Blog
Mouth MattersAre You Thinking About Whitening Your Teeth?
It’s everywhere, people with beautifully perfect white teeth, so you ask yourself, how do I get my teeth to look like that?? First of all, don’t be fooled, much of what you see on T.V. and in magazines has been photoshopped, and most of the movie stars and models have what are called veneers (basically a half crown that is placed over the natural teeth, invasive & expensive, a topic for another day). So keep your expectation of teeth whitening products earthbound. Secondly, don’t be using “whitening” toothpastes. If you can crunch it, you shouldn’t be using it on any regular basis. Some...
Gum Disease & Diabetes: It’s a Two-Way Street
We've been aware for quite some time that if you have diabetes you are at a greater risk for gum diseases such as periodontal disease (an infection of the bone and structures that keep your teeth in place), and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). In case there was any doubt about the link between the health of your mouth and your overall health, new studies are suggesting that the connection between oral health and diabetes are not one sided, that they in fact affect each other. What does gum disease have to do with diabetes? Gum diseases are infections and like any other infection in...
Dental Insurance: Use it before you lose it!
If you are fortunate to work for a company that offers you some dental insurance, don’t let it go to waste. There are many people that don’t have this benefit; in fact about 40% of Ontarians are without any dental insurance. With all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it is easy to postpone your dental hygiene appointment to the New Year, however, if your insurance renews with the calendar year you may be missing an opportunity. How does dental insurance work? The way most dental insurance benefits work is that you are provided a certain dollar amount of insurance each year. If...
Oral Cancer: We Are All at Risk!
The face of oral cancer has changed dramatically over recent years. With more and more people in the spotlight coming out about their battles, such as Michael Douglas, Roger Ebert, and Tony Gwynn, it has helped to bring this disease the attention it deserves. Some facts about oral cancer: 13th most common cancer in Canada, 6th most common worldwide -In Canada more cases are diagnosed per year than cervical or ovarian cancer Overall survival rate is only 63% compared to 75% for cervical cancer 3 people die every day in Canada from oral cancer Exposure to HPV is becoming the most common link...
Top 5 Reasons You Should Floss
Flossing is a dental hygiene procedure that involves the use of a cord of thin filament to remove food and dental plaque from the spaces between teeth. Compared to regular brushing, this is a more effective technique for prevention of periodontal diseases and tooth loss. Despite this, people often give reasons why they don't floss. Some people say that they simply don't know how to floss. For others, it is the discomfort that comes with flossing for the initial few times before getting used to it. However, if you really value your dental health, then take a moment and consider these top 5...
Top 5 Reasons Why You Need a Dental Hygienist
They say that life is short and you can only make the best of it while it lasts. So, please your palate with whatever you fancy and make merry, but remember to brush your teeth and floss. Above all, remember to honor your appointments with your dental hygienist. Do you often find reasons to skip such appointments simply because your teeth aren’t aching, or you feel the visits have become too frequent? Consider that no matter how well you brush your teeth and floss; there will be some buildup of tartar and plaque on teeth in some of those hard-to-reach parts of the mouth. You will thus need a...
Great Dental Hygiene Requires the Right Toothbrush
Do you grab whatever is on sale, stick with your tried-and-true favorite, or is it all about the color? Whatever your decision strategy is you go home with a new toothbrush, but is it the best one for the job? Here are a few do’s and don’ts for picking the right toothbrush for great dental hygiene. Do always opt for soft or extra soft bristles Brushing with anything other than a soft toothbrush will do you more harm than good. It can lead to recession, tooth and root surface abrasion and overall sensitivity. A good way to help prevent the “long-in-the-tooth” look is to stop scrubbing and...
Reasons to Love Your Dental Hygienist
We all love those people around us that care for us, you know, your parents, siblings, spouse, and friends. But what about those people that choose to professionally care for you? Registered Dental Hygienists are just those people! Although there are many reasons for you to love your Dental Hygienists, we thought we would focus on a few that may not be as obvious. Don't forget to add your own personal reasons in the comments section....don't be shy to mention your hygienist I know she (or he) would love to know they're thought of! Life-long friend Your Dental Hygienist can easily be added to...
Why do my gums bleed?
Bleeding gums are no laughing matter and it is not normal. A general rule of thumb is that if your gums are bleeding from things like brushing, flossing or eating then there is infection present. In other words, if your gums are bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth, you have gum disease. Here are some reasons this may be happening 1. You have sub-par oral hygiene resulting in gingivitis. If you fail to brush and floss regularily the plaque and food debris that is left behind will cause your gums to become red and swollen, the result is gingivitis. Surprisingly, this can happen...
Your Mouth: A Portal to The Rest of Your Body
You’re told to brush your teeth and to floss regularly, but apart from having sparkly white teeth and not having bad breath, what’s the reason for it? Well, for a start, slacking off on oral hygiene means that the bacteria that are normally kept at bay by toothpaste and floss has the chance to multiply to unhealthy levels, which may lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. The bad news isn't limited to your mouth. There’s lots of research out there that links the bacteria in your mouth to other very serious health conditions. Gum disease increases inflammation in the...
It’s National Dental Hygienist Week!!
The month of April is Oral Health Month, and this week we celebrate National Dental Hygienist Week. This annual event is sponsored by the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA), an organization that represents more than 24,000 dental hygienists across Canada. Check back every day this week for information focusing on the importance of good oral practices, the oral systemic link, and information to help you understand the role your dental hygienist plays. First let’s take a moment to review a very brief history of dental hygiene as a profession. So what exactly is Self-Initiation? And...
Why Your Dental Hygenist Takes Your Blood Pressure
A simple blood pressure check could reveal a health problem you didn't even know about. It also helps us provide you with better and safer dental hygiene care. For those of you that don’t quite understand how to interpret a blood pressure reading let’s start by defining what the numbers of your blood pressure refer to. • The top number or systolic pressure is the amount of pressure in your arteries during the contraction of your heart muscle. • The bottom number or diastolic pressure is the lowest pressure in an artery in the moments between beats when the heart is resting. Note that blood...