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...

Baby teeth brushing is akin to putting an octopus in a string bag… There is absolutely no way your baby wants to sit still while you brush those precious first milk teeth. There are a few things about baby teeth brushing that you should know about - they’ll make your life so much easier, we promise!   Baby Teeth Brushing - what you must know First, getting a toothbrush around a couple of tiny teeth is not practical! When the first baby teeth erupt, it’s far simpler, and just as effective to use a soft muslin cloth or piece of gauze. Add the paste to the cloth and rub the teeth gently both front and back. Don’t rub too hard on the gum line as babies have very sensitive gums. Remember too that your baby may be erupting new teeth so the whole area may be sensitive. Toothpaste for babies Babies won’t “spit” on command so you cannot give them adult toothpaste. Adult toothpaste contains fluoride and other substances that shouldn’t be swallowed. There are a number of baby tooth pastes on the market but we recommend specialist dental products, designed to give your baby the very best start in oral care. These are specially formulated to encourage strong and healthy teeth. Baby diet and oral care There’s nothing so delightful as watching your baby’s face as she tries new foods. Early on, you’ll be feeding your baby a selection of fruits and vegetables, some of which can be damaging to her teeth. Fruit juice is especially bad and should be avoided where possible. Some fruits are high in acid (especially citrus and berries) and can not only damage teeth but also cause rashes and tummy upsets. Of course, avoid processed sugary foods early on! Broken or chipped baby teeth Toddlers are clumsy. You may feel like you’re spending two years of your life doing nothing but stopping your little one hurting herself! Accidents happen, even to the world’s greatest mums! What you do next though may save the day! If you child loses a tooth, DO NOT WASH IT. Pop it in a glass of milk and come straight to Robert Duhig Dental Sandgate. If your child chips or breaks a tooth, come see us asap - it could be the difference between a simple stop-gap procedure and a painful root canal or extraction for you little one! For many families, bulk billing is available too - learn if you qualify here and about payment plans here. When should your child first see a dentist? Generally we recommend bringing your child in for their first dental appointment around the age of three. The first dental appointment will help your...

Wedding Photo Tips Wedding photo tips are usually about angles and lighting but your smile is the most important part of the picture! Here’s some wedding photo tips from your dentist, for looking your best in those all important photographs! Lippy on the teeth - no we’re NOT kidding Clear lip gloss or Vaseline on your front teeth will make your teeth shine on camera. Back in the day, it was the hot tip of Hollywood actresses and directors! Apply a very small amount to your front teeth and you’ll be sparkling! Wedding photo angles for wonky teeth See our bride above? She’s got an imperfect smile! You need to look very closely to tell though, don’t you? She has a crooked tooth right in the front. If it’s too late to get some straightening work done, speak to your photographer for tips on beautiful images taken from your best angle! Bright in a sea of white! A big tip for wedding day photos is about colour. If you’re wearing a white dress, your smile may come off as “yellow” if you’re not careful. If you’re planning on wearing white, off-white or a pale cream, consider having a Zoom Teeth Whitening treatment before your big day. Best of all, it’s quick because we know that brides don’t have much time! If money is an issue (who knew a wedding could be SO expensive!) consider asking mum and dad for a dental gift voucher, or check out our easy dental payment plans. Lipstick, Flowers, Teeth, Dress Wedding photo tips are often about colour and your smile is no exception! Your photographer will be keen to get those bold matching colours together. If you’re planning on a white dress and white teeth, be sure to choose lipstick and flowers that also match perfectly (or compliment beautifully). Wedding photos tend to be about black suits and white dresses so every colour will leap from the image. Smile even though your feet hurt Yes, you’ll be photographed for at least an hour. During that hour, your feet will hurt, you’ll be thirsty, it’s Brisbane so you’ll be hot…. meanwhile, your guests will be drinking champers and talking about how beautiful you are. You might be dying to get back to the party and celebrate your future together. To make the process easier, carry water, lipstick, powder, a fold out fan and even some band-aids with you. When the photographer says smile, think about your fabulous future together, not the pain in your toes! Smile from the heart If you’ve got wonky or discoloured teeth, you might find yourself covering your face when you smile. You may even feel like your smile could ruin your...

Teaching Kids To Brush Properly You know what plaque disclose is, you’ve used it throughout your childhood…. ringing any bells? Remember when the school dentist used to come?  You would be sent in pairs alphabetically to a caravan or brick box where a (usually cranky) dentist would test the way you brushed your teeth?  You’d do your best, brush your hardest and then he’d make you rinse with some foul tasting liquid that showed you just how badly you’d done?  Well, the good news is, that foul liquid has come a long way.  When teaching kids to brush properly, there’s no greater weapon than a bright pink stain on their teeth…  and now, the stain is pleasant tasting. Watch your kids battle it out for who brushes best! Plaque Disclose is a pleasant tasting temporary dye that highlights plaque on your child’s teeth.  It’s the best weapon for parents who want to educate their children on the best toothbrush techniques.  The best news is, kids respond so well that it becomes a bed time hit!  Watch your kids battle for who brushes best, all the while training themselves for a lifetime of better dental hygiene.  Tooth brushing time can be tough, every parent has had the “brush your teeth NOW” argument!  Turn it into educational play and all those bedtime arguments are over! See more innovative products for kids and adults here. Plaque Disclose gel is available over the counter at Robert Duhig Dental in Sandgate for...