Top 5 Signs You May Have a Cavity

Did you know that almost 100 percent of the adults in the world suffer from some form of tooth decay every year? Additionally, somewhere between 60 and 90 percent of kids suffer from tooth decay as well.

Tooth decay can, unfortunately, lead to cavities. And if cavities are left untreated for a long period of time, they can lead to even more serious oral health issues.

No matter how old you are, it’s important for you to keep a close eye out for cavity symptoms. It’ll allow you to avoid the potentially dangerous consequences that can come along with cavities.

Here are 5 signs that’ll let you know you may have a cavity.

1. Unexplained Toothaches

Do you have a toothache that just popped up out of nowhere? This is one of the most common cavity symptoms.

In some cases, you might have a dull, throbbing toothache that just won’t seem to go away. In others, you might have a toothache that comes and goes and seems to affect you most when you’re eating and drinking.

Either way, a toothache is an obvious sign of a cavity and should be investigated further.

2. Tooth Sensitivity

There are some people who have more sensitive teeth than others. Food and drinks that are hot, cold, sweet, acidic, and sticky may bother them almost all the time.

But if you notice that your teeth are suddenly sensitive to any of these things without warning, it could be because of a cavity. A dentist can check out your teeth to see what is causing your tooth sensitivity.

3. Noticeable Holes in Teeth

If you think you might have a cavity, use a flashlight to shine some light into your mouth and look at the area that’s giving you trouble.

Can you see any small holes in any of your teeth? If so, those holes are cavities that need to be filled.

You can’t always spot a cavity in your mouth, even if it’s a bad one. But many times, it’ll be possible to see cavities as they develop.

4. Tooth Discoloration

It’s not uncommon to see someone who drinks a lot of coffee or wine to experience discoloration in their teeth. But in these instances, all of their teeth will be a shade darker than they used to be.

Tooth discoloration tied to a cavity will usually only affect a small portion of a single tooth. You may see a spot that is slightly whiter than the rest of your teeth or a spot that has turned brown or black.

5. Pain When Biting Down

Do you feel pain when you bite down, even when you don’t have anything in your mouth?

You could very well have a cavity that is affecting the root of one of your teeth. It’s essential for you to get to a dentist as soon as possible for this type of cavity as it could start to take a toll on the bone underneath your teeth.

Seek Treatment If You Experience Any of These Cavity Symptoms

By learning how to tell if you have a cavity and picking up on cavity symptoms, you can prevent cavities from wreaking havoc on your oral health.

The key is catching decay and cavities at the early and preventative stages. This may save you from having to go through extensive dental procedures to fix your teeth and keep your teeth and health in better shape overall.

Contact us to schedule an appointment with a dentist if you suspect you might have a cavity.

 

5 Surprising Benefits of Regular Dental Cleanings

We all know that having a routine dental cleaning can remove stains from your teeth and prevent bad breath. That’s why many people think it’s okay to skip their trip to the dentist.

Little do they know that having a regular dental cleaning is essential for keeping your smile and body healthy.

The benefits of dental cleanings are surprising and can have a positive impact on your overall health:

1. Reduced Risk of Heart Attacks and Stroke

Shocking, right?

There’s actually a connection between gum disease and cardiovascular problems. Infrequent dental cleanings lead to gum disease, which can possibly cause inflammation in the heart.

A large study shows that those who had their teeth cleaned regularly were 24% less likely to have a heart attack than those who didn’t. In addition, their likelihood of having a stroke fell 13%.

2. Save Money

You might think that having frequent dental cleanings is more expensive than not. However, these teeth cleanings save you money in the long run.

Going for a long period of time without seeing the dentist causes more problems with your teeth and leads to expensive dental procedures in the future. Regular teeth cleanings prevent cavities, tooth decay, and tooth loss, allowing you to avoid the expense of root canals and dental implants.

3. Give Birth to a Healthy Baby

It’s very important to take care of your teeth when you’re pregnant. Pregnant mothers are more susceptible to gingivitis due to higher hormone levels.

Expectant mothers who don’t have their teeth cleaned are at slightly higher risk of having a preterm birth and a baby with a low birth weight.

Gum disease can also impede your fertility. This can make it longer to become pregnant if you’re trying to conceive.

4. Lowered Risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia

If you’re younger, you may not be thinking about the possibility of getting Alzheimer’s or dementia. But when your teeth aren’t clean, you can be at a higher risk of developing these diseases.

Bacteria in the mouth caused by infrequent cleanings can travel to the bloodstream. Eventually, it can end up in the brain and cause tissue degeneration related to Alzheimer’s.

