Changes!Getting into the new Norm!

So many things have changed in the past few months … from children’s schooling to the way we grocery shop.  Gone are the days of just running to pick up something quickly .. I was never known for my patience.  I would certainly say I am much more patient now then I ever was !

I have been fortunate to continue working throughout this period and although I miss being with the Maple Mews Dental team and seeing patients, I am confident the day will come soon that we will be able to open the dental practice to see patients, and do what we do best, work alongside our patients to maintain oral health and create beautiful smiles. For the time being, I am in the office working closely with Dr Rzepka and Dr Parker to triage and take care of dental emergencies.  Like many other professionals, dentists including Dr Rzepka and Dr. Parker started offering phone and video services to take care of patients and clients with urgent needs.  “ Teledentistry” has become the norm during this time to address our patients dental concerns and emergencies, seeing in office patients only as necessary to reduce risks for both patients and our team.

Just like grocery shopping, the visit to the dentist looks very different.  We are social distancing, we are wearing masks, even me at the front desk, we are screening every patient and visitor to the office over the phone and upon arrival and taking the temperature of each person upon arrival to the office.  A glass front desk enclosure was installed last week … I am so pleased with it … I know I feel safer and know you will too when you visit Maple Mews Dental !  We are working diligently to be prepared to see patients for more than just emergency services, and when we get the green light from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons to do so, we will be ready!

Laura Mara, Office Manager, Maple Mews Dental

Cannabis & Your Dental Health

You may notice, when you visit Maple Mews Dental for your dental visit, that the dental hygienist or dentist will ask you about cannabis use when updating your current health information. WHY?

• Cannabis use can affect your oral health by putting you at higher risk for cavities, gum disease and oral cancer. Like smoking, it decreases the amount of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is important in neutralizing acidity in the mouth. It is the acidity that weakens the tooth structure.
• How cannabis is consumed is also important information. Ingestion of cannabis will have less effect on your oral health vs. inhalation which is associated with increased risk of oral cancer.
• Cannabis can affect the medication or anesthetic used during a dental appointment. It is important to advise the dental hygienist or dentist if cannabis has recently been consumed.  Cannabis may possibly cause a drug interaction which may lead to a medical emergency.
• Whether cannabis is being used for recreational or medicinal purposes is also good information to have. Frequent, long term use of cannabis can lead to higher risk of cavities, gum disease and oral cancer. By knowing how often cannabis is used, we can design an individualized program to help prevent potential oral health risks.

See also vaping and the effects on oral health ! VAPING

Christine, Dental Hygienist, Maple Mews Dental

 

What have you been baking?

Baking , Baking , Baking .. seems to be what everyone is doing while at home during these crazy times.  The Maple Mews Dental Team has been baking and cooking and sharing some ideas and recipes.

Do you have a favorite recipe that you make over and over ?  In our home we love making banana bread !   Our favourite is banana bread with chocolate chips but we add nuts or fruit … often blueberries .. soooo yummy!

Even Dr. Parker and Dr. Rzepka have been baking! Look at this banana bread ! A recipe that was shared,  this one with some almonds added on top .  Doesn’t this look delicious!!

We would love to hear from you .. what have you been baking??

Happy Baking from The Maple Mews Dental Team !

Laura, Office Manager, Maple Mews Dental

 

What’s #trending? (and NOT in a good way!)

        

 What is “vaping”?

• Vaping products (electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes) are devices that heat a liquid
into an aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs
• The liquid (sometimes referred to as e-juice) in a vape product contains a
combination of ingredients, usually including nicotine (the highly addictive drug
found in tobacco products)

What are the health effects of vaping?

• Nicotine dependence (nicotine reduces blood flow to the gingival tissues (your
“gums”), which denies them the oxygen and nutrients required to stay healthy)
• Xerostomia (aka. dry mouth) which leads to halitosis (bad breath), gingivitis,
periodontitis, viral and fungal infections, and tooth loss
• Higher risk of oral cancer, “popcorn lung” (damage to your lungs’ airways), lung
cancer, and COPD
• Potential chemical exposure/chemical burns of highly toxic substances due to the
heating of the flavour compounds

Recommendations?

• Educate yourself! Learn the risks associated with vaping and vape products
• Monitor your symptoms (if you are currently a vape user) – Are you experiencing
shortness of breath? Do you have a chronic cough?
• Talk to a professional about clinically proven ways to stop vaping!

***NON-SMOKERS, PREGNANT WOMEN, PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY QUIT VAPING SHOULD NOT VAPE**

Written By : Michelle,Dental Hygienist, Maple Mews Dental Office, Burlington,Ontario

                                                            

How clean is Your Toothbrush ?

