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The Bottled Water Boom and Your Child’s Teeth
Keeping your child's gums and teeth healthy requires more than just daily brushing and flossing. During a check-up, your child's dentist might inquire about your drinking water supply. That's because fluoride, a substance naturally found in water, plays an important role in cavity prevention and the healthy development of children's teeth.
Fluoride combats tooth decay in two ways. It strengthens the tooth enamel, the hard shiny substance that protects the teeth, so that it can better resist the acids formed by plaque. Fluoride also allows teeth damaged by acid to repair, or remineralize themselves. While fluoride can't repair cavities, it can reverse low levels of tooth decay, which could prevent newcavities from forming.
Though fluoride benefits adults, it is especially critical to the health of developing teeth in children. Tooth decay remains one of the most common diseases ...
May 3, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
Reduce Dental Costs With Regular Check-Ups
As dentists, we sometimes receive telephone calls from people shopping for the least expensive treatment options available. While cost is certainly important, it should not be the most important thing to consider before having dental work done.
The long term needs of your teeth and gums and the quality of the dental work should be of paramount importance.
The key to reducing dental costs is prevention. There is a lot you can do to avoid serious dental problems. Regular dental checkups are an essential part of any prevention program. If you see a dentist regularly, any dental problems you may have can be treated in their early stages.
Fact is, in our competitive environment here in the greater Belleville I Trenton I Picton areas, most people discover that the cost of dental care really doesn't vary that much from one dental office to another.
You can request a quotation before ...
May 3, 2010Dental News2Continue reading
Is Your Toothbrush Making You Sick?
Just about everyone knows that you should change the oil in your car's engine at least every three months or 6,000 km's, but how many of us are mindless when it comes to maintaining and changing our toothbrushes?
Under normal conditions, you should replace your individual toothbrushes every three months because they can harbor harmful bacteria that can cause infection such as gingivitis and periodontitis. Moreover, toothbrushes stored in the warm, steamy environment of a bathroom (one of the most contaminated areas of the home) can harbor germs that can prolong sore throats and oral infections.
While not asubstitute for quarterly toothbrush replacement, soaking your toothbrush in an anti-microbial mouthwash for at least 30 minutes after each use can help to cleanse your toothbrush.
Alternatively, you might consider cleaning your toothbrushes in the dishwasher after every use. If ...
May 3, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
Baby, What a Smile!
Many parents may not realize how important "baby" teeth really are, not only for esthetics, but also for function and to hold places for the child's permanent teeth.
After all, they reason, "baby" teeth are going to fall out eventually. It's just a matter of time.
Baby teeth or "deciduous" teeth, start erupting at about six months of age. They will remain until the age of eleven or twelve. During that time, it is crucial to do everything you can to protect your child against the loss of any teeth. If a "baby" tooth is lost, the later adult tooth will lack aguide needed to position itself properly.
You can do a lot to reduce the possibility of tooth decay with an oral hygiene program that includes daily brushing with fluoridated toothpaste and gentle flossing.
Fluoride is one of the best tools in the fight against tooth decay because it strengthens the teeth. Use only "pea" sized ...
April 19, 2010Dental News1Continue reading
Don’t Let Missing Teeth Limit Your Lifestyle
Few incidents have greater impact on a person's dental health and personal appearance than tooth loss. When one or more teeth are missing, the remaining teeth can drift out of position which can lead to a change in the bite, the loss of additional teeth, decay and even gum disease.
Your teeth work together to help you chew, speak, sing and smile. When you lack teeth, it can be difficult to do these things. The loss of a back tooth for example may cause your mouth to sink and your face to look older. More importantly, though, your dental health may suffer when missing teeth are not replaced. Teeth were designed to compliment each other. When a tooth is lost, the nearby teeth may tilt toward the empty space, or the teeth in the opposite jaw may move up or down toward the space, placing unusual stress on both the teeth and the tissues in your mouth. In addition, the gum tissues and ...
April 12, 2010Dental News0Continue reading