When you receive frequent dental cleanings, you are safeguarding yourself against a buildup of bacteria that can damage your health in the future.

5. Control and Prevent Diabetes

The importance of dental cleanings even applies to those with diabetes. Diabetics are more likely to develop gum disease due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. In turn, fighting a gum infection can lead to difficulty in controlling blood sugar levels and worsening of diabetic symptoms.

Getting a regular teeth cleaning can help diabetics manage their symptoms while preventing any further complications.

Dental Cleanings Keep You Healthy

In order to live a healthy life, it’s important to see your dentist and have routine dental cleaning. The benefits of teeth cleaning outweigh any hangups you may have about going to the dentist.

At Pickering Dental, we are passionate about giving you your best smile. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

What You Need to Know Before You Get a Filling

Close up of dentist hand drilling the teeth and spraying the water

Did you know that whenever you chew food, your back molars exert a force of about 70 pounds a square inch? Think about that next time you eat dinner! Now if some of your teeth have filings, just imagine what it goes through every single day. No wonder they eventually crack!

Fillings allow you to keep a tooth that would otherwise have been destroyed by cavities. Your dentist clears the part with bacteria and uses a drill to shape the tooth, ensuring that there is no decay left. Then your tooth is filled with a specialized material to protect the exposed soft, inner part of your tooth from infection.

Here are some things you need to know about fillings:

Fillings Need to be Replaced Eventually

Like we mentioned above, your fillings go through so much when you eat.  If you’re also grinding your teeth when you’re sleeping, you’re exerting even more force and subjecting your filings to even more stress.  Fillings generally last anywhere between seven and 15 years, depending on the material used and how well you take care of your oral health.

Cracks and Damages in Your Filling Require Immediate Attention

Even if they seem microscopic, cracks in your fillings can let bacteria and germs in. Once this happens, it is impossible to remove the bacteria even by thorough brushing and flossing. So if you think your filling is cracked or even just loose, contact Pickering Square Dental immediately to schedule an appointment.

Fillings are Not a “Seal” for Your Teeth

Your fillings, even if they’re the most sophisticated ones, are just fillings. Having them does not mean you can slack off with your oral hygiene. It’s very important that you brush your teeth correctly because even with the fillings, they are still susceptible to decay.

The best way for you to avoid fillings is to make sure you have a good dental hygiene routine established. It is also important that you go to your dentist so you can prevent problems from progressing. Give Platinum Square Dental to schedule an appointment! We’ll help take care of your teeth so you won’t need fillings!

Bad Breath and Wisdom Teeth – Is There a Connection?

Yawning tired woman isolate on white background

Wisdom teeth are thus called because they are normally the last ones to appear and at a relatively late age.

In some instances, wisdom teeth or third molars don’t fully come out of the gums. In such cases, they are called impacted wisdom teeth. These impacted teeth may cause infection due to bacterial growth and even bad breath. This can be addressed by taking antibiotics and cleaning and treating the surrounding gums.

You might need to have your wisdom teeth extracted. This way, you can prevent problems in the future. Remember that if they are not removed, wisdom teeth can cause decay, bone and gum infection, and bone loss.

Why are wisdom teeth full of bacteria?

Misaligned or impacted wisdom teeth are a little difficult to clean and they’re the perfect host to food particles and bacteria. Since bacteria thrive in warm and damp environment, impacted wisdom tooth can cause infections, cysts, and decay. As you can expect, all these can result to bad breath and an even off taste in the mouth.

If your wisdom tooth is submerged and causing bacterial profusion, the tiny air pocket between the tip of the tooth and the gum can be where bad breath is coming from. The sensitive gums surrounding the impacted wisdom tooth get infected easily and the bacteria in the wound can release sulphur compounds with foul odour.

Will the Wisdom Tooth Infection Get Better on Its Own?

You can’t expect an infection to get better without proper treatment.  Some signs of wisdom tooth or gum infection include an awful taste in the mouth, pain, tenderness or swelling, inflammation, bleeding, and bad breath that doesn’t go away. Visit Pickering Square Dental to find out if your wisdom tooth infection needs immediate attention.

Extraction is Necessary

Because impacted teeth are a potential cause of various problems, they have to be extracted. Extractions may be done one tooth per visit or multiple teeth can be extracted simultaneously.

Bad Breath May Be Caused by the Extraction

Wisdom tooth removal does not instantly stop bad breath. When your wisdom tooth is extracted, a blood clot is formed in the empty socket and when removed, it leads to a “dry socket”. Bacteria can get in there, lead to an infection, and bad breath.

