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Eating Healthy in the Fall Part 2

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Continuing from part 1, here are more healthy foods that are best eaten in the Fall to keep away the flu and cold.

Squash 

Unlike summer squash, winter squash has a fine texture and a slightly sweet flavour. Because of its thick skin, it can be stored for months. It tastes best with other fall flavourings, like cinnamon and ginger. Health benefits include:

• Contains omega-3 fatty acids

• Excellent source of vitamin A

Pumpkin

A type of winter squash, pumpkin can be used for much more than jack-o’-lanterns. Its sweet taste and moist texture make it ideal for pies, cakes, and even pudding! Health benefits include:

• Rich in potassium

• More than 20% of your daily required intake of fiber

• Good source of B vitamins

Sweet Potatoes

These veggies are for much more than Thanksgiving casseroles. More nutritionally dense than their white-potato counterparts, try roasting them—they’ll taste delicious, and you may maintain more vitamins than boiling. Health benefits include:

• Excellent source of vitamin A

• Good source of iron

• Anti-inflammatory benefits

Turnips

Tender and mild, these root vegetables are a great alternative to radishes and cabbage. To flavour these veggies, use fennel, bread crumbs, or even brown sugar. Turnip leaves, which taste like mustard leaves, are easy to cook and dense in nutrients. Health benefits include:

• The roots are a good source of vitamin C

• Turnip leaves are an excellent source of vitamins A, K, and folate

Pomegranates

This slightly sour fruit has gotten a lot of press as an antioxidant powerhouse. The juice provides a tangy base for marinades, and the seeds can be tossed into salads to amp up the flavour. Health benefits include:

• Pomegranate juice has higher antioxidant levels than red wine

• Good source of vitamin C and folate

Dates

This Middle Eastern favourite is a sweet fruit that is perfect braised in stews, chopped up in desserts, or stuffed with cream cheese or almonds. Health benefits include:

• Low in fat

• Good source of fiber

• Good source of potassium

Kiwi

Use this sweet fruit to add a tropical flavour to your recipes. It’s great mixed with strawberries, cantaloupe, or oranges and can be combined with pineapple to make a tangy chutney. Health benefits include:

• More vitamin C than an orange

• Good source of potassium and copper

• Skin has fiber & vitamin c

Grapefruit

The signature tartness of grapefruit provides a contrast to other citrus fruit. Add it to mixed greens, combine it with avocado and shrimp, or enjoy a fresh glass of its antioxidant-rich juice. Health benefits include:

• More than 75% of your daily recommended intake (DRI) of vitamin C

• Good source of lycopene

• Contains pectin, which has been shown to lower cholesterol

Tangerines

The small and sweet citrus fruits are positively refreshing for fall recipes. Our favourite flavour combos include almonds, dates, and honey. Juice them with oil, vinegar, and ginger for a to-die-for dressing. Health benefits include:

• Good source of vitamin C

• Good source of beta-carotene

Which are your favourite?  Which have you tried?  Have a recipe to share?  Comment below and share your thoughts about Fall foods!

Follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips. To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages. To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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Eating Healthy in the Fall Part 1

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With the Fall season upon us, the days have become cooler and with it come the risk of colds and flus.  Thankfully, not everyone has to be sick.  By following these tips and eating some of these foods, you can ensure you and your family stay healthy and happy to enjoy the season.  

First and most importantly, make sure to stay hydrated with lots of water throughout the day to keep your immune system running strong.  While not it is not considered a food, the outdoors is a free and great way to stay healthy.  Whether it’s sports, playing with your children, or just walking on a nice Fall day, spending time outside increases your vitamin D levels, makes you happier and improves your concentration.  

In addition to staying hydrated and enjoying the outdoors, the following foods will make sure your immune system stays strong and at its best.

 

Apples

Sweet or tart, apples are satisfying eaten raw as a snack or baked into a delicious dish. Just be sure to eat the skin—it contains hearty-healthy flavonoids. Health benefits include:

• Full of antioxidants

• 4 grams of dietary fiber per serving

Brussel Sprouts

Made the correct way, these veggies taste divine. They have a mild, somewhat bitter taste, so combine them with tangy or savoury sauces, like balsamic vinegar. Health benefits include:

• 1/2 cup contains more than your DRI of vitamin K

• Very good source of folate

• Good source of iron

Parsnips

Though these veggies may resemble carrots, they have a lighter colour and sweeter, almost nutty flavour. Use them to flavour rice and potatoes or puree them into soups and sauces. Health benefits include:

• Rich in potassium

• Good source of fiber

Beans

If you do one thing to improve your diet this fall, eat 3 cups of beans each week. Besides being a comfort food, beans add flavour and texture to soups, chili, and casseroles. They’re also a great salad topper.  Health benefits include:

• Rich in protein, iron, folic acid, fiber, and potassium

Raw & Living Foods

Raw and living foods contain nutritional, digestive enzymes that are compromised when food is heated to about 115°F.  So instead of cooking vegetables, like carrots or celery, try eating them raw as a snack for an added health boost.

