Oct 31, 2013
Pumpkins have many health benefits, especially for your mouth and oral hygiene!
It’s hard to think of fall without imagining the colorful foliage, ripe apples, and the all-star autumn symbol—the pumpkin. From jack-o’-lanterns in October to pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, pumpkins are ubiquitous in our fall traditions. They adorn our doorsteps and are even spicing up our breads, beers, and lattes. What many people don’t know, though, are the healthful benefits that pumpkins can provide.
Pumpkin is a fantastic source of Vitamin A, with one serving (one cup mashed) providing 245% of your daily value and 19% of your daily Vitamin C. Vitamin A is a bone strength booster that will fortify your teeth and Vitamin C strengthens connective tissues like your gums, providing an effective one-two punch for your oral health.
The benefits of eating pumpkins don’t stop there. Just a quarter-cup of pumpkin seeds will get you almost half the daily value of magnesium, which benefits your blood pressure, aids in proper bone and tooth formation, and assists in a host of other physiological functions. An ounce of seeds will provide you with 2mg of zinc, which helps with your mood, sleep, immunity, eye and skin health, and more. Americans are generally deficient in both of these minerals, but eating pumpkin seeds will help get you back on track!
Pumpkin puree and pumpkin seeds are rich in plant-based omega-3 fats, antioxidants, fiber, iron, and calcium. It can be very easy to work pumpkin into your diet, especially in the fall when they’re in high stock. To get the most out of pumpkin seeds, they should be eaten raw (and preferably sprouted). For an idea on how to utilize pumpkin puree, check out this super healthy Pumpkin Pie Parfait recipe.
Sep 30, 2013
Just as anticipated, ticket sales got off to a hot start! Excitement is building to see all the dancing dentists competing for a great cause. We are in the process of updating our website, but we want to make sure to avoid confusion regarding ticket sales. So you can purchase tickets right here by clicking the big BUY TICKETS button!!
Sep 30, 2013
We have introduced you to three of the four dancing dentist couples and the fourth and final couple will be announced next week! They are now in their third week of rehearsal and we are shocked by the progress and enthusiasm of everyone involved. The friendly competition is building and you can tell everyone really wants to win! But the real goal here is to raise money for a needy and worthy cause. We have had many outstanding companies join forces with us to sponsor the event as well. Their generosity is overwhelming. Sponsorship opportunities are still open and available! So please, if you know of anyone who may be interested, please email us at dancingwiththedentists@gmail.com. For real time updates, photos and videos of rehearsal, and more, Like Us on Facebook!!
We simply can not wait to come together for this night that is sure to be filled with plenty of entertainment, excitement, and fun for all.
Sep 30, 2013
Lucky you, you live in New England in the fall! Many of us take the change of seasons for granted, lamenting the fading daylight and dropping temperatures, but remember: there’s a reason tourist season doesn’t end in September! From ripening pumpkin patches to winding cornfield mazes, Maine’s natural beauty is reason alone to get out and enjoy the clear skies, changing leaves, and crisp autumn air. But, you should also consider the abundance of health benefits that you gain simply by getting outdoors, and one activity in particular has a number of benefits for your oral health!
What we are referring to, of course is an apple-picking expedition! This fall favorite will get you active outside and you will get to take home some delicious (and healthy!) fall produce. Not only do outdoor activities provide physical benefits, studies have shown that exposure to the foliage and open air can improve your concentration, elevate your mood, and promote stress relief. So, this fall, be healthy, have fun, and enjoy the weather while it lasts!
15 Benefits of Eating Apples
Autumn, also known as apple-picking season, is finally upon us, so we thought we’d take a moment to remind you just how healthy those delicious fruits are:
- Get whiter, healthier teeth – Munching on an apple increases salivation, which reduces tooth decay by lowering your mouth’s bacteria level.
- Avoid Alzheimer’s – Drinking apple juice can help keep Alzheimer’s at bay and fight the effects of aging on the brain.
- Protect against Parkinson’s – People who eat fruits and other high-fiber foods gain protection against Parkinson’s through antioxidants.
