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Dental Health Articles

Antibiotics and Dental Surgery - an ounce of prevention
At your last visit, your dentist asked you to schedule a procedure. Before you left, you were handed a prescription for an antibiotic. Why? Antibiotics may be recommended before certain dental procedures and other surgeries too. The suggestion is made to those at higher risk of serious problems. Dental or surgical procedures might allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing infection.

More Than Just Baby Teeth - A healthy mouth is just as important as a healthy body
It's easy to believe that apart from dealing with the pain of cutting teeth, your child's mouth needs little maintenance. If cavities appear it doesn't matter, since they're just baby teeth and will fall out anyway – right? Think again! Early Childhood Caries (ECC) has been called a 'silent epidemic' by the U.S. Surgeon General. Estimates suggest that almost half a million Canadian children may be affected by this disease. Close to a quarter (about 125,000) go untreated. At the beginning, the pain of cavities can affect sleep, diet, and the ability to grow well. Left untreated, ECC can potentially cause a lifetime of health issues (see ECC – a sign of future problems).

Bad Breath - biology in action
Bad breath is quite common. It is not a disease – everybody has bad breath at some time. Certain diseases are accompanied by bad breath. For that reason, persistent bad breath should be followed up in medical and dental checkups. However, in most people bad breath can be dealt with in fairly simple ways.

Baby Teeth - Good dental care is important right from the start
A common question asked by parents is, "Why do we need to fix baby teeth when they are going to fall out anyway?" There are many reasons dentists fix baby teeth, all of which are important to a child's current and future health.

Caring for Your Mouth - A consumer’s guide to oral health care products
In addition to toothbrushes and toothpaste, today’s pharmacies contain dental care sections. This buffet of items includes mouthwashes, rinses, products for sensitive teeth, dry mouth and cold sores. With a little information, you can decide which ones may benefit you.

Children's Dental Injuries - Quick action can save a tooth
When your child is hurt, it is distressing for both of you. An injury to the teeth of a toddler, young child or teenager is no exception. What’s more, dental trauma can have serious long-term consequences if not dealt with as soon as possible after injury.

Choosing your Dentist - find one who suits your family's dental healthcare needs
Finding a dentist and dental health care team for yourself and your family is an important but sometimes puzzling task. There are many dentists that advertise on billboards, cable TV channels, in the yellow pages and in newspaper ads. There are even computer-based Internet sites that offer to guide you through this task.

Clicks, Cracks & Pops - solving jaw joint and muscle problems
Do you feel pain when you eat, yawn, laugh or talk? Jaw soreness and pain with mouth movement is not normal. It means there is a problem with the jaw joints or muscles. Symptoms include clicking, cracking and popping, headaches, ear discomfort, and changes in the way the teeth come together.

My Dentist is Terrific! - Choosing a quality dental care team
Dental services range from simple tooth whitening to complex and sophisticated surgeries needed to correct facial deformities. As consumers of health care, we generally want to know if our dentist and dental hygienist deliver good care for a reasonable fee. About 70 per cent of all Canadians have some type of dental health care insurance. Even so, we want to be sure our money is well-invested.

The Complete Dental Examination - An important part of oral health
A dental examination is, for the most part, a tooth examination - right? Wrong! The teeth and mouth are not really involved with any other parts of the body - right? Wrong! There is a close connection between what happens to your teeth and mouth, and some conditions in the rest of your body. For this reason, dentists usually examine your head and neck as well as your teeth and mouth in a routine dental check-up.

Cosmetic Dentistry - modern technology can help you get the smile you want
Thanks to new technologies, many options can give you the smile you have always wanted. The magic of cosmetic dentistry can make your teeth whiter, perhaps making you feel more attractive. Cosmetic dentistry can affect self-confidence, relationships, career, and even how old you look. Longer, slimmer teeth can make a round face appear thinner. Shorter, wider teeth can help widen a narrow face. Veneers or crowns can make lips appear fuller. They can smooth upper lip lines and straighten slightly crowded or twisted teeth. Teeth can be made to look more feminine or more masculine, youthful or aggressive.