Studies show that our toothbrushes contain lots of bacteria, actually over 10 million bacteria can live on our toothbrushes! There is even bacteria in the plaque that we are removing from our teeth with our toothbrush.  Yikes ! Should you worry ?  NO … the average mouth has the same, or at least most of the same bacteria … most of which are good bacteria!  Good bacteria are important to our oral health and overall health !

Good practices for keeping your toothbrush clean include:

• Store your toothbrush in a place where is stands alone and will not touch others
• Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly of residue after each time you brush
• Toothbrushes should be left uncovered to air dry ( covers can create moist setting for bacteria)
• Store your toothbrush upright – standing not laying on a counter
• Replace your toothbrush every 3 months, when bristles look worn and every time you are sick
• NEVER share your toothbrush

Brush often, keep your toothbrush clean , don’t share your toothbrush …. Keep Smiling!

Laura Mara, CDAII, CDR, CDTC , Office Manager, Maple Mews Dental

Daily Oral Care Routine

With everyone’s routine looking a bit different nowadays it is important to try and stick to a “normal routine” as much as possible, especially for the kids and this includes your oral care.

In my house we still set an alarm during the week, get up, eat breakfast, get dressed and get ready for “school” which, for the time being, is our dining room table.

I make sure the kids brush and floss every day, morning and night. My kids all have Sonicare electric toothbrushes and they use them for 2 min (or until it shuts off ). They will floss once a day; this usually happens in the evenings. They all have a history of cavities so I also make them use a fluoride rinse after brushing and flossing. Brooklyn and Ava both have cavities that were supposed to be taken care of over March Break, however due to the coronavirus we had to postpone that treatment. Their daily use of Opti fluoride rinse gives me piece of mind in holding off on that treatment.

My oldest daughter Ella (who didn’t want to be pictured…pre-teens) is in braces right now and has also had to postpone visits to the orthodontist so I make sure she not only rinses with the fluoride rinse but also brushes with Remin tooth paste which I recommended for kids in braces. Along with her electric brush she uses a water pik to help remove plaque in the hard to reach areas around her braces. Ella needs to brush three times a day or after every time she eats a meal. This will ensure the plaque does not sit around her brackets for too long which can demineralize the enamel and cause pitting or enamel hypoplasia.

Now that I am a homeschool teacher, I find that my routine now includes a glass of wine at the end of the day. If you find that your routine is similar please remember to rinse your mouth out with water once you are finished the glass. This helps in restoring the PH balance in your mouth and lowers your chance of acid erosion or decay on the enamel. After doing so and waiting at least 30 minutes you can brush and floss as normal.

I hope you are all doing well and staying sane and I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Stephanie- Registered Dental Hygienist at Maple Mews Dental

Snacking and Your Oral Health

For me, isolation comes hand in hand with snacking! ( often while binge watching my favorite shows !!!)

It is best to choose healthy snacks such as nuts, fruits/ veggies, cheese, popcorn and yogurt.  Occasionally, we choose sweet snacks and drinks that may affect our dental health.

It is not the amount of snacks that may cause damage to our teeth but rather the frequency of snacking.  After eating, the saliva becomes more acidic.  With frequent snacking, the teeth are constantly bathing in acidic saliva which causes the breakdown of tooth structure.

To reduce the risk of damage to our teeth from snacking,  here are a few reminders:

• Don’t brush right after eating. Remember, that the saliva is very acidic. Wait an hour for the saliva to neutralize before brushing. Chewing sugarless gum, xylitol gum or eating cheese can help neutralize the saliva more quickly.
• Minimize acidic drinks such as pop ( regular and diet), juice, lemon water, lemonade and yes..wine
• Read the label on your snack. If sugar is the first ingredient on the list then the food has a lot of sugar. Also look for other sugars such as corn syrup, corn sweeteners, dextrose, fructose, glucose, honey, molasses, sucrose.
• Minimize sweet sticky snacks which will stick to your teeth longer. Snacks such as gummy bears, fruit roll up, dried fruits (dried mango for me), caramels and toffee tend to stick to teeth longer.  It is better to eat a chocolate bar because chocolate melts quicker, not staying on the teeth.
• Continue with your daily oral hygiene routine. Proper brushing and flossing will ensure that the cavity producing bacteria are removed from the teeth surfaces.

So happy isolation and snack smart….

I hope to see everyone soon;  healthy and safe ! ( so you can tell me what you were binge watching!)

Christine – Registered Dental Hygienist at Maple Mews Dental