The Impact of Smoking on Your Oral Health – Make Oral Heath Month Your Time to Quit

The latest data shows that smoking has a number of adverse effects on your oral health. Many smokers are aware of the way that smoking impacts their lungs. But the habit’s impact on their teeth and gums has long been overlooked. Fortunately, new campaigns are bringing this important issue to light.   Now is the ideal time for smokers to quit their habit as a way to mark Oral Health Month in Canada. This blog will highlight several ways smoking can impact your oral health.

Gum Disease Strongly Linked with Smoking

Gum disease is one of the leading risk factors associated with long-term smoking in Canadian adults. Smoking interferes with the normal function of the gum tissue cells to make smokers more susceptible to issues such as periodontal disease.  Smoking impedes blood flow, smokers will experience limited gum wound healing compared with non-smokers. Below are several oral health conditions linked with smoking:

·      Increased plaque

·      Bad breath

·      Increased loss of bone in the jaw

·      Lower success rate for dental implants

·      Increased risk of oral cancers

The Steps to Begin the Quitting Process

Smoking is a notoriously difficult habit to quit. We know this from the numerous studies conducted across Canada in recent years. However, this doesn’t mean quitting is impossible. We know now there are many effective methods for guiding dental health patients to reduce and quit the smoking of cigarettes. To improve your chances of quitting smoking, review the following steps:

 

·      Talk to your dentist about developing a quitting strategy

 

Your dentist will likely be able to guide you on a customized approach to the treatment process. We know that not every strategy suits all smokers and so an individualized approach to the process can empower success.

 

·      Reward yourself for achieving quitting goals

 

Addiction specialists believe that cigarettes trigger a risk-reward process in our brains that prevents us from taking the logical action and quitting. It’s important to block that risk-reward process by rewarding yourself for small steps in quitting. Get a friend’s help to ensure you stay on-track and make the reward something out of the ordinary.

 

·      Try sugarless gum

 

One proven treatment solution to smoking addiction is the use of sugarless gum. While this approach is not 100% effective in all patients, it can help you begin the quitting process. It can make you less susceptible to cravings and give you the foundation to moving forward. You might also try drinking water when cravings hit, as this can temporarily block the cravings; often long enough for them to subside for a few hours.

By working alongside your dentist as well as your medical doctor… gaining a better understanding of your smoking addiction, you can join the millions across the country who are quitting the habit and improving their oral health. To discuss the impact smoking can have on your oral health, contact our office team today! 

April is Oral Health Month – A Factual Guide to Oral Care in Canada

Only through comprehensive research can we, as a society, move forward in combating many of the oral health issues that exist within Canada. While our research companies and our research practitioners are making great strides in terms of new treatments, many challenges still exist in helping patients achieve optimal oral care across the country. Within this article, we’ll present a few facts to enlighten our readers on several predominant challenges the oral health industry faces.

57 per cent of Canadian Children between 6 and 11 years Old have had a Cavity

The number of children suffering from dental cavities and decay is rising across the country. We’re now at the point where the majority of children ages 6-to-11 have had a cavity. While there is little conclusive research behind the rise in cavities in children, one possible cause put forth by experts is the changing diet of our young children. Many children are now drinking juices and soda products with high sugar content as well as consuming highly acids foods and drinks that can quickly wear down their teeth’s enamel.  It is imperative parents teach children about oral health from a young age, and begin taking their child to the dentist by age two. This can help combat potential issues with cavities as they grow.

Six Million Canadians per Year Avoid Visiting the Dentist for Economic Reasons

The latest data shows that six millions Canadians will put off that important trip to the dentist simply because they don’t feel that they have the financial resources to pay for treatment. However, we know that oral health care is essential to our long-term wellbeing and so it’s important to work with dentists to ensure affordable care options. Most patients will find that our office extends financing programs for those who cannot pay the full treatment amount during their initial visit helpful.  These programs ensure a simple payment process. It’s important to remember the value and long-term importance of your oral health and to speak with our team when financial elements are the only concern in achieving treatment. There is usually a solution to this type of problem.  Remember too that keeping current with your oral health may prevent small issues from turning into larger and potentially more costly problems!

