Award-Winning Complete Wellness Dentistry™ - Sydney, Australia
Oral Care At Home
The Importance Of Oral Care At Home
Maintaining a healthy mouth isn’t just about those bi-annual dentist visits; it’s the everyday care at home that really counts! Sure, professional cleanings are important, but it’s your daily habits that prevent dental issues from sneaking up on you. Electric toothbrushes, water flossers, and interproximal brushes are your best friends for removing all that pesky plaque and food particles your regular brushing might miss.
And let’s not forget the power of prebiotics like GC Tooth Mousse. This gem helps remineralise and protect your teeth, giving them that extra shield they need. Rinsing with Ozone water is another great addition to your routine, as it helps zap those harmful organisms in your mouth, boosting your overall oral health. So, by mixing professional care with consistent home practices, you’re on your way to a healthier mouth and a brighter, more confident smile.
Recent studies have shown that using the water flossers is just as good, if not better than traditional floss to get in those tricky areas and remove the food and plaque that gets stuck there. It’s all about disrupting your bifilm. Now, let’s talk a little bit about biofilm.
What Is Oral Biofilm?
Oral biofilm, commonly known as dental plaque, is a sticky, colourless layer of bacteria and other microorganisms that forms on your teeth and gums. This biofilm develops when bacteria in the mouth mix with sugary and starchy foods, creating a film that clings to the surfaces in your mouth. If not regularly removed through brushing and flossing, oral biofilm can harden into calculus, which forms a thick hard layer on your teeth and over your gums.
Too much bad bacteria (dysbiosis) in your mouth leads to dental issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Understanding and managing oral biofilm is essential for maintaining good oral health and preventing more serious dental problems. This is what we look at under our microscope alongside to determine the best way to get you back to optimal oral health. A healthy mouth leads to a healthy body.
This is another way we see bacteria in your mouth. We apply a purple solution to your teeth to visualise three types of plaque: new plaque, old plaque, and very high-risk plaque.
New Plaque: This appears as light pink. It’s fresh and easily removed with regular brushing and flossing.
Old Plaque: Shown in blue or purple, old plaque has been on your teeth for more than 48 hours and needs thorough cleaning.
Very High-Risk Plaque: Highlighted in light blue, this plaque poses a high risk for decay and gum disease due to its acidic environment.
Understanding these stages helps you maintain better oral hygiene. Regular dental visits and hygiene cleans are essential to prevent plaque buildup and ensure healthy teeth and gums. If you have any questions, feel free to ask during your next visit. We’re here to help you achieve a healthy smile and body.
Understanding Dysbiosis
Dysbiosis occurs when the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria in the oral microbiome is disrupted. Harmful bacteria proliferate, producing toxins that trigger an immune response. This results in inflammation and damage to the gum tissue, which can progress to more serious conditions if left untreated.
Stages Of Periodontal Disease
Gingivitis: The earliest stage, characterised by red, swollen gums that bleed easily. This stage is reversible with proper oral care.
Periodontitis: As the disease progresses, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth, forming pockets that collect debris and become infected. This can lead to bone loss and loosening of teeth. Once you lose bone, you can’t grow it back.
Risk Factors
Poor Oral Hygiene: Inadequate brushing and flossing can lead to plaque buildup and bacterial growth.
Smoking: Tobacco use significantly increases the risk of periodontal disease.
Genetics: Some people are more predisposed to gum disease due to their genetic makeup.
Medical Conditions: Diseases such as diabetes can affect the body’s ability to combat infection, including gum disease.
We’re here to help you.
Prevention & Management
Good Oral Hygiene: Regular brushing, home care, and a bespoke dental hygiene program help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria.
Healthy Diet: A diet low in sugar and rich in nutrients supports overall oral health.
Regular Dental Visits: Recare check-ups and professional hygiene visits are crucial for early detection and management of periodontal disease.
Lifestyle Changes: Quitting smoking and managing medical conditions like diabetes can reduce the risk of periodontal disease.
Maintaining a healthy oral microbiome is essential for preventing periodontal disease and ensuring overall health. Regular dental care and a balanced lifestyle can help keep your gums healthy and free from disease.
