The big question is, should you worry about your child if they are sucking their thumb? For the most part, there is nothing to worry about. Thumb sucking is completely natural for most children, making them feel secure and content and even being quite relaxing for them. This habit is something that most kids can easily grow out of when they hit the ages of two to four.

However, thumb sucking does become a problem when your child continues to suck their thumb after they’ve received their permanent teeth (usually around the ages of four to six). This habit can become quite problematic at this point, causing pressure inside their mouth and preventing teeth from growing or aligning properly.

If you think that thumb sucking is becoming a problem for your child, contact the dental team at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock and we can evaluate what’s happening and give you some helpful tips on how your child can stop this habit.

Click here for a helpful video about thumb sucking and what you can do to discourage it.

For more photos of the wonderful event, please visit the 123Dentist.com Facebook page.

At  South Point Dental Centre, we know that many patients are worried about how their breath smells. However, while some cases of bad breath are persistent and chronic, bad breath can typically be kept at bay.

The following video thoroughly explains the causes of bad breath and how it can be prevented. Most of the time, bad breath can be stopped if you brush your teeth twice a day after eating and floss regularly. The video focuses on morning breath and how this can be controlled, providing tips such as brushing inside the cheek and tongue where most of the bacteria accumulates. It is also recommended to drink plenty of water to encourage saliva production.

Watch the video below for more tips on how to get rid of bad breath.

To learn more about proper oral health, feel free to contact  South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human services suggest people exercise one hour each day, engaging in moderate physical activities, for example: a brisk walk or playing sports. People should also spend 1 hour and 15 minutes doing high intensity exercise like going for a run or dancing.

Staying in shape is vital for feeling great and looking great too. With daily exercise and a stunning smile from South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock , you will be able to make any of your lifestyle or work goals a reality.

Stay safe while exercising with a custom mouthguard and make sure you are living the proper lifestyle with a healthy, beautiful smile so you can be the best version of yourself.

Contact South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock if you have any questions or would like to book an appointment. 

Did you know: February is National Children’s Dental Health Month?

February is the month to raise awareness about the significance of your oral health. With National Children’s Dental Health month beginning in Cleveland in 1941 and extending to a month-long program since 1981, it is especially important to take care of your child’s oral health. The dental team at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock support National Children’s Dental Health Month and encourage you to follow up with regular checkups and proper oral care.

In February, South Point Dental Centre and other dentists around the world are concerned with preventative oral care, especially when it comes to children. It is important to remember that having good oral health habits when you’re young and having periodic dental appointments will get your children on the right track to keep those teeth and gums healthy.

If your child hasn’t been to South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock in the last six months, be sure to contact us and make an appointment.

We all know that maintaining oral health is important, especially when it comes to children. Experts suggest that parents should start taking care of their children’s oral health at age 1 or as soon as their first teeth come in. However, a report from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital indicates that the majority of children from ages 1-2 have not even begun seeing a dentist.

At South Point Dental Centre, we want to encourage our South Surrey/White Rock patients to bring their children to our dental office as soon as they turn 1 or as soon as their first teeth come in. We will give your child the proper oral care they need, so they can lead healthy lives with a lifetime of smiles.

The reason that children may not be getting the proper oral care is because parents may be oblivious when it comes to early dental care. At South Point Dental Centre, we can discuss your child’s proper oral care and what steps you need to take to ensure your child is getting the dental care they need.

For more information about proper oral care at South Point Dental in South Surrey/White Rock, please click here.

Knowing how to brush your teeth properly is important so you can avoid conditions such as gingivitis and tooth decay.

Bad brushing technique can lead to tooth abrasion, which wears away the surface of the tooth. Because gum tissue is so delicate, it can be damaged from the bristles on your toothbrush and lead to tooth sensitivity.

These instructions will help you brush your teeth the right way:

1. Put a thin layer of toothpaste on your already-moist toothbrush.
2. Brush your back teeth first, especially focusing on the front of the teeth.
3. Hold the toothbrush alongside your teeth, and point the bristles where the tissue is located. Your bristles need to be applied near the gum line.
4. Brush using a round motion for about 10 seconds.
5. When you’re done this step, sweep the bristles away from the gum line.
6. Continue these steps until the top and bottom teeth are clean.
7. Clean the inside surfaces of your teeth, and repeat steps 2 to 5 on your upper and lower molars.
8. Brush your front teeth by moving the tip of the toothbrush from the gum line down. Repeat twice or three times.
9. Do step 8 for the lower front teeth, but be sure to guide away from the gum line. Repeat twice or three times.
10. Brush towards the back of your tooth so you reach the biting surface.
11. You can softly brush your tongue and cheeks if you wish.
12. Rinse with either water or mouthwash.

