Gift Shopping – Dentist Recommended

This Christmas give the gift of good oral health! Dental hygiene products are not only a cost-effective present, they also show your loved ones you care about their health.

Stocking Gifts

Manual Toothbrushes are a great stocking stuffer as they are compact and inexpensive. Most people do not change their toothbrush at the recommended time (every 3-4 months) which makes them a great gift! Chances are all of your friends and family are ready for a fresh, new brush.

Toothpaste is another great (inexpensive) stocking stuffer. This is the perfect time to get your kids excited about their teeth by buying them their own toothpaste with their favourite character or in a cool flavour like bubblegum or fruit punch!

Flossers are perfect for the teen in your life who won’t commit to manual flossing every day. They promote the habit of flossing in an easy and convenient way.

Bigger Gifts

Electric Toothbrushes are perfect for the “speed brusher” in your house. They promote longer brushing time and do a more thorough job than manual brushing. They are also a great alternative for people with wrist mobility and dexterity issues due to age, osteoporosis, arthritis, etc…

Opalescence Go is our new take-home whitening system. It’s a hybrid between a custom tray and a bleach strip that has specially formulated bleach to curb sensitivity. They are stronger than the over-the-counter white strips you can buy and more cost-effective than custom made bleach trays. This is the perfect gift for a graduating teen, busy business person, or to treat yourself.

A Cleaning and Check Up is perfect for the young adult in your life who no longer has coverage under their parents. We see many young adults come less frequently (or not at all) for their regular cleanings when they lose their parent’s coverage. Cleanings can become an expense young adults don’t want to afford when they’re first starting out. But like “preventative maintenance” on your car, seeing a dentist regularly prevents bigger problems in the future!

Call or email today to book your cleaning and check up, or inquire about Opalescence Go!

TMJ Awareness Month – November

TMJ

If you experience excessive clenching, grinding, or “lockjaw”- you could suffer from TMJ disorder. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint; the joint which connects your lower jaw to your skull. This joint works like a hinge allowing us to talk, chew, and make facial expressions. TMJ problems can begin from a number of factors including stress, sleeping on one side of the jaw, excessive gum chewing, anxiety, overextending your jaw (by yawning, etc..). Leaving a TMJ disorder untreated can worsen other symptoms such as headache, earache, neck joint/muscle pain, etc…

In severe cases, chronic grinding can lead to loosening, fracturing, or loss of teeth. Over time, it can even change the appearance of your face. Since teeth grinding usually occurs during sleep, it can lead to sleep issues, including sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous disorder in which sleep is disrupted by interruptions in breathing and shallow breaths.

Treatment Options

What you can do to help yourself:

If you find yourself clenching or grinding in stressful situations there are self-care practices you can try to reduce symptoms:

  • Reduced consumption of alcohol and foods and drinks that contain caffeine
  • Avoiding gum chewing and eating hard candy
  • Not chewing on pencils, pens or other non-food objects
  • Consciously relaxing your jaw and your facial muscles throughout the day
  • Positioning the tip of your tongue between your teeth when you have the urge to clench your teeth, which helps train your jaw muscles to relax
  • Increased intake of water

Medical Steps:

If your clenching and grinding occur at night when it is not consciously controllable, there are devices that can be made by your dentist to help! A custom-made night guard (designed for your teeth only) fit tightly around your upper or lower teeth to prevent wear to your dentition and help control the urge to clench. Many dental insurance companies cover these types of night guards which helps reduce your cost out of pocket.

To book a TMJ consultation appointment call or email us today!

 

World Diabetes Day – Your Blood Glucose

November 14th is World Diabetes Day. We’d like to raise awareness by giving you some information about how diabetes can affect your overall health. It’s important to note that when a diabetic patient keeps their blood glucose levels in their target range, they are no more susceptible to oral health issues than the average person.

Risks

Poorly managed blood glucose levels can result in dry mouth, ulcers, fungal infections, tooth decay, and loss of teeth. A lack of moisture in your mouth can cause irritated tissue and severe toothaches due to impaired circulation to your teeth. Overall, research shows that gum disease is more prevalent in those with diabetes. This is important as in turn, gum disease has the potential to affect blood glucose control.

People with diabetes have special needs and your dentist and hygienist are equipped to meet those needs—with your help. Keep your dentist and hygienist informed of any changes in your condition and any medication you might be taking. Postpone any non-emergency dental procedures if your blood sugar is not in good control.

Tips

If you have diabetes, the following steps are important to maintaining your oral health:
– Control your blood sugar.
– Brush twice a day and floss regularly.
– Visit a dentist for routine checkups. Be sure to tell the dentist that you have diabetes.
– Tell the dentist if your dentures (false teeth) do not fit right, or if your gums
are sore.
– Quit smoking. Smoking makes gum disease worse. A physician or dentist
can help you quit.

During a dental appointment, stressed patients release hormones that can affect insulin uptake and blood glucose (sugar) levels. It is very important that you take insulin/medications at the appropriate time and follow your meal plan to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

To schedule your next appointment with Dr. Shahriary call or email us today!

The Royal Canadian Dental Corps

Boer War – Royal Canadian Dental Corps

During the Boer War (1899-1902) the first instance of dental surgeons operating during armed military conflict took place. While the Canadian Army Medical Corps existed, no separate branch of dental treatment existed. The large number of soldiers requiring dental operations at this time established the need for dental services to have a branch within the armed forces. At a Canadian Dental Association (CDA) meeting in 1902 a paper entitled “Dentists in the Army” was presented. This paper was the catalyst for the creation of a regular army dental staff. The CDA pushed the government of Canada to create a distinct branch for Regular Army Dental staff and in 1904 an establishment of 18 Dental Surgeons in the Canadian Army was authorized.

WWI

In 1915 the first Canadian Military Dental Clinic was established in a stable at the Exhibition Grounds in Toronto. This was the first Military Dental Clinic in the British Empire.

Operations overseas began in July 1915 with 30 Dental Officers and 74 other ranks. Within 3 years over 2.2 million dental treatments were performed including approximately 50,000 treatments for “trench mouth”. By the end of the First World War the Royal Canadian Dental Corps grew to 223 officers and 459 other ranks serving in field and stationary hospitals,  and field ambulances.

WWII

During World War II the use of dental records for forensic purposes came into prominence. This helped greatly in the identification of war casualties who lacked other forms of identification. Another new development during WWII was the formation of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps where the first female dental assistants were enrolled. This allowed male dental assistants to participate in overseas service.

Korean War

The participation of the RCDC in the Korean War was of enormous importance to the growth of the corps. During this war the strength of the Canadian Forces more than doubled and a similar increase in the size of the corps occurred. This permitted an improved rank structure and better career prospects for dental personnel. In addition, the standard of service provided in Korea under difficult conditions enhanced the reputation of the corps with future senior army officers and, as a result, facilitated acquiring desired improvements in dental care delivery.

While this article focusses mainly on the Wars occurring between 1899-1953, the Royal Canadian Dental Corps has done so much to improve the dental health and care of our troops and civilians in war-torn countries. Read more about this amazing establishment on the Canadian Dental Association Website.

Contact us today to book your next appointment!