It’s easy to remember the basics about dental health. Most people know that they need to brush twice a day, floss often, and schedule checkups every six months. The following questions and answers offer important information about your oral health.
How does the dentist find a cavity?
Although some practices now have technology to aid in cavity detection, many dentists check the old-fashioned way. During your exam, the dentist uses a metal instrument to touch the surface of your teeth. If the tooth feels soft, that may indicate the presence of tooth decay.
What’s the difference between amalgam and composite fillings?
For years, metal filling were the choice for repairing teeth damaged by cavities. Over time, amalgam fillings can darken as well as change shape, which can cause them to leak. Now, composite fillings are often used instead. These tooth-colored restorations keep your smile looking good, and they allow for more conservative therapy.
Does teeth whitening work?
If you want a stunning smile, professional teeth whitening can give you beautiful results in many cases. For certain types of discolorations, like tetracycline staining, teeth bleaching may not work, but you could consider other options like porcelain veneers.
Can an adults straighten their teeth?
Absolutely. There is no age limit on a vibrant smile and about 25 percent of orthodontic patients are over 18 years of age. Modern treatment options such as Invisalign clear aligners allow adults to straighten teeth without the embarrassment or discomfort of metal braces.
Is an electronic toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush?
Most dentists agree that the best toothbrush is the one that encourages you to brush. Electronic brushes have benefits including ease of use and more thorough coverage. With manual brushes, they are inexpensive and can be easily replaced/
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Getting older impacts your whole life. Your body changes, including your mouth. Dental care is important for maintaining overall well being. Many seniors struggle with tooth loss and other dental health issues, like dry mouth or gum disease. Keep your teeth and gums healthy by remembering these helpful hints. Those individuals caring for aging parents or relatives can also benefit from the following tips:
• Make home care a priority. If you have trouble remembering to brush and floss, try posting little reminders in your bathroom near the sink. Caregivers can encourage this process as well.
• Choose a soft toothbrush. If the bristles are too hard, you can irritate gums and damage tissue.
• When you have dentures, clean them daily and use the special cleaners designed for this purpose, not just toothpaste.
• See the dentist twice a year. These appointments allow the doctor to check your teeth and gums for any problems. Depending on the state of your oral health, the dentist may suggest more frequent visits.
• Tell the dentist about any medications you are taking and any side effects that could affect your dental health. For example, some people experience dry mouth with certain medicines.
• Contact your dentist right away if you notice any unusual symptoms in your mouth. Letting issues like gum disease or tooth decay go can cause bigger problems in the long run.
• Maintain a healthy diet. What you eat influences your whole body health, including your teeth and gums.
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Having a teenager can be challenging. They have school work, multiple activities, and attitudes. This hectic time in life can also impact your teen’s dental health. Proper care and good oral hygiene will make sure that your teenager enjoys a lifetime of vibrant smiles.
• Encourage your teen to brush after each meal. Remind your son or daughter about the importance of flossing to remove plaque and promote gum health.
• Explain the consequences of not caring for your teeth, which can include bad breath, stains, and cavities.
• Make sure you stock up on the necessary supplies so that your teen has the right tools on hand. Purchase plenty of fluoride toothpaste, dental floss, and extra toothbrushes.
• Schedule regular checkups with the dentist. These appointments allow the dentist to assess your teen’s oral health and handle any problems right away.
• If your son or daughter has braces, get floss threaders from the orthodontist or buy them at the local drug store. Keep up with appointments for adjustments so that your teen’s treatment stays on track.
• For teens that play contact sports, including soccer, football, or volleyball, ask your dentist or orthodontist about a custom mouth guard. This oral appliance is designed to protect their teeth and mouth from potential injury.
• Limit your teen’s consumption of junk food by having health snacks like vegetables, fruits, and low fat dairy options readily available.
• Model good behavior. Showing that you believe oral health care matters will help your teen take your advice and warnings to heart.
Our dental office is located in Toronto
You only get one set of teeth, so you need to protect them. Good home habits, like routine brushing and flossing, help keep your smile and mouth healthy. Regular checkup appointments allow your dentist to monitor your oral health and address any issues before they escalate.
