If you’ve ever noticed that your gums are swollen, red, or even bleeding, your body is giving you a sign that trouble is brewing in your mouth. You should pay attention to this warning, because irritated gums can lead to serious problems like tooth loss. It’s important to know what might be causing your swollen gums, and what you can do to return your mouth to normal.
Poor dental hygiene is the most common cause of swollen gums. Inadequate or harsh brushing can lead to gum irritation, and so can rough flossing. The most common reasons that dentists find for swollen, irritated gums include:
• Gingivitis (gum disease)
• Canker sores
• Bacterial infections
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy or puberty
• Dry mouth
• Periodontitis (severe gum disease affecting teeth and bones)
• Tobacco use
• Poorly fitting dentures or other appliances
• Fungal or viral infections
• Poor dental hygiene
• Cancer or other diseases
There are steps you can take to reduce swelling and aid the overall health of your gums. For instance, if you treat gingivitis early, it can be reversed before worsening and eventually causing tooth loss. First, choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and use gentle, circular motions on your teeth and gums. Brushing in a back-and-forth motion can irritate and damage your gums. Gently floss every day, and ask your dentist about using a mouthwash to reduce bacteria in your mouth. Make sure you schedule an appointment to see your dentist when you notice your gums are irritated and bothersome, because it’s best to identify the problem and get treatment before your condition gets worse.
Dr. Cruz – General Dentist in Toronto – Schedule your appointment today!
You might think your smile is a lost cause. Maybe you believe it’s beyond repair with gaps, discoloration, chips, and other problems. It might be time to turn to dentistry for help. There are likely very effective and affordable solutions to help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Here are some common dental concerns that can be addressed through dentistry.
What if I have missing teeth?
Having gaps in your smile is probably the most embarrassing dental problems you can have. Whether it’s due to an accident or tooth decay, the desire to restore your smile is the same. Your dentist can help you by offering crowns or bridges, or using dental implants to create artificial teeth.
What if my teeth are yellow?
Cosmetic dentistry offers various teeth whitening solutions to brighten your smile. Some options are available for use at home, while other treatments are performed in your dentist’s office. The whitening techniques done by a professional are usually stronger and work faster and often more dramatically than products to be used at home.
What if I have chips or stains?
Cosmetic solutions such as porcelain veneers work well to hide tooth problems like chips and stubborn stains. Veneers are permanently applied over the fronts of your teeth, and provide a beautiful and natural-looking way to hide tooth imperfections. An alternative to veneers is bonding, a procedure in which a dental composite that looks like enamel is applied to a tooth and then sculpted. This restoration blends into the rest of your tooth to produce a healthy, sparkling smile.
Cosmetic dentist in Toronto – Schedule your appointment today
In many households, the bedtime routine is no fun. One of the trickiest parts for some parents is getting their kids to brush their teeth. However, it’s not a part of your child’s routine that should be skipped. To help make taking care of their teeth fun for children, here are some ideas for parents.
Toothbrushes
Provide your kids with fun toothbrushes! By choosing a brush decorated with their favorite character or color, your children will think of their toothbrush more like a toy than a dental tool. Consider getting more than one toothbrush, so each night they can choose the one they want to “play” with at the time.
Toothpaste
Children are picky about their toothpaste flavors just like their foods. Select toothpaste that you know your kids will like. Some of the flavor options include bubble gum and fruits, as well as the standby mint.
Floss
If they start flossing at a young age, your kids will likely view it as part of their oral hygiene routine all of their life. Try using some of the fun flossing tools on the market today, because they may help get your child interested in flossing. There are many colors and shapes to choose from, so keep trying until you find one that motivates your child.
Rewards
Enticing your children with rewards is often an easy way to encourage them to perform a task without arguing. Consider making a rewards chart and giving them a sticker each time they brush and floss. By the end of a week filled with good dental hygiene, a special reward will await them!
Dentistry office in Toronto Ontario – Kids Dentist
You might be surprised to learn that even though dental care has improved over the years, it is still not uncommon for people to lose teeth. Often tooth loss is related to decay, gum disease, or trauma. One effective way to restore your smile is to have dental implants.
