3 Reasons Why You Should Floss

Want to stop your gums from bleeding? Start flossing!

Many people don’t floss their teeth because they say they don’t have the time or that it makes their gums bleed. In fact, it doesn’t take long to floss, and it makes for all around healthier gums. According to the Canadian Dental Association, you miss cleaning more than one-third of your tooth surface by not flossing. Are you one of the 25 percent of Canadians who don’t floss their teeth? Then maybe you should invest in some of the money-saving string. Flossing helps prevent gum disease. Gum disease occurs when bacteria accumulates in between the teeth and underneath the gums. Flossing once a day, preferably at night, can help prevent this.

1. Flossing will Stop Your Gums from Bleeding A common complaint people have about flossing is that it makes their gums bleed. But not flossing could make the situation far worse. Inflammation from bacteria causes the bleeding, but if you keep at your flossing for two weeks, the bleeding is likely to stop. Hold the floss in a C-shape and slide it back and forth in between your teeth. Be sure to hug the floss against each tooth to minimize trauma to your gums should the floss snap. If you floss straight up and down, you risk cutting your gums.

2. Flossing Helps Minimize Bad Breath A lot of the bacteria that causes gum disease create an odour if they start to colonize in between your teeth and underneath your gums. If you minimize or eliminate the signs of gum disease, chances are your breath will smell better. Instead of stocking up on breath mints, up your flossing.

3. Flossing Regularly will Prevent Tooth Loss When you don’t clear out the bacteria in between your teeth and underneath your gums, your immune system releases enzymes to destroy the bacteria. These enzymes end up harming the bone surrounding the area, which explains why you may end up losing your teeth when you’re older. The bone levels in between the teeth become less and less until the tooth has no more bone to support it, so it falls out. This is why you sometimes see older people with teeth that appear longer or skinnier. Flossing should be a part of everyone’s daily dental hygiene routine.

Invisalign® At Your Edmonton Dental Clinic – Treatment For Any Age

If you have crooked or crowded teeth, an underbite, overbite, or an incorrect jaw position, it’s highly likely that your Edmonton dentist will recommend you wear braces.

Braces are typically worn to improve a patient’s orofacial appearance and can help prevent bigger problems like tooth decay, gum disease, headaches and earaches, as well as speaking, biting or chewing issues. When is the Right Time to Speak with an Orthodontist in Edmonton? Though braces are ideal for anyone with orthodontic problems, they work best on children between the ages of 10 and 14, as their teeth are more receptive to straightening. During this time frame, a child’s head and mouth are still growing which makes it easier to shift and align their teeth. However, more and more adults are applying braces to effectively correct teeth problems and improve their smile. Your dentist will review your individual case and let you know the best option for your particular needs. Braces are available in four main varieties:

• Traditional Braces – These are made from a high quality stainless steel and have metal brackets that are cemented on each tooth. Each bracket is linked together with a thin archwire, which puts pressure on the tooth and causes it to slowly move into the desired position. Tiny elastics, or ligatures, connect the archwires to the brackets. These require to be changed each time you visit your orthodontist.
• Ceramic Braces – These braces work in the same manner as traditional braces but are made from a clear, transparent ceramic material, making them less visible. They are a great option for adults looking to mask the appearance of braces.
• Damon Braces – These require fewer dental visits and produce faster results. They are self-ligating and utilize a slide mechanism to connect the archwires. They do not need to be adjusted, so there is less pressure and pain in the mouth. They are also easier to clean, which means less dental visits and ultimately, more money in your pocket.
• Invisalign® – Many individuals, especially adults, don’t want anyone to know they are wearing braces. If you feel the same way, you can opt for invisible braces, called Invisalign. Book an appointment to see if you are a suitable candidate for this type of teeth straightening treatment.

Consult an Orthodontist in Edmonton If you require more information about Invisalign, Janz Family Dental in Edmonton can help. We will correctly identify orthodontic abnormalities and correct them before they have a chance to negatively impact your smile and confidence levels. We are currently accepting new patients and offer a wide variety of dental services for your family’s oral health needs.

Three Solutions For Brightening Yellow Teeth

When looking in the mirror lately, you have noticed that your teeth aren’t as white as they used to be?

Teeth can begin to turn yellow and dull for two main reasons. The first is that teeth are susceptible to staining from habits such as smoking and foods and drinks such as coffee. Teeth can also lose their shine over time if tooth enamel becomes thin due to plaque or acidic foods. Thankfully, yellow teeth don’t have to be permanent. Just pay a visit to your Edmonton dental clinic and you’ll be presented with these three excellent solutions for brightening yellow teeth:

1. Learning About Better Oral Hygiene Habits One of the best ways to keep teeth bright and white, and to whiten teeth that have started turning yellow, is to be diligent with your oral hygiene habits. Regular brushing and flossing is important for removing yellowish plaque, which, if not removed, can harden into an even darker substance known as tartar. Plaque bacteria can also diminish the look of your teeth because it produces acid that can damage tooth enamel.
2. Having Regular Cleanings at an Edmonton Dental Clinic Sometimes it simply won’t be enough to whiten your teeth at home by brushing and flossing. Regularly seeing a dental professional is not only important for dental health, but for keeping your teeth white as well. Part of a routine cleaning at an Edmonton dental clinic such as Janz Family Dental is a removal of plaque and a scraping away of the tartar that has built up on your teeth. Many people notice that their teeth look whiter after just one treatment, and continue to look even better with regular cleanings and better oral hygiene practices at home.
3. Having Your Teeth Whitened Deep, stubborn stains that don’t respond well to brushing, flossing, and even professional cleanings thankfully rarely stand a chance against teeth-whitening bleaching agents. Many people experience success with teeth-whitening trays that can be used to apply a bleaching gel directly to the teeth. Keep in mind that an Edmonton dental clinic can provide you with at-home whitening kits that do a far superior job to whitening kits that you can buy over-the-counter at your local drug store. If you’re considering using a bleaching tray system, then you’ll experience better results with custom-made trays that are made to fit perfectly to your teeth.

Find All Three Solutions at Janz Family Dental

At Janz Family Dental in Edmonton, we understand how the look of your smile can impact your self-confidence. Come see our friendly and experienced dentists and hygienists for regular checkups and a thorough teeth cleaning that will make your teeth shine. If you require a deeper whitening treatment, then you can ask us about our custom teeth whitening trays. Molded specifically for your teeth, our at-home trays provide an effective and convenient solution for brightening yellow teeth. If you have any more questions or would like to set up an appointment today, just give Janz Family Dental a call at 780-484-8573.

The Best And Worst Foods For Teeth

It sounds strange, but it is true—you are what you eat.

While you know what you eat impacts your overall health and weight, did you know that some of the foods you eat are good for your teeth while others are not? To maintain overall health, you need to limit the bad foods and incorporate more of the healthy ones into your diet. What Foods are Good for Your Teeth? To keep your teeth healthy and clean, here are a few foods you should try to eat more of:

• Milk and Eggs – Milk and other dairy products are excellent sources for calcium and vitamin D. They are essential for bone health, which strengthens your teeth as well.
• Cheese and Yogurt – Cheese and yogurt are rich in phosphorus and calcium, which protect tooth enamel and can replace lost minerals in the teeth. Opt for low-fat cheeses and plain, non-fat yogurts. Cheese also contains casein, which helps strengthen enamel.
• Meat, Fish and Tofu – These foods not only contain phosphorus, but other minerals too that protect tooth enamel.
• Dark, Leafy Greens and Vegetables – Dark and leafy greens are full of vitamins and minerals that can improve teeth.
• Crunchy Vegetables – Crunchy vegetables help clean your teeth and their fibrous strands are like nature’s “floss.”

Foods to Avoid There are some foods you should avoid to keep your teeth healthy and prevent excess plaque and bacterial buildup inside the mouth. These foods include:

• Acidic Fruits – While they are high in vitamin C, acidic fruits like limes, lemons and grapefruits are loaded with citric acid which erodes and decays your tooth enamel.
• Pickles – Pickles are brined in vinegar, which makes for a super-acidic combination and increases the likelihood of enamel erosion.
• Coffee – Coffee contains tannic acids that can wear down enamel and even turn your tooth colour to brown.
• Red Wines – Red wine is also high in acidity and can stain the teeth.
• Soda and Candy – Soda and candy are high in acid and sugar, which increase erosion and decay of the teeth.

Even if you eat right, you still need to see your dentist frequently for check-ups. During those checkups, you can do a teeth cleaning as well. These appointments are necessary for maintaining a healthy, bright smile and regular teeth cleanings can also prevent cavities or infections.

Why Do I Have A Toothache?

Most people have, at one time or another, experienced a toothache.

Unfortunately, a toothache is one of those symptoms that can have a variety of underlying causes, some relatively benign and others more serious. Let’s take a look at some of the common reasons behind toothaches, and what you should do when you have one. Common Reasons Behind Toothaches Toothaches can feel different depending on their underlying causes. When trying to figure out the reason behind your toothache, it can be useful to take stock of how severe the pain is, how long it lasts, and what causes you to experience it.

• Cavities – A cavity is the most common reason for a toothache. Pain when biting, sensitivity to hot and cold foods, and an unpleasant taste are the most common indicators of a dental cavity.
• Gum Disease – Gum disease can result in some slight gum sensitivity, but it can also be painless. It is therefore most often characterized by gums that bleed and become inflamed after brushing and flossing.
• Cracked Tooth – A cracked tooth can display many of the same symptoms of a dental cavity. One symptom which could indicate a cracked tooth rather than a cavity, however, is pain that occurs only when you bite in a specific manner.
• Dental Abscess – A dental abscess is a serious infection inside the tooth, the surrounding gum tissue, or both. The pain from a dental abscess is usually very severe, and accompanied by swollen gums.
• A Loose Filling or Crown – Experiencing a sudden, sharp pain in a tooth that has a filling or crown could indicate that the filling or crown has become loose. It may also mean that parts of the tooth have begun to decay, which can compound onto the pain.
• Teeth Grinding – If you sometimes wake up with a dull ache in your teeth and jaws that doesn’t seem to originate in just one tooth, then you are likely grinding your teeth while you sleep (a condition often known as bruxism).

What to Do When You Have a Toothache If you are experiencing tooth pain, then your main priority should be to get yourself to an Edmonton dental clinic. If the pain is mild you don’t necessarily have to come in the same day, but you should make an appointment for the near future. Severe tooth pain, especially if accompanied by swelling and if you have developed a fever, should be taken seriously and looked at by a dentist as soon as possible. Solve Your Toothache Troubles at Janz Family Dental Janz Family Dental, a dental clinic in Edmonton, can help you figure out what is causing your toothache and what steps can be taken to treat it. Don’t hesitate to visit us today for a check up and teeth cleaning. We can check for all of the possible causes of toothaches described above. Set up an appointment at our Edmonton dental clinic and you can rest easy knowing that your toothache will soon be expertly treated.

Preventing Cavities In Children

Cavities are holes in the teeth that can grow larger and become deeper over time if left untreated. They are also one of the most common dental issues for people across all age groups. While they should never be taken lightly, there are ways you can prevent cavities from forming.

