The Effects of Hot Drinks on Your Dental Health

Our Team — Pickering, ON

As the weather gets colder we want to feel warmer.  That means bundling up to go outside, turning up the thermostat in the house, and relaxing with some nice hot beverages.  As much as those pumpkin spice lattes inspire comfort and taste delicious warm drinks can create problems with your teeth.  Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate can all create issues that vary in severity based on a number of factors such as the amount of sugar… 

Staining

Coffee and tea are well-known for causing stains to teeth especially over long periods of time.  Coffee stains in particular can be resistant to brushing your teeth.  Teas can vary in staining ability depending on how rich they are in tannins.  Green tea and herbal tea are less likely to have discolouring effects while black tea is more likely. 
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Tooth Decay

Coffee by itself has been found to cause little-to-no harm in terms of gum disease.  In fact, it’s been suggested that it might actually help protect your teeth due to the antioxidants it contains.  Of course, all of that is overridden once sugar has been added to the mix.  Because of its stickiness coffee with sugar can be damaging as can tea.  Hot chocolate is loaded with sugar as a matter of course so it too can be detrimental.

Prevention

There are some tips you can use to minimize the damage to your teeth.  First off, use a straw whenever possible to bypass your teeth unless you’re drinking plain water.  Yes, this is likely more for iced coffees than the hot kind but it remains good advice.  Also, you’ll want to drink water after you drink coffee, tea, or hot chocolate as it can help wash away leftover particles that could damage or stain your teeth.   

Warm beverages are an autumn tradition and they can still be part of your routine as long as you’re aware of the risks and take proper precautions to mitigate them.  Your teeth will thank you.   If you have any issues with staining or any other problems with your teeth at all contact us at Pickering Square Dental today.

Helpful Resources

Dental Emergency

For more information, visit the Canadian Dental Association Oral Health.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Contact Pickering Square Dental to book your appointment with Dr. Marvin Lean. Call us at (905) 420-1777 or visit us at 1450 Kingston Rd, Unit #4, Pickering, ON.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I visit the dentist?

The Canadian Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups and cleanings. Some patients may need more frequent visits depending on their oral health needs. Call Pickering Square Dental at (905) 420-1777 to schedule your next appointment.

Do you accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?

Yes, Pickering Square Dental participates in the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Our team can help you understand your coverage and ensure you receive the dental care you need. Contact us for more details about CDCP eligibility and benefits.

What services does Pickering Square Dental offer?

We offer a full range of dental services including family dentistry, emergency dental care, sedation dentistry, dental implants, laser dentistry, teeth whitening, root canal therapy, dental extractions, periodontal care, and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Lean and our team serve patients in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Scarborough.

Tooth-friendly Treats on Halloween

Our Team — Pickering, ON

As October’s end approaches the days are getting shorter, the leaves are starting to fall, and it’s just about time for little ghosts and goblins to start making their way from door-to-door in search of tricks or treats.  Halloween is one of the best kid holidays of the year – dressing up, going out at night, and getting free candy – what’s not to like?  However, as with many things kids enjoy a candy-based holiday like Halloween doesn’t always have the best impact on dental health.  It’s our responsibility to make sure that whatever candy they do have doesn’t result in cavities.

Things to Give Out

Sugar-free candy is your best bet for helping out visiting spectres and superheroes with keeping their dental hygiene in good standing.  Sugarless gum is a great choice as well as the chewing action can help fight bacteria through increased saliva production.  Let’s be honest though, we remember what it felt like when we got to the house that gave out raisins for Halloween.  We did not care for it.  You may not want to be the neighbour that gives out sugar-free gum.  So if you’re looking for something the kids will love that will cause the least issues with their teeth you should go with something chocolate.  The chocolate melts quickly in comparison to harder candies and therefore does less harm.  Avoid chocolates with sticky centres and you’ll make both the kids and their dentists happy.
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Dealing with What Your Kids Bring Home

The other side of the Halloween coin is the haul your kids bring in from their evening adventure.  This can vary in size and quality greatly depending on your neighbours and your child’s work ethic.  Of course eating all that candy right away can create issues for their teeth and for their tummy so it’s best to take action to make sure that doesn’t happen.  The first step, favoured by parents for years, is to divide the candy into increments to be enjoyed throughout the month.  Once this is done don’t let them snack on it throughout the day as that can had adverse effects on their dental health – set it up as a dessert after a bigger meal. 

Additionally you can attempt to get them to trade some candy, perhaps for a little bit of change for their piggy bank or for something else they might want.  Use your imagination to get a little more candy out of their hands to protect them in the long run.  That said, don’t go eating all that candy yourself.  What goes for kids’ teeth goes for yours too!

If you’re looking to get your teeth checked out after too much sugar that may or may not have been related to Halloween, the team here at Pickering Square Dental is ready to help.  Contact us today.

Helpful Resources

Dental Implants

For more information, visit the Canadian Dental Association Oral Health.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Contact Pickering Square Dental to book your appointment with Dr. Marvin Lean. Call us at (905) 420-1777 or visit us at 1450 Kingston Rd, Unit #4, Pickering, ON.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I visit the dentist?

The Canadian Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups and cleanings. Some patients may need more frequent visits depending on their oral health needs. Call Pickering Square Dental at (905) 420-1777 to schedule your next appointment.

Do you accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?

Yes, Pickering Square Dental participates in the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Our team can help you understand your coverage and ensure you receive the dental care you need. Contact us for more details about CDCP eligibility and benefits.

What services does Pickering Square Dental offer?

