2019 - Cobblestone Dental Care

Gum Disease
Gingivitus and periodontitis sound like the names of creatures in a horror movie, but they are common diseases of the teeth and gums. They can be prevented, and with proper treatment and ongoing hygiene, managed and in many cases eradicated.

Gum disease is a common disease in adults. Three out of four adults develop it during their lifetime. Because it begins silently, many people don’t know they have it. However, the signs are there if you look and pay attention. Gingivitus causes inflammation of the gums. Its signs include: red or purple gums, tender or painful gums, gum bleeding (the number one cause of bleeding gums is gingivitis), and bad breath. Gingivitus happens when plaque builds up on teeth and inflames the surrounding gum tissue. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, a much more serious gum disease that can result in tooth loss.

There are several risk factors for gingivitis, including ineffective or poor oral hygiene (not brushing of flossing properly or regularly), smoking and us of tobacco, stress, poor nutrition, hormonal changes, medication use, and chronic diseases. The good news is, gingivitis is as mentioned preventable and treatable. We stress preventive care through regular hygiene appointments. Your dental hygienist can give you advice on proper brushing and flossing techniques as well as what dental tools such as brushes and plaque removal items work best for optimum plaque removal. You should brush your teeth and gums several times a day for at least two minutes. There’s no need to use a hard bristle brush. In fact, brushing too hard can irritate and encourage gums to recede.

To learn more about gum disease or if you are concern about your oral health, give us a call today. Cobblestone Dental Care in Paris, ON is growing and accepting new patients.

Did you know that tooth decay is the most common long-term childhood disease? Children of any age can get tooth decay, even babies and toddlers. And tooth decay is five times more common than asthma.

Once your child has teeth, he is susceptible to tooth decay. Mother’s milk, formula, cow’s milk and fruit juice all contain sugars. Babies may get early childhood tooth decay from going to bed with a bottle of milk, formula or juice. Unrestricted at-will breast-feeding at night may increase the risk of tooth decay, although the majority of breast-fed children do not experience this early childhood disease.

If you give your child a bottle of milk, formula or juice at bedtime, stopping all at once will not be easy. Here are some tips:

Put plain water in the bottle.
If this is turned down, give your child a clean soother, a stuffed toy or a blanket.
If your child cries, do not give up.
Comfort him or her, and try again.
If this does not work, try watering down your child’s bottle over a week or two, until there is only plain water left.

How to keep your child’s teeth healthy:

Children learn healthy habits from their parents and caregivers. You can start good habits if you clean your child’s teeth every day, feed your child a healthy diet and take her/him to the dentist regularly.

Clean your child’s teeth at home – wipe the baby’s gums with a clean, wet gauze pad or washcloth after each feeding
As soon as the first tooth appears, start brushing your baby’s teeth twice a day

Once your child has teeth, lift his or her lips once a month and check the teeth. Look for dull white spots or lines on the teeth. These may be on the necks of the teeth next to the gums. Dark teeth are also a sign of tooth decay.

If you see any signs, go to the dentist right away. Early childhood tooth decay must be treated quickly. If not, your child may have pain and infection.

At Cobblestone Dental Care, we love working with kids. Give us a call today to schedule a dental check up for your child.

Gum Disease – What You Need To Know

Gum Disease – What You Need To Know

Tooth Decay in Baby Teeth