How often should I see a dentist?

Dentists recommend that you attend a regular check-up and oral hygiene clean once every six months. Depending on your individual needs, your dentist may recommend recurring visits more frequently or less frequently, such as every nine to 12 months. During your check-up, your dentist will look at your oral hygiene and diet, the health of your teeth, lips, gums, and any risk of gum disease, signs of tooth wear and the alignment of your teeth, jaws and bite. Book an appointment online today.

Why do I need to see a dentist regularly?

Making regular visits to the dentist can help spot early signs of tooth decay and gum disease. These issues are easier to treat when caught early. Regular check-ups also allow your dentist to spot risks and prepare a treatment plan to manage them.

Should I spit toothpaste out or rinse my mouth with water?

According to the Australian Dental Association (ADA) it is better to spit out the toothpaste from your mouth rather than rinsing out as this provides on going protection to tooth enamel.

Can a professional dental cleaning damage teeth?

Hygienists and Oral Health Therapists are professionally qualified to clean your teeth safely and carefully and do not damage teeth. it’s common to experience a bit of tooth sensitivity after a professional clean, this is because of the effects caused by decay rather than the process of it being removed.

What are the alternatives to wisdom tooth removal?

If our dentists check your wisdom teeth and are happy with the way they are growing, we may recommend over-the-counter pain medication to help you manage the pain and discomfort and we'll monitor the tooth to check that it comes through normally. We may also prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection if there is one present. For some over eruptions or partial eruptions of wisdom teeth, we may recommend removing part of the tooth or some of the gum tissue covering the tooth rather than extracting the whole tooth. We'll make sure you know all your options so you can decide what's best for you.

How much does wisdom tooth removal cost?

The cost of wisdom tooth removal in Perth can vary depending on the number of teeth to be extracted and the type of sedation required. EVP Dental have agreements with two dedicated anaesthetists. This means for patients with private health insurance hospital cover (having served waiting periods and not exceeded yearly limits), the excess cost for the anaesthetist and hospital may be minimal. For patients without hospital cover, IV sedation can also be an affordable cost alternative for wisdom tooth removal and can be administered at our practice or at Southbank Day Surgery. For more information on wisdom teeth removal pricing at our Perth clinic, contact us today.

Why do I need a custom-fitted sports mouthguard?

A custom-fitted sports mouthguard provides the best possible protection for your teeth, gums and jaw while playing contact sports. While more expensive than over-the-counter types, the cost of treating a dental injury far outweighs the cost of a custom-fitted mouthguard.

What are the alternatives to wisdom tooth removal?

If our dentists check your wisdom teeth and are happy with the way they are growing, we may recommend over-the-counter pain medication to help you manage the pain and discomfort and we'll monitor the tooth to check that it comes through normally. We may also prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection if there is one present. For some over eruptions or partial eruptions of wisdom teeth, we may recommend removing part of the tooth or some of the gum tissue covering the tooth rather than extracting the whole tooth. We'll make sure you know all your options so you can decide what's best for you.

Oral Health

5 Tips for Maintaining Oral Health Between Dental Visits

Posted on: 30 August, 2024

Knowing how to take care of your teeth and gums every day can save you the unexpected cost of dental treatment

3 minute read

Visiting a dental clinic once or twice a year for a thorough check-up, professional clean and scale and other preventive hygiene treatments can lower your risk of developing serious oral health problems. However, you shouldn’t only rely on your dentist to keep your mouth healthy – it’s also important to take good care of your teeth and gums every day.

Here are the five most important steps you can take to help prevent tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health conditions and maintain your smile. If you want more advice about your oral health, or you’re due for a check-up, contact our dentists in East Vic Park today.

