Dealing with Sensitive Teeth

Closeup of beautiful young woman suffering from toothache, Dental health and care, People with teeth problem concept.

Sensitive teeth can be such a drag – especially if you love ice cream! But did you know that there are a number of things that can aggravate sensitive teeth, including certain foods and brushing. What used to be a small annoyance can quickly turn into a painful problem.

While it’s true that desensitizing toothpaste can provide temporary relief, it’s still better if you can find ways to relieve sensitive teeth naturally and avoid pain in the future. Well, you’d be glad to know that with just a few changes to your daily routine, you can actually make a huge difference in how your teeth feel.  But first you have to know more about sensitive teeth.

What causes the pain?

Many dental issues can cause sensitive teeth. If you focus on what causes tooth sensitivity can help you understand how you can treat it and even keep it from coming back. Tooth sensitivity is often triggered when you eat foods that are hot or cold.  It can be caused by various factors including gum or periodontal disease, exposed roots at the gum line, tooth decay, aggressive brushing, and wearing away of the enamel.

If your sensitive teeth are caused by gum disease, infection, or tooth decay, you should see your dentist at once. Only when those oral health problems are addressed will you find relief from sensitive teeth. Some issues, however, like soft enamel may be habit-based or hereditary, making it easier to wear it down. In such case, you may be able to address sensitivity at home.

Like we mentioned above, changing your usual habits can make a big difference. You can try these tips to enjoy healthier and pain-free teeth:

Cut Down Your Intake of Acidic Foods

There are certain foods that can cause sensitivity. Some examples are citrus fruits, coffee, carbonated drinks, and even yoghurt. The reason for this is the way acidic products wear away tooth enamel. The best thing to do is to avoid them completely, but if you do enjoy drinking pop occasionally, do so using a straw to minimize the contact between the liquid and your teeth. Also, don’t brush your teeth immediately after drinking or eating acidic foods because acid softens the enamel so your teeth are even more sensitive if they are brushed too quickly. It is a good idea to drink a glass of milk instead to neutralize the acid first.

Replace Your Hard-Bristled Toothbrush

While brushing helps keep your teeth clean and healthy, a hard-bristled toothbrush and abrasive toothpaste can make your teeth even more sensitive. If your toothbrush is hard, swap it for a softer one. Also, make sure that you brush your teeth gently.  Brushing harder doesn’t mean you’re brushing better, especially when you have sensitive teeth.

Protect Your Teeth at Night with a Mouth Guard

A lot of people grind their teeth at night – sometimes even without realizing it. Bruxism can wear away the enamel and result to sensitive teeth. A mouth guard can help protect your teeth from grinding. You can visit Pickering Square Dental to have one fitted for you.

If you’re suffering from sensitive teeth, you should know that using desensitizing toothpaste is not your only option. Following the tips we gave can help you achieve less sensitive teeth naturally. If you want more helpful tips for your sensitive teeth or for any oral health concerns, don’t hesitate to contact Pickering Square Dental!

 


 

Why We Need to Address Your Child’s Cavities

Little girl is having her teeth checked by dentist

Even if children have teeth that they will eventually lose, you still have to make sure that those teeth will survive until your kids’ adult teeth push them out of the gums. Having their teeth intact until that time will help ensure that there will be enough room for the adult teeth and that they will grow in correctly.

That is why if there are any signs of cavities in your child’s teeth, they should be immediately addressed!

Oral hygiene is important from the time that those tiny teeth come in. That is why you should start teaching your toddler how she can take care of her teeth.

Unfortunately, there are instances when despite your efforts to keep your young one’s teeth healthy, he or she will still end up with cavities. What should you do then? How will the cavities be addressed?

Fillings for Baby Teeth

To preserve your child’s baby teeth, the cavities could be drilled out and the teeth can be filled or crowned. The goal is to save the teeth and avoid extraction. Like we mentioned above, those baby teeth help usher the adult teeth properly so losing them before they’re ready to come out is not going to be good for your child’s permanent teeth.  Just like with adult teeth, fillings may be required for baby (primary or, first set of teeth) which is a measure taken when necessary to retain the tooth for as long as possible.   

The treatment for tooth decay includes drilling the decay from the baby tooth as needed. Now, depending on the severity of the problem (how much damage was caused by the cavity) the tooth can be filled or a crown will be created for it.

Decay Can Possibly Recur

Tooth decay can be a recurring issue, even though your child’s dentist works hard to get all the decay out. That’s why it’s really important that your child establishes good oral hygiene. When decay comes back, the filling will be removed so the new decay will be removed. The tooth will be re-filled or crowned after.

Extraction is the Last Option

While preserving baby teeth is the goal, sometimes the dentist will have no other choice but perform an extraction. This is when the decay is so advanced that it’s causing pain or gum problems. The gap where the extracted baby tooth used to be may be filled with a prosthetic to keep the correct space for the adult tooth.

It’s normal to feel anxious about getting your child’s teeth filled, but really, there is nothing to worry about. We at Pickering Square Dental will put you at ease. You can trust that we will come up with the perfect treatment plan for your child. Remember that as a parent, you should teach your child about proper oral hygiene and schedule regular teeth cleanings to avoid tooth decay!

Is Your Smile Valentine-Proof?

Is Your Smile Valentine-Proof?

What is Valentine’s Day without sweets? Aside from bouquets of flowers, sugary treats like chocolates and candies are the most common gifts we give to our loved ones whether they are young or old.

Considering how much sugar one consumes on this day, it’s very important that you and your loved ones take really good care of your teeth. Good oral hygiene is key to protecting your teeth from all the sugar and the bacteria that can cause gum disease and tooth decay.

So how do you protect your smile this Valentine’s Day?

Stay Away from Sticky Candies

While all sugary treats are a threat to your teeth, the sticky and hard to chew variety are the worst. Caramels, gum drops, and toffee, among others, are full of sugar and they will stick to both natural teeth and dentures. Some of them are so sticky that they can actually dislodge dental appliances like braces. If you want to protect your teeth from damage and decay, you should avoid these types of candies.

Don’t Forget to Brush and Floss

Sweets, especially the sticky and chewy ones take hours to dissolve or wear away. They can also get lodged between your teeth and eat away the enamel and lead to gum irritation and cavities. That’s why you should remember to brush your teeth after eating candies. You should also floss to get those hard-to-remove stuck particles between your teeth. Swishing with mouthwash after can also help.

Establish a Daily Oral Hygiene Routine

It’s not enough to just brush your teeth on days when you eat a lot of sweets. You should protect your gums and teeth all year long. You can do this by having a really effective oral hygiene routine. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily. When your teeth are strong, they can withstand the damaging effects of sugary treats better.

Schedule a Visit to Your Dentist

It’s a good idea to have a professional dental cleaning after Valentine’s Day. This way, you can be sure that your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned. Your dentist can also check those problem areas that you might have missed. Any oral health issue will also be caught and you can avoid major dental problems.

Pickering Square Dental can help you keep your teeth strong and healthy. We can also give you tips on how you can still enjoy those sweet treats you get on Valentine’s Day without having to worry about your oral health!

Battling Aggressive Oral Cancer

oral cancer colorful word with stethoscope on wooden background

Diagnosis of cancer or even just a suspicion of cancer can be quite scary. Instantly, you think of people you know who lost their battles to cancer. You may even reflect on how most TV shows or movies that feature a character with cancer almost always has that person dying. You may be the one suffering or it could be someone dear to you – either way, cancer is something that can easily change the way you live your life.

Instead of living in fear, one of the things that you can do is to learn what you can about it. In this particular post, we aim to share with you some information on one of the most aggressive types of cancer which affects thousands of people every year – oral cancer.

Risk Factors

Knowing the causative factors of cancer can contribute to the prevention of the disease. For oral cancer, age is often named as a risk factor (it often occurs in those past the age of 40).  In the recent years, the anterior of the mouth, alcohol, and tobacco-associated cancers have declined in number along with a corresponding decline in smoking. Posterior of the oral cavity sites that are associated with the HPV16 viral cause, on the other hand, are increasing.

It is also likely that the accumulative damage caused by factors like excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and viral infections like HPV are the real culprits. It should also be noted that those who drink and smoke are at 15 times higher risk of developing oral cancer.

There are also physical factors like ultraviolet radiation exposure. This is often the cause of cancers of the lip, whose numbers have declined in the last few decades most likely because of increased awareness. People now understand the damaging effects of prolonged exposure to the sun and the benefits of wearing sunscreen. Biological factors associated with oral cancers include viruses and fungi. HPV16 in particular has been implicated in oral cancers.

Treatment

Once a definitive diagnosis is made and the cancer is staged, treatment may start. Treatment of oral cancers is often a multidisciplinary approach that involves the collaborative effort of dental practitioners, surgeons, chemotherapy oncologists, radiation oncologists, nutritionists, and rehabilitation and restorative specialists.

The actual treatment modalities are often chemotherapy with concurrent radiation, and sometimes, surgery.

Chemotherapy is currently not used as a lone approach for oral cancers but instead added to decrease the possibility of metastasis, to reduce the size of malignancy before the surgery, and to sensitize the malignant cells to radiation. It is also a powerful component of treatment for patients with confirmed distant metastasis of the disease.

