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Tooth erosion is when the outer layers of enamel diminish. This is caused by acids contained in certain foods that we may eat. The enamel is the hard outer coating of the teeth. It protects the underlying dentine.

When the enamel deteriorates, it can expose the dentine and cause both sensitivity and pain. Drink liquids high in acid content can cause the tooth enamel to weaken by softening through the loss of mineral content that keeps the enamel hardening. The body’s defence mechanism against this is the saliva.

Under perfect conditions, the saliva negates any progress that an acid may take thereby maintaining a balanced environment inside the mouth. If an excessive amount of acidic liquids and foods are eaten then the action of the saliva can become overwhelmed and not have the ability to maintain the proper balance for the tooth enamel to remain hard enough to protect the dentine. When this happens the enamel may get removed through the act of brushing the teeth and result in extreme sensitivity to hot and cold, which can become painful.

KANATA, ONTARIO- Nail biting is a common societal pet peeve, but your teeth are fed up with the habit, too. The frequent practice of nail-biting can inflict serious health and aesthetic issues on teeth and gums, not to mention fingernail mutilation. Dr. Bartos and Dr. Northcott from Orleans family dentistry practice Trillium Dental explain five reasons why it’s best to kick the nail-biting habit for good.

1. Nail biting can damage dental work and promote teeth movement. Your fingertip may appear to be harmless, but constant gnawing has been shown to shift teeth, cause gaps (known medically as Diastemas) and trigger root reabsorption. The curious phenomenon of root reabsorption occurs when a part of the tooth’s root becomes absorbed by the bone securing it. In short, refrain from nail-biting if you’d like to avoid another round of braces.

2. Nail biting can crack and chip teeth. Few things are more painful than a pulsating toothache, but that’s exactly what might happen if your teeth incur a fracture from biting a tough fingernail. Front teeth usually bear the nail biting brunt, but they aren’t engineered to withstand the constant chewing like molars. Because of this, noticeable chips and painful cracks commonly occur.

3. Nail biting puts gum tissue at risk. The mouth and hands are easily the most germ-concentrated areas of the body. When these are combined, it can make for a few nasty consequences, including gum infections. Sharp edges from chipped or pointy fingernails can slash gums, providing a gateway for an army of potentially dangerous bacteria. Be good to your gums – keep fingernails out of the mouth.

4. Nail biting can spike dental bills. The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that nail biters pay $4,000 more in dental repairs than patients who don’t bite their nails. Enough said!

5. Nail biting can cause bad breath. Our hands are covered with germs, and nail biting ushers those germs inside the mouth. The assortment of oral bacteria, germs and residue from finger foods combine to brew an unpleasant taste. To ensure your breath stays fresh, brush the teeth and tongue twice daily, use an antibacterial mouthwash regularly and stop biting those nails.

Kicking any habit is tricky, but with a few simple tips and good old-fashioned determination, everyone can achieve their goals. For the ladies, try keeping finger nails polished and pretty. This will help by giving you a stylish reason to cease the destructive biting. Guys can pick up bitter tasting nail care products formulated for this purpose at many drug stores. If it’s the chewing sensation you crave, opt for a sugarless gum and keep it handy for when those urges set in.

Patients who have experienced damage to their teeth or gums as a result of habitual nail biting can rely on Kanata dentists Dr. Bartos and Dr. Northcott, who administer a range of general and cosmetic services at Trillium Dental’s five area locations. Popular services include Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, dental implants and porcelain veneers. Cracks and chips can also be corrected quickly and comfortably.

STITTSVILLE, ONTARIO- Most can agree a smile void of a few teeth isn’t the best look, but the top reasons to seek tooth replacement aren’t strictly aesthetic. Did you know failing to replace a missing tooth endangers the health of your smile?

Many Canadians have lost one or more teeth due to a dental condition, mouth trauma or years of poor diet or hygiene habits. We at Trillium Dental, a trusted provider of family dentistry in the Stittsville area, urge you to swiftly replace teeth after they are lost. Here are three reasons why we suggest this: Missing a tooth can sometimes lead to sudden pain, swelling, or infection, and in situations like these, visiting an Ottawa emergency dentist as soon as possible can help prevent further complications.

Mesial Drift

Mesial drift refers to the tendency for teeth to shift naturally toward the front of the smile. This occurs because of the forces at play when we chew food. When a tooth is missing, mesial drift elicits the surrounding teeth to dramatically tilt into space where the tooth once existed. As teeth continue to shift, they fall out of proper alignment. Trillium Dental does offer Invisalign to correct certain cases of malocclusion, but we’d prefer that you avoid the problem altogether.

Should a missing tooth cause surrounding teeth to migrate and become misaligned, it affects more than your smile’s appearance. Overlapping, crooked teeth provide the perfect trap and hiding spot for food particles. If missed by the toothbrush and floss, lingering plaque increases your risk of cavities, gum irritation, and bad breath.

Super Eruption

When there’s no opposing force for a tooth (oftentimes a molar) to press against, the supereruption can take place. This occurs when a tooth rises out of its socket toward space where its opposite once existed, leaving a portion of its root exposed and increases sensitivity to, especially hot or cold temperatures.

The phenomenon of super-eruption typically doesn’t occur unless a tooth has been missing for a few years, but you’ll know when it does. A super erupted tooth looks painful and negatively impacts the appearance of your smile.

Gum Disease

When a tooth goes missing, gum disease is more likely to strike in multiple ways. Once a tooth is lost, the portion of the gum which once supported the tooth is left exposed to dangerous bacteria from lingering food particles. Rapid shifts in teeth caused by mesial drift can irritate gums. The gums around the root of a super erupted tooth can also grow inflamed.

Signs of gum disease include swelling, redness around the gum line, sensitivity, bleeding, and gum recession. Gum disease is a bacterial infection shown to elicit a variety general and oral health repercussions, so be sure to promptly seek help if you suspect your gums are infected.

How We Can Help

Our Ottawa dentists can restore your smile using proven treatments, like dental implants and bridges. Our restorative services include the popular “Teeth in a Day” procedure, which grants you a healthy and beautiful smile that’s natural in appearance in literally one day. These solutions are permanent and require the same amount of maintenance as natural teeth.

All procedures are performed by skilled professionals in a relaxing setting. For your comfort, nitrous oxide and oral and IV sedation options are available. It’s our goal to return your smile back to complete health and appearance while you remain at ease.

STITTSVILLE, ONTARIO– Not surprisingly, what you put in your mouth affects your oral health. What you don’t put in your mouth may have an even greater impact.

Have you been skimping on your vegetables lately? Vitamin deficiencies can manifest in your smile. It’s important to incorporate a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Adequate nutrition plays a major role in your dental health as well as your overall wellbeing. Because oral health is not isolated from the rest of the body, evidence of malnutrition can be found in many areas of the mouth, including the teeth, gums, tongue, lips and cheeks.

At Trillium Dental, a provider of family dentistry in Stittsville, we encourage patients to take note of changes in their mouth. It may be your body’s way of signaling it needs more of a particular vitamin or mineral. Check out how nutrient deficiencies may impact your smile:

Vitamin A or C– A weakened immune response, bleeding gums, poor sense of taste and oral yeast infections are signs of a vitamin A or C deficiency. Load up on broccoli, kale, spinach, leafy greens, carrots, strawberries, citrus, papaya, peaches and red peppers.

Vitamin B2– A lack of vitamin B2 in your diet may translate into lips of an unusually red hue, sores around the mouth and an achy tongue. Eat plenty of broccoli, spinach, lentils and almonds.

Vitamin B3– Overall mouth pain, mouth sores and a swollen tip of the tongue could be an indication you need more vitamin B3. Eat more shrimp, lean ground beef, liver, potatoes and avocados.

