FYI The Basics

Try and brush for two minutes, time yourself and see how you measure up.

Manual toothbrushes can be as effective as an electric one, it all depends on how you use it.

A soft bristle brush is most commonly recommended, usually better than a medium and never use a hard bristle brush.

Floss BEFORE you brush for more complete, effective cleaning. It is recommended that you use it once a day to break up the bacteria before it converts into a more invasive type but it's best to remove any food that gets stuck in between your teeth as soon as possible.

Mouth rinse isn't for everyone and it's not all the same, use one that has the Canadian Dental Association seal of approval or is anti-bacterial.  It's often best to ask your dental professional for a recommendation for one suited to your oral health.

Oral Health @ Work:

• to motivate you, think of all the people you interact with and how you don't want to have lunch stuck in your teeth
• have a vigorous rinse with water after eating, it will remove food debris & neutralize acids
• chew sugarless gum for a few minutes.
• now is an excellent time to use floss, disposible floss piks are a great option, quick, easy and no mess
• keep supplies at work, use the washroom and don't be afraid to show you care about your health

Interesting articles and information

Sloppy oral care will bite you in the end

Poor oral health could be an indication of more serious problems in the body.

QMI AGENCY — They say the eyes are like a window to the soul, but it’s the mouth that tells us a whole lot more.

Research in the past few years has demonstrated a definite mouth-body connection — one that now cannot be ignored.

Read More: 22 Feb 2010 - Page 10 - 24 Hours Ottawa

Gift from the Heart

Gift from the Heart is a province wide event initiated by Independent Dental Hygiene (IDH) practices in Ontario to highlight the link between oral health and heart health.  For the second year in a row, near Valentine’s Day, IDH offices will be offering FREE dental hygiene services on Saturday February 13, 2010.

By participating in this event Confident Smiles is doing what comes naturally, helping to improve a person’s health and letting the Government know that many people still cannot afford preventative oral care services.  Last year, in Ontario over 350 people benefited from 25 participating practices.

April is Oral Health month and April 11-17 is National Dental Hygiene Week.

The Canadian Dental Hygienist Association is proud to announce it has been awarded a contract by Health Canada to provide dental hygiene services to First Nations reserves in the area of Sioux Lookout.  This is the first time a dental hygiene organization has been awarded a contract with Health Canada.