Dental Hygiene

When we think about dental health, our minds often jump straight to toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and the occasional dental visit. However, one of the most crucial players in maintaining oral health is usually overlooked: saliva. This clear fluid does more than keep our mouths moist; it plays a pivotal role in protecting our teeth, aiding digestion, and overall oral hygiene. In this blog, we’ll take a deeper look into the multifaceted role of saliva, its composition, and the surprising facts about how it impacts our dental health – things that may not be commonly known.

The Composition of

Halloween is a thrilling time filled with costumes, decorations, and – of course – candy! While the excitement of trick-or-treating can be a wonderful experience for kids, it also brings challenges for dental health. With abundant sugary treats, parents need to adopt effective strategies to keep smiles healthy throughout the Halloween season and beyond.

In this week's blog, we’ll share tips on caring for your teeth after Halloween and ensure that everyone in the family can enjoy their candy safely!

Set a Candy Limit

Before the candy haul begins, it’s wise to discuss a plan with your child. Setting a limit on how much candy they can enjoy each day helps to prevent overindulging. Consider using a fun calendar or chart to keep track of their candy consumption. This way, they can enjoy their t

In dentistry, effective sterilization processes are paramount to ensuring patient safety and preventing healthcare-associated infections. Traditionally, dental practices relied on manual monitoring techniques to track sterilization cycle parameters, but the landscape is shifting. Digital sterilization monitoring systems offer a more accurate, efficient, and reliable solution. This blog explores the key differences between digital and manual sterilization monitoring, highlighting why the transition to digital systems is essential for modern dental practices.

The Importance of Effective Sterilization Monitoring

Sterilization is crucial in dentistry to eliminate pathogens from equipment such as instruments and surfaces. Dental professionals have associations that provide standards and guidelines to help implement effective sterilization protocols. Accurate

International Infection Prevention Week, a celebration of those safeguarding our health, occurs from October 13 to the 19th of 2024. Established in 1986, the week 'aims to shine a light on infection prevention' each year, recognizing those who make infection prevention their professional focus. As we approach International Infection Prevention Week 2024, we must acknowledge and honor the indispensable role of infection preventionists worldwide. From hospitals and clinics to community settings, these committed individuals are at the forefront, ensuring our health is protected by preventing and controlling infections. This year's theme, Moving the Needle on Infection Prevention, underscores the significance of their work and brings attention to an often-overlooked area: dental infection prevention and control.

Dental Infection Prevention and Control

Periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the supporting structures of the teeth, is primarily caused by microbial infection. While traditional mechanical therapies, such as scaling and root planing (SRP), effectively reduce bacterial load and inflammation, they may not fully eliminate the periodontal pathogens, particularly in deeper periodontal pockets.  The management of periodontal disease often requires a multifaceted approach that includes mechanical debridement, patient education, and adjunctive therapies. Among these, combination therapy, mainly systemic and local antimicrobials, has gained traction as a strategy to enhance clinical outcomes.

Combination Therapy

Combination therapy is the simultaneous or sequential use of multiple treatment modalities to achieve a synergistic effect. This approach targets

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) is a widely recognized antimicrobial agent that has made significant strides in dentistry. Known for its effectiveness in combating oral pathogens, this powerful antiseptic agent is utilized for various applications in dentistry, offering numerous benefits to both patients and practitioners. In this blog, we’ll review some key uses of chlorhexidine gluconate in dentistry and how it contributes to better oral health.  

What is Chlorhexidine Gluconate?

Chlorhexidine gluconate is a chemical antiseptic that is highly effective against a wide range of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Its ability to bind to tissues and provide a prolonged antimicrobial effect makes it particularly useful in dental care. Typically available in mouth rinses, gels, and varnishes, chlorhexidine has been embraced as a vital tool for maintaining oral hygiene.

Welcoming a new baby into the world is an exhilarating experience filled with wonder and joy. As little ones grow, they embark on various developmental milestones, one of which is teething. While this process can be exciting, it may also present challenges, particularly when it comes to eruption cysts. In this blog, we’ll explore what eruption cysts are, how they affect infants, and what both parents and dental professionals should know to navigate these situations.

What are Eruption Cysts?

Eruption cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form in the soft tissue of the gum as a tooth is about to emerge. Typically associated with primary (baby) teeth, these cysts often develop over the crowns of erupting teeth in infants and toddlers.

If my dental regulatory body does not state specifically, that I need to track and trace, then who is telling me to track and trace?

A terrific question for any busy dental office to pose … who is telling me to track and trace?  To answer the ‘who’ one must understand the ‘why’.  Once the ‘why’ is understood through a risk management lens and professional responsibility to keep the public safe, the who loses its debate as you will be the person telling yourself to track and trace! 

Tracking and tracing are linking a sterilized package to the client it was used on.  Why do we label packages with the date, sterilizer #, load #, contents, and initialize? It is not just to label to see when it was sterilized but also where it’s going or in past tense, has gone. The label is the first step of having a recall system in place, it’s the tracking of packa

As new parents, you may find yourselves filled with excitement as you anticipate your infant’s milestones: their first steps, first words, and undoubtedly, their first tooth! However, it’s essential to understand that oral care should begin even before those tiny pearly whites make their grand debut. Proper oral hygiene during the early months can significantly impact your child’s dental health for years to come. In this blog, we’ll explore how to care for an infant’s mouth before teeth emerge, how to navigate the teething phase, the importance of early oral care, and the early warning signs of dental issues.

Oral Care Before Teeth Erupt

The Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests that your child’s oral care should start even before their first teeth appear. Typically, babies don’t begin to get their milk teeth or

As students head back to school, it’s crucial to prioritize oral health alongside academic success. Good dental hygiene is essential for maintaining a bright smile, avoiding cavities, and ensuring overall well-being. Here are some practical tips and snack ideas to help keep your child’s teeth healthy when they can’t brush at school.

1. Morning Routine Essentials

Start each school day with a solid oral care routine. Ensure your child brushes their teeth for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste before leaving home. Don’t forget to encourage flossing! An effective routine includes:

Brushing: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush.