FAQs Noosa Parade Dental Care

Here are two teeth-friendly habits to reduce your risk of tooth decay:

• Have three regular meals a day, rather than snacking and grazing
• Limit your sugary treats to be part of a meal rather than as snacks

If you chew sugar-free gum 20 minutes after eating, it can help prompt your mouth to produce more saliva, which helps to prevent decay-causing attacks.

We typically recommend twice yearly visits for most people. There are some people who do require more frequent visits.

Such people include those who have:

• Gum disease
• Family members with a history of plaque build-up or cavities
• A weakened immune system (the body’s own ability to fight off infections and diseases)

Experienced certain life events — particularly those that cause stress or illness. Under these circumstances, changes in the mouth or an infection could occur.

Your new dentist will need to get to know your past oral habits as well as some health information. This can include information on your overall health as well as any medications that you have taken before or may currently be taking. If you are experiencing any dental fears such as anxiety to be visiting the dentist, it is also important that you share this information too. Your dentist will discuss ways to ease your fears, minimise pain, and make you feel more comfortable.

People who practice impeccable oral hygiene practices and take good care of their teeth and gums and have gone years without any problems might need to see the dentist less often. However, in saying this, certain issues relating to other aspects of your health may have an impact on your teeth, and it is not unheard of for people to be living with tooth decay and to be completely unaware of it. It is better to rather be safe than sorry and to visit your dentist for the usual bi-annual check-up.

Many people state that the down-side to having clear braces is that it is more noticeable when they are not clean and there is food lodged in between them. You will need a few tools in your oral hygiene arsenal: a good toothbrush (bonus if it’s electric) specialised dental floss, toothpaste and an interdental brush. Aim to brush your teeth at least three times a day and use your specialised floss and interdental brush to clean in between your brackets and wires – this will ensure cleanliness and hygiene when wearing Quick Straight Teeth.

If you are undergoing this particular treatment using aligners, your diet will not be affected as these will be removed during mealtimes. If you are wearing the fixed version, your diet may alter slightly. Avoid foods that are hard and sticky such as peanut brittle as these may cause damage. You should also avoid foods that you bite into, such as apples. We’re not saying that you should forego a healthy snack such as fruit, simply chop it up into bite-sized pieces and enjoy!

We do strongly discourage smoking during treatment. Whether you are wearing the aligners or the fixed braces, smoking can affect the appearance of the appliances. It can stain your aligners and yellow your tooth-coloured brackets (not a good look.) It should also be noted that any damage that may be caused to your Quick Straight Teeth as a result of smoking will not be covered in your warranty. If you are a smoker, we recommend taking this treatment as the opportunity and motivation to kick the habit.

No. Although they may not be comfortable at first, it will take some time to become accustomed to your device. Once you have become accustomed to your device, it will be no bother at all.

Oral appliances also have few side effects. Since they’re custom-made for patients, they fit well for maximum comfort through the night.

Clinical trials have shown oral appliances can prevent apnoeas, this is especially true when patients follow up with their dentists as recommended.

It is recommended that you visit the dentist at least once every 6 months, even if your teeth are fine. Skipping regular dental visits can negatively affect your oral health because your dentist is trained to identify problems which you will miss. These regular check-ups can help keep your teeth clean and healthy and prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss.

Tooth decay can cause bad breath, infection, and tooth loss. To help prevent this, you should:

1. Clean your teeth daily by brushing for at least 2 minutes twice a day, flossing before bed every day, and using mouthwash to rinse.
2. Avoid or limit sugary and acidic foods which can erode the enamel in your teeth leaving it more susceptible to bacteria and tooth decay.
3. Visit the dentist regularly for professional cleanings to remove plaque and tartar which your home cleanings may have missed.
4. Maintain a healthy diet by eating foods rich in calcium and leafy greens to strengthen your teeth’s enamel.

Whilst your oral care routine at home is very important, professional dental cleanings are just as imperative. Your dentist will use special dental tools to reach all areas and spaces of your mouth to remove built-up plaque, tartar, and bacteria. When cleaning your teeth at home, there may be spaces which you are unable to reach to clean effectively.

Dentists recommend that all patients (regardless of age) go in for a dental check-up and clean at least once every six months. You may be required to visit the dentist more frequently, but this depends on your risk for dental disease and infection, e.g. diabetics, pregnant women, and people with low immunity are at higher risk for disease and infection and will need to visit their dentist more often to keep their teeth clean and healthy.

