Here at Waterloo Smiles Dentistry, we know how busy life can be. Fitting a dental appointment into a busy schedule can feel like a hassle, but it’s worth it. Brushing for two minutes twice a day and flossing daily will keep many oral health problems away; however, it’s not a complete guarantee. Scheduling regular cleanings at Waterloo Smiles Dentistry is highly recommended to maintain proper oral hygiene and catch problems before they become costly and painful.
It’s very important to schedule regular cleanings here at Waterloo Smiles Dentistry. Dr. Javad can make a recommendation on you how often you should be coming in to best suit your dental health needs. Not all dental problems have obvious symptoms at first. Not only can we identify problems before they become painful and expensive, we can also help to keep your smile looking fantastic. We know how important it is to feel comfortable with your smile. This is why we offer many treatments to help improve patient aesthetics.
At Waterloo Smiles Dentistry, an appointment will include a full oral examination, oral cancer exam, professional X-rays to catch cavities, and a full cleaning by our amazing hygienists. Your cleaning will remove tartar, debris, and plaque from your mouth.
Dr. Javad will coordinate with your hygienist and recommend a treatment plan for any problems that are found. We’ll also recommend any aesthetic and cosmetic treatments to improve your smile. Please call our office at (519) 888-6063 to schedule an appointment or for any additional questions.
Professionals throughout the dental industry as well as the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) agree that a child’s first dental appointment should happen as early as six months of age. This is when the first baby teeth usually begin to show. Dr. Javad will be able to assess the health of your child’s first few teeth and make recommendations for things like navigating teething periods, reducing the risk of decay, and good cleaning techniques.
Dr. Javad recommends at least every three months. If you’re using an electronic toothbrush, make sure to check the recommendation for the type of toothbrush because you may not have to change the head of the brush as often. Other factors like gum disease might require changing toothbrushes more often. Also, after brushing, it’s very important to wash and rinse your brush out with hot water, then store it upright somewhere it can dry between uses. This will kill germs and bacteria and keep your toothbrush clean.
Gum disease is also called periodontal disease. Plaque and bacteria build up continually in our mouths. When this buildup is not treated in the early stages, it can result in gum disease. Risk factors that increase susceptibility to gum disease include smoking or chewing tobacco, teeth grinding, certain medications, and genetics. Advanced forms of periodontal disease can cause permanent damage in the form of bone and tooth loss. Dr. Javad recommends brushing and flossing every day as well as scheduling regular dental appointments as the best way to fight gum disease. Some of the most common signs of periodontal disease are the following:
- Abscessed teeth
- Extreme tooth sensitivity
- Chronic bad breath
- Loose teeth and/or loss of teeth
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Receding gumline
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please call us as soon as possible. You can reach us at (519) 888-6063 or email us to schedule a consultation. Your dental health is our highest concern.
Let’s clear up all the confusion – Your teeth colour comes from the second layer of your tooth called DENTIN. The colour is purely inherited and when you’re born with darker dentin, no matter how much bleaching that’s done on the outer enamel, it won’t change.
So, you may be wondering about the role whitening agents play. Your enamel can get stained through tiny fractures that develop over time. This comes from eating darkcoloured foods such as cola, coffee, red wine. Essentially any food that will stain your clothes will stain your teeth. Consumer whitening agents such as strips are safe peroxides that dissolve stains and return your teeth to their natural colour. But they have the lowest percentage of peroxide and are poorly fitted. Therefore they provide less colourrestoration but may be all you need. DIY homemade trays are considered the next best solution, yet still have low levels of peroxide and fit poorly. The low levels of peroxide in DIY products are what make them safe but also make them less effective. To get higher more effective dosses you would require professional supervision.
Here are a two better options: Our staff can make you custom trays for you to begin a home whitening regime immediately that will require 1-2 hour daily treatments for 2 weeks. The best part – peroxide levels are adjusted for your requirement. The second option is our ZOOM whitening system where we warm precise levels of peroxide, paint it on your teeth with your gums fully protected then placed under special UV light to speed up the process. In about an hour your treatment is complete and you go home with the whitest teeth possible.
For all these options, you still need to avoid dark foods because your teeth will become discoloured again if you are not vigilant.
Did you know dental pain is the last sign of any dental disease? This means you would never know there’s a problem until it hurts. When your tooth hurts, it is probably an advanced stage problem. Advanced gum disease, the kind where bone disintegrates around your teeth, doesn’t really cause pain until 95% of the bone is lost. By then, the tooth will become loose, and fall out – yet, you may not feel a thing. But there are a few warning signs such as your teeth beginning to spread or bleeding gums to mention a few.
Tooth decay is no different! Even before you ever feel pain, bacterial acids would have dissolved your tooth enamel, dentin and probably, reached the pulp. That’s when you’ll begin to feel the pain. Research studies of the arteries on patients with plaque build up showed that it stemmed from dental plaque.
The dental plaque is a soft glue that bacteria create to hold on to your gums and teeth. This, in turn, attracts hard water deposits and becomes very hard only removable with dental instruments. However please do not try removing it yourself. By the way, bleeding gums are the only way these bacteria can enter your heart.
Routinely brushing your teeth and flossing is very friendly to your heart! Do you need a better reason? We will help you not only keep your teeth but by extension preserve your general health.