Dental Care Devices - Choosing the best tools to care for your teeth
The use of mouth, tooth and gum care tools is a very old concept. Excavations in Mesopotamia showed that Sumerians used elaborate gold toothpicks as early as 3000 BC. Chinese cultures in 1600 BC used 'chewsticks' which were primitive toothbrushes. Ancient people wrote about gum disease, toothpaste and mouthwash as early as 4000 BC. Even Hippocrates (460-377 BC), the Father of Medicine, described tooth tartar and preparations for the treatment of unhealthy mouths.

Dental Implants - are they for me?
While it has been said that the eyes are the window to the soul, the mouth communicates an incredible amount about us to others as well as to ourselves. Missing and damaged teeth can affect how we eat, speak, rest, appear and even behave. Fortunately, many acceptable ways to replace missing teeth exist. In approximately the last 40 years, the use of dental implants has become a preferred technique..

Dental X-Rays - all about dental radiology
X-rays are a key part of dentistry. Dental radiographs help find, treat and prevent problems with the teeth, jaw and mouth. They identify dental disease including caries (cavities), periodontal (gum) disease, and injury to the teeth and jaws. Development of the jaws can be monitored with x-rays as a child grows. This tool can also find cysts, tumours or other diseases affecting the jaws.

Removable Dentures - The right fit
Whether from a sporting accident, cavities or gum disease, many people have one or more missing teeth. If you are among them, there are several replacement options available to fill the gap. One common choice is a removable denture. Knowing more about these will help you in deciding what type is best to help you care for your mouth.

Esthetic Dentistry - Improving your smile
Baby boomers are just hitting their 50s and it seems that this group wants to retain a youthful appearance as long as possible. Dentistry has treatment options that can improve the appearance and function of natural teeth dramatically, and help create and maintain a young, vigorous appearance.

Your Child's First Dental Visit - Lifelong oral health starts with the first tooth
Many parents wonder about the right time to start taking their child to the dentist. Remember this rule of thumb – schedule a visit when the first tooth appears, and no later than your baby’s first birthday.

Fluoride - why you need it
Fluoride is a mineral essential for forming and maintaining sound teeth and bones. Since the early 1940s, fluoride has been one of the most effective ways to control and prevent dental cavities.

Fluoride Findings - taking steps to avoid dental fluorosis
For decades, we have been adding fluoride to water supplies, toothpastes, mouth rinses and other products. Research shows that fluoride continues to safely and effectively reduce dental caries (cavities) in Canadians.

Healthier Teeth, Healthier You - What seniors should know about oral care.
We are living longer, more active and productive lives than ever before. Still, as we age our bodies change. We are likely to notice if vision becomes less sharp or hearing isn’t as good as it once was. We are aware that our responses are slower, or that our sense of touch and ability to grasp objects is fading. Usually, we are able to adjust what we do and how we do it.

Dentures - A healthy jaw and mouth are important
A goal of modern dentistry is to preserve natural teeth whenever possible. Sometimes this is not possible and some or all of the teeth must be extracted (pulled). They are usually replaced by removable partial or complete dentures (false teeth).

Headaches – can your dentist make them go away?
If you wake up in the morning with a dull headache around your temples, it may be the result of a jaw disorder and grinding your teeth while asleep. If this is the case, your dentist can help. Clenching and grinding the teeth for no apparent reason is called bruxism. If you do it while awake, it is somewhat under your control. However, sleep bruxism (SB) can be more difficult to manage. SB affects about eight percent of adults and tends to decrease with age. It affects men and women equally.

Healthy Mouth - oral health is a good start to great health
A smile on the face of a small child is a precious sight. The familiar taste of a favourite food as it excites our taste buds brings us satisfaction. We are moved by a thrilling speech or touched by the power of a beautiful song. The memory of a mother’s gentle kiss on our cheek is remembered fondly. We depend on our mouth, teeth, gums, tongue, lips and other structures for so much of what we enjoy in life.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body - the connection between oral and general health
If we think about our mouths at all, it is usually either to be thankful that nothing much has gone wrong, or annoyance with some nagging problem. The mouth, which includes the teeth, gums, tongue, palate, cheeks and saliva, seems distinct, somewhat mechanical and mysterious. We rarely connect what is going on in the mouth with our general health. However, it is becoming very clear that the mouth can reflect the health of the entire body.

