Tips to Show off Your Smile

Here at Flossophy Dental, we realize that keeping teeth their whitest is a lot harder than it sounds. After all, with the coffee, wine and other foods that have the ability to stain our teeth on a daily basis, even proper maintenance sometimes leaves them a little lackluster. Teeth whitening is an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color, if you would like. However, if there is any reason you can’t go the cosmetic route at this moment, here are some tips that will help you show off the charming smile you already have.

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.


• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.


• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

If you wish to enhance the appearance of your smile, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services provided here at the office, visit www.flossophydental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Flossophy Dental in Edmonton, AB, call 780-306-9333.

Beat Bad Breath

It’s easy to smell bad breath on others but it’s hard to smell your own. Bad breath odor is usually caused by a group of anaerobic, sulfur-producing bacteria that breed beneath the surface of the tongue and often in the throat and tonsil area. These bacteria occur naturally in your oral environment and are supposed to be there because they assist your digestion by breaking down proteins into amino acids. Here at Flossophy Dental, our doctors can help you develop a treatment plan to eliminate this self-conscious problem.

By developing the right habits, you can be effective at preventing bad breath. Some of these habits include, but are not limited to brushing your teeth twice a day, brushing or scraping your tongue, floss your teeth, use an antibacterial mouthwash, chewing sugar-free gum, quitting smoking, and scheduling a dental checkup twice a year.  If you have persistent bad breath, it helps to keep a diary of the foods you eat and to list any medicines that you are taking.

If you have bad breath, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services provided here at the office, visit www.flossophydental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Flossophy Dental in Edmonton, AB, call 780-306-9333.

Dental Emergencies

Our doctors at Flossophy Dental are the ones you should call if you have a dental emergency. We understand that accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. Any dental emergency like an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should never be ignored. Whether at home or traveling, the following tips may come in handy until you can get to our dental practice.

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.

If you have a dental emergency, please contact us immediately. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.flossophydental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Flossophy Dental in Edmonton, AB, call 780-306-9333.

Reasons for Tooth Extractions

At Flossophy Dental, we understand that permanent teeth are meant to last a lifetime. However, that isn’t always the case. For instance, when a tooth becomes damaged beyond repair, an extraction typically becomes necessary. We’d like you to know that before one of our doctors at Flossophy Dental ever considers extraction, every effort will be made to repair and restore your tooth first.

Aside from wisdom teeth removal, other reasons for extractions may include:

• Severe tooth damage/trauma – some teeth have such extensive decay and damage (broken or cracked) that repair is not possible.


• Orthodontic treatment – people getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.


• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.


• Extra teeth – extra teeth may block other teeth from erupting, therefore, will require extraction.

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.flossophydental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Flossophy Dental in Edmonton, AB, call 780-306-9333.

Custom Mouth Guards

Injury to the mouth during a sporting event is a common and painful way to lose a tooth. A missing tooth can cause problems with eating, not to mention it can be embarrassing. At Flossophy Dental, we encourage athletes to protect their mouths with mouth guards. We create custom mouth guards for our patients here in our Edmonton, AB office.

Store-bought mouth guards can be ill-fitting, uncomfortable, and they can affect your breathing. Not to mention, since they are “one-size fits all”, they do not offer the best protection for your unique mouth. We create custom mouth guards for the best protection and more comfortable wear.

Mouth guards not only protect the teeth from injury, but they also protect the lips, the cheeks, and the tongue. In addition, due to the way mouth guards shift the jaw, studies have shown that they can also prevent concussions.  

Whether you are playing in a sports league, playing b-ball with some friends after work, or want protection for another type of activity, our durable, protective, and comfortable mouth guards can protect your mouth and keep you in the game. To schedule an appointment with Flossophy Dental, call our Edmonton, AB office at (780) 306-9333 or visit our website, www.flossophydental.ca. 

Crown Lengthening

Occasionally, when a tooth has decay underneath the gum line, or when a tooth is broken off at the gum line, there needs to be more of the crown exposed to work on. At Flossophy Dental in Edmonton, AB, we perform crown lengthening to do just this.

The process of crown lengthening consists of removing gum tissue to expose more of the tooth so it can be worked on. Your dentist will make incisions in the gum tissue to pull away the gums. If bone needs to be pulled away, as well, this will be performed next. The area will then be rinsed and the gums are stitched into place. Decay can then be worked on shortly after. If a crown is being placed on the tooth, the gums will have to heal first, as they tend to shrink as they heal.

Crown lengthening may also be used cosmetically when there is too much gum tissue. This is commonly referred to as “gummy smile”. The teeth appear shorter than they are because of the excess gum tissue.

A pain reliever will be useful for your recovery. Use as directed by your dentist. Eat soft foods until healing has progressed. Be very careful when brushing or flossing. Do not rinse your mouth our vigorously.

If you are in need of work performed below your gum line, or you are unhappy with your excess gum tissue, the experienced doctors of Flossophy Dental in Edmonton, AB are able to perform crown lengthening for you. To schedule your appointment, call our office at (780) 306-9333 or visit our website, www.flossophydental.ca. 

TMJ Diet

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ) affect the jaw muscles and the joints that connect your lower jaw to the skull. These muscles are the ones you use to speak, chew and yawn with. When TMJ occurs, it can cause discomfort and pain when you try to open and close your mouth. Here at Flossophy Dental, not only can we treat TMJ disorder, but we can recommend a TMJ diet that can alleviate your symptoms.

Your food choices vary depending on the amount of pain you’re experiencing and your ability to open your mouth, chew and swallow. For those who are able to adequately open their mouths and have minimal pain, a soft or easy chew diet will work well. If your jaw’s range of motion is limited, a soft diet that requires minimal chewing may be best. To lessen pain and other symptoms during an occurrence of TMJ, avoid eating hard foods, crunchy foods, or large foods that involve opening your mouth wide to chew.

If you have questions about the temporomandibular (TMJ) disorder, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide here at Flossophy Dental, visit www.flossophydental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Edmonton, AB, call 780-306-9333.