There is such an incredible amount to learn in that first year as a parent even when your baby is healthy, it gets just that much harder when he or she is not well. This can be very daunting for first time parents, as this may well be one of the first times they have seen their child upset and uncomfortable is when teething starts. Some kids are born with erupted teeth which can cause problems with breast feeding but for many the first teeth come through - and this varies a lot at about six months. These are the middle incisor teeth (let’s agree to call these the ‘A’s) at the bottom. These are closely followed by another two incisor teeth (B’s) on the bottom and the middle upper incisor teeth (A’s). Eventually a total of five teeth in each quarter of the mouth will erupt, which, when they are all through, we will call, from front to back: A, B, C, D, E. Just to confuse you they don’t come through in this order, it is usually as pictured below: Frequently ask questions: Parents often ask “Why, if my child is X months old, have they not got any teeth?” The key point though, is that in each child they erupt at different times and some vary a lot from the norm, so in the vast majority of cases there is absolutely nothing to worry about if teeth are a little slow coming through. Another common question is “Is my child teething?” Let us help you distinguish the Teething Symptoms: Drooling, Gum rubbing, Mouthing/ biting, Irritability, and Low grade fever. Not teething symptoms: Loss of Appetite, Vomiting, High Fevers, Cough, Rash, Diahorrea, and Difficulty Sleeping.   What can I do about Teething? - Use Child formulations of Paracetamol or Ibuprofen - Textured and cold Teething Rings Common Teething Treatments that can be Dangerous - TO AVOID Anything containing Local Anaesthetic: Lignocaine or Benzocaine for eg SM33. The anaesthetic can impair the gag reflex increasing the risk of choking. It is easy to lose track of how much is enough and for the baby to be given far too much. Other possible complications, especially with over consumption, include heart rhythm disturbances, epileptic seizures and methaemoglobinaemia.   Teething Remedies: Such as BONJELA. The active ingredient is Choline Salicylate but babies have been hospitalized with toxicity as a result of Salicylate overconsumption.   Homeopathic Gels and Tablets: The gels are made from diluted poisons such as belladonna which can lead to toxicity. Homeopathic Tablets can pose as choking risk, some tablets are made of Lactose which might put the baby at risk of tooth decay.   Amber Beads: They are a choking hazard. The...

Ever wanted straighter teeth without all the hassle and high visibility of braces?   Invisalign is a modern approach in orthodontic treatment offered by Robert Duhig Dental at Sandgate that will transform your smile without proclaiming the process to the world or requiring much change in your lifestyle. The invisalign system of comfortable aligners is nearly invisible while gradually moving teeth to the ideal projected position. The system is great alternative to braces for slight overcrowding, teeth straightening and closing gaps between teeth. Invisalign also has the added bonus of being completely removable for easy teeth cleaning therefore allowing you to eat and drink what you like.   Fixed or Non -fixed that is the question?   Traditional braces, on the other hand, while recommended for more complicated mouths, typically make use of metal wires with metal brackets and wires to tighten. The fixed system can be more uncomfortable and definitely requires much more effort with brushing and flossing. This is a direct result of the permanent nature of wire braces promoting calcified plaque build up and associated staining and discolouration (the reason why there are many food restrictions with this method). Invisalign straightens teeth using a series of clear, computer-generated trays which are custom-made specifically for you and are updated roughly every two weeks, based on the exact movements we have planned out for you. The smooth comfortable trays are worn at least 22 hours a day until your treatment is complete which typically takes anywhere between 6 and 15 months. Many of our adult patients have never considered traditional braces but are now happily and comfortably improving their smiles with the Invisalign system. The best part about the whole process is that most people won’t even know you’re straightening your teeth!   For more information book a free consultation with Rob at Robert Duhig Dentist in Sandgate to discuss your smile possibilities...

Bad Breath Treatment The first, and often the hardest step for many people in getting treatment for your bad breath is actually just booking the appointment. Once you’re booked in you just need to remember - for an accurate reading you mustn’t eat, drink or smoke (or chew chewing gum) for 4 hours before the appointment. Water is okay to have up until 1 hour before your appointment. A simple way round this is booking an appointment late in the morning or afternoon and having breakfast or lunch at the normal time. If you eat, drink or smoke (other than water) in the 4 hours preceding the test, it is not worth doing as we can’t trust the results. When you come in we will ask you to fill in a Questionnaire which can help us in the diagnosis of your problem. The Breath Test is very simple and easy to do. We put a syringe (there is no needle attached) into your mouth while you breathe normally through your nose. It stays in your mouth for a minute then we suck up the Breath sample which is then injected into the Oral Chroma Breath Testing Machine. It takes about 5 minutes to analyse the sample after which we can show you the results and even print them out for you to take home. The Oral Chroma or simply known as “The breath testing machine” The Oral Chroma tests for 3 Volatile Sulphur Gases all of which are the end products of bacterial metabolism; Hydrogen Sulphide. The bacteria which grow on the upper surface of your tongue generate this gas. It smells like rotten eggs. The removal of these bacteria can be achieved in mild cases with tongue scraping or brushing. In more severe cases a probiotic is needed as well. Methyl Mercaptan. The bacteria which grow round the gums generate this gas. It smells like faeces. The removal of these bacteria is achieved, again in mild cases, with a complete removal of calculus (tartar) by the Dentist or Hygienist, and daily at home use of floss or interproximal brushes as well as thorough at home brushing. In more severe cases a probiotic is again needed. Dimethyl Sulphide. The bacteria that generate this gas grow round the throat, sinuses and nasal passages. A sinus rinse can help, a probiotic can help and you possibly may need to see an ENT Specialist if we can’t resolve the problem using the sinus rinse or probiotic. Probiotic’s for the mouth.. One of the miracles of the Bad Breath Treatment is the use of the K Force Probiotic developed by Blis Technologies. I have provided a link below to the Blis website. Blis...

