Blog | Trusted Wantirna Dentist | Studfield Dental Group

Three Dental Causes of Bad Breath

Is Halitosis a problem that you struggle with? Chronic bad breath can be embarrassing on both private and social levels, whether we’re aware of it or not. It’s usually a sensitive subject for our patients to discuss, but at Studfield Dental Group we’re happy to help you determine the underlying cause of breath malodour and what to do to help it. Aside from avoiding odorous foods like garlic and dairy, here are three big issues that can cause halitosis (bad breath): Xerostomia (Dry Mouth) Dry mouth can be caused by a number of issues; most commonly reactions to … Continue reading

The Dos and Don’ts of Flossing

Is there more to flossing than running a strand of waxed thread up and down between your teeth? Actually, yes. At Studfield Dental Group, we don’t just want our patients to understand how important flossing is, but more importantly, how important it is to floss correctly. Here are a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind: Do floss every day. Brushing doesn’t physically clean between your teeth, where cavities and gum disease tend to start. You need to physically clean where your teeth touch side-by-side at least once every day. Don’t always opt for a “floss pick.” A floss pick … Continue reading “The Dos and Don’ts of Flossing”

Why Fluoride Treatments are Worth It

Woman at dentist having fluoride treatment

Fluoride after a scale and clean isn’t just for kids. There are a number of advantages that a fluoride treatment has for older, adult patients as well. Here are just a few: Combat Tooth Sensitivity Have you noticed your teeth being more sensitive to things lately? Perhaps changes in temperature, a new toothpaste, your favourite drink, or after whitening them? Sensitivity isn’t always cause for immediate alarm. It’s a common symptom of how the tooth is responding to outside stimuli, or when the gums are beginning to slightly recede. Applying fluoride can act as a desensitizing treatment for up … Continue reading

The Health Implications of Gum Disease

If you’ve seen the toothpaste commercials about gum disease, there’s a good chance you might only think the condition is a risk for problems like bad breath or mild bleeding (gingivitis.) But actually, advanced gum disease — or periodontitis — goes much, much deeper. In fact, it can affect your overall health. Can Oral Biofilm Spread into the Bloodstream? Yes! Active areas of gum disease allow dental biofilm to spread from the tooth and into the diseased soft tissues detaching from it, deep within pockets under the gums. When this happens, it can travel throughout the cardiovascular system, impacting your … Continue reading

How Braces Boost Your Oral Health

Many patients see braces as something that will only improve the appearance of their smile. This can in fact affect your self-confidence, but braces also have other benefits that many aren’t aware of. Misaligned teeth can cause functional issues too, which can be improved by braces. The professionals at Studfield Dental Group in Wantrina South can help you decide if braces are a good option for your smile’s future. Cleanliness If you have crooked or crowded teeth, it is likely that they are more difficult to clean. Straightening your bite with braces will ensure that you can effectively brush and … Continue reading

Top 5 Side-Effects of Teeth Grinding

woman wearing night guard for teeth grinding

The dental term used to describe teeth grinding and clenching is “bruxism.” This is a condition that many of patients suffer from, and can be caused by stress. You may even be doing it at night in your sleep and aren’t aware of it, or it could be a daytime habit that you’re trying to break. Bruxism has many side effects that can damage your smile and existing dental work. Coming in for regular checkups will help the professionals at Studfield Dental Group in Wantrina South stay abreast of any signs of bruxism, so that you can intervene straightaway. … Continue reading

Crowns vs. Dental Veneers: What You Need to Know

The team at Studfield Dental Group in Wantrina South understands that going to the dentist can be quite frustrating for some people. Especially when you don’t understand the terminology used to describe your treatment. A couple of common procedures performed in dentistry are crowns and veneers. You may have heard these terms used interchangeably. While there are some similarities, they also have their differences. What Caps and Veneers Have in Common Both veneers and crowns are fabricated covers that fit over your tooth. A custom shading job by the lab technician allows them to be any colour necessary. They are … Continue reading

Why Do I Need an Oral Cancer Screening?

Part of every dental checkup includes an oral cancer screening. During this exam, our dentist will inspect your soft tissues for suspicious lesions and pathology. Some of the areas we look at include the lips and tongue, along with the roof and floor of the mouth and your throat. If you’ve noticed areas of concern – such as sores that don’t heal or spots that appear atypical – and would like to have an oral cancer screening, talk with our dentist about it. If we see something suspicious, we may perform a biopsy and send it to lab to be … Continue reading

How to Treat an Abscessed Tooth

Dental abscesses typically mean one thing: an infected nerve inside of your tooth. If you don’t treat it soon enough, you may lose the tooth entirely. In extremely rare situations, abscesses can spread to other parts of the face or even into the brain. Although this is not extremely common, it does re-emphasize the importance of timely care for our Wantrina South patients. Because an abscess is inside of your tooth, it’s important to access the nerve and remove the dying tissues inside of the hollow chamber that extends through the root. Generally, this endodontic procedure is referred to as … Continue reading “How to Treat an Abscessed Tooth”

Four Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Tooth Decay

Does it seem like no matter what you do, you’re constantly getting new cavities each year? Although there may be some genetic and hereditary reasons behind an elevated cavity risk, there are several things you can do to reduce the frequency and amount of developing tooth decay. Here are a few of the tips that we recommend to our Wantrina South patients: Drink Water Whenever Possible Most of the drinks we consume tend to feed oral bacteria, including fruit juice, milk, sports drinks, sweetened tea or coffee, and soda (whether it’s regular or diet.) Hydrating with water cleans your teeth … Continue reading