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dental Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Urban Smiles Edmonton Dentist

Jul 17
5

DIY Dental

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We live in a time where cutting out the middleman- becoming disrupters– is the most sought after business model.  Companies such as Uber, Amazon, AirBnB and Eat Fresh have found ways to cut out convention, and change how we view some of the enterprises in which we utilize in our day-to-day lives. 

In the Instagram, Podcast, era, there’s no shortage of ads for new mail order products.  Many are great.  Fresh groceries delivered to your home?  A time savings, AND a healthier alternative to food delivery.  A subscription clothing service?  Might be a great way to accessorize and add to or kickstart a wardrobe.  Especially for those without time, or the aptitude for it. 

For all of the good products and services available online, some still have a buyer beware warning. 

Would you trust a Do-It-Yourself tattoo kit?  Complete with stencils, needles and ink?  Would you cut your own hair?  Would you trust doing your own eye exam, creating a prescription and purchasing glasses or contacts based on this self-diagnosis?

Well- now you can be your own dentist.  You can purchase teeth whitening kits, which may utilize harmful levels of bleaching agents, which could irritate or damage teeth or gums. 

There are also braces that can be purchased online, which promise to deliver similar results to orthodontist grade braces, but at a fraction of the price and from the comfort of your own home- without an appointment.

And of course, you can purchase electronic toothbrushes online, which brand themselves as being more efficient, more powerful, and more cost-sensitive than some of the dentist approved options, sold in stores.

We’re not suggesting that you DON’T purchase these items.  But before you do, DO consult Dr. Rob Andrew and the team at Urban Smiles Family Dental. 

You’ll be glad you did.

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Jun 07
4

How to Choose the Right Electric Toothbrush for you.

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Buying the right electric toothbrush and using the right toothpaste. When looking for an electric toothbrush, we would recommend buying one with the following features:

What the best electric toothbrush has:

  • Simple operation. Electric toothbrushes should be comfortable to hold and easy to use, with simple controls that don’t require an engineering degree to decipher. The brush heads’ movement and size should make it easy to manipulate in the mouth.
  • Helpful features. A two-minute timer with 30-second intervals is almost a must-have in electric toothbrushes, since prompting you to brush for two minutes is their main purpose. Other features like travel cases and charging stands may not be necessary but might be handy depending upon your available space and your lifestyle.
  • Good performance. An electric toothbrush should run smoothly and consistently, without any hitches or surges when warning you to change quadrants. A water flosser should not leak or spray from the nozzle, handle or connector.
  • Long-term durability. Durability is extremely important when it comes to electric toothbrushes and flossers, which already have ongoing costs for replacement brush heads and jet picks. For best performance, brush heads should be replaced every three months; jet picks for water flossers should be replaced every six months.

5 Electric Tooth Brushes at the Top of the Class.

Philips Sonicare- Diamond Clean

  • Removes up to 10x more plaque than a manual toothbrush
  • Improves gum health in only two weeks
  • Whitens teeth in just one week
  • 5 brushing modes
  • Diamond Clean brush head for Philips Sonicare’ s best whitening and Adaptive Clean brush head for Philips Sonicare’ s best plaque removal

Oral-B Pro Power Rechargeable 1000

  • Removes 300% more plaque along the gum line than a regular manual toothbrush
  • Senses when you brush too hard with pressure sensor
  • In-handle timer pulses every 30 seconds to let you know when to switch areas of the mouth
  • Rechargeable battery toothbrush with 1 mode – Daily Clean
  • Compatible with Oral-B brush heads for every oral care need: CrossAction, FlossAction, Precision Clean, 3D White, Sensitive Gum Care, Deep Sweep, Dual Clean
  • In-handle timer pulses every 30 seconds to let you know when to switch areas of the mouth

Philips Sonicare-2 HX6211/04

  • Electric rechargeable toothbrush removes up to 6x more plaque than a manual toothbrush
  • Removes up to 6x more plaque than a manual toothbrush
  • Patented sonic technology: With up to 31,000 brush strokes per minute, dynamic fluid action helps clean between teeth and along the gum line
  • Smartimer encourages 2 minutes of brushing as recommended by dentists
  • Easy-start feature slowly increases power over first 14 uses making the switch to Philips Sonicare easy
  • Two-color battery charge indicator lets you know when to recharge. 2 weeks battery life

Pursonic High Power S520

  • Comes with 12 brush heads, 2 hygienic travel caps, 2 interdental brush heads, 2 tongue cleaners, and 2 floss holders
  • 2 minute timer with a 30 second vibrate alert in order to remind you to brush a different quadrant of your mouth
  • 40,000 sonic strokes per minute to effectively remove plaque without irritating your gums
  • 4 colour coated brush heads are great to share this product with up to 4 different users
  • 1 year warranty

Waterpik Sensonic SR-3000

  • More effective sonic toothbrushing for healthier gums and brighter teeth
  • State-of-the-art sonic technology delivering powerful, yet gentle plaque removal
  • Features advanced brush head design, with extra-soft, end-rounded bristles, gently targets those hard to reach areas between teeth
  • Ergonomic handle, 3 brush heads, 2 speed settings, 2-minute timer with a 30-second quadrant pacer, and a premium hard-sided travel case
  • Any warranty will be voided through the sale and use of the product outside North America. Shipment outside of North America is prohibited by Waterpik

We really hope this helped, but keep in mind prices vary on these five. Look around and shop around and find the best one for YOU!

Make your next appointment with Urban Smiles Family Dental and Dr. Rob Andrew. Hoping to see you soon.

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May 23
3

15 Fun Facts about Teeth

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Here at Urban Smiles Family Dental with Dr. Rob Andrew we believe it’s important to not only treat our patients with high quality care, but to educate them about their oral health so they can be empowered to live healthy lives.

Below are 15 fun facts about teeth we thought you’d enjoy learning about.

  1. Today’s tooth fairy needs a lot more silver than she did in 1900, when she left an average of twelve cents. In 1998, the tooth fairy left an average of one dollar. In 2019, the going rate for a lost tooth reached an all-time high with an average rate for of $3.70 per tooth.
  2. The enamel on the top surface on your tooth is the hardest part of your entire body.
  3. Teeth start to form even before you are born—milk teeth or baby teeth start to form when the baby is in the womb, but they come through when the child is between 6-12 months old.
  4. Humans use four different types of teeth (incisors, canine, premolars, and molars) to cut, tear and grind their food.
  5. Humans have only two sets of teeth in their entire lifetime—baby teeth and permanent teeth. Once you have your permanent teeth, make sure you take good care of them.
  6. No two people have the same set of teeth—your teeth are as unique as your fingerprint, so be proud of your unique set of teeth.
  7. Your mouth produces over 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime—that’s enough to fill two swimming pools. Saliva has many uses, including assisting you with your digestion and protects your teeth from bacteria in your mouth.
  8. An average person spends 38.5 days brushing their teeth over their lifetime.
  9. Many diseases are linked to your oral health, including heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.
  10. One third of your tooth is underneath your gums—that means only two thirds of your tooth’s length is visible.
  11. If you get your tooth knocked out, put it in milk and hold it in your mouth—this will help your tooth to survive longer. Make sure you see a dentist right away.
  12. On September 20th, China celebrates “Love your Teeth Day” – a national holiday promoting oral awareness among its 1.2 billion people.
  13. Certain cheeses including aged cheddar, swiss and monterey jack have been found to protect teeth from decay.
  14. Not only is tooth decay the most common and widespread disease of humankind, it is the oldest. Skulls of pre-historic humans have been examined and tooth decay has been found.
  15. Athletes are 60 times more likely to damage their teeth when not wearing a mouth guard during athletic activities.

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Mar 05
2

Erosion

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Your teeth, like the earth we walk on, are prone to erosion.

A 2015 poll from Yale University Rudd Center For Food Policy and Obesity study found that a majority of Americans understand that soda is bad for them.  However, as many as 48% are estimated to drinking soda on a daily basis.  How much soda?  A poll suggested as many as 2.6 glasses per day!

