Dental Prevention and Maintenance

Many people believe that much of what dentists do is fix broken teeth, fill cavities and treat dental infections.   And this is very true… we do spend a lot of our time addressing these kinds of problems.

Dentistry has changed exponentially over the last decade and continues to change at a rapid pace.  We have seen the introduction many digital technologies that have improved accuracy and success in all aspects of dental treatment.  Materials are stronger and our ability to achieve natural esthetics is truly impressive.  Many procedures are much more comfortable both during and after treatment.

We have also learned how to prevent many dental problems from occurring in the first place.  Products are now available, many of them over-the-counter, that can repair teeth in the early stages of cavity formation and even stop a significant cavity in certain circumstances.   Our understanding of how to keep gums healthy for a life-time has never been better, and we know how to protect teeth from excessive pressure and wear!

At Forman Dental Care we have designed our examination and dental hygiene appointments with a focus on prevention.  Our goal is to make sure each and every one of our patients have the opportunity take advantage of the most advanced preventative products and home-care strategies and to maintain their natural teeth with a minimal of intervention.  We feel it is a true team approach to your care that allows you to benefit the most.

Causes of Bad Breath & Foods to Help Fight It!

Have you been wondering what causes bad breath?  Do you want to know how to fight bad breath?  Maintaining your oral hygiene regularly, is essential to fighting bad breath, but so is regularly visiting your dentist or hygienist in order for routine check-ups. At Forman Dentistry, we have a great team that can help you maintain your oral health and eliminate bad breath!  We are a family friendly dentist in Maple. The most common cause of bad breath is poor dental hygiene.  Every time you eat, bacteria breaks down the particles in food, and sulfur compounds are produced that cause odor. There is a large list of causes of bad breath, including smoking, tooth decay, and alcohol consumption. Even certain foods like garlic, onions, curry, fish, and some cheeses take up to 24 hours to be removed from our blood system, which can cause bad breath for extended periods of time. Bad breath affects 25% of the world’s population globally, so if you experience it, know that you are not alone. Keep reading to learn how to fight bad breath! How do I treat bad breath? The best way to deal with bad breath is brushing, flossing, and hydrating your teeth regularly.  Visiting your dentist regularly for checkups and cleaning also helps to eliminate bad breath.  Your dentist will remove any plaque, tartar, and buildup that causes bad breath. You should always inform your dentist if you are experiencing bad breath, or have a bad taste in your mouth as there could be underlying reasons. Eating certain foods also can help eliminate odors in your mouth.  Foods like lemon, parsley, apples, pears, carrots, crunch oils, mint, berries and yogurt, all facilitate the production of essential oils in your mouth and remove food particles from your mouth. Drinking lots of water also helps the production of saliva and eliminates bad breath by washing away bacteria in your mouth. Take charge of your bad breath. Book an appointment with our family friendly dentistry office in Maple today by filling out a form or call Forman Dentistry at 905-303-9355.

