Prevention

What's Is The Best Way To Brush My Teeth ?

There are different styles of toothbrushing. The important thing to remember is that an effective brushing cleans every exposed tooth surface in a gentle, massaging motion.

How long do you take to brush your teeth? Most people think they brush for at least a minute or two, but in reality they brush for 30 seconds or less. 

Time yourself and see how you do. An effective brushing takes 2 - 3 minutes.


Pit & Fissure Sealants


Floss is Boss
Brush Basics
What's the Best Way to Brush?

Prevention

Brush Basics

Why do we brush our teeth?

Brushing your teeth is one of the most effective ways of removing plaque fromthe exposed surfaces of your teeth.

What's the best kind of brush to use?

Contrary to what you might think, a gentle brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush is just as effective (and less damaging!) than a vigorous scrubbing with a stiff-bristle toothbrush.

Your tooth enamel is relatively thin. Years of aggressive brushing can begin to wear away the enamel and make the teeth sensitive. (Remember, the enamel on your teeth does not contain nerve fibres, but the dentin layer underneath does. See the Healthy Teeth page on Cavities.) Brushing too hard can also damage your gums.


Pit & Fissure Sealants


Floss is Boss
Brush Basics
What's the Best Way to Brush?

Prevention

 Floss Is The Boss

What's dental floss made of?
How does it work?

Brushing alone isn't enough to clean all of the plaque from the surface of your teeth. Interproximal areas (those places in between your teeth) and below the gumline are two spots where the toothbrush can't reach and plaque can build up. These are areas that are more susceptible to cavities. Daily flossing and regular visits to your dentist are the only effective ways to remove this plaque.

Dental fact:

Did you know that failing to flossmeans up to 35% of your tooth surface goes uncleaned?

Dental floss is a man-made fibre (usually made of nylon) that comes on a spool. Ask your parents or your dentist how to correctly use dental floss if you're not sure.


Pit & Fissure Sealants


Floss is Boss
Brush Basics
What's the Best Way to Brush?

Prevention

Pit And Fissure Sealants

What is a pit & fissure sealant?
How is it applied?
The top surfaces of your teeth - where the chewing takes place - aren't smooth and flat. They are cris-crossed with tiny hills and valleys - called pits and fissures. These are places where plaque can build up safe from your toothbrush and dental floss. Some of the pits and fissures are so narrow that even a single bristle from your toothbrush can't get deep enough to clean them out.

One method of preventing cavities from developing in the pits and fissures is to seal them off with a special varnish called a pit and fissure sealant. If your dentist determines that you need a pit and fissure sealant to help protect your teeth from decay, some special steps are taken to prepare the teeth first. Your dentist will clean the tooth first, then apply a mild acid solution to 'etch' the surface and make it easier for the pit and fissure sealant to stick. (The etching solution is the blue gel in the sealant video below).

The whole procedure is quick and painless. Keeping the area dry and away from your saliva during the application is very important. If the tooth gets wet, the sealant might not stick properly. Once everything is ready, your dentist 'paints' the sealant right over the pits and fissures on the tooth surface. (Do you see it being painted on with a cotton swab in the video?). A special kind of light cures the sealant and makes it ready for use.


Pit & Fissure Sealants


Floss is Boss
Brush Basics
What's the Best Way to Brush?

Privention

 How Does Flouride Work ?

Fluoride is a natural element that can be found in many things, like the water we drink and the food we eat. Decades ago, scientists began to notice that children who lived in places where fluoride occurred naturally in the water, had fewer dental cavities.

Fluoride that is absorbed by your body is used by the cells that build your teeth to make stronger enamel. Topical fluoride - fluoride that is applied to the outside of the enamel - makes the crystals that form enamel more durable. Tooth enamel crystals that have fluoride are much more resistant to acid. They are less likely to breakdown and cause the tooth surface to become porous.

If your dentist recommends a fluoride treatment during your next dental visit, you'll be receiving topical protection. The fluoride your dentist puts in your mouth will help make the crystals in your tooth enamel stronger. Always use a toothpaste with fluoride. Look for the Canadian Dental Association seal of approval on the toothpaste tube in your bathroom.

For an experiment on the protective power of Fluoride, check out the Healthy Teeth Dental Experiments Page!


Pit & Fissure Sealants


Floss is Boss
Brush Basics
What's the Best Way to Brush?

Cavities

 What Causes A Cavity ????

Your mouth is a busy place. Bacteria - tiny colonies of living organisms are constantly on the move on your teeth, gums, lips and tongue.

 Having bacteria in your mouth is a normal thing. While some of the bacteria can be harmful, most are not and some are even helpful. Certain types of bacteria, however, can attach themselves to hard surfaces like the enamel that covers your teeth. If they're not removed, they multiply and grow in number until a colony forms. More bacteria of different types attach to the colony already growing on the tooth enamel. Proteins that are present in your saliva (spit) also mix in and the bacteria colony becomes a whitish film on the tooth. This film is called plaque, and it's what causes cavities