Your tooth enamel is the hard outer surface layer of your teeth that helps protect against tooth decay.  Did you know that your enamel is the hardest mineral substance of the body?  Fact.  It’s even harder than bone.

A major enemy of the enamel are acids.  There are natural occurring acids, which you can combat through regular dental and oral care (ask Dr. Rob about this).  But then there are things such as juices, citrus fruits, pops and other food items which can batter the surface of the enamel, softening it over time.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t drink an iced cold soda, from time to time.  I mean- there’s really nothing more refreshing than a Coke to wash down a burger or a slice of cheesy pizza.  But like the greasy food you’ll likely pair the soda with, you should limit your consumption and instead opt for a more teeth sensitive beverage option.

Another cause of erosion is the grinding of your teeth.  Perhaps it’s stress-related, but many people grind their teeth in their sleep, without realizing they do, which can lead to cracked teeth and erosion over time.  It can also cause jaw soreness, headaches and other ailments.  Not to mention, a disturbance in the quality of your sleep.

Preventative measures, such as a fitted mouth guard to wear during your sleep, can help counter the wear and tear on your teeth. 

It’s important to schedule regular check ups to ensure your teeth are in good shape.  Our diets may change, our stress levels can change, and even if you don’t think you’re prone to erosion, that may have changed since your last checkup.

Schedule yours today. 

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Feb 19
2

Zoom

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Have you ever tried a drugstore whitening strip?

If you have, you’ve also had to try removing one- a challenge, right up there with picking a wet watermelon seed off of a kitchen floor, and of course- “the cinnamon challenge”.  It’s sticky, and seems to dissolve in the bed of bleach froth that accumulated after a recommended 30 minute session.  Placed incorrectly, the bleach can irritate gums— likely to happen, since these are a one-size-fits-all model, and not custom to the user. 

Have you ever used a tray— custom or otherwise- for teeth whitening?  I’m talking about either the overnight model, or the wear during the day model.  Have you?

If you have, you’ve likely found it uncomfortable to wear them overnight, and perhaps you’ve worn through a tray or two at night?  That’s a whole other issue, altogether… The daytime wear trays are a nuisance, in that you have to set aside time during the day to do it.  Do you have say-

30 minutes or more where you won’t have to speak with anyone and can walk around with a tray in your mouth, full of bleaching gel?  Oh- and by the way, you’ll need to do this for multiple treatments, on an ongoing basis throughout the year for maintenance.  The gel can also be quite costly.  Can you find them cheaply online?  Of course, but at what cost?  Are the materials or the solution balances safe for prolonged usage?  Would your dentist approve of them?  Have they been approved by the Canadian Dental Association, and other regulating bodies?  Probably not.  And again, they’re inconvenient, and they can be quite uncomfortable. 

Since you will want more immediate whitening results, and you’ll want to do it in as few sessions as possible, with the least amount of inconvenience or discomfort, I would suggest speak with your dentist or hygienist about Zoom. 

White teeth are attainable.  You don’t need to have to wear uncomfortable trays while you sleep, schedule time each day to wear trays, or have to peel away sticky strips from your burning gum line in order to have them.

Zoom Whitening is available at Urban Smiles. 

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Nov 06
5

The Man With The Peaches & Cream Smile

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A starched shirt, crisp and tailored, shaping your Monday-Thru-Friday body like a glove.  A close shave, a spritz of cologne, and a fresh cut.  You accessorize appropriately, pairing the perfect tie, socks and pocket square with your blazer.  You’re ready for the big event.

“Cheese!”  You smile, revealing peaches and cream corn rows of a regular brush, floss and semi-annual cleaning.  Could it be better?  Sure.  You grind your teeth at night, you brush on occasion, you floss with the regularity of Cleveland Browns playoff wins.

Coffee, tea, wine, blueberries, tobacco… there are many reasons why one would have stained teeth.  But the reasons to have white teeth are far more plentiful.

Are your teeth made of wood? 

Your smile lights up a room.  It’s a chandelier, set to a moment.  Laugh, and it lights up a room.

