Do you or your children have fears or anxieties about seeing a dentist? You know that dental care is essential to keeping you healthy, yet you still avoid going. You're not alone; around 22% of Canadians avoid the dentist due to anxiety.

What is Dental Anxiety?

Put simply, dental anxiety is “fear related to seeking or receiving dental care.” Many people don’t particularly like to go to the dentist, but they’re not necessarily afraid to go. Dental anxiety, meanwhile, steps into the category of fear.

Most people who suffer from dental anxiety tend to avoid the dentist altogether. This avoidance of dental visits often results in a higher incidence of cavities, which can then turn into missing teeth or more complex dental problems. This can leave you with feelings of inferiority and shame and cause further avoidance of dental care.

You don't necessarily have to have had a bad experience for your anxiety to still be overcoming. A lot of people are more anxious about what may happen, than what has happened.

How to Manage Dental Anxiety

Managing your dental anxiety can be a lifetime struggle for some people. Here are some of our top tips to help you feel more comfortable when visiting the dentist:

• Identify your fear. Once you know exactly what you’re fearful about, you can start working towards a solution.
• Build a good relationship with your dentist or hygienist. The more trust you have with them the more comfortable you will be at each appointment.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for sedation if you think it may help.
• Learn about mindfulness, meditation and breathing techniques. There are many apps available that can help you with this.
• Listen to music that relaxes you during appointments, or talk with your dentist or hygienist if you don't like the silence or sounds.
• Ask one of our staff for a blanket to help you feel comfortable, our office offers weighted blankets as well.
• Find out if you qualify for a service animal to help manage your anxiety, Sherwood Dental is a service animal-friendly office.
• Look into the benefits of CBD oil, some studies suggest this may help calm some anxieties (blog post to come on this).

Dental anxiety is a complex issue that can take a lot of patience and practice to manage. The most important thing you can do is try to keep on top of your regular visits.  In fact, seeing your dentist regularly can actually make the entire process – from making an appointment to sailing through it – easier on many levels.

If you do suffer from dental anxiety give us a call, and we can sit down and talk to you about the options we have at Sherwood Dental. We will walk you through your options from oral sedation to nitrous (laughing gas) or both. Bring a list of questions you may have so that we may address all your concerns. Depending on your needs we may suggest a referral to one of our trusted IV sedation centres. Sometimes just meeting our friendly team, touring our calm environment and understanding ALL your options is enough to get you through something you have been very stressed about.

We look forward to working with you to help understand what your concerns are and how we can help.

The post How to Manage Dental Anxiety appeared first on Sherwood Dental.

If you're one of the 8 million caregivers in Canada, you’ve got a lot on your mind. You understand how difficult it can be to take care of your loved ones dental care.

When you’re caring for a child—or adult—with a disability or neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's, the challenges can be even greater. It may be hard to know how to adapt your routine to include caring for their oral health.

How much help you give will depend on the individual. If the person in your care can do the basics, let them. Some simple adaptations to brushing routines for those with limited motor function or developmental disabilities can include:

• Using an elastic band to help steady the toothbrush in their hands.
• Enlarge the base of the brush for better grip with a sponge, rubber ball or bicycle grip.
• Lengthen the toothbrush by attaching it to a ruler or wooden dowel for better reach.
• Invest in an electric toothbrush or water/air flosser, as they help reach areas that may be getting missed.

Others caregivers may be looking after those with memory issues. People with dementia or Alzheimer's may need someone to clean their teeth every day. The Alzheimer's association recommends these tips for oral health care:

• Provide short, simple instructions. Break it down by telling them each step instead of a general statement such as "brush your teeth".
• Use a "watch me" technique and have your loved one follow along.
• If the person seems agitated or uncooperative, postpone brushing until later in the day.

When in doubt give our office a call or speak to one of our dental Hygienists or doctors.  Maintaining regular check up and cleaning appointments will help your loved one have a healthy mouth for years to come.

The post Caregivers Guide to Dental Care appeared first on Sherwood Dental.

As you begin to age, you may notice changes that need to be made to keep your mouth healthy. The older you get, it may be even more important than ever to keep on top of your oral care.

Senior dental problems can be common, from dry mouth to gum disease. And since oral health directly impacts the health of the rest of the body, these issues need to be taken seriously. Taking care of elderly teeth and gums is just as important as heart or digestive health.

As you age, you may notice it is more difficult to keep on top of oral hygiene. Perhaps arthritis or limited mobility, makes tooth brushing painful. Or you find you can’t stand at the bathroom sink very long.

You may need to modify your brushing and flossing techniques or try using an electric toothbrush. If standing and mobility is an issue you don't have to be near a sink to brush/floss. All you need is a basin or bowl, to discharge your excess toothpaste, and a cup of freshwater to rinse.

Our Registered Dental Hygienists or doctors can also inform you, or your loved one, about purchasing a fluoride rinse, or a speciality toothpaste that can help fight cavities or sensitivity. There are also some great products available to help combat dry mouth, which is a common side effect that many seniors have from certain medications.

