What is TMJ and how do you treat it?

TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder occurs as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles. Pain in the jaw may be excruciating and in some cases, TMJ may go away on its own without any treatment. However, if symptoms persist, your doctor or dentist may recommend some treatment options that could relieve the pain.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of TMJ may include:

  • Pain or tenderness in your jaw
  • Pain in your neck and shoulders
  • Pain in and around your ear
  • Swelling on the side of your face
  • Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
  • Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open and close your mouth

Risk Factors and Causes

It’s frustrating when you have symptoms of TMJ but don’t know what causes it. Your doctor or dentist may not know what’s causing TMJ, however, painful TMJ can occur because of an injury or stress.

TMJ disorder can occur under the following situations:

  • Chronic teeth grinding or clenching
  • Jaw injury like whiplash or a heavy blow
  • Disc erosion in the jaw
  • Stress or anxiety

Treatment

 You can start treating pain caused by TMJ using home remedies such as practicing self-care. You can start by avoiding eating tough and chewy food like peanuts and chewing gum and opt for soft, non-chewy food. Take over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen to lessen the swelling on your jaw and relieve you of some pain. In the case of swelling, try placing a cold pack on your jaw when needed.

If you have exhausted all your home remedies and the pain persists, your doctor or dentist may give you other treatment options:

  • Pain medication
  • Mouth guards
  • Surgery
  • Physical Therapy

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Sports Injuries and Your Oral Health – Are You Protected?

With the return of warm summer weather, many of us are eager to get back to our favourite sports and outdoor recreation activities. Before you or your child hits the field, reduce your risk of head and dental injury by wearing proper protective equipment – including a mouth guard.

June is brain injury awareness month in Canada. According to Brain Injury Canada, over 1.5 million Canadians are living with the effects of an acquired traumatic brain injury. Even mild brain injuries can have serious long-term consequences, especially when there are repeat impacts. Concussions in elite athletes, most notably hockey player Sidney Crosby, have increased awareness of this hidden disability.

A 2020 Canadian government review on traumatic brain injury shows that sports and recreation activities are the leading cause of head injury in children and youth ages 5 to 19. Activities that frequently lead to concussions requiring emergency treatment in hospital include ice hockey, football, rugby, soccer, equestrian incidents, and cycling.

An important part of sports injury prevention is wearing appropriate protective equipment, such as helmets and mouth guards. Your dentist can make you a mouth guard for sports that is specially designed to absorb impact and prevent trauma to your teeth and mouth.

Wear Your Mouth Guard

Dentists recommend wearing a mouth guard when playing ball or contact sports. Custom mouth guards provide the best protection and comfort. They can help prevent injuries such as lost, damaged, or fractured teeth, as well as soft tissue injuries.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Bad Oral Habits to Avoid

We all have habits, good or bad, whether we’ve had it since we were young or something new we just acquired. They become a part of us and sometimes bad habits can affect us negatively in the long run. And oral health is no exception. When this happens, results can become extremely painful to our health and affect a lot in our daily lives.

Here are a few habits we must try to avoid to for a healthier smile and healthy body:

Smoking

Not only is smoking harmful to the lungs, it also causes a lot of concern to our oral health. Teeth discoloration and bad breath are more common but did you know that it also causes loss of bone density in the jaw, gum disease, and oral cancer? Breaking the habit of smoking can improve one’s oral health and overall health. Consult with your doctor to find the best and most effective way for you to stop smoking.

Drinking (too) hot beverages

Studies have found that drinking very hot beverages is a probable carcinogen, one that causes cancer. When beverages are drank in temperatures higher than 65 degrees Celsius, it could cause esophageal cancer. Avoid drinking beverages when it’s too hot. Let it cool and sip away!

Brushing too hard

There is such a thing as brushing too hard! It can erode tooth enamel and irritate the gums which can lead to gums receding. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid aggressive brushing.

Using teeth as tools

While teeth may be strong, it should not be used as a multitool to open containers, cut strings, and open food packaging. You can crack or chip your teeth and make trips to dentists more expensive. Moreover, this can leave your teeth unprotected to fight tooth decay. Get in the habit of using actual tools and protect your teeth!

