Meeting your dentist routinely throughout the year, helps you play an active role in your own dental well-being. Regular dental maintenance is essential in maintaining good oral and dental health. Our dental team plays a key role in the prevention and detection of dental problems, through education and the active engagement of our patients into taking ownership and control of their dental health. This is important at all stages of life.

Appropriate dental care is important for many reasons. The following are some of the most common benefits:

• It helps stop the progression and even formation of dental cavities (especially during the early stages)
• It helps assist in the prevention and controlling of periodontal (gum) diseases
• Regular brushing and flossing prevents bad breath by reducing odour causing bacteria in the oral cavity
• Gives you a healthy and confident smile through strong teeth and healthy gums
• Prevents plaque and stain build-up caused by the consumption of certain foods and drinks, as well are such things as tobacco/ cigar use

It is important that you follow the right practices to assist in the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. The following are a few helpful hints:

• Use fluoridated toothpastes to help make your teeth more resilient to the detrimental effects of bacteria (ranging from staining, to gum disease, to cavities and dental infections)
• Brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily, for approximately 2 minute intervals.
• We suggest that you visit us here at Dentistry on Dusk, at least twice a year. This is essential for prevention and the development and reinforcement of good oral maintenance strategies.
• Get in touch with our dental team for any oral condition that persists for more than two weeks
• Avoid foods rich in sugars (fermentable carbohydrates), because such sugars can leads to an increase in harmful bacteria in the mouth that then can contribute to dental and gum related diseases.
• Avoid the consumption of tobacco. Apart from the staining it may cause to your teeth, it may also result in an increased risk for oral cancer and dental related diseases.
• The brushing of your tongue also plays an important role in reducing the bacterial count in your mouth. This is because 90% of the bacteria found in your mouth, can be found populated on your tongue!

The first visit of a child should take place by age one or when the first teeth start to appear. After this, regular check-ups are essential to keep dental problems at bay.

You should visit a dentist once at least every six months whether you are a child, adult or teen. Individuals with compromised medical health, may also be more prone to certain dental problems and should see the dentist more often. The maintenance schedule advised for you, will be specific to your dental needs.

A cavity is a small hole that is formed on the surface of a tooth by cavity causing bacteria. The process by which this occurs, often initiated by the build-up of dental plaque. Plaque interacts with the sugar and starch sources, producing acidic waste products that start to breakdown the enamel surfaces of your teeth. This creates cavitations (also known as cavities). If a cavity remains undetected and untreated, it can continue to progress, grow and spread to adjacent teeth. This can give rise to more involved dental treatments in the future, ranging from dental fillings to tooth extractions. The most effective way to help prevent cavities, is through dietary changes to that involving a well-balanced and healthy lifestyle. Adequate brushing of teeth, at least three times a day, whilst flossing at least two times daily can also help.

Fillings are synthetic materials used to fill a tooth after the removal of tooth decay. They are made of various materials ranging from metal amalgam fillings, composite resins, to golds and ceramics. Visit our dental office today to know more about fillings and how they can help treat decayed and broken down teeth.

Dental experts suggest that you should brush your teeth at least twice in a day. Brushing helps to loosen food deposits found in-between and around teeth, as well as reducing the amount of plaque causing bacteria, keeping teeth and gums cleaner and healthier. You should always use a soft bristled tooth brush and fluoride containing toothpaste. Brushing your upper as well as lower teeth for at least two minutes each, is a good daily practice. Remember to brush your tongue to reduce the occurrence of bad breath.

Brushing your teeth for at least two times in a day, for two minute intervals, will soon wear out the bristles of your brush. Ideally you should replace your tooth brush once every three months. Patients with gum diseases should change their tooth brush every four to six weeks to help prevent the spread of gum infection. If you have been sick, it is a good and hygienic practice to change your tooth brush immediately after recovery (to prevent delayed healing or impaired recovery). The use of electric tooth brushes are good for people with impaired manual dexterity, and may last longer than manual toothbrushes. After you are done brushing your teeth, you should rinse your tooth brush with warm water to keep them free of bacteria and food debris.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is caused by plaque and bacterial build up, that have destructive and degenerative effects on the supporting structures of teeth ( such as the gingiva, alveolar bone and periodontal ligament). Other initiating and contributing factors of periodontal diseases, include the consumption of tobacco, grinding or clenching of teeth, certain adverse effects of medications and even genetics. All of these can play a role in the progression and onset of gum disease. Gingivitis is the initial form of gum disease that is often treatable through mechanical bacterial debridement. It is reversible, with there being no permanent damage induced to the supporting structures of teeth. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to become periodontitis, which is a more destructive process with long lasting detrimental effects on teeth. Advanced gum diseases can lead to both tooth loss and bone destruction. Taking appropriate care of the teeth can help prevent gum diseases. The most common symptoms of gum diseases include:

• Red, swollen, bleeding gums
• Chronic bad breath
• Loose teeth or loss of teeth
• Extreme tooth sensitivity
• Receding gum line
• Abscessed teeth

Braces play an integral role in orthodontic treatment. It is more important that those undergoing tooth alignment procedures, through orthodontics, meet their dentists at regular intervals. If you have braces in your mouth, it is quite likely for food particles to get lodged in-between teeth, where regular brushing cannot reach. This leads to bacterial build-up, and resulting cavities, gingivitis, gum problems and other dental conditions. Visiting your dentist with regular maintenance intervals throughout the year, will ensure that your teeth stay clean and healthy, even while you are wearing braces.

Simply call us at 905-453-7777 to schedule an appointment to meet with our dental team. Call us in advance to schedule your preferred appointment times. We will assist you with all the necessary information that you may need for your first dental visit with us!

If you have problems with regular movements of your hand or shoulders that can impair your brushing ability, we have a few suggestions that may assist you:

• You can enlarge the handle of your toothbrush with a tennis ball, sponge or bicycle grip for improved control
• You can also lengthen the handle with a stick or rod
• You may bend the handle of the tooth brush
• You may try to use an electric tooth brush

Even if you have dentures, it is essential for you to visit a dentist and/or denturist regularly. Your dentist/denturist will examine your mouth and check for problems related to the tongue, joints of the jaw and other impending dental conditions, which if detected at an earlier stage can be treated effectively.