Caring for your teeth and gums is a life long routine. You are never too old to have healthy teeth, and you are never too old to stop seeing your dentist. Feel free to give us a call or ask at your next visit on ways to keep your teeth healthy at every age.

The post Taking Care of Your Teeth As You Age appeared first on Sherwood Dental.

If your gums bleed when you floss or brush your teeth you may think this is normal and ignore it, but bleeding gums can be a sign of underlying problems. Bleeding gums is often caused by harmful plaque, and the millions of bacteria in it, found at or around the gum line. Left too long this plaque can lead to gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease.

Besides gingivitis you can also have bleeding gums from:

• Smoking and/or vaping
• Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy
• Medication you are taking
• Vitamin K deficiency

There are things you can do to help maintain healthy gums and reduce bleeding or the chance of developing gingivitis.

Since bleeding gums are mainly due to inadequate plaque removal, starting an effective oral hygiene regimen is a great way to help prevent bleeding gums. Brushing twice a day in a circular motion along the gum line will help stimulate and strengthen your gum tissue. As well, flossing once a day will help get rid of any plaque or food that is trapped between your teeth and under the gums.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, quitting smoking or vaping, and eating a diet low in sugar and simple carbohydrates will also improve the health of your gums.

If your gums continue to bleed when flossing and brushing, after you've tried to improve your oral hygiene, please call Sherwood Dental and let one of our dentists evaluate your flossing technique and whether or not there is a need for gum treatment.

The post Why Do I Have Bleeding Gums? appeared first on Sherwood Dental.

We are always trying to make home care as effective as possible for our patients; especially our patients who suffer from sensitivity or have high cavity risk. This is why we have introduced new kits and products designed specifically for these issues. We believe that preventative care is the most important type of dental care. 

Sensitivity Kit

Our Sensitivity Kit contains three products to help reduce everyday sensitivity.

• X-Pur Remin Toothpaste – the toothpaste contains hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate compound that can penetrate below the surface of the tooth to re-mineralize enamel.
• Curaprox Toothbrush – this ultra-soft ultra-compact toothbrush contains over 5000 individual filaments to achieve an optimal, gentle cleaning.
• Opti-Rinse 0.05% - a grape flavoured sodium fluoride rinse that helps re-mineralize and is anti-caries.

Zero Cavity Kit

The Zero Cavity Kit contains three products that will help fight against cavity fighting bacteria.

• X-Pur Cario Toothpaste – natural 25% xylitol toothpaste that can reduce cavity causing bacteria, re-mineralize, and reduce plaque formation.
• Curaprox Toothbrush – this ultra-soft ultra-compact toothbrush contains over 5000 individual filaments to achieve an optimal, gentle cleaning.
• Opti-Rinse 0.2% - a high intensity mint flavoured sodium fluoride rinse is anti-caries and helps to re-mineralize teeth.

All these items are now available to purchase at our office in kits as well as individually. Contact us if you have any questions or you ask your hygienist or dentist what they think is best for you at your next appointment.

The post New Kits For Sensitive or Cavity Prone Teeth appeared first on Sherwood Dental.

Good oral hygiene goes hand-in-hand with your overall well-being. How so, you ask? Great oral hygiene:

• Prevents plaque, gingivitis and gum disease in your mouth
• Goes hand-in-hand with a healthy cardio-vascular system
• Keeps you out of the dentist's chair, saving you time
• and Earns you a terrific smile, too!

Good Oral Hygiene Prevents Plaque, Gingivitis and Gum Disease

Plaque and gingivitis are caused by bacteria growing in your mouth. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day combined with flossing once a day prevents the growth of bacteria in your mouth.

Proper Oral Hygiene Rewards with a Healthy Cardio-vascular System

Those who practice good oral hygiene are often rewarded with a healthy cardio-vascular system. This is because poor oral hygiene allows plaque and bacteria to grow in your mouth. Bacteria then passes directly into your bloodstream through your gums and on into your heart.

Good Oral Hygiene Saves Time

Plaque and gingivitis can mean additional trips to the dentist. When you practice good oral hygiene, there's no need to visit the dentist's office more than is necessary. We see our patients two, three or four times for a good cleaning each year based on their individual needs.

Great Oral Hygiene Earns a Terrific Smile

Prevent plaque and gingivitis from growing in your mouth in the first place. Brush twice a day - after eating a good breakfast and before going to bed - and floss daily. These daily practices combined with eating healthful foods (low-sugar, low-carbohydrate) will earn you a terrific smile!

If you've been practicing efficient oral hygiene on a daily basis, good for you! It really shows in your terrific smile! If not, call Sherwood Dental at (780) 464-4166 and schedule an appointment today. Then, start practicing good oral hygiene daily for your total well-being.

Resource:

http://www.usa.philips.com/c-m-pe/electric-toothbrushes

The post 4 Reasons To Practice Good Oral Hygiene appeared first on Sherwood Dental.