9 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,A ugust 5,2021 insidehalton.com ADVERTORIALNICE TO MEET YOU *Statistics shared were correct at the time of writing and serve to emphasize the many considerations related to optimal dental practices. Fall is a great time to put positive health habits in place -- and regular dental check-ups should be at the top of the list, according to Dr. Vineet Bhandari of Bhandari Dental in Oakville. "Patients are sometimes surprised at how thorough we are in our six-month check-up examination. But oral health and general health are directly related and we want to catch anything that may cause problems now or in the future." Dr. Bhandari says this is especially important for children. Regular check- ups are a good way to teach children about health and oral hygiene. Also, when it comes to orthodontic work "if you catch things early and at an early age, you can fix teeth quicker and faster." Here is Dr. Bhandari's health checklist: • Dental scaling and cleaning: Cleaning teeth entails removing plaque and calculus from teeth by the hygienist, polishing and flossing, and sometimes reviewing brushing and flossing techniques. • Teeth and mouth: Dr. Bhandari will look in the mouth for tooth decay, broken and loose fillings and signs of periodontal disease which is an infection of gums and bone caused by bacteria. • Disease red flags: He will also check the face, tongue, gums, lips, neck, lymph nodes and temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the lower jaw to the skull, for signs of other disease such as cancer including oral cancer. In the past five years, Dr. Bhandari has diagnosed cancers, cardiac problems, thyroid problems, diabetes and osteoporosis in patients. • Specific for children: Dr. Bhandari will make sure teeth are coming through in proper sequence. Sometimes a muscle can cause separation and misalignment of teeth. "This is called frenum and if caught early, we can relieve the muscle so it doesn't cause interference." If a child will need braces, it is important to do this work during the pre-pubertal growth period, when children are still growing, says Dr. Bhandari (in girls, this is usually between 7 and 9 years old; in boys, around age 10 or 11). • Digestive issues: "Digestion starts in the mouth, not in stomach". Before food goes to the stomach, teeth and digestive enzymes in the mouth break down food. If food is not broken down sufficiently due to teeth pain or other problems, there's no way you can absorb vitamins, nutrients and enzymes that you need, says Dr. Bhandari. • Bad breath: Not brushing or flossing is the most common cause of bad breath. It is also the result of bacteria utilizing microscopic food on the tongue and releasing odorous products (brushing and wiping the tongue regularly is important). Bad breath can also occur due to acid reflux, which can be caused by diet or sleep apnea. Surprisingly, a lot of children have it, says Dr. Bhandari. Children with sleep apnea tend to get acid reflux when they are sleeping. The dentist will check for signs of wear and damage in the mouth. Home Care Rx: Along with 6-month dental check ups, Dr. Bhandari recommends a good oral hygiene routine at home. Brush for two to three minutes at least two times a day (an electric toothbrush is recommended as it removes plaque better). Floss daily to remove plaque and food between the teeth. Avoid smoking and eat a healthy diet low in sugar and including fruits and vegetables. In the 6-month check up, the doctor or hygienist will teach how to best brush teeth and floss. For more information, visit bhandaridental.com. The practice offers high quality and pain-free dental work for the whole family. Bhandari dental 2525 Old Bronte Rd. Suite 470, Oakville 289-813-8239 | www.bhandaridental.com Whyyou should schedule your 6-month dental check-up noW If your mouth is healthy, says Oakville dentist Dr. Vineet Bhandari, the chances are your general health is good too Blink and you may miss something new happening at Oakville Place. While the indoor shop- ping centre was not im- mune from closures and re- strictions, now, as the prov- ince opens up, it's "full steam ahead" for the mall, said general manager Carl King. "We're going to come out of this pandemic stronger than when we went into it, which is fantastic," said King. For starters, Oakville Place is welcoming several new restaurants, each of- fering a different cuisine experience. STACK Restau- rant (the only other STACK is at Yonge and Lawrence in Toronto), is described as southern BBQ casual din- ing, and Goodfellas Wood Oven Pizza is a fully li- censed, Italian-style eatery. Pearl Chinese Cuisine will open on the south side of the building near the en- trance doors and the Viet- namese restaurant Joy of Pho will join the food court offerings. All four restaurants are expected to open between the fall and early 2022. Freshly Squeezed is also ex- pected to open its doors this fall, in the space formerly occupied by David's Tea. The mall has welcomed Serendipity Candles, which conveniently took over the former home of Yankee Candle, and Urban Kids, which carries clothing and accessories for both girls and boys from ages four to 14. A totally refurbished H&M is now open with all new lighting, flooring and fixtures, plus larger display windows. "These openings are ex- citing new offerings at Oak- ville Place following a chal- lenging year," said King. Visitors to Oakville Place won't have any trou- ble spotting the brand-new outdoor oasis in the middle of the concrete parking lot, just off Leighland Avenue near the main doors to the north. With food court seating limited, The Deck offers an alternative during the sum- mer and into the fall (weather permitting), "to grab a bite, have a sip and enjoy some time with fami- ly and friends." There, you'll find three large tents with seating for those who want protection from the sun, as well as pic- nic tables out in the open for those who don't. "Our goal is to have that year after year just to offer that option. People can look forward to coming back to the mall again with all the different amenities we'll be adding to it, so I think it's the start of better things to come for sure." NEW STORES AND RESTAURANTS OPENING AT OAKVILLE PLACE KATHY YANCHUS kyanchus@metroland.com The Deck has opened at Oakville Place, among other new additions to the mall. S. Chometa photo WHAT'S ON Conservation Halton is getting $190,403 from the federal government to sup- port the agency's restora- tion projects, which in- clude planting 50,000 trees at 36 sites across the region. The funding is part of Ottawa's Two Billion Trees program, a $3.2-billion ini- tiative to get two billion trees planted over 10 years. The planned restoration projects in ecosystems -- such as wetlands, creeks, former farmland, and for- ested areas -- will provide increased regional biodi- versity, resilient communi- ties, and the creation of green jobs. "Planting trees is essen- tial for a growing commu- nity like Milton. Healthy tree coverage and a vibrant urban canopy are essential for our air quality, our health, our shade and our regional biodiversity," said Milton MP Adam van Koe- verden in a news release. The release states that the Two Billion Trees pro- gram is an important part of the solution to climate change. The plan is project- ed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 12 megatonnes annually by 2050 and will create up to 4,300 green jobs. CAN YOU DIG IT? Tens of thousands of trees are set to be planted across the region, thanks to a federal government initiative. Graham Paine/Metroland NEWS FEDERAL FUNDS ALLOW FOR PLANTING OF 50,000 TREES ACROSS HALTON