Most people have heard about fluoride before, but most people don’t really know that much about it. Sure, it’s in many toothpastes and even added to some municipalities’ drinking water supplies. But not all of them! In fact, fluoride has become a point of contention for some people who don’t support the addition of fluoride to their lives.

What’s the deal with fluoride?

We’ve compiled some facts for you, and by the end you will hopefully have all the information you need to make an informed opinion. Here are 10 facts about fluoride treatments:

1. Fluoride is natural

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that keeps teeth healthy and help prevents decay. It can naturally be found in water, soil and even the air, and it can also be ingested in certain foods, including seafood like shrimp and crab.

2. Fluoride works to protect teeth and keep them strong

Fluoride does a lot of heavy lifting to keep teeth strong and healthy. Throughout the day, bacteria in the mouth mixes with sugars from foods and drinks to make acids and settles in on the teeth and gums. These acids weaken teeth causing tooth decay. Fluoride helps to protect teeth against acid attacks and can reverse early stages of tooth decay.

3. Fluoride is safe for children

When children get their first teeth, it is important to start teaching them good hygiene habits right away. After the age of 3, they can use a pea-size amount of toothpaste with fluoride in it. Parents can help them learn how to brush and spit without swallowing. 

4. Fluoride restores minerals

Since it is a mineral itself, fluoride works by replenishing the minerals to tooth surfaces where bacteria may have begun to eat away at the enamel. With fluoride in water and toothpaste, it can serve to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth, while helping to prevent cavities.

5. Too much fluoride can have negative effects

Like too much of anything, too high levels of fluoride can cause issues not just for your teeth but the body as a whole. Some of the common effects of too much fluoride are that it can cause white specks on mature teeth, or staining and pitting on teeth. It can also create problems with bones, making them very dense but not very strong.

6. Fluoride treatments at your dentist’s office are very beneficial

Compared to products you can buy at the store, the treatment you receive at the dentist’s office can give your tooth structure a helpful boost of minerals to strengthen weak spots and reduce sensitivity.  

7. Fluoride has long-term benefits

Studies have shown that children who receive fluoride treatments grow up to have stronger, healthier teeth. This saves money and expensive dental treatments later in life, and when it’s coupled with proper dental hygiene, it is helping the teeth be stronger, longer.

8. Some cities add fluoride to their drinking water – but not all

Even throughout Metro Vancouver, different cities have different policies about adding fluoride to their water. If your municipality doesn’t add the mineral to their tap water, it’s important then to brush with fluoride toothpaste.

9. Most bottled water does not have fluoride

We are so lucky to drink the free-flowing water from our taps that we don’t need to buy bottled water. Check if your municipality is providing water with fluoride to get an understanding of how much you are taking in.

10. Fluoride is helpful if you’re predisposed or at high risk for cavities

Cavities are the result of bacteria build up on teeth and gums and forms a layer of plaque. This plaque produces an acid that eats away at the enamel on the teeth, as well as the gum tissue. If the plaque breaks down the enamel layer, bacteria can infect and harm the nerves and blood at the core of the tooth.

If you are looking for a dentist in the White Rock and South Surrey area, we hope you get in touch. Whether you are looking for a fluoride treatment or any other dental treatment, our staff is ready and waiting to help. You’re never too young or old to invest in your oral hygiene and we can help you with every step of the way.

Nadine Smith

The post 10 Facts About Fluoride Treatments appeared first on Semiahmoo Dental Centre.

Oral health is an important part of overall physical well-being. And part of that health care consists of dental cleanings.

We sometimes get asked if teeth cleanings are really that necessary. Some people feel like they are constantly coming to the dentist (even though it’s really only twice a year). For some people, going to the dentist can produce anxiety and it can bring up a lot of fear. For others, it feels like overkill to have to go so often, especially if they have good brushing and flossing habits.

However, it is important to keep in mind that the dentist is here to assist in your well-being and health. Not to torture you and not to waste your time. Yes, it can be an uncomfortable experience, but it’s also important to note that the better your oral health habits, the easier the trips to the dentist are.

Are Teeth Cleanings Necessary?

The short answer is… yes. Let’s talk about why.

The mouth, like many parts of the body, contains bacteria. Normally it is harmless. But since the mouth is the entry point into the respiratory and digestive tracts, without proper oral care, such as daily maintenance like brushing and flossing, as well as regular dental cleanings, heavy bacteria build up in the mouth can potentially lead to sickness and disease.

Other infections can occur in the mouth from a lack of proper care, like gum disease and tooth decay. The best way to stave off or prevent these conditions is to partake in every day oral health maintenance, and to see the dentist for regularly scheduled cleanings.

Dental Cleanings = Disease Prevention

The number one reason to see your dentist or go for regular (at least once a year, hopefully twice a year) deep teeth cleaning is to keep your teeth, gums and mouth in good health, and to prevent disease from occurring or spreading.

Regular cleanings mean that your dentist has the opportunity to examine the gum-line, and the inner and outer health of the teeth. Then the dentist can see if there are the beginning signs of anything to be worried about, such as tooth decay (cavities) and periodontitis (gum disease). Both of these conditions can lead to chipped and broken teeth, or even tooth loss. They may also require more serious interventions or even surgery.

But what’s even more important to remember: they are avoidable (more or less) with good oral health habits which include regular deep teeth cleaning from the dentist.

What Is A Deep Teeth Cleaning?

A deep teeth cleaning, also known as gum therapy or gum scaling and root planing, gets between the teeth and gums all the way down to the roots. During a standard dental cleaning, the front, back, and sides of the tooth are cleaned above the gum line. During a deep teeth cleaning, the dentist continues down to the root of the tooth, below the gum-line, removing tartar and other build-up from the “pocket” that may have formed between the root of the tooth and gums.

Dental cleanings and deep teeth cleanings are both important. If you are still hesitant, or to book an appointment, give us a call and we will be happy to connect with you.

Nadine Smith

The post Why Are Regular Dental Cleanings Important? appeared first on Semiahmoo Dental Centre.

Twice-a-year trips to the dentist for teeth cleaning can sometimes feel like a lot. You might have to take time off work and rearrange your schedule or pull the kids out of class. And you may be one of the many people who find it stressful to see the appointment pop up in your calendar. Not everyone loves the dentist!

You may even start to wonder if you really need to be getting your teeth cleaned so often. But before you go down that road of the doubt too far, let’s take a closer look at why you really should stick to your teeth cleaning appointments.

Reasons For Having Teeth Cleaning Appointments

1. Physical Exam

When you arrive at your appointment and recline in the chair, the dental hygienist will start by gently looking around your mouth. They will begin the process of visually examining what state your gums, teeth, tongue, and jaw are in.

This is the opportunity to spot cavities, gum inflammation or recession, or any other issues, and to put a plan in place to deal with them. Much of the teeth cleaning process is about prevention and spot problems before they become catastrophes.

2. Cleaning and Plaque/Tartar Removal

Plaque forms on the teeth after eating, and can lead to tooth decay and other oral problems like gum disease. Left long enough, plaque builds and hardens into tartar, making it much more difficult to remove.

During the teeth cleaning process, the dentist and hygienist will use their skills and tools to remove and plaque and tartar that has built up. While proper teeth brushing and flossing will greatly reduce harmful plaque and tartar, there are often trouble spots that people miss, like around the back molars, between the teeth, or on the backside of the teeth. Even the most diligent people will have spots of build-up.

3. Shine Them Up

After the hard work is done, and if there are no further problems to discuss, your dentist will probably finish the treatment with a polish. This is a great way to finish up and will leave your teeth feeling smooth and will brighten your smile.

4. Teeth Cleaning = Prevention

One of the main reasons for going to the dentist regularly is that there is a record of how things are progressing or improving over time.

If things are worsening, then there is an opportunity to arrest the decay or treat the disease. Dealing with a tooth that is showing signs of decay is much better than dealing with a tooth that needs a root canal, for example. Prevention is best when it comes to oral health, and that’s why oral hygiene includes trips to the dentist, along with regular brushing and flossing, as well as a good diet low in sugar.

Regular trips to the dentist for teeth cleaning are certainly not meant to inconvenience you, but rather to promote good health. Many other physical illnesses are linked to oral health and proper maintenance of the teeth and mouth keeps the body healthier, longer.

Nadine Smith

The post Why Do We Need Regular Teeth Cleaning? appeared first on Semiahmoo Dental Centre.