Clenching and Grinding

Sometimes, these things are out of our control because we clench or grind our teeth during stressful times or when we are asleep. This can crack your teeth and can erode enamel. Consult your dentist about options in correcting this habit.

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month! Follow these tips to avoid any unnecessary dental work and make sure to visit the dentist bi-annually to keep your smile in tip-top shape! Remember, a healthy mouth is a healthy body!

Pandemic Bruxism: Is Pandemic Stress Affecting Your Teeth?

Dental professionals around the world have noticed a significant rise in teeth grinding since the start of the pandemic. As a result of increased stress, they are seeing more patients with signs of excessive clenching or grinding, also known as bruxism. These include tooth wear, cracks, fractures and jaw pain. Read more about pandemic bruxism in the British Dental Journal.

If you are clenching or grinding your teeth, your dentist can suggest ways to reduce symptoms and protect your smile, such as wearing a night guard.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Dental Implant vs. Bridge: Which Tooth Replacement Option Is Right for You?

Losing a tooth can dramatically affect your smile and your self-esteem. It can also make it difficult to eat certain foods. Whether you are missing a tooth because of genetics, decay, gum disease or injury, it is important to replace it to maintain oral function and keep your mouth as healthy as possible.

The good news is there are many options for restoring your smile. Let’s compare two popular tooth replacement options, a dental implant and a tooth-supported bridge.


Dental Implant

A dental implant serves as a replacement tooth root. It is surgically placed in the bone and topped with an implant crown once healing is complete. Dental implants are now the standard of care for tooth replacement because they provide an aesthetic and permanent solution.

Pros of Dental Implants:

  • A natural-looking tooth that feels and functions like your own
  • Dental implants can last a lifetime with good overall health and oral hygiene maintenance
  • Adjacent teeth remain intact
  • Reliable and secure
  • Help prevent bone loss

Cons of Dental Implants:

  • More expensive upfront
  • Surgical procedure requires additional healing time
  • Not everyone is a candidate – some medications and smoking can increase the chance of implant failure

Visit our website to learn more about the types of dental implants, and try our 5-minute Virtual Check to find out if you’re a candidate.

Tooth-Supported Bridge

A tooth-supported bridge uses the two neighboring teeth to support the replacement tooth. The adjacent teeth are shaved down slightly, and the bridge is cemented on top.

Pros of a Bridge:

  • Fixed and aesthetic restoration
  • Can last several years with good oral hygiene maintenance
  • The procedure can be completed in a few weeks
  • Some costs may be reimbursed by dental insurance

Cons of a Bridge:

  • Supporting teeth need to be modified
  • The supporting teeth are more vulnerable to decay and recession, as a result
  • Bone around the missing tooth root can shrink over time and cause a cosmetic and functional defect

No matter which option you choose, our team is committed to making your treatment comfortable and affordable. Our experienced Treatment Coordinators can help you plan for your current and future dental needs. You might be surprised to find that investing in dental implants can actually be the less expensive solution in the long term.

Don’t let a missing tooth keep you from smiling and enjoying your life! Contact us today to find a solution that is right for you.

Gum disease patients 9 times more likely to die from COVID-19

A recent study has found more correlation between oral health and COVID-19. Patients who suffer from periodontitis or gum disease are 9 times more likely to die from COVID-19 and 3 times more likely to end up in the intensive care unit (ICU).

While there is a growing concern about going to the dentist during a pandemic, it is even more evident that maintaining oral health is integral in keeping the whole body healthy. Delaying visits to the dentist may cause serious repercussions. Untreated gum disease can cause bacteria from the mouth to travel throughout the rest of the body and enter the lungs, which will likely make coronavirus to become more violent to vulnerable patients.

Prevent gum disease by maintaining good oral hygiene, following a healthy diet, and regularly visiting the dentist. There are more risks in delaying treatment, so don’t hesitate to visit the dentist when you feel pain or see anything out of the ordinary in your oral health.

For more information, read here.

5 ways clear aligners can improve your smile and your health

When you think about straightening teeth with braces or clear aligners, attractive, picture-perfect smiles probably come to mind. But did you know that straighter teeth don’t just look better, they work better too?

Common dental concerns such as crowded or crooked teeth can accelerate tooth wear over time and contribute to other health conditions such as gum disease, jaw pain and irregular breathing. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – advances in clear aligner therapy make it easier and more affordable than ever to get a healthier, straighter smile.

Here are five ways straighter teeth can benefit your health:

  1. Straight teeth help prevent wear and damage

Misaligned teeth (or malocclusion) can cause enamel wear and sensitivity. Where the contact between teeth is not ideal, you might start to notice signs of trauma such as chips, cracks or gum recession. Correcting your alignment with clear aligners will let your teeth function optimally and prevent excess wear and tear.

  1. Straight teeth promote good gum health

Straighter teeth are easier to clean. Crooked teeth often overlap, making it harder to floss between them and clean all surfaces thoroughly. This increases your risk of developing cavities and gingivitis. One advantage of clear aligners is that they are removeable, so you can brush and floss as usual without metal braces getting in the way.

  1. A balanced bite improves chewing and digestion

Properly aligned teeth are better able to break down food, which is crucial for good digestion. We tend to associate digestion with the stomach and gut, but it actually begins in the mouth. The enzymes in saliva start breaking down your food, while your teeth grind food into smaller pieces, which helps your body to fully process and absorb nutrients.

  1. Proper alignment can reduce jaw pain

A balanced bite can relieve symptoms caused by disorders of the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) such as headaches, jaw pain, and ear pain. Wearing clear aligners for the required 22 hours per day has the added benefit of protecting your teeth from grinding during sleep, which can aggravate the TMJ.

  1. Straight teeth can help you breathe better

Misaligned teeth can make it harder for your mouth to close comfortably, sometimes leading to a habit of breathing through the mouth. Mouth breathing dries the oral cavity, causing plaque buildup and bad breath. Clear aligner therapy can correct an uneven bite and promote proper tongue placement, which encourages nasal breathing.

 

Get the healthy smile you deserve

Investing in a straighter smile now will give you long-term health benefits and can save you costly restorations in the future.

Clear aligner therapies, such as ClearCorrect and Invisalign®, are a popular treatment option for adults and teens. They are clear, comfortable, and convenient, and we offer flexible payment plans to fit your budget. With our new Virtual Dental Monitoring, most of your ClearCorrect treatment can be done from home while still under the supervision of your dentist.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

How to protect your teeth this winter

How to protect your teeth this winter

Like the rest of the body, the teeth are no stranger to sensitivity, especially in the cold. If exposed to the cold, the teeth might sustain some damage if not properly taken care of. It is even more important to protect your teeth and mouth this winter, with ailments like the flu and COVID-19 that could infect your bodies, and not offer additional breeding ground to bacteria. The mouth is the gateway to many diseases and also a key component of a healthy immune system, so it is all the more important to pay attention to your oral health

Here are ways to protect your teeth this winter:

Follow your daily routine, always

Suffering winter woes like a headache or sore throat that makes it hard to get out of bed can make daily routines such an impossible task. Even so, one way to combat these ailments is to make sure our mouth is clean and healthy so bacteria doesn’t breed in the mouth. Make sure to stick to your daily hygiene routine – floss, brush, rinse – so you will not find yourself with dental woes on top of what winter season may bring.

Pay attention to what you eat

Winter season always calls for sweet treats and delicacies to battle the cold. Hot cider, hot chocolate, and sweet pastries contain too much of the acidity and sugary goodness we all crave and unfortunately, are not the best of friends for our teeth. Make sure to consume in moderation and keep the sugar levels in your mouth in control. The sugar in your food can affect your enamel and make your teeth sensitive to the cold. You may consider opting your hot chocolate for an herbal tea! And remember to drink plenty of water to help away the sugar!

Treat ailments the sugar-free way

Oftentimes, medication we consume when we’re sick, like cough drops, contain high levels of sugar that can affect your teeth. There are other sugar-free options to treat winter woes. Ask your pharmacists for sugar-free medication.

Rinse, gargle, repeat

Nausea and vomiting can happen at any time of the year, but big holiday meals are known for causing acid reflux and heartburn for many people. Some acid residue can remain in the dental cavity when you experience vomiting or acid reflux that could damage your teeth if not cleaned properly. Remember to rinse with water or a mouthwash that contains fluoride and gargle to get rid of the bacteria and neutralize the acids.

This winter, keep these tips in mind and enjoy a healthy mouth, teeth, and body! Don’t forget to keep safe always and keep in mind that a healthy mouth is a healthy body! For more information on the various services we offer, click here.

 

The Growing Link Between Oral Health and COVID-19

A team of scientists and clinicians led by U of T’s Faculty of Dentistry have found that neutrophil immune cell activity is the mechanism that links periodontal disease with heart disease, cancer, and other inflammatory conditions – possibly including COVID-19.

Neutrophil – cells of the innate immune system – are released in abundance to fight bacterial infections responsible for gum disease. The overabundance of cells causes the immune system to become hyper-vigilant and responds with an excess force to any secondary infection. The body becomes susceptible to damage from secondary inflammatory conditions and causes the immune cells to destroy affected tissues and organs. 

More evidence has also shown the connection between oral health and COVID-19. According to a letter published in Oral Diseases, oral infections such as tongue ulcers, mouth rash and lip necrosis have been associated with COVID-19, showing that the mouth may be a main source of infection and transmission. 

Oral lesions are early signs of COVID-19 and may trigger the late onset of secondary ulcers in COVID-19 patients suggesting that mouths should be monitored closely during and after the infection.

With the growing connection between oral health and COVID-19, it’s never been more important to maintain your oral health. 

For more information, read here. 

How Can Crooked Teeth Impact Your Health?

Crooked, misaligned teeth are very common, but did you know that sometimes crooked teeth are acquired? People get crooked teeth for a variety of reasons. For the most part, baby teeth and permanent teeth can come in crooked, or they become crooked as they grow. Baby teeth can become crooked when there is no space to grow, meaning the jaw is too small for the teeth or that the teeth are too small to fill the amount of gum space in the mouth.

What causes crooked teeth?

Genetics

Parents who have crooked or crowded teeth are more likely to pass it down to their children. Children may also inherit an overbite or underbite from their parents.

Mouth breathing

Mouth breathers place too much pressure on their teeth during rest, speech, and swallowing. This extra abnormal pressure further contributes to malocclusions or crooked teeth.

Enlarged tonsils and adenoids

Having enlarged tonsils pushes the tongue forward and does not allow it to properly rest in the oral cavity, which gives the extra abnormal pressure against the teeth. Enlarged adenoids also contribute to chronic mouth breathing, which then leads to crooked teeth.

Poor dental care

Not taking care of your teeth at home or being unable to go to the dentist bi-annually means that problems such as cavities and gum disease are left untreated. This can lead to crooked teeth or more serious dental health problems.

Facial Injury

Facial injuries can knock out teeth and shift it out of place resulting in one or more crooked teeth.

Congenital Abnormalities

Congenital abnormalities, such as being born with missing teeth or a restricted frenum, may also further contribute to crooked teeth. Being born with congenitally missing teeth will create spaces in between the teeth. Over time, these spaces can force the adjacent teeth to shift, as there will be a lack of support from the adjacent structures.

Issues caused by crooked teeth

  • Periodontal disease – Crooked, crowded, or misaligned teeth make it harder to clean them properly. Improper hygiene can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to periodontitis.
  • Airway problems – Crooked teeth can be a sign of an airway problem such as obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Chewing and digestion – Crooked teeth can be a hindrance the ability to chew correctly, which in turn can cause indigestion
  • Speech problems – Misaligned teeth can affect the way you talk.
  • Excess wear – Crooked teeth can cause excess wear and tear on the teeth, gums, and jaw muscles resulting in cracked teeth, jaw strain, TMJ, and chronic headaches.

Crooked teeth are a common problem experienced by many children, teens, and adults. However, it may be more than just an aesthetic problem, and your oral health can often affect your overall health. That is why it is important for dentists to investigate the underlying issues associated with crooked teeth.

The decision to correct crooked teeth is a personal one, and there are many ways and options available to improve your smile. One such option is traditional metal braces. You can also get fitted for invisible braces, such as Invisalign, which are clear aligners that you wear like a mouthguard.

If you are thinking of improving your smile, schedule a consultation with your local clinic. We will always be here to help you achieve the smile you have always wanted!