We know that all Canadians are experiencing a difficult and trying time now to help curb the spread of COVID-19. However, while we are home, there are still some things we can do to stay healthy and resources that we can access to help get through the coming days.
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It’s no secret, cleaning your teeth with dental braces is a lot more work. That being said, it is a very important time to make sure you are doing the best job you can because your teeth and gums are more susceptible to cavities and gum inflammation with all that hardware on. Below is a list of what you should be doing at home to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible while wearing braces.
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With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, it seems like businesses are closing left and right. Restaurants are only open for delivery or takeout and many non-essential companies have closed down. But how do these new practices affect your dentist? As it turns out, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) has put out a special order regarding what dentists should do during this pandemic. Continue reading to learn what it is, and how you can recognize and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
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We all know that we brush and floss our teeth to remove plaque, keep our gums healthy and prevent cavities, but do we really know what plaque is?
Fluoride works by strengthening the enamel of your teeth (which is the outer layer of your teeth) to prevent the penetration of oral bacteria and acids. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in the earth and is in some areas naturally occurring in water. In some municipalities, fluoride is added to the water in around 0.7 ppm (parts per million) to help reduce cavities in the population. Fluoride can also be administered topically in the form of toothpaste, mouthwash and topical applications at your dental office. Fluoride administered in office may consist of mouth rinse, fluoride gel, varnish or foam.
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Laughing gas is the layman’s terms for nitrous oxide. It is commonly used in dental offices to reduce stress, anxiety and pain for patients during dental procedures. It is a colourless and odourless gas that is inhaled through the nose for a determined amount of time during the procedure.
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Pericoronitis is the inflammation of the tissue that is partially covering a partially erupted tooth in the mouth. Often it occurs with partially erupted wisdom teeth that don’t have space to erupt into the mouth fully, but sometimes it can even happen with the eruption of the first or second molars. The gum tissue that partially covers an erupting tooth is called an operculum, and the inflammation of that tissue is called pericoronitis. Pericoronitis is diagnosed based on signs and symptoms gathered during a clinical analysis, as well as a potential x-ray taken to rule out any other causes.
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Although dental decay has been steadily decreasing in Canada for the past 40 years, dental fillings are still a very common and essential part of dentistry.
A dental filling is used to replace tooth structure lost due to cavity or a broken tooth. Your dentist has to remove the decay and prepare the tooth before placing the dental filling. Dental fillings allow for a damaged tooth to be returned to its original shape and function.
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“Gum disease” is an umbrella term that encompasses all conditions related to the gums. Gum disease begins with gingivitis and escalates to periodontitis.
These are typically both involuntary functions of the jaw that consist of the jaws biting together with force (clenching) and possibly moving back and forth (grinding.) Both clenching and grinding often occur at night but may occur during the day during stressful periods. If done during the day, it is crucial to notice when these habits are happening and try to stop them. If they occur at night, a nightguard may be useful to prevent damage to the teeth.
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