You may understand the basics of dental care, like brushing two times a day, flossing regularly, and visiting the dentist for check-ups, but people often miss other important information. To ensure a healthy smile for life, you need to make oral care a priority. Take the following quiz to see how much you know about protecting your teeth and gums.

True or False: Baby teeth will fall out anyway, so they don’t really matter.
Answer: False
Not only do primary teeth serve as placeholders until your child’s permanent teeth arrive, but they also make chewing possible and help with speech development. Care for baby teeth as you would permanent teeth by brushing and flossing regularly.

True or False: My smile looks great, so I don’t have a problem.
Answer: False
Often, people develop issues such as gum disease or tooth decay, and they experience few signs of trouble. Even oral cancer can begin with mild symptoms such as a sore throat or lesion that doesn’t heal. Regular checkups will allow your dentist to thoroughly examine your mouth and monitor your oral health.

True or False: Oral health impacts overall wellness.
Answer: True
Research ahs linked gum disease with serious health conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes complications, pre-term labor, and Alzheimer’s. Taking good care of your teeth and gums will help promote total body health.

True or False: Bones are the hardest substance in the body.
Answer: False
Actually, enamel, the outside covering of your tooth, earns that distinction. Protect tooth enamel by rinsing with water after you eat, avoiding excessive amounts of sugary treats or sodas, and brushing twice a day.

True or False: Flossing is just as important as brushing.
Answer: True
Brushing alone won’t completely clean your mouth. Floss removes plaque and food particles from between teeth and next to the gum line, which helps prevent gum disease and decay.

Dentistry on King – Dr. David Cheng – Toronto Canada

Rumors and exaggerated stories often contribute to the anxiety people feel about visiting the dentist. Taken to the extreme, dental phobia may prevent some individuals from seeking dental care at all. Not only will your oral health suffer without regular exams and professional care, but your overall wellness may also decline. Research has linked poor oral health to systemic conditions such as osteoporosis, increased risk of stroke, pregnancy complications, and Alzheimer’s.

Don’t believe these falsities about visiting the dentist:

Myth: Everything looks good, so my dental health is fine.
Reality: Often, dental problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer are initially symptom-less. Routine checkups give your dentist the opportunity to evaluate your whole mouth and look for any unseen issues.

Myth: I feel really nervous and my dentist won’t understand.
Reality: During their education, dentists receive special training on helping patients who experience fear or anxiety. Part of your dentist’s job is making sure you feel safe and comfortable.

Myth: The condition of my mouth is embarrassing, so I can’t see the dentist.
Reality: As a trained professional, your dental provider has likely seen lots of patients with various degrees of problems. If you are concerned about the state of your mouth, you should definitely see a dentist.

Myth: My dental issues will resolve themselves.
Reality: If you had strep throat, you would see a doctor to treat the illness. In the same way, you can’t expect dental problems such as gum disease or tooth decay to clear up without intervention. While over-the-counter preparations and home remedies may ease your symptoms, they won’t address the root cause.

It’s time to schedule your next visit to Dentistry on King – we love to see you smile

Having a gorgeous, healthy smile takes effort. Most people know that daily brushing and flossing are important parts of home care. You can also follow this sage advice to reap the benefits of a vibrant smile and optimal dental health.

Limit dark foods
What you put in your mouth can show up on your teeth. Red wine, black tea, cola, and cigarette use can produce stains on teeth. To prevent discoloration, brush immediately after you ingest these foods and beverages. If you want to renew you smile, ask your dentist about teeth whitening options.

Time your brushing
Research has found that brushing for at least two minutes removes the most bacteria and plaque from your mouth. Keep a timer in your bathroom, or find a song that lasts two minutes and hum it from beginning to end.

Switch toothbrushes
Every two to three months, you need to buy a new toothbrush or replace the head on your electric brush to prevent the development of bacteria.

Have a cup of tea
Because tea contains Flavonoids and other good ingredients that keep bacteria from sticking to teeth, you can maintain good oral health by drinking a cup each day.

Don’t forget your tongue
Often, people struggle with bad breath because they don’t realize that plaque and bacteria build up on the tongue. Gently clean the surface with a tongue scraper or your toothbrush.

Prevent tooth damage
Hard substances like ice and certain candies can create small fractures in teeth that may eventually turn into bigger cracks. Avoid injury to your teeth by sucking on these items instead of crunching them between your teeth.

Dentistry on King – Dr. David Cheng – Toronto, Canada

Countless warnings have made people aware of the damaging affect smoking has on your general health. Often, people forget that every puff of a cigarette goes through the lips, tongue, teeth, and gums. Though quitting can be difficult and may take several attempts, the payoff is worth your effort.

Smoking makes a negative impact on oral health, including:

Increased risk of oral cancer

Though some individuals with no risk factors battle oral cancer, tobacco use exponentially raises the odds that a person may develop cancer of the mouth, tongue, throat, or lips. Because oral cancer is often discovered in the later stages, the survival rate is low.

Problems with gum disease

Compared with non-smokers, gum disease in smokers moves more rapidly. As well, smoking generates more bacterial plaque in your mouth and it diminishes the oxygen in your blood, which slows down healing.

More cavities

Since smoking causes excessive plaque build-up and contributes to gum disease, it makes sense that the risk for tooth decay also increases. Smokers have three times as many cavities as individuals who don’t smoke.

Trouble with bad breath

Over 4,000 chemicals pass through your mouth every time you smoke, and some of them stay in your oral cavitiy, which can give you halitosis. You can also develop dry mouth because smoking often decreases saliva output.

Stains on Teeth

Typically, people want a bright, white smile. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes actually leaves unattractive, yellow discolorations on your teeth. With time, these stains can seep into tiny cracks in the enamel, resulting in permanent changes to your smile’s appearance.

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