Are you in pain? Chipped tooth? Your crown came off? Call us now! (905) 332-0330
3047 Appleby Line, Burlington, ON L7L 0V7
Brushing and Flossing
24/7 Emergency Dental Care
To have good dental health, you need a mix of personal dental care, and the care of your dentist.
Brushing
Regular, thorough brushing is a very important step in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Brushing removes the bacteria that promote tooth decay and the plaque that can cause gum disease.
Ideally, you should brush after every meal, because the bacterial attack on teeth begins minutes after eating. At the very least, brush once a day and always before you go to bed. Brushing your teeth isn't complicated, but there is a right and a wrong way.
How to brush your teeth
Step 1
Brush at a 45 degree angle to your teeth. Direct the bristles to where your gums and teeth meet. Use a gentle, circular, massaging motion, up and down. Don't scrub. Gums that recede visibly are often a result of years of brushing too hard.
Step 2
Clean every surface of every tooth. The chewing surface, the cheek side, and the tongue side.
Step 3
Don't rush your brush. A thorough brushing should take at least two to three minutes. Try timing yourself.
Step 4
Change your usual brushing pattern. Most people brush their teeth the same way all the time. That means they miss the same spots all the time. Try reversing your usual pattern.
Step 5
Use a soft brush with rounded bristles. The right toothbrush cleans better. Choose a size and shape that allow you to reach all the way to your back teeth. There are many different types of brushes, so ask your dentist to suggest the best one for you. The Canadian Dental Association recommends you replace your toothbrush every three months.
Flossing
Flossing removes plaque and bacteria that you cannot reach with your toothbrush. If you don't floss, you are missing more than one-third of your tooth surface. Plaque is the main cause of gum disease. It is an invisible bacterial film that develops on your teeth every day.
Within 24 to 36 hours, plaque hardens into tartar (also called calculus), which can only be removed by professional cleaning. Floss at least once a day, and plaque never gets the chance to harden into tartar. Getting into the habit of daily flossing is easier when you floss while doing something else like watching TV or listening to music, for example.
How to floss your teeth
Step 1
Take a length of floss equal to the distance from your hand to your shoulder. Wrap it around your index and middle fingers, leaving about two inches between your hands.
Step 2
Slide the floss between your teeth and wrap it into a "C" shape around the base of the tooth and gently under the gum line. Wipe the tooth from base to tip two or three times.
Step 3
Be sure to floss both sides of every tooth. Don't forget the backs of your last molars. Go to a new section of the floss as it wears and picks up particles.
Step 4
Brush your teeth after you floss - it is a more effective method of preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
Flossing Problems and Solutions
Gums sometimes bleed when you first begin to floss. Bleeding usually stops after a few days. If bleeding does not stop, see your dentist. Floss can shred if you snag it on an old filling or on the ragged edge of a tooth. Try another type of floss or dental tape. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist for advice. If your floss still shreds, see your dentist.
Pain Free Dentistry in Burlington and Children's Dentistry i
Are you afraid of the Dentist? Did you have a bad experience as a child?
Your child's early experiences at the dentist can help shape the future of his or her oral health. If you're looking for Pain Free Dentistry in Burlington or Pain Free Dentistry in Oakville, look no further than Smile Centre Dental. We're pleased to offer gentle and caring Dentistry for Kids in Burlington in a warm, comfortable office setting. We also serve the Milton, Oakville, Mississauga and Hamilton area.
A Focus on Patient Comfort
At Smile Centre Dental we understand that dentistry is not always pleasant. With ceiling mounted televisions and many channels to choose from on Netflix, your child's experience will be a positive one.
A Focus on Patient Education
At Smile Centre Dental, we believe that a big part of children's dentistry involves teaching patients how to properly care for their teeth. Many children learn their most important oral hygiene habits by visiting our practice, including:
- Brushing
- Flossing
- How to avoid tooth decay
But Smile Centre Dental does more than just teach children about proper oral care. Our team of dedicated dental professionals goes the extra mile to provide thorough treatment when our patients need it the most. To learn more about our children's dentistry services or to schedule an appointment, call us today at (905) 332-0330.
Teeth Cleaning
24/7 Emergency Dental Care
Be sure to add a dental visit to this year's spring cleaning list. A professional dental cleaning at least twice a year can improve your oral health, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education.
The AGD strongly recommends that a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months. This professional dental cleaning reinforces the home-care oral health regimen of brushing and flossing and gives the dentist an opportunity to locate areas in the mouth that may need special attention.
People who regularly practice good oral hygiene at home with proper brushing and flossing techniques typically do not experience discomfort during a cleaning. However, those who have neglected their oral hygiene habits may experience some discomfort or sensitivity during a dental cleaning. The dentist can use a topical anesthetic before the cleaning to alleviate any discomfort.
