The Correct Way to Brush Your Teeth

Brushing begins after flossing. That way, all of the food particles that were stuck in between the teeth where the toothbrush cannot reach are able to be removed during the brushing process. Brushing and flossing should be done after every meal preferable, but if your schedule does not allow it, it can be done once before bed to get rid of the day’s food and bacteria. However, in order to do this properly, there is a right and a wrong way to brush your teeth. To brush your teeth effectively, follow these steps:

  1. Put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on your toothbrush.
  2. Angle your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle.
  3. Using a gentle, circular motion, brush the surface of each tooth, making sure to do this carefully as overly aggressive brushing can lead to bleeding gums and early gum recession. Be sure to get the backs of the teeth as well.
  4. Repeat this for 2-3 minutes.
  5. Finish the process by swirling mouthwash in your mouth to get rid of anything leftover. Do not swallow the mixture.

If you’re still struggling to get your teeth clean or have an unusual build up of plaque, contact your dentist for a personalized oral hygiene plan that will best suit your needs.

/by

The Correct Way to Floss

If you were inspired by our last blog post and wanted to start flossing, but didn’t know how to correctly do so, please read on to find out the correct way to floss your teeth. These easy to follow steps will ensure that you’re cleaning your teeth properly and effectively.

  1. Pull the floss from the package and make it to be about as long as your forearm, then cut it. Some flosses come pre-cut for your convenience.
  2. Wrap the floss around both your index and middle fingers, leaving about a 1-2 inch space for flossing your teeth.
  3. Gently wiggle the string of floss between your teeth, working all the way up to the gum line. Move the floss into a “C” shape to get both the front and back of the gumline as that’s where most food gets trapped. Repeat this process 2-3 times for each tooth.

Be sure to move your way down the line of floss if it is becoming too worn or not removing the particles properly. Gums that are not used to flossing may become sensitive, sore, become inflamed, or even bleed, but once they become accustomed to flossing, they’ll be much healthier and will not bleed anymore, so long as the flossing is done gently and correctly.

/by

Why Is Flossing Important?

You may think that you’re cleaning your teeth enough by keeping up with brushing them daily, but that’s only scratching the surface of oral hygeine. For a complete clean, you need to floss as well. According the dentists, flossing may be even more important than brushing because it can remove bacteria and food particles that toothbrushes cannot reach. If that bacteria is left alone, it can transform into plaque, and if that isn’t taken care of, tooth decay can occur.

Here are some other problems that can occur because of lack of flossing:

  • Halitosis (bad breath)
  • Gingivitis (Inflammation of the dums)
  • Periodontal Disease
  • Gum disease
  • Cavities
  • Heart problems
  • Increased risk of dementia
  • Increased risk of head and neck cancers

While the last few on the list may seem extreme, they have been linked to those who have an improper oral hygeine routine. It’s never too late to develop a flossing routine, so dig out that sample pack the dentist gave you on your last trip and start today!

/by

What Are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge is another procedure that can be done in order to fill in the gaps between teeth where teeth are missing. Though instead of having an artificla root drilled into your jaw like an implant, the strong, surrounding teeth around the gap will be the ones keeping the bridge in place. In a way, a bridge “bridges” the space between the teeth, hence the name. However, in order for the bridge to be successful, the surrounding teeth may have to be altered to acheive natural looking results.

Am I a Candidate?

Like with any procedure, a consultation will be the only way to know for sure whether a dental bridge is right for you. Although, because bridges are less invasive than implants, the requirements are slightly more lenient. The important thing is to have strong, healthy teeth on either side of the gap. Chipped, cracked, and decaying teeth will have to be fixed or replaced before a dental bridge can be put in place.

How Much Does a Dental Bridge Cost?

Like implants, bridges may not be covered under insurance, but financing may be available depending on the office and the reason for getting the bridge. Bridges are by far more affordable than implants, but still quite costly, ranging from $700 to $1500. Should anything need to be changed, removed, or replaced, the cost will be hire in appointments down the road. However, your dentist will clearly lay out the road map for the costs as well as what to expect, and how to care for your bridge to ensure that it stays stable. If properly taken care of, bridges typically have a lifespan between 10-20 years before needing to be replaced or altered.

To find out if dental bridges are right for you, schedule an appointment with your dentist today.

