With Halloween just around the corner, your little ghosts and goblins are eager to hit the candy jackpot. But what else can be spookier than creepy crawlies and witches? Rotting teeth from too much sugar and dental plaque. It just might be why Dental Hygiene month falls on the same month as Halloween, possibly a marriage of convenience? Certified Dental Hygienist Anaida Deti is regularly tapped to provide tips and commentary to Canadians on how to take better care of your oral health. So before you handover any goodies to your trick-or-treater, check out Anaida’s 7 tips on how to...
DentalX Dental Blog
July 07, 2016August 11, 2021
A Sweet Summer Could be a Dental Bummer
With summer in full gear, it’s easy to fall into the sugary trap of so-called ‘healthy’ cool-down treats. You’d be surprised at how quickly your sugar consumption can sky rocket as you reach for another slice of refreshing mango (a whopping 13grams of sugar in only 3oz) or another cup of fruit sorbet (roughly 35 grams!). And while it’s always a better choice to go with natural sugars—like you find in fruits and vegetables, it should still be in moderation…because at the end of the day, sugar is still sugar and will cause the same damage to your pearly whites...
March 25, 2016August 11, 2021
Healthy Teeth, Healthy Heart?
Giving your dental hygiene a little extra TLC doesn’t only give you a set of healthy and shiny white pearls; it can also keep your heart healthy. Although the connection between the two isn’t conclusive, studies have shown that the mouth breeds the warning signs to many systematic diseases—including heart disease. Many of the risk factors for gum disease are the same as those for heart disease and stroke: such as tobacco use, poor nutrition and diabetes. Generally, people who have chronic gum disease are at higher risk for a heart attack, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD)....
March 25, 2016August 11, 2021
What the Tooth Fairy Knows: How to Care for Little Wiggly Teeth
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a baby’s’ and toddler teeth are not as important because they “just fall out anyway”. This sentiment couldn’t be more wrong. Starting your child off with good dental habits—even before a tooth makes its grand appearance—can help keep their teeth healthy, strong and protected for decades to come! Baby teeth preserve the spacing for the permanent ones, not caring for them properly can lead to tooth decay and/or gingivitis, which can affect the spacing of the permanent teeth. A cavity develops when a tooth is exposed to acid frequently — for example, if...
March 25, 2016August 11, 2021
Teens and Dental Care: Why They Shouldn’t Give Their Mouth the “Brush-Off”
Teenagers take great pride in their appearance, but they seem to miscalculate the work it entails to maintain a healthy smile. Add in their new found independence and social lives and they’re just too busy to be giving extra attention to their teeth or to be going to their check-ups. As a registered dental hygienist, I try to emphasize how important it is for adolescents to maintain proper dental hygiene. Did you know that dental decay is the most common chronic disease in young people between the ages of 5 and 17? Cavities are not just for little kids, and...
March 23, 2016August 11, 2021
How to Save Your Teeth From Clenching, Gnashing, & Grinding
Do you ever wake up with a sore jaw and you’re pretty certain you weren’t in a fight? Teeth grinding (or bruxism as it’s medically known as) is most likely the culprit. One in three people suffer from bruxism—often caused by stress, pain or fear but sometimes from a more serious cause such as an abnormal bite or missing/crooked teeth. A lot of us don’t even realize we’re chronic teeth grinders until symptoms like dull headaches, sore jaws and tense muscle begin to occur; and by that point some damage may have occurred to your teeth such as: Tooth sensitivity...
