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Dental Tips for the Baby Ones | Ottawa Dentist

When becoming a new parent, there are loads of resources available to help guide you through every step of the way. But one area that tends to be overlooked, by even the most attentive parent, is dental care. If the baby doesn’t have teeth, why would this even be a concern, right? Wrong. Just because your tiny human doesn’t have teeth, doesn’t mean their mouth should be ignored. The more pristine the conditions are when teeth do decide to make their appearance, the healthier they will be.

In order to stay on top of your baby’s future smile, here are some tips to keep in mind as their teeth prepare to come in:

Baby bottle tooth decay occurs when sweet liquids, like juices or formula, linger around in your child’s mouth. When you put your child down for a nap with a bottle of formula, or dip a pacifier in some sugary syrup, bad bacteria indulge in the sugars they crave. This causes teeth to decay and become more prone to infection as they continue to come in. Water is a better option during sleeping hours.

But they’re going to fall out – does it matter if they fall out prematurely? Losing teeth too early can cause issues with speaking, eating or other dental issues going forward. We need to look after all of our teeth, regardless of when they show up.

As for a dental routine – if your child doesn’t have teeth yet, make sure to wipe down their gums with a cloth after they eat or drink anything. As teeth begin to come in, brush them without toothpaste. As they continue to grow, make their first dental appointment. You dentist will be able to offer any recommendations you will need going forward.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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What You Need to Know About Frenectomies | Ottawa Dentist

When we think about dental procedures, we generally think about teeth and gums, but there are a few lesser-known bits that can require necessary dental attention. One of these is the frenulum. Frenulum is a thin connective tissue that connects one surface to another inside the mouth. We have three types – lingual frenulum connects our tongue to the bottom of our mouth, labial frenulum connects attaches the lips to the gums (top and bottom at our front teeth) and buccal frena attaches our gums to the sides of our cheeks. In fact, you can see your frenum if you look in a mirror. Lift your tongue to see your lingual frenulum, pull your upper or lower lip to expose your labial frenulum. That’s your frenulum!

Now, this will only really become a problem if the frenulum is elongated and here’s why. As an infant, having an elongated lingual frenum may cause issues feeding, because babies need their tongues to suckle milk. If left untreated, it will cause speech issues as they become a toddler and begun to speak. And if it’s the labial frena that is elongated, it may cause orthodontic issues because it could cause gaps as permanent teeth start to come in. Many times, the issue can be remedied with braces.

Thankfully, there are plenty of natural, non-invasive options to try first. But if that doesn’t help, there is a simple procedure that can remedy any abnormal frenulum issues – a frenectomy. So simple you are in and out within fifteen minutes. Even recovery time is minimal – if you keep it clean and follow aftercare instructions, you’ll be back to normal within two weeks.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Teenage Life with a Crooked Smile | Ottawa Dentist

We’ve all been there – puberty is one of the most topsy-turvy times a person can have in their lives. Between the physical changes and the hormones kicking in full throttle, life decides that social relations are also intricate to our development. And for many of us, the hormones are making a mess of that bit.Because teens are very into social media and getting their likes, physical appearance is important to maintain. But if your physical issue is a flawed smile, it can become a self-conscious disaster during these formative years. And unfortunately, traditional braces don’t exactly help on the social scene. Thankfully, there is a solution to your teen’s social discomfort – Invisalign Teen. Invisalign Teen is a fantastic way for your teen to straighten their smile in the most discrete way possible. Rather than traditional braces, Invisalign Teen straightens teeth through the use of clear, removable aligners as they slowly move the teeth to their proper position. Here are some basic benefits to choosing Invisalign Teen, as opposed to the traditional method:
  • If your teen plays sports, they won’t need to worry about brackets getting knocked out while playing.
  • If they are more into the arts, playing an instrument or acting in a play won’t be an issue.
  • You no longer have to worry about broken wires or brackets due to diet restrictions. They can eat as much popcorn as they want.
  • Daily dental hygiene won’t need to change as the trays are removeable and cleaned separately.
Your teen will be awkward during this time in their lives, but if you can help prevent undue stress while also improving their smile, you may want to consider Invisalign Teen. If you would like more information about Invisalign Teen, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com. Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.
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Take Care of Those Baby Teeth | Ottawa Dentist

February is known as National Children’s Dental Health Month and this year’s theme is “Brush and clean in between to build a healthy smile”. Now, when we think about our little human’s teeth, we hardly think there is any reason to fret about them. But taking care of them now will also ensure the next set will come in healthy. As we settle into the second month of 2019, let’s focus in on the tiny smiles in our family and make sure they have the best year as well…

Fruits and veggies. The good thing about fruits and vegetables is that not only are they good for our bodies, but they are crunchy and full of water, two things that are ideal for a healthy smile. Saliva production helps to cleanse our mouths of cavity-causing bacteria naturally.

Stay away from the 3 S’s. There are three culprits in our dental health we should be aware of – sugars, starches and sticky foods. These three options for foods are always going to be a bad idea for your smile because not only does the sugar cause cavities, but sticky foods can cause these sugars to grab hold of your teeth. If you eat these foods, make sure to brush or rinse afterwards.

Daily dental care. We all know dental hygiene is necessary on a daily basis, regardless of the age. So, teach good dental habits early in order to ensure a lifetime of health smiles. Visiting the dentist early will also help to teach your little one that there is nothing to fear. It’s a family affair.

If you would like more information about National Children’s Dental Health Month, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com.

Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Teach the Tiny Humans to Brush | Ottawa Dentist

When we become parents, we have to teach our tiny humans how to get along in the world. They come into it without any idea about how to do anything and it’s our job to teach them right and wrong. When it comes to dental hygiene, teaching your child is going to be a struggle. After all, what kid liked brushing their teeth growing up? You know you tried to dodge the process any chance you got. But when it comes to things like oral hygiene, consistency is key. If you are finding dental hygiene lessons to be a challenge, here are some tips that can help make the process of teeth cleaning fun for both of you:

The sooner, the better. Timing can be a huge thing in helping your child adjust to a normal cleaning routine. Sometimes children get crankier as time goes on. With that in mind, try to start your routine earlier in the day, perhaps a little bit after dinner. This will definitely improve their mood.

A family affair. Younger children love mimic what their parents do, so, take advantage of that habit by brushing your teeth alongside them. You can make this a family affair for healthy smiles.

Crank on the tunes. Music may play an important role in allowing your child to not only enjoy brushing their teeth, but sufficiently brush their teeth. Choose a song that is at least two minutes long, to ensure the brushing process is done in its full time, and then choose a song that your kid enjoys!

If you would like more information about dental hygiene for little ones, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com.

Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.