Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Family dental care in Glen Iris

Archives for January 2017

Dairy-Free Diets and Oral Health: Glen Iris Advice on Calcium & Vitamin D

Many people in Glen Iris choose to cut dairy from their diet—whether for personal preference, allergies, or other health concerns. While avoiding dairy is common, it’s important to remember that dairy is a major source of calcium and other nutrients vital for healthy teeth, bones, nerves, muscles, and even cell function. Calcium is also essential in your saliva for preventing tooth decay.

How to Get Enough Calcium Without Dairy

Calcium can’t be made by your body—it must come from your food. If you’re dairy-free, focus on these sources:

  • Dark leafy greens (bok choy, broccoli)

  • Foods fortified with calcium (orange juice, cereal, soymilk)

  • Nuts, especially almonds

The recommended calcium intake for adults is around 1,000 mg per day. Make sure you’re reading labels and planning your meals accordingly.

Why Vitamin D Is Just as Essential

Vitamin D is needed for your body to absorb calcium effectively. You can get Vitamin D in two main ways:

  • Sun exposure (your skin makes vitamin D when exposed to sunlight)

  • Dietary sources like seafood (mackerel, salmon, tuna) and fortified foods (orange juice, cereal, soymilk)

Adults typically need about 600 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D daily.

Healthy Teeth and Bones in Glen Iris

By ensuring your diet provides enough calcium and vitamin D, you’re strengthening your teeth and bones and supporting your overall wellbeing—even without dairy.

If you have questions about nutrition for strong teeth, schedule an appointment with Dr. Daniel Kaufman.

Brushing & Fitness: Glen Iris Tips from Tooronga Family Dentistry for a Healthy Mouth and Body

To maintain great oral health, it’s essential to spend enough time at the sink—brushing thoroughly and cleaning between your teeth twice a day. But let’s face it, brushing can sometimes feel boring! Why not use your two minutes productively? At Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris, we suggest combining dental care with simple exercises for a quick health boost.

Exercises to Try While Brushing Your Teeth

  • Squats
    Squats enhance flexibility and build lower-body and core strength. For best results, push your hips and bottom back as if sitting down, keeping your knees behind your toes and heels grounded. Keep your back flat and toes pointed slightly outward. Make sure your knees track outward—not inward—with each squat. See how many squats you can fit into your brushing time!

  • Lunges
    Lunges help tone your thighs and strengthen your hips. Keep your back straight and your core engaged. Step forward, lowering your hips until your front knee is at 90 degrees (right above your ankle) and your back knee nearly touches the floor. Alternate legs for balance.

  • Calf Raises
    Stand tall with feet hip-width apart. Raise your heels slowly, balancing on your toes, then lower down with control. Repeat throughout your brushing for stronger, more defined calves.

Make the most of your daily oral care routine by adding these exercises. You’ll leave the bathroom with a cleaner mouth—and a bit of a workout, too!

For more oral health and lifestyle tips, or schedule your next checkup, contact Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris.

Summer Teeth Safety for Kids: Glen Iris Dental Tips from Tooronga Family Dentistry

Summer in Glen Iris means outdoor play, swimming, and adventure for kids—so it’s important not to let dental safety take a holiday! Tooronga Family Dentistry shares these simple strategies to protect young smiles from dawn to dusk:

Top Tips for Summer Dental Protection

  • Use Helmets and Mouthguards for Sport & Play
    Kids should always wear a helmet and a mouthguard when taking part in contact sports or riding scooters. These protective measures dramatically reduce the risk of dental injuries.

  • Watch for Swimmer’s Stains
    Kids who swim often can get yellow-brown or dark stains caused by pool chemicals. These marks are harmless, but they’re best removed professionally—book a clean with Tooronga Family Dentistry for sparkling teeth.

  • Beware Diving Dental Risks
    Tooth sensitivity or pain when diving can be a sign of a cavity trapping air at low pressure. Biting too hard on a scuba regulator may also cause jaw pain or gum issues. For peace of mind, get your child’s teeth checked before diving holidays or regular swims.

  • Caution Around the Pool
    Slipping on wet surfaces, rough play, or running at the pool can easily lead to broken teeth. Remind children to be calm, respect others, and steer clear of running in slippery areas.

From everyone at Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris, have a fun, safe, and healthy summer—full of big smiles!

What Is Fluorosis? Glen Iris Dental Guide from Tooronga Family Dentistry

What is fluorosis?

During the formation of our teeth and bones fluoride can become embedded in them as part of their mineral content. Normally the mineral content of the teeth and the bones is hydroxy apatite which is made of calcium, phosphate and hydroxyl ions. But if fluoride ions are present, during the formation of these tissues, they can replace the hydroxyl ones and form a crystal called fluoro-apatite, which can interfere with the proper formation of the teeth and bones. This the reason why ingesting high doses of fluoride will lead to the formation of floor-apatite in the teeth.

When we are born our “baby” and permanent teeth are already forming under our gums in the jawbone. An overexposure to fluoride during the pregnancy or during the first eight years of life, will lead to changes in the formation of the teeth and the appearance of stains – these stains are called fluorosis. There can be different stains ranging from yellow to dark brown and there can be pits and surface irregularities depending on the severity of the affliction.

How to prevent Fluorosis?

The introduction of fluoride to drinking water is one of the great preventive disease programs of the 20th century. But the addition of fluoride to the water can make any additional fluoride ingested a risk factor for fluorosis. That is why other sources of fluoride in the diet need to be checked for their fluoride content, these are tooth paste, seafood, fruit juices, formula milk and tea. Since all the ingested fluoride can add up, it is important to know how much fluoride your child consumes. To prevent fluorosis your child should not consume more than the daily amounts a person can safely ingest.

Here are the safe limits for daily consumption as published by the National Health and Medical health council:

For infants:

0-6 months 0.01 mg/day
7-12 months 0.50 mg/day

For children

All
1-3 yr 0.7 mg/day
4-8 yr 1.0 mg/day
Boys
9-13 yr 2.0 mg/day
14-18 yr 3.0 mg/day
Girls
9-13 yr 2.0 mg/day
14-18 yr 3.0 mg/day

For Adults:

Men
19-30 yr 4 mg/day
31-50 yr 4 mg/day
51-70 yr 4 mg/day
>70 yr 4 mg/day
Women
19-30 yr 3 mg/day
31-50 yr 3 mg/day
51-70 yr 3 mg/day
>70 yr 3 mg/day

Treatment
Since fluorosis affects the structure and appearance of teeth. It will cause unsightly stains and may result in cavities . As a result, the treatment for fluorosis is to remove the surface of the stained areas and restore the teeth with resin restorations or veneers.

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have more questions about fluorosis or to make an appointment to see Dr. Kaufman Daniel at Tooronga Family Dentistry to have .