Wisdom Teeth Extraction and Recovery

Don’t be alarmed if your dentist recommends that you should have your wisdom teeth pulled. They only recommend wisdom teeth removal for patients who have impacted teeth. If you do have wisdom teeth that have fully grown in but are not causing any crowding or pain, the choice is absolutely yours to have them removed.

When do you need to remove your wisdom teeth?

If your wisdom teeth are impacted and/or causing crowding in your teeth and affecting your bite, your dentist will recommend that you have them removed.

What are impacted teeth?

Impacted teeth are wisdom teeth that do not fully erupt because other teeth are blocking them. They typically remain below the surface of your gum line and lie horizontally instead of standing upright because there isn’t enough room for them to grow. The problems with impacted wisdom teeth are:

  • They create a breeding ground for plaque and bacteria to accumulate which could lead to the development of cavities
  • Impacted teeth can, in some cases, collide with the roots of your molars, which is painful and leads to other more severe dental issues.

What to expect after your oral surgery?

After your wisdom teeth have been removed you will encounter minor bleeding, discomfort, swelling and bruising. You will most likely be prescribed some pain killers for pain relief which you should take exactly as directed by your dentist. If you’re taking stronger narcotic pain medication (i.e. Percocet, Tylenol 3, etc.), do not drive or operate machinery and avoid alcoholic beverages.

Aftercare:

It takes the average person three to four days to heal but, in some cases, it may take up to a week. Proper aftercare after your surgery is important to eliminate the chances of getting dry socket. After a wisdom tooth is removed, a blood clot forms in the socket to protect the bone and nerves underneath. Dry socket occurs when the clot becomes dislodged or dissolves a couple of days after the extraction which leaves the bone and nerve exposed to air, food, fluid, and anything else that enters the mouth, making healing very painful. To eliminate the risk of dry socket, Colgate recommends:

  • Applying ice packs to the outside of your mouth intermittently for up to two days to minimize swelling, bruising or any discomfort
  • Limit your eating, drinking and talking for the first two hours following surgery as well as smoking, spitting or drinking through a straw – essentially anything that may dislodge the blood clot
  • After 12 hours, do a salt water rinse to avoid any infections
  • It’s recommended to not brush your teeth for 24 hours after the surgery and for the next week try to avoid the area where the wisdom teeth were removed as much as possible

If you notice any unusual symptoms, it is best to call your oral surgeon right away. While complications such as an infection are rare, they are possible, so it’s best to be proactive if any of your symptoms feel abnormal.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

How to Know You’re Ready For an Emergency Dental Appointment

Your tooth is hurting…but does that actually qualify as a dental emergency?

We know that discomfort is easy to identify, but knowing whether you need to make an appointment after office hours isn’t always as easy. Many of our patients try to simply ignore their pain, thinking it will go away on its own, or assume that they may need to visit the emergency room. Unfortunately, waiting can result in a more expensive bill, not to mention sitting in a hospital emergency room will give you hours of needless suffering.

How quickly you respond to a dental emergency can make the difference between saving a tooth or losing it. To help you, we’ve decided to share our tips on what counts as an emergency dentistry and how you should respond.

When do you know you need emergency dentistry?

Here are some common situations that qualify as emergency dental situations.

  • Severe tooth pain
  • Tooth damage
  • Tissue bleeding
  • A knocked-out tooth as a result of a facial injury or accident
  • A loose tooth or one that is out of alignment
  • A chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth (this usually means that there’s been some damage to the inside of the tooth as well)
  • Tissue injury and facial pain

As a general rule of thumb it is a good idea to consult a dental professional for pain management of if you have persistent pain. You might be suffering from one of the following conditions:

What to do in a dental emergency?

If per chance you cannot get to a dentist right away, there are certain things you can do to protect your smile as you wait for treatment.

Knocked out teeth: Avoid touching the roots and keep the tooth clean and hydrated in a saline solution or glass of milk. This will reduce the chances of you having to replace your original tooth with a false one.

Food or objects stuck between your teeth: Try to remove any unwanted particles with floss or mouthwash. To avoid injuring your soft tissues, never use a sharp object around your gums.

Cracked or damaged fillings: You will feel extreme dental pain, but in some cases, you may be able to reattach the restoration temporarily using dental adhesive and may be able to calm the pain with over the counter medications like Orajel.

