09
SepBack to School Covid Style

At the end of the day, every family must do what is best for them. As a Health  Care professional and parent of three children myself, I can tell you what I think about going back to school for the 2021/2022 year. Whatever it will look like, our children need it. Kids require a good EDUCATION, with SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, AND REGULAR ROUTINE. I am sure I am not alone when I say that last year the kids had no sort of routine. Online school lead to very late bedtimes, working in PJ’s while laying in a dark bedroom, and snacking and eating constantly throughout the day. I know my kids did not even get dressed, shower or brush their teeth until late in the day or not at all. And I heard this over and over again from my patients. This was evident in their oral hygiene.

Here are my two cents:

1. Everyone that can get vaccinated should get vaccinated. It is safe and effective. We need to protect ourselves, our loved ones who are too young to get the shot and our community so that schools can remain open.
2. Mental health and social well being are as important if not more important than education. Dealing with a subpar education this year is nothing compared to dealing with a child with mental health issues for the rest of their lives.
3. Routine makes for a well-rounded individual. Children need to learn in person so that they are forced to pay attention, focus, put down their phones,  socialize with others and make friends,
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14
AprBlack stain on kids teeth

Black staining of teeth due to Chromogenic (coloured) bacteria can be a source of poor self-esteem for patients, especially children. It looks like pigmented black lines along the gumline. This type of stain seems to be more prevalent in children. It is due to the presence of a form of bacterial plaque living in the child’s oral environment. Children that are prone to this usually outgrow it as their adult teeth erupt. The bacteria native to the oral environment does change over time.

The best and only way to get rid of this black staining is good oral hygiene. This requires both diligent home care and regular dental visits. Colonization of plaque bacteria can occur within 24 hours of brushing and within 72 hours this colonization irreversibly adheres to your tooth surface...Hence brushing in an interval of 12 hours can help in preventing this colonization. Consistent strict oral hygiene measures like brushing twice daily and flossing are the only way to prevent staining due to bacteria. Regular visits to your dentist can also keep a check on staining issues. These stains do polish off with dental prophylaxis, but they do come back…. so home care is the only way to keep it at a minimum until the next dental visit.

Other causes of tooth staining, aside from chromogenic bacterial staining, include habits like smoking, betel

25
AugBack to School Dental Checkup. The New Normal.

Back to School Dental Checkup. The New Normal.

In today's changing world, every experience may be a new one.  Kids need to wear masks to school, half of the kids will not be returning to in-class learning, and school drop off and pick may be a staggering time approach.  Back to school is often our busiest time at Innovation Dental as parents want to send their kids back with a healthy smile and a cavity-free checkup. For those children that have been visiting the dentist regularly, this back to school checkup may look a little different. Due to COVID, we are not using the waiting room, so patients need to check in by phone from their car. Children are then being asked to come in for their appointment without their parents, as we need to minimize the number of people in the office at one time. The Hygienist and Dentist will be dressed in some extra protective equipment, such as a face shield, double masks, hair cover and gown. Temperatures will be checked at the door and hands must be sanitized. Patients and all non-clinical staff will be wearing masks in common areas as well. Aerosol producing procedures such as polishing and use of the electric scalers are being limited at this time. For necessary aerosol producing treatments, we have NEW large suctions arms ( they look like elephant trunks) that sit close to the mouth and collect any off spray additionally to the regular suctions we have. You will see

24
JulTwo rows of teeth

It may surprise you when you suddenly notice your child's adult teeth growing in behind the baby teeth. Furthermore, you would expect the baby teeth to fall out before the adult teeth come in.  But in some, actually many children, this is not the case. In approximately 10% of children, the adult teeth can grow in behind the baby teeth giving the child two rows of teeth. At Innovation Drive Dental in Vaughan we often refer to this as "shark teeth". You can rest assured that this is not an EMERGENCY. In most cases, this does not require any treatment at all, and often we just let nature take its course.

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16
NovTeething

Teething. Glorious, glorious teething. It happens to all of us but as a parent, life can be quite difficult and upsetting when your little one’s teeth buds start to erupt.

24
OctCute Halloween Video from Crest/Oral B

14
SepBack To School Lunch Ideas

We’re heading into our third week of school! Can you believe it? As things start to settle down and routines start to kick in, parents are still often left scrambling for healthy and kid acceptable lunch ideas. Here are some yummy ones that your child will love!

04
JunCavity Culprits

In Today’s Parent January/February 2018 there was an article on cavities in children. Did you know that between 2010 and 2012 almost 30,000 children underwent day surgery to restore decayed teeth?