Vitamin B6– Is your mouth burning and sore, or is your tongue unusually smooth? Add more vitamin B3 into your diet by enjoying broccoli, spinach, tomato juice, watermelon, bananas, chicken breast and white rice.

Vitamin B12– A shortage of vitamin B12 can show in various ways. Foul breath, mouth sores, fissures on a bright red tongue, dry mouth, impaired taste, bleeding and numbness all point to a vitamin B12 deficiency. Consume foods like poultry, meats, fish, shellfish, eggs and milk.

Vitamin D– Sufficient vitamin D is vital to enjoying good oral health. Some research even suggests vitamin D is more effective at preventing cavities than fluoride. Eat eggs, fatty fish, fortified milk and liver to reduce your chances of experiencing oral yeast infections, tooth softening and increased bleeding in the gums.

Calcium– Calcium promotes strong bones, so it’s no surprise that a lack of it may cause loose teeth, softened teeth and bleeding gums. Try adding more cheese, milk, yogurt, salmon and spinach into your diet.

Magnesium– If your gum tissue is inflamed, eat more artichokes, halibut, green beans, cashews, sunflower seeds, spinach and broccoli for added magnesium.

Zinc– A zinc deficiency can equate to dry mouth, increased vulnerability to gum disease, a numb tongue and a weakened sense of taste. Stock up on spinach, lentils, peas, tomato juice, lean ground beef, lean sirloin steak, plain yogurt and Swiss cheese.

Sometimes, you can have too much of a good thing. It’s important to follow the recommended servings of each food group to ensure you aren’t consuming too much of a particular nutrient. Taking a daily vitamin supplement may be more convenient and easier to measure your intake. Consult with your doctor if you have special dietary needs.

We encourage you to fuel with the right foods to nourish your smile and body. If you spot sudden and unusual changes in your mouth, contact us. Your smile is a window into your general health. Our team of talented dentists can detect and alert you of serious health issues that may extend outside of dentistry.

In addition to keeping tabs on your dental health and overall wellbeing, our Stittsville area cosmetic dentists provide a broad scope of dental solutions, including Invisalign, dental implants and teeth whitening, in the Ottawa, Nepean, Kanata and Orleans areas. Call us to learn more.

KANATA, ONTARIO- Once simply known as a provider of tingly fresh breathe with a bacteria-killing bonus, mouthwash is now being associated with cardiovascular health benefits. Research conducted by the Biomedical Development Corporation wasn’t purposed to hunt for a mouthwash-heart health connection, but findings implied that those who use an oral mouth rinse once every day experienced lower levels of “LDL,” or bad, cholesterol.

The study suggested that mouthwash containing the active ingredient iodine might help to cleanse the arteries. Iodine’s positive effects on health have long sparked curiosity in the medical community, with evidence showing that the naturally-occurring chemical can remedy thyroid issues and bolster the immune system.

So, what do these findings mean to the average dental patient? Ongoing trials are necessary to solidify the claims made in the study, but the discovery reinforces the argument that oral health and cardiovascular health are strongly intertwined. In short, ridding the mouth of harmful bacteria through mouth-washing, brushing and flossing is key to enjoying good overall health.

There’s ample evidence to suggest that poor oral hygiene can induce Endocarditis, an infection of the heart’s inner lining triggered by a bacteria buildup manifested in another part of the body, like the mouth. Excessive plaque and periodontal disease is also believed to be a factor in cardiovascular disease, due to the infection and inflammation oral maladies can generate.

Consequences of bad dental health don’t end at the heart. Links to various illnesses and inadequate oral hygiene exist, such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Periodontal disease and jaw bone loss is widely considered a major risk factor for these health issues.

