When it comes to your smile, we'd like yours to be as big as possible. But here is a tip for all of you fishos out there.

Do you use your teeth to tighten knots in fishing line? It’s a great way to damage a tooth especially if it’s already got tiny, hairline cracks.

Teeth aren’t meant to be used to unscrew bottle caps, rip open plastic packages or chew ice cubes for that matter.

Instead of using your teeth as tools, just keep pliers and scissors handy and you’ll avoid dental disasters.

Home fitness machines, gym workouts and protein drinks can turn you into a lean, mean fighting machine.

However protein drinks containing sugar are a source of tooth decay. In fact some drinks contain more sugar that protein!

To protect your smile, consume protein drinks all in one go at mealtimes then rinse and clean your teeth.

Strong may be the new sexy but who can resist a beautiful, healthy smile.

Whether you’re off to the races or to a job interview, a nice smile can make you look and feel more confident.

Here are 5 more things you should know about teeth whitening:
• The new whitening solutions not only whiten, they deliver fluoride to protect the teeth
• Having scale, plaque and surface stains removed first helps the solution to soak in evenly
• It’s best to avoid staining drinks & foods after whitening
• If you don’t overfill the home whitening trays with solution, the gums aren’t irritated
• Keeping the home whitening solution in the fridge will extend its shelf life

There are many reasons we need to protect kids’ teeth from tooth decay with wise diet choices, strict cleaning routines and regular dental visits.

• Discomfort from tooth decay can affect a child’s health, sleep patterns and behaviour.

• Removing unhealthy baby teeth early can cause space problems for adult teeth, resulting in crooked teeth.

• Fixing the decayed teeth of an anxious child may require general anaesthetic – a serious matter.

• Creating good habits early is one of the best investments a parent can make.

There are lots of theories on the subject. Some think that deep bites and retruded lower jaws are the culprits.

Others say that kids grind to equalise pressure in their ears due to blockages from enlarged adenoids.

Then there are those who point the finger at toothaches, earaches and teething pain.

But the bottom line is that grinding can damage the teeth and cause discomfort for your child.

Talk to us if you have any concerns.

Pacifiers can be a source of comfort for crying infants.

However, if sucked for too long or too hard, pacifiers can lead to orthodontic problems such as an open bite.

It’s a situation where there’s an obvious gap between the front teeth when the back teeth are closed together.

The good news is that tooth-friendly pacifiers like the Dentistar Pacifier work in a similar way to breastfeeding.

Available in many colours, they offer natural development for kids’ teeth.

Tooth decay depends on several things but the main culprits are the bacteria in our mouths and the sugar in our diets.

Every time we have snacks processed with sugar, the bacteria “eat” too.

They create acids from sugary foods and drinks which make the holes in teeth.
And that includes natural fruit sugars as well as lollies.

It’s best to limit snacks and avoid constant nibbling or sipping all day. 

Nurturing a love of wholesome foods and sticking to mealtimes are better ways to avoid decay.

Breathing through the nose to filter and humidify the air is a necessity but kids with blocked noses often turn to breathing through the mouth.

Chronic nasal congestion and mouth breathing can result in high plaque levels and undesirable facial growth. They can also contribute to obstructive sleep apnoea.

Depending on the severity, sleep apnoea can result in a child’s IQ dropping up to 20 points. He or she may also be at higher risk for ADHD.

It’s imperative to remove breathing obstructions early so kids can have optimal physical and cognitive development.

Try this: stand with your back, buttocks, shoulders and head touching the wall. Say, “hello” then swallow and breathe in. Can you do these things easily?

If not, you may have obstructive sleep apnoea which can affect your health, your job and your relationships.

It can also wreck your teeth as sleep bruxism or night time teeth grinding is associated with sleep disorders. The good news is that weight loss can improve your sleep, your health and the condition of your teeth.

Eating a lot of fruit contributes to tooth decay so limit yourself to 2 pieces a day.