lunch as well. Floss everyday, preferably last thing and when it comes to rinsing. Do it as often as possible, especially after eating or drinking.

Checking – Check your teeth each night or each morning. What are you looking for? Any chips or cracks that may appear (especially after chomping on nuts, boiled sweets, or hard biscuits). Also check for any build up of tartar near the gum line.

You can enjoy Christmas and all its trappings. Just remember to look after your teeth while you’re at it and your New Years, in particular all of 2011, will be a lot happier and free of any dental caries. Just to be safe, be sure to book yourself in for a dental checkup in the new year.

Stained teeth are one of the issues behind a hidden smile. Yet dental whitening has reached new levels where often the worst stains can, at least, be reduced to a soft off-white color.

Broken teeth can be repaired, teeth with dental caries (cavities) can be filled and bad teeth can be removed and replaced by bridges. Your local dentist is no longer a drill-or-pull tradesman. They have become very sophisticated and utilize a wide rage of equipment and techniques that can return a happy smile within weeks. A happy smile that 20 years ago was considered impossible.

The hardest part to restoring your smile is getting into the dentist’s chair. This is not because the dentist is booked out – no, it is due to a fear factor that many have that date back to their childhhood.

It’s a needless fear and one that robs everyone of seeing your happy smiling face. Dentist’s today can perform treatments that are far less painful than of the past. In fact, most dentists use a gum-numbing agent prior to giving you a needle – a local anesthetic before getting the local anesthetic.

Are you a happy smiling person? If not – visit your local dentist to see what he can do to help. Oh – and

Happy Smiling!

A cavity means a hole. Dental cavities are the holes that are created in the teeth as a clear indication of teeth decay. Dental cavities are also known as dental caries.

So, what causes these holes in our teeth? It is the bacteria present in the plaque in the mouth. The bacteria release harmful acids that erode the enamel of the teeth. This causes dental cavities.

What can you do to prevent cavities? You need to make sure that there is no plaque formation in the mouth. And you already know how to do that! Not sure? We’ll tell you how.

• Add fluoride to your meals, drink fluoride-mixed water, or use fluoride-based toothpaste.

• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water everyday. This not only keeps your mouth clean but also prevents dry mouth.
• Stick to a balanced diet. Eating right is a great way to take care of your dental health.
• Follow a proper dental care routine. Ask your dentist if you need to tweak your routine to suit your dental needs.
• Visit your dentist for regular check-ups. You should see your dentist at least once every six months. Visit earlier if you notice the slightest hint of a dental problem.

If you happen to get dental cavities, do not panic. There are various restorative treatments available to treat cavities. The major ones are:

• Dental fillings

• Crowns
• Root canal therapy
• Tooth extraction

If you do not want to reach a stage where you need to get your teeth extracted, start taking care of your dental health today.

Happy smiling!