Fiona Mattrasingh is a Registered Dental Hygienist with over a decade of experience. What began as sharing her knowledge through summits and mentoring new RDH graduates has evolved into content creation and the soon-to-launch of her own practice. Passionate about education and patient care, Fiona is dedicated to making dental knowledge accessible. She shares with us her insight on what makes a good dental practice, the importance of education surrounding oral health and the realities of practicing as an RDH.

Connect with Fiona on Instagram @mouthboxx to see more.

Show Notes

1. Born Into Dentistry: Fiona grew up in Toronto with a deep love for dentistry sparked by early positive experiences with her own dentist and family members in the field. Though she briefly considered professional soccer and physiotherapy, she always found her way back to dental hygiene.

2. The Non-Traditional Hygienist: Rather than staying confined to the traditional office setting, Fiona has built a career that spans clinical practice, corporate education for a dental pharmaceutical company, college instruction, public speaking on infection control, mentorship, and content creation, redefining what it means to be an RDH.

3. Mouthboxx Was an Accident: Fiona's platform @mouthboxx started as a simple digital business card for her speaking engagements. It grew organically into a thriving online community, attracting companies, job opportunities, and a loyal following drawn to her education-first approach.

4. The Realities of Clinical Life: Behind the well-oiled machine of a dental office lies a fast-paced, mentally demanding environment. Hygienists work nonstop, moving between patients constantly, sometimes skipping meals entirely. Fiona is candid about the risk of feeling like you're on a factory line and how to break out of it.

5. Self-Advocacy Changes Everything: A turning point in Fiona's career came when she found the confidence to push back respectfully on office policies that didn't align with her professional standards. She now teaches self-advocacy as a core skill in her mentorship work, alongside knowing your non-negotiables before accepting any position.

6. Education-First Offices: Fiona won't work in a practice that treats continuing education as a solo burden. She looks for offices where growth is a team commitment, from the dentist to the front desk, because offices that invest in their staff directly invest in their clients' care.

7. Opening Her Own Space: Fiona is launching her own practice in the Etobicoke area, designed to be welcoming, inclusive, and wellness-driven. As a Black mother of two young children, she wanted to create a space that reflects her community, especially for moms, young families, and those who have historically felt unseen in dental care.

8. Representation Matters: With fewer than 4% of dental professionals in Canada identifying as Black, Fiona is intentional about visibility. Her students and colleagues regularly tell her that seeing her in the role makes them feel like they belong, proof that representation shapes the next generation.

9. Oral Health Is Whole-Body Health: The bacteria in your mouth can travel throughout your body and influence systemic conditions like diabetes and hormonal changes, and vice versa. Fiona explains that everything from stress to hydration levels shows up in the mouth, making regular dental care an essential part of overall wellness.

10. The Sports Drink Problem: It's not about avoiding acidic drinks entirely, it's about frequency and duration. Sipping a sports drink over a long period keeps your mouth in a prolonged acidic state, weakening enamel and feeding harmful bacteria. Fiona recommends waiting 30 minutes after consuming acidic foods or drinks before brushing.

11. A National Conversation Starting Young: Fiona's call to action for Canada is to bring oral health education into schools earlier. Children absorb habits young, and having hygienists speak to kids, the same way she's already teaching her 6-year-old, could shift the culture around dental care from fear to understanding.

12. Advice for New Grads: Stay true to why you entered the field, find your tribe, and don't be discouraged by a bad first office. The right environment is out there. And don't wait to reach out to someone you admire, even a short virtual coffee can make the path feel achievable.

Call to Action

1. Follow Fiona: Connect with her on Instagram @mouthboxx for dental education, career insights, and updates on her upcoming practice.

2. For New Grads: Follow @DearRDHNewGrad for mentorship-focused content tailored to those just starting out in dental hygiene.

3. Visit the Practice: Fiona's office will be opening soon in Etobicoke, details coming to her Instagram.

4. Join the Movement: Visit letsmovecanada.com or DM @letsmovecanada to suggest guests or get involved in future episodes.