All the staff at Ottawa Street Dental would like to wish everyone a great Labour Day Weekend!!! Enjoy our last official long weekend of summer.  We hope everyone has some fun & safe activities planned before school starts!!! And remember not to neglect those teeth if many sugary goodies are enjoyed!

Most people want that big beautiful white smile!!!! There are now various methods offered for whitening.  I advise everyone to speak to their dental professional prior to doing any whitening procedure. Your dental professional can give you specific advice on the best whitening method  that suits your individualized needs. Some people may not be able to whiten their teeth for various reasons and some whitening products may not be safe to use. If you are considering professional or over the counter whitening please consult your dental professional first.

 I thought this was interesting….. A person’s tongue is like their fingerprints. No two tongues have the same grooves, folds or structure.   

Many people notice that their teeth are becoming thinner and the two front teeth look see through. This is most often referred to as translucent teeth.  Translucency is usually caused by loss of tooth enamel.  Bruxism (grinding of teeth) and acid erosion are the main causes of this issue.

Bruxism occurs in adults as well as children. People will often grind their teeth in the evening while sleeping or clench them together in the daytime.  This issue can most often treated by your dentist. If left untreated  it can lead to broken teeth, translucency of the teeth , and can eventually lead to full tooth loss.

Acid erosion can occur due to numerous causes.  Excessive consumption of highly acidic drinks, sucking on acidic fruits & vegetables, acid reflux disease, eating disorders (bulimia mainly), tooth whitening  as well as other possibilities. There are dental options to assist with this issue and  may help to repair enamel.

If you feel like you may be suffering fronm translucent teeth, it is optimal to speak to your dental professional to decide the causitive factor. Your dental professional may be able to offer you a solution based on your specific needs.

We at Ottawa Street Dental would like to wish everyone a very happy & fun Civic holiday weekend!! Let’s hope the weather is great.  Enjoy participating in various fun summer events but  please also be safe around the water!!!

I love this time of the year!! Not only is the corn delicious but people are flossing their teeth.  Many people only floss their teeth when food is stuck in there.  People will then sometimes floss all their teeth since they have the floss out!! I call these people my seasonal flossers, so by all means eat that corn & floss those teeth!!!!! On a serious note, it is fantastic for optimal oral health to floss 1-2 times daily everyday.

Many parents have a hard time getting their children to brush their teeth. Here’s a suggestion, try an electric toothbrush!!! Some children find it fun to brush with a toothbrush that is electric or battery operated. These brushes come in many varieties (different cartoon heroes, princesses, multi-coloured). Good luck and remember that it is just as important to care for baby teeth as it is the adult set. Happy Brushing!!!!

We know all the children are ecstatic that summer is here!! This is just a reminder to parents that the summer break is a perfect time for a dental cleaning.  Many parents like to take advantage of the time off to book their children for their dental appts. Hopefully you have  booked some  other fabulous  events for the summer also!!! We at Ottawa Street Dental can’t wait to see all those bright little faces that visit us this summer!!!

 We at ottawa Street Dental would like to wish everyone & their families a Very Happy Canada Day!!!!  Hope everyone has some fun activities planned!!!

 Dental Professionals cringe when we see people opening stuff with their teeth!!! So here is our list of  dental commandments !!!

Thou shall not:

1.  Chew on pencils-this is not good for the enamel and you could get splinters.

2.  Hold Nails or objects between your teeth- people who chronically do this have actually caused indentations  along their teeth so that there teeth no longer bite together.

3.  Chew Ice- this can cause chips in your enamel and/ or  ruin your enamel.

4. Chew unpoped popcorn kernals- this can chip your teeth.

5.  Bite your siblings or other people- obviously this hurts!! This also transmits germs  from person to person. Very Dangerous!!!

6.  Biting your nails- bad habit that can destroy enamel and also can cause bacterial infections

7.  Chewing toothpicks- chewing on one of these for too long is not good for your teeth  as well as possibly cause splinters, this may even harm your gums.

8.  Ripping items open with your teeth- this can chip your enamel  or can even result in breaking or losing a tooth.

9. Opening bottles or cans with your teeth- many people have chipped their teeth doing this!!! Very deangerous, you risk chipping the glass and possibly swallowing glass also.

10.  Releasing stress by grinding or clenching  your teeth together- either one of these habits can cause enamel chips and wear on your teeth that may be irreversible.

 Please take these tips seriously so that you do not need to make an unnessasary trip to the dentist. We love to see you but shake our heads when we hear the story of how you broke your tooth.  Have a great week!!!