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Showing posts from February, 2018

How Often Should a Senior Citizen Go to the Dentist?

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Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "How Often Should a Senior Citizen Go to the Dentist?".   The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Is Sparkling Water Bad for My Teeth?

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Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org Is the satisfying fizz of your favorite sparkling water putting you at risk for tooth decay? Because any drink with carbonation-including sparkling water-has a higher acid level, some reports have questioned whether sipping sparkling water will weaken your tooth enamel (the hard outer shell of your teeth where cavities first form). So, Is Sparkling Water Affecting My Teeth? According to available research, sparkling water is generally fine for your teeth-and here's why. In a study using teeth that were removed as a part of treatment and donated for research, researchers tested to see whether sparkling water would attack tooth enamel more aggressively than regular lab water. The result? The two forms of water were about the same in their effects on tooth enamel. This finding suggests that, even though sparkling water is slightly more acidic than ordinary water, it's all just water to your teeth.  Tips for Enjoy

Clean Your Teeth with the Piezo Scaler

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The Cleanest Your Teeth Can Be We use a Piezo Scaler™ to assist in removing deposits of plaque and calculus (tartar) from your teeth, especially below the gumline. This hand tool uses high-frequency vibrations to permit us to take deposits off your teeth quicker than with regular scaling instruments. This device even works in the deep pockets that occur in your gums around your teeth, making it effective for the treatment of gum disease. Your teeth have never felt so clean! Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223   VistaDentalCare.ca

Why X-Rays?

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Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "Why X-Ray?". The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Scaling And Root Planing: Professional Plaque Removal

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Perhaps you’ve been neglecting a good oral health routine. Or, you’ve done your best, but you’ve developed plaque and tartar buildup. A regular routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing is an important part of regular plaque removal for everyone. But if you have risk factors that have caused a buildup of plaque on your teeth and gums to harden into tartar, your dentist or dental hygienist may suggest scaling or root planing your teeth to remove the buildup. If left untreated, severe tartar buildup along and under the gum line can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, which may increase the risk of gum disease. Scaling and root planing are common nonsurgical techniques that may prevent the need for more serious procedures, such as periodontal surgery or a root canal. Here’s what to expect if your dentist or dental hygienist recommends these techniques: You won’t feel it. You’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb the area. Scaling: Your dentist or dental hygieni

Dental Digital Impressions

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No More Goopy Impressions! With the Cadent iTero™ digital impression system, you can skip the funky taste of a squishy putty tray impression to be fitted with a crown or a bridge. Using 3-D technology, Dr. Aitken can make a detailed digital impression that makes this initial step for crowns, bridges, and even Invisalign treatment comfortable and precise. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223   VistaDentalCare.ca

Flossing - Bad Breath Killer

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Flossing As Prevention For Bad Breath Need another reason to floss your teeth at least once a day? Flossing daily helps improve bad breath by effectively removing the food particles and bacteria that contribute to it. That makes flossing one of the easiest ways to prevent and banish bad breath. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is more common than many people realize. You may joke about bad breath, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, but it’s an important oral health issue. Bad breath can be more than an embarrassing social problem-it can be a sign of disease or illness. Saliva is Your Friend Less saliva means that your mouth is more susceptible to plaque buildup, which can create an unpleasant smell on your breath. Pay extra attention to any of the following circumstances that can reduce the saliva in your mouth and promote bad breath: Drinking alcohol. Alcohol-containing beverages may promote a dry mouth and cause bad breath. So don’t forget to floss after an evening out

Tips for keeping a beautiful smile!