/by

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are used when a patient is missing one or more teeth and needs them to be replaced for both aesthetic and for functionality purposes. Over the course of six months, an artificial tooth root that the dentist will insert into the jaw bone will become infused with the surrounding tissues in order to create a solid base for the new tooth. In this time, a temporary crown will be placed on top until the root has had time to fuse. During this time, the gums of the patient will also move and form around the root so that once the implant is placed, it looks completely natural. After the time has elapsed, the temporary crown will be replaced with a permanent one.

Can I Get a Dental Implant?

A consultation with your dentist will be the only sure way to find out whether or not an implant is right for you, but there are a few general requirements.

For starters, children and those who are still going through developmental bone growth are not able to get implants as their jaws may not be strong enough to support the implant or will move it out of place as they continue to grow and develop. Patients who are heavy smokers will be asked to quit before an implant can be placed as smoking increases the risk of implant rejection or total failure. Patients who are going through conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and other diseases may need to take extra steps in order to qualify for an implant.

Cost of Dental Implants

Implants are costly, and depending on the purpose of them, they may not be covered by insurance. Paying out of pocket for a single implant can range anywhere from $900-$3000. These costs are only for the implant as well. Any subsequent appointments related to the implant or adjustments that need to be made will come at an additional cost. Your dentist will be able to break down the cost for you when you go in for a consultation, and financing may be available depending on your location and dentist office.

However, many people justify the cost because of the overall result of the implant. Implants typically last up to 40 years and are incredibly durable so long as you take care of them properly.

Schedule a consultation with your dentist today to learn more about implants.

/by

Ceramic and Lingual Braces

The last two options that are used for straightening teeth are called ceramic braces and lingual braces. Although neither option is very popular, they are still options for those who are not keen on either the traditional metal braces or Invisalign.

Ceramic braces are nearly identical to the metal braces in the sense that they include a bracket and a wire, but they are far smaller than metal braces and tooth coloured so they are not as noticeable as the bright, shiny, metal ones. Other pros of ceramic braces include the same as the metal braces such as: faster treatment time and no risk of loss.

Cons of ceramic braces include the inability to use them for severe cases of tooth misalignment, more expensive than their metal counterparts, and are far more easier to stain because of their material. Frequent cleaning is a must in order to prevent discoloration. 

Lingual braces are the sweet spot between Invisalign and traditional braces. They are nicknamed incognito or hidden braces because while traditional braces are adhered to the front of the teeth, lingual braces are placed on the backs of the teeth, giving them all the power of metal braces, but the invisibility of Invisalign. Other pros include no risk of loss, and are suitable for all ages and the majority of patients.

However, lingual braces have their own unique set of challenges. There’s a risk of a temporary speech impediment due to the placement of the braces, as well as tongue irritation from being in constant contact with the braces. They’re also much harder to clean due to not being able to see them clearly, and they are far more expensive than their counterparts.

Speak with your dentist about your options as well as further information. Only they, through a consultation, will be able to help you make a clear and informed choice.

/by

The Pros and Cons of Traditional Metal Braces

Last week, we talked about Invisalign as being one of the ways that people of all ages can help straighten their teeth. But we also mentioned that Invisalign might not be for everyone, which is where traditional braces come in.

Traditional metal braces are metal brackets that are adhered to the surface of each tooth and connected through a wire. Unlike the metal braces of the past, the brackets are now smaller, and the wire is much more effective at moving the teeth as they can now use the body’s natural heat in order to speed up the process.

Other advantages of using metal braces include: a more linear and faster treatment time, inexpensive, able to be used on children, no risk of loss, and they are able to correct much more severe cases.

However, they are not without their disadvantages as well. For those concerned with their looks, metal braces are very noticeable to those around you, your teeth are much harder to clean, and there are certain foods which you have to eliminate from your diet such as gum, caramel candies, and anything else that is particularly hard or sticky as they can damage the brackets.

To find out whether traditional metal braces are right for you, schedule a consultation with your dentist for more information and to discuss your options.

/by

The Pros and Cons of Invisalign

As much as magazines and the media would like you to believe that perfectly straight teeth come naturally, it’s just not the case for the vast majority of people. In fact, did you know that more than 75% of children between the ages of 10-13 will undergo some kind of corrective dental procedure in order to fix the alignment of their teeth? Adults who never had the opportunity as a child are now looking at getting the same procedures done as well which has given rise to new ways in order to achieve straight teeth. One of them is Invisalign. 

Invisalign is a clear tray that is custom fit to the wearer’s mouth that they wear for the majority of the day in between meals, depending on the severity of their alignment issue. One of the reasons why Invisalign is so popular is because it is completely unnoticeable, meaning that people can go about their day to day lives and forget that they’re even wearing the tray. Others will not be able to notice it as well.

