Author: Dr. Gurpreet Gill

This author has written 180 articles
Read more about the article The Benefits of Regular Visits to the Dentist

The Benefits of Regular Visits to the Dentist

Visiting your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings can help prevent many dental problems as well as to help you maintain optimal oral health. Don’t wait until you have a toothache before you call your dentist. You should have a regular dental visit at least every 6 months.

What happens during a dental visit?

  1. Clinical dental examination – Your dental professional will check for cavities and to see if there is plaque or tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. If it is not removed, it can harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar with brushing and flossing. If plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, they can cause oral diseases.

Next, your gums will be checked. This will be done with a special tool to measure the spaces between your teeth and gums. With healthy gums, the spaces are shallow. When people have gum disease, the spaces may become deeper.

The check-up should also include your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. This is to look for any signs of trouble, swelling, or cancer.

  1. Dental cleaning – During the dental visit, your dental professional cleans your mouth by removing any plaque and tartar, polishing your teeth and flossing.

Once your examination and cleaning have been performed, they’ll tell you about the health of your teeth and gums and then make any additional recommendations. It’s important that you see your dentist every six months for a routine examination and cleaning. By seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following daily good oral hygiene practices at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

 

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Read more about the article Make Your Child Love the Dentist

Make Your Child Love the Dentist

Going to the dentist starts long before your child’s first appointment. If you have hesitation about going to the dentist, he/she will sense this and be apprehensive as well. Believe it or not, some children actually look forward to going to the dentist, but this takes preparation and teamwork to make this happen.

You can prepare your kids by reading books about visiting the dentist. Books explain why we need to visit the dentist and what happens at the dental clinic, from arrival to the waiting room to the equipment used and what the dentist will do. One of the main reasons children might fear the dentist is the unknown – if they have an idea of what to expect it makes it easier for them. Secondly, be a positive role model. Visit the dentist regularly yourself and brush your teeth with them.

Children may have any number of dental health problems over the years. For instance, they may require braces to help with straightening their teeth. They could need to have fillings put in to prevent worsening of cavities and further damage to their teeth. Very young children will need to be taught good oral hygiene practices, and the dentist’s office is the perfect place to reinforce what they are learning at home.

 

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Read more about the article How Your Diet Can Impact Your Oral Health?

How Your Diet Can Impact Your Oral Health?

Your body is a complex machine. The foods you choose and how often you eat them can impact your general as well as your oral health. If you consume too many sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks or non-nutritious snacks, you could be at risk for tooth decay. Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease, but the good news is that it is entirely preventable.

Foods that contain sugars of any kind can contribute to tooth decay. To control the amount of sugar you eat, read the nutrition facts and ingredient labels on foods and beverages and choose options that are lowest in sugar. Common sources of sugar in the diet include soft drinks, candy, cookies and pastries. Your physician or a registered dietitian can also provide suggestions for eating a nutritious diet. If your diet lacks certain nutrients, it may be more difficult for tissues in your mouth to resist infection. This may contribute to gum disease. Severe gum disease is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is potentially more severe in people with poor nutrition.

For good oral hygiene, keep these tips in mind when choosing your meals and snacks:

  • Drink plenty of water

  • Eat a variety of foods from each of the five major food groups including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein (e.g. lean beef, fish, dry beans, peas), low-fat and fat-free dairy products

Avoiding following types of foods is a way to maintain good oral hygiene:

  • Carbohydrates – Refined carbohydrate-laden foods (chips, bread, pasta, crackers, etc.) can be as harsh on your teeth as candy.

  • Chewy, sticky foods such as raisins, jellybeans, caramel, honey etc.

  • Sugary snacks

  • Candy and gum

  • Carbonated soft drinks

  • Fruit and vegetable juices

  • Sports drinks

Limit the number of snacks you eat. If you do snack, choose something that is healthy like fruit or vegetables or a piece of cheese. Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm to teeth than eating lots of snacks throughout the day, because more saliva is released during a meal. Saliva helps wash foods from the mouth and lessens the effects of acids, which can harm teeth and cause cavities.

Remember to visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings – typically twice a year.

For good dental health, always remember to brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and visit your dentist regularly. With regular dental care, your dentist can help prevent oral problems from occurring in the first place and catch those that do occur in the early stages, while they are easy to treat.

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Read more about the article How Much Toothpaste Should an Adult Use?

How Much Toothpaste Should an Adult Use?

As little as we think about it, toothpaste is an essential item that we use every day. But, a good question is “How much toothpaste should we be using?”

Most adults tend to think that it is necessary to cover the entire brushing surface of a toothbrush because of the way toothpaste is advertised on television. Liberal use of toothpaste is far too much; it is only necessary for adults to use an estimated pea sized dab of toothpaste to properly clean their teeth.

Besides toothpaste, fluoride can be found in a variety of products, including mouth rinses, supplements in tablet form and drinking water, if community water is fluoridated. Other products, such as juice boxes and soda pop, may contain fluoride, depending on their water sources. For example, if the bottler for a soda pop company is located in a community where fluoridated water is present, fluoride will be present in the product. Some people also receive topical fluoride treatments during a routine dental visit.

So, in summary,

  • The right amount of toothpaste is the size of a pea.

  • We can get fluoride from the sources other than our toothpaste.

Regular visits to the dentist are important because dentists can help if you or your child is not receiving enough fluoride.

Remember, only a dentist can diagnose your dental problems and offer the right treatment plan for you. Get connected with a dentist in Calgary today.

 

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Read more about the article How Common is Gum Disease?

How Common is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is a very common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected and most people experience it at least once. It is much less common in children. As per Canadian Dental Association (CDA), 7 out of 10 Canadians develop gum disease at some time in their lives. The incidence of gum disease is very high. It is seen in all types of people, all races and cultures, regardless of where they live or their level of education

People who do not go to a family dentist are frequently unaware they have a problem — an estimated 20 per cent of Canadians have active periodontal disease and do not know it.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic infection that can result in a number of health problems, from mild inflammation to severe gum damage to tooth loss, if left untreated. In addition, gum disease can affect your overall health, and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

It is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth, and is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth. Plaque that is not removed with thorough daily brushing and cleaning between teeth can eventually harden into calculus or tartar.

If you have gum disease, your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and you may have bad breath. This stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. If gingivitis is not treated, a condition called periodontitis can develop. This affects the tissues that support teeth and hold them in place.

Signs of Gum Disease:

Your oral health is critical to your overall health. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek care from a dentist who is knowledgeable about treating gum disease:

  • A sour taste in your mouth or persistently bad breath

  • A change in how your partial dentures fit

  • A change in how your teeth fit together when you bite down

  • Bleeding gums

  • Gum tissue that pulls away from your teeth

  • Loose teeth or increasing spaces between your teeth

  • Pain when chewing

  • Unusually sensitive teeth

  • Swollen and tender gums

Gum Disease Treatment Options:

  • Regular professional deep cleanings

  • Medications that are either taken orally or are inserted directly into infected tissue pockets

  • Surgery, in more severe cases of gum disease.

  • Good oral hygiene home practices i.e. brushing + flossing.

Despite following good oral hygiene practices, people may be genetically susceptible to gum disease. If anyone in your family has gum disease, it may mean that you are at greater risk, as well. If you are more susceptible to gum disease, your dentist or periodontist may recommend more frequent check-ups, cleanings, and treatments to better manage the condition.

Source: www.canada.com/health/disease rise population ages/1353520/story.html

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Read more about the article Permanent Tooth Knocked Out

Permanent Tooth Knocked Out

A permanent tooth which has been knocked out can be saved if it is put back quickly. If you cannot put the tooth back, store it in milk. Always call your dentist straightaway after a tooth injury. Every minute the tooth is out of the gum, the less chance it has of surviving.
First aid for permanent tooth:

  • Handle the tooth by the crown (smooth white part), not the root (yellowish pointy parts).

  • Gently put the tooth back into the gum. Make sure the pointy root is the part that goes into the gum. Only do this if the person is conscious.

  • Hold the tooth in place by gently biting on something soft, like a handkerchief.

  • See a dentist

  • If the tooth is dirty, rinse gently with water and don’t rub or scrub.

What not to do with the tooth

  • Don’t clean the tooth by scrubbing or using cleaning products or water.

  • Don’t handle the tooth by the root.

  • Don’t let the tooth dry out.

If the knocked out tooth is placed in the socket, subsequent treatment may include antibiotics to prevent infection. If the tooth is knocked loose or pushed out of position (inward, outward, sideways or into the jawbone), contact your dentist as soon as possible.

The treatment of a fractured tooth depends on how deep the fracture is. Regardless of the damage, treatment should always be determined by a dentist.

If you cannot close your upper and lower teeth together, your jaw may be broken. This requires emergency dental help.

Prevention

  • Wear a sports guard when playing any contact sport.

  • Avoid fights

  • Avoid hard foods

  • Always wear a seatbelt.

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Read more about the article Broken or Cracked Tooth

Broken or Cracked Tooth

Any trauma to the mouth that causes bleeding and lacerations to the gums, tooth fracture and/or dislodging of teeth, may require immediate attention. If you take longer to see your dentist, it will reduce the chance of revival of the tooth.

Causes

Whether the result of an accident or biting on a piece of food that’s too hard, mouth injuries can cause teeth to become cracked, broken, or knocked out/dislodged. It is important to see a dentist because if left untreated, a dental emergency can lead to serious complications.

If the tooth is just chipped, you should make a non-emergency dental appointment to have it smoothed down and filled. If the tooth has been knocked out or is badly broken, see a dentist immediately. Find your nearest dentist who offers emergency dental appointments.

 

 

While you wait to see a dentist, you can follow these dental tips:

  • If you still have a knocked out tooth, handle by the tip of it (crown) and avoid touching the root. Do not scrape or brush the tooth. If that tooth is dirty, rinse with milk or salt water. The sooner a knocked-out tooth is reimplanted, the more likely it is to embed itself back into the gum. If you don’t want to be left with a gap, make an emergency appointment to see your dentist. Usually, your dentist will want to re-implant your tooth as soon as possible, ideally within an hour of it being knocked out. If you have already attempted this yourself, they will check that the tooth is in place correctly.

  • In case of lost tooth, most people will choose to have it replaced. Different dental treatments are adopted for tooth replacement. Your dentist can replace the tooth with a denture, a bridge or an implant.

  • If you have broken your tooth, do not try to re-implant the fragment back into your gum – store it in a clean container and cover the fragment with milk or saliva until you can see a dentist. It may be possible to reattach the broken fragment to the tooth. If you have broken a tooth halfway down and damaged the network of blood vessels and nerves in its centre (the pulp), root canal treatment will be needed to remove the damaged pulp from your tooth, as this can become infected. The space will then be filled and the tooth sealed with a filling or a dental crown.

Unlike broken bones, the crack in a tooth will never heal completely. It is still important that you get treatment. Our dental team at Expressions Dental™ will be able to tell you more about this problem and recommend treatment for a broken or cracked tooth.

 

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Read more about the article Abscessed Tooth Treatment Calgary NW

Abscessed Tooth Treatment Calgary NW

What is abscessed tooth?

An abscessed tooth is a severe infection that usually shows up on the root of the tooth or between the gum and the tooth. It could become a dental emergency, as an abscessed tooth not only causes a great amount of pain, but if left untreated it can also cause serious health problems. An abscess can cause damage to the surrounding tissues, damage to the jaw bone and in some cases even affect the immune system resulting in death of the afflicted person. A number of things can cause tooth to abscess such as:

  1. Severe tooth decay
  2. Bad trauma to the tooth
  3. Broken or chipped teeth
  4. In some cases a tooth can be susceptible to infection after a crown or a filling has been put in:
    1. Gingivitis
    2. Gum disease

Symptoms of a dental abscess typically include pain, swelling and redness of mouth and face. Other signs of abscess might include cavities, gum inflammation, oral swelling, pus drainage, and difficulty in fully opening your mouth or swallowing.

Tests for dental abscess

A dentist often can determine by a clinical exams + radiographs if you have an abscess.

Treatment for a dental abscess

You should see a dentist for dental abscess treatment. Root canal therapy may need to commence to drain the infected tooth. The doctor may decide to cut open the abscess and allow the pus to drain. Unless the abscess ruptures on its own, this is usually the only way that the infection can be cured. People with dental abscesses may be prescribed pain relievers and, at the discretion of the doctor, antibiotics to fight the infection. An abscess that has extended to the floor of the mouth or to the neck requires immediate attention.

With a dental abscess, as with each and every illness, comply with your doctor’s instructions for follow-up care. Proper treatment often means reassessment, multiple visits, or referral to a specialist. Cooperate with your doctors by following instructions carefully to ensure the best possible oral health for you and your family.