Preparing your Child for their First Dental Visit If you’re an anxious patient, you may be anxious about your child’s first dental visit. It’s difficult to avoid passing on your phobias to your child – luckily, we’re here to help. If you have any questions or concerns at all, please simply get in touch now. First a few tips about taking your child to the dentist for the first time: · Don’t mention pain. Instead talk about the positive aspects like healthy teeth and gums · Do prepare them for what will happen by reading them stories and discussing the tools a dentist uses. Tell them about the uber cool chair! · Do make a game of opening your mouth very wide and show them how you can see all the way to their back teeth · Encourage your child to look at her teeth and to count them · Do book in for a suitable time in your child’s routine to avoid them being overly tired at the time of the appointment · Book a check-up first. We don’t want to do anything that may be upsetting on their first visit to the dentist! Jack’s First Trip to the Dentist – A Social Story Social stories are “fictional stories” around a child’s experience. They’re recommended by Paediatric Occupational Therapists to help children to understand situations around them in a familiar way. One of our young patients agreed to let us tell his story about his first dental visit. Please use this to prepare your child for what will happen when it’s their turn. This is a story about a boy named Jack. Jack was excited to be leaving daycare and heading to big kid kindy. His mum said “Jack, if you’re going to be a big kid, you’d better do what big kids do” Jack asked “What do big kids do?” His mum said “Well, big kids tidy their rooms, share with their bay sisters, take out the garbage and they go to the dentist.” “Well”, said Jack, I don’t like those things. I pick going to the dentist.” Mum and Jack practiced opening their mouths very, very wide. They counted their teeth and made ridiculous faces. Mum had a tooth with a filling in it. She said that she had to get a filling because she didn’t brush her teeth enough. Jack brushed his teeth very carefully – mum was very impressed. The next day Jack was very excited. Only big kids go to the dentist. His mum left his baby sister at daycare and Jack went to the dentist. Babies can’t go to the dentist. Only big kids. When they arrived there was a crazy dental...

Sleep Apnoea (also spelled apnea) is a potentially dangerous and highly irritating condition that can seriously interrupt your life. The good news is there are effective Sleep Apnoea treatments available from your doctor, and your dentist. What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea? Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, commonly known as Sleep Apnoea, is a condition in which airways collapse during sleep and breathing is stopped between 10 seconds to 1 minute. This can occur multiple times during the night, thus not allowing for a deep, penetrative sleep to take place. Sufferers of Sleep Apnoea can wake feeling considerably tired due to broken amounts of sleep. Sleep Apnoea can have a significant impact on health and general wellbeing. Sleep Apnoea greatly increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Sleep deprivation due to Sleep Apnoea can raise the chances of injury and motor vehicle accidents. Children’s school performance can also be impacted as a result of Sleep Apnoea. In the past, sleep apnoea treatments have been invasive and cumbersome so were largely ineffective for light sleepers. This has lead to sleep apnoea going untreated in some patients.   What are the symptoms of Sleep Apnoea? Symptoms of Sleep Apnoea can include: · Snoring · Periods of gasping, snorting or choking during sleep · Waking with a dry, sore throat · Irritability, anxiety or depression · Poor concentration or memory skills How is Sleep Apnoea diagnosed? If you think you have Sleep Apnoea, the first step is to see your local General Practitioner who may refer you to an ENT Surgeon to rule out any other causes for your symptoms. The second step is to undergo a sleep study where overnight monitoring in consultation with a sleep physician will occur. This will involve investigating and diagnosing the problem based on your sleep patterns. It will also assist in finding the treatment that is best suited to you.   Sleep Apnoea treatments from your dentist An Oral Appliance called the Mandibular Advancement Splint (MAS) can be custom fit for people with mild obstructive sleep apnoea. This appliance fits into the mouth similar to a mouth-guard and holds the lower jaw forward which creates extra room for the tongue. This then results in a decrease in snoring. This appliance is best suited to those with no pre-existing dental or jaw problems. These are a revolutionary product for the treatment of sleep apnoea because unlike the older style machines, these fit neatly int he mouth and don’t interfere with natural sleep movement. A tongue-retraining device can also be used to correct Sleep Apnoea. This is a splint that is inserted by your dentist to keep airways open. This device required periodic adjustments over time. Do you...