Contact Us

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Gingivitis Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Did you know that having a healthy mouth is also an important part of a healthy body? It’s because oral health problems can reduce a person’s quality of life by affecting their well-being. And like any other ailment, an oral disease, like any other disease, needs to be treated. However, how do you know if you have an oral disease? Chronic infections deserve a proper diagnosis and treatment and should not be ignored but often is because bleeding or tender gums are often overlooked.

If you think you’re suffering from gingivitis, we’ve compiled a list of things you need to look out for.

What is Gingivitis:

According to Oral B, gingivitis  is an early stage of gum disease caused by the buildup of plaque. If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease.

Gingivitis Symptoms and Signs:

Because gingivitis doesn’t often cause pain, many people don’t know they have it. In fact, as many as 70 per cent of Canadians will experience some degree of gingivitis during their lifetime. Some symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen, and bleeding gums, bad breath, tooth pain or sensitivity, and loose teeth. However, since it doesn’t always cause pain, it’s important not only to know what to look for, but also to see your dentist and hygienist regularly for cleanings and checkups.

There are two main categories of gingivitis:

  1. Plaque-induced gingival disease: Excess plaque buildup (caused by poor diet, medications, etc.) can increase your chances of getting gingivitis.
  2. Non-plaque induced gingival lesions: Gingivitis can also be caused by specific bacterium, viruses, or fungi,  genetic factors, systemic conditions (including allergic reactions and certain illnesses), wounds, or negative reactions.

Causes of Gingivitis:

The most common cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. When you suffer from poor oral hygiene, this creates a breeding ground for plaque; causing inflammation of the surrounding gum tissues. The plaque triggers an immune response, which, in turn, can eventually lead to the destruction of gingival, or gum, tissue. It may also, eventually, lead to further complications, including the loss of teeth.

Other factors include:

  1. Changes in hormones:  During certain stages in a female’s life (i.e. puberty, menopause, during the menstrual cycle) the gingiva may become more sensitive, raising the risk of inflammation.
  2. Some illnesses: Cancer, diabetes and HIV are linked to a higher risk of gingivitis as these illnesses all interfere with the immune system and affects the body’s ability in one way or another to use blood sugar.
  3. Drugs: Since your saliva acts as a protective coat for your teeth and gums, oral health may be affected by some medications (i.e. Dilantin®, Procardia® or Adalat®)  because they drastically reduce the saliva flow.
  4. Smoking: Regular smokers more commonly develop gingivitis compared with non-smokers, because smoking makes it harder for gum tissue to repair itself by upsetting the balance of repair and breakdown of oral tissues.
  5. Poor diet: Vitamin-C deficiencies and high consumption of sugars are  linked to gum disease.
  6. Family history: Those whose parent or parents have had gingivitis have a higher risk of developing it too as you may have acquired a bacteria in your early stages of life.
  7. Over consumption of alcohol

Fortunately, if you do have gingivitis, it  can usually be reversed with the help of your dental team. Gingivitis is 100 per cent treatable and preventable. The best way to treat it is to catch it early and this can be done by sticking to a regular dental regime of brushing and flossing and regular dental checkups.If you do notice the signs, make a dental appointment as soon as possible. Your hygienist will remove plaque and can help diagnose and control the disease before it advances.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Different stages of a woman’s life and their oral health conditions

Were you aware that women’s oral health needs change and different stages throughout their life?  In fact, women have special oral health requirements during the unique phases in their lives because of the unique hormonal changes they encounter. These hormonal changes not only affect the blood supply to the gum tissue, but also the body’s response to the toxins that result from plaque buildup. As a result of these changes, women are more prone to the development of periodontal disease at certain stages of their lives, as well as to other oral health problems.

At what stages in a woman’s life is she more susceptible to periodontal disease and other oral health problems?

Changes in female hormone levels during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and menopause exaggerate the way gums react to plaque. There are five stages in a women’s life during which changes in hormone levels make them more susceptible to oral health problems: during puberty, the monthly menstruation cycle, when using oral contraceptives, throughout pregnancy and during menopause.