 

Before the curative treatment starts, other oral health needs have to be taken care of. It is necessary so the likelihood of getting post-therapeutic complications would be lessened. Teeth that have poor prognosis from caries or periodontal problems may be extracted. Avoiding post-radiotherapy surgery is important because it can sometimes induce osteonecrosis which happens when tissue damaged by radiation exposes the underlying bone and does not heal. A thorough prophylaxis or cleaning will probably be done before treatments start.

Every cancer phase potentially paves an avenue to discovering a new therapy for treatment. And with all the research being conducted, there is always a possibility that we will see cures for oral cancer in our lifetime.


 

Implant Key Terms You Need to Understand

woman take tooth implant false tooth on green background

If you have been told that you should consider dental implants and you are not exactly sure what they are, the best thing for you to do is discuss it with your dentist. But like with other dental procedures, there might be some terms that could sound “alien” to you. That could get in the way of you fully understanding what you need to know about dental implants.

To help you decode dental lingo, here are some terms that you should know:

Abutment

It is a connector that the dentist will attach to the top of your dental implant. This will serve as the attachment for the replacement tooth, bridge, or crown, keeping it securely in place.

Abutment Teeth

This refers to the teeth that support the partial denture or bridge. The bridge is attached during a crown prep or inlay/onlay prep. If for a partial denture, clasps or rests are necessary to support the denture on the abutment tooth.

Crown

A crown or a cap, as it is also called, replaces the top portion and layer of a tooth. If you have broken or lost a tooth because of injury, infection, or decay, your dentist can fit you with a crown to replace the damaged or missing one. Crowns fit over the top of existing teeth but they must be ground down to fit or attached to the abutment of an implant.

Ceramic

This is a material used to make dental implants. It is made of clay that is hardened by heat. Some people like the aesthetic appeal of ceramic better than titanium because it gives a more natural look. It is available in ivory, which looks similar to existing roots and teeth. Ceramic implants are an option for patients with allergy to metal.

Endosteal Implant

This is the most commonly used implant type in modern dentistry. To fit this particular style of implant, small screws, plates, blades, or cylinders are placed directly into the jawbone surgically. Every implant can hold at least one prosthetic tooth.

Eposteal Implant

This type of implant receives support by directly resting on the jawbone. This is not used often today in dentistry as it is often seen as an outdated method.

 

Implant or Fixture

This is a medical device that interfaces with the jawbone to support a bridge, crown, or denture. Most dental implants last for patients’ entire lives so they are deemed better than bridges which would need replacement and dentures which can be uncomfortable for the wearer.

Titanium and Zirconia

Most dental implants these days are made of titanium. This is the preferred material of most patients because very few people are allergic to titanium. It is also very durable and lightweight. There is a small percentage of people who are allergic to titanium, and for them Zirconia is a good option. Zirconia implants have no prosthetic connections, lowering the risk of bacteria growth. Patients may also find that they have better gum health with this type of implant. Its white colour makes it look more like a natural tooth.

If you want to know more about dental implants or you’re wondering if it’s an option for you, do call Pickering Square Dental and we will set an appointment for you!


 

Dental Care Resolutions You Really Need To Stick To

Beautiful young parents and their cute little daughter are looking at camera and smiling while brushing teeth, against gray wall

Did you know that only about 8% of people actually achieve their New Year’s resolution? This can be attributed to a lot of factors, including unrealistic expectations regarding the ease, the speed, and the consequences of their resolutions.

What can you do then? Make more reasonable goals, of course! Because we want you to enjoy healthy and beautiful smile all year, here are some dental resolutions that you can easily stick to:

Brush and Floss Twice a Day

Well, you should already be doing this and you probably are. But there are probably a few times last year when you skipped brushing and flossing because you were a little too busy, sleepy, lazy, or distracted. Make sure that this year, nothing comes between you and your brush and floss!

Lessen Your Sugar Intake

Let us not kid ourselves. It is really hard to completely stop eating and drinking sugar. But it will greatly help if you at least aim to reduce your intake of sweets. It may also be time for you to discover healthier alternatives! While you lessen your sugar intake, increase your intake of water and make sure you rinse your mouth after eating sweets.

Break Your Bad Habits

Unfortunately, some of the things you like doing, like drinking coffee every so often and smoking can be really bad for your teeth. Not only do these habits stain your teeth, but they can even damage your gums and cause oral cancer! For these reasons alone, you should be working really hard to drop these habits. It can be really challenging, but your dentist and your physician can surely provide you with helpful suggestions on what you can do to beat your chemical dependency.

Get Checked for Oral Cancer

So, this is not really a resolution that you have to repeatedly do but one that you just have to do at least once this 2018. Then you can have it done next year again! Thousands of Canadians suffer from oral cancer. Most oral cancer cases are treatable as long as they are detected and treated early. Advanced tools can now be used to check your mouth for signs of inflammation and bumps that could be an early sign of oral cancer. Ask for a screening on your next dental appointment!

Set a Schedule and Stick to It

One of the best things you can do for your oral health this year is not just making an appointment with your dentist, but actually sticking to it. Your dentist is the one person who understands your needs when it comes to your oral health – even more than you do. Regular visits can help ensure that you won’t suffer from any problems in the near future.

These are pretty simple things that you can do for your oral health. And trust us – what you’ll get in return is all worth it.

Want to make 2018 the year where you got your best smile ever? Give Pickering Square Dental a call and set an appointment. We’ll be your partner in this very achievable goal!

Keep a Healthy Heart with Better Dental Care

Portrait of beautiful young woman with perfect smile. Isolated on white.

Heart disease is among the top causes of death for both men and women worldwide. Countless studies have been dedicated to finding out the causes of this fatal disease. But did you know that research has also found that there is a link between heart disease and your gum health?

According to a 2016 study conducted in Sweden, having gum disease increases the risk of getting a first heart attack by 28%.Heart disease and gum disease have some common risk factors that include poor nutrition, diabetes, and smoking, among others. Many researchers also believe that inflammation that is caused by periodontal disease may be attributed for the connection.

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Yet again, this old cliché proves to be true. Maintaining healthy habits can significantly lower your risk of both gum disease and heart disease. These strategies can help:

 

* Start (and stick to) a healthy diet. Make sure that your meals are rich in nutrients. Always include foods that contain vitamins A and E. Eliminate, or at least reduce sugar and starches, which are not only bad for your oral health but your overall health as well.

 

*Stop smoking! You know that this terrible habit can compromise your oral health, as well as your heart and lungs. Every time you light a cigarette, you are deliberately harming yourself and sometimes even those around you. Quit smoking before it destroys your gums and put you at a higher risk of heart disease.

 

*Brush and floss daily. Proper brushing is as important as doing it regularly. To make sure plaque and bacteria are removed, brush your teeth for at least two minutes. Do it in the morning and in the evening before bedtime. Don’t forget to floss! You should also pay extra attention to your oral hygiene if you are taking medicine because there are some that can increase the risk of gum disease. You can ask your doctor about it if you believe your medications are causing gum problems.

 

* Visit your physician and your dentist regularly. One way to avoid health problems is to have regular check-ups. Your doctor can perform tests to determine your health. Of course, regularly visiting Pickering Square Dental can help ensure that you don’t just have an amazingly white teeth but a healthy gum, too! Both your doctor and your dentist can tell you how often you should visit to help make sure you maintain optimal health.

Wishing for a Whiter Teeth – Procedures That Can Help

closeup of smile with white heatlhy teeth

Who doesn’t wish for whiter teeth? Everyone wants to have the best smile they can ever have and that means having sparkly pearly whites. One of the ways to do that is to rid the surface of your teeth of stains. Whitening toothpaste can help with this. But deeper stains may require more than just your usual whitening toothpaste.

There are certain types of whitening procedures that can be done in the dentist’s office like the ones we offer at Pickering Square Dental and there are bleaching products that you can try at home.

Will Whitening/Bleaching Work?

Generally, whitening works for yellowish teeth really well and moderately well for more brownish ones. So if your teeth have been darkened a little by constant drinking of tea or coffee, smoking, or age, you might want to consider bleaching your teeth.

However, if you have grayish teeth, bleaching may not work that well for you. It may also not be applicable if your front teeth have tooth-coloured fillings or bonding. You won’t be able to change the color of artificial materials and they might end up standing out against your whiter natural teeth.

At-Home Whitening/Bleaching

You can also inquire about dentist-supervised bleaching. For this approach, a custom made and fit whitening tray will be prepared by your dentist or hygienist. A bleaching gel will be placed in the bleaching tray and you’ll wear the tray as instructed. Your dentist might suggest that you wear it overnight for a span of a week or two.

In-Office Whitening/Bleaching

If you prefer faster results, you can always opt to have your teeth professionally bleached by your dentist. You can visit Pickering Square Dental to have this done. It may take anywhere between 30 minutes to one hour. Depending on how much whitening your teeth requires.

If you want to know more about our teeth whitening procedure or if you’re ready to schedule an appointment with us, simply give Pickering Square Dental a call!


 

How Not to Let Holiday Spirits Lead to Dental Cavities

Happy family in the room with the Christmas tree.The family is enjoying in the holidays.They are celebrating their first Christmas together.

Christmas is the time where everyone celebrates the birth of Christ. We celebrate love and everything that’s good. It’s when we spend time with family and friends and usually, we do that over festive dinners and fun parties.

But even though the holidays are all about festivities, we should not neglect our oral health. Now more than ever, we should recognize the importance of preventing caries. After all, it is during the holidays when we double or even triple the amount of sugary foods and beverages that we consume.

Make sure you maintain good oral health during the holidays with these tips:

  1. Use a straw when drinking sugary beverages like pop, punch, and more. You can limit the exposure of your teeth to sugar by using a straw. See, when you sip out of a glass or a bottle directly, the liquid lingers in the mouth and coats your teeth. When you use a straw the liquid is directed away from your teeth, so it’s less damaging to your teeth.
  2. If you must indulge in something sweet, go for dark chocolate. Tannin in cocoa can help reduce plaque growth. Dark chocolate contains less sugar than other kinds of chocolate and it is also the least processed variety. Take note, however, that you should still not overindulge. It’s still best to eat dark chocolates in moderation!
  3. Reduce the number of times you eat sweets. Did you know that a big slice of cake throughout the day is even more harmful than eating it in just one sitting? According to studies, tooth decay has more to do with the frequency of eating rather than the amount of sugar itself, meaning how often you eat has more weight than how much you eat. If you have Christmas treats to enjoy it’s best to do so directly after each meal. Snacking throughout the day will expose your teeth to acid (produced when bacteria come in contact with sugar) constantly.
  4. Brush your teeth twice a day and don’t forget to floss. To lessen the amount of plaque on your teeth, you need to brush at least twice daily, ideally in the morning and before you go to bed at night. It is also important that you floss, especially during the holidays, to remove all the debris stuck in between your teeth. Skipping this step can greatly affect your oral health in the long run.

See? You don’t have to completely say no to that scrumptious fruit cake or those candy canes. As long as you take the necessary steps to remove sugar and thoroughly clean your teeth, you can still enjoy those holiday sweets! To make sure that your teeth are not compromised by the treats you eat, you can always visit Pickering Square Dental to have your teeth professionally cleaned, too!

Hello! How are Your Gums Doing?

Young female sitting in dentist office and looking at her doctor with smile

Have you ever noticed blood in the sink when you brush your teeth? Do you feel embarrassed at times because you believe you have bad breath? This could mean you have gum disease or gingivitis.

If gingivitis isn’t treated at once, it can progress to an even worse dental health problem which is periodontitis.

Most people brush their teeth twice a day, but is that enough?

To help reduce your risk of getting gum disease, here are some tips:

Brush your teeth for at least two minutes each time. Ideally, you should brush your teeth before you go to bed and at least once more in the day. At times, people feel like they don’t have time to brush for the entirety for two minutes, but you should really make it a point to brush your teeth for at least that long. If it helps, you can set a timer on your phone so you’d know when you’re done.  Lastly, proper brushing technique is critical to your overall success too.  Ask us to tweak your technique or routine at your next visit.

Change your toothpaste. If you constantly have bleeding gums, you might have to switch to a toothpaste that is specifically formulated for this condition. There are clinically proven products that are available commercially, but of course, you can always ask your dentist at Pickering Square Dental for recommendations.

Don’t skip the floss! You want to be sure that you are cleaning the space between your teeth thoroughly. Often, bacteria hide in places where your toothbrush cannot reach. Regularly cleaning between your teeth prevents both gum disease and tooth decay. Some people find flossing a little tricky, so you might want to check out interdental brushes to reach the gap in between your teeth.  Ask us to tweak your tweak your technique. 

Swish some mouthwash. You want to protect your mouth in those hours between brushing. Mouthwash can help you with that by lowering the levels of bacteria in your mouth. Remember, though, that mouthwash should be used in addition to regular brushing and flossing and not instead of. Mouthwash can help in rinsing out food particles from your mouth and of course, it can deter bad breath with its fresh and minty smell.

Stop smoking. People who smoke are more susceptible to gum infection because tobacco causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream. This results in reduced flow of nutrients and blood to the gum tissues.

Don’t wait for things to get worse. If you notice any sign of change at all in your gums, including redness, tenderness, and bleeding, contact your dentist. That can be an early sign of gum disease.

Because gum disease is a progressive condition, you should not leave it untreated. If you’re concerned, you can call Pickering Square Dental and book an appointment as soon as possible.