Frequently Asked Questions

For decades there has been advocacy to have support for lower income  Canadians, especially those who are vulnerable like frail elders, for  oral care.  The good news is that we now have support from the Federal  Government through the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and we are  pleased to announce that we accept CDCP. For our new patients, kindly  provide the details of your plan when filling out our consent form  linked below. For our existing patients, please email us with a photo of  the CDCP card, or call us at the office phone number below to provide  us with this information.  

https://www.sunlife.ca/sl/cdcp/en/

There are many reasons your gums could bleed.

In some cases, bleeding gums can be a sign of gingivitis, the early  stage of periodontal disease. If your gums bleed easily or bleed when  you brush, talk to your dentist about your oral health. Gingivitis is  reversible and preventable.

If you’ve just started a new flossing routine, for instance, your  gums may bleed at first as they get used to cleaning between the teeth.  This usually goes away on its own in about a week. Some pregnant women  develop a condition known as “pregnancy gingivitis,” an inflammation of  the gums that can cause swelling and tenderness. Gums also may bleed a  little when brushing or flossing. If you take blood thinners, these  medications may cause your gums to bleed. Contact your physician if the  bleeding does not stop quickly. Your gums could also be bleeding if you  brush too hard. Use an extra-soft or soft-bristled toothbrush when  brushing your teeth.

If your gums bleed regularly or enough to worry you, make an  appointment with your dentist or physician. It could be a sign that  something else is wrong.

Always remember to brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day and schedule regular dental visits.

Cavities, or tooth decay,  is the destruction of your tooth enamel, the hard, outer layer of your  teeth. It can be a problem for children, teens and adults. Plaque, film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat  or drink foods containing sugars, the bacteria in plaque produce acids  that attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids  in contact with your teeth and over time the enamel can break down.  This is when cavities can form. A cavity is a little hole in your tooth.

Cavities are more common among children, but changes that occur with  aging make cavities an adult problem, too. Recession of the gums away  from the teeth, combined with an increased incidence of gum disease,  can expose tooth roots to plaque. Tooth roots are covered with  cementum, a softer tissue than enamel. They are susceptible to decay and  are more sensitive to touch and to hot and cold. It’s common for people  over age 50 to have tooth-root decay.

Decay around the edges, or a margin, of fillings is also common for  older adults. Because many older adults lacked benefits of fluoride and  modern preventive dental care when they were growing up, they often have  a number of dental fillings.  Over the years, these fillings may weaken and tend to fracture and leak  around the edges. Bacteria accumulate in these tiny crevices causing  acid to build up which leads to decay.

• Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Clean between your teeth daily with floss or interdental cleaner.
• Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking.
• Check with your dentist about the use of supplemental fluoride,  which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a  plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back  teeth (where decay often starts) to protect them from decay.
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examination. 

Dry mouth—also called  xerostomia—results from an inadequate flow of saliva. It is not a  disease, but a symptom of a medical disorder or a side effect of certain  medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers,  diuretics and many others.

Saliva is the mouth’s primary defence against tooth decay and  maintains the health of the soft and hard tissues in the mouth. Saliva  washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by  bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances  throughout the mouth, offering first-line protection against microbial  invasion or overgrowth that might lead to disease.

Some of the common problems associated with dry mouth include a  constant sore throat, burning sensation, trouble speaking, difficulty  swallowing, hoarseness or dry nasal passages. In some cases, dry mouth  can be an indicator of Sjögren's (pronounced SHOW-grins) Syndrome. Sjögren’s  syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune  system mistakenly attacks its own moisture-producing glands, the  tear-secreting and salivary glands as well as other organs.

Without saliva, extensive tooth decay can also occur. Your dentist  can recommend various methods to restore moisture. Sugar-free candy or  gum stimulates saliva flow, and moisture can be replaced by using  artificial saliva and oral rinses. For safe, effective relief of dry  mouth symptoms, look for a product with the CDA Seal of Acceptance.

For more information, visit the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation.