Cavity Prevention Snack Ideas

Cavity Prevention Snack Ideas If you have been trying to limit or decrease your sugar intake by eating only natural sugars, like those found in fruits and vegetables; but your mouth still waters whenever you're forced to wait in line and stare at the candy selection by the check-out counter... What do you do? We have five different snack ideas that are not only tasty, but help prevent cavities too! Seeds/Nuts (especially on top of yogurt or salads) Rich in both calcium and/or phosphorous, yet low in sugar Helps to rebuild and protect tooth enamel Try snacking on nuts like: almonds, walnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts For those with nut allergies: sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds Kale chips High in calcium to strengthen teeth Contains folate: a B vitamin that helps promote a healthy mouth, both inside and out Other leafy greens include: broccoli, spinach, collard greens, bok choy, okra Celery with hummus, or with peanut butter topped with raisins Chewing this firm vegetable promotes more saliva; saliva neutralizes cavity causing bacteria Abrasive substance that naturally cleans teeth of plaque and other food particles Also try other crunchy veggies like: carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower Apples (raw or dried apples) Contains many beneficial nutrients and vitamins; apples are high in fiber and water Similar characteristics to celery (abrasive and crunchy), and a good alternative if you can't brush and/or floss right after meals Leaving cut apple slices out overnight removes most of the water, but you won't have to worry about any preservatives or added sugar Frozen grapes Rich in antioxidants to fight bacterial growth Low levels of starch prevent bacterial infections (less acidic environment) A good source of vitamin C: a vitamin essential for protecting teeth and gum cells Evidently, the most ideal foods contain high levels of vitamins, calcium and/or phosphorus. All of these nutrients strengthen your teeth, reduce the potential for tooth decay, and fight against cavity-causing bacteria. Although these snacks help to prevent and minimize cavities, they do not eliminate them; to further avoid cavities, it is crucial to continue practicing good oral hygiene.

The Complete Invisalign Process

No matter what your age, you’re never too old to consider getting braces. If you don’t have the straight smile you want you can easily have it just by opting for orthodontic treatment. With all the wonderful advancements to orthodontics over the years, we are now happy to offer discreet ways to straighten your teeth without anyone else noticing. One example is Invisalign, a clear set of removable aligners that slowly reposition your teeth to get the smile you’ve always wanted. If you are weighing the pros and cons of getting Invisalign in North York, ON then find out what this treatment will entail.  Step 1: Dental Consultation You will need to have a thorough exam and consultation with Kaydental before you can get Invisalign. After all, we want to make sure that your treatment goals can be achieved through this specific type of orthodontic treatment. Not all alignment and dental issues can be corrected with Invisalign. We will run X-rays and determine whether Invisalign is right for you. Then we will map out your treatment plan and take impressions of your teeth to send to the Invisalign lab.  Step 2: Invisalign Fitting Once the lab is finished custom-designing your aligners, they will send your entire treatment packet to us at Kaydental. Then you will come into the office to have your first set of aligners placed on your teeth and to check the fit.  Step 3: Aligners You will wear your aligners for about 20 to 22 hours out of the day and each aligner is worn for about two weeks. You can remove your Invisalign aligners; however, you only want to do this when you eat and when you brush and floss. The longer you leave your aligners off the longer your treatment will be.  Step 4: Regular Dental Visits You will continue to see your North York, ON dentist very four to six weeks to make sure that your treatment is progressing as it should and that everything looks healthy.  Step 5: Retainers With every new aligner that you put on you will start to notice a gradual difference in the position of your teeth. Most Invisalign treatment takes about a year; however, this fluctuates depending on the severity of your case. Once your treatment process is up, you can remove your Invisalign aligners and start wearing a retainer to help maintain your new smile (your North York, ON dentist will give you specific instructions for wearing your retainers after treatment).  Call Kaydental Today! Interested in getting Invisalign? Then call Kaydental, your North York, ON dentist, today to schedule an orthodontic consultation. By conducting a thorough exam we can easily determine whether Invisalign is right for you. Call us to book your next visit with us.

