Mothers-to-be can experience a wide range of oral health problems and complications during and after pregnancy. There are two ways in which these issues can arise.

Some pregnant women have dental problems that may affect their baby’s development, while others experience them as a result of pregnancy.

Why pregnant women with gum disease are risking the health of their babies

There is two decades worth of clinical research that indicates severe gum disease can impact significantly on a developing foetus. The continual cytokine storm as a result of chronic gum inflammation can have systemic health effects on both the mother and foetus.

Worse still, the pathogenic oral bacteria that caused the gum disease in the first place can enter the mother’s bloodstream and target the foetus. This can trigger premature birth and result in low birth weight along with other complications.

Premature babies can have chronic health, developmental and disability issues. They are also at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and often have feeding intolerance issues.

Being pregnant can cause acute dental problems

Pregnancy can put women at risk for a whole host of unexpected dental problems. During pregnancy, women’s hormones, medications, eating habits and personal oral care may change which can increase the risk for a range of dental issues. Other potential risk factors for poor oral health include excessive vomiting and gagging when brushing sensitive areas in the back of the mouth.

The most common dental problems experienced by pregnant women include:

• Hormone-related gum issues including gum inflammation, bleeding of gums, gingivitis and periodontal disease.
• Loose teeth due to ligament laxity associated with high levels of oestrogen and progesterone.
• Tooth decay and cavities from over-consumption of sugary carbs and poor oral hygiene habits.
• Tooth erosion and enamel damage from excessive vomiting.
• Avoiding oral care and hygiene as a result of experiencing retching or gagging when brushing teeth.
• Tooth discolouration of baby’s developing teeth from certain antibiotics, including tetracyclines.
• Pregnancy epulis or pregnancy granuloma, a localised swelling of the gum tissue.

Eat well, brush & see your dentist regularly when you are pregnant

Snack healthily, increase calcium food intake, keep up Vitamin D levels and maintain good oral hygiene during pregnancy for optimum oral health. It is also essential to see your dentist to check, treat and monitor any pre-existing and developing oral conditions during pregnancy. Failure to treat these conditions may affect the health of both mother and child.

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There are a lot of benefits of intraoral scanners – these can best be described by comparing this new dental technology with the old way.

What’s the difference between traditional and digital impressions of your teeth?

The traditional way of taking a dental impression can be rather uncomfortable and messy. As a dental patient, you have to endure the application and setting of a lot of gooey rubbery PVS material all over your teeth for up to 20 minutes. All the while, you may experience unpleasant sensations such as gagging & choking.

From there, your dentist has to cast a mould of this impression to assist with the design of your specific smile makeover treatment. This can take days or weeks to complete. As a result of this delay, you’ll need to come back for a 2nd or 3rd visit.

On the other hand, digital scanning simplifies the dental impression process and reduces the turnaround time to just a few short minutes. This is achieved with a small wand-like tool called an intraoral digital scanner. The intraoral scanner takes a 3D impression of your teeth and oral cavity using laser light. You can even watch the 3D model of your teeth being generated on screen with each pass of the wand until a highly accurate 3D model is complete.

A wide range of dental restorations that fit perfectly and look spot-on can be created from this 3D model. Not only that, the whole digital process – from computer to 3D milling machine – means that a dental restoration can be designed, fabricated and fitted in a single dental visit.

The benefits of intra-oral scanners

To sum up, the benefits of digital intraoral scanners include:

• Time savings
• Comfortable patient experience
• High accuracy of 3D dental models – that means NO errors.
• Perfect fit of any dental restoration including crowns, bridges, inlays, onlays and veneers.
• Suitable for orthodontic and implant treatment.
• Connects with Invisalign digital process.
• Diagnostics and patient oral health monitoring, including tracking the rate of tooth wear and tear.
• Faster collaboration with other labs.

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There are many factors that can negatively impact on your oral health including:

• poor oral hygiene and care,
• avoiding or inability to access regular dental checkups, and
• not seeking treatment for oral issues.

Serious oral conditions such as tooth decay/cavities, gingivitis, periodontitis and tooth loss, not only affect your appearance, quality of life and oral health, they are also linked to chronic health conditions including heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

However, is a proper oral hygiene and care routine at home coupled with regular dental checkups enough to keep your oral health on the right track?

It probably isn’t, if you are consuming food and beverages harmful to your teeth.

“Healthy” foods and beverages that damage teeth and gums

Acidic foods and drinks that are high in added sugar and refined carbohydrates cause the most damage to our teeth and gums. Think candy, soft drinks, cakes, cookies, donuts and sweet snacks, and you get the picture.

