As parents, you know that when your child comes home from school, they often run straight for the pantry! We understand that kids can be a bit hungry after a long day at school and we want to help you provide you with smile-friendly snacks that won’t only fill their bellies, but will benefit their teeth as well!
Try These Smile-Friendly Snacks!
Consuming a lot of starchy and sugary treats in the afternoon can do a number on a child’s teeth—not to mention ruin their appetite for dinner! Sticky, sugary snacks can adhere to your child’s teeth for long periods of time, potentially causing harmful cavities. In order to avoid snack-induced cavities and other oral health concerns, try these ideas instead:
Leafy Greens and Fresh Veggies
Dark, leafy greens like kale, spinach, and collard greens have calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B2, and magnesium–all essential for healthy teeth and gums. Veggies like broccoli and celery are great as well! In addition to being rich in vitamins, broccoli has been shown to create an acid-resistant “shield” for your teeth. As for celery, because of its fibrous material, it massages gums, cleans teeth, and encourages saliva production, making it a natural tooth scrubber!
If your kids like a little crunch in their snack, you could even try making homemade veggie chips! You can use anything from kale and spinach to sweet potatoes and carrots. Simply mix your veggies with enough olive oil to coat them, add any spices you’d like (garlic or pepper is always good), and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes, flip your veggies, and then bake until crispy!
Cheese, Milk, and Yogurt
Dairy is the go-to dental snack for a reason! Few other foods give such a great boost of calcium. Cheese and yogurt even help cut acidity, helping protect your child’s teeth from erosion caused by acidic fruit juices. If your child doesn’t just want plain yogurt, fruit and yogurt parfaits are a great option to add some flavor and healthy vitamins to their snack.
Fruit High in Vitamin C
A lack of vitamin C can break down the collagen network in our gums, making them tender and more susceptible to bacteria and gum disease. Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruit and kiwi are great sources of Vitamin C. To make their citrus snack fun, you can make fun kabobs with some citrus, berries, and some of their favourite cheeses.
If you’d like some healthy and creative school lunch ideas, check out these tips from Martha Stewart!
Do You Have Anything To Add?
Do you have any healthy snack recipes of your own? We’d love to hear them! Feel free to comment below and share this with your friends and family! Maybe they’ll have snack recipes of their own!
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Dental implants can help fix any missing, broken or loose teeth. They can turn our damaged smiles, into a beautiful ones! But did you know there are 3 types of implants? You do now! Read below and find out what implant you might need!
What are Dental Implants?
First, lets start with a brief introduction into what exactly dental implants are, case you’ve never had one. They are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums. Once in place, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth onto them. They are a safe and proven effective replacement for the tooth root – the very foundation of a natural tooth.
Types of Implants
Now that you know what a dental implant is, find out the 3 types and what they mean for your teeth and overall health.
Endosteal Implants: In this type, the tooth roots are replaced by screws, cylinders, or blades that are usually made of titanium or ceramic material. The implant is surgically drilled into the jawbone that helps to hold the artificial teeth in place. Thus, these implants lie completely inside the jawbone, well below the gums. However, artificial teeth are not directly connected to endosteal implants. So, once the dental implant is inserted into the jawbone, a post is connected to the implant. The artificial tooth is then securely placed over the post
Transosteal Implants: These implants that can be fitted only to the lower jawbone are generally not recommended as the surgical procedure is complicated and extensive. The procedure involves attaching a metal plate at the bottom of the jawbone, with screws running through the jawbone, and the posts embedded within the gum tissue. An incision is made below the chin to fix the plate with screws and posts on top, to attach the artificial teeth. However, these implants are not available at a pocket-friendly price as they have to be customised according to the width and height of the jawbone. This will ensure that the implant fits correctly on the individual.
Subperiosteal Implants: a metal framework is firmly secured on the jawbone, but the framework lies below the gum line. Metal posts are again necessary, and appear to be projecting outwards above the gum line through the metal frame. The procedure is time-consuming, has minimal success rate, and can result in post-surgical scars.