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Keeping your teeth clean, smooth and beautiful... Proper oral hygiene is your key to a healthy, beautiful smile. Here are our and the Canadian Dental Association's recommendations for at home care: Brush 2-3 times every day with a flouride toothpaste (it doesn't matter which brand) Floss once a day Eat a healthy diet (fruits, vegetables, etc) Limit consumption of sugary foodsand beverages. Soda drinks can destroy teeth faster than almost anything else Eliminate or at least limit use of alchol, chewing tabacco, and cigarettes We also recommend using an electric high-speed toothbrush in conjuction with a  waterpik for your daily at-home oral care. And don't forget six-month professional cleanings and checkups. The Canadian Dental Association recommends checkups every six months for those ages four and older. Professional cleanings by qualified hygienists will remove bacteria and plaque, which can cause serious dental problems if not kept in check. If you have

Saliva Shortage? Pay Extra Attention to Plaque Removal

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Saliva has an important job to do in your mouth. For starters, it helps to remove food particles. But it also helps prevent tooth decay and infection by washing away plaque and keeping disease-causing bacteria from building up on your teeth and gums. But saliva can’t do all that work by itself. So it’s important to remove plaque yourself by practicing good oral hygiene, which means proper flossing each day, and twice-daily tooth brushing. Most of us don’t think about the moisture in our mouths until our mouths become dry. A variety of conditions can cause dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, including the following: Cancer treatments.  If you have any type of cancer of the head or neck and you receive radiation therapy, dry mouth is a common side effect because the radiation damages the salivary glands in addition to destroying the cancer. Some medications used to treat cancer in any part of the body can also cause dry mouth. Prescription medications.  Hundreds of common medicatio

Tongue Scrapers Offer An Option For Halitosis

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How Tongue Scrapers Work If you suffer from halitosis, or chronic bad breath, you’re probably looking for ways to help manage the problem. If so, consider a tongue scraper. They’re relatively inexpensive and available at most pharmacies. Tongue scrapers are often touted as the way to improve bad breath, but there is very little research to show that they are any more effective than simply brushing the tongue with your toothbrush as part of your toothbrushing routine. Trying a tongue scraper can’t hurt, and they’re easy to use. Simply hold the scraper at the back of your tongue, and bring it forward, scraping gently but firmly along the tongue as you go. Although tongue scrapers are harmless, you can probably prevent halitosis just as well by following a consistent oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. And keep these points in mind as part of your daily oral hygiene plan: Keep your toothbrush fresh.  Be sure to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 month

Beat Your Bad Breath

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What are Common Bad Breath Causes? If you suffer from chronic, severe bad breath, also known as halitosis, it's important to identify the cause so you can determine an effective treatment. Halitosis has many causes, including the following: Tobacco use.  If you smoke, quit. Your bad breath may be due to other causes, too, but tobacco use is a guarantee of bad breath. If you are ready to quit, ask your doctor or dentist for advice and support. What you eat, or don't eat.  Certain foods, such as garlic, contribute to bad breath, but only temporarily. Once they are absorbed into the bloodstream, the smell is expelled through the breath, but the odors remain until the body processes the food, so there’s no quick fix. Dry mouth.  If your mouth is extremely dry, there is not enough saliva to wash away excess food particles and bacteria, which can cause an unpleasant smell if they build up on the teeth. Infections.  Bad breath that seems to have no other cause may indicate an i

To Floss or Not to Floss..

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Lately, there has been a lot of talk about flossing and if it is good or not! Kind of reminds me of coffee, some studies say is good for you and others say it isn't. Our dental office believes that flossing is beneficial to a person's general oral health. Our staff is trained to address the issues of proper flossing to our patients on an individual need basis. We promote many different tools used to effectively and safely clean between the teeth. If you are concerned with the recent news reports, please give our office a call to schedule an appointment. We will be happy to review your concerns and make sure you are properly caring for your teeth. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Do White Teeth Mean Healthy Teeth?

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Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "Do White Teeth Mean Healthy Teeth?" . The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD   280-5201 43 St.  Red Deer, AB  T4N 1C7  (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Non Surgical Gum Disease Treatments

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Have You Been Told You Need Gum Surgery? At Vista Dental Care, we use laser technology for the non-surgical treatment of gum disease. Used in place of scalpels and sutures, lasers offer precisely placed incisions and reduced bleeding, with a goal of reduced discomfort and improved healing. The laser can also be employed for other soft tissue procedures, such as treating oral lesions or reducing the look of a “gummy” smile. Ask us about this at your next visit! Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD   280-5201 43 St.  Red Deer, AB  T4N 1C7  (855) 636-9223   VistaDentalCare.ca