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Do You Have Xerostomia? | Ottawa Dentist

Have you ever heard of the medical condition xerostomia? Dry mouth is a condition that may be a side effect of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth. But this isn’t the only symptom. It can also cause bad breath. Below are five easy ways to keep your breath fresh all day:

Stay hydrated. If you can’t brush your teeth after a meal, drinking a lot of water can help speed up the process of cleaning harmful bacteria and debris from between your teeth, by rinsing your mouth out as well. Drinking milk can even help deodorize some offensive breath odors.

Keep drinking a cup of joe to a minimum. It may be tasty, but coffee is a tough smell to get off the back of your tongue. If you feel like you can’t function without it, don’t quit completely. Instead, keep the intake to a minimum and have a toothbrush or sugar-free gum handy for afterwards.

Stave off tobacco products. Cigarettes, pipes, and snuff can not only make you more susceptible to health issues, but smoking gives people horrible breath. Keeping them out of your life will have multiple benefits.

Cut back on alcohol. Alcohol can lead to a dry mouth. Too much beer, wine, and hard liquor can make your breath smell less than fresh for up to eight to 10 hours after you finish drinking.

Chew sugarless gum. Wait for a good half hour after a meal before popping in a piece of sugarless gum. It can help with saliva flow, cleaning cavity-forming bacteria from your mouth before they can do any damage. Gum that’s 100% xylitol-sweetened can help reduce cavities, so feel free to indulge in this sweet treat after a good meal.

For more information about xerostomia, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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‘Tis the Season for Pictures with Santa | Ottawa Dentist

Ask any tiny human their favorite time of year and chances are you will likely hear that it’s Christmas. And what’s more fun than taking your little one to have a photo taken with Santa? Yes, this is a magical season destined for loads of tiny smiles. Not only do they get lots of presents from Santa and no school in sight, but everywhere they go there is another delicious treat waiting for them to eat. Between the cakes and sweets, the holiday season is a child’s dream. What isn’t dreamlike is a parent trying to keep their little one from ruining their smile during the holiday festivities. In fact, it can be downright tough to keep a smile on their child’s face while keeping that smile healthy. But a healthy smile starts with a good foundation. Here are some tips to start your little one off on the right foot:

Daily routines. Repetition is the best way to start a good habit, so make sure your child brushes their teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Supervisor their work until they can thoroughly do it themselves. Once teeth coming in begin to touch, introduce flossing.

First dental visit. The AAPD suggests baby’s first dental visit occur when their first tooth comes in, or around the age of one. Keeping them on a six-month dental schedule will not only ensure they keep a healthy smile but will also help prevent dental anxiety as they grow.

You are what you eat. We can instill all the dental knowledge we can, but if you have a bad diet, it won’t help. Same goes for your little one. Keep things in moderation. Limit the sugary snacks, cooked starches and sweetened drinks. 

For more information about holiday dental tips for kids, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Is Gum Contouring Right for You? | Ottawa Dentist

We all desire an exceptional smile. In a world where a camera is readily available, we try to look our best at a moment’s notice. That said, having a great smile is key. And when our patients think of a perfect smile, they focus on bright, white, straight teeth. However, many patients realize that there’s another component as well: great looking gums.

Some patients may have gums that are too high, and others have gums that are too low. The causes vary – genetics plays a part, but certain prescription drugs can cause gums that cover more of your teeth than normal, and activities such as smoking can cause gum recession, causing your teeth to look longer than expected.

Gum contouring is typically considered a cosmetic procedure – most insurance plans do not consider it medically necessary and will not cover the costs. However, it is available from many dental and periodontal offices. For severe cases of gum recession, exposed tooth roots can cause gum contouring to be considered a medical necessity, as the receding tissue can contribute to long term problems such as tooth decay and tooth loss.

The procedure can be done with traditional surgical techniques or lasers – ask your dentist to determine which they recommend. In many cases, local anesthesia is sufficient, though general anesthesia may be considered for larger procedures. The recovery is typically straightforward – there is some bleeding and swelling expected, but generally the soreness will subside within a week.

At the end of the procedure, the patient can look forward to a gum line that is both healthy and cosmetically appealing.

For more information about gum contouring, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Do You Have Sensitive Teeth? | Ottawa Dentist

If you’ve been experiencing jarring sharp pain when you eat or drink hot or even cold foods, during your oral care routine, or other times that make zero sense? You know it’s not something to ignore, but what is it? Chances are you’re experiencing sensitive teeth. Luckily this is very treatable. All it takes is a trip to the dentist.