Pearls that showcase the gateway to your soul.  When was the last time you saw yellow pearls?

Smile.  You’re taking a picture in a poorly lit room, with a limited lense.  Your teeth will show.  Are they yellow?

“Do you like yellow teeth?  Are you a yellow teeth man?  Do you only date people with yellow teeth?”

“Are yellow teeth part of your identity?”

Do you like yellow?  When you smile, do people yell, “Taxi!”, as if they’re hailing a Yellow Cab?

Do you notice people using the descriptor, “bananas”, in place of “crazy/strange/weird..” while in your presence?  You hear, “…it was all yellow…” on the radio.  A chorus from a Coldplay song.  And you immediately assume it was dedicated to you.

You know when you spill mustard on a crisp linen shirt?  It’s noticeable.  But not in a good way…

“Perhaps your smile looks great… In a black and white filter.”

“I really think that your smile looks amazing…. When you’re on the telephone.”

“You should smile more often.  This room could use some color.”

“What does a great smile get you in this world?  Seriously…. I’m asking… Please ask someone with a great smile.”

“I am so exhausted right now.  Smile please.  A blast of your breath will wake me up.”

“Are you brightening your teeth?  No- not you.  Was talking to someone that you were standing near.”

“You know how you can buy teeth whitening kits?  What kind of kit did you buy?  A darkening kit?”

“I really like having white teeth.”  Me.

“I really like having stained teeth.”  You.

Urban Smiles Family Dental can help you achieve a whiter smile.  Why wait?

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Oct 16
1

Does your smile look like a Jack O Lantern?

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Does your smile look like a Jack O Lantern?  Does your breath smell like an open grave?  October marks the beginning of a very busy season, where you’ll be sure to encounter many, from Thanksgiving to Halloween; Christmas to Christmas Parties; New Years, and beyond.  You’ll want to visit Dr. Rob Andrew and the team sooner than later, to ensure that your teeth, gums, breath, etc. are in tip top shape.

 

Speaking of breath, the leading causes of bad breath, according to the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org) are food, tobacco products, poor dental hygiene, dry mouth, medications, infections of the mouth; other mouth, nose and throat conditions, etc.

 

Tobacco use may be down in Canada, according to a 2011 Stats Canada poll, 19.9%- a reduction from 25.9% in 2001 (Canadians aged 12+), but it’s still an issue for some, and many are probably unaware of the impact their habit may have on their oral health.  Cessation products are aplenty, with gums, patches, vape pens, and E Cigarettes available to those looking to quit.  Talk to your doctor about options, and talk to your dentist about the current state of your oral health.

 

Oral rinses, gum, floss… even drinking water- these things can help.  Consult your dental team at Urban Smiles Family Dental for any and all advice on keeping things fresh as a pumpkin.  First impressions are important, and no one wants to be known as the person with the avoidable breath.  Garlic, onions, coffee… we all know the affect that these foods have on our breath.  Halloween will bring the erosion heavy sugars and hard candies that can crack teeth.  It’s important to schedule regular checkups and to keep our dentists and hygienists apprised with any concerns we may have, regarding our oral health.

 

Urban Smiles is a family-centric, community-minded dental office that aspires to be the pinnacle of dental care, with unprecedented attention to patients and their oral health.

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Jun 04
2

Some of the Best Teeth Chomping Foods!

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People often ask “what are the best foods I can eat for my teeth?” and while the candy company wants us to say “CAKE” or something, ok maybe you want that too, we just can’t say that. HOWEVER there are some decent foods that most people like that promote great teeth and mouth health, not to mention benefit your bodies as well!

Cheese! Might as well start strong right? Cheese is obviously loved by many people, and fortunately for those people, a study published in the May/June 2013 issue of General Dentistry, the journal of the American Academy of General Dentistry, reported at EurekAlert! found that eating cheese raised the pH in the subjects’ mouths and lowered their risk of tooth decay. There are a few reasons why, but let’s just eat the cheese already!

