Your Oral Health Matters

Your Oral Health Matters

General Dentistry

Did you know that April is Oral Health Month?  As your Mississauga dentist, educating our community and our patients is important to ensure we do our best to provide you with the information necessary to reach or maintain optimal oral health.  With April being oral health month, we want to take this opportunity to help you move forward with your goals of a beautiful smile.  At Credit River Dental Centre, we take pride in doing what we can as your dental health professional to provide you with the information and tools for dental success.

Daily Homecare Routines

Even if you are a regular patient that we see every three, four, or six months, what you do at home on a daily basis to maintain the health of your teeth and gums can have a huge impact on the success of your dental health.  Questions we normally ask at your hygiene appointments are questions you should be asking yourself when you choose the type of adjuncts for your daily homecare routine.  Questions such as:

1. When was the last time I changed my toothbrush head?
2. Am I capable of flossing and if so, do I do it well?
3. If I’m not capable of flossing, what else can I do to clean between my teeth?
4. Do I floss first or brush first?
5. Do I rinse out after I brush?
6. Does my oral condition require the use of mouthwash?
7. Do I have a dry mouth (Xerostomia)?

These are just a few of the many questions that we should be thinking about when we are deciding what to do as a homecare routine.  You may not know the answers to some of these questions and if not, it would be a good idea to inquire when you see your dental professional.  We are always willing to provide our patients with the information necessary to develop good homecare routines to ensure long term oral health success.

Regular Check-Ups

As your Mississauga dentist, we will always recommend what we think is best to help you maintain your oral health or help you reach optimal oral health.  Regular maintenance ensures the prevention of dental issues down the road.  It is recommended to see your dentist at least once or even twice a year for examinations.  The frequency of routine dental hygiene appointments depends on various factors such as:

1. Your current periodontal condition
2. Medical conditions that may affect your periodontal condition such as diabetes, heart conditions, etc.
3. Undergoing of current orthodontic treatment which makes it sometimes difficult to access certain areas in the mouth if there are fixed appliances
4. Physical limitations such as the inability to do proper homecare or unable to open wide
5. Medications that affect your teeth and surrounding tissues
6. Dry mouth
7. Smoking

Things are always changing in the mouth and as we age, like our bodies, maintenance is key to ensure our mouths continue to function optimally.  Because bite changes, gingival conditions, decay, etc. can happen in a short period of time, it is important to identify these concerns early on to ensure the best prognosis.

The importance of food type on your oral health

Just like diet plays a big role in your health, it is no different for your oral health.  There are certain foods that can contribute to your oral health and those that can cause a decline.  We all know that sugar isn’t recommended as it is the biggest culprit when it comes to decay or cavities but did you know that it is more so the frequency or exposure and kind or food that affect the likelihood of cavities?  If and when drinking acidic or sugary drinks, it’s advisable to drink it in one sitting versus throughout the day as the constant exposure will lead to erosion of the tooth surfaces and possible decay.  Consistency of the food being consumed is also important to note.  Retentive foods such as crackers, granola bars, sticky dried fruit, fruit roll-ups, etc. that are sticky can adhere to the tooth surfaces for long periods of time and with the sugar content can lead to possible cavities.  It would be best to avoid these or brush as soon as possible to remove the retentive foods from your teeth.

Treatments that promote long term function and optimal oral health

Sometimes we aren’t born with the most ideal dentition and dental intervention is needed.  Cosmetic dentistry is a growing field and it is common to be curious about what a smile makeover can do for you.  A smile makeover can not only provide you with a beautiful smile that suits your face but can also provide you with long term function.  When considering what an ideal mouth is, long-term function is key which includes factors such as your bite, tooth alignment, your gum (periodontal) condition, maximum breathing, and cavity prevention.  Some of these concerns can be treated easily and some require more advanced dental treatment.

If you’re curious about what we can do to improve your smile, click on the various links below for a more in depth look at what these services can do for your smile.

1. Dental Whitening
2. Dental Bonding
3. Straighten your teeth
4. Dental Veneers
5. Dental Crowns
6. Dental Implants

A smile makeover is just a few steps away.  Always ask yourself if you think your smile is a 10.  If it isn’t, what smile makeover advanced techniques do you think can help you get there and if you don’t know, let us take the guesswork out for you.  As your dental professional at Credit River Dental Centre, our knowledgeable team can give you the information you need to achieve the 10.  After all, your smile is your best accessory and you deserve a lifetime of comfort and function enjoying the foods you love while being confident about your smile.  As your Mississauga dentist, Dr. Samson Lee has numerous years of dentistry and collaborates with the top specialists in our field to ensure that every aspect of your oral health is taken into consideration.  To book your smile design consultation, contact us at 905-278-4297 today!