Pears

The sweet and juicy taste makes this fruit a crowd-pleaser. Cooking can really bring out their fabulous flavour, so try them baked or poached. Health benefits include:

• Good source of vitamin C and copper

• 4 grams of fiber per serving

Cauliflower

The sweet, slightly nutty flavour of cauliflower is perfect for winter side dishes. It’s wonderful steamed, but it can also be blended to create a mashed potato-like texture or pureed into soup. Health benefits include:

• Compounds that may help to prevent cancer

• Phytonutrients may lower cholesterol

• Excellent source of vitamin C

Rutabaga 

A cross between a turnip and a cabbage, rutabagas are a popular Swedish dish. To utilize their earthy flavour, add them to casseroles, puree them with turnips and carrots to make a sweet soup, or roast them with ginger, honey, or lemon. Health benefits include:

• Good source of fiber

• Good source of vitamin C

 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of even more healthy foods to help you stay healthy.  Which are your favourite?  Which have you tried?  Have a recipe to share?  Comment below and share your thoughts about Fall foods!

Follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips. To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages. To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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Six Tips for the Summer Holidays

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With summer in full swing, many of us will be thinking about treating ourselves to a well-deserved break. But whether it’s to the Okanagan, California or beyond, there’s nothing worse than having a relaxing getaway interrupted by a sudden bout of illness. It is important that we know the potential risks to our oral health during this time so that something as easily preventative as a toothache doesn’t ruin our holiday celebrations.

So, here are a few tips to get us through the holidays…

1. The Dental Check-up

First things first, before you set off on your summer holiday, make sure you take a flying trip to your dentist. Although a visit to the dentist may not be at the forefront of your mind when preparing to go on holiday, it should be a part of everyone’s pre-holiday preparations, either as a precaution or to eliminate potential long-term damage to your dental health. But if you really can’t do it before – do it immediately after. A scale and polish might be a good thing after giving your teeth a hard time.

2. Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush 

This should go without saying but during the packing process, which can get especially manic, it’s surprising what can get left behind – even something as valuable in your daily routine as your toothbrush! It’s also a good idea to take a spare toothbrush, just in case you have a mishap with your regular one. Before a holiday is also the perfect time to buy a new toothbrush and pop it in your toilet bag.

3. Water, Water, and More Water

The importance of water during a hot summer holiday is vital for our overall health but it also provides a vital role for our oral health too. We should avoid regularly consumption of drinks with high sugar and acidic content such as sports drinks or fruit juices which increase the chance of dental decay and enamel erosion. 

4. Limit Your Sugary Foods

Our summer holidays are usually the time where we eat more excessively than usually, which more often than not, makes for a high-in-sugar diet. During the holidays we are more likely to “graze” but we must remember to keep this to a minimum. It is better for our teeth and general health to stick to three meals a-day instead of having seven to ten of these “snack-attacks”, which can cause dental decay and erosion, the loss of tooth enamel, which if worn away the dentine underneath is exposed and your teeth can look discoloured and become sensitive.

5. Protect Your Lips

While basking in the sun, many of us will sensibly apply suntan lotion to protect ourselves against the sun’s rays, in a bid to help prevent such diseases as skin cancer but what many people fail to realize is the importance of protecting our lips. With the skin on our lips being thin and particularly vulnerable due to the lack of melanin, shielding our lips from the sun on holiday is essential as prolonged exposure could lead to forms of oral cancer.

6. Regulate Your Alcohol Consumption

It’s easy to get carried away, but there a certain holiday luxuries that you should be particularly careful of – and one of these is alcohol. Regular consumption of sweet cocktails and fizzy alcoholic drinks can result in tooth decay…not exactly the holiday souvenir you were hoping for. And with alcohol being a leading cause of oral cancer we must make sure that we drink responsibly. 

