General Dentistry

Preventing Tooth Decay

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Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry

Preventing Tooth Decay in British Columbia

Tooth decay remains the most important issue in dental health, and it affects people of all ages. At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we are committed to preventing tooth decay in our patients.

It can be an uphill battle sometimes. Tooth decay is caused by bacteria. It merges with plaque and acids to break down the enamel on your teeth. The tiny holes that can result are what we call cavities.

The Sugar Factor

Tooth decay is usually a result of diet and oral hygiene choices. When sticky or sugary foods are consumed and allowed to remain on the teeth, it can result in tooth decay.

To help prevent it, limit sugary and starchy foods between meals. A good oral hygiene strategy is advised, and that means brushing twice a day and flossing at least once.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we are committed to the dental health of each patient. Services include complete general dentistry. Patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 also come to us for cosmetic dentistry and dental implants. 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

 

ArticleID 338

Cosmetic Dentistry vs. General Dentistry

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Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental health, General Dentistry

Kelowna Cosmetic Dentistry

This post from Love Your Smile in Kelowna describes the ways that general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry are different.

Family dentistry, also called general dentistry, is dedicated to preventing and treating oral diseases such as cavities and gum disease. When a problem is diagnosed, like a cavity between two teeth, a general dentist will establish the best way to restore the tooth involved.

Cosmetic dentists offer elective dental procedures that make a smile more attractive. Available procedures include teeth whitening, tooth-colored fillings, dental bonding, porcelain veneers, inlays, onlays, and dental crowns.

Many dentists provide both general and cosmetic dentistry. In some cases there is some overlap. For example, if a patient comes in after receiving an injury that chipped a front tooth, the tooth must be restored to prevent decay. The tooth is also less structurally sound, so it is vulnerable to further damage. In addition, the tooth affects the overall appearance of the smile.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we want our patients to have healthy smiles that look great! General dentistry achieves the first goal, and cosmetic dentistry the second. Find out why patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 trust us with their smiles. 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

 

ArticleID 2986

Fluoride Treatments: Not Just For Kids

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Categories: Dental health, Family Dentistry, General Dentistry

fluoride treatment Kelowna

You rarely hear the word “toothpaste” without it being preceded by “fluoride.” Fluoride toothpaste is good for teeth, and at Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we encourage its use.

Fluoride is an essential mineral that helps your teeth stay strong. It is found in some foods and water and makes toothpastes more effective at fighting cavities. Fluoride helps teeth by making them stronger and more resistant to the harmful acid that is formed by bacteria.

If you wonder if you or your child is getting enough fluoride, talk to us about fluoride supplements. We will let you know if they are required and determine the precise supplement dosage.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we are committed to maintaining the dental health of each of our valued patients. People come to us from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 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

 

ArticleID 7073

How Your Lifestyle Affects Your Tooth Color

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Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental health, General Dentistry, Teeth Whitening

teeth whitening Kelowna

Most people want to have white teeth and a great smile. But the majority of people have discoloured or just plain yellow teeth, especially in a world of tea and coffee drinkers. At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we can fix that.

Did you know that tooth enamel is like skin? It has pores that can get clogged and discoloured. The most common habits that work against you are:

  • Tobacco and other smokable substances.
  • Sodas and other dark coloured drinks, like coffee, red wines, and teas.
  • Not practicing daily oral hygiene.
  • Not having proper dental care.

If you want to lighten your teeth, the above will consistently work against you. We advise kicking these habits to the curb if you want the whitest teeth possible. There are compelling health ramifications as well.

If, in spite of your best efforts, your smile is still dull, professional teeth whitening from Love Your Smile in Kelowna can revive it. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 trust us their smiles! We also offer complete 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

 

ArticleID 8137

5 Critical Oral Cancer Facts

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Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry, Oral cancer

oral cancer dental checkup Kelowna

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we want to see our patients at least twice a year for a checkup and cleaning. A checkup can give you real peace of mind, especially since every one we do includes an oral cancer screening.

Lung and breast cancer get a lot of public attention, and rightfully so. But there is less awareness of oral cancer, even though it claims thousands of lives in Canada every year.

If you smoke or have contracted HPV, you have a higher risk for developing oral cancer.

Here are five critical things to know about oral (mouth) and oropharyngeal (back of mouth and throat) cancers.

  1. About 80% of men and women with oral cancer use some type of tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes).
  2. 40% of those who receive late-stage diagnosis of oral cancer pass away within five years. The survival rate for early stage diagnosis is 90%.
  3. In many cases, it is difficult for someone to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancers on their own, because they can produce indistinct symptoms or no symptoms at all. Any abnormality in the mouth or throat, even if small and painless, should be evaluated by a dentist or doctor.
  4. HPV (the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the US) is the most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer. Of the many strains of HPV, HPV16 is the one most often linked to oropharyngeal cancer.
  5. Black men have a higher risk of dying from oral cancer than do other ethnicities.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we screen for oral cancer at every checkup. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 also come to us for general and restorative dentistry. Request an appointment today!

Contact Smileology (Tap to open in Google Maps):

4400 E Highway 20 Ste 101
Niceville, FL 32578
850-897-4488

12273 Emerald Coast Pkwy W Ste 117
Miramar Beach, FL 32550
850-424-7887

4942 US-98 #19
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459
850-267-0777

1900 South Ferdon Blvd #170
Crestview, FL 32536
850-331-3392

 

ArticleID 7438

What is a Beautiful Smile Worth?

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Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental health, General Dentistry

smile makeovers Kelowna

What is a beautiful smile worth? People who have used cosmetic dentistry at Love Your Smile in Kelowna to improve their smiles say it’s worth every penny of the cost.

