We Hope Your Teeth Have a Great Vacation!

It’s thankfully that time of year. The bags are packed and the car is full of gas and ready to go. The dog is at the kennel and your email has an autoreply message saying: I’m on vacation! We hope you enjoy any adventures that you have planned. Life is short so have some fun.

Of course, being away from the city means you’re going to be away from your dentist (don’t be to upset). We thought we would give you some helpful hints to keep your teeth healthy and prepared just in case your teeth misbehave while you’re not in Montreal.

Pack this stuff in your toiletry bag just in case...

For pain relief: Ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin) is a great pain killer for dental pain and is safe to take for most people.

In case you lose a piece of a filling, or a crown pops off: Use Dentemp. It’s available at most pharmacies and is great to temporarily fill a hole or recement a crown.

If you lose a tooth: It’s good to know what to do if a tooth gets accidentally knocked out. Obviously, its essential to find a dentist ASAP. In the meantime however, the best way to increase the chance of successfully replanting  the tooth is to do the following: Do not touch the root of the tooth. Place it in an empty medication vial with cold milk or Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (Its a liquid specifically meant for this and is available at the pharmacy). Then go to a dentist within an hour.

If you get food stuck between your teeth: We all know the feeling after a yummy steak dinner. This one’s obvious-floss!

For cut gums/lips/tissue around the mouth: Apply clean gauze and wound disinfectant like peroxide. For minor bleeding in the mouth, applying pressure is the best way to get the situation under control. Afterwards, rinsing with warm salt water is a great way to help the wound heal.

That concludes your very own dental emergency kit. Simple, small and handy. When you get back call us and we will be happy to help in any way.

For those of you hanging around this summer, Retter Dental Care is open all summer long during our regular hours should you need us or have any concerns. Have a wonderful season and don’t forget to brush, floss and smile!

The Retter Dental Care team

Snow, Romance…And Your Teeth

As the snow continues to fall and prolong our winter, it’s interesting to note that with all the snow that the northeast has gotten this year, experts are predicting that birth rates will be higher than normal for the fall of 2011. With all the excitement going on inside while the white stuff continues to come down outside, the question, “is it safe to have dental treatment during pregnancy” is being asked more than usual.

A recent study in The Journal of the American Dental Association has shown that routine dental treatment, including the use of dental anesthetics, is totally safe during pregnancy. So don’t put off having your dental visits and cleanings due to the fact that you’re brushing for two.

Here’s something really amazing. Another recent study, reported in The British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, reports that women who are free from gum disease have a much lower chance of having premature and low birth weight babies.

The irony of this is that the hormonal changes which occur during pregnancy actually can heighten the chances of having gum disease. . So not only is it safe to maintain a regimen of brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist and dental hygienist when you’re expecting, it can actually contribute to the health of your baby.

At Retter Dental Care, our goal is to keep every single one of our patients in excellent dental health, including having beautiful gums which are free from bleeding and inflammation. If you have any questions or are overdue for your routine dental appointment, please call 514-488-9579 so that we can get you taken care of as soon as possible.

Tired Of New Year’s Resolutions? Read This!!

We all know what its like to plan our new years resolutions. Too often they are forgotten by the time February comes along.

 

That is why we are glad to present to you a list of a different kind – our top ten “2011 New Year’s Denta-Lutions!” They are fun, important, and will help you to have a happy and healthy year!

• Get Rid Of That Ugly Thing!

No, not your spouse - they are beautiful! We are talking about your toothbrush. Most people keep toothbrushes around way too long. Not only do they become loaded with bacteria and other junk, the bristles simply wear out and do not do an effective job of cleaning your teeth. The Canadian Dental Association recommends a new toothbrush at least every three months, and we agree! If the bristles begin to fray or splay before that…..well, more on that later!

• Get Wet!!!

One of the best things you can do for your mouth and body is to drink more water – lots of it! Drinking helps to flush away particles from between your teeth and remove sticky plaque. Most Canadians do not drink nearly enough water and are constantly dehydrated. Plus - this is a great time to get sodas, sports drinks, fancy coffee drinks and all of that other junk out of your life. Switching to water will help not just your dental health but your overall health as well!

• There’s Blood Coming Out Of My WHAT?

If your eyes were bleeding or blood was coming out of your backside, you would certainly see a doctor immediately. Well, the same is true with your gums. Brushing or flossing should not cause your gums to bleed at all. If your gums do bleed or if you see pink or red when you rinse, your gums are infected. Don’t put it off – call us right away!

• Quiet. Quiet! QUIET!!!!!

Many of us suffer with spouses or other bedmates that snore. Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea, a potentially fatal condition where the brain does not receive enough oxygen at night. Let us know – we may be able to either fabricate a dental appliance to curtail snoring or make a referral to a specialist who can help.

• Don’t Stand So Close To Me!

Maybe you have bad breath and are too embarrassed to do anything about it. Or maybe you find yourself constantly reaching for mints and gum because people seem to be always backing off when you speak. Don’t be ashamed – we are here to help! Bad breath frequently has dental causes – many of them long term conditions that are very dangerous to your health (as well as your friendships). Please don’t be embarrassed – talk to us! We are here to help!

• What Is That Stuff?

It comes in a small plastic box, it’s very thin, and sometimes it’s used to hang pictures. Yes – it’s called dental floss, and we know that chances are you don’t use it on a regular basis. But flossing is the best way to remove plaque, bacteria and particles from between your teeth as well as cleaning areas of your gums that can’t otherwise be reached. The fact is, if you aren’t flossing every day, there is gross stuff growing in your mouth.  If you would like some instruction on proper flossing technique (it’s easy once you know how!) and some encouragement, just let us know.

• Brush correctly

Most people stick a little toothpaste on a brush and smear it around their teeth, but don’t do an effective job of combating gum disease and tooth decay. One of the most important things you can do while brushing is to angle the bristles of the brush so that they clean the space where your teeth and gums meet. Be thorough yet gentle, and take your time. We will be glad to show you how to brush correctly! And if your toothbrush has bristles which are splayed, frayed or deformed, you are probably brushing way too hard!!

• Get Off Your Butt

As if you didn’t need another reason to quit smoking – tobacco products are a leading cause of oral cancer, a deadly disease which kills roughly one person per hour, twenty four hours per day. Make 2011 the year you finally kick this smelly, dirty, disgusting and deadly habit. Your loved ones will thank you to no end!!

• Stop By To Say Hello

Okay – stop by to do even more than say hello! Keeping up with your regular three, four or six month visit is the key to keeping your teeth and gums healthy, getting screened for oral cancer, and preventing problems before they get too big (and costly!!) If your busy lifestyle has caused you to get off schedule, please give us a call right away so that we can get you back on track!

• Tell Your Friends!

At Retter Dental Care, we are fortunate to have a busy practice and enjoy providing our patients with the best quality dental care possible. But we will always make room for your family, friends, co-workers or anyone else who would like to experience the great things we have to offer. Even though we are busy we will always make room for more people like you! Please have them give us a call at 514-488-9579. You’ll be giving them the best gift of all – the gift of health!

 

We hope that this list of New Year’s “Denta-Lutions” was helpful to you. If you have any questions or comments, please drop us a line at info@retterdentalcare.com or call us at 514-499-9579. May 2011 be your best year yet!!