General Oral Health Resources
Care and well-being general oral health, is a collection of valuable resources and information to help further your knowledge about oral health. For more information regarding oral health read ‘Oral Health Pro Tips’.
Erosive Tooth Wear
Up to 30% of people have their tooth enamel either dissolved or warn away. Erosive Toothwear (ET) is commonly mistaken to be related to tooth decay more commonly known as dental carries. Many individuals and communities often lack the correct knowledge on how best to manage and prevent the condition. What’s more condition itself is largely effected by the acids in our diet and it is easily preventable if managed correctly.
The Erosive Toothwear Foundation is an organisation dedicated to educating people about ET, the underlying science, scale of the problem and how best to prevent and manage the condition. The following link contains excellent resources to expand your understanding of ET and even has a quiz to test yourself.
When should you visit your dentist?
Tooth decay and other oral health concerns can develop without obvious symptoms. We recommend visiting your dentist every 6 months. Dentists can identify early stages of tooth decay which can be preventable if treated correctly.
There are a number of other signs your teeth may need attention for example, swollen gums, tooth pain or bad breath, the below link from HBF provides more detail on some of these signs and other resources on how to best care for your oral health.
Cavities (Dental Caries)
The Alliance for a Cavity Free Future (ACFF) is a global organisation focused on increasing global collaboration between countries, organisations, community leaders, health and dental health professionals, public policies and community education in regards to preventing caries in teeth.
Dental Caries is the scientific term for the disease that can lead to tooth decay and cavities if not treated correctly. Furthermore an unhealthy balance of bacteria in the mouth can lead to a build-up of plaque. Plaque feed on carbohydrates from the food we consume. The by-product of this process produces acids that erode the enamel on teeth. This leads to demineralisation. With the aid of saliva, teeth can naturally remineralise under the right conditions. However dental caries will start to develop if the natural process cannot keep up with the demineralisation process. This is when caries, tooth decay and cavities start to develop.
For a more detailed insight into caries please read the following link.
General Oral Health
ADA Victoria supports our community by providing an online library of public resources to help empower individuals to best care for their oral health. The library consists of fact sheets covering Dental Treatment, Diet and Oral Health, Information for GP’s and General Oral Health; including a section on debunking common dental myths.
Please find the link here; I hope you find the resources insightful.
Smiles 4 Miles
‘Smiles 4 Miles’ is a Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) initiative. It is focused on improving the oral health of children throughout Victoria in high-risk areas. Follow the link for information about the program, participating organisations and how to get involved in your local area.
Help your children SMILE 4 MILES.
Oral Health & Pregnancy
It is important to inform your dentist when your pregnant. Follow the below link for a more detailed insight into your oral health and pregnancy. There is also a link to the ADA’s ‘Watch Your Mouth‘ Pod Cast at the bottom of the article.
https://www.teeth.org.au/pregnancy
Eating Disorders & Oral Health
Eating disorders can cause severe oral health issues. Some of the common symptoms include tooth erosion, discolouration, tooth sensitivity, dry mouth or an increase in tooth decay. It is sometimes hard to reach out for help; your dentist is a part of your health care team and his ready to support you. Remember all discussions with your dentist are private and confidential.
The Australian Dental Association (ADA) support the public with a whole range of online resources, for more information about eating disorders and your oral health, please view eating disorders from teeth.org.au.
