Our Dental Blog Archives for Articles: Page 5

Did you know: February is National Children’s Dental Health Month?

February is the month to raise awareness about the significance of your oral health. With National Children’s Dental Health month beginning in Cleveland in 1941 and extending to a month-long program since 1981, it is especially important to take care of your child’s oral health. The dental team at ValleyFair Dental in Maple Ridge support National Children’s Dental Health Month and encourage you to follow up with regular checkups and proper oral care.

In February, ValleyFair Dental  and other dentists around the world are concerned with preventative oral care, especially when it comes to children. It is important to remember that having good oral health habits when you’re young and having periodic dental appointments will get your children on the right track to keep those teeth and gums healthy.

If your child hasn’t been to ValleyFair Dental in Maple Ridge  in the last six months, be sure to contact us and make an appointment.

Due to an increase of sugar in the diet through fast food, soda pop and candy, children are now much more susceptible to bacteria which causes cavities or tooth decay to harm their teeth.

In fact, the U.S. Center for Disease Control cites a study that says there has been a 15.2 percent increase in tooth decay during the last 10 years for children under six.

Various things cause tooth decay for younger dental patients at ValleyFair Dental in Maple Ridge, most notably sugar intake, severe stress, contents in baby bottles and infant feeding habits.

Children’s oral health worsens when they are sent to school. At school, there is more chance of them getting a soda from vending machines. Our culture is shifting so that there is minimal parental supervision and convenience foods are way too readily available, and this is all having a severe effect on oral health.

There are many things parents can do to stop their kids from getting cavities. Daily oral care is essential, and can be achieved at minimal cost.

Here are some additional healthy dental habits for kids:

Making sure your child gets the proper oral care. Pregnant women who eat a balanced and nutritious diet are already helping their children and leading them on the right path when it comes to oral health. Preventive care is ideal after the baby’s first feeding and should continue on as the child gets older. Children are not able to remove plaque themselves until they are eight, so a parent needs to help them brush and floss twice a day.

Sugar is hurting your child’s teeth. Kids can get cavities as early as nine months of age. Their upper front teeth are first affected and this can quickly spread to the other teeth if a child is feeding on a bottle containing sugar. If food surface is not removed from the teeth, your child’s teeth will start to decay quickly.

Bring your child to the dentist before they turn 1. Before a child turns one is the ideal time to take them for their first dental visit. This is a good idea for you too, parents – this appointment can help educate you on what you can do to make sure your child’s oral health is the best it can be. We can also help you identify signs of early problems while they are still in a stage that is easy to treat.

Dental checkups for your child at ValleyFair Dental in Maple Ridge are essential, so contact us and make an appointment today.

Simply brushing your teeth is not an effective solution for preventing tooth decay and erosion. The general dentistry team at ValleyFair Dental Clinic in Maple Ridge recommends dental sealants, which give teeth solid protection against the bacteria that infiltrates your mouth and causes cavities.

What are dental sealants?

Sealants are made of durable, stain-resistant plastic and are bonded to the grooves of your teeth. After a dentist at ValleyFair Dental seals the tooth, the grooves are smoothed down and make it hard for plaque to build. Sealants make brushing teeth easy and efficient.

Dental sealants are safe for children and are a great way to prevent tooth decay after their permanent teeth have erupted. Sealants, however, can only be placed on healthy teeth. Sealing permanent teeth is much more common that sealing baby teeth; however, each person has different needs and your local Maple Ridge dentist at ValleyFair Dental can tell you if dental sealants are a good option for you or not.

Sealants last for a few years, although it is common for adults to have older sealants that are still functional. A dental sealant is only effective when it is in good shape, so if your sealant falls out, let your dentist know and book an appointment so we can reseal your teeth.

To learn more about dental sealants, or to book an appointment with your local Maple Ridge dentist at ValleyFair Dental Clinic to reseal your teeth, contact us today!

No matter how cool and trendy you think tongue rings are, these piercings are dangerous and potentially fatal. Piercing your tongue can result in chipped teeth, recessed gums and nerve damage. What some people don’t know is that getting a piercing in the mouth can result in a fatal condition, like Ludwig’s angina or endocarditis.

