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When should my little one’s first dental visit take place? Earlier visits for children prevent disease.

Baby's first visit will prevent cavities from the start

Caring For Little Smiles-When should the first dental visit take place?little smiles

When should your little one’s first dental visit take place? Between 6 mths and 1 year of age when those pearly whites start to come in. I am a mom and a dental hygienist. My kids health and well being comes first always. Poor oral health contributes to poor systemic health, poor sleep, poor digestion and can affect your child’s development. I’m very passionate about helping my kids and Embrace Dental Hygiene clients prevent tooth decay. Earlier visits are proven to reduce childhood decay. Dental professionals will guide, coach and teach you to promote your child’s best health. The Canadian Dental Association , the American Dental Association, the Canadian Dental Hygiene Association all agree introduction before the 1st birthday is best. We will help you establish those healthy habits as early as possible and prevent cavities for life.

What happens if you wait? Waiting leaves the door open to disease. 90% of decay is completely preventable. Let’s face it most moms are not a dental professionals and are not equipped to identify warning signs of tooth decay. Your dental hygienist is. We not only look for early decay but risk factors for disease that can be managed. Management of those factors eliminates risks and promotes your child’s best health. Which means cavities will not happen. And baby teeth matter! They form the foundation of the face, are the airways, necessary for eating, assist with developing speech, and are a guide for erupting adult teeth. You want them to be healthy until it’s time for them to be replaced. And we don’t want our children needing painful or traumatic dental work that could have been prevented. Prevention is painless and is simply a matter of supporting your child’s health with customized interventions. At Embrace Dental Hygiene these natural interventions will include diet, habit and lifestyle modifications coupled with dental hygiene therapies designed for your child’s needs. The care we provide will grow and adapt as your child develops to their potential.

Call now to schedule a visit for your little one 519-736-1100 or email [email protected].

Click here to read my top 10 tips for cavity free kids.

Annabelle in the chair

first dental visit

Book your child’s first dental visit at Embrace Dental Hygiene. We start seeing littles as early as 6mths to one year of age here at Embrace Dental Hygiene in Amherstburg. This is the ideal time to start children on the path of health and ensure parents and caregivers have the tools and information necessary to help their children. The picture on the left is me providing care to my two year old. Believe it or not she loves having her teeth taken care of. I have worked hard to create a low anxiety environment that is ideal for families and children. My kids don’t want to go home when they visit:) Our goal is for your child to be excited about coming to Embrace Dental Hygiene. The first visit includes as much or as little care as you and your child are comfortable with. A ride in the chair and an introduction to “Mr. thirsty” and the “tooth tickler” helps put your child at ease. This visit will provide moms and dads with the tools and information you will need to give your child the healthiest start possible. I can address any questions or concerns that you may have and if necessary make appropriate referrals. The customized care and knowledge that you will gain will help keep those little ones out of the dentist’s chair. No child should experience tooth decay we have the power to prevent it.

Take your first steps on the path to a cavity free future. Call now to set up an appointment for your “Little Smiles” visit! 519-736-1100 questions email [email protected]

Jen Mayhew, RDH

P.S. Sign up for my newsletter and visit my facebook page and never miss an event or promotion.

Check out these tips from the Canadian Dental Hygiene Association:

Healthy smiles for babies and toddlers

(NC)—We don’t usually associate cavities or gum disease with infants but in fact, oral diseases begin very early. For example, early childhood caries (cavities) is a form of severe tooth decay in the primary (baby) teeth of children from birth to age 3, and it affects more than 10 per cent of preschool-aged children in Canada. Baby’s first teeth are crucial to healthy adult teeth, and early childhood cavities can lead to much bigger oral health issues later in life.

Reduce the risk and follow these simple care tips with your little one:

  • Be a good role model. Keep your own teeth and gums healthy.
  • Wipe baby’s mouth and gums with a clean, wet cloth or piece of gauze after feeding.
  • Gently clean newly erupted teeth with a small, soft toothbrush.
  • Avoid fruit punches and other sweetened drinks in baby bottles, especially before bed.
  • Reduce the frequency of nighttime feedings.
  • Use only pacifiers with an orthodontic design, and don’t dip it in sugary substances.
  • Avoid transfer of your saliva onto items used by baby, including bottles, cups, pacifiers. Bacteria spreads.
  • Rinse baby’s mouth with clear water immediately after any liquid medication is given.
  • Check for early warning signs by lifting up baby’s top lip. White, chalky teeth or brown or black stained teeth indicate a problem. Contact your dental professional immediately.
  • Gradually introduce fresh fruits and vegetables to the diet. These foods, which require chewing, stimulate saliva flow and help to neutralize acids.
  • Begin regular dental visits by age one.