What most people don’t realise is that there are a number of so-called healthy foods and drinks that can cause tooth decay and erosion if consumed as snacks (other than mealtimes), including:

• Hot drinks with lemon
• Fruit teas high in added sugar
• Crisps and savoury biscuits
• Sticky dried fruit & fruit flavoured snacks
• Sparkling mineral water

Foods that are high in minerals and Vitamin C, D & K1 can strengthen your teeth and gums

The most beneficial vitamins for teeth and gum health are vitamins C, D and K2. As far as minerals go, calcium and phosphorus are the most important.

Vitamin C helps produce collagen which is crucial for healthy gum tissue and healing. Foods with the highest natural sources of Vitamin C include broccoli, cauliflower, capsicum, leafy greens and citrus fruits.

Vitamin D enables the body to absorb and retain calcium during digestion. Vitamin D-rich foods include oily fish, liver, egg yolks though you’ll get the better amounts from sunbathing or taking a Vitamin D supplement.

Vitamin K2 is the new kid on the block. While vitamin D helps to absorb calcium, vitamin K2 helps to direct it into your teeth and bones. Without it, displaced calcium could end up calcifying your arteries, heart tissue and joints.

Calcium builds bones and keeps them strong and healthy. You’ll get adequate amounts from dairy, leafy greens and tofu. Phosphorus maximises the bone strengthening benefits of calcium. Phosphorus-rich foods include nuts, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, citrus fruits and cereals.

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What is gingivitis?

Gingivitis is a preventable oral condition in which gum irritation, bleeding and inflammation occurs, usually as a result of bacterial infection below the gum line.

Gingivitis is a common condition and usually precedes the onset of periodontitis. Both are serious forms of gum disease, and if left untreated can eventually result in tooth loss and other oral health complications.

Vegetarian whole food diet helps reduce symptoms of gingivitis in patients

For the trial study, the German researchers changed the diet of the experimental patient group. For four weeks, they were given anti-inflammatory plant-based foods high in:

• omega-3 fatty acids,
• vitamin c/d,
• plant nitrates,
• antioxidants and
• fibre

Processed refined carbohydrates and meat were not included in their diet. Whereas the control group had an unchanged diet.

The results of the study showed that although plaque values between the two groups were similar, symptoms of gingivitis – such as gingival bleeding – were significantly reduced in the group on the plant-based diet. Additionally, the patients from this group had higher vitamin D levels and experienced weight loss.

Anti-inflammatory food choices may promote better oral health

The authors of the German study believe that their study results demonstrate the potential oral health benefits of an anti-inflammatory plant-based diet. With regards to gingivitis, the researchers also pointed out that this oral condition may be a possible side-effect of the overconsumption of pro-inflammatory foods.

Pro-inflammatory foods include:

• Added sugar in the form of cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup
• Processed, refined carbohydrates
• Processed meat
• Polyunsaturated omega-6 “vegetable” seed oils, such as canola, corn, sunflower, peanut and safflower oil
• Processed trans fat
• Alcohol

Reference:

Johan P. Woelber, Maximilian Gärtner, Lilian Breuninger, Annette Anderson, Daniel König, Elmar Hellwig, Ali Al‐Ahmad, Kirstin Vach, Andreas Dötsch, Petra Ratka‐Krüger, Christian Tennert. The influence of an anti‐inflammatory diet on gingivitis. A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2019; DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13094

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Breastfeeding helps widen the child’s palate to allow more space for growing teeth

The physical process of an infant suckling on their mother’s breast helps to shape the palate into an ideal wide “U” shape.

This occurs when an infant presses their mother’s nipple against the top of the mouth (or roof of the palate). The force of this action sends a crucial first message to an infant’s brain to start expanding the maxilla bone, which is the first step to develop a wider dental arch in childhood.

A wide dental arch allows more spaces for growing teeth so that a child can eventually develop a perfectly aligned natural smile.

Bottle-fed infants may experience poor dental arch development & future oral issues

Bottle-fed infants who don’t experience breastfeeding are more prone to developing a narrower “V” shaped dental arch. Children with this type of dental arch are at higher risk of developing a number of oral issues including crooked, crowded or impacted teeth.

Teeth misalignment and impaction may require dental treatment such as braces and wisdom tooth extraction to correct each problem.

Other factors affecting oral arch development in children

After infancy, the development of the arch and postural muscles of a child’s mouth can continue to be affected by how a child bites and chews.

For example, when a child takes a large bite of a nutritious apple, their mouth takes on a similar homeostatic posture to breastfeeding. Additionally, their jaw muscles get a good workout which also stimulates jaw development.

On the other hand, a child eating mainly highly processed foods would not receive the same benefits, resulting in poorer arch development and potential oral health complications.

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However, just because an older adult has made the distance with most of their natural teeth intact, doesn’t mean that their biggest oral health hurdle has been cleared. Keeping one’s oral health on track in old age is what gets increasingly difficult over time. This is why good daily oral care and hygiene is so essential at this life stage.

Older adults are more susceptible to oral disease than younger adults

Older adults who have retained more of their natural teeth are at a life stage with a higher risk of gum disease (periodontitis), and oral health complications brought about by their previous dental history.

The immune system can weaken with age, poor sleep and chronic stress. If an older adult’s immune system becomes impaired, they will produce fewer immune cells – reducing their ability to fight and recover from oral infection and disease. Other age-related factors include decreased salivary gland function and dry mouth which can increase their susceptibility to tooth decay and other oral conditions.

Poor oral health affects older adults’ general health, well-being and lifestyle

When an older adult experiences poor oral health, it may affect a number of other areas in their life, and in some cases, have a domino effect of negative health consequences. An older adult with oral conditions may experience the following health outcomes:

• Halitosis (bad breath) may become a barrier to social participation leading to increased social isolation and loneliness.
• Dry mouth caused by decreased salival function and certain medications can lead to higher levels of oral bacteria, plaque and disease.
• High levels of oral bacteria can cause aspiration pneumonia which is the leading cause of death (from infection) in frail older adults.
• Gum disease & poor oral health has been linked to older adults having a higher risk of developing and/or complicating health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
• Oral pain and jaw-related difficulties, such as TMJ, can limit chewing efficiency which can result in poor nutritional intake, digestive issues and reduced overall body health, weight, energy and strength.

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How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign utilises a series of customised removable aligners made of clear plastic which you wear over a designated treatment period. Typically, you change over to a new set of aligners every 2 weeks. With each new set, your teeth gradually shift until they reach their ideal, final positions.

Types of Invisalign clear aligners

• Invisalign Express (i7)/Lite

Invisalign Express (i7) and Invisalign Lite are designed for adults with minor orthodontic problems involving the front teeth. These faster treatment options are suitable for minor cosmetic corrections. Invisalign Express can achieve results within 3 months while Invisalign Lite takes a little longer at 6 to 7 months.

• Invisalign Full

Invisalign Full are designed for adults with more complex mild to moderate orthodontic issues, and are the “clear” alternative to braces. Treatment time can range from 12 to 18 months.

• Invisalign Teen

Invisalign Teen has been specially designed for teenagers whose teeth and jaw bones are still developing. For example, Invisalign Teen has tooth eruption tabs which factor in emerging teeth. Specialised aligners permit lower jaw advancement, foregoing the need for treatment with elastics. Invisalign Teen aligners can be removed and swapped over for mouthguards when teens engage in sports activities.

• Invisalign First

Invisalign First aligners are ideal for children aged 7 to 11 years old. At this life stage, orthodontic treatment may be recommended to help train and prepare the child’s developing dentition and jaws, so that orthodontic treatment in their teenage years is more effective and kept to a minimum.

Healthy Smile Dental specialise in Invisalign treatment for young and old. Take that first step to achieve your best smile and a better version of yourself!

For more information or to book a free consultation, call our helpful reception on 3219 9806 (Underwood branch) or 3273 3220 (Calamvale branch).

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Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth, improve your oral health, and restore your chewing ability for better digestion and nutritional intake. The two best types of bio-safe dental implants currently on offer in Australia are titanium and zirconia (ceramic-based) implants. Both types have their own unique properties. Let’s take a look at each one.

Types of dental implants

• Titanium implantsTitanium (and titanium alloys) are tried and tested dental implant materials, and are the most popular, reliable choice of implant for millions of patients. Titanium is biocompatible and bio-safe making it suitable for the human body, with low levels of toxicity and allergic potential, as well as being extremely corrosion resistant.

  Additionally, titanium implants fuse extremely well with your jaw bone (termed “osseointegration”), providing a strong, stable and inseparable foundation for crowns, implant-supported bridges and dentures.

  It’s worth noting that the very first titanium implants placed in a patient’s jaw by Swedish implant pioneer Dr Per–Ingvar Branemark in 1965, remained intact until the patient died naturally in 2006 – a clear testament to the success of Dr Branemark’s treatment.

  Titanium implants usually come as a two-part system (utilising a post and abutment), allowing for better customisation – especially for patients with low bone defiencies.

• Zirconia (ceramic-based) implantsZirconia implants are a more recent innovation in dental implant technology, and were first introduced as a “metal free” alternative to titanium implants due to higher incidences of titanium allergies. Despite initial problems with fracturing – involving earlier versions of zirconia implants – they have since earned their place as an excellent dental implant option.

