Dental health

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna we are committed to the highest standards of dental care, and to the experience our patients have in our office. If it’s been a while since you’ve had a checkup, we invite you to give us a call to schedule one.

Communication is one of our biggest priorities. It’s important to us that you know exactly what is going on in each appointment. Dentistry is a highly specialized field, and we may occasionally lapse into jargon that might not make sense. We try to avoid that, but never hesitate to ask us to clarify one point or another.

We may be dental professionals, but we get checkups, too. We know what it’s like to sit in the dentist’s chair. Empathy is an irreplaceable asset.

In all likelihood, you have scheduled your appointment with us months in advance. We respect your time, and try to minimize how long you’re in the waiting room. But sometimes procedures take longer than expected, or an emergency appears. If there is any kind of delay we will do our best to mitigate its impact on you.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna every patient is important. Find out why people from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 trust their dental health to us. Our services include general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

Here’s a suggestion from Love Your Smile in Kelowna: when you go to the store for dental products, be sure that what you choose has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.

Here are four ways the ADA seal can help you make good oral care choices for you and your family.

1. Products with the seal have to be safe and effective, so you won’t waste your dollars on something that won’t work, or worse, can harm you.
2. The ADA only places its seal on a product after serious scientific testing. This usually means that manufacturers have to meet higher standards than those required by law.
3. When you purchase products with the ADA seal, it’s practically like shopping with us right by your side! Who wouldn’t want that extra knowledge and information?
4. The ADA seal is not the organization’s endorsement of one particular product or another, but a verification of the claims made by that product. This means you can receive unbiased, objective information on the product before purchasing it.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we want all our patients to enjoy good dental health, and one of the ways you maintain it is using quality dental care products. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to us for our general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we see more cavities in our patients than we would like to. Cavities are far too common in the United States, and there is a tendency to consider them inevitable.

Cavities happen when certain types of bacteria produce acids in the mouth. These acids destroy the enamel of a tooth, as well as its underlying dentin. Holes in the enamel are cavities.

If you’ve got a toothache or new sensitivity in your teeth, or if it hurts when you chew, then you may have a cavity. Call our office so we can get it filled.

Prevent Cavities

To keep your teeth from developing new cavities, we recommend – in addition to daily brushing – the following three things:

1. Strengthen your teeth with fluoride. Most municipal water supplies contain fluoride. Also, make sure it’s in your toothpaste. Not all toothpastes have it.
2. Get dental sealants. We can paint sealants onto your teeth – the back teeth in particular. Sealants act as an added layer of protection for your teeth. You’ll still need to brush!
3. Schedule regular checkups. Seeing us for a cleaning and checkup every six months means we’ll find any new decay early, and treat it.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we want all our patients to have healthy teeth and gums. Patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to our practice for general and cosmetic dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

Many people believe that bad breath is linked to poor brushing. The truth is that there are many causes. At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we can help you identify the cause of bad breath, and discuss how to cure it.

Your diet dramatically affects your breath. Because digestion begins the moment foods enter your mouth, and because they are absorbed and distributed throughout the body, you probably will be able to smell strong-smelling foods like onions and garlic long after you’ve eaten them.

That means mouthwash will only mask any smell. Constantly sucking on breath mints is also not wise. For real relief, you may need to avoid strong foods altogether.

For dieters, low-carb and no-carb diets promote fat burning. But bad breath can be an unwanted side effect, caused by the chemicals released during this process. Drinking more water can help alleviate it.

Lastly, flossing regularly is often the key to truly fresh breath. Many people don’t realize how much food can be stuck between their teeth, and this food can cause sour breath if it isn’t removed. More importantly, the food particles turn into plaque which can cause tooth decay and gum disease.

If you’re coping with bad breath, ask Love Your Smile in Kelowna about it at your next checkup. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to us for general and restorative dentistry, and to improve their smiles with our cosmetic dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

Every checkup at Love Your Smile in Kelowna includes a screening for oral cancer. Oral cancer refers to cancers in the tongue, mouth, lips, jaw, and throat. Oral cancer is about as serious as it gets. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 39,000 people will be diagnosed with it this year.

Consider this sobering news from the Oral Cancer Foundation:

“The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cancers which we hear about routinely such as cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the testes, and endocrine system cancers such as thyroid, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma).”

The main risk factor for oral cancer is tobacco use. This includes all forms, not just cigarettes. Those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol are also at higher-than-average risk, as are those with HPV.

Early detection can make a difference in treatment outcomes. At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we understand how important oral cancer screenings can be. Patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to our office for general and restorative dentistry. Contact us today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7

Cracked teeth can be painful, unattractive, and costly to repair. In this post from Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we offer an easy-to-follow list of tips to keep your teeth whole and strong.

• Avoid chewing on hard things. Patients should steer clear of ice, hard candies, hard nuts, popcorn, and beef jerky.
• Beware pitted fruits. That peach may be soft, but, if you bite hard into the stone, you could damage a tooth.
• Protect your teeth. It is essential to care for your teeth while engaging in any physical activity where your mouth can be struck. If you enjoy lacrosse, hockey, snowboarding, or any physically strenuous activities, you should be using a well-fitting mouth protector.
• Don’t use your teeth as a tool. Locate a pair of scissors to open a package or cut the price tag off a new piece of clothing. Use a nutcracker for nuts. A quality dental crown can cost hundreds of dollars.
• Avoid grinding your teeth. Teeth grinding not only wears teeth down, it can lead to a cracked tooth. If you know or suspect that you are a tooth grinder, talk to us so we can address the problem.
• Get regular dental check-ups and cleanings. We can alert you to conditions that might predispose you to cracked teeth, such as having an uneven chewing surface or brittle teeth. We may also discover tiny cracks you aren’t aware of. Repair these cracks early, before more damage ensues.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we want all our patients to enjoy good dental health. Patients in Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to us for complete general and restorative dentistry services. Contact us today!

Contact Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair:

250-860-8900

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7