In medieval times great teeth and nice breath were considered a thing of beauty so people made the effort to look after their teeth. A lack of sugar certainly helped to keep their teeth in great condition. Their greatest dental issue was the wearing down of teeth due to stone-ground bread forming a large part of their diet. On the whole their teeth were in great shape which is fortunate as medieval dental practices were risky compared to today’s standard.
 
Forget Pain Relief or Anaesthesia
 
If you had a dental problem in medieval times the answer was to have your tooth extracted. There were no dental specialists and this procedure was carried out by the local barber without pain relief or anaesthesia. Alcohol was often used as it works as a disinfectant for the mouth and also intoxication helped with the pain. The biggest problem was in the follow up care after the extraction. Excessive bleeding was often a fatal issue with this dental practise.
 
Tools of the Trade
 
The first dental tool that was invented was the dental pelican which got its name due to being shaped like a pelican’s beak. This was used to perform dental extractions. The claw was used to clamp onto the tooth then pulled sideways to remove the tooth. This would have been painful and placed a high risk on damaging the gum and surrounding teeth. This was superseded by the dental key which again got its name from its shape. This worked by using the claw to grab the tooth then a rotating motion was used to pull out the tooth. However, this had a tendency to cause the tooth to break resulting in jaw fractures and tissue damage.
 
Oral Cancer Treatment
 
There were a few skilled surgeons around who could treat mouth cancer by cutting out the tissues and then cauterisation. They would then seal it with egg yolk and rinse it with wine. Follow up treatment included rubbing with alum and applying a lotion made from wine, honey and various herbs.
 
Treatments Restricted for the Rich
 
The rich minority were privileged enough to afford dentures. These were made from cow bone or human teeth. The rest of society looked to prayer and pilgrimage to treat their ailments.
 
Dental Hygiene
 
The main goal was to have clean teeth and fresh breath which is generally what people strive for today. They had preventative measures in place making a paste and using linen to clean their teeth. Vinegar and various herbs or spices were also used as a mouth wash. Herbs such as mint and parsley were chewed to maintain breath freshness.
 
With a lack of pain relief or anaesthesia medieval dental practices were dangerous. Dental care wasn’t available to everyone, however, and was one of the privileges the rich were privy to. However, their preventative approach is similar to today’s practices. Whilst medieval hygiene was important, dental practices had a long way to go in advancements.
 
 
Dr Paulo Pinho at Widsom Teeth Professionals Sydney has extensive training in oral surgery, including the removal of wisdom teeth. Dr Pinho also has developed a great protocol to prevent and treat dry sockets. To learn more, call Dr Paulo Pinho at Wisdom Teeth Professionals in Sydney on 1300 217 858.
 
The information contained in this article is intended to give you general information and it is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

We’ve all heard the wisdom teeth removal horror stories, or seen our friend’s and family’s hilarious chipmunk faces after the procedure. Yet all the pain and discomfort that is experienced after the procedure is actually a normal sign that your body is going through its healing process. In terms of recovery time, it could be anywhere up to a week, depending on how badly the wisdom teeth were impacted. It is imperative to know how to take extra care during this healing process in order to have a smoother recovery.
 

Recovery Tips and Facts

Painkillers. Over-the-counter painkillers can be used to reduce the pain felt, however make sure you avoid aspirin, as it thins the blood slightly which can result in further bleeding. Placing an icepack over the jaw will also help to ease discomfort, swelling and inflammation.

Food. Make sure you eat soft foods and stay away from things like extremely hot and cold foods. While it may be tempting, don’t use a straw first few days after surgery. Eating things like puddings, yogurt, milk shakes, soups etc. the first few days is a good idea before slowly moving to more solid foods.

Saltwater. Within the first 24 hours, it is recommended that you make sure not to rinse the area in order to let the initial healing stage begin. From then on, do saltwater rinses, especially after eating. It helps to heal the socket and keep it clean.

Couch potato time. Take this as an opportunity to take a mini-holiday. Any strenuous activity is counter-productive, as it could increase the bleeding, swelling and pain. Remember the saying ‘slow and steady wins the race’? Well in this case, it’s true. Don’t be too quick to jump into your normal activities – taking them up little by little is the way to go.

Oral Hygiene. It is important that you keep up good oral hygiene to prevent any infection. Brush your teeth gently and as best you can. Gradually brush nearer the wound day by day…and don’t forget those salt water rinses after brushing, too.

Bleeding Prevention. If your gums are bleeding, bite down on a piece of gauze or clean handkerchief in that area until the bleeding has stopped (approx. 5-10 minutes). If bleeding is excessive and doesn’t stop, contact your surgeon.
 

The Rare Complications

Complications aren’t very common, but they are possible. So, it’s best to know the complications, which includes: dry socket, nerve injury, accidental damage during surgery, jaw stiffness, and excessive bleeding. If your surgeon has already informed you of any complication, please make sure to follow their advice and to monitor the area. If you notice any unusual symptoms, call your oral surgeon right away.
 
Dr Paulo Pinho at Widsom Teeth Professionals Sydney has extensive training in oral surgery, including the removal of wisdom teeth. Dr Pinho also has developed a great protocol to prevent and treat dry sockets. To learn more, call Dr Paulo Pinho at Wisdom Teeth Professionals in Sydney on 1300 217 858.

The information contained in this article is intended to give you general information and it is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

What are ‘impacted’ wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the last few adult teeth a person develops. Most of the time there will be four, with two at the top and two at the bottom back of the mouth.

Wisdom teeth used to be a huge advantage when dental hygiene wasn’t prevalent and it was common for teeth to fall out. These were seen as excellent replacement teeth for chewing rough food, as that day and age required. However now, with excellent dental hygiene and developments, there is no room for these extra teeth when we already have a full set. When these wisdom teeth begin to grow with no room, they become ‘impacted’ and can cause a whole range of problems due to the force and angle in which they grow.

While they may not always cause symptoms, there are risks to impacted wisdom teeth, which is why removal is often necessary. This is usually done as a preventative measure, so that the dangers are avoided.

Some of these dangers of having impacted wisdom teeth range from minor to major discomfort, resulting in sometimes long-lasting problems.

Damage to other teeth

Depending on the way the teeth grow, if it grows pushing into the second molar, it may damage it or cause infection within that area. It often creates overcrowding, so when the tooth pushes against the molars it causes teeth to move, resulting in the need of orthodontic treatment to straighten the teeth, which can cost thousands of dollars.

Gum problems

Some gum problems that can develop due to impacted wisdom teeth are swollen, tender, bleeding, red gums, and gum disease. This is because they are often hard to clean and are generally more vulnerable. This can be painful and can result in a condition called pericoronitis.

Cysts

When wisdom teeth grow, they develop in a sac which is in the jawbone. This is also why jawbone stiffness is also a common problem. When this sac is filled with fluid, it can form a cyst. Not only can it damage the jawbone but also the teeth and nerves.

While it is rare, if a tumour (usually benign) were to develop because of this, it would require the removal of tissue and bone.

Decay

Impacted wisdom teeth, especially those that are only partial impacted wisdom teeth, have a higher risk of tooth decay than other teeth. Due to the difficulty involved in cleaning them, bacteria builds quickly between the gum and tooth where it remains trapped and also forms plaque build-up, resulting in tooth decay.

It is important that you visit your dentist to identify the early signs of wisdom teeth growth, so that preventative methods can be put in place.
 
Dr Paulo Pinho at Widsom Teeth Professionals Sydney has extensive training in oral surgery, including the removal of wisdom teeth. Dr Pinho also has developed a great protocol to prevent and treat dry sockets. To learn more, call Dr Paulo Pinho at Wisdom Teeth Professionals in Sydney on 1300 217 858.

The information contained in this article is intended to give you general information and it is not intended to replace professional medical advice.

Dental check-ups are important to check on the health of the gums and teeth and to take preventative measures. Regular dentistry check-ups can pick up all sorts of problems before they cause pain. Here are some of the reasons why we need regular dentistry check-ups.
 
Check what you can’t see
 
Sure you might brush and floss every day and this is a great way to promote dental health. However, a dentist could check for things you can’t see. For example, you may have wisdom teeth growing at a strange angle. Your dentist can detect this early on before it causes you pain or becomes more complicated to remove. This saves you discomfort and associated extra costs.
 
Descaling as a preventative measure
 
As part of your check-up you may be offered a descaling treatment. Plaque builds up over time to form tartar and only your dentist or hygienist are able to remove this. Descaling removes the tartar preventing gingivitis which if left untreated leads to more serious health issues.
 
Treat cavities in their early stages
 
Regular check-ups can detect cavities early on. This means you can treat and ease any discomfort before it worsens. People often wait until they have pain before seeing the dentist. It’s better to be proactive and see the dentist regularly than to wait till this stage as it can end up needing more work to repair and inevitably costing more.
 
Check for non-dental conditions
 
There are also non-dental conditions that could be detected during a dental check-up. Some examples of these include vitamin and iron deficiencies, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer, HIV, glandular fever and others. Symptoms can show up in your mouth which can then be identified in your dental examination.
 
Showing off your best smile
 
As well as dealing with gum disease, tooth decay and other issues during your dental check-up you may also wish to discuss aesthetic issues. You may have crooked, stained, chipped or missing teeth. These may not cause any physical problems; however, if they are affecting your confidence in smiling your dentist can offer a number of solutions.
 
Ultimately we need regular dentistry check-ups to identify any problems early. This makes the treatment and prevention less invasive and is potentially less expensive than letting dental issues worsen.

Everybody should brush their teeth twice a day to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. However, getting children on board can be tricky. Here are some ideas you could try to encourage your children to brush their teeth.
 
Get started early
 
If it’s done from the start, kids are generally more accepting of it. The first tooth usually comes through at around 6 months of age. Start brushing from this early stage and keep it part of the routine so children know what to expect.
 
Make it fun
 
Use songs or rhymes and keep it a fun part of the day. You might like to try a sticker chart to motivate your children to brush their teeth. Let them choose their toothbrush with their favourite character on or get them to decorate it with stickers. Ultimately try not to make it seem like a chore and use fun tactics.
 
Regular check-ups
 
Your dental professional can advise you on how often your children need a check-up. Routinely schedule these appointments to maintain dental hygiene. Having a professional tell your child they need to brush their teeth can also be encouraging for them. If they aren’t likely to listen to you they may let a professional teach them how to take care of their teeth.
 
Practise what you preach
 
Simply telling children to brush their teeth might not work. You could brush your own teeth at the same time and let them see what you are doing. Show them that dental hygiene is important to you and that everyone else has to brush their teeth. They can always attempt to brush their own teeth at the same time. Always follow with a thorough job until they can do it properly by themselves.
 
Tooth fairy
 
If the tooth fairy visits your home you could teach them that the tooth fairy only takes clean teeth. Encouraging little notes from the tooth fairy can be a great motivator as well.
 
Books
 
There are a number of children’s books that have a dental hygiene theme to help educate children about the importance of brushing their teeth. You can even make up your own stories and make your child the star.
 
It’s really important that your children brush their teeth twice a day for optimum dental hygiene. Different ways of encouragement work for different children. Try these tips and persist in promoting brushing teeth to your child.