During a dental cleaning, you’ll receive diagnostic and preventive services from your dentist as well as any needed educational information.
Diagnostic services may include:
- Reviewing and updating medical history, including information about heart problems, pregnancy, diabetes and medications, which may have an impact on your oral health
- Oral cancer examination and screening
- Evaluation of gum tissue
- Checking biting, chewing and swallowing patterns
- X-rays or examination of teeth to detect decay
- Referral to specialists for specific treatment
Preventive services may include:
- Removal of plaque and tartar
- Stain removal
- Fluoride application
- Sealants (for children)
- Polishing teeth, including fillings and crowns
- Cleaning and adjustment of dentures and partial dentures
Educational services may include:
- Tooth brushing and flossing instructions
- Nutritional counseling
- Recommendations for future treatment: when to return for follow-up hygiene treatment, periodontal (gum) concerns or restorative options
- Evaluation of self-care effectiveness
How to get help in a dental emergency in Burlington
If you are in pain call us right now! (905) 332-0330
Toothache
When you call us for an emergency in Burlington, explain your symptoms and we will see you as soon as possible. To ease the pain, take an over-the-counter pain medicine that works for you, but do not put the pills on your sore tooth. Hold an ice pack against your face at the spot of the sore tooth.
Do not put a heating pad, a hot water bottle, or any other source of heat on your jaw. Heat will make things worse instead of better.
Chipped or broken tooth
When you call us for an emergency in Oakville, we will see you as soon as possible. If it's a small break, we may use a white filling to fix the tooth. If the break is serious, a root canal may be needed. Your tooth may also need a crown (also called a cap).
Knocked out tooth
If the knocked-out tooth is an adult (or permanent) tooth, we may be able to put it back. You must act quickly. If the tooth is put back in place within 10 minutes, it has a fair chance of taking root again. After 2 hours, the chances are poor.
If the tooth looks clean, put it back in its place (its socket). If this is not possible, or if there's a chance that the tooth might be swallowed, put it in a container of cold milk. Come see us right away your emergency dentist. If you get help within ten minutes, there is a fair chance that the tooth will take root again.
Badly bitten lip or tongue
If there is bleeding, press down on the part of the mouth that is bleeding. Use a clean cloth to do this. If the lip is swollen, use an ice pack to keep the swelling down. If the bleeding does not stop, go to Emergency at a hospital right away.
Something stuck between teeth
First, try using dental floss, very gently and carefully, to remove the object. Never poke between your teeth with a pin or similar sharp, pointy object; it can cut your gums or scratch the tooth surface. If you can't get the object out, call us your emergency dentist and we will see you as soon as possible.
Lost filling
Put a piece of softened sugarless chewing gum in the spot where the filling was lost. This will protect the area for a short period of time. Call us your emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Whether you are an existing or new patient, we are here to help! We understand that dental emergencies can crop up at the most inconvenient times so our office is open on evenings and weekends. If you have a dental emergency after hours, call us right away!
Wisdom teeth in Burlington
Are you in pain? Call us right now (905) 332-0330
Your wisdom teeth are the four molars that appear when you’re in your teens or early twenties. Unfortunately, many of us have jaws that are too small to comfortably accommodate them. When there isn’t enough room for the teeth to grow in properly, they can become impacted, which can be painful, and create problems that affect the rest of your mouth.
Call us for all your needs with wisdom teeth in Burlington. We will do an exam and take a panoramic x-ray to see how your wisdom teeth are coming in, and determine if they are causing problems. We usually deal with wisdom teeth between the ages of 17 and 25, but it’s never too late to address them. Call us right now if you're in pain in Burlington. Wisdom teeth in Oakville, Milton, Mississauga and Hamilton. (905) 332-0330
X-ray in Burlington
X ray in Burlington, also known as radiographs, are an essential part of any dental care treatment plan. They are diagnostic, but they can also be preventative, by helping a dentist diagnose potential oral care issues in a patient’s mouth before they become a major problem. An x-ray is a type of energy that passes through soft tissues and is absorbed by dense tissue. Teeth and bone are very dense, so they absorb X-rays, while X-rays pass more easily through gums and cheeks.
X-rays are divided into two main categories, intraoral and extraoral. Intraoral is an X-ray that is taken inside the mouth. An extraoral X-ray is taken outside of the mouth.
Intraoral X-rays are the most common type of radiograph taken in dentistry. They give a high level of detail of the tooth, bone and supporting tissues of the mouth. These X-ray allow dentists to:
- Find cavities
- Look at the tooth roots
- Check the health of the bony area around the tooth
- Determine if periodontal disease is an oral care issue
- See the status of developing teeth
- Otherwise, monitor good tooth health through prevention
If you are in need of x-ray in Burlington or x-ray in Oakville call us right now at (905) 332-0330.