Remember to follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips.  To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages.  To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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The Dental Benefits of Xylitol

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In addition to practicing proper dental hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, integrating healthy food choices can also improve both your oral and overall health.  Xylitol, a natural alternative to sugar, offers not only dental benefits but also health benefits.

What is Xylitol?

Naturally found derived from the fibres of plants and extracted from a variety of vegetation including berries, mushrooms, birch bark and corn husks, xylitol is completely organic and natural.  It is even produced naturally in small amounts by our bodies.  It has the same sweet flavour as conventional sucrose sugar, but it has only two thirds the calorie count and is diabetic friendly.

What does Xylitol do?

Xylitol not only rids the mouth of sticky harmful bacteria, it actually promotes the growth of tooth-protective, non-acidic bacteria.  Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consume the sugars we eat.  Plaque bacteria use sucrose and carbohydrates from our diet to grow and multiply. They create sticky threads that allow them to attach to the tooth surface and each other to form thick layers and acids that damage teeth.  When you eat food containing ordinary sugar (sucrose), it gives bacteria on your teeth energy, allowing them to multiply and start making acids that can eat away the enamel on the teeth. This “acid attack” causes tooth decay and cavities to begin to form.

However, when plaque bacteria absorb xylitol, they cannot multiply, produce acids, or stick to teeth.  Toxic, cavity forming plaque bacteria die each time they are in contact with xylitol.  As the harmful bacteria are cleaned away, new xylitol-resistant bacteria take their place. These new bacteria do not produce acids, do not damage teeth and do not form sticky layers of plaque. These bacteria appear to form a protective coating over teeth – fighting off intruding bacteria and protecting enamel from tooth decay.

The Benefits of Xylitol

Research has shown that the use of xylitol also helps repair damage to the enamel. Saliva in itself protects the mouth and teeth. Stimulated saliva in particular contains all the components needed to repair early cavities.  Saliva that has xylitol is more alkaline than saliva stimulated by other sugar products. After taking xylitol products, the concentration of basic amino acids and ammonia in saliva and plaque may rise, and plaque pH rises as well. When pH is above 7, calcium and phosphate salts in saliva start to move into those parts of enamel that are weak. Therefore, soft, calcium-deficient enamel sites begin to harden again.

 Continuous use of xylitol creates a desirable environment for healthy mouth bacteria and an undesirable environment for unhealthy plaque bacteria. After 5 weeks of eating at least 6 grams of xylitol each day, sticky plaque bacteria will no longer be found on teeth. After 6 months of continuous xylitol use, these bacteria will be undetectable in saliva, on teeth and on the tongue.

Eating food with Xylitol means less plaque will form on teeth, and eventually plaque bacteria may be undetectable in the mouth. Xylitol also reduces the equivalent calorie intake of sugar by 40% and is suitable for people with diabetes.

Adding Xylitol to Your Life

After learning how Xylitol works and how it can benefit your oral health, the next step is integrating it with your existing life and diet.  Xylitol can be found in many dental products such as chewing gums, toothpastes, and mouthwash, giving you options to use it at home and on the go.  It is used for its strong sweetening effect with having no aftertaste.

Xylitol can also be easily added used in your food, whether it is for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack!  As an alternative to sugar, it can be used in place of sugar in any foods that do not require sugar to broken down into liquid form, making it suitable for baking, cooking, and use in drinks such as tea and coffee.

Remember to follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips.  To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages.  To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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The Importance of Calcium for Children Part II

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Kicking Up the Calcium

Of course, some picky eaters just don’t like the idea of dairy products. To make sure your children get enough calcium, try these creative tactics.

Add cheese to meals and snacks:

  • Put some cheddar in an omelet. 
  • Add a slice of American, Swiss, or provolone to sandwiches.
  • Use whole-grain soft-taco shells or tortillas to make burritos or wraps. Fill them with eggs and cheese for breakfast; turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and light dressing for lunch; and beans, salsa, taco sauce, and cheese for dinner.
  • Create mini-pizzas by topping whole-wheat English muffins or bagels with pizza sauce, low-fat mozzarella cheese, and toppings like mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, or chunks of grilled chicken.
  • Serve whole-grain crackers with low-fat cheese as an afternoon treat.
  • Make grilled cheese sandwiches or piece of cheese appealing by using cookie cutters to create hearts, stars, and favourite animal shapes.
  • Top vegetables (especially those that usually prompt an “Ick!” or an “Ew!”) with melted low-fat cheese.

