Halloween is such a special time for children- they get to dress up, haunt the evening hours, and enjoy sweet treats from friends and neighbours. Yet it is a perilous time for their teeth: sugary treats can haunt the tooth enamel, causing problems down the road if not handled with care.

When we eat sugary foods, especially those that are sticky like gummy candy or caramel, three factors leave us open to demineralization (the first stage of a cavity): sugar, time, and bacteria. The sugar from the candy sits on the teeth and gets into the cracks and crevices of the tooth enamel. If it’s not brushed out straight away, the sugars can turn to bacteria and work their way through the enamel and cause cavities.

Time is critical factor in avoiding a cavity: if a person eats three mini-chocolate bars in a short period and then brushes, the teeth have a chance to strengthen and effectively recover from any weakening caused by the sugar; however, if the same three chocolates are eaten over a longer period of time (for example, one per hour), the teeth don’t have the same chance to recover in between and are more susceptible to damage.

We can minimize potential damage by encouraging our children to choose fruit or healthier snacks, or by providing sugar-free candies or candy that dissolves quickly. And regardless of the treat, brushing and flossing afterward is extremely important.

Halloween is such a fun time, and if we can ensure we’re haunted by little lions and ghosts rather than cavities, we’re guaranteed to have much more fun!

Many people love to wake up to a steaming cup of coffee or enjoy a latte in the afternoon as a pick-me-up. Coffee isn’t just a comforting hot drink; it’s actually been proven to have numerous health benefits. Yet how we take our coffee and how often we drink it can actually undermine its positive aspects. Those who enjoy milk and sugar may experience greater incidence of cavities. The sugars from milk or cream or sugar itself sit on the teeth and slowly cause decay. For those who enjoy sipping coffee throughout the day, their teeth are potentially the most compromised because the acid produced by normal bacteria of the mouth and sugar can over time cause the teeth to demineralize and weaken. Their teeth also may take on a yellow hue from the coffee as the teeth don’t have enough time to remineralize.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying a daily cup of Joe, but we can do a few things to minimize its effect on our teeth. Reducing the amount of sugar, drinking the coffee quickly rather than sipping it throughout the day, and rinsing the mouth with water afterward can reduce the damage caused by the drink as well as prevent staining to the enamel.

To find developing cavities before they become deep and problematic, dentists are now able to employ of some of the new technologies available such as radiographs, dye application, or probing the mouth with an explorer. These make early detection easy, saving the patient time, money, and preventing possible pain down the road.

The explorer used to probe the mouth for cavities is made of a laser called DIAGNodent. DIAGNodent measures the fluorescence level in the tooth in order to determine the progress of a cavity.  When teeth are exposed to specific wavelengths of light, where a healthy tooth won’t glow, those teeth compromised by bacteria or decay become luminescent. Another diagnostic tool dentists use is a dye that detects caries by distinguishing the difference between sound and hard dentin and dentin that is infected with bacteria and has softened.  The dye is applied for about ten seconds and then rinsed off. The dentist is then able to easily see the stained dentin and can remove it with excavator tools. The process can be repeated until all the caries have been removed.

Reference: D.J. Phinney and J. H. Halstead, Dental Assisting, A Comprehensive Approach, Delmar Cengage Leaning, 3^rd edition, 2008, Chapter 33, Page 789.

All Dentists maintain rigorous standards to ensure their dental practices are kept free from any micro-organisms that can cause disease or infection. Dentists comply with infection control regulations as infection control in a medical environment is of the utmost concern for keeping patients healthy.  Universal protocols are coordinated and utilized for all patients, ensuring that there is no cross-contamination between patients and are employed in the disinfection, sterilization and cleaning of all materials including instruments and even the examination chairs before and after patient visits.

Numerous additional procedures are undertaken to ensure infection is controlled in a dental office.  Patients are asked to update their medical history before each visit. Dentists and hygienists maintain their own personal health by eating properly and getting adequate rest. All staff also strictly adhere to the immunization schedule as laid out by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. All personnel wash their hands before, during and after touching patients and wear Personal Protective Equipment that serve as barriers against pathogens, including protective eyewear, uniforms, face masks and disposable gloves.

Such care and attention to infection control is essential in order to keep everyone healthy and safe.

Reference: D.J. Phinney and J. H. Halstead, Dental Assisting, A Comprehensive Approach, Delmar Cengage Leaning, 3^rd edition, 2008, Chapter 11.

After a very long and tiring day, if ever you’re tempted to just quickly brush your teeth and fall into bed, consider this: where the brush removes plaque from the easy-to-reach surfaces of the teeth, it’s the floss that cleans out food particles stuck between teeth where a brush can’t ever reach, making it equally as important as brushing.

Those who floss inconsistently might occasionally experience some bleeding or pain. Imagine that flossing is like exercise for the gums: the more we do it, the more our gums strengthen and adapt to the floss. It’s very important to keep at it- with regular flossing, your gums will become stronger and the pain and bleeding will cease.

If the food nestled in the tight dark spaces between teeth is left to decompose there, it causes bad breath, cavities, and inflamed or infected gums. Devices such as water picks, toothpicks, and mouthwashes are good supplements, but in the end, there is no substitute for flossing. It only takes once a day to keep your mouth clean and healthy.

X-rays are worrisome to many people, yet they are not only extremely helpful with diagnosing problems and helping guide physicians in their treatment, they can also prevent unnecessary pain and suffering and often save lives. An X-ray is like a GPS for the dentist, and being able to see what’s going on in the bones can help guide her in her treatment.

Nowadays, dental practitioners follow the rules for administering X-rays as laid out by the College of Dental Surgeons regarding the frequency and type of X-ray that may be used on patients. Dental X-rays are administered at very low frequencies of radiation, and further precautions are taken with the use of aprons, fast film, and filters.

Radiation is a concern and one should be wary of unnecessary exposure to it, but the exposure to radiation from a dental X-ray is extremely small, and the risks are far lower than our daily exposure to any other carcinogens. Any X-rays dentists recommend can be extremely useful in helping you receive the best care and treatment.

Everyone has three pairs of salivary glands located in various positions in the mouth that produce our saliva: the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands. Saliva is important in a number of ways. It moistens our food so we can swallow more easily; it cleans the teeth and mouth; it assists in lubricating the mouth so we can speak; and it contains antibodies that boost our immune system. There are also accessory salivary glands throughout the mouth whose production is similar to that of the main glands.

If one or more of the salivary glands fails to produce saliva or cannot secrete saliva, our normal function is compromised. Certain diseases can affect the salivary glands by reducing the production of saliva and causing dry mouth. Growths, either cancerous or benign, can develop in a gland. If a gland’s ducts rupture or it becomes obstructed, the saliva can pool up in one spot and present as swelling.

It’s important to maintain regular check-ups, which should also include specifying any symptoms or change in salivary function. Early detection can prevent loss of function or loss of the use of the compromised glands.

Dentists spend a good deal of their day hunched over their patients. Neck and back issues can easily develop due to how they need to sit in their chairs, arch their necks or twist into awkward positions. Dentists depend on their assistants to help reduce the amount of turning and bending they do so they can remain in a comfortable position while working on their patients. They also need to spend time every day stretching and doing gentle strengthening exercises for their necks and backs to prevent injury.