Best Dental Care Providers in Brampton - Sandalwood Smiles Dentistry

Importance of pH balance in the oral cavity

There are so many things we overlook in our daily turmoil called life. One thing that we tend to neglect quite often is our dental care. Of course we have the best dental clinics like Sandalwood Smiles around to help us out of any dental ailment, but maintaining oral health remains largely a self-concern.

One aspect of oral care is the maintenance of optimal pH level in the mouth/oral cavity.

What’s the optimal pH level of oral cavity?

Healthy pH of saliva is taken as 5.6-7.9. That means it should be slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH is preferred. A pH level higher than 5.5 reduces the risk of damage to teeth enamel. A pH level lower than 5.5 means an acidic environment is created which is harmful for oral health.

Understand this in a way that pH of pure water is 7, which is the neutral ph. A slightly alkaline environment is preferred.

Effects of pH imbalance in mouth?

We often think that sugar is the cause of tooth decay but technically it’s the changes in pH induced by sugars that do the damage. Here we list the various adverse effects of imbalanced pH on dental care.

•         Enamel erosion: The sugars that adhere to teeth and get dissolved in saliva lower the pH inside mouth and create an acidic environment. The acids that form inside the mouth cause enamel erosion.

•         Bacterial Attack: Microorganisms and bacteria thriving in an acidic environment grow exponentially. This bacterial invasion causes a plethora of oral diseases. Tooth infection, dental caries, and cavities to name a few.

•         Sensitive teeth: Enamel erosion causes exposure of sensitive dentin that leads to increased teeth sensitivity. That means inconvenience while eating anything cold or hot.

•         Increased Plaque Deposition: High bacteria content in mouth leads to increased rate of plaque deposition. Increased plaque deposition further leads to oral problems such as gingivitis.

•         Bad Breath: If too acidic a pH is harmful, highly alkaline pH is also harmful in many ways. It leads to increase in putrefaction bacteria in mouth which leads to the problem of bad breath.

How to maintain an optimal pH level in mouth?

That’s possible through proper oral care. Stay away from processed foods and snacks like fries and chips that adhere to teeth surface. Pay heed to maintenance of regular oral care regime that includes brushing, flossing, and use of mouthwash. You can use pH balancing gum once a while after meals.

Ask the best dental care providers in Brampton, sandalwood Smiles, on how to take proper care of teeth to reduce future damage. Our emergency helplines are open 24X7.  

Best Dental Clinic Brampton | Adverse Effects Of Bulimia on Teeth

Adverse effects of Bulimia on Teeth

Bulimia is an eating disorder that’s more prevalent in developed nations. According to a 2002 survey,1.5% women and 0.5% men in Canada are suffering from Bulimia Nervosa.

A BN patient exhibits peculiar symptoms. There are episodes of binge eating followed by purging or crash dieting to counteract the excessive calories. It can be said that it’s a lifestyle disorder where one adopts unhealthy eating patterns in order to fit the stereotypes popularised and idolised by media. Excess food is forced out of body through induced vomiting and by the use of laxatives.

While BN takes a toll on nervous system, musculoskeletal system, digestive system, and circulatory system, it causes havoc on teeth as well. Effects of BN on teeth were studied and results were published in Acta Odonatological Scandinavia in 2009.

Sandalwood Smiles, best dental clinic in Brampton, brings to you excerpts from that study to educate masses about adverse effects that bulimia has on teeth.

Common dental problems that arise due to Bulimia

When a person regurgitates and performs self-induced vomiting repeatedly, teeth are subjected to a lot of damaging factors. The hydrochloric acid in the stomach causes enamel erosion over time. The pH of mouth becomes acidic that leads to further damage to the enamel. It causes cavities tooth decay and a plethora of other problems.

Common dental problems manifested by Bulimia Nervosa include

·         Sensitive teeth

·         Dental caries

·         Extensive enamel erosion

·         Dry mouth

·         Sore throat

·         Bleeding gums

·         Damage to soft palate

·         Damage to TMJ

·         Brittle teeth

·         Difficulty in mastication

·         Hoarse voice

·         Esophageal damage

How to spot the red flags for bulimia

Usually, a dentist is able to screen a patient with bulimia while internal oral examination. If a patient exhibits the above mentioned signs that are indicative of increased acid content in oral cavity and esophagus, that’s indicative of a possibility of bulimia.

Look for these signs during an oral examination. Mostly, there is massive erosion on the inner surface of teeth which is a tell-tale sign in majority of cases.

How to prevent this problem

If you do encounter such a patient, it’s important to check if they’re getting necessary psychiatric assistance. This is a dangerous problem. Educate your patients about the importance of healthy eating habits.

All this stems out from the negative body image that engulfs young and old equally. Chase for a perfect body is like a mirage. There’s no point torturing oneself in the quest to achieve that perfect, statistically correct bod. Don’t fall for stereotypes. Be yourself at your best.

Best Dental Care Brampton Experts Answer Your Doubts - Sensitive Teeth

5 people out of 10 complain of sensitive teeth. This gives us an idea as to how common this problem is. Sensitive teeth are a big hassle and cause minor to severe disruptions in one’s day-to-day life.

In summers, it becomes difficult to have ice creams and slur pees. You can’t eat anything cold or hot, sweet or sour, without feeling that bolt of pain.

Before we move any further on this, it’s important to know what leads to teeth being sensitive. Teeth are made up of dentine that contains micro-tubules in which tiny nerve endings lie. These free nerve endings are extremely sensitive to touch and certain chemical substances. These chemical substances, like acidic foods, cause irritation of nerve endings when in contact and cause the shooting pain most of us are familiar with.

However, den tin does not lie unprotected but is covered by a protective layer of enamel and cementum. When this outer protective layer gets depleted, den tin along with free nerve endings gets exposed and this is called teeth sensitivity.

Dentists at Sandalwood Smiles, providers of the best dental care in Brampton, answer your queries regarding why and how of sensitive teeth. There are various reasons for erosion of this protective layer, the common ones being…

Brushing too hard

There’s a certain amount of pressure that should be applied to teeth while brushing. But we are an enthusiastic lot. People exert more than necessary pressure on teeth while brushing. This when repeated over time causes damage to teeth enamel and sensitivity ensues.

Teeth clenching and grinding

A lot of people unconsciously clench and grind their teeth while sleeping. And they know nothing of it till their dentist tells them so. Excessive clenching and grinding also causes enamel erosion.

Acidic foods

Foods which are having a low pH can erode the enamel and make your teeth sensitive. Acidic foods lower the pH of mouth and enamel depletes in this acidic environment. Acidic foods like oranges, wine, lemon, pop, vinegar are some of the acidic foods which cause damage to enamel and makes teeth sensitive.

Trichotillomania

Never heard of it? There are chances you might be suffering from it. Trichotillomania is an addiction to pull your hair. It’s more common than you think and one of the hardest form of addiction. It starts with grinding hair between your teeth, especially incisors. Some have a constant obsession with split ends and they cut their split ends with their teeth. This constant grinding of tough hair between teeth also causes enamel erosion.

Swimming

Ever heard of “Swimmer’s Calculus”? It’s the term used to describe the yellow and brown spots developed due to enamel erosion after years of swimming. Chlorine present in pool water makes the otherwise alkaline water acidic. This acidic water when enters mouth on a daily basis, causes enamel erosion and calculus formation.

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening home remedies performed at will and without dentist’s supervision can cause damage to teeth. The most common ingredient of these remedies is baking soda which is known to erode enamel. How else do you think it works?

Treatment options

There are many toothpastes available in market that provide relief from sensitivity. You can choose one on the recommendation of your dentist. Dentists apply a dental varnish that seals the eroded surface and lasts for 6 months. That’s a better treatment option.

Prevention

Avoid acidic food for long. Make sure you chase it down with water immediately. Take necessary precautions while swimming. Use a night guard to prevent clenching and grinding of teeth at night. Don’t opt for teeth whitening at home and get it done by professionals. Get therapy for trichotillomania. Learn the right brushing pressure to be applied from your dentists at Sandalwood Smiles.

By taking care of these things, you can keep your teeth free of sensitivity for long.

From the Best Dental Clinic in Brampton - Tips to Care for Dental Implants

Dental implants, once seen as a breakthrough in the field of dentistry, are a regular fare these days. One requires dental implants for various reasons. Be it a tooth lost in trauma, or to replace an extracted tooth, dental implants have become necessary.

At Sandalwood Smiles, the best Dental Clinic  in Brampton, install close to a hundred implants in a month. If there’s one thing patients are concerned about after getting their implants, that’s post-procedural care. 

Every day we face different queries as to how to go about maintenance of dental implants. Can these be brushed and flossed the regular way? Are there any special precautions to look out for?

Truth is that dental implant care should start the day you step into a best dental clinic to get implants. Yes. And we explain why. Complete oral care before the installation of implants ensure a favorable environment to allow for healthy healing. It’s important to give implants a germ free field so that they can be placed without the risk of infection.

Signs to look for in gum tissue

Tissue that surrounds the implant should be healthy. Here, healthy denotes free of infection. It should be pink and keratinized. If the per-mucosal seal is not keratinized, that spells future infections. To achieve a healthy per-mucosal seal should be the first goal of your hygienist. This is achieved by pre-implant care of mouth and gums.

