News

We examine Teeth Whitening trends

29/04/2019 by Astronaut

Smiling releases endorphins¹ to our brain which boosts our mood and happiness – in fact, when we smile, others see us as being younger than we are². So, having white teeth not only improves self-confidence, but boosts other people’s perception of us as well.

Often the colour or appearance of teeth prevents people from smiling, so even the smallest of cosmetic changes can make a difference in how they feel about their smile.

It’s probably no surprise that teeth whitening has become one of the most commonly asked for dental procedures¹. We now see hundreds of products on the market with claims to whiten and brighten your smile. But how do we separate fact from fad? And how are the cheaper solutions so… cheap?

We did some research and took a closer look at some of the more popular alternative methods of teeth whitening.

Oil Pulling

A teaspoon of coconut oil is swished around the mouth for 20 minutes on an empty stomach before it is ‘pulled’ and forced between the teeth. Research into oil pulling is not extensive^4,5,6 but what little we do know doesn’t give us any proof that it helps to whiten teeth. Oil pulling has its roots in ancient India as an Ayurvedic practice, where natural ingredients are used to heal the body.

Pros: May reduce gum inflammation and bacteria levels.

Cons: Oil pulling takes a long time and is highly dependant on the actual technique – you’ll see better results with just an ordinary toothbrush and toothpaste!

Tooth whitening: There is no evidence to show that oil pulling reduces staining on teeth.

Activated Charcoal

Charcoal toothpastes are plastered all over social media of late, so chances are you’ve come across charcoal toothpaste promising to give you that gleaming white smile at a fraction of the cost of having your teeth professionally whitened. While charcoal toothpaste may lift superficial surface stains, they won’t make a difference to deep stains or for teeth that are naturally yellowed. One study by Creighton University School of Dentistry in the US found that extended use of charcoal toothpaste resulted in a significant loss of enamel⁷. As the toothpaste made its way into the dentin of the teeth used in the experiment, they adopted a grey shade – the opposite of what you’re hoping to achieve when whitening your teeth!

Pros: May help to remove some surface stain and delay the recurrence of stains.

Cons: Doesn’t contain fluoride and may cause staining or greying around existing fillings or crevices.

Tooth whitening: There is no evidence to show it whitens the teeth from the inside.

Spices, fruit and… bicarb soda.

Brushing your teeth with turmeric, whitening your teeth with strawberries, brightening your teeth with bicarb soda… do a quick Google search and you’ll open up a whole world of natural remedies said to provide miracle brightening and whitening. While turmeric tooth-brushing probably won’t do you any harm – after all, it’s a well-known antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory spice – it certainly won’t give you a whiter smile. Unfortunately it’s the same story for strawberries and bicarb soda. A 2015 study⁸ from the University of Iowa looked at the effects of using a mix of strawberry and bicarb on teeth, 3 times a day over 10 days. The study found that while the mixture did remove surface plaque and debris, giving the illusion of a whiter smile, it didn’t actually bleach or whiten.

Pros: May reduce gum inflammation and bacteria levels.

Cons: Can be costly when strawberries aren’t in season.

Tooth whitening: There isn’t any evidence to show that it whitens teeth.

Shopping Centre Pop-ups, tooth whitening strips and kits

The teeth whitening industry is largely unregulated, and a variety of options including whitening strips and mail order trays have popped up in recent years. An investigation by Choice magazine found that potential hazards associated with going to an unqualified practitioner include “lack of proper infection control, careless application or ill-fitting bleaching trays, causing irritation to gums and lips”.

Seeing your dentist for a whitening procedure may cost more, but the difference is noticeable. Firstly, dentists are able to use up to 38% hydrogen peroxide (compared to 6% – the maximum allowance for non-registered dentists in a clinical setting). Your dentist is also able to assess the quality of your teeth, potential problems or disease that could be exacerbated by whitening, and provide you with custom-fitted trays which ensure the bleach stays on your teeth. It may not be the cheap, quick fix you were hoping for but in the long run, it’s much better for you, and way more effective.

Pros: A cheaper alternative to in-chair whitening treatment.

Cons: Unknown ingredients, risk of increased sensitivity or chemical burns to the gums.

Tooth whitening: Might produce some whitening effect, however safety remains a concern.

nib Dental Care centres offer teeth whitening services to patients. Please be aware that cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening aren’t covered by health insurance. To book an appointment to discuss teeth whitening with your dentist, book online or phone your nearest centre on 1300 345 300.

https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/famelab-whats-science-behind-smile
Hass NC, Weston TD, Lim S-L (2016) Be Happy Not Sad for Your Youth: The Effect of Emotional Expression on Age Perception. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0152093.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152093
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1532338214000499
Oil pulling for maintaining oral hygiene – A review J Tradit Complement Med. 2017 Jan; 7(1): 106–109. PMCID: PMC5198813 Published online 2016 Jun 6. doi: 1016/j.jtcme.2016.05.004
Essential oil mouthwash (EOMW) may be equivalent to chlorhexidine (CHX) for long-term control of gingival inflammation but CHX appears to perform better than EOMW in plaque control.J Evid Based Dent Pract.2012 Sep;12(3 Suppl):69-72. doi: 10.1016/S1532-3382(12)70017-9
Effect of oil pulling in promoting oro dental hygiene: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Complement Ther Med.2016 Jun;26:47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.02.011. Epub 2016 Feb 20. Gbinigie O¹Onakpoya I²Spencer E³McCall MacBain M⁴ Heneghan C⁵
Charcoal toothpastes: what we know so far. Linda Greenwall, Pharmaceutical Journal
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/strawberry-teeth-whitening-and-other-weird-whitening-methods-0117

nib dental

Is your dentist open over Christmas & New Year 2018?

18/12/2018 by Astronaut

It’s been an absolute joy looking after you, and we want to take this opportunity to wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

At nib Dental Care, we’re passionate about the health of your teeth – and that doesn’t stop just because it’s a national holiday. A selection of our dental centres will be open throughout the festive period as well as on Public Holidays with daily emergency appointments also available for your peace of mind.

Here are the dental clinics open over the public holidays.

Christmas Day: All nib Dental Care Centres will be closed. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Boxing Day 2018: Chatswood, Glendale, Greenhills

New Year’s Day 2019: Erina, Glendale, Greenhills

If you need to make an appointment during this time, please don’t hesitate to call us on 1300 345 300 or head online and book yourself in at nibdental.com.au.

Thanks for being part of the nib Dental Care family. We can’t wait to see you in 2019.

A new look is coming for nib Dental, Parramatta!

22/10/2018 by Astronaut

The nib Dental centre in Parramatta is currently undergoing renovations which means a new and improved environment for you to enjoy but the same friendly faces greeting and treating you.

To complete the works, the centre will be closed from Monday, 22 October to Wednesday, 7 November.

Emergency treatment

While we are bringing you a new and improved environment, we know sometimes emergencies occur. That’s why we’ve partnered with Pacific Smiles Dental, Parramatta. Whether it’s an unexpected mishap or a mind-wrenching toothache, during this period you can use your nib preferred provider benefits at Pacific Smiles Dental, Parramatta.

Pacific Smiles Dental is located at 80 George Street, Parramatta, and can be reached on 13 13 17.

nib Dental Care, Parramatta

We’re pleased to bring you upgraded modern facilities and new equipment with our renovation. You will also have access to a new co-located nib Eye Care centre, all in the aim to better service your healthcare needs at one location.

We look forward to sharing our new space with you.

A new look is coming for nib Dental, Parramatta

nib Dental Care is branching in to the ACT

16/04/2018 by Astronaut

We are excited to announce the opening of nib Dental Care Centre, Woden in June, 2018.

nib Dental Care Centre, Woden will be the first of its kind in the ACT and will be located within the same building as a brand new nib Eye Care centre.

nib customers with eligible cover may be entitled to receive 100% back on their dental check-up. Terms and conditions, waiting periods, annual limits and service limits apply. Click here for details.

nib Dental & Eye Care centres are open to the general public, which means that you don’t need to have private health insurance with nib to visit the centre. Anyone can access our wide range of dental services including:

General Dentistry: Check-ups, fillings, fluoride treatments and all of the other general dentistry services you and your family require
Cosmetic Dentistry: Restoring your smile with veneers, crowns, implants and whitening treatments
Emergency Appointments: Same day emergency appointments are generally available for accidents or toothaches

nib dental

The Trick to Treating Toddler Teeth

16/04/2018 by Astronaut

They may not wear capes, battle baddies by the cover of night or know how to fly, but as far as childhood heroes are concerned, your local dentist ought to be up there with the best. They fight cavities, obliterate plaque, help prevent decay and polish little teeth with impressive efficiency. So why should your dentist be top of the Superhero selection list? We explore a little further.

Baby teeth are priceless
Cleaning the teeth of your toddler may be a battle, but obviously keeping your children’s teeth healthy is a necessary (if not frustrating) pursuit. So why all the fuss about baby teeth if they’re just going to fall out anyway? The truth is that while essential for a child’s normal health and development, strong baby teeth also provide a solid foundation for a life of good dental hygiene. Losing those tiny teeth too early (especially as a result of decay) can have an adverse effect on everything from how adult teeth grow, to eating habits and self-esteem.
Safeguard that mouth for a life free of fillings
Dental health has come such a long way in the past decade that your children may well get through life with all of their own teeth intact and not a filling to be seen. You may consider yourself an expert in teeth brushing – but seeing your dentist is the best way to safeguard the health of your little person’s teeth and ensure that any potential future issues are prevented. So whether it’s obliterating plaque or refining a brushing technique that will protect precious enamel, let your dentist be your ultra-knowledgeable guide (think of brushing those tiny teeth boot-polish style – gentle circles at the gum line, not manic scrubbing).
Explore your child’s access to free dental^
Sure, you only get one set of teeth and looking after them is worth every cent – though seeing the dentist can be expensive. But thanks to the Australian Government’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), your child’s next dental appointment may cost exactly… zero. The CDBS is a means-tested initiative which provides eligible children with up to $1000 to spend over two years on dental services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings and extractions. All the more reason to acquaint those tiny versions of yourself with the dentist’s chair.
Prevention is better than cure
Between July 2016 and July 2017, 2,500 children under the age of eight required dental treatment under general anaesthetic – an increase of 55% over the last decade. In NSW alone, a staggering 40% of children aged 5-6 years have evidence of largely preventable dental decay. Early childhood teeth decay causes pain, health risks, psychological trauma and significant cost, but empowering your child with the understanding of how to care for their teeth is the smartest way to keep their ivories in the best possible condition for life. Continue to supervise your children’s dental routines at least until they are in to their teens.
Smile bright, little stars
Seeing those sparkling, cheeky little smiles? There’s really nothing better. Providing your kids with the right dental routines can really help boost their confidence. Self-esteem begins in childhood and studies have shown that having beautiful teeth can inspire a whole host of emotionally positive knock-on effects. Working with your dentist to teach your children the numerous benefits of dental health is the first step towards achieving a mouthful of pearly whites they’ll be proud to smile with for the rest of their lives.

Enjoy those healthy teeth. Find your nearest nib Dental Care centre and make an appointment today. With numerous locations offering a comprehensive range of services, it’s easy to find the exceptional care and expertise you (and your children) deserve.

The trick to treating toddlers teeth