Ludwig’s angina is an infection in the bottom of the mouth caused by bacteria, and occurs after your tooth has been infected, an injury to the mouth, an oral procedure or an unnecessary hazard to your health. When you get an oral piercing, the mouth develops an open wound for bacteria to travel through your blood. Bacteria has the power to make the bottom of the mouth swell quickly which blocks the airway or stops you from swallowing your saliva.

Endocarditis comes from bacteria traveling in the blood through the hole that has been pierced. This can be an infection in the heart, and people who have a history of heart problems are at risk for this disorder.

Most professionals will not recommend piercings, but if you do get a piercing, be sure to take good care of it. Unclean piercing equipment can cause other infections, like hepatitis. Make an appointment at ValleyFair Dental in Maple Ridge to ensure that you are getting the follow-up care you need.

We all know that sugary junk food isn’t going to do us any favours for our waistlines, but eating lots of sugar will also rot your teeth and lead to tooth decay. At ValleyFair Dental Clinic in Maple Ridge, we will ensure your teeth feel healthy and can give you strategies to prevent tooth decay.

Let us break it down for you: sugar that lives in the mouth gets devoured by bacteria which create acids that break down your tooth enamel. This leads not only to decay but to other problems, including gingivitis.

Because we live in such a fast-paced culture, it’s common to neglect a balanced diet in favor of an unhealthy one made up of convenient foods with high-sugar content. It is obvious that this type of lifestyle is detrimental to not only people’s oral health, but to their overall well-being.

Experts say that because we live in such a stressful society, fast food is a quick and easy fix for most people.

So what can you do to prevent tooth decay and lead a healthy lifestyle? Staying away from fast food and foods high in sugar is the obvious answer, but there are other things you can do as well.

Ways to Keep Tooth Decay At Bay:

• Brush your teeth at least two times per day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. It is better if you brush after eating and before you go to sleep.
• Floss your teeth with dental floss or interdental cleaners.
• Check with a dentist at ValleyFair Dental about using supplemental fluoride, a product which can make your teeth stronger.
• Ask us about dental sealants, so we can stop your teeth from decaying.
• Drinking water is important, and drinking fluoridated water every day will help protect your children’s teeth from decaying.

Be sure to book an appointment  with an oral health expert at ValleyFair Dental in Maple Ridge for your regular dental check-up.

If you have been avoiding the dentist, sedation dentistry may be a great option for you. Essentially, cosmetic and restorative dentists use sedation dentistry as a way to build positive experiences for patients who are nervous about dental work. Sedation makes it possible for patients to relax through extensive dental treatment, and remember nothing about what happened once it’s over.

The two most common types of sedation dentistry that dentists perform are oral sedation and inhalation sedation.  Our oral experts at ValleyFair Dental Clinic will be able to perform whichever one works for you.

• Oral sedation is the most popular and common method and uses medication to put you in a meditative state. You will be “awake” during the procedure so you can respond to the dentist’s instruction, but you won’t feel pain and it will work to calm nerves.

• Inhalation sedation (also known as laughing gas) and oxygen can work together to keep you calm and pain-free. This procedure is quick and lets you recover immediately after, and is ideal for patients who experience moderate anxiety. Like oral sedation, you will remember little or nothing of your inhalation sedation procedure.

If you want to know more about what sedation dentistry can do for you, please contact ValleyFair Dental Clinic in Maple Ridge.

In our continuous series of the best ways to prevent cavities Dr. Song at ValleyFair Dental in Maple Ridge explains why vending machines are causing more and more cavities in children and adults.

Vending machines are quick, easy and cheap. Put in some of your extra pocket cash and instantly enjoy a chocolate bar, chip bag, or even a can of pop. That’s not the only thing you’re getting for cheap – vending machines are not only giving out sugar-filled treats; they are also giving out cavities!

When you choose to satisfy your hunger with a chocolate bar or bag of candy, the bacteria in your mouth starts digesting sugar, quickly turning it into acid. This harmful chemical stays on your teeth and begins to eat away at the natural enamel (the material that protects your smile from tooth decay), and when enamel gets eaten, you get a cavity!

So what are some helpful ways to prevent cavities from occurring? Always remember to brush your teeth after eating any sugar-filled treat. If you don’t have a chance to brush, don’t even think about treating yourself!

