A: Plaque forms on your teeth daily. When sugar combines with the bacteria in plaque it produces acids that damage the enamel on your teeth.
Although decreasing sugar intake will help, it is impossible to avoid sugar completely as it is naturally found in many of our foods, including fruits and vegetables.
In order to maintain healthy teeth and overal oral health you must brush and floss daily using good techniques to ensure the best results.dentist in etobicoke family dental oral health cosmetic dentistry dental office
Q: There are so many different toothbrushes. Which one should I buy?
A: The brand of the toothbrush is less important than the type of brush, your brushing technique and how often you brush your teeth.
We recommend that for optimal oral health you choose a soft-bristle toothbrush. This type of brush will effectively remove plaque and a soft brush will not damage your gums (so long as you don't apply too much pressure when you brush). We also recommend that you brush at least twice a day.
The condition of your brush is also important, as when the bristles begin to bend over it is time to start using a new brush. When the bristles on your toothbrush are bent over they lose their ability to remove food and plaque. It is the tip of the bristles that clean your teeth the best.
Q: How does fluoride help my teeth?
A: Tooth enamel is hard but it also has microscopic pores. Sugar combines with the bacteria in plaque, which forms on your teeth daily, to produce acids that seep into the enamel's pores. This causes the enamel to demineralize and become weak, contributing to the formation of cavities.
In preventive dentistry, fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the natural remineralization process. This keeps your teeth strong and healthy. Fluoride also fights cavities by reducing the amount of acids that are produced by plaque.
Q: Why do my teeth feel sensitive to hot or cold?
A: Tooth sensitivity is often experienced when the surface of the tooth has been worn down. One of the most common reasons for adults is that the roots of the teeth are exposed because the gums are receding. This allows the effects of heat and cold to penetrate to the pulp where the nerves are located.
The problem can get worse as you tend not to brush your teeth properly if they cause you pain. If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity, let us know so we can assess your situation and recommend the best preventive and cosmetic treatment to take care of your discomfort.
Q: Is there anything I should do before my appointment?
A: There are a few things that you should keep us informed about in order to ensure that we are most effective when treating you. Please keep us informed about:
Whether your teeth or gums are more sensitive to heat, cold or sweets.
Any changes in your gums, such as colour, tenderness or bleeding when you brush or floss.
Whether your floss catches on rough edges of teeth that causes the floss to tear.
Any changes in the skin on the inside of your mouth, such as colour.
If you clench or grind your teeth, or if your neck and jaw muscles are tense or sore.
Whether you have any allergies.
If you are pregnant.
Whether you are taking any medication.
If your medicine has changed since your last check-up.
Any health problems or medical condition that you are being treated for.
Any other changes in your general health.
Q: How common is gum disease?
A: Gum Disease is one of the most common oral health problems in adults, and it can progress quite painlessly until you have a serious problem. The end result can be bone loss and the loss of teeth. Even though you may brush and floss regularly, regular visits to the dentist will help detect gum disease in the early stages.
Q: What if I am already in the early stages of gum disease?
A: If you already have gum disease, getting rid of plaque and tartar gives your gums a chance to get better. That's why in the early stages of gum disease, the best cosmetic and preventive treatment is:
Regular cleanings in our practice.
Brushing at least twice a day.
Flossing at least once a day.
Q: Why do I have bad breath?
A: Many people suffer from bad breath; in fact, it is estimated that up to 40% of the population has problems with bad breath at some time in their lives. Some reasons for bad breath include:
Poor dental hygiene.
Eating certain foods, such as garlic or onions.
Smoking.
Chewing Tobacco.
Diseases, such as cancer or diabetes.
Dry mouth (often called morning breath).
You can help reduce the incidence of bad breath by brushing and flossing each day to remove plaque. By avoiding certain foods you can also eliminate a lot of bad breath problems. If you wear dentures or removable partial dentures, it is important to clean them thoroughly everyday and remove it at night so your mouth tissues can restore themselves daily. If a bad breath problem persists then let us know and we will try to discover what the problem is and recommend a treatment.