Knowing well that a healthy smile can indicate a healthy body, Kanata general and cosmetic dentists Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott at Trillium Dental are dedicated to administering outstanding teeth cleaning and comprehensive oral care to their patients in the greater Ottawa area. Ottawa dental implant providers also provide viable smile solutions such as porcelain veneers, invisible retainers and sedation options. To discover more about Ottawa dentistry and how to better your oral and general health, consult with the professionals at Trillium Dental.

KANATA, ONTARIO- Shocking reports contending diet soda’s effect on teeth mirrors that of crack cocaine and methamphetamine have littered news outlets as of late – but is this assertion true? While the beverage certainly isn’t “good” for teeth, the foundation of the claims has been common knowledge for years. All acidic drinks have the potential to severely damage teeth.

The study published in the journal General Dentistry stated diet soda erodes the teeth in a similar manner as meth or cocaine. Questioning the legitimacy of the claim, some groups fired back by criticizing the study’s subjects. The research centered around three participants- a cocaine user, a meth user and a woman who consumed two liters of diet soda each day. While the woman’s teeth closely resembled the drug abusers’, the study admitted she already had poor oral hygiene and had not received professional dental care in more than 20 years.

No matter what side of the argument you’re on, we can draw two conclusions from the diet soda debacle. Acidic beverages have the potential to wrea

k havoc on the enamel and induce erosion, and regular dental care is key to achieving acceptable oral hygiene.

The acidic properties in drinks like soda, wine, lemonade and fruit juices slowly wear away at the enamel, leaving teeth susceptible to staining, erosion and the bacteria harbored in plaque. Good oral hygiene habits like adequate brushing, flossing and preventative dentistry visits can arm teeth against the damaging effects of acidity. After the consumption of such beverages, drinking plenty of water to rinse away lingering acids and sugars is highly encouraged.

Diet soda can undoubtedly harm teeth, but the damages similar to meth will likely only occur if the consumption is excessive and oral hygiene is neglected. Practicing good judgment while consuming acidic food and drink along with scheduling regular professional cleanings will ultimately determine the health of someone’s smile.

Kanata family dentistry Trillium Dental provides extensive teeth cleanings and fluoride treatments to help diet soda lovers, wine connoisseurs and avid juicers enjoy their favorite beverages in moderation while maintaining a healthy smile. If your teeth have already suffered from erosion and decay, Dr. Bartos (a Stittsville dentist) and Dr. Northcott provide cosmetic solutions such as dental veneers and implants, among others. To learn more, schedule a consultation at Trillium Dental today.

NEPEAN, ONTARIO- There’s a new weapon in the battle against tooth decay- and it’s minty fresh. The United States Army has unveiled its newest creation: “combat gum.”

After seven years of development, the Army is confident its specially formulated, anti-cavity gum will improve the dental health of soldiers stationed in regions where running water is scarce. Such environments make implementing a proper oral hygiene routine a challenge.

The United States spends more than $100 billion on dental services each year. That’s according to the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research, which recognized the need for an on-the-go way to keep troops’ teeth and gums healthy. They hope their peppermint-flavored gum, designed to be chewed 20 minutes after meals, will save millions in military dental care expenses and boost the overall health of servicemen and women.

The military says dental emergencies are to blame for more than 10 percent of disease-related soldier evacuations.

So, what makes this gum so special? Combat gum contains an anti-microbial peptide that battles plaque, cavities and gum disease. Chewing gum also stimulates saliva production, which is essential to fighting dry mouth, rinsing away plaque and mineralizing the tooth’s protective enamel layer.

Clinical trials for combat gum start this month. If successful, the gum will be given to soldiers who are considered “high risk,” meaning they have three or more cavities or decaying teeth. Developers of combat gum hope it will, eventually, be available for over the counter purchase at a rate of $2 a piece.

Meanwhile, you don’t have to be in the U.S. Army to partake in the dental health benefits of gum. Keeping a few sticks of gum on hand is a great way to freshen up your breath and dental health after meals. Chewing any sort of gum produces saliva, but make sure you choose a sugar-free variety. Bathing teeth in sugar will increase your risk of decay.

