Dentists see lower rates of tooth decay and healthier gum tissue in patients who use floss or other methods to remove food debris and plaque between teeth.

Clinical trials to prove the efficacy of flossing are very difficult, lengthy and expensive to conduct. Trials comparing patients who floss to those who don’t run the risk of exposing the control group to situations where they would get tooth decay and gum disease. We know from lab studies how tooth decay is created and how to prevent it. We only need to look at how effective each method is in removing plaque and food debris.

We recommend brushing your teeth twice a day (first thing in the morning, last thing at night) with fluoridated toothpaste for at least two minutes at a time. Remove food debris and plaque between teeth with floss, a dental pick, prethreaded flosser, tiny brushes that reach between the teeth, water flosser or wooden plaque remover.

Chewing gum is thought to be the world’s oldest candy — we’ve been chomping down on it for more than 5,000 years! But what do dentists think of all that chewing? While the people who care for our teeth aren’t usually fans of candy, when it comes to sugarless gum, most dentists give it the nod.

Chewing sugarless gum is a great way to help stimulate saliva flow in patients with dry mouth. That salivary stimulation also helps protect your teeth from decay-causing bacteria, so if you aren’t able to brush your teeth after eating, chewing sugarless gum can help.

Go ahead, have a piece of (sugarless) gum and make your dentist happy. Chewing sugarless gum can help freshen breath in the short term; although gum doesn’t bleach the teeth, it can help remove some surface stains.

Scottsdale Dental Centre has always maintained the highest order of cleanliness and sterility to protect our patients and staff from spreading illness and cross contamination. So whether it’s coronavirus or the regular seasonal flu, we have always been prepared.

Each treatment room has always had every surface disinfected after every patient. The dental chairs, counters, and all surfaces are wiped down with hospital grade disinfectants after each and every procedure. Every instrument is washed, disinfected, bagged and then sterilized. Anything that isn’t sterilized is disposed of. Each instrument pack has a date stamped barcode on it, and inside the pack is an indicator strip that ensures the deepest portion of the instrument kit achieved the required temperature to be sterile. Every day all sterilizers have a live culture test to ensure they are working properly. In addition to the 3 dental sterilizers we already have, we have always employed adequate manpower to ensure the cleaning and sterilization of all of our instruments.

What about airborne pathogens? We have 2 large ‘Surgically Clean Air’ units stationed around the office that clean and filter the air. These are hospital operating room level HEPA air filters that include negative ion and UV light air purification. Additionally, we have air exchangers that run 24/7 to refresh all indoor air with fresh outdoor air. We have been doing all of these things in the background for yea​rs now. We are also now screening all of our patients and ensuring that if they have traveled, have sick family members at home, or are even mildly unwell that they do not come to our office.

70% of Canadians will develop gum disease at some point. It’s the most common dental problem and can often develop quietly and painlessly until it’s a significant problem.

Gum disease starts when plaque attaches to your teeth and is not removed by diligent brushing and flossing. It can then slowly harden into tartar. This them promotes gum disease which can vary from inflammation and bleeding of the gums (gingivitis) to more serious bone loss and gum recession (periodontitis)

The best way to prevent gum disease is preventative care at home and at the dental office. In addition to brushing and flossing, every few months, a dental professional needs to clean the harder tartar that builds faster in some people than others. This forms the basis of going in for a dental cleaning every few months – how often, depends on each person and how quickly the build up tartar and what their oral hygiene is like.

During pregnancy, hormone levels rise and can cause the gums to swell, bleed, and trap food causing irritation to your gums and increasing the risk of cavities. Therefore, preventative dental cleanings and examinations are safe and recommended.

Dental cleanings are important to avoid oral infections such as gum disease, which has been linked to preterm birth.

Frequency of visits to our office are very patient specific. The idea is to catch problems early when they’re small. For most people, this means visiting the dentist every six months. However, upon examination, we may suggest visits more or less often depending on the state of your oral health, home care, medications and how quickly plaque and tartar builds up on your teeth.

Generally speaking, more frequent visits are justified based on the following questions:

• Am I flossing every day?
• Am I brushing twice a day with a flouridated toothpaste?
• Do I eat a well-balanced diet and limit sticky and sweet foods?
• Do I smoke?
• Do I have a history of gum disease and cavities?
• Am I taking multiple medications?

Questions like help us decide together with you what is in the best interest of your oral health. It is worth noting, you should not base the frequency of your visits based on dental plans or insurance coverage. However, as a smart consumer of dental insurance, we do have guides available to help you figure out the kind of coverage you can expect.