• smile@munjalcareredental.ca
  • (519) 886-0330

Oral Health Tips

Visiting your dentist is important, but here are some tips to keep your oral hygiene as healthy as it possibly can be!

General Oral Health

A smile is important for our personalities, self-confidence, relationships, and success. Poor oral health doesn’t only cause problems inside the mouth but poses a general health risk as well. Studies continue to associate poor oral health with serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, strokes, pneumonia, premature babies, and other major conditions.

Dental tips for adults

- If you experience pain or sore muscles in the jaw joint area (in front of your ears) or even headaches, you may be grinding or clenching your teeth during sleep. Speak to your dentist about being fitted for a night guard which will protect your teeth and the joint area. - Did you know? The saliva that regularly washes away food particles diminishes as you sleep causing bad breath! Try drinking a glass of water before bed. - Chewing sugarless gum after a meal is a good way to substitute brushing in between meals; it can help remove food particles from between the teeth. - Fresh fruits like apples have a cleansing action on your teeth and can help to remove loose debris around your teeth. - The surface of the tongue harbours bacteria and can be a major cause of bad breath if not cleaned regularly. Next to the toothbrush, a dental floss is the most effective tool for the prevention of decay. - Do you feel pain when you eat/drink cold foods or liquids? If yes, your pain may be from a CAVITY. It is time to make an appointment to see your dentist. - Be sure to cap your toothpaste, not your toothbrush. Covering the brush can trap moisture and encourage bacterial growth

- Be aware that an excessive amount of coffee or tea can stain your teeth. - Did you know that a dry mouth can also cause bad breath? The amount of saliva in your mouth can help prevent bad breath by flushing any particles that may cause a foul odor. So, consume more water! - Replace your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become worn or frayed - The airborne particles from the toilet flush can travel up to a distance of 6 ft, so do not keep a toothbrush within 6 ft of a toilet. - Though orange juice is good for your health, it has a high concentration of citric acid and can cause erosion of tooth enamel if consumed in high amounts. - Frequent in-between meals, especially sticky and sugary foods, can cause persistent low pH in your mouth leading to decay (cavities).

Children’s oral health

Over three in every ten children starting school (31%) have tooth decay. A third of children aged 12 have visible dental decay You can help prevent this by frequent cleaning. From the first tooth, clean the tooth surface with a finger brush or a cloth. Children over six years of age should brush their teeth 3 times daily with a smear-size junior or adult toothpaste ( make sure they do not swallow ).

Prevention

Even with all the fluoride and teeth cleaning agents available, many children still have cavities and other teeth problems. It is important to have your children’s teeth checked and cleaned regularly. We recommend a check-up every 6 months, but this may vary depending on your home care. Even with regular visits, some children can still have problems with their teeth. There are many new treatment methods to allow proper teeth development for children, such as preventative orthodontic treatments to eliminate crowded teeth. Thumb sucking and mouth breathing are some of the habits if corrected early in life, may prevent the need for costly orthodontic treatment later. We would be happy to discuss this with you.