tooth tips

Tooth Tips | 3 Snack Options for Healthy Teeth

May 20, 2022 by Daniel Bedard

One of the best ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy is to maintain a balanced diet! Check out three snack options that are particularly useful when it comes to your oral health.

Celery

Celery has a high water content along with a crunchy, fibrous texture that helps stimulates saliva production as you chew. A healthy flow of saliva helps to naturally clean you teeth by washing away food debris!

Celery’s texture also loosens the bacteria that clings to your teeth, making it much easier for saliva to do its job.

Apples

Though highly acidic, an apple’s natural sugars help neutralize harmful acids in the mouth. They also increase saliva production and are filled with vitamins to keep your gums healthy. As with celery, the fibrous content of apples help to clean teeth. The acidity in an apple can also fight bad breath by staving off harmful bacteria!

Yogurt and Cheese

Unsweetened natural yogurt contains both casein and calcium, which strengthen enamel and help to fight bacteria. Same goes for cheese!

Cheese is also great for balancing the pH levels in your mouth, which helps in reducing harmful acid and lessening your risk of cavities.

Tooth Tips | Jaw Pain, Stiffness & Clicking: TMJ 101

May 5, 2022 by Daniel Bedard

Do you experience pain or discomfort in and around your jaw? Maybe even some clicking and popping when you open your mouth? If so, you might have a problem with your temporomandibular joints.

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the 2 joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) refers to a variety of conditions that cause pain and
dysfunction in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. These issues can often be tied to a displacement of the disc that acts as a cushion between the skull and lower jaw.

Here are some core symptoms:

Pain, tenderness, or discomfort in the jaw
Pain in one or both of your temporomandibular joints
Pain radiating to the neck and head
Aching pain in the face and/or ear
Difficulty chewing or speaking
Clicking, popping, crackling in the jaw area while chewing or speaking
Tinnitus (ringing in ear)
Facial stiffness
Limited range of motion
Lockjaw

Potential Causes of TMD

The exact cause of a TMD flare-up can be difficult to pinpoint, but factors such as jaw injuries and arthritis can sometimes play a role. Bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding) is also tied to TMD, as are head/neck tension and a misaligned bite.

Potential Solutions

There are certain self-applied treatments that can alleviate TMD symptoms, such as facial exercises and trigger point massages that help alleviate pain and increase jaw mobility. Stress management, avoiding tough-to-chew foods, posture training, physical therapy, and heat packs are also known to provide relief depending on the cause and nature of a TMD case.

In some cases, a trip to the dentist is paramount, as prescriptions for muscle relaxants or a dental splint may be necessary. In even more extreme cases, surgery may be required. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, reach out to your dentist to find out what treatment is best for you.

955 boul. Saint-Jean #302, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5K3

514.694.8880 | PUR.CA

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Tooth Tips | Don’t Believe These Baby Teeth Myths

May 3, 2022 by Daniel Bedard

Several myths in the dental world are linked to misconceptions about baby teeth. Time for some debunking!

Myth 1: Baby Teeth Aren’t Important

aka “They’ll just fall out anyway!”

The main misconception about baby teeth is that because they aren’t permanent, there’s no need to take good care of them. However, baby teeth are super important in your child’s dental development! Helping with structure, baby teeth provide a guide for the permanent teeth to come in correctly.

If a baby tooth is lost due to injury or decay before its natural time, the surrounding teeth might shift and cause permanent teeth to come in crooked or become impacted.

Myth 2: No Need for Brushing Until All Their Teeth Come In!

As soon as even just one tooth erupts, it’s time to get out the toothbrush. Brush your child’s tooth/teeth twice a day using a small, soft-bristle brush and a teeny smidge of fluoride toothpaste.

Myth 3: Who Cares About Cavities if the Teeth Aren’t Permanent?

Whether for permanent or baby teeth, cavities can cause pain and even abscesses, also serving as a breeding ground for bacteria that can spread to other parts of the body.

Long story short, care for your child’s baby teeth as if they’re the only ones they’ll ever have! Be sure to bring your child to the dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts to set your child up for a bright dental health future!

955 boul. Saint-Jean #302, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5K3

514.694.8880 | PUR.CA

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Tooth Tips | Managing Dry Mouth

April 28, 2022 by Daniel Bedard

Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva. Chronic dry mouth can be extremely uncomfortable and can even lead to other issues:

Constant thirst
Sore throat
Cracked lips
Mouth sores

Even more serious problems can arise; since food particles are more likely to linger in a dry mouth, your risk of suffering from tooth decay is increased. Additionally, harmful acids tend to become more concentrated in a dry mouth, contributing to gum disease.

Here are some simple ways to combat dry mouth:

Drink water

For healthy saliva production, water is the way to go. Staying hydrated is instrumental in preventing or fighting dry mouth.

Avoid excess caffeine

Your morning coffee might give you a boost of energy to tackle your day, but it’s also a diuretic, which can lead to dehydration. Moderation is key!

Avoid excess salt

Keep an eye on the sodium content of your packaged foods, as too much salt can make a dry mouth even drier.

Chew sugar-free gum

Sugar-free gum and mints encourage saliva production to help stave off dryness.

Don’t breathe through your mouth

Breathing through the mouth is another culprit, so try to breathe through your nose as much as possible. If you have any difficulty in doing so, particularly while sleeping, it’s possible that you have a sleep or sinus issue that needs remedying.

If the options above don’t seem to be doing the trick, don’t hesitate to visit your dentist!

955 boul. Saint-Jean #302, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5K3

514.694.8880 | PUR.CA

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Tooth Tips | Dental Emergency Signs

April 26, 2022 by Daniel Bedard

It’s sometimes difficult to determine whether a dental issue requires emergency services. Recognizing the signs of a dental emergency is vital in mitigating your risk of severe complications, so here are three of the most common ones to look out for:

Severe / Constant Toothache

A severe toothache that lasts for more than three days can be a symptom of a serious dental problem, particularly when the pain is accompanied by loose teeth, a fever, or swelling. A toothache may be a sign of severe tooth decay, a dental cavity, or an infection.

If your dentist catches the issue early enough, root canal therapy may be performed to reduce your risk of tooth loss.

Broken / Missing Tooth

A chipped or broken tooth that is left untreated can lead to other dental issues. Chipped teeth aren’t simply an aesthetic issue, and it’s important to visit your dentist swiftly after the damage occurs. As for a knocked out tooth (e.g. due to a sports accident), your tooth can actually be saved if you visit an emergency dentist within approximately an hour (preferably within the first 30 minutes).

Try to place the tooth back in your socket on your way to the clinic. If you can’t, keep the tooth moist (in your mouth next to your cheek, in milk, or in an emergency tooth preservation kit).

If your dentist is unable to save the tooth, it should be replaced as soon as possible, as having a missing tooth can cause a series of complications that include shifting teeth, gum recession, and bone loss.

Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is a severe infection affecting either the root of your tooth or the space between the teeth and gums. If left untreated, the infection can damage the surrounding teeth and gum tissue and even spread throughout the body. Emergency treatment can help prevent this kind of spread.

Think you might have a dental emergency?

Visit your dentist as soon as possible!

955 boul. Saint-Jean #302, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5K3

514.694.8880 | PUR.CA

BOOK ONLINE