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.

Periodontal Health

If your gums are in bad shape, how are they supposed to hold your teeth in place? Healthy gums are firm and pale pink in color. If yours are red, purple, swollen, or inflamed, it’s time to visit one of our doctors at Bear Creek Dental. If you don’t brush and floss on a regular basis, you’ll begin the process of tooth decay which can lead to potential tooth loss if not careful.

When you have healthy gums, your teeth are well supported by the tissue in your gums and your chances for long-term oral health are significantly increased. Because periodontal disease is linked to an increased susceptibility to systemic disease (bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), it is important to prevent it as well as control it. Brushing and flossing your teeth regularly is important and helps remove the thin film of bacteria that builds up on your teeth each day and contributes to tooth decay.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.