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If your gums have the tendency of bleeding when you brush or floss, there are good chances that you might be suffering from gum disease. Gum disease is a dental condition caused when the sticky invisible bacteria known as plaque builds up on your mouth. If you don’t get rid of plaque through proper brushing and flossing, it can build up and cause inflammation of the gums. This stage where the gums bleed easily and become inflamed is known as gingivitis. The good news for you is that gingivitis can be reversed through undertaking good oral hygiene measures. If gingivitis is not treated early enough, it can progress and turn into periodontal disease. At this stage, the infection begins to break down your bone tissue and the gums, forming pockets in between your teeth. Bacteria and food particles become trapped in these pockets thus causing the problem to worsen even further. There are two different methods a dentist can use to treat gum disease. These are surgical and non-surgical methods. The surgical method is mostly used to treat advanced gum disease while non-surgical methods can be used to treat early forms of gum disease. This article takes a closer look at the available non-surgical gum therapies that can be used to treat gum disease. – Scaling and Root Planning One of the most vital aspects of gum disease treatment is to get rid of pathogenic bacteria and the acid they produce from the surfaces of the teeth. This is best done through a dental deep cleaning procedure known as scaling and root planning. Scaling involves getting rid of plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth and above and below the gum line. On the other hand, root planning involves smoothing of the tooth-root surfaces. This makes it harder for bacteria to adhereto. – Antibiotics/Antimicrobials As gum disease progresses and becomes severe, bone loss and periodontal pockets can result in forming some tiny, hard to reach areas. Such areas can be quite difficult to reach using handled instruments. In such a case, it can be necessary to disinfect these areas with a prescription antimicrobial rinse or a topical antibiotic. As much as they are helpful when it comes to killing harmful bacteria that cause periodontal disease, there are only used for a short period. This is because it is not desirable to kill some beneficial oral bacteria in the mouth. – Bite Adjustment Your dentist may need to protect your teeth from the stress of biting and chewing if some of your teeth are loose. Bite therapy helps to restore a bite that can function without any destruction or damage. This procedure helps particularly if you have teeth clenching and grinding habits. Through bite adjustment, your dentist can reshape the tooth surfaces to change the way the upper and lower jaw contact with each other. He/she can also join your teeth together with a plastic brace or a small metal so that they can provide support to each other. – Bottom Line: We Can Help Provide Your Non-Surgical Gum Disease Therapy We at Springvale Dental Clinic are ready to help treat your gum disease and help you maintain a healthy smile. Visit us as soon as you notice any early signs of gum disease. For some patients, it can be noticing that they gums are red and puffy while for others it can be noticing some blood every time they brush or floss. Schedule an appointment with us,at our practice, and we will be happy to help you achieve good oral health.

No matter how well you take care of your dental hygiene, the chances are that tartar will still be formed. This is because of the presence of bacteria in your mouth. Plaque and tartar can be very dangerous to your oral health. They can cause damage to your teeth, gums and even jaws and can result in other serious complications in severe cases. So, what’s tartar? How does it build up? And how can you control it? Well, if you want to know the answer to these questions, read on. – What is Tartar? Tartar is a brown or yellow coloured deposit found on the surface of your teeth. The bacteria present in your mouth mixes food debris and eventually lead to the formation of a substance known as plaque. The bacteria in plaque produce and an acid that attacks the teeth enamel and can easily damage your gums. Plaque can be quite difficult to remove through normal or brushing and thus you need to visit your dentist for a dental cleaning. If not treated, plaque can cause permanent damage. If you fail to visit your dentist for plaque removal, it will progress to tartar which is harder than a plaque. Once tartar forms, it becomes more challenging to brush and floss your teeth. Tartar allows more plaque to stick on the surface of the teeth thus giving bacteria a good environment to thrive. This can lead to dental cavities or tooth decay. It can also lead to gum disease. Simple tips to help you Control Tartar – Brush Your Teeth Regularly Brush your teeth at least two times daily for two minutes a time. A quick 30 seconds scrub will not help you when it comes to removing plaque and tartar. When brushing, use a soft-bristled brush small enough to fit your mouth comfortably. Also, remember to brush some of the hard to reach areas on your rear molars and behind your teeth. – Floss Daily A majority of patients are not good at remembering to floss their teeth on a daily basis. However, what a majority of people don’t know is that flossing is perhaps more vital than brushing. It helps you remove trapped food particles and bacteria from in between your teeth. If you find it hard to floss, you can ask your dentist about alternatives such as floss aides, interdental brushes and air-flossing devices. – Avoid Foods that Can Damage your Teeth Practicing top-notch dental hygiene is not the only way you can prevent tartar from forming on the surface of your teeth. Avoiding some teeth damaging foods can come in handy as well. Anything that can easily stick on your teeth can be difficult to remove and may encourage bacteria growth. – Bottom Line: Visit Your Dentist Regularly No matter how hard you clean your teeth at home, visiting your dentist on a regular basis will be an absolute essential of good dental care. Once tartar has formed on your teeth, only a dental professional dentist can help you remove it. So, make it a point to visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic for plaque and tartar removal every six months. Our dentists in Springvale and Heatherton will provide you with a simple and painless professional dental cleaning procedure. They’ll also give you advice on how to prevent plaque and tartar in the future.

The benefits of taking your child to see a child dentist can never be understated. It helps your child to develop the proper dental behaviour, which they are likely to carry them to adulthood. It is recommended that you start taking your child to the dentist as early as when they are six months of age. This helps your dentist to examine your child’s teeth and look for any signs of potential dental problems that can become an issue in future. Identifying potential problems now rather than later makes it easier to correct. A majority of parents believe that taking their children to see the dentist is not necessary since their primary teeth will eventually fall out. This can never be further from the truth; primary teeth, pave the way for permanent teeth. They determine how permanent teeth will erupt. Therefore, it is important to help your child take care of their primary teeth so that they can have healthy, straighter and strong permanent teeth. There is evidence that taking your child to see a kid dentist comes with a number of benefits. Here are some of them: Contents Prevent Tooth Decay Helps to Keep Mouth Healthy Development of Good Oral Habits Enables Your Child to Ease Dental Fears Bottom Line Prevent Tooth Decay One of the best ways you can protect your child from tooth decay is by taking him/her to see a dentist. Children are more prone to tooth decay since they like taking sugary snacks. Your child dentist will be able to detect any early signs of tooth decay and curb them before they worsen. It is recommended that you take your child to see a dentist at least once in every six months. Helps them to Keep their Mouth Healthy One of the most obvious benefits of taking your child to a kid dentist is that it keeps your child’s mouth clean and healthy. Routine dental visits, help you to keep a track on your child’s oral health. Also, your child will receive regular dental cleanings that will keep their mouth clean and healthy. Development of Good Oral Habits Many adults are not good at taking care of their teeth, and this bad habit is mostly developed in their childhood. If children develop the habit of not taking care of their oral health, there is a possibility they will take it up into their adulthood. Similarly, the more frequent a child visits a dentist, the more familiar and comfortable they will feel about it in their adulthood. Enables Your Child to Ease Dental Fears Just as how good habits can be formed at a young age, so can fears. Fear of the dentist is pretty common, especially if a child is not socialized in that dental office setting from a young age. So, whereas taking your children to a child dentist teach good oral habits, it can also ease their fear of the dentist. Bottom Line At Springvale Dental Clinic, our child dentists are dedicated to offering comprehensive dental care for your children in the most gentle, fun and family-friendly environment. Whether it is your child’s first visit to our clinic or just a regular dental check-up, we always strive to ensure that you and your child are always informed and comfortable. Do not hesitate to book an appointment or contact us today for more information we are always happy to speak with you.