Floss' Dental Hygiene Services

Why should I have an assessment?

Oral health for overall health! Regular dental assessments help protect not just your oral health, but also your overall health. For instance, signs and symptoms of some systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and diabetes, might show up in the mouth first. If your dental hygienist or dentist finds indications of disease, he or she will suggest that you see your doctor.

An assessment gives your dental professional a chance to provide tips on caring for your teeth and to detect oral health problems early — when they're most treatable. This includes examining for gum disease, cavities and other diseases of the oral cavity.

When should I have an assessment?

At your appointment your dental professional will make recommendations on the frequency of assessments and dental hygiene appointments, that are appropriate for you. This will take into consideration your current oral health status and your susceptibility to oral diseases.

Even if you no longer have your natural teeth, it's important to see your dental professional for regular dental assessments to maintain your oral health and the function of your replacement teeth.

What Is Debridement?

Debridement is a term used to describe the physical removal of plaque and tartar accumulation during your dental hygiene visit with your dental hygienist. It is important to remove this build-up of bacteria regularly to maintain healthy gums and to prevent gum disease and decay. After brushing, within seconds, new plaque bacteria is already forming around your teeth and gums! A good routine at home combined with regular appointments with your dental hygienist is key to maintaining healthy gums and teeth.

How Floss Dental Collective Can Help

Visiting your dentist or dental hygienist can also reveal early signs of problems that are much more serious than plaque. During a dental hygiene visit, it’s easy to spot signs of oral cancer, new cavities, receding gums, and even signs of anemia or other medical problems. Since gum disease is linked to cardiovascular disease, catching it as early as possible can even lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. If you haven’t made professional teeth cleaning a priority, it’s not too late. Schedule an appointment today with one of Floss’ registered dental hygienists!

Stains, be gone!

If you have discoloration from calculus (tartar), smoking, food, coffee, tea, supplements, we can help you achieve a whiter smile! Before or after debridement (cleaning) of your teeth, your dental hygienist may polish those with plaque and stain.

Stains no more, at Floss Dental Collective

Stain removal is part of the cleaning process and your dental hygiene appointment. Based on the cause and extent of tooth staining, we will develop a specific treatment plan to reduce and prevent further unwanted discoloration and to help control plaque and stains. We have a few different methods in removing surface stains and we will discuss which one is right for you. If you have staining that cannot be removed with polishing, we can discuss whitening or permanent cosmetic solutions that will work best for you

Fluoride Treatments at Floss Dental Collective

Fluoride is present in most food and water, and all humans ingest the mineral to some extent on a daily basis. Approx. 40% of Canadians receive fluoride in their community water supply. When indicated, fluoride is also recommended to be used by individuals, in their toothpaste and rinses. Dental professionals sometimes recommend the use of fluoride applications, based on your individual needs.
More than 70 years of extensive research has consistently shown fluoride to be a safe, effective and economical means of preventing and even reversing the early stages of tooth decay (dental caries) in all age groups. Fluoride works by strengthening or remineralising the outer layer of teeth (tooth enamel) to prevent cavities from starting, to reduce the size and number of cavities, and to reduce tooth sensitivity.

Tips from Floss Dental Collective

• Parents should supervise the tooth brushing of young children under six years of age, using a pea-size amount of toothpaste.
• Children under three years of age should have their teeth brushed by an adult using only a smear of non-fluoride toothpaste.
• Fluoride mouth rinsing is not recommended for children under six years of age
  Talk to your dental professional for more information

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity

You may have areas on your teeth that are more sensitive than others. This sensitivity can be brought on by cold, hot, sweet or sour food or drinks and it may also come and go over time. This sensitivity can be caused by several different reasons, including:

• Recession (root exposure)
• Dentin hypersensitivity
• Tooth decay
• Grinding/clenching
• Acid Reflux (erosion)
• Aggressive brushing habits

What Treatments Are Available For Sensitive Teeth?

At your appointment, we will discuss with you what the possible causes of your sensitivity may be, and help you find ways to combat your tooth sensitivity. Some ways we do that include applying fluoride varnish or other desensitizers to specific areas of your teeth, suggesting changes to your diet, modifying your dental home care, and ruling out caries (cavities), grinding/clenching or acid reflux.

What Are Temporary Fillings?

If you have a tooth that has lost a filling or has decay, we may be able to provide you with a temporary filling as a stop-gap measure to relieve pain, if you are unable to seek permanent treatment right away. These temporary fillings are very useful in preventing infection and pain, in the time before you are able to schedule appropriate permanent treatment. While these temporary fillings can last a long time, we do not provide these as a long-term solution, as decay can still persist underneath this temporary filling.

What Are Sealants?

Our teeth can sometimes have deep pits, fissures and grooves that allow plaque bacteria to hide and are tough to remove, even when you brush well. Deep pits and fissures in teeth are very difficult places to clean. Toothbrush bristles cannot always reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to remove food and plaque. The enamel layer can also be particularly thin in pits and fissures, resulting in a cavity progressing easier, faster and deeper into the grooves.

How Do Sealants Help?

Sealants protect these susceptible areas by “sealing out” the plaque bacteria with a white filling material. This is a fast and simple process that does not require freezing. Sealants are often recommended for children when deep pits and grooves are present on newly erupted teeth. Sealants act as a preventative measure to help protect teeth from decay. Your dental hygienist will discuss whether sealants may benefit you or your children.

Protect Your Pearly Whites at Floss Dental Collective

Mouthguards help to minimize the risk of injury to the face, teeth, jaw and head when involved in active or contact sports. Dental injuries can occur at any age. Up to 40 per cent of these injuries in older adolescents and adults occur during active recreation/leisure activities. Mouthguards have been shown to reduce trauma to teeth, gums, and the surrounding jawbone, as well as decrease injury to the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and the intensity and number of concussions. Mouthguards also reduce the pressure and bone deformation of the skull when a force is directed to the chin. Mouthguards are recommended for anyone engaging in aggressive activities or when practising or competing in sports.

A Custom Fit for You

At Floss Dental Collective, we will create you a custom-fitted mouthguard. These are considered to provide the best protection due to their close fit, comfort and cushioning (shock absorption) effect, in comparison to the non-custom (boil and bite) type mouthguards. A well-fitting custom mouthguard is comfortable and will not interfere with breathing and swallowing during physical activity.

Whiter and brighter smiles at Floss Dental Collective

Teeth naturally darken with age and their appearance can be affected by the accumulation of surface and intrinsic stains from coffee, tea, wine, cigarettes, supplements, medications and the everyday foods we consume. There are a few ways we can brighten your smile!

You Choose How You Whiten at Floss

The treatments and their effectiveness vary depending on the type of whitening system. A thorough examination and cleaning from a dental professional is recommended before using whitening products. At Floss Dental Collective, we offer two systems for whitening, including custom trays and in-office 1 hour ZOOM treatment.