General Dentistry

Did you know that enamel is the hardest substance in the body? It’s true! Found on the outer surface of your teeth, enamel is meant to last a lifetime, and with the help of regular checkups at Love Your Smile in Kelowna, it can.

Enamel may be super strong, but you still have to do your part to take care of it. Here are some useful tips for keeping enamel healthy.

1. Pick the right foods for enamel health. It’s no secret that soft drinks weaken your teeth, and don’t think that diet sodas are harmless – the artificial sweeteners can also erode enamel over time. There are also other culinary culprits that can do a lot of harm.
2. Sticky, chewy candies should be avoided. Chewing ice is a no-no. And don’t use your teeth as tools. Take a minute to grab some scissors before you rip open that package with your incisors.
3. Avoid vigorous brushing and use a soft brush. Also, it’s best to brush about an hour after eating, because foods, especially acidic ones, can soften the enamel, making it more prone to weakening from brushing.
4. Keep stomach acids in check. If you have a problem with severe heartburn, the stomach acid could be traveling up your esophagus and into your mouth. This acid can erode enamel, so talk to your doctor about treatment.
5. Talk to us about dry mouth and tooth grinding. Lack of saliva is a major issue for tooth enamel, and teeth grinding can also wear it down. Let us know if you suspect either of these issues.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna we want the best possible dental health for all our patients. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to us for cosmetic and preventative dentistry and much more. Schedule your next checkup with 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

Flossing your teeth is one of those things you should do every single day in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Too many people skip flossing, though. In this post from Love Your Smile in Kelowna we’ll give you three very good reasons why you should make it part of your regular dental health regimen.

1. Helps Fight Cavities: Every time we eat, food debris is left in the mouth. It accumulates in between teeth without us always being aware. Flossing gets rid of it and helps reduce the amount of plaque buildup.
2. Helps Prevent Gum Disease: Plaque buildup also increases the risk of gum disease, a leading cause of tooth loss. Flossing is a great way to clear it out.
3. Freshens Your Breath: All that gunk between your teeth can lead to bad breath, and no one wants that! Brushing alone isn’t enough – floss it away.

Flossing your teeth is essential to good dental health. So are regular checkups at Love Your Smile in Kelowna. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to us 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

If you’ve noticed that you’re too tired to floss your teeth each night, this post from Love Your Smile in Kelowna is for you. We want to give you a few ideas for unique times to floss, since it’s an essential part of your daily dental health routine.

1. If you’re an early riser, try flossing in the morning right after you brush.
2. Try just after lunch, but before you go back to work.
3. Before or after you exercise is as good a time as any. Your oral health is just as important as your physical fitness. Keep some floss in your gym bag and give your teeth and gums some attention along with the rest of your body.
4. During the nightly news or while watching Netflix.
5. While taking a bath. Any task is more enjoyable if it can be done while relaxing in a warm tub. Light some scented candles, play some soothing music and turn off your cell phone for an at-home spa experience.

Along with brushing, flossing should be part of your daily routine. So should regular checkups at Love Your Smile in Kelowna. We offer complete general and preventative dentistry, and patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 make sure to see us every six months. They also 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

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we don’t like providing the reality check; especially around the holidays. Everyone wants to think positively and enjoy their time, and that’s well and good. But we would be an ineffective dental team if we didn’t remind you to take extra care of your teeth this holiday season.

With dinners and parties just around the corner – or in the rearview – you’re bound to be facing some sticky or brittle food debris that is threatening to lodge itself in your gum-line. If this happens, and you don’t clean it off with proper brushing and flossing, you might be facing greater problems come January and February.

In the first few hours, the bacteria from this food will coat your teeth. However, this plaque is removable until it turns into tartar. Once it’s attached to your teeth, only a professional cleaning will be able to remove it.

If it’s not removed, it can contribute to conditions like gum disease, inflammation, and even tooth loss. Love Your Smile in Kelowna wants all our patients to avoid these and enjoy many holiday seasons for years to come. We offer general and restorative dentistry, and serve satisfied patients in Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6. 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 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