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There’s nothing quite like going off to College or University for the first time. Joining the adult world can be scary, so it’s no surprise that most students find creative ways to adapt to living away from home and being separated from their parents for a huge chunk of the year.

Here’s a list of our favourite things College and University kids do that nobody else understands.

1. Just because they’re broke and sleep-deprived doesn’t mean they don’t want to go all out during the holidays. Here are some of our favourite examples of College and University students
decking the halls in some rather creative ways

2. Rather than expanding their recipe repertoire, a lot of students choose to get gourmet on some dorm classics. Check out these classy Kraft Dinner Mac’n Cheese and

Ramen Noodle dishes.

3. Between going to class, having a social life, doing homework, and getting enough sleep, it can be hard for most students to find time to actually study. So while we may not agree with cramming for an exam until the night before a big test, we can (somewhat) understand why it happens.

And of course, here’s the one we consider the most relevant:

4. We know that it can be a bit daunting to find a new dentist but that doesn’t mean you need to keep scheduling appointments with your childhood dentist out of town.

The next time you feel a cavity coming in, we think you’ll find it much less stressful to book an appointment with a dental office located near your school as opposed to having to travel home on short notice (especially if your home is more than an hour away from campus).

Dr. Archer being interviewed by CTV News Channel about the latest flossing developments

There’s been quite the bombshell in the dental world this week – the American government has downgraded the importance of flossing based on the findings of a number of different medical studies.

So while American dentists will no longer be obligated to vouch for the importance of flossing, what about their Canadian counterparts?

The Canadian Dental Association does not agree with the findings and still emphasizes the need for all patients to keep flossing. They believe that it remains one of the most effective ways to reach plaque, bacteria, and food that’s hidden between the teeth that a toothbrush simply cannot reach.

There is a method to flossing that must be followed for maximum health benefits and gingivitis prevention. At Archer Dental, we believe that everyone should be flossing in a C shaped motion in order to truly clean the spaces between the teeth. We believe that regular flossing does make a profound difference in a patient’s overall oral health and helps prevent dental diseases down the road.

Click here to watch Dr. Archer’s interview with CTV News Channel.  

ETA (as of August 4th 2016): Here’s a link to Dr. Archer’s interview with Global News regarding the importance of continued flossing.

It’s that time of year again! NOW Magazine is having their annual ‘Best of Toronto’ awards and Archer Dental is thrilled to be nominated for ‘Best Dentist‘ for the fourth year in a row!

Voting closes on September 16 and we’d be honoured if you’d take the time to vote for us.

Patient feedback means a lot and we’re constantly updating and improving our services based on your thoughts and opinions. Polls like this one are important because they remind us that we have to keep upping our game and doing our best to provide the best service possible for our patients.

Thank you so much for voting!

Does the thought of going to the dentist make you break out in a cold sweat? Are you fed up with being unable to find a dental professional who’s able and (willing) to adapt to your needs?

At Archer Dental, patient comfort is at the very forefront of our minds. Here are some of the specialized services we’re pleased to offer each and every one of our patients:

Nervous Patients: Going to the dentist can be an anxiety-inducing experience! The staff at Archer Dental understand the importance of ensuring patients are as comfortable as possible while their teeth are being looked after. Nervous patients are encouraged to ask about using laughing gas at their next appointment to help calm their nerves and reduce stress.

Relaxing lavender scented pillows and access to Netflix are also available for all patients!

Children’s Dentistry: Archer Dental welcomes patients of all ages, but we also do our best to offer specialized services for children. Whether your child is coming in for a standard cleaning or they’re being fitted for their first retainer, we’ll make sure to do whatever we can to keep them comfortable (there’s also the incentive of a toy at the end of the appointment to help them get through it).

SMS/Text Confirmation of Appointments: People are busy! Not everyone has the time for a phone call to confirm an upcoming appointment. That’s why Archer Dental is pleased to offer text confirmation instead. We’ll send you a message to remind you of your upcoming appointment; All you have to do is shoot us back a quick message to confirm.

Orthodontics and Invisalign: Whether you decide to go old school with standard braces and orthodontics or opt for something slightly more modern (and less visible) with invisalign, we can guarantee you’ll be thrilled with the end results. Goodbye crooked teeth, hello perfect smile!

Focus on Accessibility and Comfort: Accessibility is a very important issue for us and we believe that everyone should have easy access to our services. Our Runnymede location is completely wheelchair accessible (including a wheelchair compatible dental chair).

Archer Dental is also dedicated to providing the most accessible and comfortable care possible for older patients who are often in need of more assistance.

