First Impressions Count

And Remember To Smile

Nelson Mandela once famously said, “Appearances matter, and remember to smile”. As dentists we have adopted the latter part of that quote, #RememberToSmile. In context, Mandela was talking to Time Magazine about some important lessons he had learnt during his 90 years and we can see why.

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Before an interview, a big presentation and certainly before a date or a night out you take great care to make sure your clothes are on point, your hair looks good and everything smells good. In fact, you no doubt spend more than a bit of time and money on these efforts to make the best possible first impression. But here's a question for you, how much did you spend on your smile? 

“Appearances matter, and remember to smile”

— Nelson Mandela

You've heard the expression 'million-dollar smile' right? It's more than just a jaded saying though. Your smile has a far bigger impact on that great first impression than you might realise. According to a psychologist from the States, Dr Paul Ekman, professor of psychology at the University of California and a man known as 'Professor Smiles', as he has devoted his career to studying them, people respond to a great smile from up to 30 meters away. And a smile, he says, lets people they are likely to get a good reception, making it hard not to reciprocate. In other words a smile is a great way to set up a good interaction before you ever say a word, a real plus when you are on that big interview or first date. 

That having been said a great smile is about a lot more than the ability to get those facial muscles into the right place. The focus is on the mouth when you smile, which means your teeth. A bright white smile and a set of healthy, well-cared for teeth and gums can say an awful lot about you, mainly that you take pride in your appearance and that your health is important to you. It is also a confidence booster for you, as people with teeth that are stained, cracked, discoloured or otherwise imperfect smile a lot less than people with 'good teeth', whether they realise it or not, and people who avoid smiling often come across as self-conscious, nervous or even rather rude. 

The Keys to a Confident Smile

These 'smile problems' are far from unusual of course, lots of people have problems with more than just the colour of their teeth, their teeth might also be broken, cracked and/or crooked. And they may think there is not too much they can do about those latter problems other than keep their mouth closed as much as possible. However, that really isn't the case anymore. Modern dentistry has a 'fix' for pretty much all of them. 

A good smile really starts in the most mundane of ways; with a simple check up at the dentist. Regular checkups and basic cleanings really are the foundations of a great smile and they are also the way that more serious issues can be examined, addressed, and yes, fixed, so that you can begin your journey to that 'million dollar smile. 

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

Regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene are the first steps to a healthy smile. And remember, a smile comes from the inside out.

Don’t Fear The X-Ray

Dental X-Rays Explained

For years now, x-rays have been a standard part of dental care and most of us are used to the idea and have been since we were little kids. Being used to something does not always mean being OK with it though, and it's fair to say that more than a few people are a little nervous and scared about dental x-rays and some even avoid them, fearing that an x-ray may in some way be harmful to their health. 

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The fact is that dental x-rays are very safe, and in the 21st century they are safer than ever before. Yes, a very low level of radiation is produced when an x-ray is taken - that is, after all, how they do their 'job' - but you are actually exposed to more radiation during an hour's flight on a plane than you are during a routine four image bite wing x-ray session!

However, if you are still a little wary it might help for us to explain dental x-rays, why we need them and what they really involve in a little more detail:
 

Who Needs Dental X-Rays?

Our Dentists. Dr Amrinder Oberoi & Dr David Graham

Dental x-rays are used by dentists to help them get a clear look at oral health issues that may be hard - or even impossible - for them to see with the naked eye, even the very trained eye of a dentist. Making use of these images your dentist can: 

• Decay, including areas of decay that are often 'hiding' between the teeth or underneath an old filling or crown. 

• Abscesses, which are basically areas of infection that sit at the root of a tooth or between a tooth and the gum. 

• Bone loss caused by gum disease 

• Changes or abnormalities in the root canal of a tooth

If an x-ray is not performed some of these issues may be missed and go untreated until the condition is more serious and painful than it needed have been. In addition a dental x-ray can also help a dentist when they are preparing fillings, crowns and braces. 

Kids and Dental X-Rays

Some parents are especially concerned that dental x-rays may be harmful to their kids, as they are younger and smaller and their bodies are still growing and developing. However, the very low levels of radiation are so low that they are safe for kids of all ages and a dental x-ray can be especially useful to a dentist when he or she is treating a child. Why? Because thanks to an x-ray a dentists can: 

• Ensure the child's mouth is big enough to properly accommodate incoming teeth.

• Determine whether or not primary teeth are loosening properly to allow secondary teeth to erupt properly. 

• Monitor the growth of wisdom teeth. 

• Identify gum disease and decay at an earlier stage. 

It is especially important that children visit the dentist regularly - at least every six months - and that get x-rays when their dentists recommends them. Childhood is a crucial time in terms of oral health and a lack of dental care when you are a kid can have serious lasting effects well into adulthood. 

Dental X-Rays and Pregnancy 

As a general rule pregnant women are advised to avoid x-rays while pregnant, not because there is any real proven danger to them or their unborn child but as a matter of simple and sensible precaution. 

