Dr Brunner recently attended continuing education seminars in the northwest territories of Canada. After attending daily lectures by Dr Terry Donovan, they headed out to the lakes for a bit of fishing. On one of their trips, Dr Brunner caught this amazing Lake Trout. It weighed 36lbs and was estimated to be about 50 years old! What an awesome catch! Don’t worry, he released it back into the water to live many more years as a happy Trout.

We are here to bust 2 common oral hygiene myths for all of you. These are things we think you should know!

1. Myth: The harder you brush, the better it is.

Truth: Brushing with medium or hard bristles, or brushing with heavy pressure can actually wear your gums away exposing your softer, not as strong root surfaces. Exposed root surfaces can cause sensitivity and are even more susceptible to decay. So, we recommend using a soft bristled brush and gentle pressure while brushing. Remember, it’s not about brushing harder, it’s about brushing longer. Two full minutes, twice daily will give you the best possible results.

2. Myth: When using toothpaste, apply a long strip of paste to cover the length of your brush. That’s what they do on the commercials, isn’t it?

Truth: If you read the directions on your tube of toothpaste, it instructs you to apply only a pea size amount of paste. This small amount is all it takes to effectively aid in cleaning your teeth. Using more than this can cause build up in your bristles. This build up hibernates dirty mouth bacteria and compromise the integrity of your bristles. So, stick to the directions and use only a pea size. You will even save money in the long run!

Everyone knows that our ultimate goal for oral hygiene is to brush twice daily, (2 min each time) and floss once daily. But, the most  frequent conversation with our patients is that they need to increase flossing! Flossing helps to control bacteria that can cause gum disease and also cavities in between the teeth. Skipping your daily flossing routine increases the bacteria build up, thus increasing your chances to have gum disease or decay. Think of what you’re risking before you skip flossing! As we always say:  Preventative care is the cheapest and easiest care you can receive.

Technique can be important to ensure you’re getting the best results possible. So, take a minute to watch this video. It has great instructions and great visuals. Happy flossing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcNf2bZFrRU

Watched the video and still hate flossing? Talk with your Dental Hygienist about alternative options like floss picks, Soft Piks or even a Waterpik.

Researchers are always digging deeper and looking harder for new information that will help improve our oral health. Some recent evaluations of existing evidence now indicates that people who have higher amounts of Viatmin D in their system are at a lower risk for cavities. In fact, they are seeing that it is an astounding 50% reduction in decay!!

The following study was done on children between the ages of 2 and 16 years old. Children who are deficient in Vitamin D are more likely to have delayed tooth eruption and tooth decay.  Take a look at this article for details: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/253298.php

So, where does Vitamin D come from? The best sources of this great vitamin are: the sunlight, fortified milk and yogurt, some cereal,salmon, eggs and cheese. 15 minutes a day of sunlight (don’t forget your sun screen!) provides a prefect amount of Vitamin D.