Regular dental visits are important, too, even if you’re an avid flosser. At Kanata dentistry, we offer IV sedation with most restorative and cosmetic dentistry procedures. We understand you may experience nervousness about your dental visit, and our sedation dentistry options will keep you calm, relaxed and stress-free during your visit.

Flossing Is Nothing New
Flossing is no modern fad. It’s actually been around for years and years. According to Mouth Healthy, prehistoric humans used a form of dental floss to clean their teeth, but dentists didn’t begin recommending this behavior until the 1800s. A dentist in 1815 suggested patients use silk thread as dental floss, and floss was mass-produced in 1882. Today our dental floss is made of nylon, which is more durable than silk and doesn’t shred as easily.

What Flossing Does For Your Oral Health
The Canadian Dental Association says you should floss daily, but that’s only a minimum suggestion. You could floss more often, especially after a meal that leaves pieces of food between your teeth. Flossing doesn’t just remove food particles; it also rids your teeth and gums of plaque. Plaque gathers naturally in all of our mouths, and flossing is the most effective way to remove it from between your teeth. If you leave the plaque between your teeth, it will continue to accumulate and cause swollen gums, tooth decay, gingivitis and possibly even gum disease. Advanced gum disease could cost you healthy teeth. While our dentists can replace teeth with dental implants in Kanata, we prefer our patients to keep their original teeth healthy and strong.

Flossing will keep your gums healthy, and brushing routinely will sweep food remnants and bacteria from your mouth. Now that you know you should be flossing regularly, let’s discuss the best flossing method.

How You Should Be Flossing
Many patients are unsure of the correct way to floss. It’s pretty simple when you know the steps, but it does take practice to achieve flossing perfection. Take these steps to enjoy healthy teeth and gums:

1. Pull approximately 18 inches of dental floss from your container.
2. Wrap most of the floss around one of your middle fingers, and wrap a minimal amount on your opposite middle finger. Your opposite middle finger will collect the floss once it’s been used.
3. Grip the floss between your thumbs and index fingers.
4. Use your thumbs and index fingers to direct the floss gently between each tooth.
5. Curve the floss between each tooth and create a C-shape. Direct the floss between the gum line and tooth. Look in the mirror as you work to make sure you’re removing as much as you can from between your teeth.
6. Rub the sides of each tooth and remember to floss behind your back molars.
7. Use up-and-down motions instead of side-to-side motions.

Now that you know the why and how of flossing, go forth and take care of your teeth! The Trillium Dental team is always available to answer questions about flossing or about oral care in general. Contact us today to schedule a routine dental appointment and keep your smile beautiful.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Here are the top 10 reasons to treat gum disease:

1. To Avoid Tooth Loss
Gum disease is the main cause of adult tooth loss. Tooth loss is harmful to your bite, your bone health and your self-esteem. If you treat gum disease early enough, you can thwart tooth loss and protect your smile.

2. To Avoid Gum Recession
Gum disease often causes your gums to pull away from your teeth. The recession forms pockets where bacteria gathers and grows. Treat gum disease and keep your gums healthy, strong and prominent.

3. To Reduce Hospital Visits
Gum disease, especially in advanced stages, can cause severe pain, which may lead you to visit the emergency room more often. Studies show that treating gum disease lowers your ER visits and medical costs.

4. To Reduce Heart Disease Risk
Gum disease has been linked to respiratory disease, diabetes and even some types of cancer. It has also been heavily linked to heart disease. Untreated gum disease can heighten your risk of heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure.

5. To Avoid Bone Deterioration
Severe gum disease causes tooth loss, and tooth loss causes the jawbone to deteriorate. The bone will weaken when the tooth it supports is lost. The deterioration can spread out and weaken other parts of your jaw.

6. To Preserve Your Bite
Losing one or more teeth to gum disease can be avoided. When you lose a tooth, your bite changes. Your teeth may fit together differently, and you may have trouble chewing food. You could even experience migraines or TMJ problems from a destabilized bite.

7. To Keep Your Gums Healthy
Your gums are the foundation of your smile. Healthy teeth come from healthy gums, and strong gums will hold your teeth firmly in place. Healthy gums don’t bleed, don’t recede and don’t cause you pain.

8. To Control the Infection
Gum disease is simply an infection. Bacteria and plaque have caused gum recession and maybe even tooth loss. The infection, if left untreated, could even spread to your bloodstream. You should treat gum disease to control and remove the infection from your body.

9. To Avoid Loosened Teeth
Before a tooth is lost completely, it will grow loose. A loose permanent tooth will feel much like a loose baby tooth, except this is a tooth you’re supposed to keep forever. Treating gum disease will strengthen your gums and strengthen their bonds with your teeth.

10. To Reduce Associated Pain and Discomfort
Gum disease often causes bleeding, tender gums. You may not brush and floss regularly because of the pain, or you may avoid eating when the pain is intense. Treating gum disease will reduce your pain and restore your gums to their previous good health.

We want to help treat your gum disease so you can enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles. Contact your dentist or call Trillium the best family dentistry to discuss gum disease prevention today.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and in an effort to raise awareness about this disease our Ottawa family dentistry team encourages you to pay attention to any changes in your mouth, gums, lips and cheeks.

Our team provides general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry in Kanata. We can help restore missing teeth with dental implants, we thoroughly clean your teeth and gums at every regular appointment and we carefully screen each patient for oral cancer.

According to the Canadian Dental Association, in 2003 about 3,100 Canadians were diagnosed with oral cancer and the disease claimed 1,090 Canadian lives. The five-year survival rate for oral cancer is 63 percent, according to Health Canada. This means that 63 percent of patients diagnosed with oral cancer are still alive five years after their diagnosis. We don’t want you to be next. You are an important part of your oral health, and keeping a close watch over your lips, gums, teeth, cheeks and tongue may even save your life.

Learn the Most Common Oral Cancer Symptoms

If you know the common symptoms of oral cancer you can better protect yourself. When you go through your daily oral hygiene routine, check for the following warning signs: Use your finger to trace your lips, gums and cheeks to check for any swelled lumps. Sores are often signs that something is wrong in your mouth, especially those that last longer than two weeks. Note the color of the sores as well; are they white, red or a combination of the two colors?

You may also notice ear pain, numbness, tenderness in your face or mouth, frequent oral bleeding, a prolonged sore throat, trouble chewing or swallowing food, changes in the way foods taste, trouble talking or moving your jaw or even extreme weight loss. Has your bite changed? Do you notice a difference in the way your teeth fit together? All of these symptoms could be warning signs of oral cancer. Bring any of these symptoms up to your dentist at your next appointment.

Identify Your Oral Cancer Risk Factors

Tobacco use greatly increases your risk of developing oral cancer. If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco, consider how much healthier you’ll be if you quit. Quitting tobacco will improve your dental health, your skin, your heart health, your lungs and your circulation. You are also approximately six times more likely to develop oral cancer if you drink alcohol to excess.

Too much sun can increase your chances of developing oral cancer. Protect your lips with an SPF fortified lip balm or by wearing a hat that blocks sunlight from your face. If you’ve had oral cancer in the past, or if someone in your family has had oral cancer, you have higher risk of developing the disease. The presence of HPV has also been linked to increased oral cancer risk.

You can develop oral cancer at any age, though your risk increases dramatically after you hit 45. Your diet may also contribute to developing oral cancer, so be sure to eat a diet full of vegetables and fruits to help prevent cancerous cell growth. Men also get oral cancer more frequently than women.

Understand Prevention and the Importance of Routine Dental Care

There are ways for you to thwart the onset of oral cancer. Limit your consumption of alcohol and protect your face and lips in sunlight. Quit tobacco and eat a balanced diet. Learn the common symptoms of oral cancer and be aware of any changes to your oral health.

You have a better chance of surviving oral cancer the earlier you receive a diagnosis. Dentists are often very important in diagnosing oral cancers in patients, which is one reason why routine dental care is so essential to your total body health. You should visit the dentist at least twice a year to make sure he has adequate time to diagnose oral cancer. If you are at higher risk, your dentist may want to see you more often than twice a year. Regular screenings ensure that we catch any cancer faster, which gives you more time for treatment and increases your chances of survival.

We want you to live a long, healthy life, and the Trillium Dental team is here to protect your oral health along the way. If it’s been more than six months since you’ve seen your dentist, call us today to set up an appointment.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

OTTAWA, ONTARIO

Orleans dentist Dr. David Bartos and his partner Dr. Mark Northcott want you to understand how important oral health is to your entire body. As research continues to explain the correlation between oral health and heart health, we realize dentists may someday be in a position to evaluate not only a patient’s oral health, but we may also assess their risk for certain cardiovascular diseases.

The study in discussion has more than 15,000 participants with coronary heart disease in almost 40 different countries. All participants were part of a continuing clinical trial testing the drug darapladib. The drug is for anti-atherosclerosis, and it’s meant to stop plaque from clogging arteries and blood vessels. Researchers asked participants to report their tooth loss and frequency of bleeding gums. Researchers also had access to data on the participants’ heart disease risk factors, including age, tobacco use and diabetes.

The fewer teeth participants reported, the higher their blood pressure, blood sugar levels and LDL levels (a more dangerous cholesterol). Those with more tooth loss also had higher chances of having diabetes and experienced higher levels of the enzyme Lp-PLA2. This enzyme can contribute to swelling and hardening of arteries. In this study fewer teeth also correlated with larger waistlines. Researchers found that participants with the most tooth loss were typically smokers.

“Whether periodontal disease actually causes coronary heart disease remains to be shown,” says lead researcher Dr. Ola Vedin of Sweden’s Uppsala University. “It could be that the two conditions share common risk factors independently.”

According to Dr. Bartos who also performs root canal treatment, this study didn’t completely reveal the full scope of their association, we are encouraged that research continues to explore these two diseases. More studies of patients with both heart disease and gum disease will likely help demystify the link between these two detrimental conditions.

Our Ottawa family and cosmetic dentistry practice wants you to enjoy healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime, and we believe superb oral health will improve your total body health. Prevent gum disease with frequent flossing, brushing and trips to the dentist. We can also help you straighten your teeth with braces or invisalign teen. These invisible braces won’t just improve your smile aesthetically; they’ll improve your oral health. Straighter teeth are easier for you to clean, which means your frequent brushing and flossing will yield even greater results. Contact us today for a regular cleaning and exam. We evaluate each patient for early signs of gum disease, and if it’s present, we can help you treat it.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Fluoride and Cavity Prevention
Our dentistry practice uses fluoride treatments to strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities and decay. We also provide Kanata Invisalign and Invisalign Teen to patients who desire straighter smiles without troublesome metal braces. Strong, healthy teeth reduce our risks of heart disease, diabetes and even certain types of cancer. Scientists have thoroughly test the use of fluoride and have deemed it useful for reducing cavities.

“The Canadian Dental Association supports the appropriate use of fluorides in dentistry as one of the most successful preventive health measures in the history of health care,” according to the CDA’s position statement. “Over 50 years of extensive research throughout the world has consistently demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of fluorides in the prevention of dental caries.”

The American Dental Association reports that you can benefit from a lifetime of fluoride-enriched community water for less money than it takes to get one cavity filled. Furthermore, studies show that fluoride reduces tooth decay by 20 to 40 percent. We know fluoride is a smart, useful and economic choice for cavity prevention.

So, where can you get fluoride? Not much fluoride can be gained from food, though many foods contain some fluoride in very small amounts. Seafood can contain more fluoride since ocean water contains natural amounts of sodium fluoride. But the best two places to get appropriate fluoride doses is from the tap and from dental products.

From the Tap
Many municipalities in Canada adjust fluoride levels in their community drinking water. Drinking water is one of the most important dietary changes you can make, and if you choose tap water over filtered water, you’ll also get the benefit of healthier teeth through safe fluoride doses. In Ottawa, fluoride is added to the central distribution center drinking water but not to the five communal well systems. The target fluoride level for the City of Ottawa is 0.70 mg/L, and these levels are monitored constantly. You can generally find out the target fluoride level for your drinking water on your local government’s website.

Water is also great for your tooth health already, since it encourages your saliva to flow. Your saliva naturally works to remove harmful oral bacteria and to clean your teeth and gums. Sodas aren’t the best choice for your teeth or your health. Sodas contain high levels of sugar, and that sugar is converted to acids in your mouth. Acids eat through the hard outer layer of your teeth to form holes, and these holes are dental cavities. Put down the soda and opt for tap water for immense health benefits.

From Dental Products
You’ve probably seen many dental products on the market that contain fluoride. Hopefully you’re already using toothpaste with fluoride to help prevent cavities and increase the efficiency of your at-home oral care. If not, ask your dentist for a great toothpaste recommendation to improve your oral hygiene and decrease dental cavities. You can also use a mouth rinse with fluoride to further fortify your teeth against decay, says the Ottawa family dentistry expert. Talk with your dentist about the best mouth rinse for your oral health needs.

Even with fluoridated water and fluoride-enriched dental products, you’ll still need to see your dentist at least twice a year. Your dentist can check your teeth and gums for any oral problems that you may not notice, and your hygienist can remove plaque and help reduce your chances of developing gum disease. Some of you may need to visit the dentist more often if you’re more prone to decay or gum disease. Contact us for a dental check-up in Orleans, Stittsville, Nepean, Kanata and downtown Ottawa. We put your oral health first, and we make sure you have all the tools to enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

KANTA AND OTTAWA, ONTARIO – Dental professionals will gather May 2-4 for the Annual Spring Meeting of the Ontario Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association. The ASM will be held in the south building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Our Kanata family dental clinic team is interested in the new technology and the variety of lectures shared over the three-day dental extravaganza.

The event kicks off the morning of May 2 with a fun keynote speaker – comedian Rick Mercer. You may recognize him from his award-winning show The Rick Mercer Report, where he parodies commercials, politics and everyday life. Network and mingle at the cocktail reception starting at 4:30 p.m. that evening.

Courses are available in a variety of tracks, including Pharmacology, Infection Control, Periodontics, Oral Medicine and Pathology, Practice Management and Medical Emergency.

Lectures available at the Annual Spring Meeting include:

•  Seven Strategies of Highly Successful Dental Teams
•  Medical Implications of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
•  Dentistry’s Role in Bioterrorism/Mass Disaster Scenario
•  Pain Control in Dentistry
•  The High-Tech Digital Office
•  Don’t Worry, Be Happy – The Power of a Great Team

ODA members can receive a maximum of 18 continuing education points over the span of the meeting. Attendees will be asked to scan into sessions to confirm their attendance. Dental assistants, dental hygienists, receptionists and office managers may also find the meetings helpful to improve their careers and their dental teams.

Dentists with a surplus of stress can visit the Relaxation Zone for a free 10-minute massage. Discover what your handwriting says about you in at the handwriting analysis booth on the exhibit floor. There’s much more to see on the exhibit floor, including innovative products for your dental care center from companies like Ultralight Optics, Philips Sonicare and Zoom Whitening, Global Microscopes and Sure Dental Supplies of Canada.

Attendees should look for the forthcoming smartphone app to search for the sessions, speakers and exhibits that interest you. You’ll even be able to set alerts to remind you of the sessions you want to attend. During the evenings you can explore all that Toronto has to offer, such as the Hockey Hall of Fame, Canon Theatre, the CN Tower, Queen’s Park, the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario. There are also many jazz clubs where you can hear amazing live singers and musicians.

If you’re looking for a medicaid dentist in Ottawa, Trillium Dental has a large team of professional dentists in six convenient locations, including Kanata, Orleans, Nepean, Stittsville and Ottawa. We offer cosmetic dentistry procedures to amplify your smile, and we provide oral sedation to help manage pain and reduce any dental anxieties you may have.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Each of you has individual oral care needs, and we will suggest a realistic schedule for your dental appointments to ensure optimum oral health. Besides tooth whitening with our cosmetic dentist, there are many good reasons for you to visit us often.

We Check for Gum Disease

One of the best reasons to visit us often is that we check your teeth and gums for signs of gum disease. Gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, is still reversible with professional cleaning and proper flossing. You don’t want that gingivitis to advance to gum disease, though. Gum disease puts you at higher risks for a host of other health issues, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, preterm birth and cancer.

Certain situations can increase your risk of gum disease, such as tobacco use, diabetes, pregnancy, crowded teeth, poor oral habits and even genetics. If any of these apply to you, we may want to see you more frequently than every six months. You may notice certain changes in your gums, such as bleeding, swelling, tenderness and pulling away from the teeth. These symptoms could signal gum disease, so call your dentist for an exam as soon as possible.

We Thoroughly Clean Your Teeth

Plaque naturally builds up on our teeth throughout the day. The thin sticky film can harm your teeth if you don’t properly remove it. Oral bacteria are found in plaque, and these bacteria react with sugars in your mouth and produce acids. These acids eat away at the hard enamel on the outer layer of your teeth. The hole the acids make is called a cavity. Our professional hygienists have the right tools and training to remove plaque buildup and also remove hardened plaque – or tartar – from your teeth. Tartar that accumulates near the gum line can even cause gingivitis. Frequent cleanings will even improve the appearance of your teeth. We also offer teeth whitening in Orleans if you desire an even more illustrious smile. You can thwart plaque and tartar buildup with frequent trips to the dentist combined with a careful at-home oral care regimen. You should floss at least once a day and brush at least twice a day to ensure healthy teeth and gums between dental cleanings.

