Recipes

A few snacks that are good and good for you & your teeth.

Almond Cookies with Xylitol

Have you heard of Xylitol yet? Do you have a sweet tooth?? Do you want a sweet treat but don’t the negative effects of sugar? Try using xylitol for the sweetener instead. Xylitol has been shown to be an anti-cariogenic meaning it doesn’t cause cavities, but yet looks and tastes like sugar. And the best part, it’s all natural, derived from plant material like trees!

**Xylitol sweetener can be purchased at your local grocery store. Super Store sells the Brand Xyla for about $10

Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups coconut oil

1½ cups xylitol

2 free range eggs

1 teaspoon organic maple extract

1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract

2 teaspoons organic almond extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

A handful of whole organic almonds

Instructions:

Cream coconut oil and xylitol together, then add eggs and beat well. Beat in extracts. Combine dry ingredients in larger bowl and slowly add the creamed mixture. Make tablespoon balls and place two inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. For an added tasty nutritious touch, press an almond into the center of each cookie. Try a salted almond for a sweet and savory treat!

Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes and place on wire racks until cool. Share with family and friends and share the xylitol secret… maybe don’t share the secret with your children or they will be gone before you can say… anti-cariogenic!

Cheese in a blanket

This is a quick healthy snack for you children’s lunch box, a family picnic, sporting events or even to fight hunger right before bed time! Eating cheese can prevent tooth decay because it counteracts the acid in the mouth. The higher the pH level (the more alkaline) on the surface of teeth, the more teeth are protected against dental erosion. Acid erosion can cause cavities which can lead to dental treatment. Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cheese stick – can use a cheese string or you can slice your own.

1 slice ham or turkey – We like the natural selection available at your local grocery store.

1 leaf of washed lettuce

1 teaspoon FRENCH’S® Super Classic Yellow Mustard (sugar free)

Instructions:

Wrap cheese stick in one slice of ham or turkey followed by one leaf of lettuce. Dip into mustard (or any other sugar free dip) and enjoy!

…because teeth have feelings too.

Dental Sealants

Your dentist discussed placing dental sealants on your child’s teeth.

What are they and how do they help?

Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the chewing surface, in the pits and grooves on back teeth where decay happens most often. Brushing and flossing help remove plaque from most surfaces of teeth, but often the bristles of a toothbrush are not able to clean all the way into the deep grooves. A child tends to brush faster and not a thorough, there for leaving more areas dirty, giving them a chance to decay. Dental sealants protect by “sealing” these grooves allowing it be easier to keep clean from food and plaque. It is for this reason that many dentists will suggest applying sealants especially on young children.   Sealants are quite easy for your dentist or their staff to apply. The teeth get cleaned thoroughly with a paste and then a pre-wash solution. Then a flowable plastic get painted onto your tooth enamel where it bonds with your teeth and hardens with help of a special curing light. As long as the sealant remains undamaged, it will protect your teeth from decay, and the best part sealants can last for up to 10 years. Dental sealants are a fast, easy, pain free process that can help prevent future problems or dental work.

Routine check-ups and cleaning with help the Dentist and the dental staff, they will monitor the sealants. Checking that everything is still in good shape and there is no wear and tear. And if there is, it’s a simple process to repeat.

If you are interested in dental sealants, or have any questions give us a call!

… Because teeth have feelings to.

Everybody has been talking about the news report that came out recently stating flossing is unnecessary. These reports say that there is no evidence proving that flossing has to be part of our daily routine. So is it really required or is flossing just a tale told by dentists and their staff.

We still recommend daily flossing in order to practice your best oral hygiene. The Canadian Dental Association continues to believe flossing is an important part of our oral hygiene practice. Flossing can remove plaque and food that brushing cannot get. This helps in the reduction of gum disease and cavities. Stopping flossing will just put you at risk for poor oral health. There are many different flossing methods you can choose from to make flossing more convenient and enjoyable. You can use regular floss, a water flosser, a floss pick, a pre-threaded flosser with a handle, interdental brushes or other options. It is important to check with your dentist before choosing an alternative flossing option to ensure you know how to use it. Flossing in some cases can cause damage if not done properly.

Flossing can be done either before or after your brush, just remember it is not something you do only when food gets stuck in your teeth. Although flossing with help remove the food that is not its only purpose. Flossing is necessary to remove plaque buildup from in between your teeth and down under the gums. Not flossing will allow this build up to sit on your teeth until you go to your dentist for a deep cleaning. Over time, plaque and tartar can cause major damage to your teeth, bone and gums. It is important to remove debris and buildup daily through thorough flossing.

Here are some tips to help you with flossing.

• Use 18-20 inches of floss. Wrap most of it around the middle fingers on each hand
• Grasp the string tightly between your thumb and forefinger, and use a see-saw motion to guide it between the teeth.   
• When the floss reaches the gum line, form a C to follow the shape of the tooth. The floss is supposed to disappear beneath the gum line. Your tooth has a natural pocket that needs to be cleaned as well.
• Hold the strand firmly against the tooth, and move it gently up and down still creating the C formation.  
• Repeat with the other tooth next to it, and then repeat the entire process with the rest of your teeth. Even your very back teeth, the back surface needs to be cleaned too!      
• Use fresh sections of floss as you go.

If the standard way of flossing is difficult for you remember your dentist will help find a way that is more suited for you.

We hope that this helped debunk the myth that flossing is unnecessary. We also hope that we taught you a few of our secrets to help you maximize flossing in your oral hygiene routine!

…. Because teeth have feelings too.

2017 is upon us … full of promise and possibilities. Our first year was amazing, and we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to you, our patients, who have made this all possible through your friendship, loyalty and referrals. We look forward to sharing another year with you and seeing your beautiful smiles.

Cheers to year 2!