Below is an article written by by Tracey Sandilands and found on Colgate.com  Antimicrobial therapy is a form of oral treatment used to eliminate or reduce the development of bacterial infections in the mouth. The therapy aims to prevent periodontal diseaseresulting from infections, which can cause painful, bleeding gums and loosening of your teeth. Preparation and Treatment If your dentist decides you will benefit from antimicrobial treatment, they will likely start with scaling and root planing. This process removes plaque and calculus (tartar) from the sulcus area around the teeth using either a scaler or instruments as well as an ultrasonic scaling device. In severe cases where there are periodontal pockets greater than 5-6 mm deep, the dentist may recommend that the patient be seen by a periodontist to evaluate the area with deeper pocketing and determine if gum surgery may be necessary. The scaling and root planing and gum surgery treatments require local anesthesia to r...

5. Don't smoke or chew tobacco  Smoking and chewing tobacco can cause oral cancer, heart disease, gum disease, and a variety of other cancers.  Find a Dentist  Don't wait for a toothache or a dental emergency to look for a dentist. Ask for recommendations from friends, family, neighbours, or co-workers. If you're moving, ask if your current dentist can refer you to a dentist in your new area.  To read the entire article visit CDA-ADC.ca . Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

3. Eat well Good nutrition helps build strong teeth and gums.  Munch on mouth healthy snacks like cheeses, nuts, vegetables, and non-acidic fruits.  4. See your dentist regularly  48% of Canadians who haven't seen a dentist in the past year have gum disease. Regular dental exams and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent and detect problems before they get worse. To read the entire article visit CDA-ADC.ca . Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

1. Keep your mouth clean  Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.  Wait at least 20-30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth.  Floss every day.  Eat a well-balanced diet.  Limit foods and beverages containing sugar or carbohydrates.  Ideal snack foods: cheese, nuts, vegetables, and non-acidic fruits.  Look for oral care products with the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) Seal. 2. Check your mouth regularly Look for signs of gum disease:  Red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums  Bleeding when you brush or floss  Bad breath that won't go away Look for signs of oral cancer:  Bleeding or open sores that don't heal  White or red patches  Numbness or tingling  Small lumps and thickening on the sides or bottom of your tongue, the floor or roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks, or on your gums To read the entire article visit CDA-ADC.ca . Vista Dental Care ...

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by AM Hopkins Everyone knows that brushing their teeth plays a major role in their overall health, but they may not be aware of the correct way to brush their teeth. The American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth at least twice each day; here is a quick guide to ensure you know how to do it properly. Purchase the right toothbrush. Before you even begin the process of brushing your teeth, it's important that you have the right toothbrush. The type of toothbrush you select depends on your specific needs. If you need a toothbrush mostly for removing plaque, a soft-bristled brush is best. On the other hand, if you are concerned about reaching hard-to-reach spaces, you should consider a toothbrush with a smaller head. in the Colgate Oral Care resources. Take your time. You should spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth. This may seem like a long time - the average person usual...

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about Periodontal Screening! Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

You know good dental habits can help prevent things like cavities and gingivitis, but you may not know what conditions like these really look like or how they can affect your mouth. Use this visual guide to learn more about some of the most common dental health issues, symptoms to watch for and the potential treatments that are available. Please note: This content is for informational purposes only. Only a dentist, physician or other qualified health care professional can make a diagnosis. Darkened Tooth There are two reasons your tooth may change color after  trauma : It’s either trying to protect the nerve or it’s dying. If it’s protecting the nerve, your tooth may look a little darker than the ones next to it. If it changes colors like a bruise (from pink to gray), this means your tooth is most likely dead. You may need a  root canal , usually followed by a  crown . In some cases it may be necessary to  remove the tooth . If it is a...

Watch the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association's Oral Cancer Examination video. The above video is found on the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association's YouTube Channel. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

The World Health Organization defines oral health as being free of chronic mouth and facial pain, oral and throat cancer, oral sores, birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth decay and tooth loss, and other diseases and disorders that affect the mouth and oral cavity. Oral disease Oral diseases are among the most prevalent chronic diseases. They include tooth decay and gum diseases that can lead to pain and tooth loss. Oral cancer leads to pain, tooth loss and premature death if not detected early on. Oral diseases-once considered localized infections-are now associated with other diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.1 Oral disease and pain can have a significant negative impact on your ability to learn, work, socialize, speak and eat foods that you need. To read the entire article visit www.dentalhygienecanada.ca The remainder of the article details the following: Did You Know? Facts about your overall...

Oral cancer refers to cancers of the mouth, lips, tongue or throat. According to Canadian Cancer Statistics, approximately 3 people will die every day from oral cancer in Canada. If oral cancer is detected early, treatment can be very successful. Get the Facts. Reduce your Risk. Know What to Look For. Did You Know? Get the Facts: Fastest growing new oral cancer cases are in a younger, sexually active male or female who often does not smoke or have any of the typical risk factors. Oral cancer can be sexually transmitted by the human papilloma virus ñ HPV - the fastest growing sexually transmitted infection. There are 3X as many cases of oral cancer to cervical cancer. To read the entire article visit www.dentalhygienecanada.ca The remainder of the article details the following: The Good News - a list of ways to help reduce your risk What to Look For? - a list of signs and symptoms to watch for Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red...

Although the mouth is part of the body, we often think of it as something separate. We often ignore bleeding or tender gums, while an irritation or pain elsewhere in the body would mean a trip to the doctor.  Poor oral health can affect a person's quality of life. Oral pain, missing teeth or oral infections can influence the way a person speaks, eats and socializes. These oral health problems can reduce a person's quality of life by affecting their physical, mental and social well-being.  The reality is that oral health problems could be a sign of something serious such as oral cancer. Every year approximately 3,200 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer and 1,050 deaths from oral cancer occur. This devastating disease has a low survival rate because it is often diagnosed very late. With early detection the survival rate of oral cancer can be greatly improved. This means going to your dentist for regular dental exams. Your dentist has the training and experience to detec...

Tooth enamel is very hard but... That doesn't mean you can't break it. Our office recommends to avoid eating "hard foods" such as popcorn. Don't crack nut shells with your teeth or chew on ice. Opening packages with your teeth can also damage the enamel. It's not just the sugar - it's also the acid Sugar and acids are your teeth's worst enemies. What are we talking about? Soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, and candy. Because of the acid content, Mountain Dew seems to be the worst of the worst. There is even a name for the damage it does and it is called "Dew Mouth." These erode the tooth enamel, making it highly susceptible to decay. Parents, watch your kid's consumption of these because young children's enamle hasn't developed fully. This makes these drinks even more damaging for kids. As well as eliminating the above (or at least reducing their consumption), it is recommended to always brush and floss after ev...

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by Elizabeth SanFilippo Chances are good that visions of cookies, desserts and candy canes may be dancing in your children's heads this holiday season. While you will do what you can to limit their intake of these sugary treats, your kids will probably be eating their fair share of sugar at your family holiday parties. Despite their consumption of sugar, there are ways to keep your kids' healthy teeth and gums in shape and to minimize damage to their dental health. Why Is Sugar Bad for Dental Health? Whether your kids are eating chocolate cake, sugar cookies or peppermint candy, they are ingesting sugar. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth feed on this sugar, and the byproduct is acid. This acid can eat away at tooth enamel, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities. The more time teeth spend exposed to sugar, the higher the risk that your c...

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by Donna Pleis You already know the value of regular tooth brushing and flossing to the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease, but what you eat can help too. Here are a few tips for healthy teeth involving simple foods that may be more helpful to your dental health than you thought they were. An Element of Strength The mineral, fluoride, plays an important role in building strong teeth and bones, and ultimately protecting your teeth against tooth decay. This is why fluoride has been included in toothpastes like Colgate Cavity Protection and many community water supplies. But did you know it's also found naturally in many foods? Any fluoride you ingest is absorbed and distributed throughout the body, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) , though most of it deposited into your bones and teeth. So, to give you and your family's teeth an extra bit of strength now and then, serve u...

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to about after-hours emergency dentistry. 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