 

 

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Read more about the article Tips for Fresh Breath

Tips for Fresh Breath

Everyone suffers occasionally from bad breath. Bad breath is most commonly caused by conditions in your mouth, such as the food you eat, and how often you clean your teeth, gums and tongue. This is a dental problem, which you can probably fix yourself.
Read these tips on how to keep your breath fresh:

  1. Floss and brush your teeth, gums and tongue daily to prevent bad breath. Clean as far back on your tongue as you can, as that’s where bacteria often collect. If you don’t clean your mouth, any remaining food particles will attract bacteria, which cause bad breath and contribute to tooth decay.

  2. Brush and floss your teeth after eating. If you can’t do a thorough cleaning, drinking water or chewing sugar-free gum are good options.

  3. Use fluoride mouth rinse for fresher breath. Not only can decayed teeth hurt, they may have an awful odor. Tooth decay can be prevented with fluoride toothpaste and proper dental care.

  4. Be aware that certain foods — such as garlic, onions and some spices — can contribute to bad breath for up to 72 hours after eating.

  5. Drink plenty of water throughout the day.

  6. Keep your nasal passages free. Blowing your nose and making sure you are breathing through your nose rather than your mouth will contribute to fresher breath.

  7. Stop smoking.

  8. Eat more fresh, crunchy fruits and vegetables. The act of chewing on raw, healthy foods enhances saliva flow and also pushes food debris out from between teeth and spaces between the gums and teeth.

  9. Bad breath can also be an early symptom of periodontal or gum disease. Gum disease is an infection that affects the gums and jawbone, which can lead to a loss of gum and teeth. If left alone, the bacteria will build up on your teeth and irritate the gums. Flossing helps removes food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line. Be sure to also visit your dentist for periodic cleanings and exams.

  10. Dry mouth leads to bad breath. Saliva inhibits the growth of bacteria that contribute to bad breath by cleansing the mouth and removing odour-causing food particles. Dry mouth is also caused by some medications, alcohol and breathing with your mouth open. Drink plenty of water or chew sugar-free gum or candy to keep your mouth moist.

Chronic bad breath however, can be a visible sign that something is not right. If bad breath persists, schedule an appointment with your dentist. It can be an indicator of gum disease or dry mouth. If it is due to an oral condition, your dentist can develop a treatment plan to help eliminate it.

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Read more about the article What is an Tooth Extraction and Who does it?

What is an Tooth Extraction and Who does it?

Hi my name is Dr. Dionysius David and I am a general dentist. Today we will be discussing the dental procedure Extractions.

What is an Extraction and Who does it?

An extraction describes the process where a tooth is removed from a patients mouth. It may require an incision into the gums and/or drilling into the tooth or its supporting bone during the procedure.

2 types of people perform extractions – General Dentists and Oral Surgeons. What is the difference?

A General Dentist has completed a dental degree at an accredited University. An Oral surgeon is a Specialist who has completed a dental degree but has gone on to complete a hospital residency for an extra 4-7 years and passed their Royal College examination.

Reasons For an Extraction:

  1. Infection

    • If the tooth structure is infected this is known as Caries which is usually referred to as a “Cavity.” If the Caries gets deep and infects the pulp/‘living’ tissue of the tooth then the tooth will require a Tooth Extraction or root canal to resolve the cause of the infection.

    • If the gums and/or supporting tissues get infected and an abscess forms this may result in the tooth needing to be extracted due to a Periodontal/gum issue. The extraction removes the cause of the infection.

  2. Unrestorable– This means your dentist has decided the damage that has occurred to the tooth by infection, such as caries, or by function such as a fracture, prevents it from being restored/ fixed. Reasons for this include

    • Not enough sound tooth structure due to large decay

    • Vertical Fracture

    • Root canal Treatment that cannot be redone

  3. Orthodontics

Risks or postoperative complications:

Any procedure has risks associated with it. After extractions some of these include:
Bleeding, swelling, infection, or damage to structures beside the teeth being removed: Such as adjacent teeth, supporting bone, nerves, and sinuses.

The information in this video is meant to be a summary. If you have any further questions do discuss these with your dentist or talk to us. Call (403)-252-7733 or visit us at 41 Crowfoot Rise NW, in Calgary.

 

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