Posts Tagged ‘General Dentistry’

What Should I Look For When Choosing a Dentist?

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

choosing a dentistNo matter your age, your profession, or how busy your schedule might be, finding a good dentist is one of the most important things you can do. It can also be a struggle. So, how can you get started? What should you keep in mind as you look for a dentist for yourself and your family? Here are five things to consider.

Testimonials

Find out beforehand if the doctor you’re considering has any testimonials or before-and-after pictures you can see. Some states—Texas, for example—don’t allow testimonials, but others do and this can be a great way to get to know a dentist and his or her work.

Experience

Knowing where a dentist studied, how long they’ve studied, what associations they’re a member of, and what awards they’ve one can all help you decide on a dentist. Typically, you can find information like this on a doctor’s webpage, under the “About the Office” or the “About Our Team” page. If the practice you’re considering is a new practice, what does this mean to you? Are you comfortable with the dentist’s expertise and training? (more…)

Foods and Drinks That Can Help Your Smile

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

nutrition and oral healthYou already know how important brushing and flossing are for the health of your smile. But did you also know that certain foods can benefit your oral health too? Any number of specific foods can be beneficial, but today we’re targeting just a few general foods or drinks that can help you.

Green Tea

As we mentioned in an earlier post, green tea has been used medicinally for ages and is consumed by millions of people around the world every day. It has a higher number of antioxidants than black tea, which helps explain its many benefits for patients. Among the oral health benefits to look forward to, green tea actually kills cancer-causing free radicals and can reduce periodontal inflammation.

But that’s not all. Green tea is also known to aid in the reduction of dental plaque and can interfere with the production of hydrogen sulfide, which causes bad breath. (more…)

April Is National Cancer Control Month!

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

checkupWhy are we discussing cancer on a dental newsletter? Because dental health affects your overall health, and your smile is your dentist’s business. Oral Cancer is a little discussed cancer that is on the rise, despite the overall decline in cancer rates. Why? Awareness. Many people simply don’t talk about oral cancer. Your dentist wants to change that.

Every year, almost 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. Of these cases, 70% are discovered in the disease’s later stages. As many as one fourth of those diagnosed didn’t even participate in the risky behaviors commonly attributed to the disease, such a tobacco use or excessive alcohol consumption.

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Attention Athletes! Shocking News About Energy Drinks

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

man listening to dental newsWe all know soda is bad for our teeth. You may have even done one of those experiments in third grade where you place a baby tooth in Coke overnight and witness the horrifying consequences. Well researchers have done a similar experiment with popular fitness drinks and with startling results. According to a study published in the AGD’s journal General Dentistry, energy drinks can cause 3 to 11 times more enamel erosion than soft drinks.

Here’s what went down:
Scientists immersed cavity-free teeth in a variety of popular beverages and let them fester for 14 days, which equals about 13 years of normal beverage consumption. As you can imagine, all the beverages tested caused pretty significant damage to the tooth enamel, but certain players stepped up to the plate and really knocked it out of the park. In order of ferocity: (more…)

Smiles Needs Protecting When You’re Expecting

Friday, May 28th, 2010

pregnancy healthGetting ready to welcome a new member into your family is an exciting time. Between much-needed rests (sustaining a growing baby saps a lot of your energy!), you focus on all sorts of preparations. You’ll decorate the nursery, attend check-up visits and sonogram appointments with your doctor, and some unfortunate soul will be tasked with the job of putting together the baby’s crib.

In the flurry of anticipation, don’t forget to take care of your teeth and gums. It’s likely more important now than ever to keep brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist for preventive maintenance like professional cleanings and checkups. Studies suggest a link between gum disease and instances of premature births, as well as other pregnancy complications, so you want to keep a very close watch on your dental health during this most formative stage of your child’s development.

Swollen, bleeding gums are a common complaint for pregnant women, and it stems from the higher progesterone levels in your body. The increase of this hormone means your gums are more prone to irritation from plaque, which can quickly cause gingivitis. (more…)

Healthy Body, Healthy Smile: What Good Nutrition Can Do for You

Monday, April 19th, 2010

shutterstock_48963310Quick! Make a mental list of habits that have an impact on your dental health.

You thought about brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups, right? Those are all hugely beneficial in keeping your teeth healthy, it’s true. But did you know that your diet has a big influence on your dental health? To really address the overall issue, let’s dig a little.

Many people don’t realize that a balanced diet with good nutrition is a key element in keeping a smile attractive and healthy. The same vitamins and minerals that keep your body in great shape are equally beneficial to your teeth. A few powerhouse players include:

  • Calcium and Vitamin D
    A proper amount of calcium is very important to maintaining the structure of your teeth, along with phosphorus and magnesium. Vitamin D boosts absorption of the mineral, so a sufficient level of both is essential. (more…)

Safeguard Your Smile in Time for Summer Sports

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

cyclistFor many, summertime translates to an abundance of outdoor activities and sporting events. From baseball to soccer to cycling and many more, summer sports take advantage of the warm weather and allow us to exercise our winter-weary muscles. While you’re gearing up for your next sporting event, don’t forget to protect your most important summertime asset—your smile!

Here are a few pointers for optimal dental health while you’re on the playing field: (more…)

Save Your Teeth by Coping with Stress

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

stressDo you ever feel like circumstances are spinning out of your control? You’re not the only one. If there’s one thing we all have in common fairly often, it’s that stressful situations can occupy our minds and sap our energy. Not only that, stress can actually compromise your health. If you are stressed, it’s more likely that you’ll grind your teeth during sleep. While this bit of information has been around for a while, a recent study shed light on new piece of the teeth-grinding puzzle.

The article published in journal Head and Face Medicine shows that some ways of coping with stress can be healthier for your teeth and jaw than others. Those people who deal with stress by attempting to ignore their problems or internalize them are at higher risk for teeth grinding, also called bruxism. The study found that heavy grinders often used what were termed “negative” coping methods, like ignoring the causes of stress instead of working through problems directly. (more…)