Archive for category: Lifestyle

You are here: / Lifestyle

Part I: Toothpaste Ingredients, Yay or Nay

, , ,

Have you ever had a look at the ingredients list of your toothpaste? We usually check the ingredients of food in our grocery list, but we are forgetting to check one important item – our toothpaste.

Toothpaste is a paste used with a toothbrush to clean our teeth and tongue. Primarily, it is used to maintain good oral hygiene by removing plaque, preventing halitosis or bad breath, and delivers Fluoride which prevents tooth decay.

However, not all toothpastes are made with the same ingredients. Here’s a run-through of what you can find in your toothpaste and what it does.

Abrasives

Toothpaste’s abrasiveness is measured by its Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA). Toothpaste use abrasives like Hydrated Silica, Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate, Calcium Carbonate, and Aluminum Hydroxide. Abrasives give toothpaste its cleaning power. Toothpastes with an RDA rating of 0-70 are highly recommended because they are usually low abrasive. Most toothpastes have one abrasive ingredient. Any toothpaste that contains two or more abrasive components should be avoided.

A few Arm & Hammer toothpaste variants have a 48-70 RDA rating, while Colgate, Crest, and Sensodyne variants are found after 70.

Fluorides

Fluoride is the most popular active ingredient of toothpastes. Forms of fluoride like Sodium Fluoride, Stannous Fluoride, and Sodium Monofluorophosphate are found in every toothpaste. Sodium Fluoride, the most commonly added type of fluoride, can readily be used during brushing of teeth while Sodium Monofluorophosphate needs saliva or more moisture to be activated. People with dry mouth (i.e. someone under chemotherapy or taking certain medications that can cause dry mouth) are not recommended to use Sodium MFP-based toothpastes.

Surfactant

Surfactant, also known as detergent, is the foaming agent of toothpastes. Just like soap and shampoo, it is the reason why the product lathers or foams. Surfactant like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) gives a more cleaning effect to some people.

At present, SLS is one of the most controversial ingredients found in several beauty products. SLS was said to affect the endocrine system of the body and produce mouth ulcers. There are insufficient research studies to prove the toxicity of SLS in toothpaste, but a lot of people are switching to SLS-free toothpastes which some variants of Colgate, Sensodyne, and Tom’s of Maines have.

Fluoride, abrasives, and surfactant are just a few of the main ingredients found in toothpastes. These three primarily work together in removing plaque and food lodged in the teeth. Aside from these three, there are a few more ingredients you need to be familiarized with. Stay tuned for Part II!

Follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram 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 our downtown Victoria dental office at 250 590 0166.

/by

Top 5 Dental Hygiene Tips for a Healthy & Beautiful Smile

, , ,

Everyone wants to have a beautiful smile which is why good oral hygiene is essential. Our teeth not only help us chew and talk, but also let us look good. Poor oral hygiene won’t only affect self-esteem but can also cause several dental and medical problems in the future.

To keep your teeth in tip-top shape, here are a few tips for a healthy and beautiful smile.

1. Visit your dentist regularly

Pain shouldn’t be the only reason why you’re visiting your dentist. You should visit your dentist at least twice a year or every 6 months to prevent any further development of decay or any dental problems.

2. Use a proper brushing technique

You might be brushing your teeth for so long now, but still don’t know how to properly brush your teeth. Take note that horizontal brushing can cause gums to recede. Try placing your toothbrush 45-degrees near the gum line and brush in an up-and-down motion. This removes plaque gently without exerting too much force on your gums.

3. Floss at least once a day

This is one of home oral care routine that we always fail to do – or are too lazy to do. Flossing will aid in getting rid of food debris that accumulated in between your teeth. If not removed, it can turn to plaque and harden which will destroy your teeth. Try getting a floss holder (i.e. FlossAid) to make flossing easier.

4. Stop Snacking

Frequent snacking makes our mouth environment more acidic. The more sugar we eat, the more we feed these tiny creatures in our mouth. When fed, bacteria produces acids that softens the outer layer of the teeth which results to decay. Eating frequently won’t allow the mouth acidity level to drop.

5. Brush 30 minutes after eating

Several studies have shown that brushing right after eating or drinking can cause more damage to our teeth. As previously mentioned, our mouth is acidic after eating or drinking – especially acidic and sugary food and beverages. Brushing after eating will only let acid to be scratched more to the tooth surface. It is recommended to drink a lot of water after eating or drinking sugary beverages and wait for 30 minutes before brushing the teeth.

Oral hygiene care must be given high importance to prevent a cavity or decayed teeth. Follow these tips to make your smile appear not only beautiful but also help to keep your mouth healthy.

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!

/by
Importance of Baby Teeth - Are the first teeth really important?

Importance of Baby Teeth

, , ,

Importance of Baby Teeth – Are a baby’s first teeth really important since they’re just going to fall out anyway?

Primary teeth, commonly called baby teeth, begin to develop in the fetus at about six weeks of age. A few months after birth – six months to be exact – baby teeth start to erupt one by one. The first tooth to erupt is usually the middle front tooth found in the lower jaw known as the central incisor. Most of the baby teeth will have fully erupted by 33 months or 3 years.

When a child reaches 3 years old, it is very critical to save as much decayed baby teeth as possible. As a matter of fact, preventive measures should be done already as early as when the first baby tooth erupted.

You, parents, might be asking – “Why do I need to take care of baby teeth, knowing that a new set of teeth will replace it after a few years?”  Parents often don’t know the importance of baby teeth and their effect on the eruption of permanent teeth.

So, why are baby teeth important? 

  1. Baby teeth act as a space maintainer or placeholder for the permanent teeth. It holds the spot where a larger permanent tooth will erupt. When a baby tooth is lost earlier than it should be, the adjacent tooth or the other permanent tooth can drift – thus, making it difficult for other permanent teeth to find room when it’s their turn to erupt. This can cause crooked teeth, misalignment, or malocclusion.
  2. Baby teeth guide the eruption pathway of permanent teeth. Certain baby teeth guide the permanent teeth on where they should erupt (i.e. more forward or more backward).
  3. Baby teeth aid in the speech development of toddlers. A good example of this is when the upper front teeth touch the lower lip to be able to pronounce an “f” sound. Absence of baby teeth may limit the vowels and consonants a child can pronounce.
  4. Baby teeth help children chew food easily and properly.

Given these points, parents should be giving their kids’ baby teeth thorough care. Keep in mind that baby teeth are very important to a child’s physical, social, and emotional development.

Follow and like Dr. Sunny Tatra on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram 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, or email.

/by

Your Summer Oral Health Care Guide, Part 2

, ,

In our previous article, we already discussed some tips on how to keep your oral health a priority while enjoying your summer vacation. In addition, we will share some more tips on how you can enjoy eating and drinking while attending summer barbeques and festivals.

Drink more water

It’s summer and humid – be sure to keep yourself hydrated. Dehydration can cause dry mouth or decrease in saliva which can damage your teeth. Saliva is an essential component of our mouth. It washes away food particles and bacteria from our mouth. Lack of saliva can make our mouth a good breeding place for bacteria which can cause tooth decay. So, be sure to drink plenty of water during the day.

Regulate your alcohol consumption

Alcohol increases the acidity level of our mouth. A very acidic environment can soften the outer layer of our tooth – making it more susceptible for tooth decay. Red wine and some other coloured beverages can also cause staining in your teeth. Drink responsibly and if possible, drink with a lot of water after drinking alcoholic beverages.

Avoid frequent snacking

During summer vacation, attending several festivals and banquets will make you want to eat all day. Make it a habit eating three meals a day – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Frequent snacking in between meals will make you highly susceptible in developing tooth decay.

As you eat, the acidity of your mouth increases. It will decrease slowly and will get back to its normal level after you eat – with the help of saliva flushing away food particles. As you eat more frequently, it will take some more time for the mouth acidity levels to get back to its normal state.

As previously stated, the more acidic the mouth is, the more chances of developing tooth decay.

Limit intake of sugary foods

We all wanted to beat the heat by eating ice cream, but be cautious with your sugar intake. As you eat sugary food, you also feed bacteria found in your mouth with sugar. And as you feed bacteria with sugar, it produces toxins as its by-product. These toxins are acidic in nature and destroys the tooth’s first layer (enamel) making it a good place for bacteria to latch on.

You might be too excited for all your summer activities; but you might also be neglecting the importance of dental hygiene. Remember, no one wants an aching tooth to ruin a wonderful holiday, so be sure to visit your dentist before your planned vacation. Conversely, drink plenty of water, if you can’t resist your sugar cravings. And don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth in the morning and before bedtime. Have an amazing summer!

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!

/by

Your Summer Oral Health Care Guide, Part 1

, ,

Summer is fast approaching and you, surely, are excited to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in the beautiful outdoors.

Locals and tourists alike  engage in activities like hiking, canoeing, watersports, camping, and a lot of festivals. With all these extra activities, it can be quite hard to keep up with a good oral hygiene and chances are you may experience some dental emergencies. Here are a few tips on how you can keep your teeth bright and healthy on top of enjoying heaps of summer activities.

Now’s the time for a dental appointment

It might not be on top of your pre-holiday to-do list, but it’s better to pay a visit to your dentist before you go on holiday. A quick check-up will identify early signs of decay. Your dentist can do dental fillings to prevent causing long-term damage that could develop while you’re on holiday. You wouldn’t like an aching tooth to ruin your vacation, right?

However, if you can’t do it before – do it as soon as you get back from your trip. Pamper your teeth with a quick scaling and polishing after indulging in food and drink.

Keep up with a good oral hygiene routine

Holiday doesn’t mean you’re also on break in taking care of your teeth. Be sure to brush your teeth 2-3 times a day and floss once a day. Don’t forget to include a new toothbrush and toothpaste in your travel bag. If you’re travelling light, you might consider bringing a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste.

Prevent dental emergencies

Summer is all about outdoor activities like swimming, camping, biking, and hiking. Unfortunately, outdoor activities are the number one cause of dental injuries. For example, you might fall while running on a slippery surface that may cause a chipped tooth or knock a tooth loose. Prevent dental emergencies from happening by being fully aware of your surroundings. You may also want to consider bringing an emergency dental kit which includes gauze, ibuprofen, your dentist’s phone number, and a small container with lid.

Summer is exciting, but make sure to be cautious at all times. And lastly, keep your oral hygiene routine a priority in the morning, throughout the day, and in the evening.

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!

/by

The Negative Effects of Sugar, Part II

, ,

Our friends from Health Ambition are sharing their knowledge and expertise this week; Helen Sanders is the guest author of this two-part series, explaining the negative effects of sugar.  The original post can be found on the Health Ambition site here.

By Helen Sanders, Health Ambition

The Negative Effects of Sugar

Sugar Has No Nutritional Benefits and Will Rot Your Teeth

There is literally no nutritional benefits associated with the consumption of sugar. There is no protein, vitamins, minerals or essential fats – just empty calories!

In fact, those who regularly consume 20% of their calories from sugar can end up with a whole host of nutritional deficiencies.

Plus, being told “sugar will rot your teeth” as a child was not just your mother’s way of coaxing away those chocolate chip cookies. It’s actually a cold, hard fact.

Science tells us that sugar actually provides energy for the bad bacteria in your mouth, making it very bad for your teeth (source).

Fructose Can Overload Your Liver

It is important to understand that sugar comes in two forms: glucose and fructose.

Now glucose is natural, it is found in every living cell and if we don’t get any in our diet, our body will produce it anyway.

Fructose however is different. Our body is only capable of dealing with small amounts at one time.

It doesn’t cause a significant problem if we get a small amount like from fruit, or we just finished a workout. When this happens, the fructose will be turned into glycogen and stored in the liver until we need it (source).

With that said, if the liver is already full of glycogen, which is usually the case, eating a lot of fructose will overload the liver and cause it to turn the fructose into fat (source).

When this happens time and time again, this process can lead to a fatty liver which can cause a plethora of serious problems (source).

One of them being the potential development of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which is becoming a serious problem in Western countries (source).

Sugar Can Give You Cancer

Cancer is that word we all dread and unfortunately, is one of the leading causes of death throughout the world.

Cancer is when cells grow and multiply uncontrollably and can affect pretty much any part of the human body.

Insulin is a key hormone in the body and one of its functions is to regulate cell growth. However, overloading your body with sugar can lead to insulin resistance, meaning the cells your cells become able to resist the effects of insulin.

This is why many scientist believe that too much sugar can cause cancer (source).

Insulin Resistance Can Lead to Type 2 Diabetes

When your cells start to become resistant to insulin, your body produces more of this important hormone in order to level out blood sugar.

However, insulin resistance is progressive and as the situation gets worse, your body simply cannot keep up with the demand for insulin.

This is when your blood sugar levels go through the roof and you are left with type 2 diabetes.

Take into account that science tells us that people who drink sugar sweetened beverages are actually 83% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes (source)

Alternatives

Luckily, there are some sweet alternatives to sugar. While there have been, and continue to be, many artificial sweeteners on the market, there are some choices that are better than others.

First and foremost, satisfying your sweet tooth with the goodness of fruits and berries is a good option. But again, too much of a good thing is still too much. You don’t want to consistently fill your diet with high glycemic foods, even healthy choices like fruits. Your goal should be to keep your blood sugar low and stable.

Try stevia for a great sugar substitute. Stevia comes from a leaf and does not affect blood glucose levels. It is a great sugar alternative, especially for those with diabetes. Stevia comes in various forms like liquid drops or powders. You can purchase it in packets as well. Some of the brand names for stevia are Truvia, Sweet Leaf, Stevia In The Raw, and PureVia.

Read also: What is the best tasting Stevia?

Splenda, also known as sucralose, is another popular sweetener. Although it doesn’t share the healthy reputation of stevia, splenda has been used for years. It’s not a natural sweetener. It’s a chlorinated artificial sweetener, so user beware.

Xylitol is yet another sweetening option. It is a “sugar alcohol”. Sugar alcohols often cause diarrhea and bloating, so test your tolerance first with xylitol before consuming large amounts.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, the best thing to do, if you’ve been on a sugar binge for most of your life, is to start phasing sugar out of your life. You don’t have to go cold turkey.

If you don’t believe sugar is all that bad for you, just eliminate it from your life for a while and see how you feel, watch your energy levels soar, your immune system come to life, and your skin glow. Then, decide for yourself.

The bottom line is, try to wean yourself from sugar. And, learn to enjoy the truly natural sweetness of fruits and berries. And, if you must use sweeteners to make your food more interesting, there are many alternatives from which to choose. However, if your goal is to be as healthy as you can, your best choice is stevia. Moderation is key. Make the best choices you can most of the time, and your life can be pretty sweet.

Thanks very much to Helen and Health Ambition for sharing the informative  For more health articles, be sure to visit Helen and Health Ambition’s site here.

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!

/by

The Negative Effects of Sugar, Part I

,

Our friends from Health Ambition are sharing their knowledge and expertise this week; Helen Sanders is the guest author of this two-part series, explaining the negative effects of sugar.  The original post can be found on the Health Ambition site here.

By Helen Sanders, Health Ambition

Sugar and spice and everything … not so nice? Sugar is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about substances that cause disease.

Sugar has long been touted as “natural” and the least of your worries when thinking about health and weight loss.

However, a lot of damage can be done when you consume sugar on a regular and excessive basis. And, besides the fact that sugar calories really do add up, sugar also causes a cascade of additional problems in your body from immune system suppression to aging.

Sugar “only” has 15 calories per teaspoon. That doesn’t really sound like much of a problem until you realize that hardly anything has just one teaspoon of sugar in it.

Sugar is in practically everything we eat. Although some sources do occur naturally, like the sugars found in milk products and potatoes or fruit, it’s still good practice to limit your sugar intake and seek out the hidden sugars in your diet.

Is it Natural?

Is sugar really “natural”? If you really want natural, you’d have to break off a piece of sugar cane and eat that for the true natural version of sugar.

The white, granular, powdery stuff that comes out of huge factories, after it’s been processed and manipulated by man with various chemicals and additives, is not a natural substance. And the effects of sugar on your body, health, and well-being are far from “natural”.

Sugar Consumption is Big Business

Sugar is big business and big business means big money. The website www.sugar.org advocates bringing the family together by baking with sugar. They say, “Family means everything and baking is an easy way to show just how much you care.”

It’s kind of like the scenario where your grandmother cooks all kinds of delicious foods for you and you “have” to eat them to show your love and appreciation for her.

Although, truth be told, if you truly cared for each other, you’d find ways to eradicate sugar from your baking and your lives.

The website goes on to say that “Sugar is more than a “fun” food ingredient, it’s an essential one as well. Because it’s all-natural, you can consume it with confidence.”

Well, don’t believe everything you read on the internet. And, don’t believe everything you were taught growing up. When you start to research sugar, and it’s real effects on your body and your health, you will uncover some shocking facts.

“It is our government support of big sugar that keeps the prices of junk food cheaper than real food, and that is part of the problem” says Leslie Cerier of The Organic Gourmet

Get the Know on How Much You’re Consuming

Most labels list sugar in “grams”. This can make it very confusing for most of us. A teaspoon of granulated white sugar is equal to about 4 grams.

Therefore, take the grams of sugar listed in the food item and divide by 4 to get an approximate number of teaspoons. For example, a bottle of innocent-looking Snapple “All Natural” Lemon Tea has nine teaspoons of sugar in it.

One of my old favorites, a Starbucks Venti Non-Fat Caramel Macchiato, has 44 grams of sugar in it, which translates to about 11 teaspoons of sugar.

That’s a whole lot of sugar for something we think of as a benign and healthy low fat or fat free drink.

Sugar Aliases

Sugar is everywhere. It’s in places that you’d least expect to find it, like ketchup and other condiments, peanut butter, sauces, yogurts, deli meats, soups, juices, cereals and more.

Many foods also have a high natural sugar content and these should also be avoided for the most part.

Just because something is labeled “fat-free” or “low fat”, doesn’t mean that it’s healthy or sugar free. A lot of “diet” foods are actually sugar-laden health traps.

Things that are fat-free are generally overloaded with sugar to give you extra “taste” because the fat has been removed.

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is another fancy name for sugar and something that should be avoided at all costs. This substance is found in almost everything.

Some other hidden sources of sugar are items like yogurts, milks, and other various dairy products. They contain milk sugars (lactose). While you wouldn’t expect a glass of milk to have any negative side effects, the sugars found in dairy products still count as sugar to your body.

Alcohol, a particularly sneaky culprit, has 7 empty calories per gram. And, another reason not to go overboard with alcohol is that it’s converted to sugar in your body when you drink it.

Some other, lesser known aliases for sugar include: malt, fructose, glucose, dextrose, lactose, maltodextrin, sorbitol, sorghum, sucrose, mannitol, and many others.

With some helpful background about sugar, Helen will continue next week by detailing the negative effects of sugar and its alternatives.  For more health articles, be sure to visit Helen and Health Ambition’s site here.

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!

/by

Seven Reasons That Will Make You Want to Floss

,

Do you think you have good oral hygiene because you brush your teeth twice a day?  Think again!

According to statistics from the Love Your Mouth campaign in the UK, just 21% of the 10,000 adults who were surveyed said they floss their teeth daily, citing tiredness or just plain laziness as a reason for skipping the floss.

Bud did you know that not flossing could be causing serious harm – not only to your teeth and gums, but to your health too?

1) Flossing helps to prevent gum diseases

Flossing is critical to an effective dental hygiene routine at home.  Nothing can clean in between the teeth like floss, and without it you are leaving your mouth prone to gum disease.

2) Flossing helps prevent tooth decay

Tooth decay can have very serious consequences including pain, infection, and tooth loss. If let unchecked, it can even be fatal.

Preventing tooth decay is easy with regular dental check-ups at cleaning, and solid at-home dental hygiene protocol including regular brushing and flossing.  One-third of your tooth structure is in between the teeth – so if you aren’t flossing, that area isn’t being cleaned.  Also, when decay starts in between the teeth, it usually causes two cavities, one on each tooth.

By regularly removing food and bacteria from in between the teeth, you’re preventing that decay form starting in those areas. 

3) Flossing can reduce the risk of heart disease

An important thing to remember is that your mouth is connected to your body – it isn’t a separate thing.  Research right now is focusing on the effects of gum
disease on heart disease, diabetes, and even pregnant mothers.

Flossing can reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth that can enter the blood stream.  This can trigger inflammation in the arteries, which can increase the risk of heart disease.

4) Flossing can make your smile look better and your teeth whiter

Unhealthy gums are red and swollen.  As it progresses, the gum starts to recede from the tooth and can expose the roots, which are more yellow.

So unhealthy gums are very easy to see and can make your smile more yellow by exposing root areas.  Flossing can prevent staining in the area in between the teeth.

5) Flossing improves the health of your gums

Flossing is like exercising, if you do so on a regular basis, your body is used to it and doesn’t get extremely sore from a workout.

When you floss daily, the gums get used to the sensation and are kept clean.  If you don’t floss daily, when you do floss or have a cleaning, the gums will be sore and bleed easily because they aren’t used to it.

6) Flossing can save you money

Flossing can prevent tartar from building up between the teeth.  Tartar can only be removed by your dentist.  Save money, and more importantly time, by reducing checkups with regular flossing!

7) Flossing can prevent bad breath

The most common cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene – and flossing is essential in the battle against bad breath.  Brushing without flossing is comparable to cleaning only 65% of the body, leaving 35% untouched and prime for bacterial growth, which causes bad breath.

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!