Types of implants and how dental care depends on that

Dental implants are not simply smooth titanium alloy these days. Surface coating is added to make the surface rough which promotes stability and longevity of the implant. This is achieved through plasma spraying, grit blasting, and etching that increases contact surface.

Given these surface layers are very important, certain chemicals need to be avoided. Look before you buy. One should be cautious before buying over-the-counter home care products. Use low-abrasive toothpaste. Avoid products containing stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, baking soda, and stain removers. Don’t go for smoker’s toothpastes.

The high concentration of sodium fluoride in fluoride toothpastes, combined with an acidic pH, can remove the outer oxide layer of implant. This makes the implant susceptible to corrosion. It’s good to avoid fluoride toothpastes completely. On the other hand, stannous fluoride causes etching and surface roughness.

Type of toothbrush to be used

It hardly matters if you use an electric or a manual toothbrush to clean implants. The main focus should be ease to use and ability to reach hard to access areas. Prefer a toothbrush with small head and round bristles. Too coarse a toothbrush can cause surface abrasion. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles.

Flossing

Before choosing a brand, it’s good to ask your dentist. There are different types of dental floss in market. There are also implant specific flosses which your dentist will recommend post treatment. For bar-retained prosthesis and full fixed retained prosthesis, a specialized floss with in-built threader is recommended. Contrary to normal use, an unwaxed tape floss is used for implants. Consult your dentist for the flossing technique that differs for implant and prosthesis.

Oral Irrigation

Oral irrigation/water flossing is highly recommended for patients with dental implants. It effectively removes plaque and inflammation. A non-alcohol anti-microbial rinse should be used in place of water if inflammation is persistent. Your dentist will instruct you on how to do it properly.

These are the few things that should be kept in mind before and after you get an implant. Keep your dental care provider posted about the health of the implant. Make it a point to go for regular check-ups post-op. 

How to choose oral care products for Best Dental Care?

In this age of consumerism, market places are flooded with oral health products. If you ask for a fluoride toothpaste, there’ll be at least 10 brands selling the same. So many options can confuse any buyer. In that case it’s common for people to make mistakes and learn from them.

But when I comes to dental care products, choosing a wrong products can have severe consequences in the long run. Even buying a simple thing as a toothbrush demands caution. That’s why Best dental care experts at Sandalwood Smiles, Brampton, guide you through how to choose the right oral health products. 

Choosing a toothbrush:

Every year, new toothbrush designs, colors, and attachments are introduced. Soft bristles, micro-bristles, cross bristles, and many more such marketing terms are common in this context. While these matter to some extent, it’s your comfort that should be the deciding factor.

Where there’s a choice between mechanical (electric) toothbrush and a manual toothbrush, always go for the former. A mechanical toothbrush has different vibration settings that enable breaking of plaque and thus, effective plaque removal.

Keep a spare manual one handy just in case. While choosing a manual toothbrush, take notice that the bristles are round and soft. Also, the head should be able to access hard to reach areas. Avoid hard bristles and big heads.

Brushing technique is very important. It’s recommended by our team of dentists to brush 3-4 times a day, spending 2-3 minutes each time.

Toothpaste :

You should use the toothpaste that’s recommended by your dentist. Or ask them before changing your brand or trying out a new product in market.

If you are suffering from fluorosis, steer clear of fluoride toothpastes as it’ll worsen your condition. Avoid toothpastes containing high content of bleaching agents that guarantee a pearl white smile. Consult your dentist as to which product can be used after undergoing teeth whitening treatment. 

Dental Floss:

 Flossing is vital. Period.

Don’t forget to pick dental flosses in your regular monthly grocery shopping. And we’ll tell you which ones to pick.

Dental floss is available in a variety of colors and flavors. That depends on your personal preference. If your teeth are tightly spaced, go for waxed variety as it gently slides through the gaps.

If you’re gap toothed, you can go for dental tape.

You can purchase single-use floss picks or a rolled version as per your comfort. Single use floss picks are ideal for people who experience trouble with finger movements like patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

Mouthwash:

Mouthwash is an essential part of dental care regime. But just don’t go for any brand and listen to your dentist before including a product in your daily routine.

Here, chlorhexidine deserves special mention. Generally prescribed by your dentist, it’s a short term remedy and should not be used beyond the prescribed duration. A bactericidal mouthwash, it can cause brown staining of teeth, especially in patients who have had a crown implant done.

Go for a mild mouthwash for everyday use that can remove daily plaque deposition. Ask your dentist for more info.

These are the points to keep in mind next time you go to buy over-the-counter dental care products. Avoid buying dental instruments over-the-counter for use at home. It’s a dangerous practice for your teeth. Remember, when it comes to your teeth, your dentist knows best.