Tag Archives: Dental Offices

Do You Use a Tongue Scraper?

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A tongue scraper is a tool used to help clean your tongue. Although there’s no strong evidence that tongue scrapers are any more effective than regular brushing of the teeth and tongue, it may help curb bad breath. Tongue scrapers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and work by starting at the back of the tongue and pulling the scraper forward. This removes any excess plaque and odor causing bacteria.

Possible causes of bad breath include diet, dry mouth, gum disease, tobacco use or simply bad oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene and regular dentist visits are essential to a healthy mouth.

Other tips for avoiding bad breath include:

  • Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day
  • Flossing once a day
  • Scheduling regular dental visits.

If you’re concerned about the cause of your bad breath, see your dentist.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski & Associates – We Protect Your Smile!

www.drelizabethdimovski.ca

905-458-6620

Why Should I Visit My Dentist Regularly? Brampton Dentists

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  • Dental Check-ups, Dentists in Brampton Ontario, Brampton Ontario, Things to See in Brampton, Top Dentist in Brampton,Prevention/Public Education: dentists educate their patients, as well as the general public, on how to prevent oral health problems. As primary health care providers, they provide nutritional guidance, as well as information and advice on developing and maintaining good oral and overall health.
  • Detection and Management of Oral Conditions: Research shows there may be a link between oral disease and other health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, as well as pre-term and low-birth-weight babies. Dentists are often the first health care professionals to spot a wide variety of systemic diseases such as hypertension and cancer.
  • Aesthetic Improvement: Dentists can help improve a patient’s appearance as well as health through the use of newly developed cosmetic dental techniques.
  • Restoration: Dentists repair damage to the teeth, gum and oral tissues caused by accidents or diseases such as dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontitis (gum disease)
  • Correction: Dentists correct oral health problems caused by crooked, crowded or poorly spaced teeth or misaligned jaws with orthodontic appliances, mouth splints and other devices and treatments.
  • Reconstruction: Dentists fabricate substitutes for lost teeth and oral tissues, including fixed replacements and dentures.
  • Surgery: Dentists perform many kinds of oral surgery other than tooth extractions. They also perform surgery to correct facial and dental deformities caused by accident and birth defect. (CDA)

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski & Associates – We Protect Your Smile!!!

www.drelizabethdimovski.com

905-458-6620

Protect your teeth and your smile! Information on mouth guards.

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Mouth guards, also called mouth protectors, help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face or jaw. They typically cover the upper teeth and are a great way to protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining. Knowing how to prevent injuries like these is especially important if you participate in organized sports or other recreational activities.

When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouth guard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age. In fact, studies show that athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth if they’re not wearing a mouth guard. While collision and contact sports, such as boxing, are higher-risk sports for the mouth, you can experience a dental injury in non-contact activities too, such as gymnastics and skating

There are three types of mouthguards:

  • Custom-fitted. These are made by your dentist for you personally. They are more expensive than the other versions, but because they are customized, usually offer the best fit.
  • Stock. These are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.

  • Boil and bite. These mouth protectors can be bought at many sporting goods stores and drugstores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They are first softened in water (boiled), then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth.

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The best mouth guard is one that has been custom made for your mouth by your dentist. However, if you can’t afford a custom-fitted mouth guard, you should still wear a stock mouth guard or a boil-and-bite mouth guard from the drugstore. If you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your lower jaw, your dentist may suggest a mouth protector for these teeth as well.

A properly fitted mouth guard may be especially important for people who wear braces or have fixed bridge work. A blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed orthodontic appliances. A mouth guard also provides a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, limiting the risk of soft tissue injuries.

Talk to your dentist or orthodontist about selecting a mouth guard that will provide the best protection. Although mouth guards typically only cover the upper teeth, your dentist or orthodontist may suggest that you use a mouth guard on the lower teeth if you have braces on these teeth too.

If you have a retainer or other removable appliance, do not wear it during any contact sports

Some tips for caring for your mouth guard:

  • rinse before and after each use or brush with a toothbrush and toothpaste
  • occasionally clean the mouth guard in cool, soapy water and rinse thoroughly
  • transport the mouthguard in a sturdy container that has vents
  • never leave the mouth guard in the sun or in hot water
  • check for wear and tear to see if it needs replacing

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski & Associates – We Protect Your Smile!

905-458-6620

Does Your Child or Teen Have Gum Disease?