Yes, you can. There are many different types of dental professionals who specialise in specific age groups or types of dental problems, but a family dentist is trained to treat any member of the family for a range of standard dental issues. This means that you can take your entire family (children, teenagers, adults, and seniors) to a family dentist of your choice. It’s good to have a family dentist since everyone’s dental records and medical information will be stored in one place and you can arrange appointments together to avoid making many trips to different places for regular check-ups.

If you or a family member is experiencing a specific or complex problem (such as needing to correct a bite), your family dentist may refer you to a specialist to help. It should also be noted that if you have a child with special needs, it would be best to take them to a paediatric dentist since they are specially trained to deal with children and can offer a more comfortable and calming experience for your child.

Family dentists offer a wide range of general services and treatments for patients of all ages. This includes:

• Teeth cleaning
• Gum care
• Restorative treatments such as crowns, veneers, root canals, dental fillings, etc.
• Tooth replacements such as dental bridges, dental implants, dentures, etc.
• Overall care such as examinations, oral cancer screening, etc.
• Preventative care and advice

Your teeth and mouth may feel fine, but some dental issues arise without exhibiting any noticeable symptoms. Dentists are trained to identify these problems in their early stages so that it can be treated before it becomes worse. Regular check-ups are also important in helping keep your teeth and mouth healthy and clean, so it may feel fine now but if you don’t visit the dentist for proper cleaning, a bigger problem may develop.

Taking your child to the dentist for the first time can be a daunting experience for both of you. Nevertheless, it’s important your child starts to get regular dental check-ups from the age of one or two years old, depending on your dentist’s advice. Fortunately, family-run practices like Noosa Parade Dental Care understand how you feel and will do their best to make sure your child has a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Prior to your child’s first appointment, let them accompany you to your routine examination so they have some understanding of the process. Make the appointment earlier in the day so your child isn’t too tired and therefore more likely to become anxious or distressed.

Arrive early to allow your child to become accustomed to the new environment and, during the appointment, allow the dentist to have your child’s full attention. Talk openly and positively about your own experiences of the dental clinic to reassure your child.

The first person your child will meet after the receptionist is the dentist who will clean their teeth and assess their general oral health. At Noosa Parade Dental Care, we don’t do fluoride treatments. Dr McGregor believes there is sufficient fluoride in water and toothpaste. Fluoride gel or foam in a tray in the mouth is out of control and readily swallowed. Too much fluoride is unhealthy. The dentist may also take x-rays during the examination.

Before your child leaves, the dentist will discuss the importance good oral hygiene habits and how to brush and floss correctly. With every adult check-up and clean we give a free baking soda toothpaste from Australian Natural care. The kids don’t miss out! They get a free gift pack as well.

Most dentists recommend that, like adults, children have a regular dental check-up every six months. These are vital in terms of ensuring their teeth are developing correctly and in preventing tooth decay. The routine appointments also mean your child’s more comfortable in the dentist’s chair later in life. Regular visits also establish what will hopefully be a lifelong awareness of the importance of good oral health.

Six monthly appointments can prove expensive, especially if you don’t have private health cover that includes dentistry. For some, help is available through the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. This government-funded program is aimed at assisting those in the lower-income brackets maintain their children’s health. While the benefits don’t cover more complex dental issues or procedures, they will assist in covering the costs of basic oral maintenance and regular dental check-ups

An independent dentist will likely be able to schedule an appointment much sooner than a preferred provider, meaning that in a dental emergency, you can receive the best care ASAP instead of waiting months for an appointment.

In many cases, yes. Many “preferred providers” are functioning on a much lower dollar amount and compromises will then have to be made. These compromises might include quality of staff, lower wages, quality of materials, and less funds for staff training and development. With an independent dentist, this is not the case.

You can switch to a health insurance that allows you to choose your own dentist which means that even when visiting and independent dentist, you will be paid the full claim to which you are entitled.

Bruxism is sometimes caused by stress, anxiety and muscular tension. Although in some cases, the cause is unknown. Truth be told, the exact cause of bruxism is still not known, although the medical community believes a combination of psychological, physical, lifestyle, and genetic factors are to blame.

There is no official cure for bruxism. Although consciously making an effort to unclench your jaw, managing stress and wearing a nightguard can help to minimise the effects and occurrence of bruxism.

Nightguards can help with tooth sensitivity. OTC pain medication can also be helpful to relief jaw pain and headaches associated with bruxism.