Our oral health prevention program is pro-active! Preservation of natural tooth structure and keeping your gums healthy is an essential component of your complete health. We offer support for your daily health routine by customized recommendations for brushes, toothpastes, rinses that apply to you specifically. We customize your re-care schedule depending on your personal risk levels and challenges.
Oral hygiene has been linked to overall health and inflammation levels throughout the body. Just like in the rest of our digestive system, the mouth needs a healthy balance of bacteria. Dental plaque is a complex mixture of salivary proteins, bacteria and bacterial products, minerals and food particles. If this plaque is left to mature and grow, we are shifting the balance of the oral biome to less favourable bacteria. These organisms start to trigger the immune system, causing gingivitis - red bleeding gums - or in worse cases periodontitis - bone loss around the teeth.
This activation of the immune system doesn't stay in your mouth, essentially the whole body is on high inflammation alert, and these bacteria can also escape into the blood stream. Bacteria and inflammation throughout the body can affect heart, circulation and brain health. This is serious stuff. Dentists are often requested to complete medical surgical clearance for patients needing joint or heart surgery. Having heavy bacteria or infection in the mouth is a big risk factor for infection and poor outcomes after general surgery.
And we haven't even talked about tooth decay yet...
This activation of the immune system doesn't stay in your mouth, essentially the whole body is on high inflammation alert, and these bacteria can also escape into the blood stream. Bacteria and inflammation throughout the body can affect heart, circulation and brain health. This is serious stuff. Dentists are often requested to complete medical surgical clearance for patients needing joint or heart surgery. Having heavy bacteria or infection in the mouth is a big risk factor for infection and poor outcomes after general surgery.
And we haven't even talked about tooth decay yet...
from 'Sugarbug Doug' by Dr Ben Magleby
When we feed our plaque bacteria fermentable carbohydrates (sugar and starches), these bacteria produce acids that can dissolve our beautiful tooth enamel and dentin. If it breaks down enough and creates a hole, the problem gets worse quickly - needing a filling for the decay and cavity. That's dentistry in a nutshell - fixing holes in teeth, complicated by the size of the hole and the fact that it's in someone's mouth! Sometimes teeth have natural holes and grooves - these need protection before the bacteria can worsen the issue (sealants).
There are many factors that make a person at higher risk for tooth damage and gum or bone problems. Some of these are dry mouth from medications, frequent sugar snacks, acid reflux disease, acidic dietary habits, hand mobility and dexterity issues, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, tooth alignment, tooth wear, tooth structural problems (natural holes, grooves, fillings with bad edges), food catching spaces between teeth, fillings that have hard to clean edges... so many factors that are closely checked every time you see us. We provide customized care to help your teeth be the best they can be!
There are many factors that make a person at higher risk for tooth damage and gum or bone problems. Some of these are dry mouth from medications, frequent sugar snacks, acid reflux disease, acidic dietary habits, hand mobility and dexterity issues, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, tooth alignment, tooth wear, tooth structural problems (natural holes, grooves, fillings with bad edges), food catching spaces between teeth, fillings that have hard to clean edges... so many factors that are closely checked every time you see us. We provide customized care to help your teeth be the best they can be!
The good news is that your oral care is in your hands (with us here to help!) Our team at Guardian works hard to find solutions that work for you everyday - options and tools to help you clean your teeth effectively. And when you come for a maintenance hygiene and dental checkup we get you back on track and detect any changes early.