For breakfast, add fresh fruit or unsweetened apple butter to cottage cheese or yogurt.

For dessert or an afternoon snack:

  • Serve low-fat or fat-free frozen yogurt topped with fruit.
  • Create parfaits with layers of plain yogurt, fruit, and whole-grain cereal.
  • Give kids a glass of ice-cold milk to wash down a couple of favourite cookies or graham crackers.

Serve non-dairy foods that still pack a calcium punch:

  • Add white beans to favourite soups.
  • Top salads or cereals with slivered almonds and chickpeas.
  • Serve chili with red beans and cheese.
  • Pour a glass of calcium-fortified juice for breakfast.
  • On grocery-shopping trips, look for calcium-fortified foods, including breads and cereals.
  • Serve more dark green leafy vegetables (such as broccoli, kale, collard greens, or Chinese cabbage) with meals.

Caring About Calcium

Although it’s best for kids to get the calcium they need through a calcium-rich diet, sometimes it’s not possible. Discuss calcium supplements with your doctor if you’re concerned that your kids aren’t getting enough calcium.

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, so it’s important that kids have enough of this nutrient too. Made by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight, vitamin D also is found in fortified foods, fish, and egg yolks.

Also, don’t forget to motivate kids to be involved in regular physical activities and exercise, which are very important to bone health. Weight-bearing exercises such as jumping rope, running, and walking can also help develop and maintain strong bones.

Most of all, be a role model and enjoy low-fat dairy products and other calcium-rich foods — you could probably use the calcium, too!

Remember to follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips.  To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages.  To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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The Importance of Calcium for Children Part I

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Milk and other calcium-rich foods are a must-have in your child’s diet, with calcium being a key building block for strong, healthy bones. But most kids ages 9 to 18 don’t get the recommended 1,300 milligrams of calcium per day.

That’s not surprising when you consider that many kids now drink more soda than milk, which is one of the best sources of calcium. And teens who smoke or drink soda, caffeinated beverages, or alcohol may get even less calcium because those substances interfere with the way the body absorbs and uses calcium.

What Calcium Does

During childhood and adolescence, the body uses the mineral calcium to build strong bones — a process that’s all but complete by the end of the teen years. Bone calcium begins to decrease in young adulthood and progressive loss of bone occurs as we age, particularly in women.

Younger children and babies who don’t get enough calcium and vitamin D (which aids in calcium absorption) are at increased risk for rickets. Rickets is a bone-softening disease that causes severe bowing of the legs, poor growth, and sometimes muscle pain and weakness.

Calcium also plays an important part in making sure that muscles and nerves work properly, and in the release of hormones and enzymes. So if blood calcium levels are low, the body takes calcium from the bones to help these functions.

When kids get enough calcium and physical activity during childhood and the teen years, they can start out their adult lives with the strongest bones possible. For optimal bone health, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends:

  • 1 to 3 years old — 700 milligrams of calcium daily
  • 4 to 8 years old — 1,000 milligrams of calcium daily
  • 9 to 18 years old — 1,300 milligrams of calcium daily

Getting enough calcium is just part of the equation. Kids 1 to 18 years old also should get 600 IU of vitamin D daily. If you don’t think your kids are getting the nutrients needed, talk to your doctor about changing their diet or using vitamin supplements.

Sources of Calcium

Of course, milk and other dairy products are good sources of calcium, and most contain added vitamin D, which is also important for bone health.

But don’t overlook other healthy calcium-fortified foods, including orange juice, soy products, and bread. Here are some dairy and nondairy products that provide quite a bit of this vital nutrient:

Milk Milestones

Milk and other dairy products are among the best and most convenient sources of calcium you can find. But who should get what kind of milk and when?

  • Infants younger than 1 year old shouldn’t have regular cow’s milk because it doesn’t have the nutrients a growing baby needs. Stick with breast milk or infant formula as your baby’s major source of nutrition during the first year.
  • Kids between 1 and 2 years old should have whole milk to help provide the dietary fats they need for normal growth and brain development. But they shouldn’t have more than 16 ounces a day.
  • After age 2, most kids can switch to low-fat or nonfat (skim) milk.

The good news is that all milk — from skim to whole — contains about the same amount of calcium per serving. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend 2 cups (473 milliliters) of milk per day for kids 2 to 3 years old, 2½ cups (591 milliliters) for kids 4 to 8 years old, and 3 cups (710 milliliters) for kids 9 and older.