We Monitor Tooth Movement

One less obvious reason to visit us often is so we can monitor the movement of your teeth. You may have a full set of permanent teeth, but you could still experience shifting and crowding as an adult. We offer Invisalign, invisible braces for Ottawa residents who want straighter, more attractive smiles. Your misaligned teeth could even be causing stress on your bite. Our neuromuscular dentists can examine how your teeth, jaw, muscles and bone are functioning together. You may experience migraines, facial pain, muscle pain, ringing ears, a popping jaw or tooth grinding from a misaligned TMJ. We can help reposition your jaw, relieve your TMJ pain and improve your life. If you don’t visit us regularly, you may not even realize your pain is from a disrupted TMJ! TMJ symptoms are often misattributed to other health issues, such as earaches or toothaches.

We Screen for Oral Cancer

At each dental visit we take time to inspect your mouth, cheeks, tongue, lips and gums for any signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer is much easier to treat the earlier it’s found. In later stages oral cancer can spread to other parts of your body, which makes it much more difficult to eradicate. We will monitor your mouth for any red or white lesions, persistent lumps, bleeding or trouble swallowing. These could be symptoms of oral cancer. Approximately 3,200 new oral cancer cases affect Canadians every year, and each year approximately 1,050 Canadians die from oral cancer according to the CDA. Take every precaution that oral cancer doesn’t affect you or your loved ones.

Research is helping us understand how tightly oral health is linked to our total body health. Visit your dentist regularly, brush and floss routinely and eat a balanced diet for the healthiest teeth and gums possible. The rest of your body will benefit, too. Our Trillium Dental team is happy to help you reach your oral health goals and realize your dream smile.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Their study results were published online in the journal Nature Genetics this February, though two of the researchers have been working on this project for 17 years. The findings show that the changes in our diets have resulted in a less diverse assortment of oral bacteria than were present in ancient humans. Scientists think the decrease in different oral bacteria from our post-industrial diets have caused more persistent oral disease.

Our Ottawa family dentistry practice has discussed optimum tooth-healthy diets in the past, and this research is a good refresher for the topic. Persistent tooth decay and gum disease may cause you pain, aesthetic embarrassment and even tooth loss in more severe cases. Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott offer Orleans dental implants with IV sedation to keep you comfortable and restore your missing teeth. However, we believe that the most effective defense is a solid offense. While diet is important to your tooth health, the most essential steps you can take to protect your teeth is to schedule a dental appointment twice a year and practice regular at-home care.

To test the effects of our evolving diets, researchers used DNA from the hardened dental plaque of 34 primitive northern European skeletons. They looked for variations in the types of oral bacteria present, starting with samples from primordial hunter-gatherers. They compared these to oral bacteria found in fossils from the Bronze Age where farming was implemented, and they compared these to samples from the Medieval Age, Industrial Age and modern teeth.

“With the introduction of processed sugar and flour in the Industrial Revolution, we can see a dramatically decreased diversity in our oral bacteria, allowing domination by caries-causing strains,” says Professor Alan Cooper, study leader and ACAD director. “The modern mouth basically exists in a permanent disease state.”

Our Trillium Dental team works to improve your oral health with frequent dental cleanings and exams. We also empower you with at-home care tips to keep your teeth healthy between dental visits. With routine dental care, good oral hygiene and healthy diets, we can give you healthy teeth and beautiful smiles for life.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Be Positive
Your children may have some natural nervousness surrounding their dental visit, but sometimes parents actually exacerbate that nervousness. Your child’s first dental visit should be pleasant and happy, with a focus on good oral care and nutrition tips. Discuss the dental visit with your children, and answer their questions openly, honestly and positively. You don’t have to discuss root canal treatments or iv sedation; these procedures don’t pertain to your child. Instead keep the discussion focused on your child’s tooth and gum health. Tell your children their teeth and gums are important to everyday life. Healthy teeth and gums help your little one speak, smile and chew food. It’s important to keep your child’s primary teeth healthy, since they are the placeholders for future permanent teeth. Your Ottawa family dentist wants your child to enjoy superb oral health throughout life, and the earlier those tooth-healthy habits begin, the better.

