Read the most recent Q & A’s from our Dentist Vaughan Blog:

When I brush my teeth, my gums bleed. Is this normal?

If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth, chances are you may already have the mildest form of gum disease called, gingivitis. Other warning signs include gum tenderness, redness, or puffiness. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums around the teeth due to inadequate cleaning of the teeth and gums. 
Gum disease is usually caused by the build-up of plaque, an invisible sticky layer of germs that forms on the teeth and gums. Plaque contains bacteria, which produce toxins that irritate and damage the gums. If plaque is not removed through regular brushing and dental cleaning appointments, it will harden into what is known as tartar. Ultimately, this will lead to increased bleeding and a more advanced and serious form of gum disease known as periodontitis, a common cause for people to visit an emergency dentist.
The initial step in the treatment of gingivitis requires a dentist Vaughan to carefully clean your teeth, eliminating all traces of plaque and tartar around the gums. Gingivitis typically resolves after a professional dental cleaning as long as you continue to follow good dental hygiene (brushing and flossing) at home. Prevention of gingivitis is quite simple: Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. It is also important to visit your dentist in Vaughan regularly for professional teeth cleaning. 

I have several teeth that are sensitive. What is the cause?

We see this quite frequently. Patients come to our dentist Vaughan office reporting that they experience a sharp, stinging sensation when eating sweets or ice cream, drinking hot or cold beverages, or even when breathing in cold air.
There are several possible reasons for sensitive teeth, but by far, the most common cause is gum recession. Gum recession refers to the loss of gum tissue around a tooth resulting in the exposure of the roots of teeth. The roots of the teeth appear as a darker yellow in colour (see picture).

Gum recession can occur as a result of:

• Overaggressive brushing, which causes the enamel and gumline to be worn away
• Not enough brushing or flossing, which allows bacteria to accumulate between the teeth and gums resulting in gum disease

How to prevent and treat sensitive teeth:

• Good oral hygiene: Brushing and flossing all around your teeth can help to prevent gum disease
• Brush gently: If your toothbrush bristles splay with use, you are brushing too hard
• Use a soft bristled toothbrush : Helps to prevent or reduce enamel wear and gum recession
• Use a sensitive toothpaste: It normally takes at least 23 weeks of regular brushing with sensitive toothpaste, such as Sendodyne, before improvement in tooth sensitivity may be noticed
• Bonding: Your dentist Vaughan may decide to apply a tooth-coloured, bonding material to cover exposed root surfaces, thereby reducing sensitivity
• Gum grafting: Your Vaughan dentist may be able to regenerate gum tissue by a gum grafting procedure

My child has a double row of bottom teeth! Are the adult teeth going to be crooked?

Every so often, we get a concerned parent that comes to our Vaughan dental office with their child, shocked to discover that their child has developed two rows of bottom front teeth. This happens because the adult teeth begin to come out more towards the inside of the mouth before the baby teeth are lost. Typically, this occurs around the age of six and is considered normal. In most instances, no treatment is necessary and the baby teeth will fall out on its own. Encourage your child to wiggle the baby tooth so that it will? loosen more and fall out faster. Once the baby tooth is out, the tongue will naturally push the permanent tooth forward into its proper position. If the baby tooth has not fallen out after 3 months, you should visit your Vaughan dentist for advice.
In most instances, no treatment is necessary by the kids dentist and the baby teeth will fall out of its own.

Can adults still straighten their teeth?

Adults can definitely straighten their crooked teeth. If you are frightened by the thought of metal braces, brackets or wires, the way to go is Invisalign. Invisalign has become very popular among our adult patients who always wanted to straighten their teeth, but do not want to go through embarrassing metal braces. Our dentist Vaughan is trained and certified in providing Invisalign invisible braces treatment. The most appealing aspect of Invisalign is that it is nearly invisible (see picture). The procedure uses a series of clear aligner plastic trays that? move your teeth into a desired position. Each aligner is worn for approximately two weeks and each moves your teeth into a slightly different position. The length of your treatment will depend upon how much your teeth need to be moved and the type of tooth movements that need to be accomplished. On average, most cases take less than one year. You can find out more information on our Cosmetic Dentistry page.

 

 

Can adults still straighten their teeth?