 

28% of Canadians Floss at Least 5 Times a Week

There are many preventable dental health conditions and flossing is one of the leading preventative measures Canadians can take to improve their oral health. Yet the vast majority of Canadians are still not flossing regularly. Why not purchase floss during a future visit to the grocery store and then begin using the product during your daily dental care regimen? Simply flossing for one minute a day can help protect against a range of oral and systemic health conditions.

By understanding the data and reviewing their own personal oral health regimen, Canadians can take a small yet active role in improving oral health across the country. To learn more, speak with one of our office experts directly!

Dental Health Month In Focus: What is Root Canal Treatment and What are Its Benefits?

So you’ve just been told one of our Dentists that you need a root canal treatment. You’ve heard horror stories about others who have experienced the process, but you’re not sure on what a root canal involves. Fortunately, we have comprehensive experience in this regard. Within this blog post, we’ll provide an explanation on what’s involved with a root canal treatment and the treatment’s benefits you can anticipate.

What is a Root Canal?

The actual root canal is the space inside the tooth that travels down the length of the root to the tip. On average, each one of our teeth may have one-to-four root canals. The pulp that makes up the root canal can become infected due to a deep cavity, or a fracture that allows bacteria to seep into the area. This damage can cause increased blood flow to the area and increased pressure, which can then cause persistent pain. To relieve this pain and to remove the infection, dentists will perform a root canal treatment.

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment involves the process of removing infected, injured or otherwise damaged pulp from the inside of the patient’s tooth. Generally, this treatment begins with the freezing of the affected area. The dentist will then place a rubber dam around the tooth to protect the tooth from bacteria within the saliva.

After making an opening in the tooth, the dentist will then remove the damaged pulp by cleaning and enlarging the root canal. The dentist then fills and seals the canal before sealing the opening in the tooth. The dentist will then have to restore the tooth to ensure optimal functionality for the patient. Their choice of restoration depends largely on the underlying strength of the remaining tooth.  A crown may be chosen to restore functionality and allow the patient to chew comfortably over the long-term.

The root canal process can help protect teeth and prevent them from having to be replaced by artificial products. It’s a process that takes time but can be highly effective in ensuring tooth function for those with significant bacterial infections within their teeth. To learn more on this complex treatment, speak with one of our office team members directly today! 

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

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. 

Dental Health Month in Focus: Three of the Most Common Dental Health Conditions Across Canada

As April is Dental Health Month across the country, we thought we’d provide a series of posts detailing the current climate of dental care in Canada. This first post looks into the three most common dental health conditions suffered across Canada. For Canadians across the country, this information could help prevent oral health issues and ensure comfort during future dentist visits.

1. Gum Disease

As a dental condition, gum disease is difficult to self-measure as it varies in severity from person-to-person. What we do know is that 70% of Canadians will suffer from gum disease at some point in their lifetimes, according to the latest data. This means that there’s still a lot of work to be completed in educating patients on the most important ways to prevent gum disease. Often brushing and flossing twice a day can offer the best defense against this pervasive problem.

2. Oral Cancer

The latest data from 2014 suggest that over 4,300 Canadians were diagnosed with the condition by their oral health specialist. While this makes the problem relatively rare compared to other conditions, it’s one of the most serious in terms of prognosis. We know that tobacco and alcohol consumption are leading risk factors for oral cancer, and Canadians can cut their cancer risks significantly by eliminating or reducing these two habits from their lifestyle. Why not make Dental Health Month your time to quit?

3. Tooth Decay

Not only is tooth decay the most prevalent dental condition in Canada, it’s also one of the most prevalent of all medical and dental conditions, only surpassed in incidence by the common cold. Tooth decay occurs when plaque combines with the sugars and starches of the food we eat. This produces acids which then attack the enamel. By working with their dentist and by committing to their oral health regimen, Canadians can protect their teeth against the many dangers of decay.

By recognizing the leading oral health conditions within our country, we can take preventive steps to resolving them and ensuring effective treatment for the long-term. To learn more, speak with one of our experts directly today!