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Fluoride Benefits and Information

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Fluoride is a mineral which is naturally found in Canada’s water, food, soil, and air.

We have used fluoride to prevent tooth decay since the 1940’s. In fact, it has been scientifically proven to:

  • strengthen tooth enamel
  • lower the amount of acid in your mouth
  • rebuild minerals that make teeth stronger

Sources of fluoride to prevent tooth decay

Toothpaste

Brushing your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay.

Water

Drinking water that contains an optimal level of fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.

Varnishes

Varnish prevents tooth decay in people who are at risk for the disease. Varnish should be painted on your teeth by someone who has been trained to do so.

Mouth rinses

Mouth rinses or mouthwashes prevent tooth decay in people who are at risk for the disease. Talk to your oral health professional before using them. Never give fluoridated mouth rinses or mouthwashes to children under 6 years of age. These rinses contain very high levels of fluoride, and young children are more likely to swallow them.

Gels and foams

Gels and foams are applied to the teeth to prevent tooth decay in people who are at risk for the disease. However, research shows that they do not work as well as varnish.

Supplements

Fluoride supplements are drops or tablets. Only take them if an oral health professional advises you to.

Effects on health

Fluoride is good for your teeth, but having too much can cause two potential effects on health:

  • dental fluorosis
  • skeletal fluorosis

Aligner Tray Cleaning – How to

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How To Clean Aligner Trays: What TO DO

There are plenty of varying tips for cleaning your aligner trays, and advice will probably differ slightly even from dentist to dentist. That being said, the general guidelines are as follows:

  • Take your aligners out each morning and clean your teeth and the trays
  • Rinse the aligners every time you take them out
  • Brush them gently without toothpaste before putting them back in, as this has been shown to decrease bacteria.
  • Soak your aligners in a cleaning solution at least once per week
  • Brush and floss your teeth before putting your trays back in
  • Brush your aligners with a soft-bristled brush with warm water after each meal. But don’t use toothpaste, as it is too abrasive.

When and How Many Times Do I Have to Clean Aligner Trays?

It would be best to clean your aligners at least twice daily, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and lukewarm water to gently remove stains, bacteria, and food particles. You can gently brush your aligners after every meal before putting them back in your mouth, but you should at least rinse them if you don’t brush them.

Once every few days or once per week, you should soak your aligners in a special cleansing solution.

How To Clean Aligner Trays: What NOT to DO

There are a surprising amount of rules and guidelines when it comes to cleaning your  aligners, but it’s imperative that you follow them lest you ruin your trays and have to order more, delaying your treatment time and potentially costing you more as well. So, before you go about cleaning your aligners, take a look at the list of don’ts when it comes to aligner cleaning:

  • Leave your aligners outside of their case
  • Forget to take your aligners with you on trips
  • Eat or drink with your aligners in
  • Use toothpaste to clean your aligners
  • Take your aligners out if it’s not necessary

Vaping and Cavities – What you need to know

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A vaping habit could end up leading to a tarnished smile, and more frequent visits to the dentist.

Research from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine found patients who used vaping devices have a higher risk of developing cavities. With CDC surveys reporting that 9.1 million American adults — and 2 million teenagers — use tobacco-based vaping products, that means a lot of vulnerable teeth.

The association between vaping and risk of cavities serve as an alert that this once seemingly harmless habit may be very detrimental.

Over the last few years, public awareness has increased about the dangers of vaping to health, particularly after the use of vaping devices was tied to lung disease. Some dental research has shown ties between e-cigarette use and increased markers for gum disease, and, separately, damage to the tooth’s enamel. But relatively little emphasis has been placed on the intersection between e-cigarette use and oral health, even by dentists.

The recent findings of the research may be just a hint of the damage vaping causes to the mouth. “The extent of the effects on dental health, specifically on dental decay, are still relatively unknown,” lead researcher, Karina Irusa says.

This study, Irusa says, is the first known specifically to investigate the association of vaping and e-cigarettes with the increased risk for getting cavities. She and her colleagues analyzed data from more than 13,000 patients older than 16 who were treated at Tufts dental clinics from 2019-2022.

While the vast majority of the patients said they did not use vapes, there was a statistically significant difference in dental caries risk levels between the e-cigarette/vaping group and the control group. Some 79% of the vaping patients were categorized as having high-caries risk, compared to just about 60% of the control group.

One reason why e-cigarette use could contribute to a high risk of cavities is the sugary content and viscosity of vape liquid, which, when aerosolized and then inhaled through the mouth, sticks to the teeth. Vaping aerosols have been shown to change the oral microbiome making it an ideal host to decay-causing bacteria. It’s also been observed that vaping seems to encourage decay in areas where it usually doesn’t occur, such as the bottom edges of front teeth.

“It takes a lot of investment of time and money to manage dental caries, depending on how bad it gets,” Irusa says. “Once you’ve started the habit, even if you get fillings, as long as you continue, you’re still at risk of secondary caries. It’s a vicious cycle that will not stop.”

Restoration Care – Care for your restorations

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HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW RESTORATION.

Congratulations on your new veneer, crown, or bridge!

By following some simple guidelines you can extend the life of your crown, bridge, or veneer:

PREVENT FRACTURES
While our lab uses the highest quality materials, it doesn’t mean your veneers, crowns, or bridges are unbreakable. Stress can trigger clenching and teeth grinding which puts extreme pressure on your teeth and restorations. This can cause cracks and fractures to your teeth and veneers.
If you grind your teeth at night it is important to discuss this with Dr. Shahriary and have a night guard fabricated. Similarly, it is important to wear a sports guard when participating in contact sports.
Many people use their teeth to break tags from clothing, open packages, bite their nails, etc.

Teeth are not pliers or tools; and using them as such puts you at high risk of breaking your restorations AND your natural teeth.

HYGIENE
You can still develop tooth decay even when you have veneers, crowns, or bridges. The margin where the restoration meets your natural teeth is a particularly susceptible area. Protect your investment by flossing everyday, brushing twice a day, cleaning under your bridge, and having regular cleaning and check ups. Healthy, pink gums are the clearest indicator of a healthy smile.
Always tell your new dentist or hygienist if you have veneers, crowns, or bridges. Lab work has become so detailed that it can be difficult to tell which teeth are restored and which are natural!

Call us today to book an appointment to discuss your dental needs. We want to help you achieve the smile you have always dreamed of!

Saba Sets Sail with Dr. Shahriary’s Office

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Chances are, if you have had a crown or bridge done in our office in the last few years it was made by Nassar at Saba Dental Lab. This August, our office was fortunate enough to be invited out on Nassar’s sail boat for an evening of delicious food and gorgeous sights in Deep Cove.

Dr. Ross helped Nassar dock the boat and fuel while Morgan and Nada earned their “sea legs”. Beth and Dani soaked up the child-free sunshine. A great time was had by all.

While on a quick stop over at Arm’s Reach Bistro for appetizers and drinks, Dr. Ross and Nassar realized they had a connection back home in Iran. Nassar’s lab used to make crown and bridge work for the hospital that Ross’s father helped build!

We feel so fortunate to have beautiful  Saba work in our patient’s mouths. His crowns and bridges look natural, they’re durable, and are of exceptional quality.

 

Gifts Your Teeth will Love

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Give the gifts of beautiful teeth this holiday season. Dental products can make a great gift whether your budget is big or small!

Tooth brushes and tooth paste make great stocking stuffers. Especially for kiddos who are still learning how to brush. Bristles can become chewed up and ineffective faster when toddlers are just learning to brush.

Bigger kids may find their brushing technique more effective with a disposable electric brush. These do a better job of cleaning the teeth, even when your child’s brushing style is less than ideal.

Fun flavours of toothpaste encourage good oral hygiene habits and get kids excited to brush every day.

If you have a bigger budget for gifts, electric tooth brushes can greatly improve oral hygiene. Oral B electric toothbrushes have a round head and behave like a dental tooth would in our office – though the can be a touch loud, the brushing technique is highly effective. If the noise of an Oral B brush is too much for you we also recommend Philips Sonicare toothbrushes. They are quieter than the Oral B, though often more expensive.

Do you have a big event coming up in 2022 or do you want your smile to be glamorously white for your New Years Kiss? Treat your self to the gift of tooth whitening. Our office offers Opalescence Go (a more concentrated version of a white strip), Custom Trays made for your teeth that come with take home bleach syringes, or in-office whitening for the fastest results.

Not sure which gifts to pick? Call our office to discuss your specific dental needs!

Costumes Inspired by your Dental Office!

