Our Blog

Routine Cleanings and Oral Hygiene Education

A healthy mouth is the foundation of a healthy body. Our team of Registered Dental Hygienists takes great pride in providing exceptional, personalized care at every appointment.  What to Expect at Your Visit Each hygiene appointment begins with a warm welcome and an update on your medical and dental history to ensure we fully understand […]

Veneers and Custom Whitening

If you’d like to enhance the brightness or overall appearance of your smile, our custom whitening and porcelain veneer options can help you achieve natural, long-lasting results.   Custom Whitening Our professional take-home whitening system uses a gentle 10% carbamide peroxide gel, the same active ingredient proven safe and effective in dental research for decades. […]

Tongue- and Lip-Tie Consultations & Releases

(For children and adults — we do not see infants) Have you ever wondered if a tongue or lip restriction could be affecting your child’s speech, sleep, or jaw development? A restricted tongue or lip can impact more than just movement — it can affect breathing, swallowing, speaking, posture, and even facial growth. At Harvard […]

What Is the TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw to your skull — allowing you to talk, chew, yawn, and swallow. When the joint or surrounding muscles become strained or imbalanced, it can lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMD). These issues can cause pain not only in the jaw, but also in the head, neck, ears, and […]

Snoring & Sleep Apnea Appliance Therapy

Better Sleep, Better Health Quality sleep is one of the most important pillars of health — just as vital as nutrition and exercise. Yet, sleep issues such as snoring and sleep apnea are becoming increasingly common in both adults and children. While common, they are not normal and can have a serious impact on your […]

@harvardrddentalcare
Mae Abdalla & Daniel Hendricks

@harvardrddentalcare

Family & Functional Dentistry 🦷 | Guelph 🧡Relationships&Optimal Health First 🪥Education&Prevention 👃Early ortho and jaw growth in kids 💤TMD& Snoring
  • One of the best things you can do for your child’s health is introduce brushing from the very beginning. Even before all the teeth are in, getting babies comfortable with brushing helps build healthy routines that can last a lifetime. 🪥🦷

Early brushing helps:
• Reduce cavity-causing bacteria
• Support healthy oral development
• Create positive dental habits
• Make future dental visits easier and less stressful

Healthy smiles start young. 🙌

#BabyTeeth #HealthyHabits #FamilyDentist #OralHealth #HealthySmile #KidsDentalHealth #MomLife #ParentingTips #DentalCare #GuelphDentist #AirwayHealth #FoundationsForHealth
  • ✨ Labial Frenulum Release in Action ✨

Today’s release was extra special. We had a Rockstar patient and the opportunity to collaborate with an amazing Osteopath, Angela Houston, (and Mom!) during the procedure. It was incredible to feel the gentle “unwinding” and release through the maxilla as the tension patterns changed in real time.

We used our CO₂ light scalpel laser, which allows for a precise, minimally invasive release and great healing.

A tight or restrictive labial frenulum (lip tie) can contribute to:
• Difficulty with breastfeeding or feeding in infants
• Gaps between the front teeth
• Limited lip mobility
• Improper oral posture and muscle function
• Increased tension through the face and jaw

Releasing the frenulum allows for improved mobility, better function, and more balanced growth and development of the oral structures.

Grateful to work with wonderful patients and interdisciplinary collaboration for optimal care and function.

#functionaldentistry #labialfrenectomy #airwaydentistry #liptie
  • Happy New Year from our family to yours!
Wishing everyone a 2026 filled with Health, Love and Adventure ✨
  • 🎅🦷 Even Santa doesn’t skip his dental cleanings!

Regular dental cleanings and check-ups aren’t just about a bright smile — they’re about protecting your entire body. Research consistently shows that plaque buildup leads to gum inflammation and bleeding, which allows harmful oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream and trigger systemic inflammation.

🧬 Your mouth is the gateway to your body.
When oral inflammation is present, studies link it to higher risk of:
• Cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke)
• Metabolic disorders including insulin resistance & diabetes
• Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions
• Respiratory infections
• Worsened gut health through disruption of the oral–gut microbiome pathway

🦠 The oral microbiome directly influences the gut microbiome. When pathogenic bacteria dominate the mouth, they can alter gut bacteria balance, driving chronic inflammation throughout the body.

✨ Healthy gums = lower inflammatory burden
Professional cleanings reduce plaque, bleeding, and inflammatory markers — supporting better metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune health.

📌 If your mouth isn’t healthy — you can’t be healthy.
Santa knows prevention is powerful… and so should you 😉
  • Wishing everyone a magical HOLIDAY season from all of us at Harvard Rd Dental Care and Santa himself 🎅
Our office will be closed at the end of day today Dec 19th and re-open to see you again January 5th! ✨🎄✨
  • ✨ Dry mouth? Cavity-prone?
PUR gum + mints contain xylitol and can help!

Xylitol is a win for dry mouth because it
🫧 Stimulates saliva production.
More saliva = better comfort, lubrication, and a healthier oral environment. Saliva helps buffer acids and wash away food debris. 

Xylitol also helps if you’re “cavity-prone” because 
🦠 Cavity-causing bacteria (like S. mutans) can’t use xylitol the way they use sugar—so it helps lower plaque acid attacks. Less acid + more saliva = a mouth that’s less cavity-friendly. 

✅ How to use it:
• Chew sugar-free xylitol gum after meals (when you can’t brush)
• Keep xylitol mints handy for meetings, commuting, dry mouth moments
• Pair with hydration + the right home-care plan we tailor for you 💛

⚠️ Important: Xylitol is dangerous for dogs—keep gum/mints out of reach of pets.
  • So much laughter and joy celebrating with our Harvard Rd Dental Care Family! 
Thanks for being the best team we could ever ask for. You are all truly special. We are very grateful to each of you 💗🎄💗
  • My Travel Essentials!
1. REMplenish water bottle. Habit stacking at its best. A water bottle and a myofunctional tool to optimize tongue strength and your airway health.
2. Sonicare Electric Toothbrush - very effective at removing plaque and the timer keeps you brushing for that full 2 minutes.
3. Floss - it’s not just for reducing your risk of cavities between your teeth. Improved gum health, reduces inflammation in your mouth. Your mouth is the gateway to your body. Reduced inflammation there translates to reduced inflammation in your body. Key to reducing risk of cardiovascular disease and SO many other health complications.
3. Stainless steel tongue scraper - again to reduce bacterial load. Your tongue is an indicator of your Health!
4. Electrolytes - LMNT is my go to. I like the flavours and keeps me hydrated and balanced.
5. AMCOP Bioactivator appliance - this is my favourite myofunctional appliance to guide growth in children. I use it to help with my jaw and to keep my tongue in the right position while sleeping. 
6. Medical paper tape - another favourite to make sure I’m always nasal breathing while sleeping.
7. A great book. Patrick McKeown’s latest book for Sleep. 

Other items I didn’t mention are vitamins. Even in the sun, I brought Vit D3/K2, Magesium and Zinc (a lot better of coughing and flu going around).

What are your travel essentials?!
  • REMplenish water bottles are a great myofunctional tool for ALL ages!
I have been using it and recommending it for solid year. It helps with proper tongue position during swallow and toning airway muscles. Anything to improve muscle function and can be incorporated in day to day routine is a huge help to successful integration and making good habits. If you’re curious.. give it a try! 
I clearly bring mine everywhere!
  • Meet Saba! Our wonderful high school co-op student!
We are Welcoming winter at the clinic with a festive touch! ❄️
Here’s a little glimpse of our holiday decor to bring some extra warmth to the season. 🎄