Preventive Dentistry is key to maintaining good health. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Schedule regular visits with our hygiene team to maintain a bright, healthy smile.
Periodontal (Gum) Disease
Periodontal disease is commonly caused by poor oral hygiene. There are also other contributing factors, as it is a complex process, and you can discuss this with your dental operator.
Brief explanation of the plaque and gum disease process
About 20 minutes after you eat, plaque—a sticky, fuzzy-feeling film—begins to form on your teeth if you haven’t cleaned them. Saliva helps wash away leftover food and plaque, but the calcium in your saliva can cause some of this plaque to harden into calculus (also known as tartar).
Calculus is like a rock glued to your teeth. Unlike plaque, you can’t brush or floss it away. It’s similar to coral: hard and porous, providing an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.
These bacteria constantly infect your mouth, prompting your immune system to send white blood cells to fight the infection. However, white blood cells can’t eliminate the bacteria or break down plaque and calculus, leading to ongoing inflammation—known as gingivitis.
If left unchecked, this inflammation can persist. Eventually, your body may start to destroy its own tissues to escape the infection, resulting in periodontitis (gum disease). Like cancer, both gingivitis and periodontitis may not show obvious symptoms until significant damage has occurred.
While maintaining good oral hygiene at home is crucial, it’s not always possible to remove all plaque and calculus due to factors such as:
- Medical conditions
- Limited dexterity
- Memory issues
- Injuries
- Tooth shape and position
- Restorative dental work that creates ledges or margins where plaque can accumulate
That’s why it’s important to visit your dental hygiene team regularly—they can remove what you can’t and help keep your mouth healthy.
Understanding dental caries (tooth decay)
Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, is primarily caused by sugar in your diet and, secondly, by inadequate oral hygiene. Other factors can also play a role, and your dental professional can discuss these with you in more detail.
Sugar comes in many forms—both natural, like those found in fruit and milk, and refined, such as in chocolates, cakes, biscuits, lollies, sweets, and candies. Many processed foods, including snack bars, slices, sauces, and dressings, also contain “hidden” sugars.
The bacteria in your mouth feed on these sugars, producing acid as a byproduct. This acid attacks the outer layer of your tooth, weakening it. Over time, the process continues deeper into the tooth until the structure is too weak to support itself, resulting in a cavity (hole).
Sometimes, tooth decay causes symptoms like sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods, or even a toothache. However, it’s also possible to have decay without any noticeable symptoms. That’s why regular dental check-ups are so important—to catch problems early and keep your teeth healthy.
Preventive Dentistry - How can we help?
Our Oral Health Therapist, works alongside our Dentists to deliver preventive dentistry, preventing, treating and controling dental diseases, and maintain good oral health. Our therapist focuses particularly on following preventive, educational and therapeutic approaches.
- Demonstrating oral care techniques for plaque control
- Doing periodontal examinations to assess the state of oral health
- Removing calculus deposits
- Using appropriate fluoride treatments
- Providing dietary and nutritional education and advice
Brushing
Most people brush their teeth at least one a day. We recommend that you brush twice a day once in the morning and once at night to remove the food, plaque and bacteria in your mouth to assist in the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease.
Flossing
Most people do not clean in between their teeth. We recommend that you floss or use your interproximal device before your brush for two reasons. Firstly, to help get it into your habit. Secondly, to remove the food, plaque, and bacteria in between your teeth so then you and brush it away and spit it out afterwards.