/by

The Link Between Oral Health and Overall Health

,

Gum disease will affect seven out of 10 Canadians at a point in their lives, according to the Canadian Dental Association, and the same study showed that those over 65 years of age had an increased potential for periodontal disease. Oral health is directly related to overall health, and diseases originating in the mouth or in the gums may have the same risk factors as other chronic diseases. There is, however, a clear connection between low dental health levels and some chronic diseases.

Who is most affected by gum disease?

91% of those with heart disease that were included in a study conducted in 2004 also had severe gum disease, a staggeringly high number that lends credibility to a connection between the two. Those who are insufficiently maintaining oral health or failing to visit their dentist every 6 months are also at risk, and symptoms of budding dental problems may go unnoticed until they have caused significant damage. Elderly patients with existing health issues are at a higher risk for developing a dental disease, leading to the use of dentures and other mastication aids.

What diseases are linked to plaque buildup?

A link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and gum disease has been found, suggesting that microorganisms caused by gum disease may infect the respiratory tract. The risk of developing this illness is exacerbated by external factors as well, including smoking, which has its own negative impact on dental health. Those with rheumatoid arthritis also experience a higher risk for developing gum disease and related periodontital issues. Bacterial endocarditis, an illness caused by enlargement of the walls of the heart and arteries, can also be connected, as the plaque buildup found on teeth is the same as that which causes heart attacks. Those experiencing dental issues may have excess plaque buildup in their arteries and, coupled with inherited risk and other environmental factors, can lead to heart attacks and strokes, as well as heart disease.

How can treating gum disease improve overall health?

Gum disease is often linked to other diseases because of the buildup of inflammatory substances that dental complications cause. These substances can worsen the effects of heart disease, diabetes, and even rheumatoid arthritis, and having them removed through dental therapy can improve the side effects of these chronic illnesses. Patients treated for dental issues were recorded as having up to 40% less accumulated healthcare costs over time than their untreated counterparts.

How can gum disease be treated?

Depending on the level and reach of gum disease, there are multiple ways gum disease can be treated to lead to uncomplicated health issues. Gingivectomy and gingivoplasty are two different surgeries that can restore gum health and negate deterioration, by removing infected tissues. The use of topical antiseptics can make infections reduce significantly if used in mild dental cases. Most correctional surgeries can be performed by your regular dentist, and a specialist is only required in extreme cases. Most of all, regular and thorough tooth care routines should be followed daily to remove the risk of dental disease.

Most patients may assume that dental issues are separate from health issues, and let separate illnesses become exacerbated due to neglect. Oral health is directly related to overall health, and maintaining both at a proficient level can aid in keeping a healthy lifestyle. Because all parts of our bodies are inherently connected, overall wellness can lead to improvements in many aspects, and each part can let us know what we need to improve upon. Gum disease is not only an illness, it is a symptom of related disease and should be investigated as if it were the root problem to any chronic illness.

For more information about gum disease, visit the Canadian Dental Association page.

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!

/by

New Year Oral Health Resolutions Part 2

In part two of New Year Oral Health Resolutions, we share tips on beverages that will keep you hydrated and healthy, as well as food and drink that are harmful to your oral health.  Read on to find out!

Water

In addition to keeping your body hydrated and your skin clear, water is also equally as effective in cleaning your mouth of bacteria and food particles.  Be sure to rinse your mouth with a glass or two of water after finishing a meal!

Tea

Black and green teas contain polyphenols, compounds that prevent the growth of bacteria associated with cavities and gum disease.  In addition to keeping you warm and refreshed in this cold weather, these teas also reduce bad breath.

Sugarless Gum

Sugarless gum encourages chewing, which in turn increases the production of saliva.  Like crunchy fruits and vegetables, the increase in saliva helps in cleansing your mouth of bacteria.  Have a piece of gum after finishing a meal to quickly cleanse and freshen up your mouth!

Avoid

Eat and drink less of food and drink that have a high sugar content such as soda, sugary coffee and tea, candy and baked goods.  Sugar is a large cause for teeth decay and allow bacteria and plaque to easily stick to your teeth.  When you do indulge in these types of food, try to do so in a short period of time as opposed to constantly throughout the day.  Eating and drinking these foods throughout the day results in continued exposure to sugar and with it, constant decay and bacteria-causing acids and bacteria.

It is our hope that you have found our guide of use in helping you improve your eating habits for 2017 and beyond.  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!

/by

Ready to book an appointment?

Call us anytime at 250.590.0166 or click the button and we’ll get back to you to schedule an appointment.

CONTACT US

Book an Appointment

Please contact our front desk to make an appointment.

Procedures & Services

Quick Links