Dental Treatments Performed Long Ago
Medicine has a long and complicated history, with some questionable practices long ago.
Check out these 8 weird practices used in the past for dental treatments.
Kiley Janes
About Kiley Janes
Posts by Kiley Janes:
5 Natural Ways To Whiten Your Teeth
Nowadays, one of the most desired treatments for your teeth is whitening. Everyone wants a white smile, not only because it looks great, but because it helps you appeal to others. When you have a great smile, you get all sorts of benefits. People view you as friendlier, more trustworthy, and more intelligent. It can also help your self-esteem. When you feel great about your smile, you feel great about yourself. So it’s no surprise that everyone wants whiter teeth. Now, the best way to get a whiter smile is to go to your dentist to undergo professional whitening, but there are some DIY methods that you can use to also improve the color of your teeth. While not as effective as professional whitening, they can help get you started, or help you maintain the great color that you have after professional treatment.
Here are 5 common foods that you can use to whiten your teeth over time.
Strawberries.
Strawberries seem like a poor choice for whitening. They’re brightly colored and full of sugar. But they also contain an enzyme called malic acid, which can help whiten your teeth. You can mash up strawberries and rub them on your teeth. Leave it on for five minutes before rinsing them off and brushing your teeth.
Apples, Celery, Carrots.
Saliva is one of your mouth’s natural stain removers. For these options, their crunch factor helps scrub your teeth clean as you’re chewing. As a bonus, they also increase saliva production as you’re chewing.
Oranges, Pineapples.
Do you remember the last time you ate something sour or tart? Your mouth naturally produces more saliva when you do so, which helps remove stains on your teeth. Just make sure you’re not eating something too sour, like lemons, since the acid contained those fruits can damage your teeth.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a great home remedy for removing plaque. Though it may not be the best idea to brush your teeth directly with baking soda, finding toothpaste that contains it can help whiten your teeth.
Yogurt, Milk, Cheese.
Due to proteins contained in dairy products, they can help whiten your teeth if you eat them often. In addition, if you’re eating something more solid like hard cheese, it also helps removes food products when you’re chewing it.
Courtenay Dental Health & Implant Centre is located on North Island.
Daily Dental Care Tips
Even though going to the dentist is the best way to keep your teeth healthy, maintaining that health is an everyday task. Here is a list of tips you can use to make the task of keeping your teeth healthy easier.
Common Dental Problems
Dental problems are never fun for anybody, whether it’s you and your teeth hurting or if it’s another person suffering from your bad breath. Often times, it’s due to poor dental hygiene. The lucky thing about that is that, while common, these problems usually can be solved easily simply by being more mindful of what you eat and practicing regular brushing habits.
Here are some common dental problems and how to deal with them:
Bad Breath.
We all know the effects of bad breath. We have likely all be on the receiving end of someone’s. However, what you likely don’t know is that it’s often the cause of a dental condition. Gum disease, cavities, oral cancer, and dry mouth and bacteria are all some of the likely reasons why your breath isn’t as minty as it could be. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day can help, especially after eating heavy foods. You can also use mouthwash to cover up bad breath, but that only masks the odor, rather than cure it.
Tooth Decay.
This occurs when plaque combines with the sugars and starches that we eat, producing acids that attack your tooth’s enamel. Plaque is the sticky substance that naturally forms on your teeth. Tooth decay can escalate to becoming cavities if left unattended. Brushing twice a day and avoiding high-sugar snacks and drinks are good ways to prevent tooth decay.
Periodontal Disease.
Otherwise known as gum disease, is infection of gums surrounding the teeth. There are two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis. Symptoms include bad breath, red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums, and sensitive teeth. Again, brushing more often helps, but also regular dental check-ups will help you catch the disease before any further complications occur.
Courtenay Dental Health & Implant Center is located on North Island. For further inquiries, do not hesitate to contact us.
Reversing Tooth Decay
Tooth decay can lead to cavities, which cause you pain, trouble, and money to fix.
What Makes A Winning Smile?
It’s in the science…
Studies have shown that physical attraction is based on numerous different factors, predominantly revolving around a healthy gene pool. An indicator of good genetics is often correlated with symmetrical facial features and a mathematical approach to their positioning.
However there is more to defining dental beauty than just the positioning of your teeth. Fundamental to their appearance is the colour, which also indicates whether they are healthy and looked after. Gaps in the teeth, although endearing, are often an indicator of a neglected dental issue of the past.
So what do your teeth say about you?
Take a look in the mirror and smile. This is the image people see when they look at you – whether at a job interview, posing for a picture or simply smiling at someone else on the streets of Vancouver Island. How many strangers do you smile at every day?
Stains on your front teeth might suggest you drink a lot of coffee, wine and sugary drinks. Although these stains are inevitable over time, they give the impression that you do not keep on top of your dental hygiene. Similarly, crooked or chipped teeth give the impression your teeth have been neglected.
Advice from a cosmetic dentist…
A picture speaks a thousand words and your smile says a great deal about you. Defined corners and edges to teeth can often suggest an aggressive personality. Whereas, oval-shaped teeth can show off a shiny, white smile more easily and give the impression of an overall healthier mouth.
Perhaps your bite is a little too pronounced and you feel self-conscious of your mouth? Softening the teeth through cosmetic dentistry may be what you need to make your mouth look more delicate.
The experts at Courtenay Dental Practice on Vancouver Island can give a detailed analysis of your teeth. They are here to discuss what you want the rest of the world to see, when you smile back them!
Bringing Dental Treatment To Those In Need
At Courtenay Dental Centre, we know that getting dental treatment can be difficult for those in low income.
Check out this article about a clinic that provides low-income families, homeless people, and new immigrants dental services that they would usually not have access to.
Teeth Damaged? We Can Help Fix Them
Having a bright smile makes you beautiful. If your smile is marred by imperfections such as discoloration, chips, gaps, or cracks, it may be time to start looking for a cosmetic dentist as a solution. Cosmetic dentistry involves the usage of different procedures to change the way your teeth look, so that you can get the look you wish you were born with. If you’re on Vancouver Island, look no further than Courtenay Dental Health & Implant Centre for your cosmetic dental needs.
Cosmetic dentistry involves several different methods.
Veneers.
These are porcelain shells that are fabricated to your teeth’s specific needs and bonded onto your teeth to fix its shape, color, and position to a degree. When placed over your teeth, it will not only look like it was perfectly formed from birth, but it will also provide the strength and resilience that a natural tooth should have.
Composite Fillings.
This is a tooth-colored mixture that is used to restore decayed teeth. It can fill in holes left behind by cavities. The benefit of these fillings is that the material used mimics the aesthetics of real teeth, effectively erasing all damage that has been done to your teeth.
Inlays & Onlays.
Like fillings, inlays and onlays are two methods that are used to restore your tooth structure after damage has been done to it. The different between inlays and onlays from composite fillings is that they are made in our office and then bonded to your teeth on the second visit. Inlays and onlays strengthen tooth structure when bonded and can last for a long period of time.
Don’t let a poor smile get you down. Restore your teeth and your confidence through our cosmetic dentist, located in Courtenay, Vancouver Island.
How To Ditch Bad Breath
There are few things more embarrassing than persistent bad breath. If you suffer from halitosis, it can be stressful and aggravating going through packs of gum every day just to try and mask your oral odour. Because halitosis can be caused by a variety of factors, it can be difficult to determine the cause of your bad breath. Luckily, the expert professionals at Courtenay Dental Health & Implant Centre are here to help you ditch your halitosis. Here are some of the factors that can cause bad breath, and what to do about them.
- The first step to mitigating halitosis is reviewing your brushing habits. This is a good place to start because bad breath is often linked to dental hygiene. Make sure you are brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day and flossing daily. Maintaining good teeth cleaning habits will reduce your likelihood of developing gum disease and tooth decay, which contribute to bad breath.
- Remember to schedule regular teeth cleaning appointments at Courtenay Dental Health & Implant Centre. Over time, plaque solidifies on the surface of your teeth and can’t be removed by regular brushing. That’s why it’s important to have a dental hygienist clean your teeth every 6 months to remove plaque and other odour-causing food debris. It will also give our experienced dentists a chance to inspect your mouth.
- Review any and all medications you are currently taking. In some cases, persistent bad breath can be a side effect of some over-the-counter medications. Talk to your dentist about the medications you are using and ask whether they could be contributing to the problem.
To learn more about halitosis and what to do about it, talk to the experts at Courtenay Dental Health & Implant Centre. Once the cause of your bad breath has been identified, we will be able to recommend a solution. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment.
Be Wary Of These Three Common Foods
Most people in Comox Valley get that candy and other sugary foods can pose a threat to good dental hygiene. However, most don’t realize there are other everyday foods that can also be damaging to their teeth. That’s why it’s important to limit your consumption of these three detrimental foods and brush promptly after every meal. Regular cleanings from the hygiene team at Courtenay Dental Health & Implant Centre will help prevent bacteria, plaque and acid from eroding your sparkling smile.
Careful with the Coffee
Most people have at least one cup of coffee every day, if not more. Coffee isn’t inherently problematic, however, it can present multiple problems for your teeth if you aren’t careful. Over time, continual coffee consumption can stain teeth. While this doesn’t negatively affect your dental hygiene, it can affect your self-image. However, the real danger with coffee is in the sweetener. Adding too much to your morning cup can allow sugar accumulate on your teeth and erode enamel.
Avoid Acid
Over the holiday season, it’s not uncommon for people to share mandarin oranges with one another. While we are fully in support of the spirit of giving, just make sure you aren’t consuming too many at once. Citrus fruits are highly acidic and allowing the juices to linger in your mouth can also damage your teeth, making them more prone to cavities.
Don’t Chew Ice
At many restaurants, servers are quick to provide iced water for everyone at the table. Inevitably, someone finishes their drink before the food arrives and begins chewing on the ice cubes left in their glass. What they don’t realize is that chewing ice can apply substantial pressure to their teeth which can damage or weaken them. Leave the ice in the glass.
Don’t let these common foods threaten your dental hygiene. Create a home care routine for your teeth that includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily. Request regular appointments at Courtenay Dental Health & Implant Centre in Comox Valley at least twice a year to keep your mouth as healthy as possible.