Combat gum, or any gum, is not a replacement for proper brushing and flossing. Nothing beats an adequate oral hygiene routine. Stick with your toothbrush and save the gum for those on-the-go moments. Be sure to implement regular professional dental care, too.

When was the last time you had your teeth professionally cleaned and examined? If it’s been more than six months, contact us at Trillium Dental. Our Nepean area dentists provide helpful dental hygiene tips and care to ensure you leave with a truly healthy smile.

Trillium Dental is a trusted provider of comprehensive dental solutions, like Invisalign, restorations, dental implants and cosmetic dentistry in the Nepean area. Contact our friendly staff  to learn more.

Spring and its traditional cleaning rituals are just around the corner. When sprucing up your garage and kitchen, don’t forget about your teeth and gums! Attending routine dental appointments is the best way to ensure your smile is as fresh as the spring air. Here’s some important information regarding routine visits at Trillium Dental.

What can I expect at a routine dental appointment?

A regular visit with us at Trillium Dental is enjoyable and personalized to satisfy your unique dental health needs. These appointments are recommended two to four times each year and focus on achieving good oral hygiene and detecting developing problems. From the moment you enter our doors, our goal is to make your experience as beneficial as possible. We are staffed with a team of elite dentists in the Kanata area to provide you with unsurpassed care.

Your appointment will begin with our experienced team of dental hygienists. We’re equipped with the tools and expertise to thoroughly clean teeth above and below the gum line and in areas where you may not be able to. Plaque and tartar buildup often occurs in these tricky corners, but stubborn bacteria-harboring substances are removed by our skilled hygienists. A thorough cleaning will also remove some extrinsic stains, leaving you with a more brilliant and healthy smile. Our hygienists will instruct you on proper oral hygiene techniques. Good oral hygiene is vital to enjoying a lifetime of strong dental health.

An example of our modern approach to general dentistry, our Kanata and Ottawa area offices use DIAGNOdent laser technology to painlessly identify minuscule, developing areas of tooth decay not easily visible to the naked eye. Such early detection allows for extraordinarily quick and minimally invasive restorative treatment.

We may apply a professional strength fluoride treatment at your appointment. Although fluoride can be found in many over-the-counter oral care products, professional doses are highly concentrated and offer the best defense against tooth decay, sensitivity issues and enamel erosion. We use a pleasant tasting fluoride varnish that sets quickly for your convenience. Because fluoride levels vary with each patient, our team will determine if a professional treatment is needed at each appointment.

After your teeth are brushed, flossed and beautified, your dentist will evaluate every area of the mouth while taking into account your unique health issues and risk factors. There is a protocol we follow to ensure every patient’s smile is free of dangerous conditions, however. At each appointment, our Kanata dentists check for:

• Oral cancer
• Tooth decay and root decay
• TMJ and bite problems
• Gum disease and irritation
• Tooth surface damage

If you have dentures or have undergone procedures such as dental implants, we’ll also check on the condition, comfort and fit of these appliances.

On occasion, your dentist may deem it necessary to take X-ray images of your smile. These images offer exceptional clarity about the condition of oral structures not visible to the eye, which is vital to maintaining excellent dental health. X-ray images are the ideal diagnostic tool. We use the latest in digital radiography to reduce radiation exposure and determine an optimal course of treatment.

What if it’s my first time?

No matter if it’s your initial routine appointment with us or your first professional cleaning ever, care from a dentist is always beneficial. Our friendly staff in each of our eight Ottawa area locations aims to make your experience with us as convenient and simple as possible. That’s why we provide important information regarding your first appointment on our website.

We require all patients to complete an medical history form that can be emailed to us prior to their initial visit. Oral health and dental health are closely linked, so the existence of certain medical conditions will affect our treatment approach. For example, patients with diabetes are at an increased risk for gum disease.  Once we are informed of your medical history, we will keep the information in mind for all future visits. At Trillium Dental, our methods are personalized to you.

Check out the “Patient Information” page of our website to learn more about our payment and insurance policies.

Here’s a quick tip: arrive at your appointment with a freshly-brushed teeth. Good oral hygiene is always important, but visiting us with a clean smile reduces hygienic work on our end and allows for your dentist to better spot developing problems.

Why are routine dental appointments so important?

Now you know what to expect at your routine dental appointment, but here’s why it’s important: regular professional care is essential to achieving truly healthy teeth and gums. Only professionally trained dentists and hygienists possess the insight, expertise and tools to detect developing dental health issues before they manifest in your smile. That’s why routine exams are often referred to as “preventive care”- they prevent dental conditions from developing or worsening.

Your wallet, not just your dental health, enjoys the advantages of early detection through regular preventive care. When tooth decay or gum disease strikes and progresses, it may require extensive treatment to remedy. In severe cases, tooth loss, tooth abscess and further infection can occur. Such situations call for restorative dentistry solutions like bridges or implants to repair. Do your smile and your bank account a favor- don’t skip routine dental appointments.

The wellbeing of your gums is just as significant as your teeth. In fact, the condition of gums is a window into your general health. There’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that gum disease is strongly linked to conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, low birth weight and Alzheimer’s disease. The American Heart Association even found that one professional cleaning can lower the risk of heart attack by 24 percent!

The mouth is an ideal environment for bacteria growth and a gateway to the bloodstream. It is widely believed that inflamed and bleeding gums transfer oral bacteria to other areas of the body, contributing to or exacerbating existing conditions. A healthy smile supports a healthy body. The best way to prevent gum disease, tooth decay and other issues is through good dental hygiene, which can’t truly be achieved without the help of a dentist. At each routine appointment, our dentists and hygienists remove bacteria-harboring plaque and tartar to provide a healthy and clean oral environment.

At Trillium Dental, we encourage you to commit to your dental health not just in spring, but all year round. Adequate hygiene routines, smart food choices and regular visits with us will ensure your teeth and gums stay in prime health.

Do you have additional questions regarding what a routine dental appointment entails? Contact us. Our friendly staff is eager to address any concerns and make you feel at ease. For comprehensive preventive, restorative and cosmetic dentistry, trust Trillium Dental.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – When you think of Halloween, you probably think of costumes and cold weather, pumpkins and spider webs. You might be planning a costume party or gathering candy to hand out to neighborhood trick-or-treaters. Your dentist in Ottawa is thinking of your teeth.

Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott want you to have a fun-filled Halloween without doing damage to your pearly whites. Our Kanata dentistry practice has brainstormed ways to keep your teeth healthy and clean this Halloween.

Evaluate Your Candy

What candy have you chosen to give out on Halloween? Just how sugary are those bite-sized treats? You probably don’t want to be the lady giving out apples or dental floss, but can you choose a candy that isn’t all sugar? (We realize this might be difficult, but look at labels; take your time.)

Let Them Eat

Halloween is a magical time for children, and it’s fun for adults, too. It might not be a good idea to restrict your child from enjoying the candy she’s procured. Forbidden foods looks even more glamorous because you can’t have them. Instead, let your child pick a reasonable amount of candy – her favorites – that she can have. You could donate the rest or even freeze it for later. Thawed Halloween candy will be just as tasty in a few months.

Clean Their Teeth

This holiday is a good time to talk with your child about good oral care. Remind your child to floss and brush daily, and make sure she follows through. For times when she can’t brush – at a party or running errands – chase those bite-sized treats with a piece of sugar free gum. Chewing gum helps your saliva flow, which breaks down sugars in your mouth.

