Many people face multi-complex barriers obtaining preventive dental care services.   Addressing poor oral health among older adults is imperative as this leads to other health problems. The problem of poor oral health among older adults is multi-factorial. Many older adults have difficulty brushing their own teeth due to poor manual dexterity, limited mobility,vision problems, or cognitive impairment. Although I may refer to the elderly in long term care homes, these factors also affect seniors living at home independently and…

Someone who is living with Alzheimer's Disease requires regular Dental Hygiene visits. It is ideal to have a dental assessment early on,when someone is first diagnosed with this disease. As Alzheimer's progresses, the person may forgot to brush his or her teeth or forget why it is important. As a caregiver, you may have to assist them and this can be particularity challenging in the middle to late stages of this disease. Proper oral care is essential to prevent eating…

I find it difficult to talk about myself. I don't take a lot of selfies or showcase my business achievements. It's not that I am have not worked hard or made personal sacrifices, I do! My body aches from hauling my equipment most days. I ensure my client's are extremely comfortable, this may involve providing care along their bedside or wheelchair.  My state of the art portable dental equipment is heavy! Sixty -two pounds in fact. I lift this into…

    GIVE A GIFT FROM THE HEART We have all experienced the client who comes into our lives that cannot financially afford our dental hygiene care. They are the under-serviced, the neglected, those without dental insurance or those on a fixed income. In 2009, Gift from the Heart was founded by Bev Woods. GFTH is a one day event which allows registered dental hygienists to give back to their communities by providing no cost dental hygiene care. For the 10th consecutive…

For years, it has been a challenge for many to fix cavities by visiting a Dentist! I’m thrilled to introduce a new service that helps individuals in our community overcome a major obstacle and ultimately solves a dilemma that has worried me for years! Stopping cavities from growing when my clients cannot seek care with a Dentist. Leaving cavities to grow can cause more complicated issues and result in pain or broken teeth. Now there’s an alternative to having a…

How Xylitol 100% Natural Sweetener Be Beneficial For Your Teeth?   Xylitol is a natural Sweetener from Birch Trees, or vegetable sources. Over twenty years research indicates Xylitol can effectively help with a dry mouth and reduces tooth decay. Xylitol has a low impact on blood sugar, therefore individuals living with Diabetes can appreciate the positive benefit of its low glycemic index. Xylitol helps to stimulate & make our own saliva. Salvia is very important for strengthening our enamel and…

First of our series is coconut oil. Oil pulling involves swishing oil around the mouth like a mouth wash. Ancient Ayurvedic history believes this to cure 30 systemic diseases as well? Benefits for your mouth may include: drawing out toxins in the mouth & keeping the healthy bacteria. Reduce plaque build up, reduce staining on the teeth & whitens teeth naturally. Reduces Streptococcus Mutans, one of the main "bad" bacteria in your mouth that can contribute to dental decay.Nothing will…

Dr. Katherine Roche hopes she can now avoid drilling many of her patients' teeth. A few weeks ago, the Edmonton dentist received her first shipment of a new, non-invasive treatment for tooth decay called silver diamine fluoride. When applied to an affected tooth, the liquid treatment stops decay by killing cavity-causing bacteria, then remineralizes, or hardens, soft spots in the tooth, eliminating the need for drilling and filling. So far, Roche has tried it on about a dozen patients, some…

Dry mouth can occur related to medication side effects & other contributing factors. This increases the risk of bacterial plaque and tartar formation. A dry mouth can be very uncomfortable. It can contribute to swallowing issues, increase the risk of oral related infections and impact overall health. Older adults are at an increased risk of xerostomia (dry mouth) from medication side effects and natural aging. A dry mouth can also promote candidiasis – a yeast infection of the mouth. Detection…

Soft plaque is a deposit of living and dead bacteria. When this plaque remains in the mouth it will form a hard deposit, known as tartar. Tartar is an irritant to the gums and often leads to more serious conditions. Tartar is a rock-like substance that will form on dentures and natural teeth. Tartar can only be removed by a Registered Dental Hygienist or Dentist.