1) Bad breath is most commonly caused by poor dental hygiene:

Chronic problems with bad breath are typically due to an unwanted coating of bacteria on your teeth and gums. This coating almost always results from failing to brush your teeth in the right way, or from failing to brush them at least twice every day. Without effective brushing, food residue lingers in your mouth and eventually produces the offensive odor that is characteristic of bad breath. If you are concerned that your breath is unpleasant, your first course of action should be to increase the frequency of your brushing and check that your technique is appropriate.

2) Smoking is the second most common cause of bad breath:

If someone brushes their teeth often and brushes them correctly, habitual smoking is another likely explanation for bad breathing. Of course, it is important to note there are also much more significant reasons why you should stop smoking. Being a smoker makes you more likely to suffer from gum disease, creates unsightly staining on your teeth, and substantially increases your risk of developing some form of oral cancer in your lifetime.

3) Xerostomia is sometimes responsible for bad breath:
In cases where bad breath is not caused by food residue or by smoking cigarettes, the most common cause is something called xerostomia. This condition also involves a malodorous buildup of bacteria, but the specific reason for this buildup is a poor flow of saliva. If you suspect that you are suffering from xerostomia, you will need to speak to your dentist in order to better identity the root cause of your dry mouth. This condition can be caused by malfunctioning salivary glands, particular medications, or breathing through your mouth instead of your nose. If the cause of your xerostomia cannot be eliminated, you can purchase an artificial saliva product that can help to reduce bad breath.

4) Some cases of bad breath are caused by underlying health problems:

In rare cases (i.e. slightly less than 10%), chronic bad breath is a symptom of an underlying illness that is unrelated to the teeth and gums. Some examples include digestive system malfunctions, throat infections, upper respiratory infections, kidney and liver problems, and sinus infections. If you have bad breath and have managed to rule out the other causes mentioned above and below, visit your doctor as well as your dentist.

5) Gum disease is often accompanied by bad breath:

In other cases, bad breath is a symptom of ongoing gum disease. If you are suffering from this condition, you are likely to have bleeding gums, visible inflammation, and a noticeably unpleasant taste in your mouth. If you are concerned about symptoms of gum disease, make an appointment with your dentist in order to receive a diagnosis and treatment plan.

6) There are things you can do to help prevent bad breath:

Above all, you must ensure that you brush your teeth twice a day and do so in a thorough manner so as to avoid bacteria building up and causing an unpleasant smell. Flossing will also help, as without using dental floss you are only cleaning three out of the five surfaces of your teeth. In addition, you may want to consider buying an antibacterial mouthwash that contains cetylpyridinium chloride.

7) You can perform a test to find out whether you have bad breath:

Finally, if you are concerned about your breath but are unsure about whether it is genuinely unpleasant to others, you can test your breath by smelling your wrist after licking a small patch of skin.

It is a commonly known fact that smoking leads to health problems such as lung cancer, but did you know that smoking and oral health problems often go hand in hand?

In fact, smoking is the leading cause for almost 75% of gum disease in adults. This percentage includes adults who smoke from pipes and cigars, as well as those enjoying smokeless tobacco.

“As soon as you begin using tobacco products, you are more likely to experience these common problems that are tied with smoking and oral health problems”

As soon as you begin using tobacco products, you are more likely to experience these common problems that are tied with smoking and oral health problems:

• Bad breath
• Stained teeth and tongue
• Gum disease
• Gum recession
• Tooth loss
• Bone loss in the jaw
• Delayed healing process after dental treatment
• Mouth sores
• Decreased sense of taste and smell

At 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre, we are always dedicated to helping you maintain optimal oral health, that is why we strongly recommend patients to quit using any tobacco products.

For the sake of your teeth, gums and oral health, use these steps recommended by the Surgeon General to help make quitting smoking easier.

• Be prepared
• Ask for help from friends/family members/co-workers
• Invest your free time in an interesting activity
• Be prepared for a relapse
• Get medication, if necessary, and use it correctly

The team at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre understand how difficult and time-consuming quitting smoking can be. However, we are dedicated to helping you protect your most valuable asset—your beautiful smile.

Contact our clinic if you  are in need of any support or advice on your journey to understanding smoking and oral health issues.

Sometimes due to fear, laziness or anxiety, patients tend to “forget” about booking a regular dental cleaning or checkup at their local, friendly dental clinic. In order to encourage you to schedule your next checkup and cleaning at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre now, here’s a few good reasons why regular dental visits are so important:

“Patients who visit the dentist regularly are much less likely to need major procedures such as root canals, gum grafts and tooth extraction.”

1. Avoid Painful Procedures: Patients who visit the dentist regularly are much less likely to need major procedures such as root canals, gum grafts and tooth extraction. This means that patients are saving money, avoiding painful dental procedures and staying healthy!

2. Beautiful Smiles: A good looking smile starts with healthy teeth, and regular checkups and cleanings at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre will keep you looking your best. A professional cleaning can also help remove stains on your teeth, giving them a healthy shine that will impress everyone you meet.

3. Detect oral cancer early: One of the deadliest cancers, but easiest to diagnose, is oral cancer. At our Vancouver dental clinic, we have invested in the VELscope exam system, which works to detect cancer at the earliest stages.

4. Good example for your kids: If you have children who look up to you, make sure you practice good oral hygiene habits. Make dental checkups a priority in life, allowing for a future full of healthy smiles.

5. Reduce gum disease: Many adults will eventually get some type of periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss. Luckily, gum disease can easily be treated or reversed, but only if your oral health is checked closely by the team at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre.

For more information on maintaining good oral health, or to book a dental cleaning and checkup, contact us today!

Halloween is on the horizon and your health partners at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre want to help you protect your kids from something even scarier than zombies, ghosts and goblins this Halloween. There’s something even more bone-chilling called tooth decay!

We all remember the joys of trick-or-treating, and coming home to unload our sugary spoils and eat candy until our tummies ached. Parents are in the scariest position at Halloween, predicting the cavities, temper tantrums and hyperactivity that will result from the copious candy intake by their youngsters.

The best way to avoid any of these truly tricky consequences in the aftermath of Halloween is not to consume any candy at all. However, we know that’s highly unlikely and that’s why your experts at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre have created a Halloween candy guide to help protect your kids from tooth decay and thereby ensure their optimal oral health for life.

Below is a listing from most harmful to the safest treats your kids should be choosing from their trick-or-treat bag:

Sour Power – Sour candies are the absolute worst in that studies have revealed that the acids in sour candies are so destructive because they dissolve enamel on contact!

Hardly Harmless – Hard candy needs to be sucked on for an extended period of time and very chewy candies are harmful in that they get stuck between the teeth. Both hard and chewy candy allow bacteria to wreak havoc on your child’s teeth for a much longer period of time.

Resist Raisins – Don’t be fooled by their natural derivative. Raisins easily damage dental work because they are very sticky and do not mix well with fillings, braces or retainers.

Candy Bars Get Four Stars – While we can’t say candy bars are good for your oral health, they are less harmful because they are eaten quickly allowing less time for the sugar to damage with acid.

Dissolve Your Worry – Powder candy is fairly safe as the sugar dissolves quickly and makes little contact with the teeth.

Eat Two or Three if They’re Sugar Free – As obvious as it seems, sugar-free candy is the most highly recommended Halloween treat for your children’s teeth. You can even prevent cavities by chewing sugar free gum! Sugar free gum promotes increased saliva which neutralizes harmful bacteria.

If your little monsters will be in need a routine dental cleaning after Halloween give us a call and book an appointment today!

It has come across our attention at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre that many aging patients are concerned about losing teeth as they grow older. The truth of the matter is that there is no reason for senior citizens to lose their teeth other than because of oral disease.

Your perfect smile can last you a lifetime, if you take proper care of it.

The aging generation is now one of the fastest growing populations in North America. Most dental professionals are seeing that these citizens are keeping their teeth healthy, allowing for a natural smile with no need of dental implants or dentures.

However, a natural smile that lasts a lifetime is only possible with proper oral health care—which typically requires an annual visit to the team at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre.

“We have found that seniors take longer breaks from visiting the dentist,” says Dr. Abbas Tejani, “it seems as if they stop caring because they don’t think their oral hygiene matters anymore.”

Proper oral health care is essential for older people for a multitude of reasons. One of which is dry mouth, which slows down the production of saliva. Often seen in elderly patients, dry mouth can be harmful because saliva helps to prevent tooth decay by washing away food particles and eliminating acids. Luckily, a dentist can fix dry mouth.

Senior citizens should also remember to maintain a regiment of daily flossing and brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Elderly people are likely to get cavities where older fillings have broken or where receding gums have left unprotected surfaces.

In addition, for elderly patients to maintain optimal oral health, snacks with sugars and starch should be eliminated.

Keep your smile healthy and complete with proper oral care! Take some time to contact us at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre for a check-up and cleaning today.

"One of the leading causes of cavities is from carbonated beverages; which not only result in cavities but also increase obesity in today’s teenager."

With teenagers eating an increased amount of fast food and carbonated beverages to keep up with their busy lifestyle, family dental clinics are witnessing a generation inflicting serious damage to their oral and overall health.

A poor diet that consists of sugary treats and fast food can result in premature loss of tooth enamel, resulting in a weaker tooth structure. Due to this, it is especially important that teenagers try to maintain a healthy diet.

One of the leading causes of cavities is from carbonated beverages; which not only result in cavities but also increase obesity in today’s teenager.

The citric, tartaric, carbonic and phosphoric acids that come from pop can often lead to the breakdown of tooth enamel, naturally leading to cavities or tooth decay.

In order to actively prevent cavities from occurring, teenagers and parents need to decrease the amount of sugar-filled pop consumed. In addition, regular checkups and cleanings need to be scheduled at your local family dental clinic to ensure optimal oral health.

Contact 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre today to book an appointment or to learn more about cavity prevention for teenagers.

Is there a connection between the two diseases? Yes. Recent studies conducted by the American Diabetes Association have proven that diabetes and gum disease are linked. Diabetics not only have the problem of everyday blood glucose monitoring and maintaining; they are more prone to gum disease and oral health complications.  With the serious disease of diabetes, numerous other complications can occur such as a low immune system and oral health complications such as gingivitis. Diabetics do not have as much fighting power within their immune system as healthy people and this makes them vulnerable to a variety of problems.

Diabetes and gum disease are connected because when blood glucose levels become unstable the teeth cannot remain strong. This can cause a diabetic to lose teeth throughout their lifetime. The risk of serious gum disease is higher when a diabetic’s blood sugar level becomes unbalanced. New research and studies performed indicate that if we focus on maintaining our oral health, we can maintain or improve our general health. An unhealthy set of teeth can lead to numerous problems and health conditions. Gum disease can seriously affect a diabetic because it can increase blood glucose levels so high that it may be more and more difficult to maintain on a daily basis.

If you are suffering from diabetes, you must take good care of your gums. By brushing your teeth two to three times daily after meals, flossing, booking routine dental cleanings, controlling glucose levels and using mouthwash, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting gum disease. It is also important to observe your teeth and gums daily to see if any teeth are loose and if any gums are bleeding as this has been a sign of individuals dealing with diabetes and gum disease

We at 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre understand how diabetes and gum disease can deeply affect your life and quality of living. We remain educated and updated on the most recent dental studies, confirmed healthcare reports and offer state-of-the-art technology and treatments. It is our job to keep your teeth and gums healthy and we commit ourselves to providing optimal oral health and hygiene in all of our patients.

If you think you may have gum disease make sure you check out the top symptoms below. Do not worry, there is treatment for gum disease and your oral health can be restored. It is a good idea to maintain your oral hygiene practices as usual and then set up a consultation with one of our experienced and highly knowledgeable dentists within our practice. We care about your teeth and gums just as much as you do and strive to achieve optimal dental health with every patient that comes to see us.  At 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre, we want you to feel safe, cared for and treated as one of the family.

Gum disease is a tissue infection surrounding the teeth. Periodontal disease attacks an area within the mouth called the sulcus.  The sulcus is located between the gums and the teeth and when the tissue is damaged, a pocket is formed in the sulcus. There are two stages that occur when this form of disease develops. They are known as periodontitis and gingivitis. Gingivitis can be reversed as it is a milder form of gum disease, but if left untreated it can turn into severe periodontitis.

Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease can go undetected for quite some time.  Gum disease can be prevented with regular dental checkups and routine cleanings.

Ask yourself the following questions.

1. When you brush your teeth, do your gums bleed? Do your gums bleed for no apparent reason?
2. Do you find that some of your permanent teeth are loose? Do you see gaps forming?
3. Have you noticed that your gums are protruding outwards from your teeth?
4. Do people complain that you have bad breath? Do you constantly have a bad taste in your mouth?
5. If you wear dentures, have you noticed a change in the way they are fitting within your mouth?
6. Is your bite different? Do you feel it isn’t the same bite as you previously had?
7. Have you lost teeth recently without cause?
8. Do your gums appear red, feel tender or look swollen?

If you answered yes to more than one of these questions, contact us today to book a consultation visit.

What should I do?

Call us and schedule an appointment for an exam. Many dentists and dental practices including 123 Kerrisdale Dental Centre can help stop the progression of the disease with periodontal maintenance. Do your best to maintain good oral health at home and brush, floss and eat healthy foods to maintain optimal immunity. We can help save your teeth from further damage if you get in touch with us today!