The purpose of a dental implant is to replace the roots of your missing tooth, providing a strong foundation for an artificial tooth. Your oral surgeon will match your natural tooth color as closely as possible and because implants are surgically placed into your jawbone, they work just like real teeth. There is very little pain during the procedure because anesthetic is used; many patients compare getting implants to having a tooth extracted. Over-the-counter medications are usually sufficient to relieve any discomfort afterwards.
An obvious major advantage of dental implants is that your appearance will improve with our newly restored smile. Also, they improve your self-confidence. Since they are so much like your natural teeth and they blend with your jaw, they ultimately become permanent. Therefore, they stay in place and do not affect your ability to eat or speak. Dental implants can also improve the general health of your mouth.
There are some people who are not ideal candidates for dental implants. Heart disease patients, smokers, and diabetics may not be advised for this treatment because of their health issues. Consult your dentist to see if implants might be right for you. If so, this might be exactly what you’ve been searching for to get you smiling again.
Dental implants dentist in Toronto – Schedule your appointment today!
Ulcers inside your mouth, called canker sores, are painful and annoying. They affect your ability to eat and talk, and can be embarrassing. More than twenty percent of Americans have canker sores, and they are very common among teenagers. Why are teens the target of this painful problem?
One of the reasons that teenagers get these shallow ulcers on the mucous membranes inside their mouths is the fact that hormones are typically raging inside the body during these years. Teen years bring with them lots of changes in the human body, and the active hormones affect many body systems. One such system is your immune system, which allows you to get sick and feel run-down. When your immune system is weakened, canker sores are more likely to hit.
Braces are another cause for canker sores in teens. This age group wears orthodontic braces more than any other age, and it is common for the dental appliances to poke your mouth and cause canker sores. Also, teenagers eat lots of sweet and salty snacks, which tend to irritate and dry the mouth. Acidic foods are also known to trigger canker sores, such as citrus fruits and drinks like orange juice.
To avoid getting canker sores, try to get plenty of rest and reduce stress so that your immune system remains strong. It may also be helpful to take vitamins to strengthen your system. Avoid eating the foods that you’ve noticed trigger sores in your mouth, and keep dental wax handy to cover any parts of your braces that poke your mouth.
If you get a canker sore, you must be patient and let it run its course. Rinse your mouth often to keep it clean from food particles, and you can try over-the-counter products made to deaden canker sore pain. The main thing is to wait it out, and to try to avoid getting one in the future.
Dr. Yolanda Cruz – Teen Dentist in Toronto – Schedule your appointment today!
The best way to protect your oral health is to faithfully brush and floss your teeth and gums. This means that every single day you should brush at least twice, and floss at least once. Does it matter what kind of toothbrush or floss that you use? Here are some guidelines to follow as you make your selections.
Each person has different needs for these types of dental tools. If you have a small mouth, it’s best to choose a small toothbrush. On the other hand, a brush with a large head is appropriate for someone with a bigger mouth. Look for a comfortable handle so that you can easily control the toothbrush. A brush with a slightly angled handle may provide better access to your back teeth. For any user, most dentists suggest soft bristles to avoid harming your gums or scratching your tooth enamel.
Electric toothbrushes have increased in popularity in recent years. Many experts suggest using electric or manual brushes as desired, as long as you spend no less than two minutes brushing your teeth after meals. Sonic toothbrushes do tend to remove bacteria and plaque very effectively as a result of their fast vibrations, but remember the main thing is to brush using proper technique and timing.
When it comes to dental floss, consider how tightly your teeth are spaced together. If they are extremely close, it may be hard to thread the floss between your teeth. This situation may require a very strong, fine dental floss. Waxed floss is also recommended because it does not shred as easily as other flosses. If you don’t have any trouble feeding the floss between your teeth, it is likely that any type of dental floss will work for you.
Dr. Yolanda Cruz – dentist in Toronto – Schedule your appointment today!
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