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There have been reports from different media sources on oil pulling and the benefits one can accrue from the practice. These reports claim that oil pulling can improve oral health, whiten teeth as well as improve general health. This article takes a closer look at what your dentist has to say about oil pulling. What is Oil Pulling? For starters, oil pulling is an ancient, traditional remedy that has been practised for decades in Southern Asia and India. The practise involves placing a tablespoon of edible oil such as coconut, sunflower or olive oil inside the mouth, pulling or swishing it through the teeth for anywhere between five to twenty minutes. Recently, the practice has increasingly gained popularity among a majority of people especially celebrities. It is claimed that oil pulling helps cleaning and detoxifying the mouth, curing bad breath, whitening teeth as well as curing some oral condition such as gum disease. Does Oil Pulling Work? Just like it is the case with any other natural remedy, there are no true scientific studies and results. However, some people claim to experience positive results while others experienced none. Oil pulling is common among people looking for more natural ways to achieve different results. Why Does Oil Pulling Work for Some People and Fail for Some? It is claimed that oil pulling reduces plaque and whitens teeth. However, these benefits can be achieved through using mouthwash, chewing sugarless gum or just rinsing your mouth with water for about twenty minutes a day. The main concept behind all these options is to increase saliva flow and reduce plaque concentration in a way that it doesn’t stick on the teeth. To achieve positive results with oil pulling, it is recommended that you do it for approximately twenty minutes a day. However, a majority of people today find it very difficult to follow such a routine. Most people prefer swishing with a recommended mouthwash since one does not have to swish for that long. Therefore, oil pulling depends on the amount of time you’re willing to swish it inside your mouth and the consistency. Is Oil Pulling the Solution for Brighter Smile? Oil pulling may be beneficial when it comes to removing some plaque. However, for you to achieve maximum benefit, you need to apply some pressure through brushing, flossing and using different dental tools. It is recommended that you brush at least twice a day and floss at least once. You should also avoid bad oral behaviour such as eating sticky and hard foods. Visit Springvale Dental Clinic for Whiter and Brighter Smile Even though oil pulling and good homecare practice can help you achieve a brighter smile, nothing can ever replace a visit to the dentist. You should visit your dentist at least twice a year to address your oral health needs. The dentist will be able to diagnose a dental problem early enough before they become problematic. If you come from Springvale or its environs, feel free to give us a call or visit our dental office today!

We all know how it feels like to have nasal congestion with a stuffy nose due to a bad cold or allergies. When you have a stuffed nose, you have no choice but to breathe through your mouth. And this makes sense. Also, it makes sense when you breathe through your mouth and nose during and after strenuous physical activity or sports. The extra breath intake helps your body to get more oxygen to the overworked muscles. Nonetheless, breathing through the mouth as a habit has many negative effects on your oral and overall health. It is especially true if the habit begins in childhood. Here are some of the negative effects of mouth-breathing,especially how it affects your mouth and teeth at night. – Dry Mouth and Lips Mouth breathing causes loss of fluid through evaporation,thus resulting in a dry mouth and lips. Therefore, this can lead to serious consequences such as a decrease in the protective function of saliva and impaired swallowing. Also, it can be quite uncomfortable. – Bad Breath/Halitosis Bad breath is a condition that results from an altered halitus. It is unpleasant for the affected person and those around them. Breathing through the mouth is linked to halitosis because less amount of saliva tampers with the mouth’s ability to self-clean,thereby resulting in an increased number of bacteria. Additionally, saliva neutralises the acidity level in the mouth. Therefore, with a lack of saliva, the acid produced by the bacteria is neutralised lead to dental cavities. – Alteration in Facial Structure Mouth breathing can cause the facial bones to develop differently thereby yielding drooping eyes, flat features, gummy smiles, a small chin, dental malocclusion, overcrowded teeth, poor posture, a narrow jaw,and dental arch. Additionally, most mouth breathers do not enjoy a good night sleep. And poor sleep can lead to poor concentration, sleep disorders,and poor academic performance. – Need for Orthodontic Treatment Open mouth breathing can lead to a narrowed dental arch which,as a result, does not allow sufficient room for the natural development and spacing of a full set of permanent teeth. When this happens, you may need extensive orthodontic treatment to fix the problem. – Tooth Decay Saliva has numerous functions such as protecting the enamel, cleaning your mouth and clearing any unwanted acids. When your mouth contains less saliva because of breathing through the mouth, the pH level is lowered,thus increasing the numbers of harmful bacteria. Consequently, this greatly increases the risk of tooth decay which can possibly lead to tooth loss. – Wear Down of Teeth Saliva lubricates between teeth and gums. The lubricating property of saliva prevents teeth from wearing down while eating and teeth grinding at night. For a mouth breather to breathe properly, he/she needs to move the jaw forward during sleep,thus resulting in more wear of the teeth. Bottom Line Our dental staff at Springvale Dental Clinic are trained to look for any signs and symptoms of mouth breathing,and in most cases, we are the first to identify a potential problem. Therefore, this makes routine visits to the dentist even more important. If you are a mouth breather, contact or visit us today, we will determine the causes of it and fix it to prevent any future problems.

A majority of people dread visiting the dentist for dental procedures. However, there is a new type of fear coming out of the dentist office known as identity theft. A dentist treats a dozen of people each day. Patients visit the dental practice, provide their information for verification, and receive the necessary treatment. However, the chances have always been that the dentist is never really concerned to check if their patients are really who they say they are. What is Identity theft? In dentistry, identity theft occurs when a patient uses another person’s information to obtain dental treatment. Insurance companies across the country have reported a rise in identity theft, where people falsify information to receive treatment. In a perfect case of identity theft, a patient may approach a dental practice for a root canal treatment. The patient goes ahead to provide all the details,including social security number, date of birth, phone number,and all insurance information. Since the dentist has all the correct information, he/she goes ahead and offer the necessary treatment. However, when the dentist files a claim with the respective insurance company, they find out that the patient falsified the information. This can be further confirmed by the right insurance holder after receiving a bill for a dental treatment he/she never received. This scenario demonstrated the sad reality that identity theft has already made its way in the dental office. Dentists have a responsibility to protect their patients from identity theft just as they do with their personal data and information. How to know if you are a victim? There are a couple of ways you might know that you have been a victim of identity theft. First, if you have ever experienced a major data breach. Someone else might decide to take advantage of your information. Also, you might be a victim if you have received dental treatment bills,and you never undertook those procedures. Lastly, if you have ever received a dental bill from a different dentist other than your preferred one. The most important thing after realizing that you are a victim of identity theft is the way you will react. Do not rush to call the number on the bill to find out; you need to be careful since this means someone else has your personal information. Monitor your financial statements, credit reports,and online accounts since the chances are that the person may have more of your personal information. Bottom Line Irrespective of how the identity theft has occurred, remember that this is a criminal case and you need to file a report with the police. Let the police investigate immediately to prevent you from becoming a victim again. Also, take precautionary measures by always safeguarding your documents. At Springvale Dental Clinic, our staff are professional and will always verify the patient’s information to prevent cases of identity theft. Therefore, feel free to visit our dental practice with your dental insurance. We accept a broad range of dental insurance, and chances are that we will accept your insurance. Call us or visit our offices to find out more.