Now for the reasons our teeth have become sensitive, and there are a variety of answers here. As we age, so do our teeth. With age the enamel on your teeth can wear, leaving your tooth roots exposed. This of course can cause those jolting pains with tempered food and drink or even if cold air hits the tooth. This is the most likely case or why you’re experiencing the tooth pain. But there can be other reasons, such as:

  • Over-brushing
  • Cracked or chipped teeth
  • Teeth grinding
  • Gum disease
  • Tooth whitening

Depending on the cause and severity of your sensitivity, you will benefit from professional treatment. There are a variety of treatments from simple solutions to oral surgery. Sensitive teeth solutions include:

  • Desensitizing toothpaste
  • Desensitizing or bonding
  • Surgical gum graft
  • Root canal

See your dentist at the first sign of sensitivity.  Often beginning problems can be easily treated.  If you wait to get treatment, you often end up with a bigger problem that is more difficult to treat.  Oftentimes sensitive teeth can be treated with a good cleaning and use of a special toothpaste. Your dental professional can help you find the ideal solution to prevent sensitive teeth from recurring.

For more information about sensitive teeth, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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What to Know About a Smile Makeover | Ottawa Dentist

They say that first impressions are most important, and for many of these impressions, it begins with a smile. However, like most people, you’ve likely dreamt of having a better-looking smile – one that is straighter, and preferably, whiter. A smile that brightens a room!

So, how do we get this elusive Hollywood smile? It’s known as a smile makeover.

A smile makeover is a process whose main goal is to improve the appearance of the smile through a combination of various cosmetic dentistry treatments or procedures. The list of treatments includes, but are not limited to, dental veneers, composite bonding, tooth implants and teeth whitening. More than being a cosmetic procedure, though, a smile makeover carries a lot of functional and health benefits as well.

For example, those with malocclusions may find it hard to brush and floss their teeth, making them prone to tooth decay and gum disease. Correcting malocclusions through orthodontics can help solve that problem, as well as the other possible complications that come with malocclusion, such as speech impediments, accidental chipping and so on.

Cosmetic dental treatments alone are expensive enough, which makes it safe to say that a series of such treatments is bound to cost a lot – something that happens in a smile makeover. In fact, it would not come off as a surprise for patients to spend well over thousands of dollars just to get the smile they’ve always wanted.

Yes, a smile makeover is expensive, but as long as you see your smile as something that you’ll own and wear for the rest of your life, it should be easier for you to decide whether it is a worthy investment or not.

For more information about smile makeovers, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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A New Parent’s Guide to Pediatric Dental Hygiene | Ottawa Dentist

Many parents believe that the best time to establish good dental hygiene habits is right when their child’s first tooth appears. In actuality, the best time to start taking care of your child’s teeth is the moment that your child is born. Because even without teeth, bacteria can and will build up. And as more teeth come in, and fall out to make room for permanent ones, the dental hygiene routine will change. Here is a quick rundown of ways to care for your tiny human’s teeth from birth to the first dental visit:

After each feeding, wipe your baby’s gums with a soft damp cloth to remove excess milk and bacteria. Once your child’s teeth develop and break through the gums, it’s time to start brushing twice a day. Very similar to the way we brush our teeth but use a soft children’s toothbrush and baby toothpaste until they reach preschool-age, when the amount of toothpaste increases to the size of a pea. Little humans have a tendency to swallow the toothpaste, instead of spitting it out.

As they begin to eat, realize that they are going to love anything with sugar, so try to keep their favorites to something special. And since good habits start at home, start teaching your family good dental hygiene habits.

When it comes to baby’s first dental visit, parents should take their children as soon as their first tooth pops out, but no longer than the child’s first birthday. Doing this makes it easier for the dentist to look for any early signs and symptoms of problems with the child’s teeth and teach you important information about your child’s diet, the use of the right bottles, brushing, etc.

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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Keeping Your Smile as Bright as Possible Between Whitening Treatments | Ottawa Dentist

Do you find that your teeth continue to yellow, despite all of your daily hygienic efforts? You are not alone. There are millions of people suffering from the same problem. And it has nothing to do with your dental habits. This happens because the outer layers of your teeth get stained over the years by consumption of beverages with caffeine, soda, wine and smoking. When these outside sources of staining are left to sit on the teeth all day until your next brushing, the dentin on your teeth becomes yellowish or darkened. The best way to help your stained discolored teeth is professional tooth whitening.

There are some of the various ways our teeth begin to get a yellow tinge. If you find that yours are caused by medications, address this with your physician. But many lifestyle habits we have are causes to stain our teeth over time:

  • Caffeine
  • Discoloration due to a health condition
  • Excessive exposure to fluoride as a child
  • Internal bleeding due to trauma
  • Natural aging- as time goes by enamel gets thinner and thinner and will get a yellowish hue
  • Smoking
  • Soda
  • Tetracycline based antibiotics used before the age of 8 years old
  • Wine

It is best to consult your dental professional for advice on keeping your teeth white, especially after a professional whitening treatment. After all, you want your bright smile to last as long as possible. Here are some simple rules to live by to try and slow the yellowing process:

  • Visit your dentist regularly for teeth cleanings
  • Rinse your mouth out with water several times throughout the day
  • Use toothpaste with whitening agents

For more information about teeth whitening, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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What Is a Cosmetic Dentist? | Ottawa Dentist

When you hear the word cosmetic dentist, what do you think differentiates them from a general dentist? What makes them different, in particular, is just how they pay attention to the maintenance and improvement of the natural beauty of the smile of their patients.

Say you need a filling – a general dentist may recommend a metal composite restoration method because it’s been around for centuries already. However, most cosmetic dentists disagree with this.

For cosmetic dentists, porcelain is their material of choice when it comes to repairing any type of damage to their patient’s teeth because they’re malleable, easy to use, safe and most important of all, aesthetically pleasing.

Cosmetic dentists, unlike general dentists, make it their job to protect both the structural integrity and aesthetics of their patient’s smile. And, while elective, there are many cases where the treatments offered by cosmetic dentists provide much better restorative benefits compared to conventional methods, such as:

Correction of physical flaws. The procedures preferred by cosmetic dentists can help conceal, as well as correct plenty of dental problems, from misshapen teeth, chips, cracks, unsightly gaps and stains, and so on.

Improved self-esteem. Many agree that the one thing that stops you from smiling is a flawed smile. Cosmetic dentists can help fix that for you so that you can smile away all you want and be prouder of the way you look, giving your self-esteem a much-needed boost.

Future damage prevention. While most of the procedures are designed to help make teeth look beautiful, they can also affect it positively in other ways. Bonding can help improve the structural integrity of the teeth. By covering up hairline fractures or worn edges will not only improve their appearance but prevent further damage.

For more information about cosmetic dentistry procedures, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Do You Need a Cosmetic Dental Procedure? | Ottawa Dentist

On the quest for the ideal smile, there are many paths to take. Because smiles are like snowflakes – no two smiles are alike. This is how we know that your perfect smile is attainable, it may just take some time. So, if you are ready to take the next step towards a pristine pucker, it’s time to visit your dental professional to discuss a treatment plan. Here are some of the more common procedures:

  • Composite white fillings repair cavities without having silver filling in the mouth. Existing metal fillings can be replaced with modern white resin.
  • Bonding uses composite resin to help change the size, shape, or color of teeth. Because it attaches to teeth in the same way that composite fillings attach, bonding can be used to fix chips on visible front teeth.
  • Teeth that are discolored or stained can be whitened – either in the office or using take-home trays.
  • Veneers – a thin layer of porcelain on top of the tooth – can be used to change tooth shape, size, or color
  • Crowns can be used as a cap on top of teeth damaged by cracks or decay
  • Orthodontics – either traditional or Invisalign – can be used to permanently straighten teeth.
  • Gum tissue can be surgically altered – either added via grafts to help with recession, or removed to create a more appealing tooth length
  • For missing, broken, or severely damaged teeth, full implants can be used to provide a replacement tooth

Because modern dentists have implants as a final catchall, virtually any problem – even major problems involving multiple missing teeth – can be solved given enough time and room in the patient’s budget. However, your dentist will be able to guide you through the process by explaining the procedure’s pros and cons.

For more information about cosmetic dentistry procedures, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Autumn’s Seasonal Hero Can Help Your Smile | Ottawa Dentist

Tonight, little humans all over Canada will set out around their neighborhoods looking for a bag full of sweet treats in exchange for a pledge not to trick. It’s a fair trade for most of these tiny ghosts and goblins. As parents, we need to take this time to not only instill good dental habits, but to teach moderation when it comes to things like Halloween candy.

We all know that not all candy is the same. Some are chewy, others crunchy – some have a fruit flavor while others are made of chocolate. It doesn’t matter the preference, candy is a certain treat that needs to be handled in moderation, or it will lead to cavities and other health issues.

One way to do this is by introducing another staple of the autumn season – apples. We bob for them at Halloween parties, snack on them covered in caramel and indulge in pies filled with them. But more than that, apples are really good for our smiles.

It’s true – this crispy fruit is fantastic for producing saliva, which is our natural way of keeping our mouths clean and bacteria free. Additionally, the fibers within the apple play an added role in cleaning our teeth in a way similar to a toothbrush. Now, it’s not a substitute… Apples are a healthy snack but shouldn’t replace your daily dental hygiene routine. These are just natural ways that you can improve your smile while enjoying a tasty treat.

So, while you are teaching your little ones about brushing their teeth after snacking on Halloween candy, why not switch up the seasonal snack with an apple from time to time?

For more information about smile-friendly ways to celebrate Halloween, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.