FAQ's
Most frequent questions and answers for your oral hygiene.
Looking for answers to our frequently asked questions?
Find them right here!
As a local family dental practice, we often have patients ask the same questions. That’s why we’ve prepared these FAQ’s.
If you don’t see what you’re looking for, be sure to ask one of our dentists or the friendly reception team. They’ll point you in the right direction.
A tooth extraction is never fun, so here are a few important tips to follow to help reduce recovery time and avoid complications, such as infection.
- Once extraction has been completed, you may receive sutures (stitches) and a small piece of gauze placed over the extraction socket. We will ask you to bite on the gauze firmly for 30 minutes and refrain from chewing on the gauze. This helps in applying pressure on the extraction site and stop bleeding.
- After the extraction, keep talking to a minimum for two to three hours. Be assured that it is normal for an extraction site to ooze for up to 24 hours afterwards. A small amount of blood mixed with a large amount of saliva may appear to be a large amount of blood. If you are concerned, you can place another piece of gauze over the extraction site and continue to bite firmly. Although it might sound unusual, you can also try biting on a tea bag for 30 minutes.
- Avoid spitting for 24 hours after your extraction or surgery as it will cause negative pressure and potentially, mechanical agitation of the site, which in turn may trigger fresh bleeding.
- To reduce swelling, intermittent use of an ice pack for the first 24 hours after surgery may be helpful. Place the ice pack on the side of your face where surgery was performed.
- Avoid all strenuous exercise for 12 to 24 hours after your procedure as an increase in blood pressure may result in bleeding.
- Consume high calorie, high volume liquid or semi solid food for the first 24 hours. Remember food should be soft and cool to keep the affected area comfortable.
- Commence taking pain relief as recommended by your dentist before the numbness wears off.
- While oral hygiene is important, do not brush teeth next to the affected area on the day of surgery. This will help prevent fresh bleeding. It will help reduce disturbance of the site or additional pain. Instead, gently brush the other teeth in the usual manner. Keeping the teeth and the whole mouth reasonably clean during recovery results in a more rapid healing of the surgical site. Resume normal brushing from the day following surgery.
- To assist with healing, we advise gentle mouth rinses with lukewarm salt water, commencing 24 hours after your procedure.
- To sleep at night, use an extra pillow covered by a towel to keep head elevated on the day of the surgery (and avoid blood staining bed linen).
- If you experience severe pain, swelling, or have any concerns following your tooth extraction, please contact Dentist At Underwood on 07 3886 2277.
Looking for ways to make the most of your dentures? Check these tips for the best daily denture care.
- Inserting and taking out dentures – At handover of your dentures, we will show you exactly how to insert and remove them. This is the time to become comfortable with them and to ask questions or share any concerns you have. We want you feeling confident from day one.
- Adapting to dentures – Remember it takes time to become familiar with your new dentures. Be patient because your mouth will need to adapt, even if you’ve had dentures previously. Commence with soft foods, take small bites, and chew slowly. As far as possible, use your natural teeth if you have them, and chew on both sides simultaneously.
- Night care – Remove your dentures before sleep at night, as this provides the opportunity for your mouth to rest. It will also prevent grinding. We do not recommend storing in water at night as it promotes growth of yeast. Instead, clean with a toothbrush and liquid soap or denture toothpaste, then store the dentures dry.
- Maintenance – Just as we brush daily, it’s essential to clean your dentures each day too. Clean with a toothbrush and liquid soap or denture toothpaste, then store the dentures dry. Ideally, wash over a half-filled hand basin as this reduces the impact if they are dropped. We also recommend brushing gums, tongue and roof of your mouth both morning and night as it is beneficial for circulation in these areas. If you notice a build up of tartar or calculus, soak dentures in a vinegar/water solution (1:4 parts). Still having trouble or notice your dentures have broken? Book a time to visit us at Lillybrook Dental and we’ll get things sorted for you.
- Dealing with mouth soreness – While we endeavour to make your new dentures as comfortable as possible, you may experience mouth soreness. If you experience soreness, please contact us at Lillybrook Dental and we’ll discuss the options with you. It may be necessary to remove the denture for part of each day until you become accustomed to them. Your dentures may also need to be readjusted. Don’t ever try to do this yourself.
Still have more question? Get in touch with the Dentist At Underwood team.
We’ve all had the experience of a loved one telling us we have bad breath, but what are the causes and how is bad breath prevented? Let’s dive in and answer that question!
Bad breath – or halitosis – is often present first thing in the morning, occurring due to a lack of saliva and oral cleansing during sleep. In many cases, the fix is simple – it can be remedied easily by eating, tongue-brushing and rinsing the mouth with fresh water.
Bad breath can also occur as a result of eating certain foods, such as onion, garlic, and spices. Habits such as smoking and consumption of alcohol can be a contributing factor too. Gum disease – or periodontitis – may also cause bad breath.
Improved oral hygiene habits, such as daily brushing and flossing, regular visits to your local dentist for professional cleans, can help keep bad breath at bay. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to treat infection which has caused the bad breath.
At Dentist At Underwood, we will work with you to diagnose the cause of bad breath and devise a treatment solution that is ideal for you. Our aim is to build confidence and understanding in our patients and we do this through education and awareness raising about the important elements of sustainable oral hygiene to create a healthy smile you love.
In addition to asking about brushing techniques, our lovely Dentist At Underwood patients often ask When do I floss? Is it best before or after brushing teeth?
While there are arguments for and against for each, recent research suggests the most ideal sequence is to floss teeth first before brushing. Why? Because it provides the opportunity for the most effective removal of plaque and food. Following this order of care – that is, flossing first and then brushing – allows for the most amount of plaque and food debris to be removed. It’s been identified that flossing first helps loosen and remove plaque between teeth, allowing brushing and rinsing with water afterwards to further assist the process.
Still have questions about flossing or brushing technique? Be sure to ask us when you visit for your next check and clean at Dentist At Underwood
Greater understanding about the links between our oral and general health have emerged as science and technology research has advanced. Studies indicate oral health problems can be related to general health conditions, which include among them serious chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and respiratory diseases. It is believed this is because there are common risk factors associated with both oral health and general health conditions.
Not surprisingly, a regular visit to your dentist to check the health of your teeth, mouth and gums can help identify any unusual signs and symptoms of general health conditions, even before a doctor can. Apart from aiding in the prevention of decay (along with daily brushing and flossing), regular visits to your dentist help keep your overall health on track as links between the two can be identified and acted on with appropriate measures and in good time.
Our approach at Dentist At Underwood is to get to the heart of your oral health but taking time to understand your needs, including the way your general health is impacted by your oral health and vice versa.
Although there are volumes of information about which foods are best for maintaining the health of teeth, there is still confusion among parents about what is reasonable for children eat, particularly snacks.
A good rule of thumb to work by is to limit snacks generally and aim only to have healthy snacks as much as possible. This is because whenever we eat, we’re exposing our teeth to the sugars in food which make acid and become plaque once they interact with bacteria in the mouth. Ultimately, this leads to tooth decay.
Guidelines for healthy snacks include:
- Those that are low in sugar
- Fresh ingredients, as packaged foods often have a high sugar content
- Avoiding sugary items (e.g. lollies, chocolate, and fizzy drinks)
- Avoiding eating habits that encourage grazing
- Limiting fruit to two items daily
- Make water, rather than sweet, fizzy alternatives, a part of every meal.
At Dentist At Underwood we encourage parents and carers to be active in educating their children about the importance of taking care of teeth, gums and mouth. Working together, we encourage our youngest patients to develop these skills early as they make an important contribution to their overall health for life.
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