Do you suffer with chronic headaches or migraines? Do you hear your jaws click or pop? If you answered yes, you could be one of the millions living with TMJ dysfunction (temporomandibular joint dysfunction). Problems with TMJ dysfunction can generate a host of painful symptoms and negatively impact your wellbeing.
The TMJ joints hold the lower jaw to the temporal bone and allow routine jaw motion. When these joints are misaligned, associated muscles are strained and discomfort can occur. Stress, heredity, certain habits, and a number of other factors can contribute to TMJ dysfunction.
If you think TMJ dysfunction is a problem for you, contact your dentist. The doctor will complete a thorough exam and then make treatment recommendations. Dr. Yolanda Cruz offers Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA), which records the vibrations that occur during jaw movement. This gives Dr. Cruz a better understanding of the TMJ function before and during the creation of a dental appliance or oral splint. Other treatments include physical therapy, stress reduction, rebuilding damaged teeth with restorations, or habit changes to relieve TMJ symptoms.
These tips may help you deal with your TMJ dysfunction:
• Apply warm compresses to the area, which may reduce inflammation and soothe discomfort.
• Consider meditation to slow breathing, help you relax, and alleviate uncomfortable symptoms.
• Find an effective way to handle stress. A calming bath, long walk, or yoga class may ease your anxiety and reduce triggers for flare ups.
• Talk with your dentist about a mouth guard. An oral splint can keep your jaw in the proper position so that the chewing system doesn’t become strained.
• Join a support group. Talking with others who have similar experiences can give you a safe place to share your feelings and find comfort.
Your diet impacts your overall wellness. Making good choices will keep your body healthy, including teeth and gums. We all know that you should get plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet. Certain foods and beverages provide particular benefit to your mouth.
Milk and yogurt
Low-fat milk and unsweetened yogurt are low acid foods. These options reduce the acid erosion that can weaken tooth enamel. Dairy choices, including cheese, also have the calcium you need for strong teeth and bones.
Green tea
Several benefits come from green tea. The antioxidant plant compounds, called polyphenols, in the tea prevent plaque from sticking to teeth, reducing your chances of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Green tea may also help control bad breath.
Onions
Because onions contain powerful antibacterial compounds, they kill various bacteria that inhabit your mouth. Raw onions offer the most benefit.
Apples, celery, and carrots
These crunchy foods massage gums and clean between teeth, promoting a healthy mouth.
Sesame seeds
High in calcium, sesame seeds help build enamel, and they also slough off plaque, lessening the chances of cavity development.
Animal protein
Lean cuts of chicken, turkey, and beef, as well as eggs, contain phosphorous, which works with calcium to strengthen our bones.
Water
Drinking H2O keeps your mouth hydrated and helps with saliva production. Saliva acts as a natural cleanser, washing away food debris and bacteria from your mouth.
Dr. Yolanda Cruz dentistry – Dental Health – Toronto Canada Dentist
A good percentage of dental consumers don’t currently have a general dentist. If you are looking for a dental provider for yourself or family, the task may seem overwhelming. It’s important to select someone you feel comfortable with and who fits your personality. You can make the search process easier with these helpful hints:
Ask others
Talk with friends, family, and co-workers about which dentists they use. Referrals are a great way to get the process started. You can also use the Internet as a valuable resource in your search.
Make a consultation appointment
Establishing a good relationship from the beginning is important, so schedule a consultation to meet your top choices and get a feel for their offices. This appointment is your opportunity to ask questions and gather basic information.
Evaluate the dentist’s skills and knowledge
Find out what professional organizations the dentist belongs to and how much importance he or she places on continuing education. Dentists are required to take a certain number of hours, but good providers generally exceed those levels. Some even make the time to teach, such as Dr. Yolanda Cruz, who is a clinical instructor at the faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto.
Check the dentist’s work
Most providers will have testimonials from satisfied patients. They may also have Before and After photos that will give you a chance to see some of the doctor’s handiwork. For example, you can view pictures of actual patient dental work on the website of Dr. Yolanda Cruz.
Start small
After your consultation, schedule a cleaning. During this visit, observe how the dentist and staff respond to you. Are they attentive to your needs? Do they make you feel valued and welcome? Feeling at ease with the dentist will help you commit to achieving and maintaining optimal oral health.
