Causes for Sensitive Teeth

Does your jaw cringe while standing out in the cold? Do you wince while sipping hot beverages? If your teeth and gums feel sensitive, you might be brushing too hard or you may not be brushing enough. There are several factors that cause teeth to become sensitive, include oral care habits, and your nutritional diet. If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, schedule a dental appointment with our doctors at Bear Creek Dental to treat the problem.

During your appointment, our doctor will touch base on how often you brush and floss, what kind of foods you like to indulge in, and if you are a smoker or non-smoker. Each of these factors plays a role in tooth sensitivity, but treatment will depend on the cause. If your oral care routine needs some improvements, we can give you the proper tools to get your dental health back on track. Proper oral hygiene is the key to preventing sensitive tooth pain.

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth sensitivity, please give us a call. To learn more about dental cleanings and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information. To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Different Types of Toothpaste

The type of toothpaste you should purchase should depend on your teeth. Toothpaste is a key part of your oral care routine. Along with your toothbrush and floss, toothpaste helps remove food debris and plaque from the teeth and gums. Different kinds of toothpaste have different properties and our doctors at Bear Creek Dental will help you choose the one that’s best for you.

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste help reduces oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exactly what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have questions about preventive dentistry or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

Mouthwash and Your Oral Health

You may be surprised to learn that just like dental floss; mouthwash has the ability to clean between the teeth. It reaches the crevices the toothbrush can’t to prevent tooth decay, reduce plaque, and freshen breath. Mouthwash has a few beneficial properties and our doctors at Bear Creek Dental would like to explain some of them.

• Antimicrobial agents act directly on oral bacteria to help reduce plaque, decrease the severity of gingivitis and control bad breath.


• Fluoride helps reduce tiny lesions (tooth decay) on tooth enamel and make teeth more resistant to decay.


• Astringent salts can serve as temporary deodorizers that mask bad breath.


• Odor neutralizers act by chemically inactivating odor-causing compounds.

If you have questions about preventive dentistry or oral care, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

Fight Bad Breath

Bad breath is embarrassing. It may leave you feeling afraid to speak, smile, and address the problem. Bad breath is caused by leftover food particles that aren’t washed away by proper brushing and flossing. Our doctors at Bear Creek Dental preach proper oral hygiene to patients not only to prevent bad breath but to fight against periodontal problems and other dental diseases.

If you eat foods like garlic, coffee, or onions, the odor will linger and mouthwash will only be a temporary solution. If you don’t practice proper oral hygiene habits, bad breath will likely be caused by gum disease. It’s important to keep the mouth clean at all times to keep it healthy. Persistent bad breath is a symptom of gingivitis, therefore it’s important to visit our doctors at Bear Creek Dental twice a year for a routine checkup to ensure optimal oral health.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide here at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

Prevent Periodontal Disease

When you visit our team at Bear Creek Dental, how often do our hygienists tell you to brush and floss, more than you already are?  How often do you listen?  Our mouths are full of bacteria that along with mucus and other particles are constantly forming plaque on the teeth. Plaque is the leading culprit of periodontal (gum) disease which can be prevented by the simple action of brushing and flossing.

Periodontal disease can range from mild inflammation to a serious disease that can cause major damage to tooth structure, eventually resulting in tooth loss. Gum disease can also be painless, so it is important to be aware of the symptoms. If you have gums that are swollen, red, or bleed easily when you brush or floss, you should address the problem immediately. The longer plaque sits on the teeth, the more dangerous it becomes. In addition to visiting us twice a year for routine cleanings, we encourage patients to brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to prevent periodontal disease.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your oral hygiene status, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide here at the practice, visit http://www.bearcreekdental.ca/ for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

Preventive Dentistry

Preventive dentistry emphasizes the importance of ongoing hygiene procedures and daily practices to prevent tooth decay and dental diseases. Preventive oral care strategies begin with home care, such as brushing at least twice a day and flossing after each meal. When our Bear Creek Dental team and the patient work together, this can prevent costly, invasive procedures in the future and allow you to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime.

The most important part of preventive dentistry is brushing your teeth daily with American Dental Association approved toothpaste. Additionally, your toothbrush should be replaced when you notice that the bristles are starting to fray. The act of brushing your tongue and flossing the correct way will remove bacteria that if not removed, may lead to gingivitis. The most important thing you can do to maintain a healthy mouth is schedule routine dental appointments every six months. Considering that oral health is the window to your overall health, it’s best to keep your mouth as clean and healthy as possible.

If you have questions about preventive dentistry, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

Are You Flossing Properly?

Proper flossing removes plaque and food particles in places where a toothbrush cannot easily reach – under the gum line and between your teeth. The next time you visit us at Bear Creek Dental for a professional cleaning, it’s important to utilize the floss we give you in your goody bag. Because plaque build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, daily flossing is highly recommended.

To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following proper technique:

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

If you need assistance maintaining your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit http://www.bearcreekdental.ca/ for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.