Dental Implants: We do our best to help you preserve your existing teeth, but sometimes the best option for patients is to go with dental implants. We work with you to find the solution that best fits your life (and that will give you the most confidence).

Whitening: Teeth whitening is always a popular service. No matter what your reasons for needing a whitening, we’ll make sure you look your best!

For a more complete list of our services or if you have questions, please feel free to contact us at any of our locations.

While you might not typically associate mental health with dentistry, it’s vitally important for older patients with Dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease to receive proper oral care.

Let’s start with some statistics about Dementia patients in Canada:

1. One in five Canadians aged 45 and older provides care to a senior in their life with long-term health problems.

2. 747,000 Canadians were living with Dementia in 2011

3. Over 72% of Alzheimer’s patients are women.

And here are some statistics regarding oral care in elderly patients (or those with existing health conditions that can affect their oral health):

1. Nearly ⅓ of older adults have tooth decay that is left untreated.

2. Half of the people 75 years and older have tooth decay.

3. People with diabetes are 15 times more likely to lose their teeth.

4. People 65 and older are the least likely group to go to the dentist or use other dental services.

Now imagine what happens when those two groups of statistics overlap? The negative consequences on a patient’s oral health have the potential to be devastating.

You might think that Dementia won’t affect your family (or yourself), but with figures like the ones above, it’s time to start educating yourself just in case. The sooner you’re able to provide proper treatment and care for older patients with Dementia, the better for them and for your family.

Here are some techniques to help you recognize the signs of Dementia:

Identify

Examine your loved one’s behavior objectively – are their problem behaviours actually harmful or just unusual? Do your best not to intervene or correct situations that aren’t actually damaging.

Look for Patterns

Pay attention to the timing – when does the problem occur? What happened just before? What time of day and year? You should also look for patterns in location – what did the environment look, sound, and smell like? Was your loved one in a new place or were there any changes to their environment?

Ask ‘Why?’ rather than ‘What?’”

Understand the why of what your loved one is doing. Look for any outside stress that might be causing the action and keep an eye out for potential behavioural triggers.

If you believe that your loved one is suffering from Dementia and is unable to care for themselves properly, seek help for them as soon as you can.

Dr. Archer was thrilled to present at the PSW Forum of the Alzheimer Society of Toronto. The theatre was packed with a passionate and dedicated group of personal support workers from across the city, and Dr. Archer was proud to share her passion for dental care as a human right.

Oral health is essential and often forgotten. Simply brushing someone’s mouth twice a day improves their self confidence, ability to eat and ability to communicate. With some patients, brushing can be challenging, but should never be forgotten. Dr. Archer presented some simple tips and tricks to the PSW Forum. Here are some highlights:

• Brush twice a day, and always before bedtime
• Label dentures, always remove at night and place in water, always keep clean
• A mouth prop makes it easy to get into more difficult mouths (http://www.specializedcare.com/shop/pc/Open-Wide-Mouths-Rests-4-BACKORDERED-5p6.htm)
• A surround tooth brush can bring brush time down to under 1 minute – absolutely amazing tool (http://www.specializedcare.com/shop/pc/3-Surround-Toothbrushes-37p2.htm)
• Use a gentle, kind, circular touch on the cheek before working on patients with dementia
• Notice patterns in patients – what time of day or place are they most comfortable – patients with dementia demand extra care, always ask “Why not What”
• Sponges are not oral care tools, don’t use them! Throw them away!

Did you know that the number one cause of death in long-term care facilities is acquired pneumonia? Increasingly research is showing that acquired pneumonia is caused by poor oral health and buildup of plaque. It’s time to take a stand – let’s not forget that proper, regular brushing can save people’s lives!

Questions from the Audience:

Q: What about people who are clenching hard and making it very difficult to brush?

A: You only need a little space to get in there. Buckle up and do it – you can’t ignore someone’s oral health without putting them in serious risk of infection. Of course start with giving a gentle cheek rub, always approach with a smile and with kindness, but if absolutely nothing is working don’t give up. Try to start a conversation, often patients will open their mouths enough to get an mouth prop in or even a popsicle stick. Once you have a bit of leverage, brushing becomes possible. A mouth prop is also a great way to prevent the patient from biting – because your safety is always first.

Q: What about sponges? Do they work as an alternative?

A: I’m not sure who introduced sponges into the oral health care system but unfortunately they have stuck around. If you want to see if sponges work, dedicate yourself to this for three days. Take a sponge, and only use that sponge to clean your mouth. Don’t cheat – don’t brush – and see how you feel after three days. Can you even stand beside someone and have a conversation? Sponges don’t work – don’t use them.

Q: What about mouthwash?