3 Ways to Keep your Teeth and Gums in Good Health

We’re often asked what patients can do to minimize dental work and visits to the dentist.  At Forman Dental Care we believe what makes us successful, and the key to a great relationship with our patients, is keeping dental work to an absolute minimum. Helping people care for their mouths while they’re away from the dentist has a tremendous impact on the longevity of their natural oral health and any extra treatments they may have had. Bacterial accumulation is the number one factor causing teeth and gums to fall out of good health and allow disease to take hold. This bacteria causes cavities and gum disease. Both are true infections and won’t go away unless you take the necessary actions. Bacteria will continue re-populating, so you need to stay on top of your care to keep it under control. We believe there are three key things that a patient can focus on to substantially minimize the need for extra dental work. 1)   Create an excellent home care routine. As challenging as it can be to break old habits, or influence your family to do the same; it is vital that people consistently follow a great home care routine. There are 2 keys to successfully creating this new habit. A) The most effective way to change a habit is by replacing it with a new one. B) It takes an average of 21 days of repetition to create a habit. For kids, make it a game and for adults, it’s a challenge. In both cases success should be rewarded.  Make sure everyone brushes twice daily (don’t rush) and floss or use Soft-Picks once a day. If you follow this routine, your dental work will last longer before needing repair or replacement, and your gums will stay much healthier. This means far less risk of problems, and fewer visits to the dentist’s office. 2)   Wear prescribed appliances every day. We see a lot of patients with clenching and/or grinding habits. The number two factor that causes problems with teeth and gums is too much pressure. We recommend that many patients consider a night-time clenching/grinding appliance to protect their teeth. Studies show that only around 5% of patients will faithfully wear their appliance, many won’t even try it, and even more will only wear it occasionally. A lot of you have heard me say “I’ll take some appliance wear over no wear”.  I really mean it; the more the better. After working with patients for over 15 years, it’s obvious when an appliance is worn faithfully or neglected; and the benefits of faithful use versus neglect are drastic. With consistent use, fillings look healthier and last longer, gums bleed less and are less inflamed, and teeth are far less likely to loosen from stretching tooth ligaments. Wear your appliance as much as possible if you have one, and consider trying one if it’s been recommended. Patients who are consistent with their appliances get better results, and avoid serious restorations. 3)   Do your best to restore your teeth if it’s required. Teeth with very large fillings are more susceptible to breaking. Restoration with a crown will protect at risk teeth from breaking and often avoid unplanned and extensive dental work. The bottom line is controlling bacteria and pressure on your teeth on a regular basis will save you many times the dental work and cost over the long run. In summary, create a great home care routine, wear recommended appliances faithfully, and keep your teeth restored and protected. These three concepts will help keep your oral health at its best, which is precisely what we want for you. If there are any outstanding issues you need taken care of, please use our appointment booking tool, or call us at (905) 303-9355.

Keeping Your Gums Healthy

A common misconception, when it comes to our gums, is that it’s normal for them to bleed. We see a lot of new patients in our office, and one of the first questions we ask is if their gums bleed when they brush or floss? Many patients notice that their gums bleed and always have. Bleeding gums are indeed common, but it’s also indicative of an underlying problem: gingivitis or periodontal disease. Your gums, when they are healthy, should not bleed when you brush or floss. So how can you make sure your gums are healthy and free of disease? Start with home care. By far, the most powerful way to keep your gums healthy is to take care of them every day. If they’ve been neglected, your gums will be sore after the first few brushings, but in time they’ll adapt. Be sure to brush twice daily (morning and night), and be thorough but not overly aggressive. Electric tooth brushes are far more effective than manual brushes, so if you can, use an electric tooth brush. Be sure to floss once a day with either normal dental floss or Soft Picks. Finally, be sure to use a mouth wash like Crest Pro Health or Listerine. They’re great for your breath and for killing the bacteria which causes gum disease. If you’re unsure about any aspects of your home care, our hygienists will be happy to help you understand more about any of the above. For some patients, home care alone may not remedy the problem, and a treatment called Active Therapy may be necessary. Active Therapy is used to treat gingivitis and periodontal disease. It’s designed to promote rapid healing of the gums and tooth-supporting tissue. By removing the built-up plaque and tartar around the teeth and under the gums, your body is able to heal and stop the disease. During Active Therapy, local anesthetic is given to allow the treatment to be comfortable, and is usually performed over two appointments. Typically we treat half the mouth at a time. Patients may experience minor soreness for 2-3 days after the treatment, but the pain is easily managed with Tylenol or Advil. A follow-up appointment, approximately 4 weeks after Active Therapy, is the final step to ensure success. At that appointment, your whole mouth will be reassessed and specific oral hygiene instructions will be given for areas that need more healing. Additional build up which was not reached or that recurred, will be removed without the need of local anesthetic. Active Therapy will go a long way toward keeping your teeth and gums healthy and looking great. It will help strengthen your gums and keep your teeth healthy over the long run. Not only will your teeth look and feel great, but keeping your gums in great condition will allow your teeth to remain stable, and allow you to eat all of the foods you love. Your gums will no longer be sore or bleed when you brush or floss. You’ll be able you keep your smile looking great, and you won’t have to worry about your teeth looking “long” or developing space between them. You’ll also improve your overall health, and prevent the bacteria in your gums from spreading to the rest of your body. If your gums are bleeding when you brush and great home care isn’t improving your condition, click here or call Forman Dental at (905) 303-9355.