Plaque is your mouth’s enemy. It is a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth, and produces acid as it mixes with sugar from foods and drinks you consume. Over time, these acids destroy your tooth enamel and lead to decay. Plaque can also form under your gums and affect both the gum tissue and the bones supporting your teeth.
So how can you avoid getting the plaque that causes these problems? Here are some helpful tips.
Brush
Use a fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth at least twice a day. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush all of your tooth surfaces, as well as your tongue.
Floss
As much as many people don’t want to, flossing your teeth every day is important in getting rid of plaque between your teeth and at your gum line.
Eat healthy foods
Some foods help keep plaque off your teeth. Munch on apples, cucumbers, carrots, and other raw vegetables and fruits. Crunchy foods like these will help clean your teeth while filling you up and giving you helpful nutrients.
Avoid junk food
On the other hand, limit the amount of junk food that you eat. Sugary drinks and foods introduce sugar into your mouth that will stick to your teeth and lead to plaque formation.
See your dentist
Even if you practice good oral hygiene, some amount of plaque usually forms. It hardens to become tartar, which can only be properly removed by your dentist. Dental checkups every six months will help you keep plaque under control, and a healthy smile on your face.
Dr. Cruz is Family & Cosmetic dentist in Toronto Canada
Do you hide your teeth because of embarrassing imperfections?
Do you see other people and envy their vibrant, white smiles?
Do you wish you could change your image?
If you answered yes to these questions, consider porcelain veneers. Crafted from fine dental porcelain, veneers can transform your smile. Since porcelain has a translucency that mimics enamel, your restorations will look completely natural. Attractive and durable, porcelain veneers will give you the radiant smile you desire.
Benefits of Veneers
With porcelain veneers, patients can:
• Achieve a uniform look
• Brighten a dull smile
• Enjoy lasting beauty
• Erase permanent stains
• Remove gaps between teeth
Because veneers are created to fit your smile, the dentist will select veneers that match your face shape, tooth size, and personality. During a consultation, you can discuss your goals with the dentist and look at examples to see what styles you prefer. After a complete exam, your doctor will design a customize plan for your smile makeover.
In preparation for placement, the dentist will take impressions of your teeth and send these models to a quality dental lab, where skilled ceramists will produce your custom veneers. Your doctor will also remove a thin layer of enamel so that your veneers ft securely over the teeth without looking bulky. Some dentists will place temporary veneers, which gives patients a chance to try out their new smiles. Care for your new veneers by brushing and flossing regularly as well as scheduling routine dental appointments.
Contact our dental office in Toronto to schedule a consultation – Dr. Yolanda Cruz
Dentist in Toronto. Cosmetic Dentist offering Porcelain Veneers to improve your smile.
Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you, so when you have crooked teeth it really impacts the way you feel about yourself. You may not even allow yourself to smile at all! Have you ever wondered why your teeth are crooked in the first place?
Genetics
Experts say the most common reason behind misaligned or crooked teeth is that it’s an inherited trait. Just like the color of your eyes or hair, you may be predisposed to having teeth that aren’t in straight alignment. Some genetic conditions can influence your bite, making top and bottom teeth improperly meet when you close your mouth. The pressure on your teeth from a misaligned bite can produce crooked teeth.
Mouth and jaw shape
Another reason for teeth being out of place is that your mouth may be too small. Your teeth become crowded and shift in order to make space for all your teeth to fit. Also, it’s possible your upper and lower jaws aren’t the same size or didn’t form correctly.
Timing
Early loss of baby or adult teeth can both result in making the teeth left behind become crooked. Tooth overcrowding can occur when permanent teeth replace the baby teeth. Misalignment of teeth can happen when adult teeth shift to take over the spots where adult teeth have fallen out.
Trauma
Jaw or facial trauma often shifts your teeth out of place. Your jaw may also become misaligned due to an injury. In fact, traumas can cause some of the most severe cases of crooked teeth.
Bad habits
Common oral health issues during childhood may cause overlapping and twisted teeth. These include habits like thumb sucking, prolonged use of a pacifier or bottle, and tongue thrusting. These behaviors may apply force to the teeth and cause them to shift into improper positions.
Disease
Gum disease can impact the position of your teeth, especially when you lose teeth due to advanced gum disease called periodontitis. Your remaining teeth may shift with the extra space in your mouth. Also, diseases such as cancer can result in mouth or jaw tumors that alter the location of your teeth and jaw.
