Riverside Dental

Hi everyone, my name is Jody Kingston. I grew up in Ottawa where I attended the University of Ottawa and obtained a Bachelors of Science, from there I continued my education at the University of Toronto where I graduated from dentistry. I was employed with U of T my first year out of school and worked in Sioux Lookout, from there I ventured to Cape Breton Island and worked in Eskasoni for four years.

Dental cleaning is the removal of dental plaque (a soft, sticky, bacteria infested film) and tartar (calculus) from the teeth. Dental cleanings are necessary to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. Cleaning and polishing of the teeth leaves the surfaces of the teeth clean and smooth so that bacteria are unable to stick to them.

In the U.S., an estimated three out of four adults have some level of gum disease, and many don't realize it. Gum disease is the inflammation and infection of the gums and the surrounding tissue. Generally caused by bacterial plaque, it is the biggest cause of adult tooth loss. Plaque, a thin, colorless film, is caused by bacteria in your mouth and it develops on your teeth.

No treatment will be effective unless you follow it up with routine and proper home care. This means you should brush and floss regularly after every meal and at a minimum twice a day. The key is not only to do it regularly but also to do it right. Here's how. To properly floss you should wind the floss around both of your index fingers and push it between each of your teeth in your mouth.

Cavities, as their name implies, are essentially holes in your teeth caused by decay. You can sometimes spot a cavity, as the area surrounding the hole generally looks dark brown or gray. The main culprits to blame for your cavity are certain types of bacteria in your mouth.

These bacteria are contained in plaque and they interact with the carbohydrates and sugars in your food creating an acidic environment that dissolves the protective enamel on the outer layer of your tooth.Once the acid succeeds in eroding the enamel, your tooth is exposed, leaving just the softer dentin layer, which will ultimately cause the formation of a cavity.