2. Why should I smile with my teeth?
Did you know smiling and laughing are actually healthy for you? It's true! As well as being attractive; smiling and laughing are beneficial to your entire well-being!

The activity of smiling releases natural antidepressant chemicals from your brain, beneficial to your entire being. Laughing also has a direct affect on the body. The popular saying "laughing makes good blood" is scientifically accurate. When we laugh, we produce rapid rhythmical contractions of the diaphragm. These contractions; stimulate abdominal organs and pulmonary function, modify breathing and heart rate. The psychological value of smiling and laughing is just as impressive. These activities release inner tension and repressed tendencies. When a person is tired or unhappy, it is better to relax through smiling and / or laughing than any other non-active means.

4. Do I need to wear a mouthguard?
It is very important to wear a mouthguard during all forms of contact sports, i.e. football, hockey, basketball, baseball, gymnastics and volleyball. It is your only protection against broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. We provide state of the art custom made athletic mouthguards. These mouthguards are custom made to your individual requirements so that they are comfortable to wear and protect appropriately for the level of competition.
There is a big difference ( in fit, protection and cost ) between a mouthguard bought off the shelf and a customized one. Get the best one for your level of sport, is saves!

5. What should I do if my tooth is knocked out?
Firstly call Caring 4 Smiles® ASAP! If you can see a Dentist within 30 minutes of the incident, there is an 85% chance that the tooth will survive.

The first step after you have lost a tooth is to find it. Once you have found your tooth handle it very delicately, and do not touch the fragile root as it will be needed intact to encourage re-attachment. You must also resist the temptation to clean your tooth off with water. If the tooth is clean, place it gently back into its socket immediately and apply slight pressure. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it using milk and place it back into its socket. Otherwise keep the tooth moist by placing it in a glass of milk or tuck it into your cheek until you can visit your Dentist.

6. Is it dangerous to have an oral piercing?
The popularity of oral piercing is growing. It involves the insertion of jewellery into soft oral tissue – such as the lips, tongue and cheek. Oral piercings can cause serious health complications, including; complex infections, allergic responses, tooth fractures, speech impediment, blood poisoning and blood clots, damage to nerves and veins, loss of taste and permanent numbness. Whilst widely practised, the associated long term costs make it an expensive choice.

7. My friends and I smoke, is it hurting our teeth?
Everyone is aware of how bad smoking is for the lungs, but many people forget about how much long term damage it does to your gums, tongue and teeth. The main concern for most smokers is not merely the discolouration and staining of teeth, the build up of plaque, tooth decay and gum disease. Smoking will also cause bad breath, leave a bad taste in your mouth and make your gums pull away from your teeth. Seek help to quit smoking today. Your whole body will thank you for it!

8. Is soda bad for your teeth?
Soda tastes great; however, copious consumption is bad for your teeth. The sugar found in Soda reacts with the natural bacteria in your mouth and promotes decay. The gas in the drink is acidic and this will erode tooth enamel. We recommend drinking soda in moderation and rinsing after a drink.

9. I have bad breath what can I do?
A healthy mouth means fresh breath! Bad breath can make you feel embarrassed and place a strain on your relationships. The main culprit behind bad breath is bacteria! Our mouths contain millions and millions of bacteria, which can quite easily get out of control. Plaque, tartar, gum disease, tooth decay, dentures and your tongue are all places where bacteria can thrive. To resolve your bad breath, we recommend home and professional care

• Brush your tongue
  Approximately 80% of oral bacteria live on the tongue. Brush it off daily with a soft toothbrush.
• Use Breath Fresheners and Mouthwash
  Breath Fresheners and Mouthwash can also help to eliminate bad breath.
• Professional care - make a hygiene appointment at Caring 4 Smiles®
  Attend a check-up to determine the cause of your bad breath (i.e. the cause may be tartar, gum disease, tooth decay etc). We will then be able to isolate and fix the cause of your bad breath.

10. What is tooth decay?
A tooth develops a thin sticky bacteria layer (plaque) over its surface. The plaque bacteria ferments to produce acid which softens and dissolves away tooth enamel and a cavity is formed. Enamel layer does not contain any nerves, so you won't realize that decay is progressing rapidly. Only when a cavity is in the advanced stages will you feel sensitivity and then pain. This pain will occur when you eat or drink anything particularly hot, cold, sugary or acidic. Saliva tries to help by washing away and neutralizing the acid and it also contains minerals that try to strengthen decaying enamel. 

11. What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in the back of your mouth. Usually, they erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. Wisdom teeth may need to be extracted if they affect other teeth – often referred to as “coming in sideways” or “impacted wisdom teeth”. This failure to erupt properly may occur either because there is not enough room in the jaw for the tooth, or because of their abnormal position. Many oral health specialists will recommend the removal of wisdom teeth, as early extraction will help to eliminate problems.

13. What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally present in varying amounts in many foods and some water supplies. It is also used in many consumer dental products. Fluoride strengthens teeth by making enamel more resistant to decay. It is important to use fluoride containing toothpastes, mouth rinses, and gels topically to gain the added benefit of preventing sensitivity and tooth decay.

Some people are concerned about the harmful effects of fluoride and choose to be fluoride free. However, there is ample evidence that fluoride added to drinking water at recommended levels has reduced the incidence of dental decay.