7 Surprising Habits and Foods That Protect Your Teeth!

Hi Everyone,

It has been a while since we've posted anything.  Hopefully, you will find this little post entertaining and amusing.


7 Surprising Habits and Foods That Protect Your Teeth
 
1) Limit Carbs to Mealtimes
Carbs break down into simple surgars, converted by bacteria in the mouth into plaque, a sticky residue that is the primary trigger of gum disease and cavities. Have carbs at mealtimes rather than snack. You produce more sliva, which helps wash food particles away.
 
2) Don't Drink and Brush
Right after you drink a soda or other acidic beverages. To protect your pearly whites, sip water or chew gum to activate acid-neutralizing saliva-then brush your teeth!
 
3) Increase Your C Intake
Vitamin C is important for your gum tissue. People who consumed less than 60 mg per day, were 25% more likely to have gum disease than people who took in 180 mg or more. Add a daily glass of OJ to your breakfast routine :)
 
4) Have Tea
The antioxidants in green or black tea are good for your gums, that prevent plaque from adhearing to your teeth and help reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. Tea also has potential for reducing bad breath.
 
5) Sip with a Straw
Soda juckies, listen up! Most sodas, sports drinks and juices contain acids. That can erode enamel (even diet or sugar-free) Sipping through a straw positioned toward the back of your mouth limits contact with you teeth. Stock up! on straws at work, and home.
 
6) Boost calcium Consumption
Protect your pearly whites! People who get at least 800 mg a day are less likely to develop severe gum disease. Calcium strengthens the alveolar bone in the jaw, which helps hold your teeth in place. Eat your calcium foods like cheese, milk and yougurt.
 
7) Have and Apple a Day
Yep, it helps keep the dentist away. Crunchy foods like apples, celery and carrots, act like a little toothbrush they help scrub stubborn stains over time. Apples combined with their rough, fiber-rich fleash, makes them the ideal food for cleansing and brightening teeth!



This was taken from an MSN report.  They actually listed 3 more things!  To find out, you can go click on the link to get the full story.

http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/oral-care/10-surprising-habits-and-foods-that-protect-your-teeth-2#1

All This Rain, No Wonder I'm Depressed!

Is this persistent cold gloomy weather getting you down?  Well, you are probably not alone, so don't feel bad.

What doctors describe as "Seasonal Affective Disorder,"  (If you didn't notice already, the acronym is S.A.D.), is a very real, very true, and potentially a very disabling disorder.

The Symptoms:
Depression, low grade fatique, low energy, irritability, and difficulty sleeping.

The Treatment:
Stay away from coffee, low dosages of Melatonin, Vitamin D, and go out and get some sunlight (even if there's not much light outside).

So now that you know this, you can blame your irritable mood or your waking up on the wrong side of the bed on the weather.

The bottom line:  Go out, stay active, Do something to get your mind out of these doldrums.  

Extra tidbit:  About 10% of the Puget Sound Population have some form of SAD, which is about 10 times more than the amount in Florida!  (Maybe we should all move to Florida........ nah!)

Don't Forget to Floss!!

I know, most of you think that reminding people to floss is just part of my job and most of the time, I feel as though my advice is falling on deaf ears anyways.  Whenever I ask a patient "how is your flossing at home going?", I often get either a light chuckle, or a slightly confessional "Ummmm," followed by some blank stares like a burglar that was caught red handed while stealing something.  I know it is easy for me to say because this is my profession, and it's what I do for a living, and the average person doesn't have the extra precious time every morning or night to waste on such trivial chores as FLOSSING.  However, in spite of my constant nagging, there are some legitimate health benefits to flossing your teeth.

So, why is it so important that you floss?

Well, let me share with you a recent article in the MSN website under the Women's Health section.  The article was titled "6 Stupid Health Mistakes", and guess what?  Listed as #3 on this list was "You forget to Floss".  Here are some points from that article I think you may find interesting and relevant:

1.  Americans spend $600 million a year bleaching their teeth, but won't spend pennies and more than 5 minutes a day to floss.  The result:  At least 23%  of women 30-54yrs, and 44% of women over 55yrs have severe gum (or periodontal) disease.

2.  Periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in the United States.

3.  A groundbreaking study has found that women with gum disease were three to eight times more likely to have a premature baby than were women with healthy gums.  The culprit:  a labor-inducing prostaglandin (similar to the drug Pitocin) produced by their immune systems to combat the gum infection.

4.  In recent years, researchers have come to suspect that chronic bacterial infections (like gum disease) can predispose people to cancer, and recent studies have also linked periodontal disease to heart disease, and even stroke.

The Fix

Floss at least once a day. Don't know how? Here are some simple instructions from the American Dental Association: Take about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers. Hold a few inches of the floss tightly between thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth, using a gentle rubbing motion. When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth, and gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with an up-and-down motion. Repeat this for every tooth.

For the full article, click on the link "6 Stupid Health Mistakes".

Healthier Teeth, Healthier You!

Still think that what happens in your mouth stays in your mouth?  In recent years, there is growing research showing that whatever happens in your mouth can affect what happens to the rest of your body and vice versa. 

An article in a recent issue of Women's Health Magazine was interesting and I thought that I would share it with you.  Here are a few bits of information that hopefully, you will find fascinating:

1. One study showed that participants who reported brushing their teeth less frequently had a 70% increased risk of heart disease versus those who brushed twice daily.

2.  Doctors have long known that Type 2 diabetics have an increased occurrence of periodontal disease, but it turns out preventing gum infections may stave off diabetes in the first place.

3.  In another study, participants suffering from a respiratory illness such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, an upper respiratory infection, or COPD had poorer periodontal health than those in the control group.

4.  A very recent preliminary study suggests that women may be over 11 times more likely to develop breast cancer if they have missing teeth and gum disease.

5.  According to the American Academy of Periodontists, about fifty percent of pregnant women develop gingivitis, a condition that leaves gums inflamed, bleeding, swollen, or tender.  Left unchecked it can lead to periodontal disease, a serious infection that could create problems in the delivery room. While research is still being done, several studies suggest there is a direct relationship between infected bacteria in your mouth and premature deliveries, low-birth rate, and preeclampsia

Still think you don't need to brush???

 You are welcome to check out the actual article "Healthy Teeth, Healthy Body".

.... Let's Begin!

...... And so we begin.  This is the first declaration for myself and Maple Family Dentistry to take this dental practice to another level and to enter the realm of social media known as "Blogging!"  I will be attempting to share with both our patients and the general public regular updates on all aspects related to Dentistry.

Our purpose will be to provide some interesting tidbits of information that will hopefully not just educate, but remind us all about the importance of going to the Dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.

Hopefully, people will find this useful, entertaining and beneficial.  I anticipate that this will also be a very cathartic experience for me, and I am excited to start on this new endeavor.

Enjoy!