Dental implants also come in different sizes and heights, including standard and narrow. Call Dr. Hassan El-Awour’s Dental Office to book an appointment to help you determine what option is right for you, which depend on the tooth or teeth that need to be replaced.
Going to the dentist is something a lot of people try to avoid as much as possible. Nevertheless, it’s important for you to understand why it’s something you need to look forward to. There are many benefits and advantages to visiting the dentist, and you need to embrace these. Here are some reasons why your dentist should be your best friend.
Oral hygiene is important
There are a lot of things that matter these days when it comes to health and well-being. Oral hygiene is one of the most important. You need to have healthy teeth as you go through life, and the only way to properly ensure this, is to make sure you start going to your dentist on a regular basis.
Saves you from serious work in the long run
One of the biggest benefits of going to see your dentist regularly is that it saves you stress and money. By going often, you’re able to catch any problems early, which will help ensure your teeth stay healthy . Problems with teeth can quickly lead to more severe problems. This often takes a lot of time and money to correct, and this is something most people would want to avoid. So, make sure you visit your dentist on a regular basis; it will be worth it in the long run.
Helps improve your appearance
Appearance plays such a prominent role in your life that it’s important to work on looking good as much as you can, and your teeth play an enormous part in the way you look. When you have bad teeth, it’s often very noticeable, and it’s the same with healthy teeth. Your dentist will be able to work on your teeth, and give you tips and helpful suggestions. You can get them cleaned, polished and whitened, and this will make them look a lot brighter than they did. There’s even the option of veneers to make them look even better!. Your dentist can be monumental in helping improve your appearance and make you look and feel more confident.
Avoid fillings & dentures
As we get older, we might get to the point where we need to get fillings and dentures. This is never a pleasant experience but is often necessary. You can avoid this for a long time by ensuring you partake in bi-annual visits, helping your teeth and gums stay strong. Avoiding dentures and fillings will save you money, as well as saving you the stress and trauma of having intensive work done.
A lot of people have an irrational fear of visiting the dentist. But, you need to understand how important it is to visit your dentist in the long-run. In fact, your dentist should become your new best friend. Hopefully this article gave you a better insight on how beneficial a dentist can be; and helped calm any fear you may have of them. If you have any stories or tips on how regular visits benefit you, leave a comment below!
We’ve all heard our dentists tell us to “brush twice a day and floss regularly.” But is that all you need to do to build strong teeth and gums? Not exactly. The following are many do’s and don’ts of brushing your teeth to ensure they stay at their healthiest, strongest and brightest.
Tooth Brushing Dos:
Brush with fluoride toothpastes and gels. Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that helps prevent and even reverse early stages of tooth decay.
Choose a toothbrush that is appropriately sized and use a soft-bristled brush. Bristles that are too hard can injure your gums and cause recession.
Brush for 2 minutes covering all sections of the mouth (upper, lower, inside, outside or behind). A motorized (electric or battery-operated) toothbrush with a timer can be a great choice; as most people don’t realize 30 seconds per mouth section is a long time. Don’t forget to use short, gentle strokes that cover one or two teeth at a time.
Brush shortly after you’ve consumed anything particularly sweet or chewy, in addition to the normal two times a day (morning and bedtime). If it’s not convenient to brush, rinse with mouthwash or water to wash away food particles, sugar residue and to help dilute acids produced by decay-forming bacteria.
Replace your toothbrush every 3 months or whenever the bristles start showing signs of excessive wear. Also replace after any illness (cold, flu, etc.). Germs can live on the bristles so if you continue to use the same toothbrush, it could lead to reinfection.
Brush your tongue once a day with a toothbrush or tongue scraper. Sulphur-emitting bacteria can reside on the tongue surface and are largely responsible for bad breath. One or two swipes from back to front will suffice to reduce the bacterial count in your mouth and help control halitosis.
Keep toothbrush heads dry after use.
Tooth Brushing Don’ts:
Don’t ever share toothbrushes with anyone, even your family members. Germs and gum disease can be transferred via moist brushes.