When Kids Can’t — or Won’t — Eat Dairy

Some kids can’t or won’t consume dairy products. Here are some ways to make sure they get enough calcium:

Kids with lactose intolerance: Kids with lactose intolerance don’t have enough of the intestinal enzyme (lactase) that helps digest the sugar (lactose) in dairy products. These kids may have cramps or diarrhea after drinking milk or eating dairy products.

Fortunately, low-lactose and lactose-free dairy products are available, as are lactase drops that can be added to dairy products. Also ask your doctor about tablets that kids with lactose intolerance can take that allow them to eat dairy products and thus benefit from the calcium they contain. Hard, aged cheeses (such as cheddar) are also lower in lactose, and yogurts that contain active cultures are easier to digest and much less likely to cause lactose problems.

Kids with milk allergy: The proteins in milk might cause allergic reactions in some people. Casein is the principal protein in cow’s milk, accounting for about 80% of the total milk proteins. Casein is what makes up the curd that forms when milk is left to sour. The remaining 20% of cow’s milk proteins are contained in the whey, the watery part that’s left after the curd is removed. Someone may be allergic to proteins in either the casein or the whey parts of milk and sometimes even to both.

Talk to your doctor if you think your child may be allergic to milk. Formula-fed infants with a cow’s milk allergy may need to be switched to soy-based or hypoallergenic formula. For older kids, good alternatives to milk and milk products include calcium-enriched rice or soy milk (if soy is tolerated), vegan products (such as vegan cheese), and other soy-based (again, if soy is tolerated) or rice-based frozen desserts, sorbets, puddings, and ice pops.

Vegetarian kids: Parents of kids who are ovo-vegetarians (they eat eggs, but no dairy products) or vegans (they eat only foods from plant sources) may be concerned about whether a dairy-free diet can supply enough calcium.

Although it can be more of a challenge to get the recommended amounts of calcium in a vegetables-only diet, good sources of calcium include dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, chickpeas, and calcium-fortified products, including orange juice, soy and rice drinks, and cereals.

Teens who think dairy products are fattening: Adolescent girls, in particular, may decide to diet and avoid eating dairy foods they think will make them fat. But it’s important for your teen to understand that an 8-ounce (240-milliliter) glass of skim milk has only 80 calories and zero fat and supplies one quarter of a teen girl’s recommended daily calcium intake.

In fact, people who eat diets rich in calcium may actually weigh less and have less body fat. In one study, adolescent girls who had an extra 300 milligrams of calcium each day, which is equivalent to one glass of milk, weighed up to 2 pounds (907 grams) less than girls who didn’t get the extra calcium.

You also can offer low-fat and nonfat dairy products as healthy alternatives to whole-milk products — and instead of sodas and sugary fruit drinks that have very little nutritional value. If your teen drinks juice, offer calcium-fortified 100% fruit juices (not too much juice, though, as that can contribute a lot of sugar and calories).

Stay tuned for part two!

Remember to follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips.  To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages.  To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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Choosing the Best Toothbrush for You

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Choosing a toothbrush can be an overwhelming task. Is an electric toothbrush better than the manual kind you’ve always used? We’re here to explain the basics and explain the benefits of each.

The purpose of a toothbrush is to remove plaque, stimulate gums and help maintain good oral hygiene (along with flossing!). But the effectiveness isn’t solely based on the type of toothbrush you use.  Both the electric toothbrush and traditional manual brushes are capable of cleaning your teeth properly but it is your technique is what counts. There are a number of other factors that are equally important, including your brushing technique, how often you brush and the length of time you spend brushing; this is where the features of manual and electric toothbrushes come into play.

Manual toothbrushes continue to offer a range of benefits to users. Some of the latest innovations for manual toothbrushes include:

• Ergonomically shaped handles that are more comfortable to hold and cause less muscle fatigue during routine use than regular handles.

• Angled heads and multi-tapered bristles, which help overcome incorrect brush positioning and clean more effectively between teeth and under the gum line.

While manual toothbrushes are portable, inexpensive and easy to use, they require the user to provide all of the brushing action.

