Below is an excerpt from an article found on mouthhealthy.org What does ringing in the new year have to do with being mouth healthy?  More than you may think. Did you know that you should replace your toothbrush every three to four months? Bristles that become frayed and worn are less effective at cleaning your teeth. That means, celebrating the new year with a brand new toothbrush is actually smart dental hygiene. Here are MouthHealthy resolutions: Start brushing 2min2x . Always brush twice a day for two minutes for healthier teeth, good breath, fewer cavities, and to avoid painful dental problems.  Floss daily . Flossing is part of being mouth healthy. Chew sugarless gum . Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay. Eat a healthy diet . Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. Drink fluoridated water . Fluoride helps prevent cavities by making teeth more resistant to the acid attacks that cause cavities. See ...

Below is an excerpt from an article found on colgate.com How Do I Look for a Dentist?  A good place to start is by asking for a referral from people you trust — your friends, family, acquaintances, work associates, pharmacist or family doctor. Ask them how long they've gone to their dentist, how comfortable they feel asking questions, what type of dentist they go to (general or specialist). It is important that you find a dentist with whom you feel comfortable. Other ways to find a dentist include: Calling your local dental society for a list of recommended dentists in your area. Your local dental society can be found in the Yellow Pages under "dentist." Searching online for dentists in your area. More and more dentists have websites explaining their approach and treatment methods. What Kind of Dentist Should I Look for? General dentists are trained to do all types of treatment. If you have difficult or unusual problems, your dentist may refer you to one ...

Wisdom teeth are the last molars on each side of the jaws. They are also the last teeth to emerge, or erupt, usually when a person is between 16 and 20. Since wisdom teeth are the last permanent teeth to come in, or erupt, there is often not enough room left in your mouth to accommodate them. This can lead to wisdom teeth that are impacted, teeth that are trapped beneath the gum tissue by other teeth or bone. If teeth are impacted, swelling and tenderness may occur. Wisdom teeth that only partially emerge or come in crooked can also lead to painful crowding and disease. Since teeth removed before age 20 have less developed roots and fewer complications, the American Dental Association recommends that people between 16 and 19 have their wisdom teeth evaluated to see if they need to be removed. How are Wisdom Teeth Removed? A tooth extraction is a relatively routine procedure. Your dentist or a dental specialist, called an oral surgeon, will recommend either "goi...

If you have a severely damaged, decaying tooth or a serious tooth infection ( abscess ), your dentist may recommend a root canal treatment. Root canals are used to repair and save your tooth instead of removing it.  What’s Involved in Root Canal Repair? The pulp is soft tissue inside your tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels and provides nourishment for your tooth. It can become infected if you have:  A deep cavity Repeated dental procedures that disturb this tissue A cracked or fractured tooth Injury to the tooth (even if there’s not a visible crack or chip) If untreated, the tissues around the root of your tooth can become infected. When this happens, you will often feel pain and swelling and an abscess may form inside the tooth and/or in the bone around the end of the root of the tooth. An infection can also put you at risk of losing your tooth completely because bacteria can damage the bone that keeps your tooth connected to your jaw. Can I Get This ...

You know your dentist is looking for cavities during regular check-ups, but you may not realize your dentist can check for cancer at the same time. It's estimated that approximately 51,540 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer and cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of the tongue in 2018. Sunlight  People who have jobs working outside are more prone to developing lip cancer and should use UV protection. Diet  Poor nutrition also may put you at risk for developing oral cancer. A diet low in fruits and vegetables may increase your chance of developing oral cancer, so add more color to your plate!  To read the entire article visit  MouthHealthy.org . Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

You know your dentist is looking for cavities during regular check-ups, but you may not realize your dentist can check for cancer at the same time. Itís estimated that approximately 51,540 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer and cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of the tongue in 2018. Regular visits to your dentist can help you detect such cancers early, and changing a few potentially harmful habits may help reduce your chances of developing them. Read on to find out the top risk factors. Gender  Men are twice more likely to get oral cancer. The American Cancer Society attributes this to higher rates of alcohol and tobacco use by men, but says more men of a younger age are being diagnosed with HPV-related forms of oral cancer. Age  Most people who are diagnosed with oral cancer are 55 or older, according to the American Cancer Society. HPV-related oral cancers, however, are often diagnosed in people who are younger.   To read the entire article visit...

Why are more adults getting braces? As braces have become less bulky and visible in recent years, more and more adults are wearing them, for a variety of reasons. Some adults want to correct problems with their teeth or jaws before they cause serious or further damage. Others want to feel better about their appearance by addressing longstanding cosmetic concerns. Keep in mind that even "cosmetic" problems can cause real damage over time. Teeth and jaws that are not aligned properly can lead to premature wear and tear, advanced tooth decay and gum disease, dentures or other reconstructive solutions and even more extensive surgery to correct serious problems. New techniques and the advent of clear, less noticeable braces means that adults are increasingly turning to braces to correct: Gaps between teeth (spacing) Teeth that push against one another (crowding) Crooked teeth Overbites Underbites Crossbites How do I know if adult braces are right for...

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the role played by Dentists! 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

Below is an article found on MouthHealthy.org . If you're looking to find a dentist you may notice that while most are listed with a "DDS", some may be listed as "DMD". They both mean the same thing-your dentist graduated from an accredited dental school . The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. It's up to the universities to determine what degree is awarded, but both degrees use the same curriculum requirements. Did you know that the level of education and clinical training required to earn a dental degree is on par with those of medical schools? Generally, three or more years of undergraduate education plus four years of dental school is required to graduate and become a general dentist. Upon completion of their training, dentists must pass both a rigorous national written exam and a state or regional clinical li...