Your smile is a part of you that you share with your family, friends, and colleagues every day. An attractive smile creates confidence. If you are uncomfortable with your smile, you waste mental and physical energy trying to hide it.

How would your life improve if you felt comfortable in every social and professional situation?

If you have been trying to hide your smile for years, what erroneous assumptions have others made about you? Do you come across as self-conscious or distant because you hardly laugh at jokes and barely crack a smile when you meet someone for the first time?

A cosmetic dentistry smile makeover can completely change your life and self-image. At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we’ve improved the smiles of people throughout Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6, who also come to our practice for general and restorative dentistry. Request an appointment 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

 

ArticleID 2642

Why Visit The Dentist?

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Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry, Oral health

Why Visit The Dentist?

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we like to see each one of our patients for a cleaning and checkup twice a year. Most of the time we try to schedule your next appointment even as you leave the office from your latest one. There are some very good reasons for that.

Along with daily brushing and flossing, six-month cleanings and checkups are the best way to ensure you have good dental health. That means clean teeth with no cavities, and pink healthy gums.

Most appointments begin with a cleaning from the hygienist. We’ll scrape any tartar from your teeth. Tartar is hardened plaque, and you can’t get it off with a toothbrush and floss. That’s one of the reasons brushing twice a day is so important! Scraping tartar off of your teeth is known as scaling.

Once your teeth are scaled, we’ll polish them with a gritty toothpaste. This is pretty strong stuff, and it removes any surface stains on your teeth. Sometimes patients wonder if they can get something like it for use at home. The trouble with that is that it’s just too abrasive to use every day.

After scaling and brushing, the last step is flossing. Then, it’s the dentist’s turn.

During the checkup we look for any new cavities that may have appeared since your last visit. We might take X-rays, although this is not done at every visit. We’ll examine your gums, too, for any signs of gum disease.

Finally, we’ll look at your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. We’re checking for swelling or redness, or any signs of cancer.

Why should you visit the dentist? Your dental health is important to your overall health! At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we’ll take good care of your dental health. Satisfied patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to us for general and restorative dentistry. Request an appointment 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

 

ArticleID 7774

Don’t Let Fear Of The Dentist Compromise Your Oral Health

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Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry, Sedation Dentistry

sleep dental Kelowna

If you have claustrophobia, you avoid enclosed spaces. If you have arachnophobia, you stay away from spiders. Fair enough! But if you fear the dentist, you may be inclined to avoid checkups. At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we know this is a bad idea.

The connection between your dental health and overall health is, by now, well-established. Skipping regular checkups due to fear, or any other reason, puts your general health at risk, too.

Help Is Here

A solution that works is sedation dentistry. We offer oral conscious sedation.

Oral conscious sedation involves taking a prescribed sedative an hour or so before your appointment. It won’t put you out, but it will make you very groggy. You can expect to be only minimally aware of your surroundings: the sights, sounds, and smells of the office. Most importantly, you won’t be aware of any pain.

It’s important to know that it takes a while for the effects to wear off. You will need to have someone escort you to and from our office.

Sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna has allowed countless Canadians to get the treatment they deserve. We offer complete general dentistry services. We serve satisfied patients in Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6. Request an appointment 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

 

ArticleID 8082

Worried About Dental Visits?

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Categories: Dental health, General Dentistry, Sedation Dentistry

sleep dentistry Kelowna

Good dental health is important to overall health, but there are some people who would do almost anything rather than sit down for a dentist appointment. If anxiety or even phobia keeps you away from regular checkups, sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna can help.

There are lots of reasons why people avoid the dentist. It may stem from a bad childhood experience or a fear of pain. It may be from concerns about X-rays or some other common dental procedure. Whatever it is, don’t put your dental health at risk by never going to the dentist.

Modern dentistry is safe and painless. If you’re concerned about something like X-rays, we can accommodate you. The important thing is to have regular checkups, and to have any dental health issues treated.

We have two types of sedation:

  • Oral conscious sedation. You are provided with a prescribed sedative that you take an hour or so before your appointment. (We’ll give you specifics.) It takes a few hours to wear off, and you will need someone to drive you home afterward.
  • IV Sedation. This is a stronger form of sedation that is administered in the arm. You won’t sleep, but will be in a deep state of relaxation: so much so that you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

If you have been putting off seeing the dentist because of anxiety or phobia, sedation dentistry from Love Your Smile in Kelowna can help. Patients from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 rely on us for complete general dentistry, and much more. Schedule an appointment 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

 

ArticleID 6626

What Does Your Saliva Reveal?

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Categories: Dental health, Dry mouth, General Dentistry

dry mouth - dentist in Kelowna BCSaliva is an important part of good oral health. Without an adequate flow, you’d find it very difficult to chew and swallow. If you have a problem with dry mouth, let us know at Love Your Smile in Kelowna.

Saliva is produced by several glands in and around the mouth, and it is mostly water. No surprise there! Aside from chewing and keeping your mouth moist, saliva fights germs in your mouth and helps prevent bad breath.

Sometimes people have a reduced flow of saliva, a condition known as xerostomia (pronounced zero-STO-me-uh). It’s a common side effect of certain medications, and can lead to discomfort and swelling.

Many commonly-used medications can cause dry mouth, including:

  • Antihistamines
  • Appetite suppressants
  • Certain blood pressure medicine
  • Antidepressants
  • Certain pain medication

Dry mouth can also contribute to tooth decay and gum disease, so if these symptoms sound familiar to you, let us know.

At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we keep a close watch on the oral health of our patients. People from Mission, V1Y 8B7, and V1W 3C6 come to us for general and restorative dentistry. Call us to schedule your next checkup 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

 

ArticleID 6797