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TYPES OF PERIODONTAL DISEASES IN CHILDRENDentists Brampton, Kids Dentists, Top Dentist in Brampton, Dental info, Dental Facts about kids, Gum Disease,

Illustration of a Daughter Hugging Her MotherChronic gingivitis is common in children. It usually causes gum tissue to swell, turn red and bleed easily. Gingivitis is both preventable and treatable with a regular routine of brushing, flossing and professional dental care. However, left untreated, it can eventually advance to more serious forms of periodontal disease.

Aggressive periodontitis can affect young people who are otherwise healthy. Localized aggressive periodontitis is found in teenagers and young adults and mainly affects the first molars and incisors. It is characterized by the severe loss of alveolar bone, and ironically, patients generally form very little dental plaque or calculus.

Generalized aggressive periodontitis may begin around puberty and involve the entire mouth. It is marked by inflammation of the gums and heavy accumulations of plaque and calculus. Eventually it can cause the teeth to become loose.

SIGNS OF PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Bleeding
Bleeding gums during tooth brushing, flossing or any other time

Puffiness
Swollen and bright red gums

Recession
Gums that have receded away from the teeth, sometimes exposing the roots

Bad breath
Constant bad breath that does not clear up with brushing and flossing

IMPORTANCE OF GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE IN ADOLESCENCE

Teen Dental Care, gum Disease, dentists in Brampton, Periodontists, Caledon Top dentist,Hormonal changes related to puberty can put teens at greater risk for getting periodontal disease. During puberty, an increased level of hormones, such as progesterone and possibly estrogen, cause increased blood circulation to the gums. This may cause an increase in the gum’s sensitivity and lead to a greater reaction to any irritation, including food particles and plaque. During this time, the gums may become swollen, turn red and feel tender.

As a teen progresses through puberty, the tendency for the gums to swell in response to irritants will lessen. However, during puberty, it is very important to follow a good at-home dental hygiene regimen, including regular brushing and flossing, and regular dental care. In some cases, a dental professional may recommend periodontal therapy to help prevent damage to the tissues and bone surrounding the teeth.

ADVICE FOR PARENTS

Early diagnosis is important for successful treatment of periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is important that children receive a comprehensive periodontal examination as part of their routine dental visits. Be aware that if your child has an advanced form of periodontal disease, this may be an early sign of systemic disease. A general medical evaluation should be considered for children who exhibit severe periodontitis, especially if it appears resistant to therapy.

The most important preventive step against periodontal disease is to establish good oral health habits with your child. There are basic preventive steps to help your child maintain good oral health:

  • EsGum Disease, Proper Dental Care, Dentists in Brampton, Top Dentists, Gum Disease,tablish good dental hygiene habits early. When your child is 12 months old, you can begin using toothpaste when brushing his or her teeth.   When the gaps between your child’s teeth close, it’s important to start flossing.
  • Serve as a good role model by practicing good dental hygiene habits yourself.
  • Schedule regular dental visits for family checkups, periodontal evaluations and cleanings.
  • Check your child’s mouth for the signs of periodontal disease, including bleeding gums, swollen and bright red gums, gums that are receding away from the teeth and bad breath. (AAP)

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski and Associates – We Protect Your Smile!

905-458-6620

Do you have Bad Breath?

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What you eat affects your breath. If you don’t brush and floss daily, particles of food can remain in the mouth, collecting bacteria, which can cause bad breath.

Breath mints and chewing gum are great temporary solutions to bad breath, but they can’t help you if your bad breath problem stems from something beyond the garlic and onions you had for lunch. Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth can also be one of the warning signs of gum disease; which is caused by plaque.

Your first line of defence against bad breath should be to make sure you brush two times a day for two minutes and floss once a day. You should also brush your tongue since most of the bacteria in the mouth that are responsible for bad breath hang out on the back of the tongue. If you still find your breath is offensive, talk to your dentist or physician. Your dentist can work with you to develop a treatment plan that minimizes odor. This might include scraping the plaque off your tongue or using a special antibacterial mouth-rinse.

If you already practice good oral hygiene and still don’t know what’s causing your bad breath, make an appointment to see your dentist. Regular checkups allow your dentist to detect any problems such as gum disease or dry mouth. Bad breath may be the sign of a medical disorder. Some diseases have symptoms related to bad breath. Sinus or lung infections, bronchitis, diabetes, and some liver or kidney diseases may be associated with bad breath. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy, you may be referred to your primary care physician.

Maintaining good oral hygiene, eliminating gum disease and scheduling regular professional cleanings are essential to reducing bad breath. Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss. Brush your tongue, too. If you wear dentures, be sure to remove them at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning.

For more information be sure to schedule an appointment with one of our dental professionals.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski and Associates

905-458-6620

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