Happy Holidays from Dr.Ross and Staff
Wishing you a sparkling holiday season
May your smiles be Merry and White!
Posts
Snoring and dental problems
If you don`t have good oral health, it can be the reason for your Sleep Apnea.
You can sometimes find early signs of a sleep disorder by visiting your Dentist.
The first sign of having sleep apnea is tooth grinding (bruxism). Grinding can cause tooth wear and breakage as well as inflamed and receding gums.
A spike in cavities can also be a sign of grinding.
Sometimes mouth`s anatomy and sinuses and Sometimes the eruption of the wisdom teeth can be the reason for snoring.
When the tooth has partially erupted, this causes a flap of tissue to become infected and swollen.
Because of this condition, patients may sleep with their mouth open, leading to snoring.
Snoring also can be caused by a number of factors like allergies, a cold, overweight, or alcohol consumption.
Other risk factors that contribute to what causes snoring include the following:
Being male, Being 40 years of age or older, Pregnancy and family history of snoring.
There are approved oral appliances available to help with snoring.
Your dentist can make you a custom snoring device, but only after you have been officially diagnosed with an oral problem. This oral appliance is a device that fits like a retainer and looks like a mouth guard. It supports your jaw and tongue to maintain an open upper airway.
There are several benefits to using a custom-made snoring device over store-bought ones, including:
– The device is much more effective than any prefabricated one because
it’s specially designed for your mouth.
– A custom snore guard will last definitely longer than that one you can get over the counter.
– They are portable, so you can take them with you while traveling.
– Oral appliances are far more comfortable than wearing a mask!
How Smoking affects your dental health?
Smoking is already proven to be really bad for your oral health. It appears that smoking interferes with the normal function of gum tissue cells. This interference makes smokers more susceptible to infections. It causes severe periodontal (gum) disease, and once you have gum damage, smoking also makes it harder for your gums to heal. In general, smoking gives you bad breath, tooth discoloration and Increasing risk of bone and tooth loss.Further more, it has serious effects on developing oral cancers . Smoking can also lower success rate of dental implant procedures. Please If your have any signs and symptoms of gum disease like red,puffy,tender gum or bleeding while you are brushing do not hesitate to call us. We can book you a quick check up appointment with Dr.Shahriary.
Some tips for Thanksgiving
Next weekend, as your family celebrates Thanksgiving Day, it’s important to keep your oral health in mind. When preparing your holiday meal, include foods that are nutritious and beneficial for your teeth and gums. Turkey, Cheese, Greens and vegetables are packed with protein and phosphorous, Calcium, vitamins and minerals which are all good for health and strength of your teeth and gum.
Cranberry sauce which is a tasty Thanksgiving tradition, pumpkin pie and desserts are the sweetest part of our celebration. But you should consider that starchy foods are full of sugary carbohydrates, which build up bacteria in the mouth and can lead to cavities. Just make sure to have a few drinks of water afterward to wash away food debris from your mouth.
If you do notice tooth stains after Thanksgiving, contact us and also ask about our teeth whitening services. There’s no need to completely deprive you this Thanksgiving. But do keep in mind these suggestions for your dental health.
Happy Thanksgiving in advance!
What’s the Procedure for getting your Veneers?
Dental Veneers or porcelain laminates are tooth-colored, wafer-thin, custom-made shells bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, size, length, or shape.
Getting a dental veneer usually requires at least three appointments with the dentist: one for a consultation and two others to make and apply the veneers.
- The first step is when you explain what you expect to achieve and your dentist checks your teeth to see if dental veneers are appropriate for you, discuss what the procedure will involve and your dentist may take X-rays. Also, there is a possibility of making impressions of your mouth and teeth, on the same day.
- Second appointment: Your dentist will remove about 1/2 millimeter of your tooth surface, approximately equal to the thickness of the veneer. Then, an impression of your tooth will be made to be sent out to the lab to construct your veneer. It usually takes 2-4 weeks to receive the veneers back. Meanwhile, Temporary dental veneers will be placed.