KEEP YOUR KIDS’ TEETH CAVITY-FREE

Good habits for health are easier to maintain if they are practised from a young age. Teach your children about dental hygiene and you can help them protect their teeth from cavities for their entire lives. Here are a few ways you can help them avoid cavities now and later in life:

• Minimize Sugary Snacks – Sugar is one of the main causes of cavities because it causes acidity to develop when it is left on the teeth. This acidity breaks down enamel and causes tooth decay.
• Visit a Dentist – Start bringing your children to a family dentist around 2-3 years old. At this age, getting a routine checkup is crucial to ensure their teeth are in good health. It will also help them to be comfortable at the dentist throughout their lives, making it easier and more likely that they will continue to maintain their oral hygiene as they get older.
• Eat a Balanced Diet – Feeding your children a nutritious and well-balanced diet including fruits and vegetables supports their overall health. Their dental health and tooth strength will also benefit, helping them fend off cavities. As an added bonus, eating healthy raw vegetables can help remove plaque on teeth as you chew!
• Brush and Floss – The old standbys in oral healthcare are widely known and recommended for good reason: they work. Start teaching your children how to properly brush their teeth and floss twice a day. This will remove any lingering sugar or food particles that form plaque buildup and cause cavities.
• Avoid Sticky Foods – Sticky foods often contain sugar and are very difficult to fully remove from teeth. Young children may not notice the leftover residue on their teeth, making them susceptible to cavity formation.
• Rinse Pacifiers – Make sure you take the time to rinse your child’s pacifier and remove any residue, buildup or acidity that may have formed. The pacifier rests on your child’s teeth, so it should be as clean as possible.
• Bedtime Beverages – Don’t send your child to bed with milk, formula, juice or sweetened water, which will leave residue on their teeth and gums overnight. The mouth often becomes dry while we sleep, creating better conditions for cavity formation. Choose water to quench nighttime thirst instead, which won’t leave a sugary coating behind.

Looking for a family dentist in Edmonton? The team at Janz Family Dental offers friendly and comprehensive dental care for you and your kids. Help your child appreciate a life of healthy teeth and schedule a teeth cleaning appointment today.

A Step-By-Step Guide For The Proper Way To Floss

Flossing is one of the simplest and most powerful tools for preventing cavities and gum disease. It removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth, which a toothbrush is typically not so effective at doing. Along with brushing, flossing should be an integral component of your daily dental hygiene routine.

The problem is that many people who do take up flossing aren’t so well-versed in proper flossing technique. In order to get the maximum benefits out of flossing, you need to make sure that you are flossing correctly. Here is your step-by-step guide to a successful flossing:

1. Use a section of floss about 18 inches long. This should be roughly the distance from your elbow to the tips of your fingers.
2. Wrap the floss around the middle fingers on both of your hands, leaving about one to two inches of space between them.
3. Use the thumb and index fingers of each hand to move and hold the floss tightly.
4. Slide the floss between your teeth with extra care, all the way to the gums. Try to keep from “snapping” the floss and forcing it down quickly to the gum line, as this can result in bruising or tearing of the gum tissue.
5. Curve the floss so that it makes a “U” shape around each tooth, as this will remove the highest amount of food and other particles that have settled between your teeth.
6. Slide the floss up and down from the base to the tip about three times while pressing it against the side of the tooth. Be slow and gentle so that you are not snapping the floss into the gums each time.
7. Take your time and be systematic. Make sure that you floss both sides of every tooth and that you don’t forget to floss the backside of your last molars. Use a new, clean section of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.
8. Once you are finished flossing you should rinse out your mouth with water and then brush your teeth. Flossing the spaces between your teeth before brushing helps to clean them out and allow the fluoride in your toothpaste to make contact with more areas, providing more protection against tooth decay and gum disease.

Let an Edmonton Dentist Help with Your Flossing Technique If you’re still a little unsure about the best way to floss, you can get all of your questions answered during a teeth cleaning from the Edmonton dentists at Janz Family Dental. Our friendly and professional dentists and hygienists can highlight areas of concern in your mouth, and give you pointers on how to floss more effectively. Good brushing and flossing make up half the battle against the plaque-causing bacteria that are harmful to your teeth. The other half is making sure you go for a regular teeth cleaning with your Edmonton dentist. Schedule an appointment with Janz Family Dental for a teeth cleaning today.