Antibiotics and medicated creams may be prescribed by the dentist to clean the socket and aid in the healing process. Expect for the dry socket to take a few weeks to fully heal. Bad breath may seem persistent for some time after your wisdom tooth extraction, but with proper oral care, it should be gone soon. However, if you notice that it persists too long, you should take a trip to the dentist so it can be checked.

Whether it is caused by a wisdom tooth or not, bad breath is never a good sign. Schedule an appointment with us at Pickering Square Dental so we can assess the situation and help you bring your fresh breath back.

Why You Shouldn’t Miss an Appointment with Your Dentist

Image of smiling patient looking at camera at the dentist?s

It is highly recommended for everyone to make dental appointments at least every six months. However, some people go as long as three years or more without visiting their dentist!

This is alarming. Why do Canadians skip their dental appointments? There may be a number of reasons, including busy schedules, forgetfulness, dental anxiety, and more. However, the more important question that you should be asking is “Why shouldn’t I miss my dental appointment?”  Well, let us enumerate the reasons.

Missing an Appointment Turns Minor Issues into Major Problems

When you visit your dentist on a regular basis, any potential problem will be caught in the early stages and they will be treated easily. For instance, let’s take gum disease which has three stages – gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis. If caught early, gingivitis can be addressed by a thorough dental cleaning. However, if you skip your appointment, it could progress to periodontitis and may require your teeth to be extracted or a surgery to be performed. You can avoid the hassle and costly treatment if you go to your dentist when you are supposed to go.

Thorough Cleaning

Daily brushing and flossing is important, but that’s not all you need to achieve the best oral health possible. After all, oral care that you do at home may be really good, but it is still limited. For instance, there are hard to reach areas in your mouth and there may be hardened plaque that has turned into tartar. As you know, tartar cannot be removed by simply brushing or flossing. A visit to Pickering Square Dental at least once every six months can ensure that all plaque and tartar is removed from your teeth.

Regular Screening for Oral Cancer

Just like you would go to a doctor to have general check-ups and make sure that everything is well, you should visit your dentist so you can be screened for potential problems. Among the many health concerns that can be detected during a dental check-up is oral cancer. At its later stages, this type of cancer is nearly impossible to treat and highly deadly. The key, therefore, is early detection. Oral cancer screening is undeniably one good reason to keep your dental appointments.

The best way to be sure that you have the best oral health possible is to do your part in keeping it that way. That means building an efficient oral care routine at home and making it to your dental appointments. Prioritize your oral health and you’ll have a greater chance of preventing any dental problems and keeping a truly beautiful smile. Contact Pickering Square Dental now and schedule your next appointment with us!

Non-Dental Medical Issues Your Dentist Might Find

Dentist and patient

As you know, dentists can easily diagnose oral health problems like cavities and gum disease. What you may not know is that they can also discover issues that are non-dental!

Here are five non-dental issues that your dentist can detect during a check-up:

Anemia

This is a condition in which your body doesn’t have sufficient red blood cells circulating. Some signs of anemia include pale lining of the mouth, smooth tongue without the usual bumpy texture. Your Pickering Square Dental dentist may recognize these signs and let you know about it.

Diabetes

Dentists can easily recognize the early signs of diabetes like dry mouth, loose teeth, and receding, dry, or bleeding gums. Diabetes can make your immune system weak and cause oral wounds and infections to take much longer to heal.

Osteoporosis

Anybody can experience osteoporosis. Dentists can spot some of the warning signs of osteoporosis, including a receding gum line and loose teeth. These are signs that the bone supporting your teeth is changing. Going to a dentist on a regular basis makes it easier for your dentist to detect these signs.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is among the most common cancers diagnosed every year. Often, dentists are the ones who discover the early signs of this disease. Some of those signs include red or white lesions in the mouth. There are a number of factors that increase one’s risk of oral cancer, including smoking, heavy drinking, and the presence of HPV. If you want to be checked for oral cancer, you can visit Pickering Square Dental and we can do an oral cancer screening for you.

HIV

Some of the most common signs of HIV can manifest inside the mouth. These include lesions, warts, and spots on the tongue that can be brown, purple, red, or white, and other oral infections.

See, the dentist’s ability to detect signs of various diseases is one more reason for you to keep all your dental appointments. Aside from the dental care you’ll receive, going for a regular checkup could be the difference between catching the signs of a disease before it progresses and finding out too late. Visit Pickering Square Dental to get the best oral health care and a thorough checkup!

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.