best cosmetic dentist vancouver

Taking Care of Braces

December 19, 2018

Having braces comes with a lot of responsibility when it comes to properly take care of them and, by extension, your teeth. Now more than ever, having good oral hygiene is important to keep your teeth healthy, disease and pain-free. If you’ve just got a set of braces implanted, or are about to, then here are a few tips for taking care of them.

Proper Cleaning

Plaque, food particles and bacteria are easily trapped in the metal frames of the braces and teeth. This means that, because of the barrier now present, flossing and brushing requires a bit more finesse then what you may be used too. When brushing with braces, hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wire and pins that make up your braces. Do this at least twice a day, or after every meal as dental professionals recommend. Removing food debris may pull on the braces, causing them to detach from the tooth, so be careful.

Flossing is a must when you have braces, as so much can get stuck in your teeth that a toothbrush won’t be able to reach. Floss once a day to ensure a healthy mouth and remove built-up plaque and food. There are many options in terms of flossing tools that work between the wires of your braces. Flossing tape and threaders are available in pharmacies or supplied by your orthodontist or dentist to make the process easier.

Foods to Avoid

Certain foods need to be avoided completely to protect the integrity of your braces from damage or detachment. Foods like popcorn, chewing gum, nuts, sticky candies, tough meats and hard foods like the whole, raw fruits and vegetables, can get stuck in your braces, cause soreness in your gums and jawline, or ruin the structure entirely.

Dark coloured beverages like coffee, tea, wine and so on will leave stains on the visible tooth surface if not properly removed through brushing. Because part of your tooth is covered by the brace, that section will not be affected by staining, which will cause discolouration across the tooth once the braces are removed. Either avoid these drinks entirely or brush your teeth after consuming them.

If you’re a nail biter or make a habit of chewing on pencils and other hard materials, you’ll need to stop, as this too can damage your braces.

Regular Orthodontist Visits

You can discuss any problems you may be having or any future concerns during an orthodontic visit. This is also where your orthodontist should properly clean your teeth and adjust your braces. You’ll probably feel a tightness in your mouth or pain in your teeth after an adjustment. This is normal, as your teeth are being pulled unnaturally. The pain shouldn’t last for more than a day or two, but if it gets worse or lasts for a while, contact your orthodontist.

Regular check-ups with your orthodontist don’t replace visiting your dentist. Regular check-ups are necessary to make sure you haven’t developed any cavities or show signs of gum disease.
At Vancity Dental, our highly experienced staff dedicated to making you comfortable and relaxing during your visit. Located in Vancouver, BC, we provide treatment plans that are customized specifically for you. With services that include general cleaning, whitening, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Invisalign, dental implants and more, call or go online to book your appointment.

What Conditions May Be Linked to Oral Health

November 12, 2018

If you experience some kind of health condition, there may be a chance that it’s a result of having poor oral health. Problems in your mouth, such as swollen or bleeding gums, can negatively affect the rest of your body and vice versa. In order to protect yourself, you must practice good oral hygiene – brush your teeth and floss for a healthier you.

 

The Connection

The human mouth is filled with bacteria, and while most of it is harmless, having poor dental hygiene can change that in the blink of an eye. Having good oral health can keep bacteria under control and aid in the body’s natural defence system. However, poor hygiene can cause an increase in bacteria levels, leading to oral infections, tooth decay and gum disease. A reduction in saliva flow, often caused by certain medications, prevents both food particles from being washed away as well as the neutralization of acids that produce bacteria. Basically, your dry mouth becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.

 

Oral Health Started It

Endocarditis

An infection that affects the inner lining of the heart. This occurs when bacteria from your mouth and other parts of your body spread through your bloodstream, attaching itself to damaged sections of your heart. This condition can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated quickly.

Cardiovascular Disease

According to researchers, bacteria from our mouths can enter the bloodstream and encourage the development of heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke.

Pregnancy

There’s been a link between pregnant women who have periodontitis experiencing premature births and lower birth weight.

 

Conditions That Affect Oral Health

Diabetes

Having diabetes reduces your body’s ability to fight infections, putting your gums at risk of disease. Research claims that having gum disease makes it harder for individuals to control their blood sugar levels, and is more frequent and severe in sufferers. Regular periodontal care may be able to improve the control of diabetes.