Fruits, such as apples, might be sweet, and we can’t eat too many of those things, but apples are high in fiber and water which when chewed produces saliva which can rinse away bacteria and food particles! And when you can’t brush right after a meal an apple could be your next best choice!

Like cheese, yogurt is high in calcium and protein, making is a good choice for your teeth health. The probiotics, or good bacteria, in yogurt can also crowd out the bacteria that causes cavities. If you decide to add more yogurt to your diet, choose a plain variety with no added sugar, even though the sugary ones are really good…

Leafy greens, ya ya, we know that this is the boring one that every good food list has… Leafy greens such as kale and spinach also promote oral health because they are high in calcium! It’s not just milk that has calcium contrary to popular belief!

There are a number of great food choices that can promote a healthy mouth, and we cannot forget to overlook one of the most important parts of our bodies!

It also may be that time to give Dr. Rob Andrew a call at Urban Smiles Family Dental! He can’t wait to see you!

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Mar 13
5

Cheers to great teeth!

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Well it seems that there are many reasons to hoist a glass high and “cheers” allowed with friends over some sort of Holiday, celebration, dinner, or just a Tuesday.. And while we encourage everyone to have a great and responsible time we do need to remind you of the effects alcohol can have on your teeth, we don’t want to be the downers… HOWEVER maybe today’s tips can give you the best of both worlds, a great celebration, AND a way to keep that smile perfect!

First things first The CDC considers heavy drinking to be more than eight drinks a week for women, and 15 or more for men. Gum disease, tooth decay, and mouth sores are all much more likely for heavy drinkers, and alcohol abuse is the second most common risk factor for oral cancer. So this being said we can all work towards a moderate balanced lifestyle that helps protect our bodies AND our teeth!

Secondly, The American Dental Association (ADA) warns that one of the often-forgotten side effects of alcohol can be just as damaging to your teeth: dehydration. Alcohol Consumption leads to a decrease in saliva flow, so instead of being washed away naturally, bacteria clings to the enamel and increases your risk of tooth decay. A GREAT rule of thumb is to order a round of water in between rounds of cocktails! This serves multiple purposes, not even the least of which is how your head feels the next morning…

And thirdly if you already have sensitive teeth, like whitening toothpaste, some over-the-counter mouthwashes and rinses contain alcohol and other chemicals that can make your teeth more sensitive — especially if your dentin’s exposed. Instead, try neutral fluoride rinses or simply skip the rinse and be more diligent about flossing and brushing.

We hope these tips help next time that party rolls around! And in the meantime come visit us at Urban Smiles Family Dental in Edmonton, Alberta!!!

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Mar 01
2

To Chew or Not To Chew, That is the Question!

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Well it is time we answer that age old question, “What is the meaning of life?” Ok actually we are not going to dive into that thesis, INSTEAD let’s try to answer another important question (Maybe not AS important, but important nonetheless) SHOULD we be chewing gum, or not?

You most likely have seen a chewing gum commercial boast “4 out of 5 dentists agree” chewing gum after a meal is great for your teeth. In terms of freshening breath we all know a solid piece of mint gum can do wonders after a garlic righ dinner! Thank God for gum in that regard! But how is chewing gum REALLY for our teeth?

Studies have shown that chewing sugar-free gum after meals and snacks can help rinse off and neutralize the acids released by the bacteria in plaque, which are harmful to tooth enamel. Both the act of chewing and the flavor of the artificial sweeteners in the gum stimulate ten times the normal rate of saliva flow. Not only does the increased saliva flow neutralize the acids in your mouth, it also washes away food particles, helping to keep your teeth clean.

Although chewing sugar-free gum can be beneficial in most instances, there are some cases in which chewing gum is not recommended. For example, if you are experiencing any type of jaw pain or temporomandibular disorder symptoms (TMD/TMJ), you should refrain from chewing gum and talk to your dentist about what options are available to you.

The long and short is that chewing SUGAR-FREE gum CAN be quite beneficial for the health of our teeth! We recommend staying away from shoving a full pack of sugar filled grabe bubble gum in your mouth though, even if you are trying to break some sort of bubble blowing world record…

Urban Smiles Family Dental 

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