More tips and information about oral health care is available online at www.cdha.ca.

www.newscanada.com

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Tooth Brushing Tips-How, when and with what tooth brush?

beyond tooth brushing

Brusha, Brusha, Brusha…Tooth brushing

Sigh! Gasp! Groan! Tooth brushing? Boring! Everybody brushes their teeth, right? But are you using the correct technique and the right brush for you? There is one out there somewhere. If you are experiencing cavities, bleeding gums, sensitive teeth or bad breath I’m here to tell you you may need to make changes your brushing habits.

Why do we brush our teeth?

Let’s start with the why, why do we brush? I think that knowing what it is that tooth brushing is designed to do will help you brush better. You think you are brushing to clean your teeth right? Remove food debris and plaque? Yes to an extent. More importantly you are brushing to disrupt invisible bacteria. Think small microscopic invisible bacteria. You can’t see what you are brushing off which makes it very hard to do.

Bacteria-YUCK

There are thousands of little bugs that limouth-bacteriave in your mouth. And we want them there. What we don’t want is for them to get too comfortable. Like a house guest who just won’t go home. It starts out great you were so happy to see him. He was polite and tidy but things changed now he lays on your couch eating your food, not cleaning up after himself. It’s time to evict this guest.

The bacteria in your mouth are kinda like that guest. They start out healthy but if we let them, they start to change. They colonize and get comfortable on the surfaces of the teeth. Things start to get messy and irritating. These unwelcome guests now can produce toxins that cause decay and disease. But your tooth brush is how you maintain order. Keeping them from colonizing eliminates the opportunity for disease.

Brushing Technique

Technique is as important as brushing at all. Brushing your teeth and tongue Proper-Tooth-Brushing2x a day with a soft bristled brush for about 2 minutes is what we recommend. It takes approximately 24 hours for those little bugs to organize enough to start causing problems. Brushing 1x daily is good but nobody’s perfect and there will be areas that get missed. We are talking microscopic invisible bacteria. That second brushing is like insurance just in case. 2 minutes is about how long it takes to brush all three surfaces cheek, biting and tongue side of each and every tooth. I’m pretty sure I brush for more like 5 minutes. What can I say I’m an overachiever. The technique pictured on the left is the proper brushing method with a manual tooth brush. Click here to see a video of me demonstrating tooth brushing. But this may not be ideal for everyone. Mobility limitations, crowding, missing teeth, dental work or braces make brushing more challenging. Your brushing routine should match your needs.

Choosing a Tooth Brush

There are lots of brush options there is something out there to suit everyone’s lifestyle and preferences. My professional opinion is choose a simple design, small size, soft close set bristles and I love electric brushes. Click here to see a comparison of some electric brushes. But use what works for you. I have a great selection of brushes for all ages including some clean and green options. Come check it out!

Tooth paste is not necessary. Say what? If you aren’t having tooth troubles tooth paste doesn’t matter. Seriously. Your brush cleans your teeth. Tooth paste is an extra, tastes good too. But brushing with water is justtoo much tooth paste as effective at disrupting the bacteria. I will say avoid ones that claim they whiten for everyday use as they can be very abrasive and increase sensitivity with time. Also, that big swoop of toothpaste in the picture is waaaaaaayyyy too much. A pea size amount is plenty. I will also be devoting a post to tooth paste in the future.

 

 

How do you know you are using the right technique and type of brush for you?

If you don’t experience cavities, bleeding gums or sensitive teeth and you are your dental hygienists favorite client congratulations. Don’t change anything! But if this is not the case you should change it up. Talk to your dental professional or call me 519-736-1100 I can help. Simple changes like a new brush, new technique or brushing at a different time of day can change everything. WebMD has some good tips.

No matter how well you brush and floss you need to see a dental hygienist for regular assessment of your mouth and professional teeth cleaning. Consider it necessary maintenance or a tune up. You may not be aware of some dental issues. Talk to your dental professional about your mouth care routine. We will help make sure you are using what’s best for you. We also have the inside scoop on new products natural and conventional and what has worked for other clients. Thanks for reading and if you have questions or comments I always want to hear them. Book a free consultation or your first oral health and wellness experience 519-736-100 or email [email protected]

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Tired of Tooth Decay?-Simple Solutions to Keep Your Family’s Smile Healthy

tooth decay

Tired of Tooth Decay? These are five simple solutions to keep your family’s smile healthy.

Tooth decay or cavities. Needles and drilling. Who wouldn’t give their eye teeth lol to never experience these things or for our children to never have to experience a filling. It is my vision to see my children and my little clients grow up not knowing what a cavity is. It can be done! Starting with baby’s first visit. We have the knowledge and ability to prevent tooth decay. I’ve had my fair share of cavities and fillings. But I now have the tools (knowledge is power) to prevent disease and decay. Not only in my own mouth but in yours.

First let’s talk about the causes of tooth decay.

Cavities, decay, cavitations, and demineralization. All the same. Tooth decay is put simply the breaking down of enamel of the teeth. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body. It’s made up of minerals calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals like hydroxyapatite. Teeth are always in a state of demineralization and remineralization. It is when there is more demineralization than remineralization taking place that cavities occur. This is an imbalance…Tooth prevent cavities in your family's teethdecay is multifactorial. No two people experience tooth decay for the same reason. A comprehensive oral assessment can give you answers.

Teeth can heal. Cavities can be reversed.

Remineralization or healing of a cavity is possible in the early stages. We can reverse the decay process! More than 90% of decay can be prevented! It is not a fact of life. A proactive whole body approach is necessary when cavity prevention or remineralization therapy is considered. Call me today to talk about healing cavities or set up a consultation. 519-736-1100

These five simple things can help you prevent tooth decay. 

Disturb oral bacteria.

First prevent oral bacteria from organizing or colonizing. Sounds simple right? Let me first explain what colonized bacteria is…there is always bacteria in the mouth. It’s dark warm and wet. Ideal for those little bugs. We need oral bacteria. It protects us from viruses, starts our metabolism. But when it sits undisturbed between the teeth, or in the deep grooves of the molars it becomes organized or colonized. Colonized bacteria is dangerous. Brushing and flossing daily are a great start to disrupting oral bacteria. But sometimes it’s not enough or we need to Brush better! Check with your dental professional to make sure you are using the right tools for you and that you are using them correctly. That’s what we are here for. Bacteria can also be balanced using probiotic therapy.

 

 

Sweet Nectar No More-Choose water.

Limit or eliminate beverages containing sugar. Beverages other than water contain a ton of hidden sugars. Click here to see how much sugar is in some common beverages. This includes natural fruit juices, milk, coffee with sugar, even wine…Oral bacteria doesn’t distinguish between natural or refined sugar. It uses it all to create acid and trouble for you and your teeth. Why drinks in particular? Because they wash over every surface in the mouth. There is no chewing going on when you drink to stimulate saliva flow which normally helps buffer the acid. Lack of chewing also means no mechanical rubbing over the teeth. Smoothie makers and juicers beware…whole foods are better for us and our teeth.

We are what we eat! Diet is essential to protect you from tooth decay.

Did you know that the foods we eat are directly related to your health or disease? This is particularly relevant when discussing and preventing tooth decay. My advice is choose whole nutrient dense foods. Avoid processed, packaged and refined foods. The closer to the way it grows in nature the better it is for you. Detergent or fibrous foods (think apples, celery, carrots, nuts, seeds) do not contribute or feed bacteria and they assist in the cleaning of your teeth. For more in depth dietary advice consider a nutritional analysis. Book a consultation and we can discuss eating to enhance and support your oral and overall health.

Drink water! Water is best for your mouth and your health.

