3 Things All Athletes Should Do for Their Teeth

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org

Dentist Dr. Thomas Long has seen firsthand what can happen when “the puck stops here.” In addition to seeing everyday athletes in his private practice, Dr. Long (a former college hockey player himself) is the team dentist for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes.

No matter what sport or skill level, Dr. Long says athletes need to take care of their teeth both on and off the field. “Most athletes are careful about what they eat and their workout routine. Part of that routine should include taking care of your mouth and teeth every single day,” he says. "It would be a shame to miss practice or a game because you are in the dentist's office receiving treatment or recovering from a dental surgical procedure.”

Here, Dr. Long shares his playbook for a healthy mouth. 

• Make a Mouthguard Part of Your Uniform
• Sideline Sugary Sports Drinks
• Brush, Floss, Rinse, Repeat

To read the entire article, including more detailed information on the three steps listed in Dr. Long's playbook for a health mouth, please visit MouthHealthy.org.

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Gum Disease and Dental Health

April is National Dental Health Month
Did you know that recent studies have confirmed a link between gum disease and heart disease?

It turns out that bacteria from the mouth can travel all through the body via the bloodstream. One of the places these bacteria travel to it the heart!
This is just another reason to see your dental hygienist today!

Regular checkups and teeth cleaning is a smart thing to do for your teeth AND your heart.

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Girl's Sports Mouth Injuries

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about mouth injuries due to sports.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

How Often Should a Senior Citizen Go to the Dentist?

Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "How Often Should a Senior Citizen Go to the Dentist?".

 

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Diabetes and Your Mouth # 1 : 4 Signs You May Have a Problem

Diabetes puts you at risk for dental problems. It impairs the ability to fight bacteria in your mouth. Having high blood sugar encourages bacteria to grow and contributes to gum disease. You may have gum disease if you have:

• Gums that are red, sore, bleeding, or swollen, or that pull away from your teeth
• Loose teeth
• Chronic bad breath
• An irregular bite or dentures that don't fit well

The above article is from: WebMD.com

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Dental Cleanings

As Clean as They Can Get!

Having your teeth their cleanest is important for your overall health. We use the Cavitron Scaler™ to clean build-up of plaque and calculus. It is especially important to clean under the gumline to prevent the onset of periodontal problems. This high-tech hand tool emits vibrations at a high frequency to remove deposits quicker and easier. It is safe, effective, and pain free. You will be impressed how clean your teeth will feel!

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Scaling And Root Planing: Professional Plaque Removal

Perhaps you’ve been neglecting a good oral health routine. Or, you’ve done your best, but you’ve developed plaque and tartar buildup. A regular routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing is an important part of regular plaque removal for everyone. But if you have risk factors that have caused a buildup of plaque on your teeth and gums to harden into tartar, your dentist or dental hygienist may suggest scaling or root planing your teeth to remove the buildup. If left untreated, severe tartar buildup along and under the gum line can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, which may increase the risk of gum disease.

Scaling and root planing are common nonsurgical techniques that may prevent the need for more serious procedures, such as periodontal surgery or a root canal.

Here’s what to expect if your dentist or dental hygienist recommends these techniques:

• You won’t feel it. You’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb the area.
• Scaling: Your dentist or dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar from the areas both above and below the gum line.
• Root Planing: Your dentist or dental hygienist uses special tools to smooth rough spots on the tooth roots. This process not only removes bacteria and helps reduce plaque buildup, but it provides a smooth surface for gums to reattach to the teeth.

After a scaling and root planing procedure, be sure to follow your dentist’s instructions and maintain an oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily flossing. If your gums are sensitive after the procedure, try a spongy floss, such as Oral-BÆ Ultra FlossÆ, to help prevent painful flossing.

The above article is from: OralB.com

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Dental Mouthgaurds

Don't Risk Losing a Tooth

Participating in many sports can mean taking the risk of losing one or more teeth. Don't take this chance – use a custom-made mouthguard to prevent injury to your mouth and teeth and reduce the chance of concussion. Over-the-counter mouthguards neither protect nor fit as they should. They can even impede your performance by obstructing breathing during exertion.

Custom-made mouthguards that we provide are recommended for these sports:

Acrobatics, basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, roller hockey, rugby, shotputting, skateboarding, skiing, skydiving, soccer, squash, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weight lifting, wrestling.

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Girl's Sports Mouth Injuries

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about mouth injuries due to sports.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Dental X-rays with Less Radiation

Lower Radiation and No Waiting with Modern X-rays

With panoramic digital imaging, a complete image of your upper and lower teeth is available immediately for viewing on our computer screen. There is 75% less radiation with digital X-rays, with no waiting time for developing as with the conventional method, and no polluting chemicals used in the process.

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Proper Dental Habits for Children

Instilling Good Habits for Healthy Teeth

We teach children proper dental habits in an environment that is fun and comfortable for them. We tell both children and parents that a child's teeth are more prone to cavities and explain the various reasons.

Often children do not brush their teeth as well as needed. We encourage parents to supervise their children's brushing and flossing until they have the ability to be thorough. 

Kids also eat small meals more often throughout the day. Every time food is chewed, acid is produced. Extensive exposure to this acid will increase the chances of cavities. If a tooth is not clean to begin with, the resulting production of even more acid will increase the rate that cavities develop. 

Improved dental hygiene and healthier dietary choices will lessen the development of cavities. We also highly recommend the application of a protective dental sealant to prevent the cavities in back teeth.

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com

Oral Hygiene Care

Hygiene Visits Are an Essential Part of Good Health
We emphasize the importance of having dental cleanings by our hygienist, which do more than keep your teeth and gums healthy – they help prevent serious health conditions like diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular problems.

Plaque that is not removed with brushing will harden into tartar. This cannot be taken off with a toothbrush and instead needs professional treatment. Tartar that has been left on the surface of teeth or below the gumline will result in decay and even worse, gum disease. Please take our recommendation seriously to stay healthy!

Composium Dental Centre   
Joshua Charlat, DMD   
30 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 203   
Toronto, ON M4V 3A1   
(416) 415-2429   
Composium.com