Instead of this cavity-causing, sugar-filled, junk food, consider the following alternatives that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but limit cavities from occurring:

• Bread
• Sliced meat
• Milk
• Raw veggies and fruit
• Nuts and seeds

Subscribe to our blog for more helpful ways to prevent cavities, or contact the friendly team at ValleyFair Dental Centre in Maple Ridge to learn more about what causes cavities.

It is a commonly known fact that smoking leads to health problems such as lung cancer, but did you know that smoking and oral health problems often go hand in hand?

In fact, smoking is the leading cause for almost 75% of gum disease in adults. This percentage includes adults who smoke from pipes and cigars, as well as those enjoying smokeless tobacco.

As soon as you begin using tobacco products, you are more likely to experience these common problems that are tied with smoking and oral health problems:

• Bad breath
• Stained teeth and tongue
• Gum disease
• Gum recession
• Tooth loss
• Bone loss in the jaw
• Delayed healing process after dental treatment
• Mouth sores
• Decreased sense of taste and smell

At Valley Fair Dental we are always dedicated to helping you maintain optimal oral health, that is why we strongly recommend patients to quit using any tobacco products.

For the sake of your teeth, gums and oral health, use these steps recommended by the Surgeon General to help make quitting smoking easier.

• Be prepared
• Ask for help from friends/family members/co-workers
• Invest your free time in an interesting activity
• Be prepared for a relapse
• Get medication, if necessary, and use it correctly

The team at Valley Fair Dental understand how difficult and time-consuming quitting smoking can be. However, we are dedicated to helping you protect your most valuable asset – your beautiful smile.

Contact us if you are in need of any support or advice on your journey to understanding smoking and oral health issues.

Has anyone ever told you that you grind your teeth in your sleep? Perhaps a parent or partner may even try to wake you up while you’re grinding. Unfortunately, most people who grind their teeth in their sleep, don’t even know they’re doing it. Teeth grinding is one of the most common sleep disorders referred to in the medical profession as Bruxism. The symptoms for which are broad and far reaching, including: jaw stiffness and soreness, anxiety, stress, depression, headaches as well as insomnia. Your health partners at ValleyFair Dental want to empower you to combat Bruxism, so you wake up feeling rested, pain free and ready for the day!

Quality of sleep factors greatly into how you perform in your waking hours, whether at work or at home. If you are resting well, you are feeling well and needless to say the reverse is true as well. There are several ways dental professionals diagnose and treat bruxism. As with any other health problem, early detection is the key to treating this particular sleep disorder. There are various ways to test the frequency and duration of your grinding throughout the night. Most importantly, there are treatment methods available such as dental guards and splints which are typically worn on a long-term basis during each and every night’s sleep.

Over-the-counter mouth guards sold at drug stores, while inexpensive, are considered by dental professionals to be ineffective in preventing tooth erosion and further decay. A good night’s rest is imperative to maintaining a healthy quality of life for you and your family. If you or your children experience bruxism, consult your ValleyFair Dental expert for treatment options as your oral health depends upon it.

Contact our dental clinic to find out how we can help you get the rest you need!

It’s holiday time! For most of us that means we are gearing up for visits, dinners, parties and brunches with our loved ones this holiday season. We all want to look our best this time of year – especially when we are surrounded by our friends and family.

What better way to wow your friends and family than by whitening your smile at ValleyFair Dental Clinic. Our in-office whitening treatments can dramatically brighten your smile, taking years off your appearance and uncovering your natural radiance.

We understand that time is valuable. Especially during the busy holiday season, so why not treat yourself to an enhanced, brilliant white smile amidst the flurry of shopping and celebration?

Over time our teeth become stained by age, smoking, drinking tea, coffee or red wine. With all the whitening kits available in stores these days, why should you visit ValleyFair Dental Clinic to get your teeth whitened?

First, our in office whitening procedure is fast! We can brighten your smile up to 10 shades whiter in only an hour, as opposed to retail whitening systems, which can require 30 or more treatments to achieve lackluster results.

Second, our whitening treatments are designed for your comfort and convenience! That means no more awkward, uncomfortable strips or trays. We can help you achieve incredible results in as little as one relaxing visit to our office.

Call now to book your holiday whitening treatment, and smile with confidence this season!