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Not sure which costume to buy this year? Need some last minute inspiration? We’ve got you! No one else at the party will be wearing these!

Darla from Finding Nemo

Costume

Who could forget Darla the “Fish Killer” from Finding Nemo? She’s the niece of Dr. P. Sherman (42 Wallaby Way, Sydney) and with a Dentist for an Uncle you know she’s getting a deep discount on that headgear!

Toothbrush, Toothpaste, and Tooth

The classic trio. If you’re looking for group costumes, this is a combo that’s sure to stand out. You might even remind your friends to brush after all of that sticky candy you’ll be eating Halloween night.

Gag Teeth

Costume

Now this is crazy – kudos to the parents who spent the time to make this get-up. No one else in their class will have this costume.

The Tooth Fairy

Of course, you could go with the traditional beautiful woman in a tutu with wings and a tooth wand – but there’s something hilarious about a grown man in a leotard.

Your Dentist, of course!

Costume

This year a costume that already incorporates a mask is PERFECT.

And finally the scariest costume of all…

The Patient

Costume

She tells you she flosses everyday, but her gums say otherwise. Nothing is scarier to a hygienist than this patient!

 

Whatever you go as this Halloween, be safe, have fun, and give us a call if all the sweets give you a tooth ache!

 

Happy Halloween from Dr. Shahriary and Staff!

TikTok Veneer Trend Ain’t Bussin.

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In a recent TikTok trend influencers are doing “veneer checks” to show off their shaved down teeth. The problem is – these influencers aren’t getting veneers! Their teeth are prepped in a way that suggests they’re getting full mouth crowns. Although it doesn’t seem like a big deal,  crowns compromise a great deal of your tooth structure leaving them weak and vulnerable.

Preparing a tooth for a veneer involves removing a small layer of your enamel. We then cement a thin, shell-like porcelain piece (the veneer) to the outside of your tooth. This can improve the shape, colour, length, and overall uniformity of the tooth.

Preparing a tooth for a crown involves cutting down your tooth to a peg-like shape and covering the whole prepared tooth with a porcelain or zirconia cap. It also improves shape, colour, and uniformity. Crowns are typically reserved for teeth that are already compromised due to a crack, root canal, or large area of decay.

On average, veneers and crowns need to be replaced every 10-15 years. As a result, the people in the TikTok videos will likely need to replace their restorations 5 or more times in their lifetime. They may find this is costly and detrimental to their oral health.

If you’re not satisfied with your smile, book a consultation with our office and we can discuss ways to improve your aesthetics. Lets achieve the smile you’ve been dreaming about!

Our office offers whitening, Invisalign, night guards, and other services that can help your teeth look their best without shaving them down to pegs.

Call today for your consultation! https://austindentalgroups.com/contact/

 

Source:

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/michaelblackmon/veneers-dental-work-instagram-smile

 

World Diabetes Day – Your Blood Glucose

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November 14th is World Diabetes Day. We’d like to raise awareness by giving you some information about how diabetes can affect your overall health. It’s important to note that when a diabetic patient keeps their blood glucose levels in their target range, they are no more susceptible to oral health issues than the average person.

Risks

Poorly managed blood glucose levels can result in dry mouth, ulcers, fungal infections, tooth decay, and loss of teeth. A lack of moisture in your mouth can cause irritated tissue and severe toothaches due to impaired circulation to your teeth. Overall, research shows that gum disease is more prevalent in those with diabetes. This is important as in turn, gum disease has the potential to affect blood glucose control.

People with diabetes have special needs and your dentist and hygienist are equipped to meet those needs—with your help. Keep your dentist and hygienist informed of any changes in your condition and any medication you might be taking. Postpone any non-emergency dental procedures if your blood sugar is not in good control.

Tips

If you have diabetes, the following steps are important to maintaining your oral health:
– Control your blood sugar.
– Brush twice a day and floss regularly.
– Visit a dentist for routine checkups. Be sure to tell the dentist that you have diabetes.
– Tell the dentist if your dentures (false teeth) do not fit right, or if your gums
are sore.
– Quit smoking. Smoking makes gum disease worse. A physician or dentist
can help you quit.

During a dental appointment, stressed patients release hormones that can affect insulin uptake and blood glucose (sugar) levels. It is very important that you take insulin/medications at the appropriate time and follow your meal plan to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

To schedule your next appointment with Dr. Shahriary call or email us today!