To enjoy a beautiful, vibrant smile, keep these points in mind:
Don’t wait for pain
Many people believe that their teeth and gums are fine because they don’t have any discomfort. Certain conditions, like gum disease and tooth decay, begin with mild symptoms and don’t cause pain until they have progressed. Schedule exams twice a year so that your dentist can assess your current dental health.
Have a plan
Even if you can’t take care of everything on a proposed treatment plan, prioritize the items on the list and address the problems one at a time.
Choose wisely
Though addressing your oral health issues can be expensive, putting off treatment or choosing an under-qualified provider will cost you more in the long run. Find an experienced dentist that you can trust and establish a good relationship with this provider.
Maintenance matters
Just like you have to change the filters in your air conditioning and the oil in your car, you need to make time for routine care appointments. With regular checkups, you are less likely to need restorative services such as crowns, fillings, and implants.
Oral health relates to total wellness
What happens in your mouth impacts the rest of your body. Research has linked gum disease to more serious health concerns such as cardiovascular disease, risk of stroke, osteoporosis, and low birth weight.
We look forward to seeing you in our Toronto dental office
Your smile is a valuable asset, but needs care to ensure it maintains its beauty. It’s essential to brush at least twice a day and floss once a day, but other factors can influence oral health. The following pointers could help you maintain a healthy smile for life.
Book Regular Dental Checkups
Most dentists recommend patients visit them twice a year, although some people may benefit from more frequent checkups. These visits are essential for your dentist in Toronto to examine your mouth, and can help detect any early signs of disease before they become a problem.
Watch Your Diet
A healthy balanced diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. This will help provide your teeth and gums with all the nutrients needed to keep them strong and healthy, and promotes overall good health.
Quit Using Tobacco Products
Smoking or using tobacco products is well known for causing stained and discolored teeth, and smokers are more likely to have bad breath. In addition, smoking makes it harder for your gums to heal and increases the risk of oral cancer.
Quit Bad Oral Habits
Using your teeth to open packets, chewing on ice cubes and pens, and biting your nails can all cause small fractures and chips in your teeth. Your dentist can offer useful advice on quitting these habits.
Don’t Ignore Any Early Signs and Symptoms
If you develop toothache or notice your gums bleed when you brush or floss, contact your dentist in Toronto right away. These diseases are far easier to treat when detected early. Ignoring tooth sensitivity that could indicate a small filling is needed might mean you’ll eventually need a root canal, or even that you lose the tooth completely.
Protect Your Mouth
Popular activities such as football, soccer, basketball and hockey can all cause facial injuries. Even noncontact sports such as skateboarding may be hazardous. Your dentist can provide you with a custom-made mouth guard that will help protect your teeth and jaws during sports.
Our dental office is located in Toronto
Depending on the degree of gum disease you have been diagnosed with, treatment can vary extensively. It can range from having a regular teeth cleaning and paying more attention to dental hygiene, to complex and often painful surgery. If you’ve been told you have a problem with your gums, seek treatment immediately.
Your dentist will perform a gum exam to decide the best treatment plan. This includes measuring the gum pockets around your teeth, noting inflammation, and checking gum recession. If gum pockets are extensive, it may mean you have bone loss. In that case, your dentist might refer you to a gum specialist called a periodontist.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. All that may be required is a thorough professional cleaning, better oral hygiene, consistent checkups, and allowing time for gums to heal. If gum problems have advanced, a deeper professional cleaning called scaling and root planning may be needed. Medications might be prescribed to treat infection. If the areas don’t respond to these treatments, gum surgery can be performed to remove diseased tissue, save the remaining gums and bone, and allow a better environment for good future oral health.
Receding gums sometimes are not severe enough for any treatment, but cosmetic concerns may warrant a gum graft procedure. It involves surgically removing tissue from another area of the mouth and grafting it onto the receded area. Another issue might be a gum abscess, which requires deep cleaning to remove diseased tissue and any pus that is present. Antibiotics will likely be needed for the infection. Once the abscess is cleared, further treatment may be needed to avoid a recurrence.
As you can see, there are a variety of possible treatments depending upon the severity of your gum problems. Of course the best solution is to avoid gum issues in the first place by maintaining good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups.
We look forward to seeing you in our Toronto dental office
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