Book online

1. Make sure you’re brushing properly

Teeth brushing is the foundation of good daily oral care – vital for scrubbing off leftover food, removing surface stains and reducing plaque bacteria that can cause tooth decay. Teeth brushing is a familiar activity for most, but it’s easy to get wrong, and this could make your teeth more vulnerable to damage. Dentists recommend:

Brush twice a day: Bacteria on teeth can spread quickly, and only brushing once a day or less often increases the risk of tooth decay and cavities. Brushing first thing in the morning and before going to sleep helps keep decay at bay, unless your dentist recommends more frequent brushing.
Brush for 2 minutes: Take your time brushing all surfaces of your teeth evenly (front, back and chewing surfaces) Applying gentle pressure, rotate the toothbrush in a circular motion, touching each tooth. Brush on a 45-degree angle with bristles pointing up toward the gum line. Also brush your tongue to remove bacteria-causing bad breath.
Don’t brush straight after meals: After eating or drinking anything sugary or acidic, acids will be left on your teeth that temporarily weaken the enamel, and brushing may damage their surface. You should wait at least 1 hour before brushing, and can rinse your mouth with water in the meantime.
Use fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that helps protect teeth against plaque. Toothpastes that don’t contain fluoride are less effective at preventing tooth decay and cavities.
Spit don’t rinse: Fluoride continues to protect your teeth long after you brush as long as you spit out toothpaste and avoid rinsing your mouth with water.
Consider using an electric toothbrush: People who struggle to use a manual toothbrush effectively could find an electric brush easier, such as some children or people with restricted dexterity. Not sure if an electric toothbrush is right for you? Read our blog Manual vs Electric Toothbrushes: Which is Better?
Change your toothbrush head every 3 months: Toothbrushes wear down through regular use, and for most people its recommended to wait no longer than 3 months before replacing a brush or electric toothbrush head. You should replace it sooner if the bristles are frayed or after an illness.

2. Floss daily

Brushing can remove most plaque from your teeth, but it can’t reach all areas. Flossing at least once a day is important for removing bacteria and trapped food from between the teeth and around the gum line, and can help prevent gum disease.

We recommend flossing before brushing teeth. Flossing helps to dislodge food debris, especially from those hard-to-reach areas between teeth while brushing works to remove it.

Take about 45 cm of floss and wrap it around your middle fingers. Carefully move the floss in a “C-shape” between each tooth, sliding it up and down and just below the gum line on both sides. Use a fresh piece of floss for each tooth, and repeat until your whole mouth is clean. Follow this with brushing for a complete clean.

If you find traditional floss uncomfortable, consider using dental tape, interdental sticks or an electric water flosser for effective cleaning between teeth. Contact our dentists to find out more.

3. Avoid smoking and drinking excessive alcohol

Quitting smoking has many benefits for health, which includes your oral health. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for developing gum disease and oral cancer, and it can also make warning signs of these conditions more difficult to spot. Smoking combined with heavy drinking increases a person’s risk of developing oral cancer by around 30 times.

4. Maintain a healthy diet

If you’re consuming sugar at a high rate and feeding bacteria on your teeth, brushing and flossing can only help so much. You can lower your risk of tooth decay and gum disease by limiting added sugars and starch in your diet. Sugary drinks like soft drinks, energy drinks and fruit juices can be as damaging as sugary foods, as they also contain acids that wear down tooth enamel.

You can reduce exposure for your teeth to sugar and acids by not holding liquids in your mouth for longer than necessary before swallowing and not snacking frequently during the day, as this exposes your teeth to more acid attacks.

As well as avoiding bad foods, you should try to follow a balanced diet to give your teeth, gums and jaw the vitamins and minerals they need to rebuild lost tissue and support their health. This includes choosing food and drinks such as fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products and lean meats that are high in calcium, phosphorus and A, C, D and K vitamins.

5. Drink plenty of water

Water is the best drink for oral health, as it helps to keep your mouth hydrated and assists saliva in rinsing leftover food and some bacteria from your teeth, without contributing any sugar or acid. Sipping water when having sugary snacks or drinks can also reduce their effects.

Tap water and bottled water that contains fluoride provide an additional boost to oral health, with water fluoridation being proven to lower tooth decay rates in populations. Fluoride occurs naturally in some water supplies and is added to others and maintained at safe levels for consumption.

Talk to a dentist in East Victoria Park

If it’s been longer than 6 months since you last visited a dental clinic, you could benefit from a check-up and oral hygiene treatments to help reduce plaque and lower your oral health risks. Our caring dentists at EVP Dental are dedicated to helping people of all ages to improve and maintain their oral health, and we can give you tailored advice about the best ways to look after your teeth and gums every day.

Call our friendly team today on (08) 9470 3944 or book an appointment online.

Book online