Thank you. And thank you again.

The new patients who discover our practice through their own trusted relationships (you!), and their circles of influence, tend to become our very best new patients.

Whether you’re fairly new to our practice yourself—or a long time patient—we hope you already know how much we love what we do and how much we appreciate you. We hope you sense that every time you visit us.

If there is ever anything we can do to make your visits even more pleasant and comfortable, please never hesitate to ask.

We Invite You To Share

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below and we will respond quickly. Also, by clicking on the Facebook link to your right, you can send us a direct message on Facebook any time.

We’re listening, and we value your feedback. It helps make us a better practice.

EXCUSES FOR NOT BRUSHING OFTEN are all over the map!

Fortunately, proper brushing techniques don’t require a lot of time at all! Simply brush for two minutes, twice a day…that’s only 240 seconds total. If it really is a time issue you’re dealing with, set your alarm clock back 2 minutes. Your oral health is worth it and your smile will thank you!

Now, although two minutes really isn’t very long in the grand scheme of things, it can seem like a long time to brush your teeth if you’re used to a 20-second scrub. So, next time you’re in the bathroom brushing, bring along your phone and time yourself!

To properly brush your teeth, use gentle strokes and pay extra attention to your gum line, those hard-to-reach places, and the areas surrounding your fillings or crowns. If you concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section of your mouth, those 2 minutes will fly by!

Here is a great video by Colgate that illustrates proper brushing techniques:

Alternatively, a better way to brush is to use an electric toothbrush. Our two favourites are made by Oral B Professional Care Smart Series and the Philips DiamondClean Sonicare model. They have timers built in and let you know when the 2 minutes are up! It’s a no-brainer. The Philips Air Floss is also an intriguing new product. And they are all for sale in our office. Ask us for a demo!

By the way, among the most interesting responses from that same survey suggested that pets crave toothbrushes as well as homework. But now that you’re motivated to take your brushing and flossing seriously, you won’t need to pretend like the dog ate your toothbrush! You’ll be a brushing pro.

If you have any additional questions about maintaining good oral hygiene, feel free to leave a comment below!

Oh, and be sure to Like us on Facebook and visit our website for additional information!

Request an appointment today.

ALTHOUGH ORAL PIERCINGS’ ORIGINS TECHNICALLY GO BACK TO ANCIENT MAYAN AND AZTEC tradition and religion,

As with traditional earrings, oral piercings come in a variety of styles including rings, barbells, and studs. However, piercing your tongue, cheek, or lips involves a lot more risk than piercing your earlobes. Before considering having any sort of oral piercing, get some advice from Dr. Larry and take a few minutes to learn about the risks…

• Infection: Our mouths are filled with zillions of bacteria, putting you at significant risk of infection after an oral piercing.
• Prolonged Bleeding: Sometimes blood vessels are punctured by the needle during piercing which can result in serious blood loss.
• Pain and Swelling: Both pain and swelling are typical side effects of oral piercings. In some extreme cases, the tongue can swell up so much that it can block your airway.
• Chipped or Cracked Teeth: When a tooth makes contact with oral jewelry it can often lead to tooth damage.
• Injury To Your Gums: Metal jewelry can injure your gum tissue and cause your gums to recede, putting you at greater risks of decay and gum disease, and leaving your mouth much less attractive.
• Interference With Normal Oral Function: The presence of jewelry in your mouth can cause excessive saliva flow, make it more difficult to chew or swallow, and impede your ability to speak correctly.
• Blood-borne Diseases: The National Institutes of Health have identified oral piercings as possible factors in transmitting hepatitis B, C, D, and G.
• Endocarditis: The wound that is created from an oral piercing gives the bacteria in your mouth the opportunity to enter your bloodstream where they can travel to the heart, putting you at risk of endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart valves and tissues.

Because there are so many risks surrounding oral jewelry, even after the initial wound has healed, the safest decision you can make is to avoid oral piercings altogether. However, if you or a loved one has an oral piercing, make sure you come in and see us at the first sign of pain or trouble so that any potential ‘bigger’ problems can be avoided.

Are you a parent with a child who may be considering oral piercing? Yes, we understand… Sometimes kids won’t listen to a parent, but they may listen to a healthcare professional. Don’t hesitate to contact our dental practice and ask for our help if you feel like it would be appropriate. We’re here to help.

Before you go—click on the image below and join our practice on Facebook to keep up with everything going on in our office. We look forward to connecting with you there!

GOOD NEWS! Taking care of our mouths actually improves our smiles!

So, here are some of the ways that taking care of your teeth affects your body.

Good oral health…

- can boost your confidence and self-esteem

• Gum disease and decaying teeth can lead to LOTS of problems—including an unsightly smile and foul breath. This can be so bad that your self-image is affected. If you keep your mouth healthy you’ll be much more inclined to smile!

- has been directly linked to lowering your risk of heart disease

• Gum disease can cause inflammation that can be directly associated with cardiovascular problems.

- can preserve memory

• Believe it or not, in recent studies show that adults with gingivitis actually performed worse on cognitive skills/memory tests than those without gum disease. Those with gingivitis are also more likely to have delayed verbal recall.

- reduces risks of inflammation and infection

• Poor oral health is linked to the development of infection in other parts of the body. Eat a balanced diet, visit Dr. Larry regularly, and practice good oral hygiene to reduce bacteria and gingivitis.

- helps keep your blood sugar stable

• Those with diabetes are more likely to develop gingivitis, making it more difficult to control sugar blood levels. Reducing your risk of gingivitis by protecting your oral health can help you regain better control of your blood sugar.

- helps pregnant women carry a baby to term

• Gingivitis becomes a greater risk to women when they are pregnant. Unfortunately, there may be a connection to gum disease and pre-term infants, so be sure to visit your dentist as part of your prenatal care.

Well, there you have it. Keeping your mouth healthy really can improve your overall health and well-being. Feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions about the benefits of preventive care.

Oh, and don’t forget to join us on Facebook too! We look forward to connecting with you there!

VISITING OUR PRACTICE REGULARLY HAS PROBABLY TURNED YOU INTO a cavity prevention expert, right?

While it is true that things like flossing, brushing for at least 2 minutes twice a day, coming in to our dental practice for regular checkups, using mouthwash, and avoiding sugary foods DO help prevent cavities, there are other things we can do. New discoveries show that the pH levels in our mouths actually have A LOT more to do with tooth decay than we may realize, and maintaining normal pH levels can be helpful in fighting off cavities and gum disease.

Exactly What Is pH?

To put it simply, pH is a measure of acidity… The lower the pH, the higher the acidity, and the higher the pH, the higher the alkaline levels. The pH scale runs from 1 to 14, and in the middle of the scale is the neutral number 7, being most like water.

This is where we want our mouths to be. While we know that sugar feeds the bacteria that produces acids and turns into cavities, it is actually prolonged acidic oral pH that can cause tooth decay and a demineralization of your enamel.

Confused? Let us break this down…

Heading off the domino effect means intercepting those pH levels before they get out of hand. Ever heard of a pH test strips? They’re like the sticks you dip into your swimming pool, except they’re for your mouth. You can buy them at your local pharmacy and then try these remedies at home!

• Fresh Lemon and/or Lime Juice: Lemons and limes are acidic until they react with the sodium bicarbonate released by the pancreas. Upon entering the intestinal tract lemon and lime juice have alkaline properties. However, since both lemons and limes can erode tooth enamel, if you spice up your water with these delicious flavor accents, make sure you drink with a straw placed at the back of your mouth!
• Take your multivitamins: Take a high quality multivitamin that contains both the essential vitamins and minerals.
• Eat those leafy greens: Dark green vegetables and “green drinks” contain a high abundance of chlorophyll—a strong detoxifier and immunity–building agent.
• Avoid refined carbohydrates and sugar: Eliminate all processed foods, and when you opt for grains, make sure they’re “whole.”
• Watch your intake of ‘Sports’ Drinks, stimulant drinks like ‘Red Bull’ and even Iced Tea. All of these drinks rapidly alter the pH of your mouth. Even more than Cola!

If you have any additional questions about how to keep your mouth healthy, set up an appointment to talk to Dr. Larry. Let’s do all we can to prevent tooth decay!

Don’t forget to “Like” our Facebook Page to stay updated on everything going on at our practice. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

OK…WE KNOW THE TOPIC “DENTAL SEALANTS” SOUNDS PRETTY DULL

Dr. Larry recommends sealants as preventive dental care for children because their teeth have small depressions in them that make them harder to properly clean through brushing alone. Sealants provide protection for these small depressions and grooves by keeping plaque from forming in the small crevices. Adults can also be good candidates for dental sealants.  And with Calgary City Council ignoring the electorate and removing Fluoride from our municipal water supply, preventive procedures like Sealants are even more important than ever.

Getting dental sealants only takes a quick visit to our office. After your teeth are properly cleaned and prepped, we paint the sealing solution directly onto the tooth surfaces and then harden it by a curling light. Once the sealant is hardened we send you on your way—you don’t even have to wait to eat and drink. After your sealants have been applied Dr. Larry will keep tabs on them through routine dental checkups to ensure that they remain in good condition.

The price of dental sealants can often be covered by insurance companies, and they can last up to 10 years—making an application from childhood last well into adulthood. See if dental sealants are right for you or your children by filling out our contact form. Also feel free to direct message us on Twitter or Facebook with your questions.

Dental Sealants. Affordable, Simple, Effective. Research has proven it.