Water Flossing Vs. Traditional Flossing
Yes, a water flosser may be a bit messy, but floss can be too! Our Waterpik Cordless Advanced Pro is designed for use in the shower, making it much easier to flush your mouth with water instead of wrapping floss around your fingers.
Brushing at least twice daily with a soft toothbrush and cleaning between your teeth daily is essential for good oral health. The great news is that you can use water from your ozonated water device in your water flosser, providing an excellent way to eliminate bacteria and maintain a healthy mouth from our practice to your home.
This device is perfect for those undergoing orthodontic treatment, those who struggle with traditional flossing, individuals with implants, or arthritis, and really, for everyone.
We offer the waterproof Cordless Advanced Pro Waterpik to help you enhance your oral health routine. This rechargeable Waterpik can be used in the shower and is far more powerful than other models on the market. This is the professional version preferred by dental experts.
You can combine various tools to find what works best for you.
Check out the flossing videos to learn more.
Which will you choose?
In our ongoing effort to ensure the best to you, we include ozone water as a gentle yet effective mouthwash alternative within our hygiene program. Here’s why it’s beneficial:
- Gentle on Your Mouth, Tough on Bacteria: Ozone water is exceptionally effective at eliminating harmful bacteria and pathogens, ensuring your mouth stays healthy without the harshness of chemicals.
- Tailored to Your Needs: We adjust the use of ozone water to fit your specific oral health profile, enhancing its effectiveness and ensuring the best outcomes.
- Natural and Safe: Use a mouthwash option that is as safe as it is powerful, and perfect for everyday use and sensitive individuals. Plus it’s also great at disinfecting hard surfaces and your hands and can replace sanitiser!
Where can you get one?
Purchase your TGA-approved ozonated water device directly from us!
Recent studies have compared the efficacy of ozonated water with a widely used mouth rinse, chlorhexidine, in combating plaque and gum disease. Over a 15-day period, the findings indicated that ozonated water is just as effective as chlorhexidine, and even slightly more effective in certain instances. This indicates that ozonated water could serve as an excellent alternative for oral hygiene. Click here to read full article.
Want to find out more? Click here to learn more.
Oral Prebiotics
GC Tooth Mousse and GC Tooth Mousse Plus: Enhancing Your Oral Care Routine
Maintaining optimal oral health is essential, and GC Tooth Mousse and GC Tooth Mousse Plus have transformed dental care with their advanced protective and remineralising properties. Developed by GC Corporation, these innovative products are designed to strengthen teeth, reduce sensitivity, and prevent decay, making them a valuable addition to your daily oral hygiene routine.
GC Tooth Mousse is a topical dental cream enriched with Recaldent™ (CPP-ACP), a unique milk-derived protein that delivers bio-available calcium and phosphate to your teeth. This helps to repair and protect your enamel, neutralize acids from bacteria, and reduce tooth sensitivity. It’s safe for all ages and is particularly beneficial for those at high risk of dental caries, those with orthodontic appliances, or anyone looking to enhance their oral care.
GC Tooth Mousse Plus takes the benefits of the original Tooth Mousse a step further by incorporating fluoride. This combination of Recaldent™ and fluoride offers superior remineralization and decay protection, making teeth more resistant to acid attacks and further reducing sensitivity. It’s an excellent choice for those who need extra protection, such as patients with a history of cavities or those who have undergone teeth whitening procedures.
Using GC Tooth Mousse and GC Tooth Mousse Plus is simple. After brushing and flossing, apply a pea-sized amount to your teeth, spread it evenly, and allow it to sit for at least three minutes. This process ensures that the beneficial ingredients have ample time to work, providing maximum protection and strengthening your enamel.
Incorporating GC Tooth Mousse or GC Tooth Mousse Plus into your daily routine can significantly enhance your oral health, helping you maintain a strong, healthy, and vibrant smile. Whether you’re dealing with sensitivity, trying to prevent decay, or simply aiming to improve your oral hygiene, these products offer an effective and easy-to-use solution.