Electric toothbrushes, while considerably more expensive and complex to use, only require the user to guide the brush along the surface, while the brush itself uses electric power to vibrate, pulsate and oscillate, getting hard-to-reach places.  This is where an electric toothbrush can be helpful for some people because of the built-in features that can help perfect your tooth brushing method. It is important to understand that electric toothbrushes operate in different ways.  Children can also benefit from electric brushes, especially if they dislike toothbrushing (learn how dental hygiene can be fun). Kids are always trying to rush through the process and often end up missing some spots – many electric toothbrushes feature an automatic timer that will ensure your child has brushed long enough.

 

Manual

• Criss-crossed, extralong or multi-level bristles

• Textured bristles

• Cupped bristle design for whitening benefits

• Gum stimulators

• Tongue-cleaner pads

• Cheaper

• More portable

•  More options to choose from

Electric

• Pressure sensors to signal when brushing is too hard

• Timers to help keep track of how long you’re brushing each quadrant of your mouth

• Digital reminders for when to replace your brush head

• Oscillating-rotating or sonic technology

• Multiple brush-head compatibility, so you can choose which kind of bristle design you prefer

• Great option for those with carpal tunnel or arthritis

 

Regardless of whether a manual or electric toothbrush is best for you, it is important to remember that it’s the technique that counts.  Many people think that if they brush harder, or use a hard toothbrush, they’ll see better results.  This can actually damage the teeth and gums. It’s better to brush longer (at least two minutes, twice a day) using a soft toothbrush.  Plaque accumulates everywhere in the mouth, not just on the teeth and gums, so it’s important to buy a brush with a built-in tongue and tissue cleaner, to clean the whole mouth.  Both manual toothbrushes and electric brush heads should be replaced every three months or when the bristles are no longer straight and firm.

Remember to follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips.  To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages.  To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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7 Tips to Make Dental Hygiene for Children Fun

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Help your children have a healthy smile by making dental hygiene for children fun. Making brushing, flossing and dental check-ups a positive experience can help to keep your child excited about good oral care. You child will not only grow up with a beautiful smile, but also with healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Brush and Floss Together

One way to make your child interested in oral care is to brush and floss together. Kids mimic what their parents do. Show your son or daughter your excellent brushing technique, including your great tongue brushing skills! After brushing, floss your child’s teeth or help them to floss if they are old enough to do it on their own. To give routine brushing an air of excitement, make up a rhyme about keeping teeth clean or sing a fun song.

Fun Toothbrush

Another way to keep your child’s interest alive is with a new, fun toothbrush. When it is time to replace the old toothbrush with a new one, opt for a colourful, soft-bristled brush or one with your child’s favourite cartoon character, princess or superhero.

Keep Track of Time

The American Dental Association advocates brushing for two minutes, twice a day. How do you know that your child is brushing for long enough? Use a two minute sand timer. Let your child flip over their brightly coloured timer and then start brushing.

Special Toothpaste

Your child’s toothpaste can even be amusing. Your 5-year-old may not run to the bathroom to use your minty toothpaste, but he can look forward to a good time cleaning his teeth with a flavoured fluoride toothpaste or one with a special dispenser.

Books and Videos

Check out a children’s book from the library that encourages healthy oral care habits. You can also show your child a fun video about dental hygiene for kids. Stories and videos that are designed for children are great for teaching kids how to take care of their teeth and for making oral health something that they can relate to.

Gold Stars

To make brushing twice a day and flossing more enjoyable, create your own gold star reward system. You and your child can decorate a poster with teeth, toothbrushes, healthy snacks, and other oral health themes to represent the days of the month. Give your child a sticker to put on the poster every time they brush their teeth.

Dentist Visit Surprise

Regular check-ups are another important part of good dental hygiene for kids. Visits to the dentist every six months help to keep your child’s smile sparkling and healthy. Surprise your child after the appointment with some fun family time. Head to the park or plan a picnic with healthy foods for healthy teeth.

Remember to follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips.  To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages.  To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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Brushing Up on Your New Year’s Resolution

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We all make new year’s resolutions, but many of us are not likely to follow through. Turning over a new leaf in the New Year can be tricky, but finding a way to stick with it is important when that new leaf benefits your health. If you want to take better care of looking after your teeth and gums this year, here are five resolutions can keep you diligent:

Schedule a Dental Appointment

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen a dentist, you’re not alone. About one third of people in Canada don’t see a dentist yearly, according to the Canadian Dental Association. But booking this appointment is one of the most important things you can do when looking after your teeth. According to the CDA, some conditions – such as sensitivity in the teeth or bleeding gums – are sure signs that it’s time to see a dentist. Even if your teeth look and feel fine, enter a reminder in your phone or calendar for January 1 so that you can call your dentist on January 2 for an appointment.