  • During puberty: Hormonal fluctuations during your menstrual cycle can lead to oral health conditions such as swollen and sensitive gums, inflamed saliva glands as well as mouth sores. It’s important to be extra vigilant about following your daily oral care routine during this period of time (i.e. brushing and flossing after every meal).
  • During menstruation: The increase in progesterone that occurs during the menstrual cycle means that some women experience oral changes that can include bright red swollen gums, swollen salivary glands, development of canker sores, or bleeding gums. Known as “menstruation gingivitis” it usually occurs a day or two before the start of the period and clears up shortly after the period has started.
  • If you’re taking contraceptives: Long-term use of oral contraceptives can lead to gingivitis, as most contraceptives contain progesterone or estrogen. Additionally, women who take oral contraceptives are twice as susceptible to develop dry socket.
  • If you’re pregnant: Hormone levels change considerably during pregnancy. Studies show that an increased level of progesterone makes you more susceptible to bacterial plaque, causing gingivitis which is most noticeable during the second to eighth month of pregnancy.
  • If you’re going through menopause: Numerous oral changes can occur as a consequence of advanced age. Studies show that many women in their advanced years experience dry mouth, increased levels of dental plaque, inflamed gums, change in taste buds and oral discomfort (for some it’s almost a burning sensation in the mouth). Additionally, there have been studies that suggest a link between osteoporosis and bone loss in the jaw.

Women can maintain their oral health through good oral health habits like brushing, flossing, regularly visiting the dentist and following a healthy diet. You can find additional information on women’s health and periodontal at the American Academy of Periodontology.

How Does a Good Oral Care Regime Benefit Your Heart

The link between oral health and the heart has been known for a century, but within the last few decades, health professionals have seen the evidence of two specific links between oral health and heart disease. First, if you have gum disease in a moderate or advanced stage, you’re at a greater risk for heart disease than someone with healthy gums. Second, oral health can provide doctors and health care professionals (HCPs) with warning signs for a range of diseases and conditions, including those in the heart.

How does it happen:

There are two factors why HCPs think gum disease is the reason behind heart disease.

  1. They suspect the link between the two diseases is due to the same bacteria. During normal chewing or brushing, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and move to other parts of the circulatory system, contributing to cardiovascular disease.
  2. Bacteria that causes gum disease can enter the bloodstream whenever your gums bleed. That type of bacteria is thought to promote fatty plaques that can get into the arteries around your heart, fostering an environment for heart disease.

Who is at Risk?

Patients with chronic gum conditions (such as gingivitis or advanced periodontal disease) have the highest risk for heart disease.

How is oral health linked to heart health?

Oral health and heart disease are connected by the spread of bacteria and other germs from your mouth to other parts of your body through the blood stream. When these bacteria reach the heart, they can attach themselves to any damaged area and cause inflammation.

What other conditions may be linked to oral health?

  • Diabetes: Gum disease appears to happen more to people who have diabetes as they have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels. Regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control by scaling and root planing, which makes it more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces.
  • Endocarditis: Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart and typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from your mouth spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart.
  • HIV/AIDS: Oral problems like painful mucosal lesions are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
  • Other Conditions:  According to the Mayo clinic other conditions that may be linked to oral heath are eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, head and neck cancers, and Sjogren’s syndrome, an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth.

How to maintain a good oral care regime:

The most important thing you can do to avoid gum disease and maintain good oral health including prevention of tooth decay or cavities is:

  • Brush teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
  • Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner
  • Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks
  • Visit your dentist regularly for oral examinations and professional cleanings

Being proactive about your oral health means you can protect yourself from developing a connection between oral health and heart disease, and keep your smile healthy, clean and beautiful throughout your life.

What’s the Best Way to Care for Dentures?

Removable partial or full dentures require proper care to keep them clean, stain-free and looking their best. For good denture care and to maintain good oral health, you need to care for complete and partial dentures as carefully as you would look after natural teeth. Proper denture care is important for both the health of your dentures and mouth.

Here are some tips for on how to clean your dentures:

  • Clean your dentures every day. Plaque and tartar can build up on false teeth, just like they do on natural teeth. If there is too much plaque on your dentures, this increases the risk of infection and irritation. To properly clean your dentures, either use a soft-bristled toothbrush or a toothbrush specifically for dentures. To keep them pearly white, use regular hand soap, detergent or a mildly abrasive toothpaste to keep the removable dentures clean.