Other pros of Invisalign include: comfortability, the ability to remove while eating and drinking, relatively affordable, and are easy to clean and take care of.

However, Invisalign is not for everyone. Busy teens and adults who will forget to put their Invisalign in will not benefit from it as much and their teeth will take longer to align as there is usually a 22 hour a day requirement in order for them to be effective. As the teeth shift, adjustments to the tray are also needed and can cause mild to moderate discomfort with every change.

 A quick consultation with your dentist can help provide more insight on whether or not Invisalign is right for you depending on your age and lifestyle. Contact your dentist today to further discuss your teeth straightening options.

Hopefully this guide has given you a better insight into the world of tooth alignment correction. Please note that not all benefits and cons are listed here and you may have a different experience than others as what works for one person may not work for you. Your dentist will be able to determine which is best for you based on a number of factors, and can answer any questions you may have.

To set up a free consultation, please contact Dr. Sam Saddat and his team at +1 805-499-3691

/by

Pain Relief for After Dental Procedures

Ever leave the dentist and come home to find that your mouth is sore and the pain just won’t go away? This is a common occurrence that happens to most people after they undergo a dental procedure, but luckily, there are things that can help alleviate that pain while your mouth heals.

  • Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen: The most common pain reliever on the market. Brands such as Advil and Tylonel are great for helping to relieve minor to moderate aches and pains and are safe to use provided that each patient reads and follows the label correctly. Stronger versions of these medications can be prescribed by the dentist and doctor for more severe pain, but the majority of patients will be fine with the over the counter variety. This medication is especially recommended to patients who have undergone surgical treatments and are advised to stay clear of Asprin as a pain relief as it can cause bleeding and disrupt the healing process. 
  • Ora-Jel: For topical applications, the over the counter brand Ora-Jel is recommended because of the ingredient benzocaine, which helps to numb the area. Like with any medication, always read and follow the label for best results, as certain age groups may not be allowed to have this product. 
  • Saltwater Rinse: This is not meant to be done straight after a procedure, but once 24 hours has passed, patients can swirl a homemade saltwater rinse around in their mouth. To make this, add one table spoon of salt to an 8oz glass of water and swirl the mixture repeatedly around in your mouth, making sure to focus in on the area you want to treat. Spit the water into the sink afterwards, as it is not meant to be swallowed due to its high salt content. Do this 2-3 times a day, especially after meals, for the most effective results.

Dentists will often explain what to do and what not to do after a procedure has been done on their patient. There may be things not mentioned on this list that they will suggest doing. Seeing as they know you and the procedure the best, it is recommended to follow their instructions on how best to alleviate your pain. Pain that is constant, severe, and will not go away warrants a trip back to the dentist or even to the emergency room depending on the severity as soon as possible as it may be a sign of infection.

/by

Dental Bleaching

Yellowed or greyed teeth may not be just from surface stains such as tobacco, coffee, and other things that we consume. Some stains may run deeper than the surface and therefore require more than just a whitening strip or toothpaste. That’s where dental bleaches come in.

Dental Bleaches

Dental bleaches are far more effective than the leading whitening strip, but as with any treatment, the results may not be exactly what the patient is looking for. Dental bleaches are also much more expensive than  a whitening strip so it’s important to first go for a consultation in order to properly weigh the pros and cons of the treatment. It’s also important to mention any dental procedure that you’ve had done in the past as they may be the cause of the discolouration and the dentist will have to change their approach on how to treat it. If dental bleaching is something that will work for the patient, there are a couple different ones available.

  • Vital bleaching is typically done on teeth that the dentist considers to be “alive”, meaning that they have not undergone any cosmetic or rigorous treatment in the past. Vital bleaching is also done on stains that are caused by coffee, wine, and aging.
  • Non-vital bleaching is done on teeth where treatments like root canals and fillings have been done.

When the treatment has been chosen and approved, the dentist will then decide which method to use to complete the procedure. They will use the number of teeth that need to be treated, the history of the teeth, and the way that it became discolored.

For the first method, a combination of heat and light are used, as well as a special bleach that is applied to the teeth beforehand. This offers the fastest results.

The second method is wearing a custom fit mouthguard that contains the same bleach as the first method. However, these mouthguards can be taken home and worn during certain periods of the day.

Finally, the final take home method is a special toothpaste that is provided by the dentist that contains the same bleach as the previous methods. 

For more information about dental bleaching and to find out what method might be right for you, please contact your dentist for a consultation to discuss your options.

/by