Flossing with Traditional Braces

Our doctors at Bear Creek Dental recently gave patients a lesson on how to brush with traditional braces, so naturally, we can’t forget about flossing. Flossing may seem difficult at first, but don’t be discouraged and don’t give up. Flossing will remove food particles that get stuck in between and cause bad breath. Next time you step in front of the sink to brush, utilize these tips.

• Use waxed floss, because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions or concerns regarding orthodontic oral hygiene, 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.

Brushing with Brackets and Wires

If you’ve recently had traditional braces applied to your teeth, our doctors at Bear Creek Dental are here to help you keep them clean. Brackets and wires make brushing and flossing more difficult, but when there is a will, there is a way, and we are here to teach you the proper way to brush your teeth with braces.  

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics (rubber bands) and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – Use your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire and then from the bottom.


• Brush your teeth – Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.


• Floss once a day – Carefully thread the floss under or over the main wire of your braces, taking care not to get it stuck. Then thread the floss through the wire to reach in between the spaces of your teeth.

If you have questions or concerns regarding orthodontic oral hygiene, 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.

Keeping Up With Regular Dental Cleanings

The doctors at Bear Creek Dental encourage patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, but it is still important to come into the office for biannual professional cleanings.  Even when you regularly brush and floss, some harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that cause gum disease and can only be removed by a dental professional. At a cleaning, our hygienists use professional tools to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria build-up from your teeth that is too tough to remove on your own.

The Academy of General Dentistry recommends you have a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months. It’s important to see a professional regularly to locate and monitor areas in the mouth that may need special attention, and a dentist can tell you if you may be missing a spot or skipping an important step in your regular oral care routine.  During a teeth cleaning, our hygienists thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. After the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned, the hygienist flosses between every one of your teeth and may apply fluoride if recommended by the dentist. If you need your teeth cleaned, don’t wait any longer!

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.

Pacifiers and Teeth

Parents often struggle with weaning their child off a pacifier.  Infants are soothed to a sense of security by pacifiers, and when the time comes it is one of the hardest habits to break.  It can require a great deal of persuasion, but because of the effect they can have on the growth and development of the teeth and mouth children should stop using pacifiers by the age of two.  At Bear Creek Dental, we always welcome new patients, especially those who have yet to wean off of the pacifier.

Prolonged pacifier use can cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth, prevent proper growth of the mouth, and create problems with tooth alignment.  Narrowing of the roof of the mouth and misalignment of the jaws can also occur.  Using a pacifier too long can also lead to a variety of complications including tilting in of the bottom teeth, and slanting in of the top and front teeth. Until the age of two, any alignment problem with the teeth or developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use has stopped.  We can help and support parents having any trouble weaning their child off a pacifier before that age.

If you have questions about pacifiers and teeth development, 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.

Bad Oral Habits

If you suffer from sensitive teeth, our doctors at Bear Creek Dental want you to review your oral hygiene habits. Bad habits such as nail biting, and opening packages with your teeth, can be detrimental to tooth enamel and the gums if not careful. Additional bad habits that can cause sensitive teeth include the following, and we encourage you to cut back on them immediately.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will cause you pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health or oral hygiene, 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.

Pulling a Tooth

At Bear Creek Dental, our doctors will do all they can to avoid pulling a patient’s tooth. There are some instances, however, when extraction is necessary. No one wants to hear that they need a tooth removed, after all, were supposed to keep our permanent teeth for a lifetime. Common reasons for tooth extractions include wisdom teeth and overcrowding.

Other reasons for tooth extraction include:

• Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in.


• Sometimes baby teeth don’t fall out in time to allow permanent teeth to come in.


• People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.


• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.

 

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth extraction, 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.

Winter Lip Care

Dry, chapped lips are common in the winter. We at Bear Creek Dental want our patients to avoid this, which is why we’re providing a guide to proper prevention and maintenance.

The reason why chapped lips occur more in cold weather is that cold air cannot hold much moisture. Wrapping a scarf tightly around the face is the best way of preventing damage from wind. But inside, you have more options for increasing the air’s moisture and protecting yourself. Place humidifiers in the bedroom, office, and any other room where you have to spend a long time. Put on lip balm several times a day, including before you go to bed. But keep in mind that some people have bad reactions to menthol and other common lip balm ingredients, and change balms if redness increases.

Mouth breathing can also prevent the lips from getting enough moisture and should be avoided, if possible. It is also best not to wet the lips with saliva, as this evaporates rapidly and removes more moisture with it. Lastly, don’t try tucking the lips under the teeth, as this covers them in saliva and can cause tooth migration.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.