Don’t brush your teeth within 30 minutes of consuming acidic (citrus fruit) foods or beverages (juices, sports drinks, soft drinks). The acids soften the tooth structure and make them more susceptible to abrasion through brushing.
Don’t use a hard-bristled brush or excessive force. You are cleaning your teeth and gums, not the grout between your bathroom tiles! Be gentle.
Don’t allow children 2 years old and under to ingest toothpaste. Children should always brush teeth under the supervision of an adult. Tip: Children need assistance with oral hygiene until they possess the dexterity to tie their own shoelaces.
Don’t forget to rinse! Rinsing collects and discards all of the bacteria you just brushed from your teeth and gums and prevents it from re-depositing on the tooth surface.
The Most Important Don’t: Don’t forget to schedule regular checkups with your dentist (Like us) every 6 months. Bi-annual professional cleanings and exams are the easiest way to avoid painful and costly dental problems in the future.
Share this with your friends and family and let us know if you have any other tips to keeping your teeth healthy!
If you’ve ever had acid reflux, you know it can be a terrible experience. Not only does it damage your esophagus and stomach lining, but it can also damage your teeth. Acid reflux occurs when some of the acidic stomach contents go back up into the esophagus, creating a burning pain in the lower chest area, often after eating. If your acid reflux is severe enough, it can even cause erosion in your teeth.
Stomach acid is at a PH level of 2.0, and teeth can dissolve if the PH level is 5.5. This can lead to severe oral damage such as erosion of teeth in the future if eating habits are not changed.
Ways to prevent acid reflux are:
Avoid eating acidic foods and foods that can cause acid reflux. (ex. Tomatoes, citric fruits, spicy & fried foods, fatty meats, dairy, chocolate and caffeine)
Consume lots of water and vegetables
Maintain a healthy weight
Eat smaller portions
Avoid laying down for 3 hours after eating a meal
Elevate your head while lying down
Avoid smoking
Cut back on alcohol consumption
Wear loose fitting clothes
Try a gluten-free diet
Medications
If you are diagnosed with acid inducing erosion, the following will help minimize the effects:
Continue to avoid foods that cause acidic reflux(as stated above)
Avoid brushing teeth for 60 minutes after acid reflux episodes
Rinse mouth with water after an occurrence
Take a sugar-free antacid and let it dissolve in your mouth
From Dr Hassan, thank you all for an incredible 2016
I wanted to thank all of our patients who put their trust in us to keep them healthy and comfortable. Because of you, last year was the most success we’ve experienced at our location. I understand going to the Dentist can be a challenging experience for some, but we pride ourselves in ensuring the highest quality of service with care, patience and professionalism to each individual. It’s important to make sure each patient is comfortable when receiving treatment, and also understands proactive measures to help retain good oral health. This is a model we chose to utilise, in the hopes that the dental industry can see the success it brings, and ensure it becomes a core part of their values. This will help everyone have an enjoyable visit to their dentist, which will then create a more positive outlook from patients towards the entire industry. Because of these values, we’ve had more patients, more frequent visits and more bright smiles in 2016.
Here’s a recap of other reasons why 2016 was successful for The Tooth Corner:
A New Addition
In 2016, we added a new location to the Tooth Corner family. The dental office on Tomken Road was the newest addition to our growing brand and we saw much success towards that location with just the brand attached to it. We are hoping to add more locations every year, so look out for us.
Updated technology
In 2016, The Tooth Corner took a huge step to adopt modern technology. First, we introduced Bitcoin, which is continuing to grow as a very successful digital currency. (See the article below). We also introduced real time chat support for our potential and current customers to seek out quick and helpful support on any of their needs.
Mississauga’s Only Bitcoin Dentist
Our Staff
The Tooth Corner staff work tirelessly to ensure the brand continues to grow and all customers continue to stay satisfied. From the dentists, to the assistants, to the administrative staff and everyone at corporate office, I thank you for all you’ve done; working together to create a strong, sustainable and customer oriented brand isn’t easy, but we’ve proven its achievable.
