11 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,O ctober 14,2021 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. A recent poll on Sootoday.com showed that out of 1369 people who responded, 73% voted manual toothbrush over electric. This was not a scientific poll or study, but it did show what the majority of the sootoday.com readers were using most. We have come a long way with toothbrushes. Nowadays, walking down the aisle at Shoppers Drug Mart or Walmart can make you dizzy with the variety of dental supplies available. When it comes to toothbrushes, the main rule is soft- bristle brushes are best. Reason being soft-bristled toothbrushes will not harm the gum and will clean just as well as a hard- bristled toothbrush. Brushing technique and time using the toothbrush are two other important factors in acquiring a healthy and plaque- free mouth. Manual brushes can be good, if used properly. Technique according to the individuals' oral condition is important. If someone has gum recession, gum disease or other factors, modification of brush technique is key to maximizing plaque removal. It is also important to apply the correct pressure so as not to create damage on both the teeth and the gums. Your dental hygienist will review this to ensure you are using the brush properly. Electric toothbrushes are divided into two types; battery- operated and rechargeable electric. Battery operated toothbrushes are slightly more effective than manual when used properly. These brushes are not extremely powerful, but often the rotating action will help remove sticky plaque. These brushes have the downside of having a bulky brush head and often many children and adults start out with these but then switch to a rechargeable electric when they find the brush needs to be thrown away when the battery dies. These are a good start, but for optimal plaque/ stain removal, improvement in gum health and long-term use, a rechargeable electric is the best choice. Rechargeable electric toothbrushes are the ultimate choice in toothbrushes. Sonicare and Braun/Oral B are two that come to mind when recommending a brush to a patient. These brushes have been studied immensely over the years and demonstrate superior efficacy compared to manual or battery-operated toothbrushes. Plaque and stain removal is superior due to the oscillating/ rotational action of the brush head during use. These brushes can be used in both children and adults as they make both small and large brush heads. The technique for these brushes is very simple, you let the brush do the work and you place it where you want to clean. No scrubbing, circles or sweeping is required. Once again, make sure your pressure is light! Anyone can benefit from a rechargeable electric toothbrush, just ask your oral healthcare professional what they recommend. A healthy plaque-free mouth is the ultimate goal with tooth brushing so remember; 1. Brush 2-3x per day for two minutes at a time. 2. Soft-bristled brushes only! 3. Use good technique taught to you by a dental hygienist. 4. Use fluoridated toothpaste with your toothbrush. 5. Gently brush your tongue after completing your teeth. Bhandari dental 2525 Old Bronte Rd. Suite 470, Oakville 289-813-8239 | www.bhandaridental.com ElEctric or Manual toothbrush? By Dr. Vineet Bhandari Repeated thuds of the gavel, multiple 'out of order' calls and unsuccessful ap- peals of chair decisions, the removal of a trustee for fla- grantly flouting board eti- quette, and an agenda left unfinished, marred the reg- ular meeting of the Halton Catholic District School Board Oct. 5. Trustees eventually ap- proved the name of the board's new virtual school, but not before the first of many 'out of order' rulings by chair Patrick Murphy di- rected at Burlington trustee Vincent Iantomasi, almost all of which were appealed by Burlington trustee Tim O'Brien, and all failed. Upset with the name St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Ele- mentary School, approved by stakeholders and the Bishop of Hamilton, Ianto- masi put forth a motion to change the name to Blessed Carlo Acutis CES. Carlo Acutis has been named the (Future Patron Saint of the Internet) "Inter- net Saint", said Iantomasi. "Who are we to change what the Vatican has al- ready established as the Saint of the Internet?" he queried. "We need to make this (the name) current. The Internet is something cur- rent." School naming policy was followed and "if the bishop thought the choice of St. Clare might be an issue in Rome, I'm sure he would not have written a letter of approval," said Halton Hills trustee Janet O'Hearn-Czar- nota, a member of the com- mittee "We had this discussion already. We approved the name. Why, we would at this juncture, decide to try to make change is beyond me," added Oakville trustee Brenda Agnew. Iantomasi said he had taken it upon himself to ad- vocate on behalf of a former student trustee whose "will" it was that Carlo Acutis be chosen as the school's name. Iantomasi was given a second and final warning af- ter Murphy called him out of order during discussion on a motion to forward HCDSB's procedural bylaws for review to Atul Kapur, the board's sanctioned par- liamentarian. The convoluted discus- sion that followed was inter- rupted by more turmoil and a second and final warning to Oakville trustee Peter De- Rosa. In the end, the motion was approved. Oakville trustee Helena Karabela's attempt to add the option, Prefer Not to Dis- close, to the staff attestation form regarding vaccine dis- closure, was defeated. Karabela said she felt this fourth option would be effective in helping all per- sonnel to fill out the attesta- tion form in good con- science and to feel respect- ed. Director of Education Pat Daly's Schools Report elicited discussions about exams and the board's re- sponse to unvaccinated per- sonnel who refuse to under- go COVID-10 testing and loo- sening restrictions for stu- dents to socialize at lunch. "The reality is students who cannot sit together in our cafeterias.... can easily leave the cafeteria, walk up to McDonald's and sit to- gether there," commented Agnew. Students are allowed to play sports indoors without masks, but six kids are un- able to sit together in close proximity at lunch, leaving parents upset and students struggling, added Agnew. Much advocacy has been undertaken to get sports and extracurriculars up and running, but for kids who are not into those activ- ities lunch presents a limit- ed opportunity to meet or make new friends, she said. Exams are being permit- ted; however, it will be at the discretion of department heads as to whether an ex- am is substituted with a cul- minating activity. O'Brien said he couldn't accept this and asked if Daly would mandate exams for all secondary math and sci- ence programs, to which the chair replied he would not and that the end-of-semes- ter choice was a long-stand- ing formula. Both Karabela and Ianto- masi said under Canada's Bill S201 - known as the Ge- netic Non-Discrimination Act - neither COVID-19 test- ing or vaccination disclo- sure were enforceable. "How will we address that because failure to do so we would be opening our- selves up to legal challeng- es," said Iantomasi. Since March of 2020 HCDSB had complied with the guidance of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the region's medical officer of health, re- plied Daly. CATHOLIC TRUSTEES MEETING HINDERED BY OUTBURSTS The HCDSB agenda was left unfinished due to repeated interruptions. Graham Paine/Metroland NEWS KATHY YANCHUS kyanchus@metroland.com