How Invisalign Enhances Smiles

About Invisalign  Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that consists of a series of clear, plastic aligners that are custom-made to fit over your upper and lower teeth. The aligners are designed to slowly shift your teeth into an ideal position. Invisalign is virtually invisible, making it near impossible to see that you are wearing braces. Each aligner is worn every day for about 22 hours for about two weeks. After the two weeks are up, you can throw away the old aligners and replace them with the new set in your treatment plan.  What Invisalign Corrects  Most North York patients believe that Invisalign can only correct minor dental orthodontic problems; however, this is simply not true. In fact, Invisalign has been known to correct moderate to even severe cases of malocclusion (e.g. overbites; crossbites; underbites), crookedness, overcrowding and gaps between teeth.  Benefits of Invisalign  One of the more popular and obvious benefits is that you can get a straighter smile without anyone noticing that you are wearing braces. This is ideal for teenagers and adults who are looking to hide the fact that they are wearing orthodontic braces.  Furthermore, since Invisalign can be removed, North York patients can enjoy orthodontics that fit into their lifestyle. No need to deal with dietary restrictions, as you would with traditional braces. Just remove your aligners before you eat or drink and then make sure to brush your teeth and rinse out your aligners before putting them back in.  Also, since Invisalign trays are custom-made to fit your smile, you will experience a comfortable fit free of discomfort or pain, as some patients experience with traditional metal braces.  Invisalign Candidates  Invisalign is great for most teens and adults looking to correct common dental issues; however, Invisalign is not for everyone. Children are not right for this treatment, but your North York orthodontist is happy to sit down and discuss your child’s other orthodontic options.  Also, since Invisalign needs to be worn throughout most of the day you want to make sure that you will adhere to this as much as possible so your treatment goes according to plan. Teens who don’t think they can adhere to wearing their aligners for most of the day should consider other options.  Want to get a straighter smile? If so, then it’s time to schedule a consultation with your North York orthodontists. Let Kaydental give you the smile you deserve for life.

How Tobacco Use Can Screw Up Your Smile

Who wouldn't want the brightest and healthiest smile possible? The obvious answer is "Nobody." Yet, many people subject their teeth, gums, tongue and other parts of their mouths to the hazards of tobacco use. Whether smoking cigarettes or chewing it, tobacco use can really damage your smile. What cigarette smoke does to the mouth  The list of the adverse effects of cigarette smoking is long. Most are well-known but bear repeating. An experienced dentist will often detect the following problems when looking into the oral cavity of a smoker: Staining. Smokers have a generalized discoloration of their teeth with dark brown stains particularly noticeable on the front teeth where cigarettes are held. If someone stops smoking, this may be reversed with dental cleaning, whitening and diligent at-home hygiene. Halitosis (bad breath). Increased build-up of plaque and tartar. Everyone deals with plaque and tartar, but this increases for people who smoke cigarettes. The Canadian Dental Association has stated that this build-up leads to more cavities and gum disease. Tooth loss can soon follow. Tooth sensitivity. Teeth become sensitive to both hot and cold beverages and food as gums recede and roots become exposed. Oral cancer. Cancer can disfigure and even kill the person who is diagnosed with cancerous lesions in her/his mouth. Congenital defects. If a woman smokes while pregnant, research shows an increased risk of cleft lip and palate for her baby. What chewing tobacco does to the mouth  Even chewing tobacco can ruin a user's smile. The most obvious problem is extensive staining of tooth enamel and uneven wearing down of the teeth. In addition, many people do not realize that tobacco has a high sugar content, and therefore contributes to tooth decay. Lastly, oral cancers have been directly linked to chewing tobacco. Leukoplakia, a precancerous oral lesion, is also caused by long-term use of chewing of tobacco. The American Cancer Society says that 3 out of 4 users of tobacco have leukoplakia.  What to do about tobacco and your oral health  The simple answer is to stop abusing tobacco products in every form. Of course, many individuals would love to shake their cigarette or tobacco chewing habit but the nicotine in tobacco is incredibly addicting. Physicians and dentists alike recommend one-on-one tobacco cessation treatment and group support during the process of quitting as the best way to succeed.  Kaydental offers a wide range of dental services.  Drs. Stephen M. Kay and Melvyn A. Kay of Kay Dental in the North York and Toronto, Ontario area want to help you reach the goal of an attractive and healthy smile. They will examine your teeth and gums, discuss the concerns you have about your dental and overall health and formulate a plan of care and treatment for the best teeth and gums possible, including recommendations and support to help you quit your use of tobacco.