Healthy Teeth, Healthier You - what seniors should know about oral care
We are living longer, more active and productive lives than ever before. Still, as we age our bodies change. We are likely to notice if vision becomes less sharp or hearing isn’t as good as it once was. We are aware that our responses are slower, or that our sense of touch and ability to grasp objects is fading. Usually, we are able to adjust what we do and how we do it.

Keep your Mouth Healthy & Tobacco-Free - the dangers of tobacco use
Oral health messages about limiting sweet snacks, brushing regularly and flossing daily are familiar and expected when we visit the dentist. But have you been asked whether or not you smoke or use spit tobacco? Chances are that your dentist and dental hygienist are very interested in whether or not you use tobacco. They want to do all they can to help you maintain your health. As health professionals, they share concerns regarding the impact of smoking and tobacco use on the body.

Keeping it Clean - Safety in your dentist’s office
Twenty years ago, a Florida dentist with HIV transmitted the infection to at least three of his patients. Since that time, no other dental health care workers have passed on HIV infection. The circumstances surrounding this unique case remain a mystery. However, the incident received a great deal of publicity. Public attention focused on infection control in dental offices.

Lasers in Dentistry - Safe, affordable patient-friendly technology
An association between lasers and dentistry is beginning to emerge. Modern technology has produced a generation of safe, affordable, patient-friendly laser machines. These lasers have quickly found a place in the practice of dentistry. New wavelengths and the addition of a water spry in some dental lasers have encouraged the use of lasers in dental procedures. Procedures range from enhanced tooth bleaching to correcting soft tissue problems to removing decay in diseased teeth.

Mouth Protection - an essential part of sports gear
As children grow, many enjoy sports as a pleasurable group activity. Sports can develop mind and body while deepening interest in school, friends and community. Many activities fall into the category of ‘contact’ sports that, without protective measures, could result in injury. Of particular concern is the protection of teeth and the head.

Nutrition and Oral Health for Older Adults - Smiling through the senior years
Eating well is important at all stages of life. However, as we age we may find that health issues, physical limitations, and financial hardship influence our food choices. Many seniors also suffer from dental problems. Cavities, poorly fitting dentures, jaw pain, mouth sores and missing teeth can make chewing painful. For these reasons, it can be difficult for a senior to eat healthy foods and get all the needed nutrients.

Oral Cancer Self Exam - How to protect yourself
As with any cancer, oral cancer is easier to fight if it is found early. However, in the early stages these cancers of the mouth, tongue or throat are often painless. Many people are unaware of any change. Oral cancer can affect anyone, although people over the age of 45 are more likely to get it. Visiting your dentist and dental hygienists regularly and watching for signs can help find and treat it.

The Oral Connection - What your mouth can tell you
The mouth has been compared to a mirror and a gateway for the body. In 2000, the first U.S Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health connected the importance of oral health with general health and well being. This report noted the mouth senses and responds to the external world and at the same time reflects what is happening deep inside the body.

Oral health and long term care - A Healthy Smile in the Golden Years
Moving to a long term care facility is a very significant life event. Moving is stressful, often involving a great deal of planning and many decisions. As you make this change to your living arrangements, it is important to think ahead and plan for your oral health care needs.

First Trip to the Orthodontist - When should it happen?
Since most children beginning orthodontic treatment do so between ages 10 and 14, it may be surprising to learn that your child should first be evaluated before age 10. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends schedu-ling a first orthodontic evaluation either at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age seven.

Painless Dentistry - Understanding Your Options
Dentists have been at the forefront of pain control for more than 160 years. In fact, it was a dentist that first demonstrated general anesthesia using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in 1845. The patient did cry out involuntarily during the procedure, but later recalled no pain. Earlier, the dentist had one of his own molars removed using the gas to show how well his pain saving procedure worked. Sadly, Dr. Horace Wells died tragically in 1848 before his gift of pain relief was fully appreciated

Root Canal Myths - The truth about a valuable dental procedure
Your dentist recently advised that you need a root canal, but you’re afraid of how much it will hurt. Many people think that having a root canal done is painful, or that it may even cause illness. In fact, the exact opposite is true. In North America each year, hundreds of thousands of root canal procedures are performed safely, while avoiding pain. However, confusion about why a root canal is needed and misconceptions surrounding this tooth-saving procedure still exist.