- Curb all sorts of cancers – Eating flavonol-rich apples can help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 percent, while compounds in apple peels have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon, and breast.
- Decrease your risk of diabetes – Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes due to the soluble fiber in the fruit.
- Reduce cholesterol – The soluble fiber in apples binds with fats in the intestines, lowering cholesterol levels.
- Get a healthier heart – An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fiber intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries.
- Prevent gallstones – Doctors recommend a diet rich in fiber to prevent gallstones, which are a product of high cholesterol levels.
- Beat diarrhea and constipation – Without getting too graphic, the fiber in apples can both absorb water from the colon when you’re constipated and absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.
- Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome – To control the symptoms of IBS, doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a diet high in fiber.
- Avert hemorrhoids – Going hand-in-hand with the control of constipation, hemorrhoids can be avoided with a high fiber intake, which prevents too much straining in the bathroom.
- Control your weight – Foods that are high in fiber will fill you up quickly while keeping your caloric intake low.
- Detoxify your liver – Apples and other fruits are one of the best things you can eat to clear toxins out of your liver.
- Boost your immune system – Red apples contain the antioxidant Quercetin, which, studies have shown, can help boost and strengthen your immune system.
- Prevent cataracts – Long-term studies suggest that people whose diets contain an abundance of antioxidant-rich fruit like apples are 10 to 15 percent less likely to develop cataracts.
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/nutrition/15-health-benefits-of-eating-apples
Jul 30, 2013
Were you ever so hungry that you dive right into a piping hot, steaming pizza even though you know it might burn you. Of course you have, we all have. That delicious pizza, or pivotal first cup of morning coffee is just too tempting to resist. But do these burns that we sustain in our mouths have any lasting effects?
The answer is maybe. Taste buds “recycle” about every two weeks, so any taste buds you damage might result in long term damage, but it is unlikely because those damaged buds will probably recycle anyways. As you get older some of your taste buds stop “recycling” so younger children often have stronger taste sensation than adults. The recycling (or failure to recycle) of taste buds is what causes the change in taste that you may experience over the course of your life. The most common things that affect your sense of taste are: smoking and tobacco use, really hot foods and liquids, freezing cold foods, and cuts in your mouth.
If your sense of taste changes drastically – particularly by way of losing much of your sense of taste – than it is possible that you may have developed what is called a taste disorder. Many people who have a taste disorder are actually just experiencing problems with their sense of smell which is very closely related to taste. If you think you or someone you know may have a taste disorder, proper oral hygiene is important to regaining and maintaining a well-functioning sense of taste.
So what are some taste disorders? Here is a brief list of the most common:
Phantom Taste Perception – that is, a lingering, often unpleasant taste even though you have nothing in your mouth.
Hypogeusia – a reduced ability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory foods
Ageusia – the inability to detect any tastes at all. True taste loss, however, is rare. Most often, people are experiencing a loss of smell instead of a loss of taste.
Dysgeusia – a condition in which a foul, salty, rancid, or metallic taste sensation will persist in the mouth. Dysgeusia is sometimes accompanied by burning mouth syndrome, a condition in which a person experiences a painful burning sensation in the mouth. Although it can affect anyone, burning mouth syndrome is most common in middle-aged and older women.
What causes taste disorders?
Some people are born with taste disorders, but most develop them after an injury or illness. Among the causes of taste problems are:
- Upper respiratory and middle ear infections
- Radiation therapy for cancers of the head and neck
- Exposure to certain chemicals, such as insecticides and some medications, including some common antibiotics and antihistamines
- Head injury
- Some surgeries to the ear, nose, and throat (e.g., third molar—wisdom tooth—extraction and middle ear surgery)
- Poor oral hygiene and dental problems
Are taste disorders serious?
They can be. Taste disorder themselves don’t pose the problem, but they certainly pose some concerns. Because taste is the main sense that we use to detect spoiled or rotten food, those with weakened or non-existent senses of taste are at a much greater risk of eating something that could harm them. The same holds true with individuals who have food allergies.
