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.

Breathing through your mouth causes higher levels of bacterial plaque on teeth so practise keeping your lips together and breathing through your nose.

Coffee can stain teeth more than smoking so remember to use water as a mouthwash to swish & swallow after a cuppa.

Lemon drinks, sports drinks and soft drinks are the most erosive for teeth so if you can’t avoid them, finish ‘em in one go and don’t sip ‘em.

There are heaps of reasons! 

• Drilling and filling doesn’t prevent future tooth decay. And fillings will need replacement over time which can get expensive.

• For teeth with extensive decay and infection, fillings are not always possible; extractions may be required, possibly under general anaesthetic.

• It’s better to prevent the initial decay with wise diet choices and strict teeth cleaning routines.

Upon Dr Wolfgang Evers’ retirement after 15 years, the search was on to fill some very big (and much-loved) shoes. Forty-two applicants from across Australia applied for the role of associate dentist at the practice but the successful candidate, Dr Stuart Craig, was already working in Townsville.

Hailing from Rockhampton, Dr Craig was a member of James Cook University’s first graduating class of students with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree in 2013. After completing his studies, Dr Craig returned to Rockhampton, where he worked for a year before moving to Townsville in November 2014 with his fiancé Susan.

“Coming from Queensland and graduating from Cairns was an advantage, but most of all Stuart is a great bloke,” says marketing manager Sarah Arnold, whose husband, Dr Cameron Arnold, is the principle dentist at the practice.

While crooked teeth can make you feel more self-conscious, there are lots of other reasons to have orthodontic treatment.

Straight teeth are easier to clean and keep healthy while crowded teeth harbour more bacteria. Spacing between teeth can allow food to lodge, another risk for decay and gum disease.

Deep bites can damage the palate and cause chipping of the lower front teeth Cross bites and edge-to-edge bites can lead to premature tooth wear.

Orthodontics has never been easier; just ask us.

Anti-depressants are among a large group of medications which has dry mouth syndrome as a side effect.

Dry mouth syndrome causes foods to stick, bacterial levels to rise and the mouth to become acidic which can result in tooth decay, sensitivity and acid erosion.

If you have a persistent dry mouth, chat with your dentist or hygienist about a simple saliva buffering test and dental dry mouth products.