Once again, thank you all for an incredible year. We are very excited about our upcoming plans and most of all, where the industry is going. We hope to see you soon in 2017. Smile, it’s going to be a great year!
JUST LIKE YOU TAKE your child to a pediatrician when she gets sick instead of a general physician, you should do the same when it comes to your child's dentist. They'll thank you for it!
Our Office Is Kid-Friendly
From the moment your child walks in the door, we want to ensure they have a positive experience in our office. Pediatric dental offices are designed to be the perfect environment to put young minds at ease and calm any pre-visit jitters. From the waiting room to the examination rooms, each area of a pediatric dental practice’s office is meant to not only make a child’s visit comfortable, but fun as well!
Many pediatric practices even allow parents to bring their children in before their appointment so they can meet their dentist and become familiar with the office.
We Receive Extra Training To Better Treat Young Smiles
Pediatric dentists receive two to three years of additional training beyond dental school to learn how to care for young children. This added training helps us both learn how to better care for a child’s growing teeth and make them feel comfortable during the process.
Dental anxiety is common among children—especially if they’ve never visited the dentist before. Whether their apprehension is caused by fear of the unknown, a scary story told by a friend or older sibling, or a negative previous experience, we understand their concerns and are trained to work with them to offer the most enjoyable visit possible.
If your child is nervous about their visit, let us know! We can work with you to meet their unique needs.
We Treat Children Of All Ages
Pediatric dentists don’t only treat toddlers and young children—we care for children of all ages! As your little one grows into adolescence, we continue to help maintain their oral health. Orthodontic needs and changing dietary habits all become factors in a teen’s developing smile. So whether your child is sprouting their first tooth or approaching high-school graduation, they are welcome at our practice!
There’s Nothing Better Than The Smile Of A Child!
As your little one grows and develops, so do their oral health needs! We love caring for their smile at each stage of their life. If you have any questions about pediatric dentistry or would like to learn more about how we can help make your child’s visit a pleasant experience, give us a call or leave a comment below!
If you are looking for a Pediatric dentist in Mississauga Dr. Hassan's Dental offices can help you in providing comprehensive dental care.
Dental braces help in getting wonderful set of teeth and a beautiful smile. However, some discomfort is expected after getting dental braces put on. Dentists typically recommend Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil to conquer the discomfort. You can take a couple of unconventional approaches without taking medicine to reduce your discomfort.
Massage Your Gums
Massaging your gums in small circles helps. You can use both hands at once and alternate the direction of the rotation. Massage your gums for about three or four minutes to ease the pain. Massaging your gums helps increase blood circulation and releases some of the stress felt from the restriction of the braces.
Avoid Using Straws
The pressure from sucking on a straw irritates your gums, especially when they are already sore from having braces put on. Do your best to pour fountain drinks or milkshakes into regular glasses. You are also not used to having braces on and are more likely to cut the inside of your lips from applying too much pressure. If you are a wearer of adult braces and smoke, reduce or refrain from smoking until your mouth is less sore.
Eat Soft Foods
Soft foods do not put as much pressure on your mouth. Attempting to eat pretzels or steak might be too much for a few days. Stick to soft foods like scrambled eggs, pudding, mashed potatoes, soups, and noodles. You can also overcook vegetables so that they are softer to chew while still providing you with good nutrition.
Use Hot Compresses
Hot compresses are great for alleviating pain and discomfort. It will feel good on your mouth to have heat radiating in from the outside. Avoid drinking anything cold for at least 30 minutes after taking the hot compress off because it can shock your gums, causing them to contract. This brings your discomfort right back.
Closing Tips
Your dentist will give you aftercare instructions and tell you how to keep your mouth clean with braces. It is important to follow all of these instructions because you can get a bacterial infection if your mouth is not cleaned properly, due to painful bacteria building up in the open portions of the braces and around the edges of each bracket. Use mouthwash for two minutes after every meal to help prevent bacteria build-up.