We offer a full range of dental services including family dentistry, emergency dental care, sedation dentistry, dental implants, laser dentistry, teeth whitening, root canal therapy, dental extractions, periodontal care, and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Lean and our team serve patients in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Scarborough.

Important Dental Care Tips for Seniors

For those reaching their golden years additional worries about their health are nothing new.  Advancing age makes the body more susceptible to injuries, complications, and disease.  In addition health issues that build over time often come to a head in later years further complicating a senior’s medical situation.  Dental health is no different and there are important things every senior should know about additional risks they may have and what they can do to lower those risks.

Issues Specific to Seniors

Cavities can start to pop up again in old age after not having them for many years.  The primary cause of this is dry mouth which is a reduction of the flow of teeth-protecting saliva.  Dry mouth is not a natural part of aging however, but a very common side-effect of hundreds of different medications including those for high blood pressure and Parkinson’s disease.  Your dentist can help you combat this, provided they’re aware of the medications you’re taking.
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Gum disease is often painless until it reaches the advanced stage – and advanced age can often be when it strikes.  Seniors may also suffer darkened teeth due to decades consuming stain-causing beverages or the thinning of the outer enamel layer.  Tooth loss can also happen more often due to gum disease and root decay that may be the result of receding gums.

Preventative Care

There are a lot of issues but the good news is that most of it can be prevented with a fairly standard dental hygiene regimen catered to your specific needs.  That means brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting your dentist on a regular schedule, a minimum of twice a year or more depending on specific circumstances.  For dry mouth specifically drinking more water will help, as will chewing sugar-free gum, oral moisturizers, and avoiding beverages that can irritate dry mouths alike alcohol or coffee.

Getting old isn’t easy but it can be made easier with the right preventative care.  If you are, or know, a senior who requires dental care contact us at Pickering Square Dental today and we’ll be happy to assist.

Helpful Resources

Teeth Whitening

For more information, visit the Canadian Dental Association Oral Health.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Contact Pickering Square Dental to book your appointment with Dr. Marvin Lean. Call us at (905) 420-1777 or visit us at 1450 Kingston Rd, Unit #4, Pickering, ON.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I visit the dentist?

The Canadian Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups and cleanings. Some patients may need more frequent visits depending on their oral health needs. Call Pickering Square Dental at (905) 420-1777 to schedule your next appointment.

Do you accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?

Yes, Pickering Square Dental participates in the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Our team can help you understand your coverage and ensure you receive the dental care you need. Contact us for more details about CDCP eligibility and benefits.

What services does Pickering Square Dental offer?

We offer a full range of dental services including family dentistry, emergency dental care, sedation dentistry, dental implants, laser dentistry, teeth whitening, root canal therapy, dental extractions, periodontal care, and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Lean and our team serve patients in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Scarborough.

Oral Health Month: The Ideal Time to Teach Your Child about Dental Care

It’s Dental Health Month in Canada. With the campaign being highlighted across media and in stores across the country, it’s the ideal time for adults to explain to their children how to effectively care for their teeth.  Within this blog, we’ll provide some helpful tips on talking to your children about effective oral health care.

Start By Setting a Good Example

Parents can begin the oral care teaching process by brushing their teeth in front of their children from a young age. By the time the child is able to speak, they should be watching parents brush their teeth and learning the importance of the brushing process.  As the child develops their language skills, parents can then explain to them the importance of brushing, removing plaque and, protecting against gum disease.

Watch Carefully
Learn more about sedation dentistry options.

By guiding children when they first start brushing, parents can ensure children develop healthy teeth cleaning habits as they grow older. It’s important for parents to stay with their young child while they brush their teeth and to ensure that the child brushes their teeth for at least two minutes twice a day to remove all the bacteria built-up during the day and nighttime.

Make the Process Fun

Try to remove any negative thoughts concerning the cleaning process early on in the child’s life. Parents can help their children enjoy their teeth cleaning process by bringing in characters with stuffed animals to guide the process. Ensure the child is comfortable and allow them to take an active role in the process if they are able to control their toothbrush. This will help them develop the autonomy to protect their own oral health in future years.

Introduce the Dentist at an Early Age

The dentist will be a critical element of the child’s oral care process from an early age. It’s recommended that, from age two, children visit their dentist annually to ensure their teeth are in optimal condition. Try bringing your children to your appointments when they’re very young so that the office and treatments are comfortable and enjoyable!

By guiding children carefully through the oral care process, parents can protect them for years to come! Now is the ideal time to teach children how to protect their teeth! Speak with one of our Team directly to learn more on the teaching process. 

Helpful Resources

Dental Crowns

For more information, visit the Health Canada Children’s Dental Health.

Schedule Your Appointment Today

Contact Pickering Square Dental to book your appointment with Dr. Marvin Lean. Call us at (905) 420-1777 or visit us at 1450 Kingston Rd, Unit #4, Pickering, ON.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I visit the dentist?

The Canadian Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist at least twice a year for regular check-ups and cleanings. Some patients may need more frequent visits depending on their oral health needs. Call Pickering Square Dental at (905) 420-1777 to schedule your next appointment.

Do you accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?

Yes, Pickering Square Dental participates in the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Our team can help you understand your coverage and ensure you receive the dental care you need. Contact us for more details about CDCP eligibility and benefits.

What services does Pickering Square Dental offer?

We offer a full range of dental services including family dentistry, emergency dental care, sedation dentistry, dental implants, laser dentistry, teeth whitening, root canal therapy, dental extractions, periodontal care, and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Lean and our team serve patients in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and Scarborough.