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You use them every day to chew, speak and smile, but what do you really know about your teeth? Here’s a breakdown of the basics.

Types of teeth
The average adult has 32 teeth. These include incisors, canines, premolars and molars. Although they have different functions, each tooth has the same basic structure.

You probably already know that frequently eating sugary foods can cause cavities and gum disease but did you know that consuming certain foods can improve your oral health? To keep your mouth healthy, make sure to include these seven things in your diet.

Using illegal street drugs isn’t only harmful to your body and your mental health, it also damages your teeth and mouth. Using drugs such as cocaine and heroin, and even legal drugs such as cannabis can lead to oral health problems. Here’s how some common street drugs can harm your mouth.

At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we’re proud to offer a range of dentistry services that can help you achieve a beautiful smile. Indeed, a simple smile can have a big impact. Research shows that smiling, both spontaneous or forced, has many benefits for you and others. Here are six ways smiling can make you feel great and have an impact on the world around you.

You probably already know that sugar is bad for your teeth, but do you know why? Understanding how sugar interacts with your mouth can help you take better care of your teeth and make healthier choices about what to eat. Here’s what you should know about sugar and cavities.

Chewing gum that has sugar can be harmful to your teeth, and regularly chewing it can potentially lead to dental decay. Sugar-free gum, on the other hand, can be safely chewed and doing so even has certain benefits. Here’s what you should know.

Practising good oral hygiene early can have benefits for your child’s development and will continue to serve them their entire adult lives. Here are some pediatric dentistry facts that every parent should know.

A common oral health problem, receding gums is a condition experienced by many adults. If left unchecked, it can lead to tooth sensitivity and even tooth loss. Receding gums can also affect the look of your smile. The good news, however, is that dentists have procedures and tools to help prevent and slow receding gums.

Though it’s normal for teeth to yellow and become stained over time, many people feel self-conscious about their discoloured teeth. Unfortunately, some of them turn to homemade remedies and over-the-counter treatments rather than professional teeth whitening. Before you decide to try a DIY whitening treatment, here’s what you should know.

Opioids are strong narcotic pain relievers that can be prescribed by a medical professional for the short-term management of pain. Some commonly prescribed opioids include Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Morphine and Codeine. Although they can be effective in managing pain, they can also be dangerous and highly addictive.

Adult teeth are supposed to last your whole life, it doesn’t always work out that you get to keep them. Over time, teeth can become decayed or damaged due to poor oral hygiene, disease and injury. In many cases, teeth and gums can be repaired with fillings, crowns and antibiotics. However, sometimes these interventions aren’t enough, and a tooth must be extracted.

Dental X-rays are an important tool for monitoring your oral health and diagnosing possible issues. If you’re nervous about this, or any other dental procedure, the best thing to do is to find out what to expect from your appointment. Here’s what you should know.

A dental crown is a cap that can be placed over a cracked or damaged tooth to protect it from further harm. Crowns are very durable and can be made of metal, resin, porcelain, ceramic or other materials. However, poor dental hygiene and eating hard or sticky foods can compromise the integrity of your crown. Sometimes, they can become loose or even fall off. If your crown does become dislodged, it can be fixed. Here are some things you should do if this occurs.

In dentistry, the term “bite” refers to how your upper and lower teeth line up. A bite issue occurs when your teeth don’t come together properly. If you’re looking to fix your bite, Dr. Sandhu at Forest Lawn Dental Centre can provide orthodontics to help you get the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. However, there are several different kinds of bite issues and each has its own set of potential problems associated with it. Here are the most common types.

An abscessed tooth is a dental condition that requires immediate intervention. It involves a pocket of pus forming on the tooth due to a bacterial infection. Abscesses can occur at different locations on the teeth and gums and for varying reasons. Here’s what you need to know about this painful dental condition including what should be done about it. 

If there’s one thing most people can agree on, it’s that the past year has been a tough one. On top of the anxiety surrounding the pandemic itself, many people are dealing with the added pressure of working from home, homeschooling their children or losing their job. While stress is a normal part of life, experiencing it chronically can have a number of harmful effects on your health and well-being. If you’ve been struggling to manage your stress, keep an eye out for these oral health concerns.

There are many lifestyle factors, including regular cannabis use, that can impact your oral health. Here are some of the ways that we’re learning that cannabis use can affect your oral health.

By taking these steps, you can help your teen adjust to wearing braces and focus on the positives of their orthodontic journey to straighter teeth.

Since we only have room for 28 teeth in our mouth, those unnecessary extras can sometimes induce crowding, and maybe even infection if they're impacted.

Dental decay can wreak havoc on your oral health and cause cavities to form on your teeth.

Mouthwash can kill bacteria in your mouth and keep your breath fresh, but not all of them are created equal. Here's how to choose the best mouthwash for you!

If you’ve cosmetic dentistry work done to restore your dazzling smile, you may have some questions about how to go about whitening your teeth.

Oral cancer results from abnormal cell growth on the mouth, lips, tongue and/or throat. Here’s what you should know about this disease, which approximately 5,400 Canadians are diagnosed with every year.

If you’ve been more stressed out during the pandemic, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, more than twice as many Canadians have felt regularly or constantly stressed during the COVID-19 crisis. Here’s a look at how this can affect your teeth and steps to prevent damage.

For most people, dry mouth is a passing discomfort. However, in some cases, it’s a chronic condition that requires treatment.

A bridge is made up of one or more artificial teeth fused between two crowns and anchored to your natural teeth or anchored to dental implants.

With the rising popularity of vaping products amongst teens and young adults we feel that it’s important as a family dental clinic to provide you with as many facts as possible to inform your choices.

As a family dentist with over 17 years of experience, we understand the challenges some parents may face when helping children tackle their dental exam anxiety.

As a parent, you can anticipate that your children’s baby teeth will become loose and start to fall out sometime between the ages of 5 and 7. But what does it mean if a child’s tooth turns grey and doesn’t fall out? Here’s what you should know.

Did you know most dentists recommend you replace your toothbrush every three to four months?

We receive a lot of questions from new parents about when is the right time to start bringing your children to the dentist and what should be known about preparing infants for a long life of healthy teeth. 

Professional cleanings and dental exams are a vital component of oral health care. The Canadian Dental Association recommends a visit every six months, although your dentist may suggest more frequent appointments if you’re at high risk for tooth decay or gum disease.

If you’ve noticed blood in your saliva when you brush or floss your teeth, you may be concerned. Here’s what you need to know about bleeding gums – from minor irritations to serious medical conditions.

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars at the back of your mouth that are supposed to erupt during your late teens or early 20s. However, sometimes they're impacted, meaning they’re fully or partially trapped beneath the gum line.

A root canal is a dental procedure that can be used to treat an abscessed tooth.

Specifically, the treatment involves the removal of infected tooth pulp. This pulp is a soft tissue made up of blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. A fully developed tooth can survive without its pulp, as it can receive nourishment from surrounding tissue.

While some dental issues are minor and can be dealt with at your next scheduled dentist appointment, some problems require immediate attention.

Here are five circumstances in which it’s critical to see an emergency dentist in SE Calgary.

For most people, the wisdom teeth grow in when they’re in their late teens or early twenties.

At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we’ve been paying close attention to the current public health situation related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) and are taking every possible measure to keep our office safe for you. Our priority is the health and well being of our patients, our team members and the community.

Many kids and adults in and around Calgary play hockey in the winter. Whether you play competitively or just for fun, you’re putting your teeth at risk. 

If your teeth are discoloured, chipped or otherwise damaged, you may be reluctant to show them to the world.

Proper oral hygiene is important. It keeps your gums and teeth healthy and your smile bright. If you want to improve your habits this year, follow these eight tips.

Tooth sensitivity is a common dental problem often characterized by a sharp, temporary pain when teeth come into contact with hot, cold, sweet or acidic substances. Teeth can also be sensitive to pressure. Here’s a guide to help you avoid and treat tooth sensitivity.

Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dentistry procedure that can improve your smile and boost your confidence. There are also several over-the-counter products that boast the same benefits. If you’re considering teeth whitening, here are some of the key differences between professional treatments and store-bought products.

Few things cause as much discomfort as a toothache. Luckily, through understanding the possible causes, you’ll be able to take some preventive measures to protect your teeth. If you do find yourself experiencing a toothache, you should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, here’s some information about the causes of tooth pain and what you can do to relieve it.

Many people only think about their breath after they’ve eaten a meal filled with garlic or onions. For others, however, bad breath is a constant worry. If you have persistent bad breath or an ever-present bad taste in your mouth, it’s most likely caused by bacteria. These feed on the remaining bits of food left on your teeth after eating and can cause gingivitis, a type of gum disease.

There are times when you shouldn’t wait for your next checkup to see your dentist. Dental emergencies can happen at any time, and when they do, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible. Here are some signs you need an emergency visit to your dental professional.

Most people consider their time spent in the chair at a dental clinic unpleasant, if not terrifying. However, dental anxiety can be greatly alleviated by familiarizing yourself with the typical proceedings of a dental examination. One great way to do so is by developing an understanding of the tools commonly used by your dentist.

The differences between general and cosmetic dentistry

Dentistry has evolved a lot over the years. While you used to go see the dentist for cleanings and the occasional filling, you can now benefit from a wide range of treatments. At our dental clinic, we practice both general and cosmetic dentistry. However, many of our patients aren’t clear about the difference. These specializations are similar and require the same basic training, but their focus is different.

Does your child have misaligned teeth? If so, he or she likely has orthodontic issues that will need to be corrected by wearing braces. It’s not just a question of aesthetics: teeth that are askew tend to be problematic in terms of their capacity to ward off dental decay and gum disease. However, there’s a right time and a wrong time for a young person to get braces and you may want to know when your own son or daughter can begin to wear them. At Forest Lawn Dental Centre in Calgary, we can carry out a detailed evaluation to ascertain whether dental braces are appropriate for your child; best of all, we not only make sure that our braces are functional, but also affordable.

Are you about to get braces? Not sure what to expect? If so, it’s not uncommon to be a bit nervous. Thankfully, getting braces in Calgary is not something you need to be anxious about. In fact, it’s a quick and straightforward procedure. At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we can help to give you the smile you’ve always wanted with affordable braces. Here’s what the process involves, including some tips for dealing with the soreness wearing braces might initially cause.

When you begin wearing braces, the quality of your sleep may suffer in the initial days or weeks. Generally, this is simply because your gums and cheeks aren’t yet used to the dental apparatus being in your mouth. A certain amount of pain and discomfort is completely normal during this period. However, there are things you can do to alleviate the soreness and catch more Z’s. 

Your teeth are delicate. Maintaining them is a challenge you have to take on everyday to prevent them form decaying prematurely. Unfortunately, nearly everything you eat will contribute to the decay of the enamel on your teeth. What does that mean? It means the protective layer covering the nerves in your teeth is slowly but surely starting to disappear. But there are ways you can prevent this from happening. Here at Forest Lawn Dental Centre, your dentist is committed to keeping your teeth healthy and looking their best. Here are 5 ways to help protect the enamel of your teeth:

For many people, going to the dentist causes a large amount of unnecessary stress. Nobody needs extra stress, so what do they do? They simply stop going to see their dentist. Having your teeth examined is incredibly important and can save you a lot of trouble when it comes to preventing and treating all sorts of oral conditions that will otherwise get worse over time. Luckily, that no longer has to be an issue. At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we offer both oral and IV sedation for our patients who get anxiety from simply being inside a dental office. Let our team of dental professionals show you why sedation dentistry might be right for you.

The battle to keep your teeth healthy is never ending. While home care and proper diet do help, it’s important that you receive proper care from your family dentist at least once every 6 months. Fluoride treatment from your dentist is the best way to achieve stronger, more resilient enamel that will protect your teeth against the harmful substances we ingest daily. At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we provide dental services that range from cleaning to whitening, all the way to cosmetic implants and fluoride treatments. Let our experts show you the benefits of having professional fluoride treatments next time you visit your local dentist.

When you have a lot of dental work to be done, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the prospect of spending several hours in the dentists’ chair. You might wonder how long your procedure will take, and how much pain or discomfort you’ll feel as a result. But you can’t avoid the dentist without putting your dental health at risk. That’s why dental sedation is sometimes your best option. Keep reading to learn more about why sedation dentistry could be right for you.

As adults, we know it’s difficult to make your oral health a priority. However, if you want to avoid complication as you get older, it’s important that you establish good dental habits early on in your life. At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we offer expert advice and dental services to everyone in the Calgary area. So, how often does an adult have to visit the dentist? Let our dental professionals walk you through the different factors that determine the ideal frequency of your visits.

Most dentists recommend that babies should have their first visit to the dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts and no later than their first birthday. After that, your child should see the dentist regularly, at least every six months.

Braces are a big decision for everyone. For most people they’re a major investment of time, money, and effort. At the same time, they’ll help improve your smile and self-confidence. In many cases, braces can even help contribute to your overall health as misaligned teeth can affect breathing and eating, among other things.

It’s a question that your dentist has heard many times before from patients just like you living in the Calgary area. The short answer is “no,” but there are important things that you need to be aware of.

Just like your natural teeth, your dentures require maintenance in order to look and feel their best. But it’s important to keep in mind that dentures are meant to offer a semi-permanent solution for missing teeth and even the most well-maintained dentures can wear down or become misaligned with time. If you think that your dentures might need to be relined, keep reading for more information.

If you’re considering teeth whitening or other cosmetic dentistry in Calgary, you’re not alone! Teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry have exploded in popularity in Calgary over the last few years.

Fortunately, tooth extractions and root canals are significantly less distressing than they once were.

Do you jump for joy at the idea of visiting your dentist in Calgary? No? Not many of us do. But not being a super fan of dentist visits is nothing compared to suffering from a full-blown dental phobia. A dental phobia can have devastating psychological and social consequences. 

You are too busy to take the day off work. The idea of going to the dentist for a procedure makes you anxious. If you rinse, brush and floss, the problem will take care of itself.

Porcelain veneers have been around for some time now. These thin pieces of porcelain look and feel like your real, natural teeth, but they help cover imperfections that keep you from smiling with confidence.

Getting your braces removed may leave you smiling in relief, but unfortunately, your newly straightened teeth are likely to fall out of alignment unless you wear a retainer. As the name suggests, retainers are intended to retain the shape of newly straightened teeth. They can be fixed or removable, and it’s probable that your Calgary dentist will recommend you keep wearing yours for at least a year.

Is a solitary tainted tooth getting you down? Whether it’s an injury or an abscess within the root that causes it, a lone darkened tooth can be a blemish upon an otherwise perfect smile. Rest assured, the solitary discolouration can be eradicated with cosmetic dentistry.

A permanent retainer is a dental appliance which some people wear after having their braces removed. Permanent retainers are applied by a dentist in Calgary to the inside surface of the teeth in order to keep the teeth from shifting. Many people wonder if it's possible to get a professional teeth whitening in while wearing this retainer.

Neglecting your dental care can lead to serious problems with your oral health. If you experience intense dental fear or require extensive dental procedures, IV or intravenous sedation may be an option that is both comfortable and practical.

People often assume that cosmetic dentistry in Calgary is solely about improving the aesthetic appeal of a smile; in other words, that it's all about the cosmetic benefits. The truth is, however, that many procedures at Forest Lawn Dental Centre which would fall under the cosmetic dentistry umbrella have numerous benefits for dental and oral health as well. Veneers, dentures, dental implants, braces, teeth whitening - all of these are often considered cosmetic, but offer much more than just a pretty smile.

Though not often talked about, tooth pain is actually quite a common occurrence while flying. As if flying isn't already stressful enough! At Forest Lawn Dental Centre, we have an experienced dentist in Calgary, who understands the unique stresses that flying can put on your teeth, as well as what can be done to prevent dental pain while flying or to deal with it once you have landed.

If you are missing teeth, it is likely that you have partial or complete dentures. Complete dentures are used when all of your natural teeth are missing, which is the case for 1 in 15 Canadian adults under 80, while partial dentures, or bridges, are used when you are missing one to a few teeth. Both types of dentures however do need special care.

Facial swelling, an area of localized redness and pain, can occur for many different reasons. It may be the result of an injury, a scratch, a sting, a bite, or for no apparent reason. However, one of the most common reasons for facial swelling is the development of an infected tooth with a dental abscess, and a dental abscess is something that needs to be looked at right away at a walk-in dentist in Calgary such as Forest Lawn Dental Centre.

It is not uncommon for children to experience anxiety when they need to visit the dentist, and to have a difficult time sitting still and relaxing for long enough to have their teeth cleaned or to receive treatment. At Forest Lawn Dental Centre we want to ensure that dental visits are not unnecessarily stressful for our younger patients, which is why we offer sedation, including IV sedation, in Calgary.

Taking care of your dental health is just as important as taking care of your overall health. Unfortunately, many people have problems securing affordable dental care for themselves and their families. Forest Lawn Dental Centre, an affordable dentist in Calgary, has put together some useful tips that you can use for more affordable dentistry if you don't have insurance or if your insurance is sometimes not enough to cover the whole cost.

Celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise both once got behind the wonders of orthodontics. Although Angelina wore braces as a child, Tom got his at age 40! Like so many other people, these celebrities used orthodontics to improve their overall health and appearance. Braces and other orthodontic appliances may boost your confidence and protect your teeth. The long-term benefits of orthodontics can outweigh the short-term cons. Dr. Sandhu provides an affordable option for braces at Forest Lawn Dental Centre in SE Calgary. He cites three main advantages to receiving orthodontic treatment that improve your smile and your quality of life.

Many people assume electric toothbrushes are more effective at cleaning your teeth. However, dentists agree the most important feature of a toothbrush is how you use it. As long as you brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day, a manual toothbrush is likely to do just as much good as an electric one.

Although there is no solid evidence that poor oral health causes heart disease, there is enough of a connection that the Canadian Dental Association encourages good hygiene for better heart health.

Harvard Medical School reports that oral bacteria have been found in plaque build-up in the arteries and heart. The conversation continues to stay fresh in the minds of medical and dental providers, who continue to ask: “Does poor oral health really have an effect on heart health?”

 Most of us are familiar with cavities – at least 90% of the population has had one. Similarly, gingivitis and gum inflammation is an oral ailment seen frequently in adults. But while most people know that brushing your teeth and avoiding sugar keeps teeth from rotting, how to treat gingivitis and gum disease is more of a mystery.

Sorry if this bursts your bubble, but there is no magic elixir or fountain of youth for your teeth. If this newsflash ruins your day, we apologize. The good news, however, is that by understanding how teeth change with age, you can better take care of them. It is possible to keep your teeth healthy and vibrant even as you progress through adulthood and the elderly stages of life.

The tongue is a truly fascinating muscle. It allows us to speak, helps in the digestion process, and makes kissing much more fun. But what is the tongue, how does it work, and how do we properly take care of it?

It used to be a badge of honour among hockey players if they could smile and reveal several missing teeth. These gap-toothed smiles were intended as a sure sign of time spent on the ice. But hockey’s toothless era appears to have passed, thanks to the rise of the mouth guard.

Your dentist uses fluoride for your regular cleanings, and you may see fluoride touted in large letters on the side of your toothpaste. Your city might even put fluoride in your water. You see and hear about this chemical everywhere, but do you know what it does?

It’s the end of the night, and the date’s gone well. You knew your miniature golf skills would pay off one day, and they finally did – big time – when you got that hole-in-one and won the prize your date had been eyeing.

You hear about it. You think about it. You try to prevent it, but it keeps on happening. When you find yourself stressed, it can manifest in your body in all sorts of ways. Some people get a stomach ache, some develop heartburn, and others perspire. Many people, however, clench their jaws. While it might seem harmless at the time, overusing your jaw can damage your temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Your temporomandibular joint is the sliding hinge that connects your skull and jawbone. When this feels sore or painful over long periods of time, you might have a TMJ disorder (TMD).

When we think about the different systems in our body, we tend to keep them separate. Instead of viewing the body as an intricate, interconnected unit, we categorize parts into skeletal, muscular, immune, cardiovascular, digestive, and other systems. This makes our anatomy easier to understand, but it can oversimplify your body’s inner workings.

A growing number of people are choosing porcelain veneers to give themselves a boost of confidence. Chips, stains, or gaps between teeth don’t have to mean an end to your smile. Porcelain veneers can look very natural and help to remove flaws that hinder your smile.

If you're one of many patients in Calgary receiving care from an orthodontist, it's crucial that you learn how to look after your teeth properly while wearing braces.

Many adults in Calgary live with missing teeth. But there's no need to go through life that way. Dentures and dental implants are common alternatives for missing teeth and can recreate the healthy-looking, youthful smile you once enjoyed.

Looking for a better smile? Dental implants may be the perfect solution to replace missing roots or to support partial dentures. With a 98% success rate, dental implants are becoming increasingly popular in Calgary.

If the thought of visiting the dentist makes your palms sweat and heart race, you’re not alone. An estimated 20% of North Americans experience dental anxiety severe enough that they avoid making appointments to visit the dentist. Sadly, this means the state of their oral health is substandard or worse.

So you just got new dentures. But what now? Having dentures takes a lot of getting used to. Besides getting used to how to speak and eat with dentures, you also need to adjust to a care and cleansing system to keep your dentures in tip-top shape.

If you suffer from chronic bad breath, or halitosis, you might feel some embarrassment surrounding your condition. You may have purchased so much gum that you are considering buying stock in it. However, masking the issue will not have any lasting results. Attacking the root of the problem can help you get rid of your bad breath for good.

Let’s face it, no one wants to floss. Okay, maybe some people love to floss, but for some of us it’s a struggle. However, you should be aware that flossing is really important. It’s the only way to prevent plaque, cavities, and gum disease from attacking in the spaces between teeth where a toothbrush can’t get to.

Brushing your teeth will not only make them whiter, brighter, and fresher – it will also make your teeth healthier. If you don’t clean your teeth regularly, plaque (bacteria that sticks to your teeth) will cause cavities, stains, and gum disease. If you never brush your teeth, they might actually fall out.