Brushing at least two times a day is key- we recommend you do this in the morning and before bed. If your bristles look worn out, be sure to replace your toothbrush. You should also get a new toothbrush every 3 months. If you get the cold or flu or any kind of sickness, be sure to get a new toothbrush.

If you constantly have bad breath and think there’s nothing you can do about it, think again. These helpful tips can assist in keeping bad breath at bay.

Halitosis, or bad breath, can be seriously humiliating. You don’t have to live with it forever! Simply by brushing and flossing at least two times a day, particularly after you’ve eaten, can help. The tongue collects a lot of bacteria and gunk so be sure to brush it – you can even use a tongue scraper. If you rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash after, that will do you wonders.

If you’re still noticing your bad breath, try combining half hydrogen peroxide and half water into a glass and use it as a mouthwash.

There are a number of breath freshening kits and remedies out there that can help you, but be sure to ask us at South Point Dental about it before you try these products.

Contact us  at South Point Dental Clinic in South Surrey/White Rock if you have any questions or want to book an appointment.

In fact, the U.S. Center for Disease Control cites a study that says there has been a 15.2 percent increase in tooth decay during the last 10 years for children under six.

Various things cause tooth decay for younger dental patients at South Point Dental Centre in South Surrey/White Rock, most notably sugar intake, severe stress, contents in baby bottles and infant feeding habits.

Children’s oral health worsens when they are sent to school. At school, there is more chance of them getting a soda from vending machines. Our culture is shifting so that there is minimal parental supervision and convenience foods are way too readily available, and this is all having a severe effect on oral health.

There are many things parents can do to stop their kids from getting cavities. Daily oral care is essential, and can be achieved at minimal cost.

Here are some additional healthy dental habits for kids:

Making sure your child gets the proper oral care. Pregnant women who eat a balanced and nutritious diet are already helping their children and leading them on the right path when it comes to oral health. Preventive care is ideal after the baby’s first feeding and should continue on as the child gets older. Children are not able to remove plaque themselves until they are eight, so a parent needs to help them brush and floss twice a day.

Sugar is hurting your child’s teeth. Kids can get cavities as early as nine months of age.  Their upper front teeth are first affected and this can quickly spread to the other teeth if a child is feeding on a bottle containing sugar. If food surface is not removed from the teeth, your child’s teeth will start to decay quickly.

Bring your child to the dentist before they turn 1 - Before a child turns one is the ideal time to take them for their first dental visit. This is a good idea for you too, parents – this appointment can help educate you on what you can do to make sure your child’s oral health is the best it can be.  We can also help you identify signs of early problems while they are still in a stage that is easy to treat.

Dental checkups for your child at South Point Dental Centre  in South Surrey/White Rock are essential, so contact us and make an appointment today.

Your perfect smile can last you a lifetime, if you take proper care of it.

“Most dental professionals are seeing that these older citizens are keeping their teeth healthy, allowing for a natural smile with no need of dental implants or dentures.”

The aging generation is now one of the fastest growing populations in North America. Most dental professionals are seeing that these citizens are keeping their teeth healthy, allowing for a natural smile with no need of dental implants or dentures.

However, a natural smile that lasts a lifetime is only possible with proper oral health care—which typically requires an annual visit to the team at South Point Dental.

“We have found that seniors take longer breaks from visiting the dentist,” says Dr. Edmund Wong, “it seems as if they stop caring because they don’t think their oral hygiene matters anymore.”

Proper oral health care is essential for older people for a multitude of reasons. One of which is dry mouth, which slows down the production of saliva. Often seen in elderly patients, dry mouth can be harmful because saliva helps to prevent tooth decay by washing away food particles and eliminating acids. Luckily, a dentist can fix dry mouth.

Senior citizens should also remember to maintain a regiment of daily flossing and brushing with fluoride toothpaste. Elderly people are likely to get cavities where older fillings have broken or where receding gums have left unprotected surfaces.

In addition, for elderly patients to maintain optimal oral health, snacks with sugars and starch should be eliminated.

Keep your smile healthy and complete with proper oral care! Take some time to contact us at South Point Dental for a check-up and cleaning today.