Blog

Naturally, parents tend to worry about every mysterious freckle and strange cough that finds it’s way to their infant. Teething is a naturally painful process for both parents and babies. Before jumping to conclusions as to which unique illness your child diagnosis fits, take a look at the list below of signs your baby is teething

● Irritability: according to surveys this is the most common symptom while teething

● Disrupted sleeping habits is another very common symptom.

● Not wanting to eat solid foods.

● Biting and sucking on strange objects; prepare for objects around the house to be smothered in drool!

● Rubbing their gums and ears.

● A mild fever has been found to sometimes occur during teething. If your child has a really high fever, chances are that something else is causing it.

● A rash on their face – teething is linked to a rash specifically on the face, other rashes around the body are unrelated.

If you are still unsure if your child is teething, consult your dentist. To book an appointment, contact us at the Maple Family Dentistry!

What you do in your teenage years, affects your dental health as an adult! Teenagers are busy running around with school, jobs, sports and social activities. When you throw in eating a lot of junk food and you’ll likely end up with some dental trouble. The best way for teens to enjoy a nice smile is to pay attention to good oral habits. By making oral hygiene part of a simple daily routine, you can help your teen stay on top of their dental health on top of all other activities.

Here are a few tips to help your child get through the teen years:

1. Encourage brushing and flossing
Most of us brush but flossing is swept under the rug especially with teenagers. Flossing daily can help reduce bad oral hygiene that may lead to stains, bad breath, missing teeth and many other dental problems.

2. Set a good example.
Being a teenager is a very impressionable age, and watching someone you look up to take great care of their teeth reflects on their habits.

3. Keep soft toothbrushes and other products handy
Make sure to keep flavoured floss or plastic flossers with good- tasting toothpaste out in the bathroom. You can keep them in the kitchen for quick use when your teen is in a hurry!

4. No Junk Food
Keep lots of fruits and vegetables in the house for snacking.

5. Educate your children about the dangers of smoking
Some teens are presented with social pressures to start smoking or to get oral piercings. It is important for parents to discuss the dangers so their teens know the consequences of their choices.

For an appointment, check up or just a simple question visit us at the Maple Family Dentistry.

At Maple Family Dentistry, we know how troubling toothaches can be! Whether the pain be fleeting, intermittent or barely there, the problem should be addressed by a dental professional! Here are some common causes for toothaches:

An abscessed tooth – this can be the most severe pain! It can be accompanied by a fever or swelling of the face or mouth. You may also experience heat or cold sensitivity. The pain would disappear if the abscess ruptures. However, it still requires treatment to prevent the infection from spreading. The solution for this problem is usually a root canal. This requires the tooth to be flushed out and resealed.

A cavity – some can cause discomfort! When the decay erodes a major part of enamel, you will be able to feel the internal layers which can cause pain. The treatment required involves removing the cavity and sealing the tooth with a dental filling.

Thinned enamel – this can occur from aggressive brushing. Your teeth might react sensitively to hot or cold as a result. To minimize or diminish pain, a fluoride treatment can be administered. In more serious cases a protective coating can be used on the surface of the teeth.

A cracked tooth – a damaged tooth can be very painful! A restorative procedure such as a crown can usually be used. Your dentist will find the best solution that works for your case.

Toothaches should never be ignored! Consult Maple Family Dentistry for toothache solutions today!

It seems as though everyone gets their wisdom teeth removed. Have you ever wondered why we have them in the first place? Why we should remove them before they completely grow in?

There is a theory that a long time ago, people used to lose their teeth at an earlier age due to poor oral hygiene habits and malnourishment. Their wisdom teeth would grow in later and they would be happy to receive a new set of teeth!

These days, wisdom teeth have become unnecessary.
Here are some reasons why we remove wisdom teeth today:

Limited space in the jaw for the wisdom teeth to come in. This can be very painful experience as their is not enough space to support the new teeth!
Not enough space in your mouth. With all of your teeth already in place, it can feel like a full house! When adding in a new set of teeth, it can lead to overcrowding.
There is a higher potential of damage to adjacent teeth when the wisdom teeth come in. Wisdom teeth can come in at interfering angles which can cause damage to your surrounding teeth.
Wisdom teeth are hard to keep clean. They are very far back into your mouth, which means they are difficult to reach when brushing or flossing! This may make you more prone to develop cavities or gum disease.

If you still have your wisdom teeth, let’s plan ahead! Make an appointment at Maple Family Dentistry so we can monitor them. If you are having any pain, see us as soon as possible!

When you think of good oral health habits, you probably think of brushing and flossing. Perhaps you also think of avoiding sugar? However, have you thought of the role your entire diet plays? Think of the foods you eat as the source of nutrients to keep your enhance your oral health and keep your teeth (which are bones) strong!

Proteins found in foods such as cheese, yogurt or almonds help to strengthen and build tooth enamel. This helps to fight off tooth decay. In addition, yogurt specifically has probiotic benefits whee the bacteria can help fight against bad bacteria that causes cavities.

Leafy greens (spinach and kale in particular) are another great source of nutrients. Not only are they high in calcium, but they also have folic acid which helps in treating gum disease.

Of course you have heard the saying “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. Apples are full of fibre and water. When you eat an apple, your mouth produces extra saliva which can help rinse away bacteria and other food particles. Make sure to pack one for after your lunch!

It’s tough to always make healthy decisions. Indulging once in a while is not so bad. Just keep in mind the overall effect. Various other foods will also help keep up good oral health. For more tips, speak to your dentist at Maple Family Dentistry. You can find more helpful tips here.

Stay healthy! Your mouth will thank you for it!

Sometimes adolescents lose a tooth early due to a sports injury, playing around or for other reasons. When thinking of a tooth loss, an implant can come to mind as a solution. Unfortunately, dental implants should only be used as a treatment once the jaw has finished growing.

Adolescents are still in their growing stages until about age 17 for boys and age 14 for girls. Once reaching these ages, the implant would not impact jaw growth.

Dental implants are placed directly into the bone of the jaw and do not move easily. A temporary solution for a missing tooth can be a denture consisting of one tooth to fill the gap. Since many teens/adolescents are self-conscious, we want to provide a solution that will make them feel better. Once jaw growth is fully complete, a dental implant can be used.

If you have any questions about the timing of implants or missing teeth, call Maple Family Dentistry today!