To make the process of scheduling visits easier, book your next one before you leave their office. Most dentists send out reminder cards a week prior or call a day before your appointment; check if yours does too.

Commit to Flossing

Brushing your teeth twice a day isn’t enough to keep plaque from building up on your teeth, or to completely remove bits of food from your mouth. To take the best care of your teeth, you need to floss too. If you’re not in the habit of flossing, the new year is a great time to start.  Flossing is one of the six steps of preventative care that will improve your oral health and save you time and money from visiting the dentist more than once a year!

One way to make it easier to remember is putting a container of floss on top of or directly next to your toothpaste. Position the container so that you have to touch it when taking your toothpaste out of the drawer or cabinet. Stash another container of floss in your purse or desk drawer at work, so that you can floss on the go if you forget to do it at home.

Cut Back on Sugar

A study published in BMC Public Health in September 2014 confirmed a direct link between the amount of sugar a person eats and the amount of tooth decay he has. Cutting back on sugar can cut your risk for tooth decay considerably. The most convenient way to cut back on sugar is to reduce the number of sugary treats you buy. Simple swaps will help you cut back as well: Drink sugar-free seltzer water instead of soda, or chew a piece of sugar-free gum when you have a craving for something sweet.  Also check out the health benefits of seeds and how they give you a sugar-free energy boost!

Kick the Habit

Smoking doubles your risk for gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and is linked to a host of other health issues. Pick a date to give up the habit, get rid of all the tobacco products from your home and solicit the support of your friends and family to help you quit. There will be cravings along the way, so it’s important to find a healthy activity to engage in when a craving kicks in. Feel free to see your general practitioner if you struggle to curb the addiction by yourself.

Eat More Mouth-Healthy Foods

When you cut back on sugar, resolve to add more orally healthy foods to your diet to solidify your diet’s benefit to your teeth. Dairy products, which are high in calcium, are great for your teeth, as are fibrous foods that call up saliva and scrub away plaque and other food bits, according to Delta Dental.  Be sure to read up on our posts of healthy foods for you and school snacks for your children!

Making your new year’s resolutions as easy as possible to stick with will help you keep them. Take things one step at a time, and if you forget to floss one day or eat a big piece of caramel the next, don’t give up. Remember that there’s always tomorrow!

Remember to follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips.  To read client reviews or to share your own experience, visit our RateMDs and Yelp pages.  To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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How Flossing Keeps Your Teeth Healthy

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Flossing – how much can more can it do?  In addition to removing the plaque and food that is stuck in between your teeth, proper and consistent flossing can actually reverse cavities and decay!  One of our clients recently saved one of her teeth from requiring a filling.
During the client’s visit in January, Dr. Tatra and the team recommended the client improve her oral hygiene care at home.  If her oral health did not improve, there would be a risk of one of her teeth requiring a filling.  As seen in the image below, the decay in the tooth was extremely close to reaching the dentin, the main hard tissue of the tooth, where it would spread even faster.  After showing the patient the image, Dr. Tatra and the team gave her instruction on the proper flossing technique.  The patient left the appointment with instructions to floss once daily and to brush with a fluoride toothpaste.

 

Jan 2015

Image taken on January 27, 2015 shows the decay on the distal is almost to the dentin (inner portion of the tooth) and the tooth is really close to requiring a filling.

 

In July, the patient came in for her 6-month continuing care appointment and reported that she had been practicing better and more regular oral hygiene at home as instructed by the team.  Dr. Tatra and the team took another image of the tooth to re-evaluate the tooth, which revealed that the decay had not spread, but was actually slightly smaller than it was in January!  As a result of her improved oral hygiene care, the patient prevented the need for a filling and the team is now only needs to monitor the tooth.

 

July 2015

Image taken July 9, 2015 shows the decay (dark spot) on the distal (back) portion of the tooth have decreased in size.

 

In addition to practicing proper oral hygiene through brushing and flossing, making proper food and drink choices will also help keep your teeth healthy.

Stay tuned for more blog posts featuring the technology and equipment used by Dr. Sunny Tatra!  Remember to follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ to stay up to date with the latest news and tips.  To book an appointment with Dr. Sunny Tatra and his team, phone +1 250 590 0166, email, or fill out the online appointment form!

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