Additionally, a distorted sense of taste can be a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other illnesses that require sticking to a specific diet. When taste is impaired, a person may change his or her eating habits and can cause people to either gain or lose weight. Taste disorders can also cause people to add large amounts of sugar or salt to their foods in an attempt to make it taste better – this poses a very specific and serious problem to those with certain medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
In severe cases, loss of taste can lead to depression. Loss of taste and smell can also be a sign of certain degenerative diseases of the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. If you are experiencing a taste disorder, talk with your physician.
Can taste disorders be treated?
The good news is that many types of taste disorders are curable. For those that are not, counseling is available to help people adjust to their problem.
Get checked out by an otolaryngologist for proper diagnosis and cause of the specific disorder. Some people, notably those with respiratory infections or allergies, regain their sense of taste when these conditions are resolved. Often, the correction of a general medical problem also can correct the loss of taste. Occasionally, a person may recover his or her sense of taste spontaneously. Proper oral hygiene is important to regaining and maintaining a well-functioning sense of taste.
If you lose some or all of your sense of taste, there are things you can do to make your food taste better:
- · Prepare foods with a variety of colors and textures.
- · Use aromatic herbs and hot spices to add more flavor; however, avoid adding more sugar or salt to foods.
- · If your diet permits, add small amounts of cheese, bacon bits, butter, olive oil, or toasted nuts on vegetables.
- · Avoid combination dishes, such as casseroles, that can hide individual flavors and dilute taste.
We are here to help! If you think you or someone you know may have a taste disorder, get in touch with us. We can help and offer guidance and support through the process. Call the office at 207-781-5900 or email us.
Sources of our information: National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Jul 30, 2013
You’re at the grocery store and you come to the personal hygiene aisle. You are looking for a mouthwash, but you are instantly overwhelmed with the dozens of options to choose from all promising to reduce plaque, fight gingivitis, whiten teeth and so much more – but not all the claims are true. We have all been there. But don’t worry, we are here to offer you some helpful tips that will allow you to refine your search and pick out the perfect mouthwash to fit your needs!
We always talk about the importance of regular brushing and flossing, but using mouthwash regularly in your oral hygiene regimen is often overlooked. Studies have shown that regular use of mouthwash has undeniable benefits for your mouth. It cleans those hard to reach places that brushing can’t get to, rinses your whole mouth, and is proven to reduce gingivitis in those who use it regularly.
There are 3 major categories of mouthwash products from a consumer perspective. Here is what you need to know about each of them that will help you choose the perfect rinse for your mouth:
1.) Fluoride containing mouth rinses:
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay in your mouth and strengthens enamel. But most people don’t need fluoride in their mouthwash because they already get it from the fluoridated toothpaste they use. But there are some exceptions. People with xerostomia (abnormally dry mouth) might use this because severe dry mouth might cause bacterial imbalance in the mouth, and too much bad bacteria can lead to tooth decay. Also, people with cavities can benefit from this kind of mouthwash. Here is a list of ADA approved fluoride mouth rinses
2.) Mouthwashes to freshen breath:
Many of these mouthwashes will in fact freshen your breath, but they do not necessarily offer many (if any) long-term oral health benefits. The bacteria that cause bad breath are killed for the short term, but they will grow back.
3.) Anti-plaque or anti-gingivitis mouthwashes:
Adults are recommended to use this kind of mouthwash to supplement their brushing and flossing (although these are key components to oral health, we don’t always do a great job with these tasks, and this type of mouthwash can kills potentially damaging bacteria missed in brushing and flossing). If the mouthwash is ADA approved, that is the best, and they kill a much broader range of oral bacteria than the breath freshening rinses, which is better for your overall oral health. For people with more severe dental issues, contact us, we may prescribe you with a more powerful mouthwash that could help you! List of ADA approved anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis mouthwashes
Hope these tips help! Remember, mouth wash is no substitute for good brushing and flossing. All three together make for a powerful, effective, and healthy cleaning regimen!
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