Every year at about this time I get questions about mouthguards.  Are they all the same?  Surely a chemist mouthguard does the same job?

But when it comes to buying a mouthguard they are not all the same.  You may recall the media coverage over concussions in sport a couple of years ago – well that sparked a fair amount of research into the topic and some of it was  surprising.  Players wearing store bought mouthguards were more than twice a likely to suffer mild traumatic brain injuries (concussions) than those wearing custom-made, properly fitted mouthguards.

So when we’re out I often see people choosing to drink soda water with a twist of lemon. It’s refreshingly light and bubbly, but it’s not great for your teeth.

Now don’t get me wrong – it’s a far healthier alternative to sugary soft drink or even fruit juices. My concern is that people may not realise that it’s still damaging to teeth. So why would this clear bubbly beverage pose any issues?

Recently I have heard people declare “We don’t eat sugar in our house” – which is great I guess but which sugars are really bad for your teeth?

 The “I quit sugar” phenomenon has been great for helping people address the unbalanced consumption of processed sugars.  My concern is that many people seem to have forgotten that there are plenty of other sugars other than sucrose that pack a punch when it comes to oral health.

We often get asked about breast feeding and oral health for infants.  As parents and mothers the team at bcdental understand that breast feeding is a very personal choice impacted by many aspects and can be complex decision.

If you are breastfeeding, there are choices about how long to breastfeed and we often get questions about the impact on oral health.  As mothers our hygienists Denise Montry and Emma Walton often talk about the choices and wanted to share some informative thoughts from the University of Adelaide’s “Breastfeeding and Oral health: Information for Patients” Dec 2016:

We've all had to reach for the breath mints at some point.  And breath quality is important to your social appeal. It's been estimated that 60 percent of adults with partners say that their partner's oral health plays a big role in their level of intimacy. 

For some, chronic bad breath is a symptom of a larger health problem. So, if it's an ongoing issue be sure to seek advice.  For those who simply experience a morning breath, or the occasional smelly whiff, the situation can usually freshen things up pretty quickly. Here are nine easy ways to keep your breath smelling fresh.

We've all had to reach for the breath mints at some point.  And breath quality is important to your social appeal. It's been estimated that 60 percent of adults with partners say that their partner's oral health plays a big role in their level of intimacy. 

For some, chronic bad breath is a symptom of a larger health problem. So, if it's an ongoing issue be sure to seek advice.  For those who simply experience a morning breath, or the occasional smelly whiff, the situation can usually freshen things up pretty quickly. Here are nine easy ways to keep your breath smelling fresh.

For lovers of chocolate,

While chocolate, along with red wine, tea and coffee is often responsible for staining teeth, I bet you didn't know that there is a 'magic' ingredient in dark chocolate that protects against dental cavities...

There are compounds found in Cocoa Bean Husk (CBH) extract may be more effective at fighting decay than fluoride.  There’s even talk it may be used in mouthwashes and toothpaste.  But this is still very much in development.

Your mouth is teeming with both good and bad bacteria. Most of it is good and helps with normal functioning of your teeth and gums. The bad bacteria if left unchecked can cause issues including cavities and gum disease.

While gum disease is said to be one of the most common ailments in the world, most people don’t realize that gum disease can have serious health consequences. There growing body of evidence that the mouth is a window to our body’s overall health. In particular, gum disease has been closely correlated to other forms of ailments people generally suffer.

The most common promotion is waivers on waiting periods for particular procedures or bonuses. If you are looking to increase your cover for a particular service, it’s worth talking to a broker or insurance comparison company who have oversight of many funds. They’ll be able to tell you if there’s a fund with a special offer that suits your needs.

Like most us, you've probably been told that swallowed gum will stay in your stomach or intestines for 7 years or more.   As my 4 year old perpetuated this urban myth, it got me thinking about gum and I felt compelled  to share some of my learnings.

So first of all, let me correct the 7 year myth...  while gum is made of an indigestible fiber and cannot be digested, it doesn’t ‘stick around’ (excuse the pun) but instead pass through your system.