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.

Prevent Tartar Accumulation

Plaque is a sticky, colorless film that contains bacteria and builds up on tooth surfaces after we eat a meal. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel and can damage gums and create cavities. If plaque is not adequately brushed and flossed away, it will turn into tartar, a hard, crusty deposit that only our doctors at Bear Creek Dental are able to remove.

Tartar can be yellow or even brown in color depending on how much buildup is on the teeth. While plaque can be removed by brushing and flossing, tartar, also known as dental calculus can only be removed with a scaling tool. Though these are sold at your local drug store, your best bet is to visit the dentist twice a year for routine cleanings so that tartar doesn’t turn into periodontal disease.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, 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.

Eat Celery for Fresh Breath

Bad breath is a common condition that affects everyone periodically. To eliminate the odor we might catch ourselves chewing a piece of minty gum on the go, or taking a quick swig of mouthwash before we leave the house for a night out.  Here at Bear Creek Dental, our doctors understand that bad breath can be very embarrassing, but did you know that you can fight it by eating a piece of celery?

Celery fights bad breath because it is rich in fiber which fights Halitosis by breaking down plaque and sulfur compounds.  Therefore, celery is a great thing to eat to help clean your mouth. It is also effective to munch on a carrot or an apple. Snacks that include crispy fresh fruits and vegetables step up your saliva flow between meals to help wash away bacteria from the teeth, tongue, and gums that can cause bad breath. These snacks can also help alleviate bad breath caused by hunger or fasting.

If you have questions or concerns regarding bad breath, 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.

Take Good Care of Your Toothbrush

Our doctors at Bear Creek Dental want you to take a look at your toothbrush. If the bristles are discolored and frayed, it’s time to replace it with a brand new one. Proper toothbrush care is important to your oral health because a toothbrush that is worn out won’t clean the mouth thoroughly. Allow us to remind you how to take good care of your oral care instrument.

The human body is constantly exposed to potentially harmful microbes, and particularly when you are sick, bacteria will contaminate your toothbrush. For effective plaque removal, and optimal oral hygiene, the American Dental Association recommends that consumers replace toothbrushes approximately every 3-4 months or sooner if the bristles become frayed with use. You should never share a toothbrush with a significant other and always store your toothbrush in open air away from other toothbrushes to avoid cross-contamination.

If you have questions or concerns regarding oral care, 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.

How Diet Relates to Dental Health

Eating patterns play a key role in dental health because they decide whether or not a person will develop tooth decay. If you wish to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, a healthy smile begins with a healthy diet. A poor diet can lead to periodontal disease and cavities which is why our doctors at Bear Creek Dental are here to tell you what to add to your plate.

Dairy products such as cheese, milk, and plain yogurt assist tooth enamel in staying strong. Foods that are high in sugar and starches stick to the teeth, leaving plaque behind which can turn into tartar if left untreated. It’s best to avoid cookies, pastries, candy, and soft drinks, as they provide no nutritional benefits to the teeth. Reaching for fruits and vegetables that have a high water content increase saliva flow, protecting you from cavities and dental diseases.

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.

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.

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.

The Proper Brushing Technique

If you’ve ever licked your tongue and felt a fuzzy buildup, that buildup is called plaque and it can be very dangerous if not removed accordingly. Plaque can lead to periodontal disease and eventually tooth decay if a proper oral hygiene routine is not practiced on a daily basis. Our doctors at Bear Creek Dental can’t stand behind you while you brush your teeth, but he can encourage you to brush at least twice a day for two minutes. He can also provide you with these brushing tips, to make sure that you are doing the job correctly.

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.


• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.


• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.


• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, 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.