Note: Regular toothpaste is too abrasive and can cause scratches in the denture acrylic. 

  • Take your dentures out every night and soak them. After you brush your dentures, brush your teeth and gums using a soft toothbrush. If a soft-bristled toothbrush hurts your teeth, run it under warm water to make it softer or try using a finger wrapped in a clean, damp cloth. By keeping them in water or denture solution, the acrylic won’t dry out over time, ensuring they won’t become brittle or lose their fit.
  • Handle them with care. Since dentures are a very expensive appliance, it’s best to keep them out of the reach of children, pets and to be very careful with them as they can break. As an extra precaution, keep them on a towel or soft surface (to reduce the risk of them breaking) and stay away from toothpicks, hard toothbrushes or anything that can potentially cause damage.

General rules of thumb for denture care:

  • Remember to visit the dentist at least once a year. According to the Canadian Dental Association, it’s important to visit your dentist at least once a year to examine your teeth and check if there are any oral sores (which can become cancerous). On these visits, your dentist will also look at the fit of your dentures since the gums and bones in our mouths change over time which can lead to an improper denture fit. Poorly fitting dentures can cause problems like sores, pain and burning and can be a sign of periodontal disease.
  • Maintain a healthy diet. Research from the Canada Food Guide suggests that to maintain good oral health, it’s important that you’re eating a well-balanced diet with the essential vitamins and nutrients. Proper nutrition decreases your chances of gum disease.
  • Don’t expose your dentures to elevated temperatures. Exposing your dentures to extreme hot or cold temperatures may cause dimensional distortion, thus affecting their fit. Soaking and rinsing should be done in room temperature solutions.

It’s important to maintain good oral health by keeping your dentures, any remaining natural teeth and mouth clean. Like natural teeth, dentures attract plaque, can stain and collect food particles that cause bad breath and irritate gums. If there are any questions or concerns that you may have when it comes to cleaning your dentures, ask your dentist about the range of adhesive products that may help stabilize the denture and be sure to ask all the questions you need as they are experts and they are there to help.

Correlation Between Dental Care and Overall Wellness

Taking good dental care of your mouth, teeth and gums is not only beneficial to preventing tooth decay, cavities and bad breath, it can also help prevent certain medical conditions like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, and help identify eating disorders, sleeping problems, anxiety and stress. The case for good oral hygiene keeps getting stronger. The more you understand the connection between good dental care and overall wellness, the more likely you are to implement and maintain a proper oral hygiene regime. Below are some of the things dentists can see about your overall health and wellness just by looking into your mouth.

1. You may have diabetes

Poor gum status has been shown to be associated with diabetes. Ailments like ulcers, infections, inflammation of your gums, thrush, bad breath, and tooth decay, can all point to diabetes. While the relationship between periodontitis and gum disease is still being researched, studies in Diabetologia suggest that diabetes increases the risk of gum disease, and gum inflammation negatively impacts the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.

2. You may be at a greater risk for stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular disease

A national study of Canadians between the ages of 36 and 69 found that those with severe gum disease had between three to seven times the risk of fatal coronary heart disease. Similarly, a university study found that those with cavities and gum disease suffered strokes twice as often as those with good oral health. Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease often couple each other as the bacteria from inflamed gums can enter the bloodstream and travel to the arteries and the heart. This can drastically increase your risk for heart attack or stroke.

3. You may have sleep apnea

Your teeth could be a clue to any distress you might be feeling as stress, anxiety or a sleep disorder can cause teeth grinding. The first sign of sleep apnea is often tooth grinding (also called bruxism). Your dentist will look for worn tooth surfaces, and will either offer treatment or refer you to a specialist who helps provide treatment for sleep apnea.

4. You may have signs of human papillomavirus (HPV)

Lesions in your mouth can be one of the earliest signs that you may have HPV. By your dentist looking at your lips and the salivary gland areas in your mouth, there are a lot of things they will be able to detect, even before you visit the doctor.

5. You may have an autoimmune disease

Your dentist might be the first one to notice and set you on the path to managing conditions like lupus, Crohn’s and colitis, celiac disease, and others. These all can look like many other things and sometimes present as inflamed lesions or sores in your mouth.

