White Spot Lesions

White spot lesions are the first sign of dental decay. At Vista Dental in Medicine Hat, we want our patients to understand their significance, which is why this week’s blog post is about how to prevent them and what can be done if they develop.

A white spot lesion, or incipient lesion, looks chalky compared to the rest of the teeth. It resembles enamel that is being eroded by acid reflux, although it can be stained brown with time. Tooth decay tends to begin around the edge of the gum line, where patients have the most difficult time brushing. People with fixed orthodontic brackets tend to develop lesions around the brackets’ edges, leaving them with white spots shaped like hollow rectangles on their teeth after the brackets are removed.

It only takes a month for white spots to form. Good brushing is essential to prevention, but fluoride treatments can also prevent them. A lesion may look shinier after it is no longer active. Once the progress of decay is arrested, mineralization can reverse the damage if it was not severe. Otherwise, teeth whitening, bonding, and veneers are popular cosmetic treatments.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit Vista Dental MH.

 

Flossing with Traditional Braces

If our doctors at Vista Dental are going to teach you how to brush with traditional braces, it’s only natural that we teach you how to floss as well. You may think that you get a pass from flossing because the brackets make it hard to do so. Fortunately, there’s a way to alter your flossing method during this time and we are here to tell you how to do it.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions regarding oral care for orthodontics, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077. 

Brushing Teeth with Traditional Braces

If you’ve made the decision to straighten your teeth with traditional braces, it’s time to step up your oral care game. It’s important to thoroughly clean between the brackets and wires to remove food particles that can cause bad breath, plaque build-up, and potentially, gum disease. To guarantee optimal oral care, our doctors at Vista Dental are here to teach you how to brush with traditional braces.

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire and then from the bottom. Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed.


• Brush your teeth – clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

If you have questions regarding oral care for orthodontics, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077. 

Causes of Gapped Teeth

Are you frustrated with a gap-toothed grin? If so, the doctors of Vista Dental in Medicine Hat are here to help with a variety of cosmetic and orthodontic treatments. But in order to treat a gap, which is scientifically called a diastema, it is necessary to determine what caused it. This article focuses on gaps between the upper front incisors.

Much of the time, there is simply extra room for teeth, so they don’t close together. In these cases, we can provide correction with the Invisalign series of invisible orthodontic devices. We can also simply close the gap with veneers. However, there may also be some force that is pushing the teeth apart. The labial frenum is the vertical strip of tissue that connects the inside of the upper lip to the jaw. If it is overly thick, it may prevent the front teeth from coming together. If the patient has a habit such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, this may also undo orthodontic or cosmetic correction. Tongue thrusting as a nervous tick may require psychological treatment, while tongue thrusting due to swallowing or breathing difficulty may require the assistance of an ear, nose, and throat doctor.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit Vista Dental MH.

 

Research into Causes of Filling Failure

The dentists at Vista Dental in Medicine Hat are constantly updating their knowledge in order to provide patients with optimal treatment. In the wake of a new study on premature filling failure, we want our patients to have the latest information, too, so they understand how to maintain their preventive care.

The research looked for common factors among patients who experienced premature filling failure. Ordinarily, the bonding used to secure fillings lasts for ten years before cracking and needing to be replaced. This study looked at people whose fillings failed after less than five. Smoking and usage of alcohol were two of the most strongly correlated factors. Researchers were surprised to find that there also seemed to be a genetic component.

People who come from families with a history of filling failure or who regularly smoke or drink alcohol would do well to keep up their biannual oral hygiene appointments. Problems with fillings can often be caught before they cause pain or damage. The study also found that white fillings are just as effective as the older grey-colored amalgam ones, so getting a filling replaced shouldn’t compromise the beauty of a patient’s smile.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit Vista Dental MH.

 

Cavity Prevention

If you want to prevent a cavity from developing in your tooth or several teeth, prevention starts at home after a visit with one of our doctors at Vista Dental. Visiting our office twice a year for professional cleanings will help you stay on top of your oral health and prevent tooth decay. A cavity is a hole in the tooth that occurs when plaque sticks to the tooth and produces acid that eats away at the enamel. Though we have several options to fill it, we’d rather you not have one at all.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 23.7 percent of American adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have untreated cavities. To avoid falling into this category, you should thoroughly brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss at least once a day. It’s important to avoid sugars and carbohydrates, as they do more harm to your teeth than good. Sometimes cavities show no symptoms, so it’s important to visit us twice a year for an oral exam and dental X-rays to prevent complications.

If you have questions regarding cavities or tooth decay, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077. 

Foods that Benefit Oral Health

Our doctors at Vista Dental are sure that we don’t have to give you a lesson on what’s bad for your teeth, but we are here to tell you what’s good for them. If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “you are what you eat,” we understand that you may be as sweet as sugar, but that doesn’t mean that you should consume it in copious amounts. If your diet is low in the nutrients that your body needs, this will only do more harm to your mouth, than good.

A diet that is high in sugar and carbohydrates will create acid attacks that eat away at tooth enamel and cause decay. The next time you reach for a bag of chips, or a box of cookies, try scoping out the fridge for cheese, fresh fruit or a fresh vegetable. Dairy products such as cheese and plain yogurt contain good bacteria that strengthen tooth enamel. Additionally, fresh fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, and celery, increase saliva production in the mouth to keep it moist and protect teeth from decay.

If you have questions regarding oral care habits, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077.