Every healthcare practitioner everywhere is telling their clients to hydrate! It’s essential for every cellular process in your body. In regards to oral health and decay prevention drinking water ensures we have enough saliva. Saliva is essential in digestion and remineralization. It wraps and protects the teeth from disease and neutralizes acids. It helps ensure that our foods clear the mouth after mastication or chewing. The average adult requires two to three liters of fresh water daily. Best practice is to keep a water bottle handy at all times and take frequent drinks. Having a dry mouth creates a high decay risk.


rinsing

Preventative Oral Health Products:) Rinses and pastes and gums oh my!

If you are doing these other things and still are having tooth troubles then you may want to add some extra protection. Products! I love products. There are rinses, powders, pastes, or gums oh my…they contain all kinds of magical elixirs. Everything from xylitol to essential oils and bio-available minerals. The options are endless and can be found for every preference and lifestyle. Consult your dental professional to help you find what is right for you. Visit our Oral Health Boutique on site at Embrace Dental Hygiene.

Finally, talk to your dental professional. Don’t miss your preventative visits. This is how we get the info we need about your lifestyle, medical history and habits. This information provides us with what we need to to give you the power to prevent disease and decay. At Embrace Dental Hygiene we approach your dental care from a whole body preventative perspective. Call us today for your first appointment. Can’t visit set up an online consultation  or give me a call 519-736-1100. I can help.

I guarantee as soon as you start making changes things will change. Do one or all of these things and you are on your way.

Questions that’s what I’m here for call 519-736-1100 or email [email protected].

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A filling doesn’t fix anything-Here is why.

cavity prevention

Filling a tooth doesn’t fix anything.

stress free dental careNobody likes the dentist. How do I know this? After almost 20 years in the dental field I know. I’ve heard all of the horror stories and childhood traumas. I’ve heard “I don’t want to be here”…and many other laments of woe. People associate the dental office with sounds they dislike, smells they can’t stand and pain. There is so much wrong with this. You should not fear someone who is there to help you. I’ve built my practice to provide dental care in comfort without any of those things. But I will get into that later.

Most people have had to have a filling in their lifetime. A needle, drilling and filling a tooth that has gone rogue. “You have a cavity.” says your dentist. No ones favorite four words. Now you need a filling. It’s not fun and it doesn’t fix the problem. Tooth decay to many people is a mystery. It’s often considered a part of life. I just happens. It’s not! It doesn’t have to happen ever. And the filling that your dentist is placing is not fixing anything. It does not stop the decay process, eliminate the bacterial imbalance and it reduces the life expectancy of your tooth. A filling’s life expectancy is 5-15 years. After this the filling or restoration often needs to be repaired or replaced with you guessed it another filling. And what is that filling made of? Do your research. Your healthy tooth has your life expectancy.

But what else can be done you ask. A proactive preventative approach to dental care. Prevention focused care eliminates the need for treatment. Tooth decay is 99% preventable. But it still happens and it happens often. Children experience it. Decay is one of the most common preventable illnesses in children. Why? Because of many factors. And failures in the current treatment focused dental care system. Baby’s first visit at 12 months of age is a necessity.

prevent tooth decay

When we identify your individual risk factors we can head off the drill. No one factor creates decay. There are often many factors that contribute. If your goal for your family is cavity free check ups I can help you. Healthy teeth for life? I can help you! But be prepared to make some modifications to your diet, your habits and lifestyle. The reward will be no more decay and oral disease. No more drilling and filling in an endless cycle. You need to have those tools and the understanding of how to optimize your oral health. And it’s my job to give them to you.

As a Registered Dental Hygienist my job is to guide, support and provide care that ultimately will improve your health. Preventing oral disease and decay, protecting a balanced oral environment and promoting your best health is what I do. The words “just a dental cleaning” drive me crazy. I am a health care provider and just cleaning your teeth does not help you. It’s my job to assess your current condition in a comprehensive manner. Establish a relationship with you in order to serve you in the best way I can and find out what your goals are for your health. Together we plan your care and how you will reach those goals. Some of these goals may be to prevent tooth decay, eliminate bleeding, improve your breath, or reduce tooth sensitivity. How we reach them will be different for everyone. But we will get there.

Book your first oral health assessment, cavity prevention consultation, or dental cleaning experience today. 519-736-1100 or email [email protected] I’m here to help.

Sign up for my newsletter and get my Free PDF 5 ways to Prevent Tooth Decay Naturally.

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Things are Better With a Plan-Plan to Prevent Cavities

cavity prevention

happy-family-photo

You can prevent tooth decay-with a plan. I can help. I don’t know about you but sometimes I need a plan. Whether I want to eat healthier, get more sleep or reach a business goal I’m much more likely to succeed with a plan. Sometimes I need some help making that plan so I call a professional. A nutritionist, a therapist or a business coach to reach those goals I just mentioned. But what if you want to prevent tooth decay? Then you need a dental hygienist like me and a cavity prevention plan.

First of all what is a cavity or tooth decay? A cavity is damage to the surface of tooth enamel. Decay or a cavity is caused by the by acidic by products of bacterial plaque. Our enamel becomes demineralized and weakened and eventually develops a hole. This hole or damage needs to be “fixed” or filled. Without treatment cavities get bigger. It can become large enough to damage the nerve of a tooth. This results in an abcess or infection and the tooth may be lost. This treatment includes a filling or a root canal. Tooth decay not only affects your teeth but can affect your self esteem, your overall health and wellness and puts teeth at risk to be lost. Risk factors for tooth decay include: diet, dental hygiene habits, hydration, saliva consistency, physiology and more. But each of these can be mitigated thus preventing decay. No one risk factors causes tooth decay. It is a combination of many…What are yours? Fill out the oral health self assessment🙂

tooth decay

stages of tooth decay

 

Fillings or “Fixing” Tooth Decay.

Let’s talk about filling or “fixing” a tooth. Simple right? You’ve got a cavity so now it has to be fixed. No big deal. Well it is a big deal. A filling does not fix anything. Simply placing a filling does not stop decay on other teeth. And a filling is temporary in nature. A filling’s life expectancy is 5-15 years. I don’t know about you but I plan tmetal fillings, amalgam fillings, mercury fillingso keep my teeth a lot longer than that. Also, fillings require a painful and traumatic procedure to place. And often the material used to “fill” a tooth contains questionable chemicals that can contribute negatively to your health. Let me help to keep your teeth whole and healthy so that they last for your lifetime.

Here is the good news. Decay can be prevented. Would you like to protect yourself and family from decay? No decay means not having painful and expensive fillings. Tooth decay is a disease with many causes. But it is 99% PREVENTABLE. That means anyone can have cavity free check ups and avoid fillings and filling materials that contain questionable chemicals. Let’s keep your teeth whole and healthy and they will last for your lifetime.

How you ask? Well let’s start by eating a whole healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and having an effective dental hygiene routine including regular professional care. If you want to go a step further you need a plan. I can design a cavity prevention plan for your needs. Customized for your life. Sound good? It’s great! All you have to do is give me a call and set up a consultation either online or in office. I will design a plan with you that includes diet, habit, lifestyle modifications that will help you prevent tooth decay. It’s really simple give me a call 519-736-1100 or email [email protected] and set up the consultation.

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The Value of Prevention-Dental Hygienists Role in Dental Care

preventative dental care

prevention

What is the value of prevention? What is the dental hygienist’s role in your dental care?

You hear me talking about prevention a lot. The dental hygienist is your provider of preventative dental care. And now we can provide that valuable care outside of a traditional dental environment. But “it’s just a cleaning” right?  Not here at Embrace Dental Hygiene. I endeavour to make your cleaning appointment the most comprehensive preventative experience that I can. Hygienists practicing independently like me are attempting to make that valuable preventative dental care more accessible to everyone. More and more independent practices are opening everyday. Being able to access the care that facilitates health is invaluable. Independent dental hygiene is an amazing thing. Because all we do is preventative care and when it’s the focus it’s often more effective.  Prevention is key to avoiding many health conditions. Preventing oral disease and tooth decay is what I do. Healthy mouths and teeth contribute to a longer healthier life.

Better prevention could mean never needing another filling. 

How much would not ever having a filling or preventing your child from ever experiencing decay be worth to you? Or how about keeping your natural teeth for life. Almost every service that I provide is done to reduce your risk of disease and tooth decay. I’m dedicated to helping my clients achieve and maintain a state of health. Wouldn’t you rather prevent disease than treat it once it’s gotten a foothold? Prevention eliminates the need for treatments. Healthy intact teeth are your best defense against disease and decay. Regular dental hygiene care and maintenance are your means to keep your teeth healthy and intact. Let’s face it, being happy with your smile and having it be pain free contributes to a healthy self image and lifestyle. These are things that are incredibly valuable.

Cavities are preventable. 

tooth decay

stages of tooth decay

Let’s talk specifically about tooth decay. It is 99% preventable. Tooth decay is the process during which the natural bacteria in the mouth uses the foods we eat to create an acidic environment. This happens all the time. Your teeth are always in a state of de-mineralization and re-mineralization. In a state of health our saliva provides the means for our teeth to recover from acid attacks. But if these attacks occur too frequently or there is not enough saliva this acid eventually breaks down enamel. This happens most in the areas where the bacteria is not being brushed or flossed away. The result is decay or cavities. A cavity is basically a hole in the hardest substance in your body. Once tooth material is lost there is no way to bring it back. This hole then requires a repair or restoration to prevent pain and infection. This is also known as a filling. If we can prevent decay or the need for a restoration it is ultimately the healthiest and best solution. Not to mention the least costly.

What’s the downside of having a filling? 

What’s the big deal? Everyone has fillings right? When a filling is placed you receive an injection of a anaesthetic  that your body needs to filter. And what are fillings made of? Most fillings are made of either Amalgam or Composite Resin. You’ve all heard of metal fillings and their potential for containing mercury. Most people are now requesting composite or white fillings. Thinking that these fillings are healthier and because they look nicer. Well composite resin can contain BPA. Both mercury and BPA are potentially dangerous chemicals. It has not been proven that either of these filling materials contain enough of these chemicals to cause health problems but wouldn’t you rather not have one? Gold or porcelain filling materials are not currently associated with adverse health conditions but come with a much higher price tag so are not often utilized. Bottom line is decayed teeth need to be repaired or they will cause pain and infection. So let me help you prevent tooth decay.

Prevention is the best medicine. 

In conclusion, if you can prevent disease and decay it is the best case scenario. Everyone needs dental hygiene care. The care that I provide can limit your visits to the dentists chair. I will assess your current condition, assess your risk factors and provide appropriate preventative care. My primary goal is to improve your health through exceptional customized mouth care. The bonus is it also keeps your teeth looking and feeling great! Let me help reduce your risks for oral disease and tooth decay. Call me we’ll get you on the road to better health today. 519-736-1100

naturally better health

 

 

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Complimentary Dental Consultations at Embrace Dental Hygiene can Prevent Dental Concerns

prevent dental problems complimentary consultation at embrace dental hygiene

Complimentary Consultations are available at Embrace Dental Hygiene that will help you prevent dental concerns before they start.

No more tooth decay. No more tooth sensitivity. No more bleeding gums. No more bad breath. Whiter teeth. Sound good? Book your complimentary consultation today!

Dental hygiene care is preventative medicine. If you are interested in preventing future dental problems or have a specific concern. Let me help provide you with the tools to be in control of your dental health. Have you ever heard the statement that knowledge is power. I am offering you that power! No treatment necessary. Give me a call! 519-736-1100 and Let’s get started.

The Consultation Process is Complimentary

Embrace Dental Hygiene in Amherstburg is now offering a complimentary consultation to help you eliminate tooth decay, reduce tooth sensitivity, get whiter teeth and treat bleeding gums. The consultation is a 20-30 min process during which you will be asked a series of questions related to your health, preferences, nutrition and lifestyle status. This will help Jen determine your risk factors and the causes of your individual dental issues. You can then choose to have Jen provide you with a detailed customized care plan that will address these issues and put you on the path to optimal wellness. Can’t come to the office ask me about phone or online consultations:)

online consultation

online consultation

Your Care Plan

Your care plan will include everything you need to reach your health goals and stay and mediate your specific concern. It may include simple changes to habits or products…it will also reflect your personal preferences. No more cavities or fillings! Eat ice cream or cold drinks without tooth sensitivity! Gums that don’t bleed! This is all within reach. Get off the dental merry-go-round and take control of your health.

Book your consultation today 519-736-1100 or email [email protected].

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get your free copy of my Top 10 Tips for a Healthier Whiter Smile.

Providing preventative dental care in Windsor Essex, Amherstburg. Teeth Whitening Windsor Essex.

Holistic approach to dental care in Windsor Essex, Amherstburg

Answer the questions on this short survey to find out just how healthy your mouth is! Survey

 

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Teeth and Sippy Cups-Which cup should should you choose?

best sippy cup for healthy teeth

sippy cup

Sippy cups? Really choosing one caused me incredible amounts of stress. Kids are great, they are totally amazing. I love my girls but I ask myself 25 x a day if I did the right thing with whatever earth shattering decisions I made that day for them. I know as a hygienist I did tonnes of research into what I should choose for a cup. I don’t know about you but sippy cups have saved me from having to clean up countless messes. My girls are 4 and 2 and have the ability to turn a relatively tidy home into something out of a horror movie in under 10 mins.

There are ridiculous amounts of child paraphernalia available out there. I get boggled every time I step into the kids section. It’s too much. How do you pick something when you have so many options. Research and talking to the experts. We dental folk have definite opinions on which sippy cup to use. We also have a definite opinion on what to use it for and when to use it. Sippy cups are an aid to get our babies from breast or bottle to drinking out of a cup. Without destroying your house, your car and well basically anywhere your children spend time. They are more for convenience than necessity. That being said I used and am still using sippy cups.

Dental professionals recommendations for the best cups are made to encourage healthy tooth and jaw development, minimize the risk of injury and prevent tooth decay. As a dental professional my recommendations are to choose BPA free plastics, metal or tempered glass materials. Choose sippy cups with soft flexible spouts. This prevents damage to the teeth and the gums due to falls or clumsiness. Avoid cups that encourage strong suction when drinking. The more freely the liquid flows the less force placed on the teeth and jaws. This results in less interference in the formation of the jaws as your child grows. This also eases the transition to straws and cups. There are some great recommendations for the best cups here.

On a side note about what to put in sippy cups…I strongly recommend that you don’t give kids juice...ever. Putting sugary liquids in a sippy cup and allowing a child to drink it slowly through the day equals dental death. I know your saying “What no juice ever?”…I’m nodding my head yes. Give your kids fruit with a glass or sippy cup of water it’s the far healthier option. Steer clear of fruit juices. Energy drinks, the “p” word even flavored waters are very dangerous and should be banned for children under 10 in my opinion. I’m fine with milk in a sippy cup. But given at mealtimes only. Milk also contains high amounts of sugar and creates tooth decay. To prevent both tooth decay and an unhealthy amount of sugar the only liquid available on demand to a toddler should be water. I know my girls are so deprived:) But their teeth are cavity free.

If you have questions about these recommendations or how to avoid cavities call me, email me or message my facebook page. I want to help your child grow up with strong healthy teeth and never experience a cavity. 519-736-1100 or [email protected]

Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter to get my Top 10 Tips for a Healthier Whiter Smile.

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Enamel Erosion-What is it and why is tooth erosion so common?

preventing tooth erosion amherstburg windsor

Why is tooth enamel wearing away? 

I have been practicing for over 10 years now and one of the things I am noticing more and more of is enamel erosion. In children and adults alike. Erosion is a wearing away of enamel caused by acidity. This can be caused by GERD, acidic beverages, or inadequate saliva/dry mouth. The minerals in our saliva will buffer acids but if there is not enough saliva or too much acid this creates a problem. Enamel is hard and designed to resist acid attack. But modern diets and habits are becoming more acidic. Dietary sources of acid include wine, fruit juice, teas, berries, soft drinks, lemon water even straight up water can be acidic in nature. If your saliva output is normal and you don’t consume these things daily you usually don’t experience erosion. But if you regularly eat or drink acidic foods and drinks, have GERD are dehydrated or have dry mouth you may experience erosion. And this is unfortunately many of us. Even children under the age of 5 are at risk for erosion.

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The pictures above are of erosion. The top left is of the inside of the upper front teeth and the right is of a molar. I see this almost daily. Truthfully, it’s becoming hard to avoid acidity. And once tooth material is eroded it’s gone for good unless a dentist places a restoration or filling of some kind. Thinner or eroded enamel puts you at higher risk for breaking teeth and tooth decay. And once the enamel is gone and dentin is exposed the erosion progresses much faster. It pays to be vigilant and try to avoid sources of acid.