Keep Candy In a Safe Spot

Put the candy in a neutral zone after your child has sufficiently gorged herself and her teeth are clean. Don’t let your child keep her candy by her bed or in her room. This is a great temptation. She might want to snack before bed and drench sugar on those already-clean teeth. Teach your child that self-control is important. There’s no more snacking after her teeth are clean for the night.

We want you to make memories and have fun this Halloween while keeping your oral care in mind. Our practice offers general, cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry to patients in greater Ottawa. We brighten your smiles with in-house teeth whitening, and we offer IV sedation dentistry to our patients who are anxious about dental procedures. Happy Halloween to you and yours!

Fluoride is naturally found in the environment – in the air, in the soil and in the water. We’ve noticed over time that by drinking water fortified with the ideal level of fluoride, we’ve enjoyed fewer cavities. Scientists discovered that fluoride helps add good minerals to our teeth that fight against tooth decay.

Fluoride and Cavity Prevention

Our dentistry practice uses fluoride treatments to strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities and decay. We also provide Kanata Invisalign and Invisalign Teen to patients who desire straighter smiles without troublesome metal braces. Strong, healthy teeth reduce our risks of heart disease, diabetes and even certain types of cancer. Scientists have thoroughly test the use of fluoride and have deemed it useful for reducing cavities.

“The Canadian Dental Association supports the appropriate use of fluorides in dentistry as one of the most successful preventive health measures in the history of health care,” according to the CDA’s position statement. “Over 50 years of extensive research throughout the world has consistently demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of fluorides in the prevention of dental caries.”

The American Dental Association reports that you can benefit from a lifetime of fluoride-enriched community water for less money than it takes to get one cavity filled. Furthermore, studies show that fluoride reduces tooth decay by 20 to 40 percent. We know fluoride is a smart, useful and economic choice for cavity prevention.

So, where can you get fluoride? Not much fluoride can be gained from food, though many foods contain some fluoride in very small amounts. Seafood can contain more fluoride since ocean water contains natural amounts of sodium fluoride. But the best two places to get appropriate fluoride doses is from the tap and from dental products.

From the Tap

Many municipalities in Canada adjust fluoride levels in their community drinking water. Drinking water is one of the most important dietary changes you can make, and if you choose tap water over filtered water, you’ll also get the benefit of healthier teeth through safe fluoride doses. In Ottawa, fluoride is added to the central distribution center drinking water but not to the five communal well systems. The target fluoride level for the City of Ottawa is 0.70 mg/L, and these levels are monitored constantly. You can generally find out the target fluoride level for your drinking water on your local government’s website.

Water is also great for your tooth health already, since it encourages your saliva to flow. Your saliva naturally works to remove harmful oral bacteria and to clean your teeth and gums. Sodas aren’t the best choice for your teeth or your health. Sodas contain high levels of sugar, and that sugar is converted to acids in your mouth. Acids eat through the hard outer layer of your teeth to form holes, and these holes are dental cavities. Put down the soda and opt for tap water for immense health benefits.

From Dental Products

You’ve probably seen many dental products on the market that contain fluoride. Hopefully you’re already using toothpaste with fluoride to help prevent cavities and increase the efficiency of your at-home oral care. If not, ask your dentist for a great toothpaste recommendation to improve your oral hygiene and decrease dental cavities. You can also use a mouth rinse with fluoride to further fortify your teeth against decay, says the Ottawa family dentistry expert. Talk with your dentist about the best mouth rinse for your oral health needs.

Even with fluoridated water and fluoride-enriched dental products, you’ll still need to see your dentist at least twice a year. Your dentist can check your teeth and gums for any oral problems that you may not notice, and your hygienist can remove plaque and help reduce your chances of developing gum disease. Some of you may need to visit the dentist more often if you’re more prone to decay or gum disease. Contact us for a dental check-up in Orleans, Stittsville, Nepean, Kanata and downtown Ottawa. We put your oral health first, and we make sure you have all the tools to enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.