10 Great Things You Can Do With Toothpaste
At Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry in Vancouver, we recommend brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste for at least three minutes and at least twice a day as part of a healthy oral health care routine, but did you know you can also use toothpaste around the house?
Read on for the 10 things you can do with toothpaste – aside from achieving excellent oral health care:
- Fix Insect Bites
Standard non-gel toothpaste can help relieve the itch from an insect bite and keep you from scratching at the site. Try it!
- Sanitize Hands
In a pinch, toothpaste (and a little water) is a great hand sanitizer. As a bonus, if you’ve just chopped onions or garlic, you can neutralize the odour with a bit of toothpaste/water.
- Fix Nail Holes
Nail holes generally require professional putty to fix but with a little bit of inexpensive toothpaste, you can fill in the hole and touch up with paint afterward.
- Clean your Diamond Ring
By scrubbing your diamond ring with a little bit of toothpaste on an old toothbrush, you could have your diamond looking as if you had just bought it!
- Help relieve burns
Always out of aloe? Put toothpaste on your burn right after it happens to help relieve the stinging sensation.
- Removes crayon from wall paint
Little one been drawing on the walls again? Get a damp rag with a little bit of toothpaste on it and simply wipe away the residue.
- Put up posters
Forget tape or thumb tacks, simply put a dab of toothpaste on the back of posters to hang it without damaging the wall.
- Treat Acne
It is only recommended to use this tip at most once a week, but by putting a small dab of toothpaste on a pimple before bed, it should be cleared up by morning!
- Remove scratches on glassware
Polish your scratched glasses with a dab of toothpaste and they should look like new instantly!
- Prevent fog in goggles
Many swimmers swear by toothpaste for keeping their goggles free of fod. Simple wipe it on, clean it off and enjoy a fog-free view.
However, don’t forget toothpaste’s most important role! Brush twice daily, floss regularly and visit Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry in Vancouver for a fantastically healthy smile you’ll be proud to show off!
Read our dental blog for more dentist secrets and oral health care advice. We’re social, too! Find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Read MoreOral Cancer : Get the Facts and a Free Screening on April 26, 2012
April is Oral Health Month and to celebrate we are hosting a Free VELscope Oral Cancer Screening day on April 26, 2012.
Did you know?
- Oral Cancer is the 13th most common cancer reported in Canada?
- Men are more susceptible to Oral Cancer than women?
- A screening for Oral Cancer only takes 2 – 3 minutes?
Are you at risk?
Male smokers over the age of 40 are the most susceptible to Oral Cancer but everyone’s at risk – something as simple as getting too much sun, smoking or drinking alcohol may increase your chances of suffering from Oral Cancer.
What Can You Do?
With Oral Cancer, prevention and early detection is key. Practice correct oral health care by brushing twice daily and flossing every day and come in for your FREE VELscope oral cancer screening at your nearest 123Dentist.com Community Dentist Network practice.
Mark the Date
As part of Oral Health Month, members of the 123Dentist.com Community Dentist Network are offering a FREE Velscope Oral Cancer screening on April 26, 2012. VELscope screenings typically take only a few minutes and are completely pain‐free.
Reserve your FREE Oral Cancer screening appointment or find the nearest participating location near you by clicking here.
Read MoreCelebrate Oral Health Month with a FREE Oral Cancer Screening
April is Oral Health Month and to celebrate – and encourage – great oral health care, members of the 123Dentist.com Community Dentist Network across the Lower Mainland are offering a FREE VELscope Oral Cancer Screening on April 26, 2012.
The VELscope system is a laser device that was invented by the BC Cancer Agency as a tool to fight Oral Cancer through early detection. Oral Cancer is a potentially deadly disease and early detection and early treatment are key in the fight against Oral Cancer.
The VELscope oral cancer scanner works by using fluorescent light technology to help detect signs of cancer and precancer that are not visible to the naked eye. Quick and painless, an oral cancer screening often takes just 2 to 3 minutes.
Consider this: over 3,400 new cases of oral cancer were found last year in Canada alone.
Take just 5 minutes out of your day on April 26, 2012 to ensure you have a safer Oral Health Month.
For more information about our Free VELscope Oral Cancer screening on April 26 or to reserve your appointment, please click here.
Read MoreHow To Prevent Gum Disease In Your Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant and wondering what effect your oral health might have on your unborn baby, the dental health experts at our dental practice want patients to know the facts about how oral health can impact pregnancy.
There has been evidence that shows a correlation between gum disease and premature babies. Researchers have revealed that pregnant woman who have gum disease are more likely than other pregnant women to have a premature birth.
There needs to be more research on this subject, but it does seem that gum disease is detrimental to fluids that induce labour. If gum disease worsens during pregnancy, the risk will be greater of having a baby born too early or too small.
The dental health team at Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry encourages pregnant women to visit our Vancouver dental practice for regular dental appointments so that oral health issues can be treated before they have an impact on pregnancy.
While you are pregnant, the team at our Vancouver dental practice will pay close attention to your teeth and gums. In order to keep your mouth healthy, brush and floss on a regular basis and make sure your diet is nutritious. Ensure that you visit Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry for your regular checkups and to prevent dental issues.
Aside from gum disease, another issue that women may develop during pregnancy is gingivitis. This occurs when plaque is stored in the teeth, causing gums to be irritated. Symptoms of this dental problem are red, swollen and bloody gums, and inflammation.
Gingivitis is a major concern for pregnant women who visit our Vancouver dental practice because the high level of hormones make the way gums respond to plaque much worse. It should be noted that plaque is the major cause of pregnancy gingivitis, not hormones.
If you are diligent about keeping your teeth clean, this will reduce your chances of gingivitis. Make sure to pay special attention to the gumline, as it attracts plaque and bacteria the most.
Let the Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry team know about your pregnancy when you make your appointment.
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Is Thumb Sucking Dangerous To Your Child’s Oral Health? [VIDEO]
It is common for parents to wonder whether it is bad for kids to be sucking their thumbs or fingers. Lots of households have at least one “thumb-sucker” and we at Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry in Vancouver are here to set the record straight about the problems that arise from thumb sucking.
The big question is, should you worry about your child if they are sucking their thumb? For the most part, there is nothing to worry about. Thumb sucking is completely natural for most children, making them feel secure and content and even being quite relaxing for them. This habit is something that most kids can easily grow out of when they hit the ages of two to four.
However, thumb sucking does become a problem when your child continues to suck their thumb after they’ve received their permanent teeth (usually around the ages of four to six). This habit can become quite problematic at this point, causing pressure inside their mouth and preventing teeth from growing or aligning properly.
If you think that thumb sucking is becoming a problem for your child, contact the dental team at Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry and we can evaluate what’s happening and give you some helpful tips on how your child can stop this habit.
Click here for a helpful video about thumb sucking and what you can do to discourage it.
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Have a Sweet Easter from Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry!
Did you know the first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany in the early 1800s out of pastry and sugar? Nowadays, Easter treats can include Peeps, Cadbury eggs, donuts, marshmallows, Mars bars, cake, ice cream – all things that might cause cavities and tooth decay.
If you’re worried that your sweet tooth might turn into tooth decay, don’t be! You can enjoy your Easter treats and keep your teeth healthy! Just keep in mind these simple things when hunting for your Easter eggs:
- Pick Dark Chocolate – dark chocolate can help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure.
- Avoid Anything Gooey – candy that sticks to your teeth is more likely to feed the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities
- Water It Down – water can help wash away-cavity causing bacteria, so be sure to keep a glassful close at hand.
- Practice Good Oral Health – be sure to brush twice a day for 3 minutes, floss daily before bed and visit Kerrisdale Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry in Vancouver for your dental hygiene appointment every 6 months or if you suspect that you might have a cavity.
The dental health team at Kerrisdale Cosmetic and General Dentistry wishes you and your family a sweet Easter filled with smiles!
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