- Third appointment: Before the dental veneer is permanently cemented, your dentist tries in the veneers repeatedly and may trim the veneer as needed to achieve the proper fit. Also, your dentist needs your confirmation about the proper color, size and fit before permanently bond and cement your veneers.
- You might be asked to return for a follow-up visit in a couple of weeks to check gums and to once again examine the veneer’s placement.
- If you need more information about Veneers, make a free appointment today to consult Dr.Shahriary.
How do you care about your Denture?
Dentures are “false teeth”, can replace all the teeth in your mouth or only some of them. You should care for denture as you would for your teeth.
To care of your Denture
- Always Stand over a Towel or Bowl of water in order not to break your denture.
- Store dentures in lukewarm water or denture-cleaning liquid overnight, not in hot water! Also, do not let them dry out.
- Clean your denture every day with a brush designed for cleaning dentures or a toothbrush with soft bristles and denture cleanser, not toothpaste which can scratch your denture. Please do not use household cleaners or bleach.
- You should at least 6 hours a day, leave your denture out. Remember to take it out at night. This lowers the risk of choking if the dentures become loose.
- Please don`t try to fix your Denture yourself.
To care of your Gums:
Check your gums daily. Brush your gum, tongue and the roof of your mouth with a soft brush every day before putting your denture in.
Let red, swollen gums heal before putting in the dentures again. If the redness does not go away in a few days, call the dentist.
White patches on the inside of the cheeks could also mean the dentures aren’t fitting well.
If you feel any discomfort with your gum or denture, Schedule your appointment today.
Baby Teeth – When do they come in?
The most common questions we are asked about Baby teeth are “when will they come in?” and “when will they fall out?”. While the answer can vary – we have a general timeline for when we expect these things to occur.
Most children will have all 20 of their primary teeth by the time they are 3 years old. By age 21 all of your child’s permanent teeth should have erupted (with the exception of wisdom teeth which may or may not fully erupt.)
Caring for baby teeth can be difficult for parents.
| From 1 to 2 years |
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| From 3 to 4 years old |
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| For all ages |
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To schedule your child’s next cleaning Contact us! (604) 936-1263
What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?
Many people have mild to moderate dental phobias. A lack of understanding about what happens while you’re in the chair for a cleaning can add to this fear.
First Exam
Your hygienist will likely start by doing a quick exam of your mouth, noting and potential areas of concern to discuss with the dentist when they come in to perform a more thorough examination. They will use a small mirror to check your teeth and gums for any signs of inflammation, decay, and other issues.
Removing Plaque and Tartar
The hygienist will use a scaler during your cleaning to “scrape” plaque and tartar build-up around and under your gumline and between your teeth. They may also use a “cavitron” or water scaler in addition to or instead of hand instruments to remove build up.
If this is your least favourite part of your cleanings remember that improved oral health (proper brushing and flossing) reduces the amount of tartar and plaque in your mouth. Less tartar and plaque = less time scaling (scraping).
Polishing
This is when the hygienist uses a high powered electric rotating rubber cup to apply a gritty toothpaste to your teeth. The high-pitched sound can be intimidating but this part of your cleaning is important for removing surface stains.
Professional Flossing
No one is more skilled at flossing your teeth than a hygienist. It might seem silly to have your hygienist floss your teeth during your cleaning if you’ve already flossed that day, but this helps to remove any leftover plaque, polishing paste or debris.
Fluoride Treatment
There are a few different options available for fluoride treatments. (Not all dentists carry all options.) Most common are fluoride trays: foam trays that fit over your teeth and are filled with a flavoured gel or foam fluoride and placed in your mouth for 1 minute. There is also a flavoured paint-on varnish that stays on your teeth until you brush it off at night. Least effective, but a good option for people with a strong gag reflex is a fluoride ride that you swish in your mouth for one minute. Fluoride helps to strengthen enamel and prevent tooth decay. It is an important part of your regular cleaning.
