Mention wisdom teeth and everyone will have a story to tell. But is it really as bad as their stories, or might they be talking it up a fraction for dramatics? OLD STORIES Traditionally wisdom teeth extraction was known to be painful. Techniques are now very different. Today’s procedure will be quite different from traditional…

With people seeking more natural ways of obtaining health, oil pulling has become increasingly popular. Oil pulling is an ancient method dating back to Ayurvedic medicine some 3000 years ago. Studies designed to test the benefits have been small with limited numbers of participants. However these small studies have indicated there may be benefits with…

Teething time is when your baby’s teeth begin cutting through the gums. Usually this starts with the lower bottom front teeth. Teething generally occurs from around 5 months to about 2 and a half years. Symptoms of teething Some babies experience no pain or symptoms when teething and others can feel quite uncomfortable. Symptoms may…

Wisdom teeth often start erupting (growing into the mouth) – and causing problems – in the late teens early twenties. However, realistically, they can present themselves at any stage of our lives. Some of the lucky ones have their wisdom teeth erupt with no problems and frequently don’t even know they are there. Even luckier…

Bad breath – all you wanted to know but didn’t like to ask. Think you have bad breath? Been told you have bad breath? Bad breath is a real confidence breaker. Let’s have a look at some of the causes and ways to overcome them. HALITOSIS The first thing that springs to everyone’s mind is…

Standing in your local Tauranga supermarket looking at the huge array of toothpastes wondering which to buy can seem like a frustrating exercise. So let’s simplify this. Flavour Buy the flavour you like. If you don’t like the taste you will be less likely to brush for the recommend 2 minutes. This should be a…

This is a question we get asked regularly, and a great question. I can’t think of another product that has as many variations and promotions of the latest greatest design. So let’s simplify it, as there is no need to be as complicated as the promoters are making it. Soft, Medium or Hard Bristles? Soft.…

The simple act of smiling has a powerful effect on how we feel, our immune system and even how we react to pain. The old saying of “fake it till you make it” is true. If you feel a bit flat, put on a smile and you will actually feel better. Charles Darwin developed the…

Sport drinks and supplements – makes us sitting ducks for dental decay. Athletes using sports supplements instantly put themselves in the high risk zone for dental decay. As we rush out the door clutching our sports drink, have we stopped and given our teeth a thought? Probably not. Our teeth are taking a hammering. Do…