Preventive Care
Our philosophy is “prevention is the best treatment.”Dr. Rashid and Dr. Al-Attar take all measures to ensure a thorough examination and detection of any potential dental problem at an early stage. They implement digital intraoral photography and advanced digital radiography as tools in their process of examination.
What dentists and dental hygienist can do to prevent dental problems?
- The dentist can diagnose early problems like early or incipient tooth decay and gum diseases and guide you in controlling the disease process.
- Regular professional cleaning helps remove plaque, calculus, and tartar that build up on the tooth surface over time from food accumulation.
- The dentist makes sure that existing dental treatment like restorations and crowns are in good condition.
- The oral health care provider will discuss with you the brushing and flossing technique to make sure you clean your teeth correctly and efficiently.
- The dentist can discuss with you the recommended diet (according to the Canada Food Guide) and the effect of sugar and acidic drinks on your teeth.
- If you are pregnant or have a medical condition (for example Diabetes), then consult with your dentist to set a plan to ensure optimum oral health.
What can I do at home?
- Brush daily and thoroughly all of your teeth surfaces, back and front for about 2 minutes to remove plaque. Discuss with your dentist or dental hygienist the proper technique and the right toothbrush for your oral health condition.
- Floss every night to remove food debris between teeth. There are multiple ways to clean interproximal between the teeth like floss, flosser, and interproximal toothbrush.
- If you are wearing braces or have a crown or bridge or an implant, then make sure you are cleaning them correctly. You may need to use a floss threader to clean all invisible areas.
- Make healthy food choices according to Canada’s food guide.
Sport Guard
If you love sports, here are the things you need to know to protect your teeth;
Being active and playing sports should not put your teeth at risk. Occasional injuries to teeth can happen while biking, playing hockey, skating, and other sports. Injuries to teeth can vary from simple chipped front tooth to avulsion (tooth come out of the bone). It is fundamental to wear a mouth guard or a sports guard during an activity.What does a mouth guard/sport guard do?
Helps cushion a blow to the face and lower the risk of injuries to teeth, lips and tongue.Types of mouth guard
- Custom made: made by the dentist, snugly and comfortably fit on your teeth.
- Boil and bite: can be found at the drug store. First, they are softened in warm water and then inserted in the mouth, it should adapt to your teeth.
- Stock: pre-formed and ready to wear, usually do not fit very well and may feel bulky.
Night Guard
Some people clench or grind their teeth unconsciously during the day or at night. This habit is called bruxism (clenching). Mild bruxism may not require treatment, but moderate to severe bruxism may lead to jaw and temporal-mandibular joint problems, teeth damages, headache and others.One of the first steps to manage this issue is by wearing a night guard.
What is a night guard?
A custom fit plastic shield that can be worn at the top or bottom arch (or both arches)What are the possible benefits of a night guard?
- Reduce stress and pressure on teeth- Reduce force on jaw muscles
- Protect teeth surfaces from damage, wear and chipping