Dental care is very important during pregnancy though and there are certain situations in which a very carefully administered x-ray may still be necessary. For example, it is an accepted fact that periodontal disease in pregnant women can have adverse effects on their pregnancy, and so in some cases a patient's dentist and OB may agree that an x-ray presents far less of a risk than the damage that can be caused by gum disease, as several bodies of research have found that women suffering from gum disease during pregnancy are at an increased risk for giving birth to a pre-term or low birth weight baby. 

If an x-ray is called for during pregnancy a dentist consults with a patient's OB first and extra protections like having the patient wear a lead lined apron and thyroid collar and keeping the number of images taken to an absolute minimum.

Every dental professional does understand that there are lots of things that many people find scary and daunting about a visit to the dentist's office and are more than happy to discuss concerns they have before any procedure, including dental x-rays, is started. If you have concerns about x-rays and whether or not they are really needed, ask and any dentists will be more than willing to address - and allay - your fears, even if they seem a bit silly to you. 

One inexpensive alternative to standard floss in a box are floss sticks, or floss picks as they are also known. Lots of people do prefer these to standard floss as a lot of the measuring and guesswork is taken out of the equation and although you can only really use each pick once for hygiene reasons, making it a bit pricier to use them, the potential oral health benefits of actually flossing make the investment worth it.

There are also several different kinds of 'mechanical flossers' on the market. Some make use of water, some make use of air and they are priced anywhere between $10 and about $75, depending on the model you choose. Some do work well, and a water flosser can be an especially good choice for those with braces or bridges, as they can remove food particles that brushes and flosses often miss. Should you make the larger investment in one of these gadgets? If you struggle to floss now but think they might change that, by all means go ahead.

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Emergency Dentist Sydney Says:

Dental x-rays are safe and the images they produce are the key to making sure we receive the correct information to treat you appropriately.

Pregnancy vs The Dentist

What is Safe?

An expectant Mum spends a great deal of the nine months of her pregnancy visiting with medical professionals. But here's a question for you; is it safe for those visits to include trips to the dentist? 

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If you answered 'no', you are wrong. But you are far from alone. Over the years skipping professional dental care while pregnant has joined other outdated advice - pregnant ladies shouldn't ever exercise, expectant mums should eat for two. That has been debunked by the medical profession but is a myth that is perpetrated by scare-mongering blog posts or well-meaning (but incorrect) friends and relatives. 

Why You Should Nor to Skip Dental Care in Pregnancy

Unfortunately, studies here in Australia, as well as research conducted in the UK and the States, has found that up to half of expectant mums in any given year deal with serious dental issues like bleeding gums and pain and fail to make a dental appointment to get them addressed either because they assume such things are just another of the not so nice aspects of pregnancy or that visiting the dentists while expecting simply isn't safe. 

The fact is though, not only is it safe to do so but very much advisable, as recent research has found that a lack of dental care in pregnancy can harm an unborn baby as well as his (or her) Mum. 

Gum Disease and Unborn Babies

The research we mentioned studied a connection between premature birth and low birth weight and periodontal (gum) disease. Several studies have demonstrated some connection, and while more are ongoing to confirm these initial findings the common wisdom so far is that the inflammation and low grade infection that gum disease often causes leads to the body into concluding that Baby would be safer out in the world rather than in Mum's tum, and premature labour is triggered. 

Good daily brushing and flossing can help keep gum disease at bay but as the hormonal changes that occur in pregnancy often soften gum tissue a preventative visit to the dentist is never a bad idea, just make sure that the staff are aware of your pregnancy, as some things, like x-rays, are not safe in pregnancy without special precautions being taken. 

The Morning Sickness Problem

Morning sickness is one of the biggest downsides of pregnancy for many women, but there is a lot of comfort to be found in the fact that, for most, it goes away by the end of the first trimester. 

It can leave damage to the teeth behind it though. Vomiting every day can erode the enamel of the teeth significantly, leading to cavities that should be treated as soon as possible to avoid tooth damage (or tooth loss'). Therefore, waiting another six to seven months until Baby has arrived to see a dentist is not a good idea. 

It is agreed by both dentists and OBs these days that simple procedures like dental cleanings and fillings are perfectly safe in pregnancy, although an expectant Mum may want to schedule elective dental procedures before the 20-week mark, simply for her own comfort, as an hour in the dentist's chair can be rather uncomfortable for a heavily pregnant lady. In fact, many OBs now advise that a dental exam be a standard part of those essential first trimester checkups, both for the sake of Mum and her unborn child. 

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The Emergency Dentist Says:

A visit to the dentist really isn't something you should skip in pregnancy, even if you are not one of our biggest fans! If a dental visit is something that usually scares you a bit anyway, remember this time you'll be protecting your baby's health as well as your own, and we promise we'll be gentle!