Nov 11, 2015
November 14th is World Diabetes Day. Diabetics produce less saliva, which plays an important part in keeping your mouth healthy. For this and other reasons, people with diabetes are especially vulnerable to gum disease, including painful gum infections.
If you have diabetes, it is important to pay attention to changes in your mouth that could be warning signs of infections, tooth decay, or other serious oral health problems. Changes include sore gums, bleeding gums, increased sensitivity, chronic dry mouth, and white patches on the gums.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects many areas of health. However, much like with oral health, a good diet goes a long way. Controlling your glucose levels by abstaining from sugar and other foods that cause glucose spikes will help keep you smiling.
Just as you check in on your glucose levels, check in on your oral health by visiting Falmouth Dental Arts. Regular dental check ups are necessary to maintain good oral health and stop problems before they stop your smile. Call us at 207-781-5900.
Nov 11, 2015
Colonial America was a tough time for teeth. Dentistry hadn’t yet formed into a medical discipline and the causes of tooth decay were still a mystery. Many Puritans began losing teeth at a young age. Fortunately for the self-conscious, smiling wasn’t exactly encouraged among our somber forefathers.
On the other hand, Puritans ate a fairly teeth-friendly diet. Here is a list of some of the oral health-promoting foods served at the First Thanksgiving.
Turkey
Yes, turkey was there at the original Thanksgiving table, but it wasn’t the bird we are used to. Instead, Puritans and Native Americans feasted upon wild turkey—a slenderer bird with tougher, gamier meat. Turkeys weren’t the only birds on the table either. Historians believe they also served geese, ducks, swans, and plenty of the now-extinct passenger pigeon.
Poultry is good for your teeth. It contains Vitamins B2, B3, and B12, all of which contribute to good oral health. Turkey is also high in phosphorous, which is important for tooth development.
Lobster, Shellfish, and Clams
While seafood may not be a traditional addition to the modern Thanksgiving table, it made up a significant portion of the Puritans’ diet. Plymouth Bay yielded an abundance of fresh seafood that provided much needed minerals. Squanto, a Patuxet Native American, didn’t just teach Puritans how to cultivate corn. He also taught them to catch and consume eels and other seafood. If you haven’t added seafood to your Thanksgiving menu, you may want to consider it. Seafood is rich in Omega 3s, a powerful anti-inflammatory that can ward off gum disease and boost brainpower.
Nuts
The Wampanoag ate a steady diet of chestnuts, walnuts, and beechnuts. These nuts provided healthy fats and calories, which were greatly needed to survive New England’s harsh winter. Nuts make a great appetizer for hungry Thanksgiving guests. They are also packed with inflammation-busting fatty acids that will keep your gums healthy and your teeth strong.
Pumpkins
While pumpkin pie is stuffed with unhealthy sugars, baked or roasted pumpkin makes a delicious side dish with plenty of zinc for your teeth. A lack of zinc in the diet can cause a variety of serious health conditions, including memory problems, hair loss, and bone loss. It can also weaken your teeth, which need zinc to stay strong. In addition, pumpkin has magnesium, which also supports your teeth, bones, and hair.
Oct 28, 2015
What’s scarier than having a child who needs braces? If you think the orthodontist’s bill will be scarier than a Stephen King novel, think again. Most orthodontists will work with you to create a manageable payment plan. It’s actually much more expensive to forgo braces when your child needs them.
Braces correct serious problems. Crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, and other issues corrected with orthodontia can have massive implications for your child’s dental health if left untreated. Often, malocclusions (misalignments) worsen over time. Your child could be facing a lifetime of increased risk of tooth decay, jaw pain, and gum disease. Not to mention that misshapen teeth can be a serious blow to self-esteem.
Therefore, if a dentist recommends you take your child to the orthodontist it’s best to do so. While your child may not be happy with the situation at first, once their braces are removed, they will be pleased with their great new smile.
Oct 28, 2015
1. Chewy Candies
Examples: Now & Laters, Mary Janes, Bit’O’Honeys
Chewy candies are number one on this list for a reason. Serious bite pressure is needed to break up chewy candies into manageable bites. That itself can damage your teeth. Once in your mouth, chewy candies adhere to the crevices between your teeth. The sugary stuff is likely to get stuck in between your teeth—right where you are most vulnerable to cavities. If you do choose a chewy treat, make sure to floss after.
2. Sour Sweets
Examples: Warheads, Sour Patch Kids, Sour Skittles
Q: How do they make that lip-puckering sensation?
A: With lots and lots of acid. Sour candies are highly acidic. Most also contain a substantial amount of sugar. This means a double whammy for your tooth enamel. The acid weakens enamel while abrasive sugar rubs it away, leading to tooth decay and possibly even tooth loss.
3. Lollipops
Examples: Dum-Dums, Tootsie Pops, Blow Pops
Lollipops aren’t significantly sweeter than other candies, but the way they are typically consumed lands them on this list. Lollipops take longer to eat than most candies. The longer sugar sits on your teeth the worse it is for your enamel.
Sep 12, 2015
Brushing your teeth serves a variety of important functions. It clears away plaque that can build up and lead to tooth decay. It keeps your gums healthy and lowers your chance of developing gingivitis. It may even reduce your risk of developing dementia. However, it cannot fully fight off tooth stains. Yellowing of the teeth is common even in the most assiduous brushers.
Stains on the teeth are not necessarily the result of ill health. They are more likely an indication that you enjoy teeth-staining foods and beverages (like coffee). While brushing your teeth can help, it is typically not enough to totally prevent yellowing. This is true even if you use whitening toothpaste.
Fortunately, Falmouth Dental Arts offers treatments that can revitalize your smile. Don’t go another year feeling embarrassed of your yellow teeth. Spend just one hour in our office and you’ll leave with pearly whites. Would you rather whiten in the privacy of your own home? We also offer at-home tooth whitening solutions. Call us today at 207-781-5900.
