News

Sparks and Girl Guides

Dr. Nubia Diaz would like to invite the Sparks and Girl Guides to come into our office and help them earn their Smile Girl badge. Our dental team members will show the girls the proper way to brush and floss and discuss healthy eating habits in a fun and informative way. Our goal is to help promote oral health in the community, and confident smiles for a lifetime. *4401 Bathurst St #302, North York, ON M3H 3R9...

Best Practices For Home Oral Care

ADULTS: To decrease your risk of getting cavities drink tap water and use fluoridated toothpaste. Maintain a regular habit of brushing thoroughly, and flossing regularly to prevent gingivitis. There is no better time to quit smoking then now! Smokers have four times the risk of developing periodontal disease than non-smokers, as well as the increased risk for oral cancers, and these facts are in addition to the overall health risks posed by tobacco. If you want to reduce your risks of...

The 10 Worst Foods for Your Teeth, According to My Dentist

Taking care of your teeth is important, especially if you lie to your dentist about flossing. Which everyone does... except me. I floss all the time, I swear! That's why my longtime dentist Juli Powell was kind enough to share her expertise on which foods are the worst for your teeth. It's obvious that candy isn't great for you, and also that eating it in moderation won't call forth the cavity monster (especially if you brush afterwards). But did you know that sour foods are worse than sugary...

What Dentists Tell Their Friends

One tooth can lead to big trouble "Once during a casual phone conversation, one of my friends said, 'I broke my tooth—no big deal, right?' I told him, 'Call your dentist immediately!' The truth is, neglecting any dental problem can have serious consequences for your health, however rare. Take my friend's tooth: Even though the outside of it looked perfectly normal, untreated decay on the inside caused the shell of the tooth to break. Had the fracture also gone untreated, it could have...

Lifestyle

Oral health is one factor that contributes to a healthy lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you look after your oral health. Schedule regular visits to your dentist. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Eat a well-balanced diet. Check your mouth regularly to become familiar with what is normal for you. This will help you recognize when something in your mouth looks or feels different or abnormal. Avoid activities that might harm your mouth or teeth such as...

Looking after your infant's teeth

Caring for your child's teeth As soon as your baby’s teeth start to come through, you can start brushing them. Use a baby toothbrush with a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste. Don’t worry if you don’t manage to brush much at first. The important thing is to get your baby used to teeth-brushing as part of their daily routine. You can help by setting a good example and letting them see you brushing your own teeth. Brushing tips for children Use a tiny smear of toothpaste for...

Kids' teeth Q&As

Get your children to care for their teeth from a young age and you could help them enjoy trouble-free teeth for life. Establishing good habits can help your child avoid oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Can I let my child have sweets? Most children want sweets, but you can help prevent problems by making sure they don't have a large amount or very often, and particularly not before bed, when saliva flow reduces. Try not to give sweets or sweet drinks as...

There is More to Your Mouthwash Than a Minty Taste

People gargle mouthwash thinking it will get rid of bad breath, but that is the minty liquid’s least effective function. Dentists say mouthwash and other rinses can be beneficial to overall oral health and an important part of daily oral hygiene routines but aren't essential. Mouthwashes can be divided into two main categories: cosmetic and therapeutic. Cosmetic rinses reduce and help control bad breath and leave a pleasant taste in the mouth, said Peter Arsenault, division head of...

Plants used in dentistry: Cloves

This item is adapted from the British Dental Journal: Plants used in dentistry past and present (January 2015) Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the Myrtaceae family, Syzygium aromaticum. In the past cloves were used as a remedy to ease the pain of toothache. Clove oil has a local anaesthetic effect and temporarily numbs and relieves pain. It is used in the preparation of some toothpastes and in Clovacaine solution, a local anaesthetic used in oral ulceration and...

Immune boosting foods to keep your kids cold and flu free

If you're already dreading the illnesses that come hand-in-hand with colder weather, you'll want to serve up these immune boosting foods! Keep cold and flu at bay with these meal and snack recipes so your family has more time to play this winter!...

Alleged dental student social media activities at Dalhousie University

The Ontario Dental Association is shocked and disappointed to learn about the alleged social media activities by dental students at Dalhousie University. Ontario's dentists recognize the privilege granted to us to practice dentistry, and our professional, moral and ethical responsibilities to our patients and to our colleagues. The alleged activities do not represent nor reflect the ethical standards of our profession. There is no place for misogynistic or violent attitudes or behaviors...

Teeth loss linked to heart attacks, diabetes and high cholesterol

Losing your teeth could signal a higher risk of suffering heart disease and diabetes, warn researchers.A new study links fewer teeth and bleeding gums with a range of cardiovascular problems, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Experts say getting gum disease treated with a dental check-up every year could cut the risk of developing heart disease. Previously, researchers found poor dental hygiene and bleeding gums could allow up to 700 different types of bacteria to get into...

4 Secrets to a Younger Smile

You do everything possible to protect your skin, face, body and hair from succumbing to the effects of aging. So, why should your smile be any different? Preserve your smile and keep it looking young by following the four recommendations below: Limit tooth fractures: Especially during or after menopause, when the teeth are more susceptible to fractures. "Video exams where a camera is used can detect hidden cracks in the teeth," says Atlanta cosmetic dentist Ronald Goldstein, DDS.  Stay...

Beyond tooth decay: why good dental hygiene is important

Most of us are aware that poor dental hygiene can lead to tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath - but not brushing your teeth could also have consequences for more serious illnesses. In this spotlight feature, to coincide with National Dental Hygiene Month, we peer beneath the plaque to investigate what other - perhaps unexpected - health conditions are affected by poor dental health. Alzheimer's disease In 2010, researchers from New York University (NYU) concluded that there is a...

Oral Implications of Marijuana Use/Abuse

Marijuana use can lead to several oral problems. Of most concern to dental providers are the development of dry mouth and an often dramatic increased rate of caries, irritation, inflammation and redness of the oral tissues. Heavy use of marijuana may cause xerostomia in the mouth and dryness in the throat, irritation of oral tissues, edema, and erythema of the uvula. As an added detriment, the dry mouth may increase the caries rate. Candida has been reported to be higher in marijuana users...

Why The Dentist Is A Must For Diabetics

As a diabetic going to the doctor’s is a task we don’t always look forward to, but know it’s a must! However, did you know that going to the dentist is critical for diabetics too. DLife’s Type 1 Jim Turner finds out why going to the dentist is key to managing his diabetes health. When having diabetes oral care is very important but also a little more complicated. Watch as Jim takes us with him to a check up and learns that because diabetics are slower to heal, it’s necessary to...

Is it bad for my baby's teeth if I let her fall asleep with a bottle in her mouth?

Yes. When your baby falls asleep while sucking on a bottle, the liquid will pool around her teeth as she sleeps, which can cause cavities. This happens because the bacteria in her mouth change the sugars in milk, juice, formula, and breast milk into acids that can dissolve her tooth enamel. (This is most often a problem for the front four upper teeth because your baby holds the nipple against them with her tongue.) If you've already gotten your baby into this habit and she won't go to sleep...

Vitamin D

Sure that if I got a recommendation from my family doctor to take Vitamin D during the Winter season, it might also apply for many of you out there! Vitamin D is important for bone health and plays a role in hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer and PERIODONTAL HEALTH (GUMS). Recent studies that concluded that Vit D intake might have significant protective effect against the progression of periodontal disease. Vitamin D is obtained though the diet or endogenous production...

How to talk to your kids about the news

Some news stories can shock and appal adults across entire countries and the globe. We can easily get wrapped up in keeping up to date with the latest details and breaking angles. What we don't always remember is that all of the same information is available to our kids, too – but they don't always have the tools required to understand and process it. When terrifying stories such as the Boston Marathon bombings or school shootings hit the news, the amount and variety of information can be...

The cause of gum disease related to type 2 diabetes

New research published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology suggests that modulation of B cells may effectively treat and/or prevent the symptoms of type 2 diabetes and periodontitis simultaneously. Going to the dentist isn't fun for anyone, but for those with periodontal disease related to type 2 diabetes, a new research discovery may have them smiling. In a report appearing in the August 2014 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, one of the most important blood cells involved in the...

Secondhand Exposure to Vapors From Electronic Cigarette

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (commonly referred to as e-cigarettes) are designed to generate inhalable nicotine aerosol (vapour). When an e-cigarette user takes a puff, the nicotine solution is heated and the vapour is taken into the lungs. Although no sidestream vapour is generated between puffs, some of the mainstream vapour is exhaled by an e-cigarette user. The aim of the study was to evaluate secondhand exposure to nicotine and other tobacco-related toxicants from e-cigarettes...

Protective paint for your teeth and fast-acting braces could banish the dentist’s drill

Afraid of the dentist? The good news is that a series of remarkable innovations could soon transform the experience.Even dentists themselves are stunned by the changes. ‘The developments since I qualified 30 years ago have been astonishing,’ says Jack Toumba, professor of pediatric and restorative dentistry at the University of Leeds. Just last week, researchers from King’s College London announced they’d developed a self-healing filling, which could mean the end of the dentist’s...

Get the occasional halitosis? 10 tips to taming dragon breath

No matter how fastidious you are about oral hygiene, most of us experience an occasional bout of halitosis (the scientific term for "you need a mint"). Sure, it’s embarrassing and awkward, but it’s usually temporary. “In most cases, the odor is caused by bacteria or decaying bits of food left behind on the teeth, gums and tongue,” says Dr. Guy Hanson, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry and President at Idaho Dental Wellness Center. In warm weather, your chances of...

Tooth Decay in Children - North York, Toronto

This is why the majority of Canadian kids have cavities Vanessa Alcott* has lost track of how many cavities her five-year-old daughter has in her tiny mouth. Eight? Nine? Over the past two years, Alcott and her husband (who, luckily, have dental coverage) have spent thousands of dollars on repeated drilling and filling, plus one extraction and three full caps that required anesthesia. "After the third, she was bawling by the time the mask came off," says Alcott. "She's traumatized." As...