Dr. Yolanda Cruz dentistry – General and Cosmetic dentist – Toronto Canada Dentist
Every day, you probably get up and brush your teeth, which starts your oral care routine. Most people do other things throughout the day to promote dental health, including flossing, drinking water, chewing sugarless gum, and rinsing with mouth wash. You may not think about how you can protect your teeth as you sleep, but these small steps can make a big difference.
Before you go to bed:
Brush one last time
Make sure you get your teeth, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. Having a clean mouth means you won’t have to worry about bacteria forming cavities or harming your teeth while you sleep.
Floss before you hit the sack
Though brushing is important, flossing matters too. When you floss, you can reach between teeth and next to the gum line, removing plaque and bacteria so that these harmful substances don’t sit on your teeth all night long.
Use fluoride toothpaste
Brushing with fluoride toothpaste offers you added protection that helps strengthen your teeth.
Don’t eat sugary snacks before bed
Not only will this undermine your final brushing and flossing efforts, but it will also provide food for the bacteria in your mouth, allowing them to reproduce and wreak havoc on your oral health.
Keep water by your bed
Staying hydrated will help your teeth and gums stay moist as well. Water intake also promotes saliva production, which naturally washes germs and bacteria from your mouth.
We care about your oral health at Dr. Yolanda Cruz dentistry – General and Cosmetic – Toronto Canada Dentist
Has your sleep partner complained about your snoring? Though you may just consider it a mild annoyance, snoring often indicates obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious health condition. With sleep apnea, you can actually stop breathing for brief time periods. In some cases, patients have hundreds of apnea episodes during the night that can last for a minute or longer.
The following symptoms could suggest sleep apnea:
• Constant fatigue
• Daytime grogginess
• Impaired judgment
• Irritability
• Moodiness
OSA is caused when the soft tissues collapse in the back of the throat, blocking the upper airway and causing the airflow to stop. If oxygen levels drop low enough, the brain signals a problem and you will awaken to restore breathing. While OSA causes daytime sleepiness and concentration problems, many people don’t realize that more serious issues are associated with this disorder. Sleep apnea patients can experience:
• Bruxism (teeth grinding)
• Diabetes
• Heart Problems like heart attack, congestive heart failure, and hypertension
• High Blood Pressure
• Increased risk for work-related and driving-related accidents
• Strokes
Without treatment, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten the average life span by 10 years.
After you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, which may involve a sleep study through your physician, you can talk with your dentist about treatments. Your dentist can fit you for a custom-made oral appliance that will keep your mouth in the correct position to prevent snoring and apnea episodes.
Dr. Yolanda Cruz dentistry – Sleep Apnea Treatment – Toronto Canada Dentist
The food you eat, beverages you drink, and choices you make may diminish your bright smile. Dull, yellowish teeth can make you look older and feel self-conscious about your appearance. Safe and effective, teeth whitening can lift discolorations and renew your smile’s radiance.
Television and print ads for home whitening kits promise stunning results, but it may be hard to tell if these products work. Most dentist offer some form of teeth whitening, such as in-office or take-home whitening. Understanding the options will allow you to make an informed decision about updating your smile.
Over-the-counter whitening
Drug stores and supermarkets stock rows of whitening products on their shelves. These rinses, strips, and toothpastes often use peroxide to remove surface stains. While you may see some change, these products don’t usually generate the lasting impact of the professional whitening products offered by your dentist.
In-office whitening
If you decide on in-office whitening, your dentist will utilize professional-grade whitening gel, with or without an activating light. In-office whitening produces immediate results, lightening teeth up to 10 shades.
At-home professional whitening
Some people would like to brighten their teeth on their own schedules, so dentist-supplied whitening kits work well for these cases. Before whitening begins, the dental team will fit you for custom bleaching trays. Your dentist will then provide the bleaching agent. Apply the gel to the trays and wear them as directed. In just two to three weeks, you should notice a dramatic difference in your pearly whites.
We create beautiful, healthy smiles at Dr. Yolanda Cruz dentistry
E-Mail Us 
416-595-5490
