If you suffer from sensitive teeth, there could be an underlying problem that is causing it, especially if it’s extremely painful. One potential cause is gum recession, or gingival recession – this means that the gums have pulled away from the teeth, exposing the nerves and causing pain.
Southeast Dental - Dentist in Markham, ON
Address : 70 Karachi Dr, Markham ON L3S 0B5
Call Us : 905-471-2002
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What Healthy Gums Look Like
In general, we concentrate a lot on what our teeth look like – if they’re clean, white, straight, etc. But do you ever think about what your gums should look like? Their appearance can actually tell you a lot about their health, and what your dental routine may be lacking. Here’s a checklist of things to look out for, to make sure your gums stay healthy:
The Danger of Over Whitening Your Teeth
When we think of the perfect smile, straight, pearly white teeth are often what we picture. And with teeth whitening becoming the norm, it’s easier than ever to obtain that gleaming white smile. But, as with everything, too much whitening can do serious damage to your teeth.
How Menopause Affects Dental Health
When menopause occurs, women go through a great deal of changes and experience different side effects as a result. Some of these include hot flashes, weight gain, mood changes and trouble sleeping. But menopause can also affect a woman’s dental health – here are a few issues to be aware of:
Dental Tips for Back-to-School
Summer may not be quite over yet, but with September getting closer that means it’s almost time for back-to-school! This time of year can be a chaotic one, with so much to do to get the kids ready for another school year – so to help make things a bit easier for parents, we’ve put together a few tips to make sure dental problems aren’t part of your new school year stress.
What Not to do When it Comes to Your Teeth
You may have great teeth, and the perfect daily dental health routine – brushing twice per day, flossing daily, maybe even using mouthwash to rinse. But there could still be some bad habits or behaviours that can negatively affect your oral health, and you may not even realize it!
Using Teeth As a Tool – When items come in hard to open packages, it can seem like a good idea to use the strength of your teeth open them. In fact, this is a good way easily to chip or break a tooth. And when there is any type of opening, tooth decay can take over.
Biting Nails – Nail biting is a bad habit on its own, but it’s also terrible for your mouth. Teeth can very easily be chipped, cracked, or ground down due to nail biting. It has also been found that people who habitually bite their nails (or other items, such as pencils) may be at an increased risk for bruxism, also know as teeth grinding.
Mouth Piercings – Certain oral piercings can make big trouble within the mouth. Lip, tongue, and labret rings can cause wear to the gums and teeth, as well as potential infection, bleeding, and swelling. We would never tell you not to get a piercing – but know the risks before you commit.
Over-Whitening – While everyone would love to have pearly white teeth, there is such a thing as over-whitening – especially when it isn’t done in a professional office. Over-bleaching your teeth may cause tooth pitting or nerve damage, so it’s important to always have teeth whitened professionally. At Southeast Dental in Markham, we offer safe, effective, in-office whitening. To book an appointment to have your teeth safely whitened, give us a call at 905-471-2002, or easily book online.
Oral Health and Cancer Treatment
Undergoing treatment for cancer is an extremely difficult process for a person, one that comes with a great deal of impact of on the body. The mouth is no exception. In fact, cancer care affects dental health more than you’d expect – treatments like chemotherapy can weaken the immune system, making your mouth susceptible to infection. Radiation sometimes damages salivary glands, which can lead to dry mouth and even higher instances of tooth decay. But there are ways to make these issues less painful, and sometimes prevent them completely.
The Flossing Debate – Is it Effective, or Not?
In the past year, there have been new studies coming out that have deemed flossing to be an unnecessary task – according to some, flossing doesn’t actually improve dental health at all. But there is some debate among dentists, and most continue to recommend daily flossing to their patients. Here’s why:
Haven’t Had a Dental Visit in Awhile? Here’s What to Expect
While it is recommended that you visit the dentist regularly, there are also many reasons why some people don’t – lack of dental coverage, a busy schedule, and even fear of the dentist can all play a part. But if you’ve made the decision to make a dental visit after a very long dental hiatus, it can be a bit of a process. Here are some things you can expect on your first visit back.
Sleep Habits & Your Dental Health
It’s common knowledge that sleep plays a large role in the body’s overall health. But did you know it can also affect your oral health? It’s true – getting enough hours of sleep each night is important for your dental health, and a lack of sleep can sometimes be harmful. On the other hand, some dental problems are known to negatively affect your sleep as well. Here are a few ways that sleep influences your dental health, and vice versa: