Blog

Halloween is fast approaching, and Drs. Tom Holmes, Gordon Lansdown, Karen Nesbitt, and Nick Cosman wanted to be sure to wish our patients a happy day, no matter how you might celebrate this holiday. The Halloween that is familiar to most people today bears little resemblance to the original Halloween; back in the "old days" it wasn't even called Halloween!

Festival of the Dead

Halloween started out as a Celtic festival of the dead that honored departed loved ones and signified a change in the cycle of the seasons. The Celtic people viewed Halloween, then called "Samhain," as a very special day – almost like our New Years day in fact, as their new calendar year began on November 1st. Samhain was the last day of autumn, so it was the time to harvest the last of the season's crops, store food away for winter, and situate livestock comfortably for the upcoming cold weather. The Celts believed that during this day, the last day of winter, the veil between this world and the spirit world is the thinnest, and that the living could communicate with departed loved ones most effectively on Samhain due to this.

Modern Halloween

Halloween as we know it today started because Christian missionaries were working to convert the Celtic people to Christianity. The Celts believed in religious concepts that were not supported by the Christian church, and these practices, which stemmed from Druidism, were perceived by the Christian church as being "devil worship" and dangerous.

When Pope Gregory the First instructed his missionaries to work at converting the Pagan people, he told them to try to incorporate some of the Pagan practices into Christian practices in a limited way. This meant that November 1st became "All Saints Day," which allowed Pagan people to still celebrate a beloved holiday without violating Christian beliefs.

Today, Halloween has evolved into a day devoted purely to fun, candy, and kids. What a change from its origins! We encourage all of our patients to have fun during the holiday, but be safe with the treats. Consider giving apples or fruit roll-ups to the kids instead of candy that is potentially damaging to the teeth and gums.

Remind kids to limit their candy and brush after eating it! Sweets can cause major tooth decay and aggrivate gum disease, so to avoid extra visits to our Kingston, ON office, make your Halloween a safe one!

For many patients, dentures offer a cost-effective option for having a beautifully natural looking smile when replacement teeth are needed for health and aesthetic reasons. In our office, we offer three types of denture solutions:

Full – When all natural teeth are removed, full dentures are placed immediately. These dentures require frequent adjustments during the first few months, and will need to be relined every few years.

Partial – These dentures are attached to a metal frame that is then connected to natural teeth to fill in the gaps of missing natural teeth. Partials are considered a removable alternative to bridges.

“All-on-4” or Implant supported Dentures”  – This denture option utilizes implants surgically placed in the mouth, combined with the fabrication of an implant supported denture.  The implants are used to secure the denture in place and stop it from slipping and popping out of the mouth. “All-on-4” or  implant supported denture treatment vastly improves mouth function, aesthetics, speech, and self-esteem for many patients.

Much like natural teeth, dentures need to be properly cared for. If you have dentures, here are some tips for cleaning and caring for them:

Cleaning:

• Remove from mouth and run under water (cleaners and toothpaste are too abrasive!)
• Wet denture brush or regular soft-bristled brush and apply denture cleaner or mild soap
• Gently brush all surfaces, including under clasps where bacteria collect
• Do not bend plastic or attachments
• Rinse dentures well in water before putting back in mouth
• Clean and massage gums while dentures removed
• If you have partial dentures, brush natural teeth with soft-bristled brush and floss
• If toothbrush hurts gums, run under warm water to soften

Care:

• Remove dentures at night
• Soak in cleanser in lukewarm water (never use hot water)
• If cracks in denture are present, be sure to take to the dentist
• Dentures need relining, as your mouth is always changing
• Poorly fitted dentures may cause dental sores and make oral cancer hard to spot
• Broken dentures don’t fit properly and cause irritation to gums and mouth
• Keep up with your regular 6 month checkups

If you are experiencing any discomfort or pain with your denture, or if you find cracks in the denture, please call us immediately. Of course, if you have any questions about dentures, just give us a call - we’re always here to help!

Drs. Tom Holmes, Gordon Lansdown, Karen Nesbitt, and Nick Cosman and our staff recommend that you replace your worn-out, germy toothbrush with a new one every three months. But most people either forget or resist getting rid of something that is still “working.”

Maybe if they had a few ideas for putting that old toothbrush to good use, more people would take our advice? To encourage good oral practices, we offer these ten fun things you can do with your used toothbrush:

1. Let your five-year-old budding Da Vinci create a masterpiece with some paint and your old toothbrush.

2. Scrub oily areas on your face with your toothbrush. The bristles are perfect for removing embedded dirt and oil that clogs pores.

3. Pamper your hamster by brushing his fur with an old toothbrush.

4. Dab a bit of Vaseline on the bristles and comb your eyelashes: instant glamour! Got dry, flaky lips? Slough away by using a toothbrush on your lips.

5. Remove the bristles: instant small plant stakes!

6. Old toothbrushes are great for spot-cleaning just about anything.

7. When nobody is around to scratch an unreachable itch on your back, turn that old toothbrush into your personal backscratcher.

8. Is your dog’s breath so bad that all your houseplants have died? Try brushing his teeth with your old toothbrush so that his kisses (and breath) are more tolerable.

9. Give your fish the cleanest tank in the neighborhood by scrubbing it with your old toothbrush.

10. Did you notice a few gray hairs sprouting from your hairline this morning? Old toothbrushes were made for touch-up dye jobs; works for dyeing your eyebrows, too!

You already know that Cataraqui Dental Centre recommends you come in for a checkup and cleaning at least every six months, but do you know what your child’s dental needs are? From the time children are babies and growing in their first teeth, their oral health care needs may be different from adults. It’s important to know what they need, and when, to help them grow strong, healthy teeth.

When to See Our Team at Cataraqui Dental Centre

While dental care (at home) can begin as soon as your baby starts to show signs of that first tooth, most experts do not recommend you see a dentist until your child is at least one year old. The child will likely be too young at this point to have a full dental exam, but we can take a look at your baby’s teeth and give you tips for brushing and flossing properly.

By the time your child has all of his or her baby teeth—usually around 24 to 30 months of age—we can begin scheduling regular checkups and cleanings.

What to Expect on the First Visits

The first visit to our Kingston, ON office for a full exam will mostly involve getting to know Drs. Tom Holmes, Gordon Lansdown, Karen Nesbitt, and Nick Cosman and staff members, and making your child feel comfortable. Let us know if you would like to sit in the exam room during the appointment, but keep in mind that it may be beneficial to leave your child alone with Drs. Tom Holmes, Gordon Lansdown, Karen Nesbitt, and Nick Cosman for a portion of the appointment so we can start building trust with your child.

Our team at Cataraqui Dental Centre will likely do some or all of the following during your child's visit:

• Look for signs of decay or other tooth or gum problems
• Examine your child’s bite, checking for misalignment that could lead to problems in the future
• Clean the teeth, and apply fluoride if your child is old enough
• Talk to you about proper oral health care for your children
• Answer any questions you may have about caring for your child’s teeth, which may include topics like fluoride needs, nutrition and diet, teething, and the frequency of future checkups

In most cases, we will recommend that you bring your child in every six months for regular checkups, the same as your recommended frequency.

Understanding your child’s unique dental needs is important for providing the best possible care when it becomes necessary. We look forward to building a good relationship with your child so coming to the dentist is a fun, rewarding experience and not a frightening one.