If you have frequent dental anxiety, be cautious not to subconsciously pass those fears along to your child. Your children are perceptive to your feelings, and you don’t want them to pick up on your anxiety.

Be Prepared
Our dentists at Trillium can give you a good idea of what to expect at your child’s first visit. Ask any questions you may have ahead of time. That way, there won’t be any surprises for you or your little one. Once you know what to expect, tell your child what to expect. Many first-time dental visits are mainly meet-and-greets that allow your child to get familiar with the dentist and the dental staff. Your dentist will tell you what he plans to do during your visit. He will probably inspect your children’s mouths to be sure their teeth are developing normally, and he may do some light cleaning. Your hygienist will most likely discuss proper at-home oral care. You should feel comfortable asking your child’s dentist and hygienist questions about oral care. We’ve talked before about choosing the best dentist for your family. Your family dental care is an essential component to your family’s oral health, and you should take time to find a dentist you like and trust.

Teach Good At-Home Habits
Once your children understand how important oral health is, they will probably develop an interest in oral care. You can kindle this interest by making flossing and brushing fun. Let your children choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste. Many respected companies sell toothbrushes and toothpaste with fun children’s characters. Giving your little ones a choice about their toothbrushes may make them more inclined to actually use them.

Another great way to instill dental care habits in your children is to let them see you care for your teeth. Children enjoy mimicking the people they love, and your oral care habits could inspire your child to pick up the floss and go to work. Discuss your child’s specific oral care needs with your dentist. For children with healthy teeth, we recommend flossing once daily and brushing at least twice daily. Make sure your child doesn’t snack after nighttime brushing. For best oral health you should go to sleep with clean teeth, otherwise sugars from foods can linger on teeth and encourage plaque and cavity production.

Contact our practice to set your child’s first dental appointment. We strive to make your family as comfortable as possible while providing excellent oral care. We look forward to meeting your little ones.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Dr. David Bartos, a dentist in Kanata, works with a large team of dentists and hygienists to diagnose and treat oral pain at Trillium Dental. He and his partner Dr. Mark Northcott are interested in a recent study by McGill University and University of Toronto faculty that delves deeper into the prevalence and causes of oral pain.

Researchers analyzed data for more than 5200 Canadians between 6 and 79 years old specifically looking for patients who reported pain in the mouth. Researchers were also interested in the factors contributing to the reported oral pain. They scrutinized data to see if the following variables determined oral pain: socio-demographic factors, dental service utilization, oral health behaviors and clinical oral health. The data was originally gathered from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, and for this study researchers used data from the years 2007 through 2009.

Children had the least prevalence of oral pain, and young adults had the highest prevalence of oral pain. The researchers also looked at family income compared to oral pain. Those in the poorest two-fifths of the population showed significantly higher prevalence of oral pain than those in the richest two-fifths. The elderly population showed lower instances of oral pain than adults. Researchers attribute this to the decreased amount of natural teeth in the elderly and likewise a decrease in decayed teeth. Research also confirmed that those with lower incomes had more oral pain than those in higher income groups.

Many Canadians have limited access to family dentistry in Ottawa due to financial status or lack of dental insurance. Researchers hope this study will illuminate the opportunities for improving Canada’s oral health policy. By reducing oral pain and treating oral diseases, more Canadians can enjoy dependable oral care and, by association, improve their overall health.

There are several ways to reduce oral pain and improve oral health. Contact our practice if you are suffering from oral pain. Tooth decay, TMJ disorder, gum disease, oral ulcers or infection could cause oral pain. The Trillium Dental team will carefully examine your case and recommend the appropriate treatment. Decayed teeth may require fillings or dental crowns. If you have gum disease, our dentists offer periodontal treatment to eradicate the disease and ease your pain. Preventively speaking, Stittsville Invisalign treatment improves our patients’ tooth alignment, which makes flossing and brushing more effective. The better your oral hygiene, the less likely you are experiencing oral pain.

You don’t have to live with oral pain. Contact us today to get to the root of your discomfort. We are passionate about improving your oral health.

© 2013 Sinai Marketing, Drs. David Bartos and Mark Northcott. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Dr. Bartos, Dr. Northcott and Sinai Marketing are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.