HIV/AIDS

A sure sign that you should be tested for HIV/AIDS is if the appearance of mucosal lesions and other oral problems appear in your mouth, as these are common symptoms.

Osteoporosis

Results in brittle bones and can be linked to periodontal bone and tooth loss. Drugs used to treat this disease run the risk of causing damage to the bones in your jaw.

Alzheimer’s Disease

The worsening oral health can be seen as a progression of the disease, as the individual has repeatedly forgotten to take care of their oral health.

 

Preventative Measures

Several ways to improve your oral health include: brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day; limiting between-meal snacking and eating healthier; Replacing your toothbrush every three months, as soon as the bristles start fraying or right after you’ve been sick; avoiding tobacco products and smoking; scheduling regular dental cleanings and contacting your practitioner if problems or discomfort arises.

At Vancity Dental, our highly qualified dentists are committed to providing general, restorative and cosmetic dental care. Located in Vancouver, BC, we offer other dental services that include implants, Invisalign, teeth whitening and botox. With affordable pricing and painless treatments, Call us or visit our website https://vancity.dental to book an appointment.

Invisalign vs Traditional Braces

April 29, 2018

Woman with white teeth smiling.

If you need braces, then you may be thinking about whether you want to get conventional braces or Invisalign. Traditional braces are the kind of braces that everyone had seen on their friends when they were children or on your children during their youth. Most youth or teenagers will have an easier time with traditional bracket and wire braces, partly due to the fact that so many of their peers have them at the same time. If you are an adult or older teen though, then traditional braces can be daunting due to their looks. This is why Invisalign is attractive to so many people because they are barely noticeable and are removable. There are limitations on Invisalign though, and they cannot always replace conventional braces. Here are the pros and cons of traditional braces and Invisalign.

Severity

One of the biggest cons of Invisalign is that it cannot handle all orthodontic problems because it has diminished control over tooth movement by comparison to traditional braces. If you have:
Severely rotated teeth (a tooth rotated more than 20 degrees from normal position)
Large teeth spacing (more than 6 mm of combined tooth gaps per arch)
Overcrowded teeth (Less than 6 mm per arch)
Extremely tipped teeth (teeth tilted more than 45 degrees from normal)
Severe overbite or underbite
Open bites (where anterior teeth do not touch, often due to thumb sucking or tongue thrusting)
Invisalign is getting better and better though. Now, you can use elastics with Invisalign thanks to attachments to help straighten your teeth. So while Invisalign is currently more limited than conventional braces, which can do pretty much anything given the right application, in the future, it may be able to do a lot more.

Staining

If you do not take proper care of your teeth while you are wearing conventional braces, then when the brackets have finally been removed the portions of your teeth that were exposed may be stained while the tooth covered by the bracket is not. To avoid this, make sure that you are brushing your teeth properly every day and avoid drinks that stain.

Decay

If you have Invisalign, then you have to take your Invisalign off to eat or drink (like a retainer) and put it back in after (you are allowed to drink water with your Invisalign in but no other beverages). If you do not brush your teeth before doing this, though, and if you drink things like soda with your Invisalign then you could end up with tooth decay.

Cost

In most cases, conventional braces are cheaper, especially if you are not compliant with your Invisalign use (you must always wear your Invisalign and not take it out).
Ineligibility
If you have crowns, bridges, or not all of your teeth have grown in, then you cannot have removable braces.

Aesthetics

The main reason most people consider something like Invisalign, especially adults, is that no one knows you are wearing it!

If you need braces and are thinking of Invisalign for yourself, but fear that your orthodontic issues are too severe for Invisalign, then there is a third option: using both conventional braces and Invisalign. Start out in traditional braces to get your teeth to the point where, while not perfect, they can finish the correction process in Invisalign which will shorten your time in conventional braces.

If you are looking for Invisalign in Vancouver or a dentist in Vancouver BC, then look no further than Vancity Dental. Our professional staff will help you decide on the best course of orthodontic care for you, whether Invisalign or conventional braces.