After waking up one morning, you head to the bathroom to start your oral hygiene routine. Just as you’re about to brush your teeth, you realize that there’s a bump on your gums. Oh no! Your first instinct may be to panic, but rest assured – it’s usually not a medical emergency. Bumps can be harmless, but there are some cases where they indicate serious oral health issues. That said, here are a few possible causes of a bump on your gums and signs you should see your dentist.
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Several methods of tooth whitening/ bleaching are available to you, each varying in price and results. Listed below are several whitening options available with their pros and cons.
The Salvaggio Dentistry team is excited to announce that we will be moving to a new location in the same plaza! Our new location is located across from Giant Tiger. We expect to be fully operational in February 2022.
In our ongoing efforts to better serve you, moving to a new and larger location will provide many more benefits to our patients. Here is what you can expect in our new location.
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It might be difficult to decide which toothbrush, floss or tooth-cleaning aid to buy when browsing the oral hygiene section of any drug store. There are so many options and different products that it can make the buying experience overwhelming. Below is a breakdown of other oral hygiene products and their uses to make it easier to know what to buy the next time you are looking for oral hygiene products.
Manual Toothbrushes – Come in either super soft/soft/medium or hard. Use super soft if you know you are an aggressive brusher or have any signs of gum recession. Use a soft toothbrush in any other cases, and never use medium or hard. They are too aggressive and can damage the gums!
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Dental emergencies can happen when you least expect them to, which means it’s a good idea to be prepared! However, it can be a bit challenging to deal with oral health issues while abroad. When you’re facing a dire situation in an unfamiliar location, several questions might run through your head as you’re probably unsure of what to do. Read along to learn how you should handle a dental emergency while overseas.
Toothbrush abrasion is a wearing down of the enamel (the outer layer of the tooth) and sometimes the subsequent recession of the gum tissue in the same area. Toothbrush abrasion typically occurs on the outer surfaces of the teeth that are easier to access with the toothbrush but can occur anywhere in the mouth. Toothbrush abrasion can be localized to a single tooth or generalized to several teeth.
During routine dental visits, your dentist and dental hygienist will check your teeth, gums and overall mouth for health. Your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned and polished, removing plaque, tartar and staining. Certain tools will be used to clean above and below the gum line. Your routine dental visit will be recommended every 3-6 months, depending on the current health of your teeth and your dental needs. If you miss your dental hygiene appointment, you place yourself at risk of several different dental conditions.
During your routine dental hygiene appointment, the health of your teeth will be assessed. If a cavity is forming, it can be caught in its early stages before it gets larger and can spread to other teeth. If you miss your dental hygiene appointments, you run the risk of developing cavities that go undiagnosed and can even turn into infections.
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Tooth clenching and grinding are prevalent oral habits that are classified as nighttime sleep motion disorders. Clenching and grinding can occur subconsciously during the day but most commonly occurs at night. Clenching is the aggressive biting down of the upper and lower jaws together, and grinding is when the jaws move aggressively across each other, causing friction on the tooth surfaces. Nightguards act as a buffer or cushion between the upper and lower teeth to prevent tooth-on tooth trauma.
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Did you know that baby teeth are essential for many reasons, including health, function and aesthetics? It is important to help keep your child’s baby teeth healthy and cavity-free. Baby teeth lost premature, either to cavities, infection or trauma, can lead to problems with the positioning and health of the future adult teeth.
– Help with talking, chewing, smiling, speaking and confidence
– Are used by the future adult teeth as placeholders, meaning the adult teeth use the roots of the baby teeth to guide them into the correct position
– Prevent shifting of adjacent and opposing teeth, meaning if a baby tooth is lost premature, the surrounding teeth can shift and affect the bite
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Bad breath, also called “halitosis,” is most commonly caused by plaque build-up on your teeth and gum surfaces. Plaque consists of bacteria, which feeds on the sugars in your mouth. If plaque is not routinely cleaned off your teeth and gums, it leads to gum disease and cavities. Therefore, the more plaque you have on your teeth and gums, the more likely you are to experience bad breath. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once daily to remove plaque to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Your tongue is a rough surface that can harbour lots of bacteria. In addition, the top surface of your tongue is filled with thousands of taste buds from the back to the tip, which creates many crevices where plaque builds up. Make sure to clean your tongue daily with either your toothbrush or a tongue cleaner.
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