Dr. Hassan’s Dental Office in Mississauga is a trusted place for hundreds of patients seeking dental procedures.
Looking for the best dentist in Mississauga ? The Best dentistry is about care and service. Can my dentist fix my smile if she can’t even smile herself? Confidence is an asset but does it necessarily have to come with a rigid attitude? Here’s what “Best Dentist” means to me:
Passionate: Without passion, you have a dentist working hours anxious to get through the day, whereas a dentist with passion is lost in the moment, completely focused on your care.
Kind and Friendly: When a dentist can empathize with you, they can relate, and when they can relate, they can feel your frustration. A few kind words like “you’re in good hands now, just relax and enjoy the ride,” can go a long way in putting you at ease. A friendly dentist is easy to work with no matter what the situation, but it’s something you feel and experience rather than a question you ask.
Experienced: All the kindness and passion in the world won’t do if your dentist doesn’t know what they’re doing. Ask about their credentials, where they studied, what their specialty is, and for how long they’ve been practicing dentistry. Fresh college grads are passionate and kind but tend to lack in experience. You don’t want to be a training ground for experience; you want to be in the care of someone with years of experience.
Not Necessarily the Cheapest: A cheap dentist can be alarming at times. Cheap at the cost of what exactly? Something has to give because dentists are not in the business to lost money. Make sure you’re charged fairly and that your dentist is wisely and not greedily using up your insurance to care for your teeth and not just their pockets. Notice whether the dental clinic is run more like a business or a caring facility. Ask if they follow the Ontario Dental Association fee guide, and if so, which year do they adhere to?
Convenient: What’s the point of all of the above if you have to wait for weeks to see your dentist or the clinic has odd hours. There are dentists in Mississauga open seven days a week and late in the evenings. Ask if they offer emergency care and what number you can reach out to in case of an emergency.
In the end, choosing or finding the best dentist in Mississauga comes with experience. You just don’t want to go through so many before finding one. You can start by giving us a try, after all, if we’re aware of the points above, we could be striving to put them to practice! You can reach as directly by phone or book your appointment online for a free consultation.
“DO I NEED TO FIX my child’s baby tooth since it’s going to fall out anyway?” This is a question we get asked a lot as dental professionals. The answer is a resounding YES! Primary, or “baby,” teeth serve an important purpose in your child’s present and future oral health. Our Pediatric dentists in Mississauga often get these queries from eager parents.
Baby Teeth Have Three Main Functions
Besides providing an aesthetic appeal to your child’s smile and boosting their self-esteem, primary teeth have three main functions:
They aid in proper chewing, fostering good nutrition
They promote proper speech development
They reserve a space for permanent teeth to grow in
If a primary tooth falls out or must be removed before its time due to decay, the surrounding teeth may shift into the gap, causing dental crowding and future orthodontic problems. In some cases, untreated infections in baby teeth can even affect the developing permanent teeth.
Taking care of those primary teeth not only prevents decay, but also helps your child get into the habit of good oral hygiene and sets the stage for their future oral health.Baby teeth may fall out but they’re still very important!
Regular Dental Visits Make For A Lifetime of Healthy Smiles
Your child’s first dental visit is an important milestone! Children should visit the dentist when their first tooth appears or around their first birthday.
A February 2005 Children’s Dental Health Project report found that children who visited the dentist by age one were less likely to visit the emergency room for oral health problems. They also found that children age five who had their first dental visit by the age of one incurred less oral health-related costs than their peers who didn’t see a dentist until age five.
On your child’s first visit, we will check their mouth for decay and other problems as well as show parents proper cleaning techniques. Another benefit of early, regular dental visits is that we can determine if a child is at a higher risk for cavities and implement appropriate intervention.
Baby Teeth Matter
Even though they’re temporary, your child’s baby teeth are essential to their growth and development. Teach children to take care of their baby teeth and set them on a lifelong path of good oral hygiene. If you have any questions, call us or comment below!
