TONY DEY: THE HARD TOOTH – THE TRUTH ABOUT DENTISTS, DENTAL CARE AND TEETH Last Month Dr Tony Dey of Ponsonby Dentist told us how to look after our kids teeth, this month he looks at adult teeth. Teeth the odd shaped calcified protrusions of the jaws are pretty important. They are key for eating, talking and looking good. They do, however, need some looking after. There is the obvious twice daily brushing, fluoridated toothpaste is best. Flossing, yep sorry but you have to floss – however, you only floss the ones you want to keep. We know all this and we all pretty much do it. However, I have noticed some worrying trends amongst my fellow Ponsonbites teeth. In the tooth game we call it erosion. This is where small notches appear on teeth near the gum line of front teeth or on the chewing surface of back teeth.This is not decay but can lead to sensitivity and other problems. Erosion is caused primarily by food acids. In Ponsonby we are blessed with wonderful restaurants, bars and wine stores. Providing us with our essential daily intake of wine.
against this virus but not males, other countries are now vaccinating both. As with all oral problems early detection is paramount. Professional cleaning done by your dental hygienist always feels great. They are able to remove calculus - the hardened, calcified plaque - that is hard to remove by brushing and flossing alone. Coffee, smoking and red wine stains just melt away. Special desensitising products are available now for application prior to cleaning and combined with the latest technology allow for a relaxing, enjoyable clean. (DE TONY DEY) PN PONSONBY DENTIST, 114 Ponsonby Road, Level 1 - upstairs from The Long Room T: 09 361 2060 www.ponsonbydentist.co.nz
Add some fruit juice and the lemon detox diet and your mouth is full of acid. Treatment of these lesions is difficult so prevention is key. No you don’t need to give up wine! First avoid brushing teeth within an hour of consuming acidic drinks or food, second always have a glass of water with your wine and finally use products like ‘Toothmousse’ to neutralise the acid. I advise yearly visits to the dentist and six month cleans with the hygienist. There are many things that can be spotted during a dental check-up, weakening older fillings, gum (periodontal) disease, gum recessions, decay, acid erosion and many other oral problems. X-rays are often taken that identify cavities between the teeth and under old fillings, bone loss under the gums, and infections at the end of the root. Dentists can also look for early signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer is on the rise worldwide, lifestyle factors are a major cause. Smoking and drinking are the obvious ones. More recently Human Papilloma Virus or warts have been implicated in a high percentage of cases. In New Zealand we vaccinate females
104 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2011
TEZA ICED TEAS - PERFECT FOR SUMMER! Have you tried this range of delicious teas? A Ponsonby News favourite! www.teza.co.nz
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