Dental patients at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock have been experiencing the benefits from cosmetic dentistry for years. Typically, in just one dental appointment you can brighten, whiten or straighten your smile easily with:

Professional Teeth Bleaching – This process is used to whiten teeth and can help to eliminate stains. Patients can easily eliminate years of teeth stains from coffee, tea, smoking or medication in one easy procedure. In most cases, professional whitening treatments can work to make your teeth up to 8 shades whiter.

Dental Veneers –  If you want to change the color or shape of your teeth and get that winning smile you’ve always wanted, veneers are the choice for you. Thin pieces of porcelain are used on teeth to correct flaws in a person’s teeth.

Porcelain Crowns - A crown, also known as a cap, encases the entire surface of a tooth in order to restore its original size and shape. Dental crowns will protect and strengthen teeth that cannot be restored with fillings. Porcelain crowns are considered a form of cosmetic dentistry because of their white custom-designed surface. Many dental patients replace their old, metal crowns with strong, durable and natural-looking composite crowns.

Composite (white) Fillings - Need a cavity filled but not looking for a mouth full of metal? At South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock, we utilize composite resin, a natural, tooth-coloured alternative to unattractive silver fillings. Composite fillings (also known as white, or mercury-free fillings), are made of a durable, plastic material that is simple to affix and impossible to notice.

Contouring and reshaping – If you have healthy teeth and want to get a subtle makeover for your smile in a single session, contouring and tooth reshaping is done efficiently and will correct the flaws in your mouth. This procedure is normally used in conjunction with bonding to change the look of your teeth.

Contact us today at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock and book an appointment today to get that smile you’ve always wanted.

Reach for the Lemon Water 

Dry mouth is often the cause of bad breath so keep your mouth moist and hydrated to avoid bad breath altogether. Washing down bacteria with lemon juice and water can help minimize bad breath and get you smiling again.

Chew on This

Sugar-free gum offers almost instant relief from bad breath. If you’re not a fan of chewing, you can opt for breath strips or mints instead. For a completely natural remedy to bad breath, order a dish that’s garnished with ginger, basil, mint or parsley.

Always Be Prepared 

Carry a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste in your purse or bag for optimal oral hygiene on the go. Mouthwash or baking soda are also ideal for quick breath fixes and should eliminate bad breath altogether.

A word of caution from your dentist. Bad breath may be caused by poor oral hygiene or oral infections. If your bad breath is persistent and not caused by anything you ordered at lunch, schedule an appointment at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock and we’ll help you keep your breath fresh so that you can focus on the important things, like getting a new client or a second date.

Subscribe to the South Point Dental Blog for more secrets straight from your dentist. We’re social, too! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

• If your gums are bleeding, there’s a very high chance you have periodontal (gum) disease. Come for an appointment as soon as possible!
• An oral health care checkup at  South Point Dental Centre every 6 months applies only to healthy gums. If you don’t have healthy gums, you’ll want to schedule a checkup at least every 3 months.
• Pay attention to your back teeth when brushing/flossing. We’ve found that patients at  South Point Dental Centre focus too much on their visible front teeth.
• Proper oral health care includes 10 minutes of careful brushing and flossing.
• Mouthwash that contains alcohol can dry out your mouth and actually worsen your bad breath.

Subscribe to South Point Dental Centre’s blog for more dental secrets and contact us today to take care of your oral health care. We’re social, too! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

What are dental sealants?

Sealants are made of durable, stain-resistant plastic and are bonded to the grooves of your teeth. After a dentist at South Point Dental Centre seals the tooth, the grooves are smoothed down and make it hard for plaque to build. Sealants make brushing teeth easy and efficient.

Dental sealants are safe for children and are a great way to prevent tooth decay after their permanent teeth have erupted. Sealants, however, can only be placed on healthy teeth. Sealing permanent teeth is much more common that sealing baby teeth; however, each person has different needs and your local South Surrey/White Rock dentist at South Point Dental Centre can tell you if dental sealants are a good option for you or not.

Sealants last for a few years, although it is common for adults to have older sealants that are still functional. A dental sealant is only effective when it is in good shape, so if your sealant falls out, let your dentist know and book an appointment so we can reseal your teeth.

To learn more about dental sealants, or to book an appointment with your local South Surrey/White Rock dentist at South Point Dental Centre to reseal your teeth, contact us today.

Did 
you 
know?

• Oral
 Cancer
 is 
the
 13th most common
 cancer
 reported in Canada?
• Men
 are 
more
 susceptible to 
Oral 
Cancer
 than women?
• A 
screening
 for 
Oral Cancer 
only 
takes
 2
– 3
 minutes?

Are
 you
 at 
risk?

Male 
smokers
 over
 the
 age 
of 
40
 are 
the
 most 
susceptible 
to 
Oral 
Cancer
 but everyone’s 
at 
risk
 – something
 as
 simple
 as getting too
 much
 sun, 
smoking
 or drinking
 alcohol
 may
 increase
 your
 chances
 of
 suffering 
from
 Oral 
Cancer.

What
 Can
 You 
Do?

With 
Oral 
Cancer,
 prevention
 and
 early
 detection
 is 
key. 
Practice
 correct
 oral
 health care 
by
 brushing
 twice
 daily
 and
 flossing every
 day
 and
 come 
in 
for
 your 
FREE VELscope 
oral 
cancer 
screening
 at 
your
 nearest 
123Dentist.com
 Community
 Dentist Network practice.

Mark
 the 
Date

As 
part
 of 
Oral 
Health
 Month,
 members 
of
 the 123Dentist.com
 Community
 Dentist Network are 
offering
 a 
FREE
 Velscope
 Oral Cancer
 screening
 on
 April
 26,
 2012. VELscope
 screenings 
typically 
take
 only 
a
 few
 minutes 
and
 are 
completely 
pain‐free.

Reserve
 your 
FREE 
Oral 
Cancer
 screening
 appointment 
or 
find
 the 
nearest participating 
location
 near
 you 
by 
clicking 
here.

The
 VELscope
 system
 is 
a 
laser
 device
 that 
was
 invented
 by
 the 
BC 
Cancer
 Agency
 as 
a 
tool 
to 
fight
 Oral 
Cancer
 through
 early
 detection.
 Oral
 Cancer
 is
 a
 potentially
 deadly
 disease
 and
 early 
detection
 and
 early 
treatment are
 key 
in 
the 
fight
 against Oral 
Cancer.

The 
VELscope
 oral 
cancer
 scanner 
works
 by 
using 
fluorescent
 light 
technology
 to help
 detect 
signs 
of 
cancer 
and
 precancer
 that 
are 
not 
visible
 to 
the 
naked 
eye. 
Quick and
 painless,
 an 
oral 
cancer
 screening
 often 
takes 
just 
2 
to 
3 
minutes.

Consider
 this: over
 3,400
 new
 cases
 of 
oral 
cancer
 were 
found
 last 
year 
in 
Canada
 alone.

Take 
just 
5 
minutes 
out 
of 
your 
day
 on
 April 
26,
 2012 
to
 ensure 
you 
have
 a
 safer
 Oral 
Health 
Month.

For 
more 
information
 about 
our
 Free
 VELscope
 Oral 
Cancer
 screening
 on
 April 
26
 or
 to 
reserve 
your 
appointment, please 
click 
here.

Fruits & Veggies:
Apples, celery and cucumbers are all excellent super snacks for your dental health. These super snacks are nutritious and will help keep clean the surfaces of your teeth and massage your gums, improving circulation.

Dairy products:
Milk, cheese and calcium help with preventing cavities. These super snacks are rich in calcium and help neutralize acids in the mouth, reducing the incidence of cavities and tooth decay.

Other Great Snacks:
Nuts are excellent super snacks for oral health because they provide calcium and phosphate – elements that help keep dental enamel strong.

Dental professionals recommend avoiding any sugary snacks because sugar feeds the bacteria in the mouth and causes cavities. If you have any questions about which snacks are appropriate and which aren’t, or if you would like to book an appointment at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock to learn more about preventing cavities, please click here.

Subscribe to South Point Dental Centre’s blog for more dental secrets and contact us today to take care of your oral health care. We’re social, too! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The most popular complaint from dental patients is that tooth sensitivity causes so much pain that your eating habits change – even a spoonful of ice cream can be an excruciating experience for people with sensitive teeth.

What causes tooth sensitivity?

There are a variety of reasons that your teeth may be extra sensitive. One factor that may lead to tooth sensitivity is eating or drinking large quantities of foods with acid, especially citrus juices. Avoiding these foods and drinks can help alleviate the problem.

How can I prevent tooth sensitivity?

Another great way to prevent tooth sensitivity is by using the proper toothpaste. Toothpastes that have abrasive ingredients like the ones in whitening toothpastes will be hard on people with sensitive teeth. A desensitizing toothpaste is a better choice, and having your dentist apply sealants or fluoride will help.

Brushing your teeth too hard can also cause tooth sensitivity, so it is a good idea to use a soft toothbrush. Brushing too hard can start breaking down the tooth and expose the more sensitive underside. A good test to see if you are brushing too aggressively is by looking carefully at the bristles on your toothbrush. If the bristles point in several directions, then you are brushing too hard. 

The dental team at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock have a number of regiments that can help you manage tooth sensitivity. One treatment solution is to apply a desensitizing agent or protective coating that will alleviate any discomfort you might have. 

Contact South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock today to learn more about managing tooth sensitivity.

Below you’ll find an informational video from Colgate on tooth sensitivity:

If you’re worried that your sweet tooth might turn into tooth decay, don’t be! You can enjoy your Easter treats and keep your teeth healthy! Just keep in mind these simple things when hunting for your Easter eggs:

• Pick Dark Chocolate - dark chocolate can help lower your cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Avoid Anything Gooey - candy that sticks to your teeth is more likely to feed the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities
• Water It Down - water can help wash away-cavity causing bacteria, so be sure to keep a glassful close at hand.
• Practice Good Oral Health - be sure to brush twice a day for 3 minutes, floss daily before bed and visit South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock for your dental hygiene appointment every 6 months or if you suspect that you might have a cavity.

The dental health team at South Point Dental Centre wishes you and your family a sweet Easter filled with smiles!

Let us break it down for you: sugar that lives in the mouth gets devoured by bacteria which create acids that break down your tooth enamel. This leads not only to decay but to other problems, including gingivitis.

Because we live in such a fast-paced culture, it’s common to neglect a balanced diet in favor of an unhealthy one made up of convenient foods with high-sugar content. It is obvious that this type of lifestyle is detrimental to not only people’s oral health, but to their overall well-being.

Experts say that because we live in such a stressful society, fast food is a quick and easy fix for most people.

So what can you do to prevent tooth decay and lead a healthy lifestyle? Staying away from fast food and foods high in sugar is the obvious answer, but there are other things you can do as well.

Ways to Keep Tooth Decay At Bay:

• Brush your teeth at least two times per day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. It is better if you brush after eating and before you go to sleep.
• Floss your teeth with dental floss or interdental cleaners.
• Check with a dentist at South Point Dental Centre about using supplemental fluoride, a product which can make your teeth stronger.
• Ask us about dental sealants, so we can stop your teeth from decaying.
• Drinking water is important, and drinking fluoridated water every day will help protect your children’s teeth from decaying.

Be sure to book an appointment with an oral health expert at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock for your regular dental check-up.