Toronto Dentist – Dr. Cruz
Even though your teeth were meant to last your whole life, for one reason or another that isn’t always the case. If you are missing any teeth, it’s important to replace them to protect both your oral health and your overall health. Dental implants are one option for replacing teeth. Here are some facts you should know about implants to help you decide if they are right for you.
What are dental implants?
Substituting for the roots of missing teeth, dental implants become an anchor for a replacement tooth or crown. The artificial root is inserted into your jaw, and then a replacement tooth is connected to the post.
What are the benefits of implants?
• Looks and feels like your natural teeth
• Fits perfectly to allow normal speech
• Feels comfortable because it’s a permanent part of your mouth
• Functions like your own teeth so you can eat with confidence
• Provides convenience because it stays in your mouth permanently and no adhesives are needed
• Allows nearby teeth to remain intact, which improves your overall oral health
• Meant to last a lifetime with proper dental hygiene
• Improves your self-esteem by giving you back your smile
Are implants right for everyone?
People of all ages are candidates for dental implants, as long as you’re in overall good health and have healthy gums. You also need enough bone to hold the implant. A strong commitment to proper oral hygiene is also necessary to achieve the best success with implants. Talk with your dentist to determine if dental implants are the best choice in restoring your oral health.
Toronto dental implants dentist
Having straight teeth is more than just looking nice. Sure, most people want to feel better about themselves and be able to dazzle others with a great smile. But the benefits of straight teeth go beyond just cosmetics.
Easier cleaning
Straight teeth are easier to clean because there are fewer areas that are difficult to reach, and your toothbrush can contact all of the surfaces. Flossing is also more successful because you can get rid of food particles better when your teeth are spaced properly. Access to all areas of your teeth helps you avoid plaque and tartar buildup, and you can maintain a bright smile.
Healthier teeth and gums
Because you’re able to fight off tooth decay with better cleaning, it’s likely that you’ll have fewer cavities if your teeth are positioned properly. You’ll also have lower risk of gum disease, since there should be less bacteria trapped between your gums and teeth. Tooth decay and gum disease can both eventually lead to tooth loss. Your goal of healthy teeth and gums is more achievable with straight teeth.
Consistent wear
When your top and bottom teeth line up correctly, they provide the best chewing and biting ability. If your teeth aren’t in good alignment, they can wear down excessively and more quickly than they should. Straight teeth that fit together appropriately will decrease the amount of stress on your teeth, leading to a longer and healthier lifespan.
Overall health benefits
Headaches and facial pain caused by an improper bite may disappear with proper tooth alignment. Avoiding chronic oral infections from gum disease will lessen your risks for serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Also, speech may improve with corrected teeth positions.
Emotional benefits
Clearly, your self-esteem will improve when you feel good about the appearance of your smile. People with pretty smiles are often able to relax, smile, and laugh more when they know their teeth are straight and healthy.
Dr. Cruz is Cosmetic dentist in Toronto Canada
Since baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent ones, baby teeth don’t really matter, right? Wrong!! That is a misconception, because taking care of the first set of teeth is important. Children should learn proper dental hygiene from the start, so that those good habits will last a lifetime. The same threats apply to both baby teeth and adult teeth, so you should learn how to prevent problems early. Also, unhealthy teeth in childhood can cause low self esteem, infections, pain, and nutrition and growth issues.
What are some dangers to your child’s teeth? Sometimes things that you haven’t even considered will put your child’s oral health at risk. Here are some hidden dangers to children’s teeth:
• Eating or drinking after brushing teeth at bedtime
• Sleeping with a bottle or sippy cup of juice or milk
• Drinking too much fruit juice during the day
• Eating unhealthy snacks between meals, such as sugary foods, chewy items, hard candy, and chips
• Eating sticky snacks like candies, fruit snacks, and raisins
• Getting lots of extra sugar from sugary cereals, chocolate milk, or unhealthy snacks
• Not getting enough fluoride, commonly a problem when your child only drinks bottled water instead of fluoridated tap water
How can you avoid these dangers? Either brush or help brush your child’s teeth, and don’t allow any more eating or drinking after bedtime brushing. Encourage healthy snacking and avoid items known to increase tooth risks. Ask your dentist about whether your child is a candidate for fluoride supplements. Finally, develop a routine of taking your child to the dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
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