Post-Cleaning Exam
Your dentist will then come in and review any notes your hygienist has made, and perform their own exam with the help of a small handheld mirror. In this time they may find spots of potential decay and recommend x-rays to be certain. Other concerns your dentist is looking for is bite/jaw issues, the need for orthodontic referral, or referral to a periodontist if your gums have deep pockets around the teeth.
Contact us today to schedule your next cleaning and check up! (604) 936-1263
Pregnancy and how it affects your oral health.
While keeping your mouth healthy is important, it becomes even more so during pregnancy. As your hormones change you may face oral health issues such as gum and bone disease. The following preventative measures will help keep your smile healthy and reduce risks such as low birth weight and pre-term delivery.
Morning Sickness
One of the most problematic symptoms you can experience in pregnancy is morning sickness. Repeated exposure to stomach acid can wreak havoc on your enamel causing tooth decay and erosion. These steps should be taken following any episodes of vomiting:
- Rinse your mouth with water or fluoride mouth wash (if you can stand it) immediately following the episode
- After rinsing your mouth, wait for at least 30 minutes to further reduce the acid in your mouth
- Brush your teeth
Preventative Measures
Daily:
- Floss
- Brush your teeth at least twice per day with a fluoride toothpaste using a soft bristled toothbrush
- Drink fluoridated water where available
Schedule a checkup and cleaning in your first trimester to assess the current state of your oral health.
Bleeding Gums
Your hormone changes can affect your gums. They may be more sensitive and they might bleed easily, even if you have good oral hygiene.
“Pregnancy Gingivitis”
Between months 3 and 9 gestation, you may experience pregnancy gingivitis. This is when your gums become swollen, red, and/or irritated from bacteria along your gumline. It is important to see your dentist during pregnancy as gingivitis may turn into periodontitis. Most pregnancy-related gum issues will resolve themselves after giving birth, however, if they do not it is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Visiting Your Dentist
If you do need dental work during pregnancy – the best time to have your work completed is during your second trimester. It is a good idea to avoid X-rays while you are pregnant. X-rays of your mouth should only be taken in an emergency. If you need an X-ray, make sure you are covered with a lead apron to protect your baby from the radiation.
Contact us today to set up your next appointment!
TMJ Awareness Month – November
TMJ
If you experience excessive clenching, grinding, or “lockjaw”- you could suffer from TMJ disorder. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint; the joint which connects your lower jaw to your skull. This joint works like a hinge allowing us to talk, chew, and make facial expressions. TMJ problems can begin from a number of factors including stress, sleeping on one side of the jaw, excessive gum chewing, anxiety, overextending your jaw (by yawning, etc..). Leaving a TMJ disorder untreated can worsen other symptoms such as headache, earache, neck joint/muscle pain, etc…
In severe cases, chronic grinding can lead to loosening, fracturing, or loss of teeth. Over time, it can even change the appearance of your face. Since teeth grinding usually occurs during sleep, it can lead to sleep issues, including sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous disorder in which sleep is disrupted by interruptions in breathing and shallow breaths.
Treatment Options
What you can do to help yourself:
If you find yourself clenching or grinding in stressful situations there are self-care practices you can try to reduce symptoms:
- Reduced consumption of alcohol and foods and drinks that contain caffeine
- Avoiding gum chewing and eating hard candy
- Not chewing on pencils, pens or other non-food objects
- Consciously relaxing your jaw and your facial muscles throughout the day
- Positioning the tip of your tongue between your teeth when you have the urge to clench your teeth, which helps train your jaw muscles to relax
- Increased intake of water
Medical Steps:
If your clenching and grinding occur at night when it is not consciously controllable, there are devices that can be made by your dentist to help! A custom-made night guard (designed for your teeth only) fit tightly around your upper or lower teeth to prevent wear to your dentition and help control the urge to clench. Many dental insurance companies cover these types of night guards which helps reduce your cost out of pocket.
To book a TMJ consultation appointment call or email us today!