  Nowadays, zirconia-based implants are super tough and reliable, having been compared to diamonds. They even look like natural teeth roots aesthetically, so they blend in almost seamlessly with surrounding teeth and gum tissue.

  Zirconia has osseointegration properties to match titanium, and is biocompatible and bio-safe with no documented cases of allergic reaction.

  Another benefit of zirconia implants is that they utilise a single component system, reducing the potential for bacterial colonisation affecting the gums. Clinical studies have also shown a higher incidence of bacterial biofilm formation on cast titanium implants over machined titanium and zirconia implants.

In conclusion, zirconia implants don’t seem to be fully appreciated at large…yet. However, with further advances in technological development, they seem set to overtake titanium implants as the gold standard in oral implantology.

Cionca, N., Hashim, D., & Mombelli, A. (2016). Zirconia dental implants: where are we now, and where are we heading? Periodontology 2000, 73(1), 241–258. doi: 10.1111/prd.12180

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Your dentist has the same problem, which is why dentists take OPGs. OPGs make the invisible visible, and provide important diagnostic information for your dentist so they can deal with problems inside your teeth and gums.

What are OPGs?

OPGs (Orthopantograms) are a type of dental x-ray that produces a wide panoramic scanning dental x-ray of your upper and lower teeth. OPGs are used regularly in routine checkups to monitor and assess the health of your teeth and gums.

Oral conditions that can be diagnosed and monitored by OPGs include:

• oral infections & abscesses
• gum disease
• oral fractures
• dislocated jaws & other jaw issues
• hidden decay & cavities
• tumours, cysts and other disorders
• abnormal tooth development
• impacted teeth & wisdom teeth development
• dental implant planning

Benefits of OPGs

OPGs are fast, easy and convenient, especially for patients with limited jaw movement. They also utilise the lowest patient radiation dose of any x-ray, with no radiation left in your body once the OPG scan has completed.

Not opting for an OPG can result in the progression of undiagnosed oral conditions – leading to more serious oral health consequences. OPGs provide early detection and allow for timely treatment thus increasing your chances for a quick and successful recovery.

Healthy Smile Dental utilise the latest, state-of-the-art OPG machine

Healthy Smile Dental has a state-of-the-art OPG machine onsite. Our OPG machine delivers premium image scans of your teeth, gums and jaw instantly, so that our dentists can accurately assess your oral condition during your check up. We can even email you a copy of your OPG for your personal records.

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Fluoridated water was first introduced in Beaconsfield, Tasmania in 1953 to improve oral health and help prevent tooth decay. Nowadays, approximately 92% of Australians have access to fluoridated water. It has since been recognised as one of the most beneficial public health programs to be undertaken in Australia over the last 50 years.

However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Australia’s fluoridation program. There are advocacy groups that strongly protest the addition of fluoride to our drinking water for a number of reasons, including a range of health issues and the right to choose “non-medicated” water over fluoridated water.

While there is insufficient clinical evidence that shows how drinking water containing fluoride – at 1 part per million – can be harmful to human health, there is a wealth of research showing its oral health benefits, especially for a child’s developing tooth structure.

Fluoride occurs naturally in water

Flouride is a naturally occurring mineral found in all types of water – from fresh water to sea water. Its concentration depends on what rocks and minerals it has filtered through.

For example, Portland and Port Fairy in Victoria already have naturally occurring fluoride in their water supply at optimal amounts ranging from 0.7 to 1.0 parts per million – approximately the same concentration found in fluoridated water produced for the rest of Australia.

The benefits of fluoridated water

In 2015, Cochrane reviews – recognised internationally as the source of the highest standard, most up-to-date and reliable evidence-based health research – published a review of studies on the effects of fluoridated water on oral health.

Here’s what they found in children living in areas supplied with fluoridated water:

• 35% less decayed, filled or missing primary teeth
• 15% more children had no decay in their primary teeth
• 14% more children with no decay in their adult teeth

Adults benefitted from fluoridated water as well. University of Adelaide researchers discovered that adults living in fluoridated areas for 75%+ of their lifetime, experienced up to 30% less decay than adults who had lived in the same areas for less than 25% of their lifetime.

These findings show conclusively that drinking fluoridated water really does have significant oral health benefits.

How much fluoride is too much?

It is important to note that an excessive long term intake of fluoride – over 4 parts per million – may lead to adverse health conditions including fluorosis, a cosmetic oral condition that causes discolouration spots on children’s teeth. However, these high levels are not possible from drinking fluoridated water alone, and other contributing factors need to be taken into account. For example, swallowing fluoride toothpaste regularly can elevate fluoride levels in a child’s body.

If in doubt, consult with your dentist who can check you and your family for any signs of an inadequate and/or excessive intake of fluoride.

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