6. You may have kidney problems:

A study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology states that people with kidney disease and those on dialysis are more likely to have periodontal disease and other oral health problems than the general population. The reason is because not only does bacteria grow in your mouth, your mouth is also a breeding ground for bacteria breeding in your bloodstream. People with kidney disease have weakened immune systems and are more susceptible to infections.

7. You may suffer from an eating disorder 

Certain types of eating disorders (i.e. anorexia or bulimia), can be apparent to a dentist if they notice acid from purging which can erode both tooth enamel and dentin.

Just like you would keep abreast of trends and best practices to keep your body healthy, it’s best to keep tabs on what might not feel right and to stay curious about what is happening in your mouth. That includes looking for pain, swelling, bleeding gums, broken or loose teeth and/or enamel erosion.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

How to find if you’re a Candidate for a Root Canal?

If you are experiencing tooth pain that is so severe, what are your options? Can your pain be healed by just salt water rinses and a better oral health regime, or will you require a trip to the dentist or specialist? How do you know if a root canal treatment is your best option for optimal oral health?

If you have a tooth that you suspect of needing a root canal, here are the type of things that you should look out for.

Symptoms:

Pain in your teeth: Tooth pain is the first possible sign you may need a root canal. Be aware that root canal pain is different from other types of tooth pain as it gets worse when eating, biting down, or when you apply pressure to your teeth.

Sensitivity: While most people do have sensitivity when eating extreme hot and cold foods, root canal sensitivity occurs all the time – not only while eating hot and cold foods.

Inflamed gums:  The gum area around the infected tooth is painful, swollen, and in some cases may have a small, bump on them.

How does your dentist determine if you need a root canal?

To diagnose whether or not you need a root canal, your dentist will need to determine if the pulp inside the tooth is dead or dying or if it’s possible that the pulp could recover.

What your dentist will do:

Your dentist will ask you about your symptoms, your pain and pain threshold. Topics that your dentist will inquire about are:

  • how long you’ve had the pain
  • when did the pain start
  • how long have you had the pain
  • have you had pain in the past?
  • is the pain more bearable lying down/sitting up(positional pain)
  • what triggers the pain (extreme hot or cold foods, etc).

Once your dentist has gone through their preliminary/pre-qualifying questions (to determine if you’re even a candidate) your dentist will run a series of tests to decipher if there is an infection, pus, blood, or other infectious materials appearing. Once a dentist has identified one or more suspect teeth or fistulas on the gum  (a fistula is a little white, yellow, or red pimple-looking thing that shows up your gum), they will perform additional testing (i.e. thermal , electric pulp testing and x-rays) that can help them zero in on the infected tooth.

How long should you wait to have a root canal done?

It really depends on the availability of your dentist/specialist, however after the initial exam from your dentist, if they’ve determined that you are a candidate for a root canal, ensure to take the antibiotics right away. Because it is an infection and can easily spread to your other teeth, vulnerable tissues, and your heart, it is best to start with the treatment right away.

Whenever you experience tooth pain, it’s a sign that something isn’t right, and it is important to seek the advice and treatment of a dentist as soon as possible.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Dentist or Oral Surgeon? What Specialist is Best for You?

When you visit the dentist, you often meet many staff members, each of whom is responsible for one or more aspects of your oral health care. When choosing a dental professional to provide a specific service, however, many patients may not understand the difference between a dentist and an oral surgeon. It is an important distinction that could affect the outcome of your dental procedure.

Role of a dentist:

Dentists are responsible for maintaining good oral health and are aware of your entire oral health history. What you can expect when visiting the dentist is a thorough cleaning with a dental hygienist, a full dental exam (where they will inspect your teeth, gums and probe between the gum lines looking for decay or deep pockets), scaling (a procedure used to remove extremely stubborn build up), oral cancer screenings, fluoride treatments, x-rays to look for any problems that can’t be seen with the naked eye and sealants (if applicable to your child). If your dentist notices any abnormalities (i.e. gum disease or extremely deep pockets between your teeth and gums) they will refer you to an oral/maxillofacial surgeon who will examine these issues further.

Role of an oral surgeon:

If your dentist refers you to an oral surgeon, it does not necessarily mean you have a challenging case to treat…it simply means there is a specialized surgeon who can adequately treat your case better than a general practitioner.  Oral and maxillofacial surgeons focus on treating problems related to the hard and soft tissues of the face, mouth, and jaws. You might need oral surgery for something as common as dental implants or for the treatment of a tumours or cysts in your jaw.

Here are some reasons why you may need to visit an oral surgeon:

  1. Dental Implants: As an alternative to dentures, you would see an oral surgeon if you wanted implants to replace any broken or missing teeth.
  2. Impacted teeth: If your teeth are impacted or fully below the gum line, you would need to see an oral surgeon who will administer a general anesthetic who will cut into the jaw line to remove the teeth.
  3. Cracked or fractured teeth: If you have teeth that are already cracked or fractured and are likely to break more during the extraction, you would see an oral surgeon who is trained in the delicate procedure of removing cracked or fractured teeth.
  4. Complications during extractions:  If your tooth has complex roots or develops cracks, an oral surgeon may be called in to minimize discomfort and the risk for further complications.
  5. Sufferers from dental anxiety: Regardless of the physical situation with your tooth, some patients prefer to be asleep for an extraction if they suffer from dental anxiety or a fear of going to the dentist. In this case, an oral surgeon is needed to administer general anesthesia.

Getting teeth removed and deciding whether to get a dental implant procedure is a big step. We recommend talking with your dentist first. Your dentist can assess your situation and recommend the oral surgeon or dental specialist that is most suited for you.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Pediatric Dentist Recommendations for Children’s Oral Health

Good oral health is important for everyone, even for babies and young children. However, good oral health is not only about caring for your child’s teeth, it is also about  educating them and yourself about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene starting at a very young age. Also, because a lot of people are afraid of the dentist, it is best to see a pediatric dentist who specializes in working with young children so that your child’s first dental experience is a positive one.

Here are some recommendations from pediatric dentists on how to keep your child’s mouth as healthy as possible:

Start an oral regime early

Despite great advancements in decay prevention, one in four children still develop signs of tooth decay before they start school. In fact, did you know even babies can develop tooth decay if good feeding habits aren’t practiced? From an early age, if proper dental regimes aren’t implemented, your child could develop something called bottle mouth. This is when the sugars from the milk and juices stay on the teeth and gums. In severe cases of this, once the permanent teeth have actually grown in, they may have to be removed if bottle mouth isn’t treated or addressed. In older children, reports show that at least half of all kids have cavities. This is why dental care and education should start as soon as your child is born. Even before their teeth start to develop, pediatric dentists say to run a clean, damp washcloth over the gums to clear away harmful bacteria. After your child develops their first tooth (within the first six months to a year), using an infant toothbrush with water and a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a rice grain). The Canadian Dental Association recommends that kids have their first dental exam between the ages of 1 and 2. These visits can help find problems early and help kids get used to visiting the dentist so they’ll have less fear about going as they get older. These appointments are important for parents as well. Your child’s pediatric dentist will provide information about proper brushing and flossing techniques for your child.

Use sealants to protect teeth

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., using thin protective coatings on teeth in children may help prevent tooth decay  in the molars which start sprouting at about the age of six. According to the Canadian Dental Association about 23 percent of children do suffer from tooth decay; however, only one in three children receive sealants on their teeth. By using sealants you’re drastically reducing the risk of tooth decay…so it’s best to consult your pediatric dentist to find out more.

Instill habits of brushing and flossing daily

Good dental hygiene and practices are not something that’s innate; it has to be taught in order for your children to have an effective oral regime. Colgate recommends that once your child’s teeth begin to touch you should introduce them to flossing. And always remember to brush your child’s teeth a minimum of twice daily and change the toothbrush quarterly (about four times a year) to ensure their best dental health.

Maintain proper eating habits and avoid sugars

At every age, a healthy diet is essential to healthy teeth and gums. A well-balanced diet of whole foods (including grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products) will provide all the nutrients you need. Avoid giving your children sugary drinks, including soft drinks and fruit drinks. These pose a special threat to teeth as they raise acid levels and can erode enamel.

It’s never too early to teach your kids proper oral hygiene techniques or check cavities and other dental problems.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.