How do you know if you have erosion?

What you may notice is darkening or yellowing of enamel as shown above, a translucency of the teeth, or increased tooth sensitivity. Your teeth may also chip or break, feel sharper than before or get food stuck easily. Having regular dental assessments and teeth cleaning will greatly lower your risk. Your dental professional will be able to diagnose erosion and help you prevent it.

What you can do to prevent erosion?

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  • Stay hydrated by drinking enough water.
  • Avoid using coffee, tea and energy drinks as a source of hydration. Two or more litres of good old H2O is recommended daily depending upon your activity level. Lemon water is thought to be healthy… not so much for your teeth. I often get asked if I drink it through a straw does it still cause stain or erosion? Well if it goes straight down the hatch nope, but if you park it or swish it yup. **Do not brush right after drinking or eating something acidic. Same goes if you vomit or have reflux. The teeth are softer for approximately an hour after exposure to acid so brushing immediately will cause more wear.
  • Be sure that your water is not one bottled by a soft drink manufacturers as it can be acidic in nature. Click here for an article that discusses acidic vs alkaline. If you take medication that causes dry mouth you will need to drink more water.
  • Having Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease or frequent heartburn is another risk factor see your healthcare practitioner and have it treated.
  • If you smoke you are at risk. Smoking decreases salivation use this as another reason to quit.
  • Avoid whitening products including toothpastes that say they whiten if you have erosion or sensitive teeth. Most are abrasive in nature and will cause more erosion.
  • See a dental professional regularly and ask them if they see signs of erosion. We can help you through a dietary analysis and assessment of your daily habits to ensure that your teeth remain healthy for life. We can also guide you to choose helpful products that can strengthen the enamel and improve tooth health.

Do you have questions about erosion? About your mouth health in general? I am always here to answer questions. Call 519-736-1100 or email [email protected]

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You Need and Deserve Customized Dental Care-Whole Body Dental Care

Customized Dental Care designed for you. Never “just teeth cleaning”.

You may hear or see me blog and post a lot about customized dental care. I wanted to explain what that is.

you are uniqueYou are unique! You have unique needs. You might think teeth cleaning is teeth cleaning. It’s the same for everyone. But that’s far from true. It’s not like running your car through a car wash. Before I can decide what kind of care you need and how to safely provide that care I need to know your specific needs. You need to be involved in your care so I want to know a little about you and what you want.

Let’s pretend you have a neighbor named Joe. You and Joe have different needs. You should receive care designed to meet your needs not Joe’s. Maybe Joe doesn’t brush and he smokes a pack a day. You on the other hand do brush and are very health conscious. Maybe Joe is missing teeth and has diabetes. You on the other hand have all of your adult teapples-and-orangeseth and are healthy.

Your individual care plans will be different.  The products that I use and recommend for you will be different than those for Joe. But wait! You are the same in one way, you both have sensitive teeth. But it turns out the cause of that sensitivity is different and will require different desensitization treatment. I think you get the point, apples and oranges.

Oral health is essential to your overall health.

healthy mouth healthy bodyYou cannot be healthy without a healthy mouth. Poor oral health contributes to heart disease, respiratory disease, cancers, poor pregnancy outcomes and more. Your diet, your lifestyle and your preferences will promote health or may be promoting disease. There are no two people with the same needs. Everyone receiving the same dental care boils down to no one getting what they need. You need and deserve care designed for you. Call me today and set up a free consultation or an oral health assessment 519-736-1100 let’s figure out what you need 🙂

And that’s what you will receive here at Embrace Dental Hygiene. And there is so much more to dental hygiene than cleaning teeth. It’s about promoting health. A whole body or holistic approach to dental care is necessary to treat the root cause of oral disease and tooth decay. What you do when you leave my office is just as important as the care that you received. Careful collaboration with you will help me develop a plan that will help ensure that you and your family are in control of your health and your care.

A healthy mouth equals better health, and a lifetime of healthy smiles.  Call me today 519-736-1100 Jen

 

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