Painless Dentistry - Understanding Your Options
Dentists have been at the forefront of pain control for more than 160 years. In fact, it was a dentist that first demonstrated general anesthesia using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in 1845. The patient did cry out involuntarily during the procedure, but later recalled no pain. Earlier, the dentist had one of his own molars removed using the gas to show how well his pain saving procedure worked. Sadly, Dr. Horace Wells died tragically in 1848 before his gift of pain relief was fully appreciated

Smiling Through the Senior Years - Nutrition and oral health for older adults
Eating well is important at all stages of life. However, as we age we may find that health issues, physical limitations, and financial hardship influence our food choices. Many seniors also suffer from dental problems. Cavities, poorly fitting dentures, jaw pain, mouth sores and missing teeth can make chewing painful. For these reasons, it can be difficult for a senior to eat healthy foods and get all the needed nutrients.

Snoring - When it's more than just annoying
Snoring can be more than just a nuisance to you and your family. Sometimes it signals a serious problem, sleep apnea. This is a breathing disorder that happens while you sleep. It can threaten your health.

Sore Mouth, Aching Jaw - When should you see a dentist?
When you are in pain, it can be difficult to think about anything else. A visit to the dentist may seem inconvenient and costly. However, pain in your jaw, head or neck may indicate a serious health problem. Understanding possible symptoms can help you to decide whether it is worth the trip.

Teeth for Life - practical advice to ward off dental disease
Thanks to modern medicine and advances in technology, people these days are expected to live longer. Along with living longer, older people are enjoying better health than ever before. As part of this overall improvement in health, dentists have noticed older adults are keeping their teeth longer. However, adult dental disease is still the number one chronic health problem in Canada today. More than half of Canadians over the age of 65 are toothless.

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) - what they are and how they are treated
How often during the day do you open your mouth, chew, laugh or talk? Your masticatory (chewing) system has three main parts: the teeth, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and the jaw muscles. Since they are all interconnected, a problem in one part can affect the others. Since problems with the TMJs and the jaw muscles often strike at the same time, they are called Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD).

Tongue Piercing - what you don't know can hurt you
Body art, which uses the entire body as a canvas, has become very trendy. Techniques include tattooing and scarification, or deliberately making scars on skin. Jewellery piercing is also done in unexpected places, including the face, mouth, nipples, genitals and tongue. These days, both adults and youth wear body art. Compared to forms such as tattooing, tongue piercing can be considered somewhat temporary. However, the dental community is very concerned about tongue piercing. Damage to the tongue, teeth and health can result.

Tooth Sensitivity: a Variety of soothing treatments
For millions of people, sensitive teeth can make life miserable. Tooth sensitivity, also called dentin hypersensitivity, involves pain or discomfort in one or more teeth.

Tooth Whitening for a Bright White Smile - bleaching may be the answer
Tooth whitening or bleaching offers a painless, simple way to make teeth look whiter and brighter. If you are unhappy with the colour of your teeth, you might consider bleaching

Travelling and International Dentistry
Imagine taking a surgical holiday. No one knows what you are planning. You will have your surgery done abroad in a tropical hotspot. All of the short-term healing, bruising and discomfort will be over by the time you return home, renewed and full of energy. You look great, and no one is the wiser for you having work done.

Water Fluoridation - Fact and fiction
Communities in western Canada have been adding fluoride to public water supplies for almost 60 years to support good oral health and reduce dental caries (cavities). Even after years of scientific study and enquiry about water fluoridation, there is still controversy.

Wisdom Teeth - should they be removed?
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the teeth located furthest back in the jaws. They are the last ones to emerge (erupt) into the mouth and become visible. These teeth vary most in the timing of development, crown and root structure, and position.

Your Smile - Keep it Healthy For Life
Like many common health problems, you can control dental disease by your attitudes, habits and behavior. It is a fact that proper home care, regular dental visits, regular cleanings, fluoride treatments and a healthy balanced diet will help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.