Blog Post

6 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Your Teeth

  • By Ben Huang
  • •
  • 13 Nov, 2018
  • •

We don’t often pay too much thought to our teeth, despite the fact that they do so much for us! They help us eat, speak and sing – and our smiles wouldn’t quite be the same without them. Here are 6 interesting facts about teeth that you can use in your next game of trivia.

You’re born with almost all your teeth 

While newborns don’t usually have any visible teeth, their 20 primary (“baby”) teeth are virtually fully-formed. The primary teeth sit waiting in the baby’s jawbones until around 6 months of age, when they begin to emerge. While these teeth are temporary, they can decay and cause pain just like permanent teeth, so it is important to take care of them.

Your teeth are unique 

No two people have the same teeth – not even identical twins! Dental records are often used to identify individuals in legal and forensic cases based on the fact that teeth are as unique as fingerprints.

Most of each tooth is underneath your gums

Your crown is just the tip of the iceberg – around two thirds of each tooth rests beneath your gums. The root, which anchors the tooth into position, makes up a large proportion of the structure. It’s essential to keep your gums healthy and avoid gum disease by brushing and flossing twice a day.

The toughest part of your body isn’t your bones

Believe it or not, the strongest part of you is on your teeth! Enamel is a substance made up of minerals which cover the outer layer of each tooth and defends them from decay. It protects the teeth against acids, plaque and extremely hot and cold substances.

Enamel cannot be regenerated – if it’s damaged, the body won’t be able to repair it. To look after your enamel, avoid sugary and acidic foods and drinks (such as soft drinks), which will wear it down. Also avoid hard foods such as hard candy, which may cause the enamel to chip.

Teeth aren’t naturally pearly-white

If your teeth are yellow, it doesn’t automatically mean they are decayed. Your teeth may start to become more yellow as you get older as a result of your enamel fading, revealing the naturally-yellow dentin underneath. Genetics may also play a part, as some people have thicker or brighter enamel than others.

A toothache doesn’t always mean a cavity

While it is important to get your teeth checked out by a dentist if you’re experiencing tooth pain, especially while eating or drinking, there is a chance that it could be something else. If your upper teeth on both sides of your face are experiencing pain, it may be a sinus infection. Generally these symptoms will be accompanied by nasal congestion.

Your teeth are pretty amazing – make sure you take care of them like they do for you. Book in for a dental check-up with Hawkesbury Family Dental today. Call us at 45 777 311 or send us an email.

Why Should You Visit Hawkesbury Family Dental?

By Ben Huang • 12 May, 2022

Hawkesbury Family Dental is a family owned and run dental clinic based in the heart of Windsor NSW, north west of Sydney. We service residents from all across the Hawkesbury, including:

  • Windsor
  • South Windsor
  • Windsor Downs
  • Pitt Town
  • Mulgrave
  • McGraths Hill
  • Bligh Park
  • Glossodia
  • Wilberforce
  • Cattai
  • Ebenezer
  • Colo Heights
  • Oakville
  • and Freemans Reach

Our dental team has dedicated themselves to their work and as a result, have built quite a reputation within the community. All of our dentists have a passion for teeth and work to ensure that you leave feeling satisfied and confident in showing the world your beautiful smile. Here at Hawkesbury Family Dental, we cater for all age groups, including young children who enjoy their regular visits with our friendly staff. We recommend bringing children in at a young age to get them into a routine and to show them that a trip to the dentist is not such a scary thing. Bringing them in when they are young also helps to catch any potential problems early before they get worse in the future.

What does Hawkesbury Family Dental offer? With dentists who are passionate about smiles, there is no shortage of them at our clinic. Our dentists are always willing to help you achieve your goals of that perfect smile. There are various different ways we are able to help you with your journey, with orthodontic work such as braces and invisalign. Something we hear quite often is people expressing regret that they never had braces or invisalign when they were younger and are now self conscious about their smile. Did you know that it is never too late to start your journey towards achieving that smile you have always wanted? So during your next appointment, let your dentist know you would like to discuss the option of Invisalign or braces.

Sometimes patients may need to have a tooth extracted before they get their braces.

This is sometimes recommended prior to braces for the following reason:

- Having a tooth extracted before getting braces can help create space in the mouth for the teeth that are now going to be aligned and will require that little bit of extra room.

It is recommended to get an extraction if there is crowding in the mouth, meaning that your teeth are very close together and overlapping. Your teeth cannot be aligned properly if there is no room for them to do so, so removing the tooth will help.

If you have decided to get braces and need to have a tooth extracted, there are some things that you can do to prepare for the procedure:

- Let your dentist know of any allergies you have or medications that you take on a regular basis. This is important as it may impact any anesthetic or antibiotics prescribed after your extraction

- Make sure you have something to eat beforehand. You may not be able to eat for a few hours while still numb from the anesthetic

- Come prepared to your appointment. Bring any referrals or x-rays with you- Know what to expect during your appointment. 

Knowing what is involved during the extraction may take away the fear of the unknownAfter your extraction, following these after care tips will increase your chances of a smooth recovery:

- Don't eat or drink anything that is too hot or too cold as it can irritate the extraction site. 

Also avoid foods such as rice that may get lodged in the gum and cause irritation- Avoid smoking or drinking alcohol for a few days as it can cause irritation and slow down your recovery

- 24 hours after your extraction, you can rinse your mouth with salt water. It is important not to do this during the first 24 hours as it may dislodge any blood clots which will aid in your recoveryIf you are looking for a good dentist in the Mulgrave area and are thinking about taking that first step towards braces or invisalign, make an appointment with Hawkesbury Family Dental today by calling us on 4577 7311

The Benefit Of Invisalign Dental Intervention

By Ben Huang • 30 Aug, 2019
The advantages of using Invisalign to straighten teeth, apart from the visually, include health, self-esteem, minimising tooth decay & the chances of gum disease.

The Benefits of Getting Braces at Hawkesbury Family Dental

By Ben Huang • 12 Nov, 2018

Having orthodontic work can be a pain. It can be frustrating, annoying and painful at times. However, the benefits of investing in dental work are immeasurable in the long term. Let’s consider the advantages of getting braces at Hawkesbury Family Dental!

More Posts
Share by: