Did you know about the connection between oral health and your mental health? A lot of us might think that our dental health does not affect our mental health. However, there is a connection between the two – one can impact the other. Mental health and dental health are cyclical. Poor mental health can often lead to the neglect of oral hygiene, and poor oral hygiene can lead to poor mental health. Depression and anxiety are often connected to oral health but degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s have also been linked to gum disease. Bacteria that cause gum disease are associated with the deve ..read more

TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorder occurs as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles. Pain in the jaw may be excruciating and in some cases, TMJ may go away on its own without any treatment. However, if symptoms persist, your doctor or dentist may recommend some treatment options that could relieve the pain. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of TMJ may include: Pain or tenderness in your jaw Pain in your neck and shoulders Pain in and around your ear Swelling on the side of your face Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing Locking of the joint, making it d ..read more

With the return of warm summer weather, many of us are eager to get back to our favourite sports and outdoor recreation activities. Before you or your child hits the field, reduce your risk of head and dental injury by wearing proper protective equipment – including a mouth guard. June is brain injury awareness month in Canada. According to Brain Injury Canada, over 1.5 million Canadians are living with the effects of an acquired traumatic brain injury. Even mild brain injuries can have serious long-term consequences, especially when there are repeat impacts. Concussions in elit ..read more

We all have habits, good or bad, whether we’ve had it since we were young or something new we just acquired. They become a part of us and sometimes bad habits can affect us negatively in the long run. And oral health is no exception. When this happens, results can become extremely painful to our health and affect a lot in our daily lives. Here are a few habits we must try to avoid to for a healthier smile and healthy body: Smoking Not only is smoking harmful to the lungs, it also causes a lot of concern to our oral health. Teeth discoloration and bad breath are more common but did you know tha ..read more

Dental professionals around the world have noticed a significant rise in teeth grinding since the start of the pandemic. As a result of increased stress, they are seeing more patients with signs of excessive clenching or grinding, also known as bruxism. These include tooth wear, cracks, fractures and jaw pain. Read more about pandemic bruxism in the British Dental Journal. If you are clenching or grinding your teeth, your dentist can suggest ways to reduce symptoms and protect your smile, such as wearing a night guard. Visit a Toronto dentist today or schedule an appointment at an Altima Denta ..read more

Losing a tooth can dramatically affect your smile and your self-esteem. It can also make it difficult to eat certain foods. Whether you are missing a tooth because of genetics, decay, gum disease or injury, it is important to replace it to maintain oral function and keep your mouth as healthy as possible. The good news is there are many options for restoring your smile. Let’s compare two popular tooth replacement options, a dental implant and a tooth-supported bridge. Dental Implant A dental implant serves as a replacement tooth root. It is surgically placed in the bone and topped with an imp ..read more

A recent study has found more correlation between oral health and COVID-19. Patients who suffer from periodontitis or gum disease are 9 times more likely to die from COVID-19 and 3 times more likely to end up in the intensive care unit (ICU). While there is a growing concern about going to the dentist during a pandemic, it is even more evident that maintaining oral health is integral in keeping the whole body healthy. Delaying visits to the dentist may cause serious repercussions. Untreated gum disease can cause bacteria from the mouth to travel throughout the rest of the body and enter the lu ..read more

When you think about straightening teeth with braces or clear aligners, attractive, picture-perfect smiles probably come to mind. But did you know that straighter teeth don’t just look better, they work better too? Common dental concerns such as crowded or crooked teeth can accelerate tooth wear over time and contribute to other health conditions such as gum disease, jaw pain and irregular breathing. If this sounds like you, don’t worry – advances in clear aligner therapy make it easier and more affordable than ever to get a healthier, straighter smile. Here are five ways straighter teeth can ..read more

How to protect your teeth this winter   Like the rest of the body, the teeth are no stranger to sensitivity, especially in the cold. If exposed to the cold, the teeth might sustain some damage if not properly taken care of. It is even more important to protect your teeth and mouth this winter, with ailments like the flu and COVID-19 that could infect your bodies, and not offer additional breeding ground to bacteria. The mouth is the gateway to many diseases and also a key component of a healthy immune system, so it is all the more important to pay attention to your oral health Here are wa ..read more

A team of scientists and clinicians led by U of T’s Faculty of Dentistry have found that neutrophil immune cell activity is the mechanism that links periodontal disease with heart disease, cancer, and other inflammatory conditions – possibly including COVID-19. Neutrophil – cells of the innate immune system – are released in abundance to fight bacterial infections responsible for gum disease. The overabundance of cells causes the immune system to become hyper-vigilant and responds with an excess force to any secondary infection. The body becomes susceptible to damage from secondary inflammator ..read more