Maintaining Your Smile Between Dental Visits

It is important to keep in mind that your dentist can only do so much to help your smile stay healthy and white. Maintaining your teeth is a tag-team effort between you and your dentist, so let's review the basic fundamentals of keeping your teeth clean and perhaps even learn a few interesting facts along the way!

Brushing

At this point in our history as human beings it is common knowledge that brushing your teeth twice a day is essential for keeping your dental health in good order. However, it is important to keep these tips in mind when doing this twice-daily ritual:

1. Experience the experience

Over the years, one can become so accustomed to the practice of brushing one's teeth that it becomes something we do without thinking about it. And that usually means that we begin to do less and less of a thorough job as the years pass. After all: if something is worth doing, then one should do it right, no? So be sure to focus on the task at hand, doing the best you can each time to clean not just the front of the teeth, but the backs as well and the lower parts of the teeth that are near the gums. Hold the brush at an angle, and try concentrating on one tooth area at a time until you feel that you have covered all of your bases. You will probably experience a more refreshed and clean post-brushed feeling if you keep this in mind.

Another good way to make sure you brush your teeth thoroughly is to time yourself (about 3 minutes is what is recommended), or use an electronic toothbrush that has a timer on it, in order to make sure you don't try to cut any corners.

2. Toothbrushes are not permanent!

You would be surprised how many people keep their toothbrushes around for years upon years. Do you remember the last time you bought a new brush? People are always glad when they do because a new toothbrush not only cleans better but feels better too. It is recommended that you replace your toothbrush at least every three months. Additionally, keep in mind that the fiber in toothbrushes often start wearing out before they show visible signs that it is time for them to be replaced!

Flossing

The daily practice of flossing your teeth is one that is unfortunately quite often overlooked. Most people do not do this daily and if they do, they don't do it thoroughly enough. Perhaps these little tips could help steer you in the right direction if you happen to be one of these people:

1. Find a flossing time that works for you

If you're like me, you do not wish to stand in front of the bathroom mirror for longer than five minutes or so. That is why I floss my teeth each night while watching the evening news. This way I do not rush the process of flossing, like I would if I was standing up in bathroom, and since I watch the news every day it ensures that I keep up with my flossing. So, find a time that works for you and fits into your daily routine, and you may then find flossing to be less of a chore.

2. Keep in mind the importance of flossing

After all, just like the dentist can only do so much to keep you teeth healthy, brushing is only half of the equation when it comes to the daily cleaning of your teeth. Flossing helps clean and stimulate the areas of your teeth and mouth that brushing cannot reach.

3. Take it one tooth at a time

It is important to be patient when flossing, and make sure that you are going in between each pair of teeth. Develop a routine that works for you. If you have trouble getting in between any two of your teeth, use the waxed variety of dental floss.

Diet

Of course, what we eat has a lot to do with the health and appearance of our teeth. So, keep these tips in mind:

1. More than twice a day is okay

We all know that sugary foods are worse for our teeth than non-sugary ones. So, if you've just polished off that berry pie all by yourself, why not give your teeth a break and brush them one extra time? Not only will this help your teeth, it is also a healthier alternative to using mints or gum to freshen your breath. Another easy way to rinse your teeth quickly right after a meal is to just use mouthwash.

2. Sugar is not the only enemy of you teeth

Acidic foods and ones who's particles have a tendency to stay packed in between teeth can be just as bad as that candy bar. Have you ever noticed how bits of potato chips stay lodged in between your teeth long after they have been eaten? For this reason, foods like this can be just as bad for your teeth as candy, so eat them sparingly. Also, highly acidic foods, which include everything from tomatoes to soda pop, can wear away on the enamel of teeth, so keep this in mind when balancing out your daily meals, especially if you have very sensitive teeth.

Until next time,

-DC

Staff Writer

National Dentist Appreciation Day

There are two professions that I feel get a bad rap in our society: dentists and lawyers. Since this is not a law blog, but one concerned with matters of dentistry, I will of course be lauding one of the great unsung heroes of our society: the dentist.

First off, just imagine going to work every day and having to stare into other people's mouths? I've often thought of this self-consciously while sitting in the dentist's chair. Obviously some people's mouths are going to be a prettier sight than others, but REALLY think about it...

See what I mean? To the dentist this is nothing but another pleasant day at the office, but there has to be a breaking-in period, right? I won't even get into the bad breath angle of this thing...yikes...trying to keep everything in good taste here, but you get the idea.

The truly unfair element (that I'm sure every dentist is forced to confront at some time in their careers) is the fact that many of their patients often unfortunately feel that they are being somehow forced to go to the dentist against their will, instead of realizing how fortunate they are to be able to have the privilege to be treated by a dentist in the first place. After all, in many parts of the world, people don't have the services of dentists at their disposal at all.

As I see it, the expression "don't shoot the messenger," could not apply more aptly to any other profession more than dentistry. After all, most of the time, dental problems, as opposed to other sorts of health issues, are first discovered by the dentist or dental hygienist themselves as opposed to the patient. Most of us are lucky enough to be able to find out that we might have cavities before they turn into tooth-aches, right? Instead of being happy that the cavity was discovered before it became painful, or that we need something like a root canal, we inadvertently blame the experience of "going to the dentist" as having somehow created the problem. Doesn't seem quite fair to me...

So, I say that we need to have a National Dentist Appreciation Day. Perhaps it should be in December when everyone is gobbling up those Christmas cookies. Or around Halloween, perhaps? Regardless if National Dentist Appreciation Day ever happens or not, next time you go to the dentist, give him or her a smile, and remember that keeping your smile bright is what dentists are really all about.

Guest post written by a fan of the team at the Oakville Place Dental Office.

The Top 10 Reasons People Avoid Going to the Dentist

We surveyed 100 people during lunchtime last week in beautiful Oakville, Ontario to find out why some people don't want to go to the dentist. The following ten reasons were listed most often by our survey participants as to why people avoid the dentist:

10. I can't find a dentist
9. Dentists are too expensive
8. My teeth don't need regular checkups
7. I am too busy
6. I haven't been to the dentist in a long time
5. Electric toothbrush works just fine for me
4. My teeth look white enough
3. My teeth feel fine
2. I floss and brush my teeth, that should be enough
1. I am scared of the dentist

Basically, the people we surveyed seem to think that their teeth are in good shape, don't have the resources to get to a dentist, or even have a fear of getting a dental checkup. Though we work at a dentist office, the reasons listed above don't seem strong enough to us to keep someone from getting regular dental checkups.

No matter what the reason is that you may have been avoiding getting a dental checkup, your teeth are too important to leave unchecked by a dentist. The Oakville Place Dental Office offers affordable and convenient dental services in a friendly and professional environment. Visit our website at http://www.dentistoakville.com today to make an appointment, learn about our dental services, and meet our staff.

Welcome to our Blog!

The staff at Oakville Place Dental Office is proud to announce the launch of our new blog!

The Oakville Place Dental Office Blog is designed to provide information on a variety of dental health related topics including:

• Dental industry news
• Dental health tips
• News about our office
• New services being offered at Oakville Place Dental Office

Make sure to bookmark this blog and keep checking back for new content!