A: Warm water with salt has the same effectiveness. Mouthwash can often be very drying – and for patients with dry mouth – we want to avoid that at all costs. It’s also difficult to prevent swallowing. It can work as something to dip the toothbrush into for the flavour but overall I would not suggest mouthwash. I don’t even use it personally.

Q: What about brushing the tongue?

A: Unless it’s completely impossible, I try to get the patient to brush their own tongue. It’s very hard to prevent gagging when you are brushing someone’s tongue. Unless there are deep grooves in the tongue, it’s usually not a huge concern and good brushing will encourage a healthy tongue.

Q: I actually have a tip. I was volunteering and working with children who have developmental disabilities. One technique that worked very well is I allowed the children to brush my teeth while I brushed their teeth. Doing this was a lot of fun and it allowed the children to open up and relax.

A: I’m glad you brought this up, thank you. This is a great idea and I’ve seen this work with patients as well!

View this video with amazing tips on oral health for personal support workers and family members.

For more resources and information, see Archer Dental’s helpful video and the International Caregiver’s Association’s website:

“If only I’d gone to the doctor sooner,” is probably one of the worst regrets a person can have in life. In honour of oral health month, we thought it was the perfect time to remind you that your oral health is a huge indicator of your overall health, and that the second you sense there’s something not quite right with either, you should go to a doctor rather than waiting as it worsens, hoping it’ll go away on its own.

Did you know that the survival rate of most major illnesses and diseases is considerably higher if you go to a doctor as soon as you notice something is off or start having symptoms? Here are some stats from Cancer Research UK on the advantages of early detection as well as an article from Wired Magazine that explains the 90/10 Rule (where if cancer is found early, 90% of patients survive versus the 10% survival rate for patients when cancer is found too late). While these statistics might sound dramatic, they don’t only apply to diseases as serious and scary as cancer; in general, the state of your overall health improves when you stay on top of your doctor and dentists visits and when you make sure to book an appointment as soon as you notice there might be something wrong.

Let’s address some of the biggest concerns patients have that stop them from booking an appointment:

Embarrassment: Yes, you might find it a little bit embarrassing to book an appointment with a doctor only to find out there’s actually nothing wrong with you, but isn’t it worth the potential awkwardness (that, in reality, is likely only experienced by you and no one else) to know for certain that you’ve done your due diligence and your health is okay? Think of what a relief it must be for a doctor too to know that at least one of their patients doesn’t need medical intervention. Consider your appointment a bright spot in a day full of medications being prescribed and referrals being dispensed. There is nothing wrong with wanting to get the peace of mind that comes with knowing for certain that you’re healthy.

Fear: Many people don’t go to the doctor because they suspect something is wrong but they don’t want to know for sure. They would rather live in ignorance than receive a diagnosis they’re dreading. The problem with living like this is the problem doesn’t go away. ­Often it only gets worse until medical intervention is absolutely necessary and by that point it might be too late for your doctor to help you like they might have been able to before. The earlier you seek a diagnosis and are given treatment, the higher your chances of survival are. Don’t wait until your problem is so dire it’s impossible to hide it anymore. Make the choice to take care of your body no matter how scary it might be.

Time and/or Money: For some people, the reason for not following through on booking that doctor or dentist appointment is simple: they don’t have the time available to go in or they don’t have the money to pay for it. While the government in Canada covers most necessary medical procedures, it can be a challenge for some to pay for their dentist bills out of pocket if they don’t have insurance. It’s important to keep in mind that, in the case of your teeth, ignoring the problem and hoping for the best will likely only cause the problem to worsen so by the time you’re finally forced to come in for a visit, it’ll be far more painful, dangerous, and far more expensive than had you come in at the first sign of trouble. 

If you’re in the mood to expand your knowledge when it comes to teeth and oral health, we’ve got some interesting bits of trivia for you!

1. Did you know that tooth decay in children is a new concept? Kids in prehistoric times didn’t have to worry about it because their diets were free of sugar! 
2.  The only organ that’s fully developed at birth in a human baby is the tongue
3.  Women smile an average of 62 times a day
4.  Before modern toothbrushes, humans in ancient history would clean their teeth with twigs and roots.
5.  Of every 2,000 babies born, one will have a tooth already in their mouth.
6.  The strongest substance in the human body is tooth enamel
7.  The Chinese celebrate a holiday called ‘Love your Teeth’ day
8.  Snails have thousands of teeth all lined up in rows
9.  Some people in medieval Germany believed kissing a donkey would cure a toothache
10.  The ancient Romans used to make toothpaste out of honey and eggshells
11.  Much like a fingerprint, everyone’s tongue print is unique too