FAQs

There are many reasons why teeth become discoloured or stained over a person’s lifetime. Some of those reasons include:

• Trauma or injury to the teeth
• The wear down of tooth enamel, causing the yellow-tinted dentin layer to become exposed
• Consuming staining substances, such as coffee, tea, tobacco, wine or blueberries
• Taking certain medications, such as tetracycline taken as a child
• The overabundance of fluoride use, also called fluorosis

There are several different cosmetic dentistry procedures to correct a missing tooth:

• Dental implants
• Dental bridges
• Removable appliances (such as dentures)

Each procedure has its own set of advantages and disadvantages and it is important that the dentist and client weigh all of the options before deciding on the appropriate course of action.

Tooth sensitivity is often experienced when the surface of the tooth has been worn down. One of the most common reasons for adults is that the roots of the teeth are exposed because the gums are receding. This allows the effects of heat and cold to penetrate to the pulp where the nerves are located. The problem gets worse as you tend not to brush your teeth properly if they cause you pain. If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity, let us know so we can assess your situation and recommend the best treatment to take care of your discomfort.

It is the most common dental problem, and it can progress quite painlessly until you have a serious problem. The end result is bone loss and the loss of teeth. Even though you may brush and floss regularly, regular visits to the dentist will help detect gum disease in the early stages.

Many people suffer from bad breath; in fact, 40% of the population has problems with bad breath at some time in their lives. Some reasons for bad breath may be:

• Poor dental hygiene.
• Eating certain foods, such as garlic or onions.
• Smoking.
• Chewing Tobacco.
• Diseases, such as cancer or diabetes.
• Dry mouth (often called morning breath)

You can help reduce the incidence of bad breath by brushing and flossing each day to remove plaque. By avoiding certain foods you can also eliminate a lot of bad breath problems. If you wear a denture or removable partial denture, it is important to clean it thoroughly every day and remove it at night so your mouth tissues can restore themselves daily. If a bad breath problem persists then let us know and we will try to discover what the problem is and recommend a treatment.

The brand of the toothbrush is less important than the type of brush, and how often you brush your teeth. We recommend that you have a soft-bristle brush. This type of brush will effectively remove plaque and a soft brush will not damage your gums. We also recommend that you brush at least twice a day. The condition of your brush is also important, as when the bristles begin to bend over it is time to start using a new brush. When the bristles on your toothbrush are bent over they lose their ability to remove food and plaque. It is the tip of the bristles that clean your teeth the best.