Does Chewing Gum After a Meal Prevent Cavities?
What’s better than a minty stick of gum after a meal? After all, it freshens your breath and helps prevent cavities. Or does it?
What Studies Say
Gum chewers, rejoice: We have good news about post-meal gum (as long as you opt for the sugar-free kind).
Studies have shown that chewing sugar-free gum for twenty minutes after eating increases saliva production. Saliva in turn helps lower the risk for cavities and dental erosion; the act of chewing presses saliva into hard-to-reach areas, washing away plaque and bacteria.
How about that? Chewing gum can actually be a part of healthy oral hygiene.
5 Common Misconceptions About Children’s Teeth
We all want our kids to grow up with strong and healthy teeth. Staying informed is crucial in making that wish a reality—especially when it comes to debunking myths. Here are five common misconceptions about children’s teeth to help you become a more informed parent.
Baby Teeth Don’t Matter
Just because baby teeth eventually fall out doesn’t mean they aren’t important. Kids usually have about twenty baby teeth by the age of three. They help the mouth hold enough space for adult teeth, help the jaw develop correctly, and make sure adult teeth align properly.
Preschool-Aged Children are Always Scared of the Dentist
This doesn’t have to be the case. By taking your child early and often, they’ll form a friendship with the staff and a familiarity with the sights and sounds of a dentist’s office.
3 Myths About Root Canals
A root canal is a procedure where you dentist cleans out the decay in your tooth’s pulp and root. Unfortunately, root canals have a bad rap in popular culture. But much of the negativity surrounding them is based on myth. Let’s dispel three of those myths today.
Root Canals Hurt – FALSE
This myth has its roots (no pun intended) from decades ago when dental procedures were painful. With today’s modern technology and better anesthetics, root canals are basically pain-free. In fact, they’re no more painful than having a filling.
5 Tricks for a Better Brushing Routine
Do you have trouble brushing your teeth twice a day? You’re not alone.
Set a Reminder
While your phone is a fun place to unwind with viral videos and internet surfing, it’s also a great tool for creating a routine. Set a reminder to alert you twice a day to brush your teeth—once when you wake up and another just before you turn in for the night.
Choose a Theme Song
Pick a fun song to brush your teeth to and you’ll be dancing right into a new brushing routine.
Create a Smile Diary
Want to see how your teeth get healthier over time? Snap a photo every day after you brush in the morning and review the photos every 30 days. This can help motivate you and create fun content to share on your social media channels.
Why Do Straight Teeth Matter?
Most people think of straight teeth simply for cosmetic reasons—a straight smile is a beautiful smile. But there are a few other surprising reasons why having straight teeth is important, including significant health benefits.
- Less tooth decay. Straight teeth can actually decrease the risk of tooth decay because they’re easier to clean. When teeth are crooked and misaligned, there are more places for plaque to hide. When plaque is not brushed away, the bacteria in plaque can cause cavities.
- Healthier bites. With straight teeth, your bite is even and allows your mouth to chew and speak properly. Productive chewing is crucial for being able to eat a well-balanced diet, including crunchy fruits and vegetables. Crooked or crowded teeth can mean your jawbones do not meet properly, which can result in uneven wear to tooth enamel, impaired speech or chewing, cracked teeth, or jaw pain.
3 Benefits of Fillings You May Not Know
Getting a filling is a common dental procedure that involves removing decayed or damaged portions of a tooth. The space is then filled with a material that guards against additional damage. But fillings do more than just treat cavities. Here are three benefits of fillings you may not know about.
Fillings Do More Than Just Treat Cavities
Fillings can also strengthen teeth with a weakened structure. Also, if you’re getting dental work that requires several visits, a temporary filling can give your tooth and gums time to heal. This in turn ensures the tooth doesn’t become infected between appointments.
Bonus: Some fillings even release fluoride to provide additional safeguards against damage and decay.
Top 3 Questions Parents Ask About Their Child's Teeth
As parents ourselves, we understand your child’s health is your #1 concern. When it comes to their dental health, there can be a lot of information out there that can feel overwhelming and confusing. To help, we’ve rounded up 3 of the most popular questions parents ask about their child’s teeth.
What do I need to know about baby teeth?
Just because baby teeth eventually fall out does not mean they aren’t important. Not only do they act as placeholders for adult teeth, but baby teeth are also an important part of facial and speech development. If baby teeth are left uncared for and lost prematurely, nearby teeth can shift and cause overcrowding or other alignment issues for adult teeth coming in. It’s also important to know they can also get cavities just like adult teeth. In addition to the pain caused by a cavity, young children can develop dental infections that can cause widespread issues. Having a healthy smile is important no matter how old you are!
Is Cheese Good for Your Teeth?
Cheese lovers rejoice: Your favorite food is actually good for your smile. But how could a tasty food have such positive effects? Let’s take a bite out of some cheese-filled dental facts.
Cheese is a Low-Carb Option
Watching your carbohydrate intake? Reach for a slice of cheese at snack time. Besides having properties that are beneficial to your teeth, cheese is high in protein to keep you feeling full for longer. Choosing cheese as a dessert or eating it as an appetizer, snack or in addition to foods that could be potentially harmful to your teeth is a great way to ward off bacteria.
Did you know casein is the name of the protein found in cheese? In addition to helping with muscle growth, it also coats your teeth with a protective film. Acids that would normally attach to your tooth enamel don’t stand a chance!
Floss Like a Boss with These 5 tips
Even though most of us know we should floss every day as part of a healthy oral care routine, many of us don't do it regularly. Whether you’re not sure why it’s so important or you’re not sure if you’re doing it correctly, here are 5 tips to get you flossing like a pro.
Understand why it’s important
Here’s something you may not know – nearly half the surface area of your teeth lies in between each tooth. That means floss does a lot of work in removing sticky plaque from your teeth, which can lead to swollen gums, tooth decay, cavities, or gum disease.
The rest of your body is healthier when you floss. When you have good oral health, you reduce the risk of stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory issues, and even heart disease—all of which are linked to poor gum health.
Flossing also helps prevent gingivitis. Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease where gums become swollen, inflamed, and can bleed easily. If your gums are bleeding, it’s a sign that you need to brush and floss more frequently.
Flossing is a low-cost and easy way to take care of your mouth. In addition to preventing gum disease and other health issues, flossing leads to a healthier mouth, better breath, whiter teeth, a more confident smile.
How Long Should You Wear Your Retainer?
Your Invisalign® or SureSmile® clear aligner treatment is finished. Now what? To keep your smile looking sharp, you’ll need to wear a retainer. But for how long? Let’s dive into the timeframe and reasoning behind it.
What are Retainers For?
Clear aligners did the tough work of moving your teeth into the proper position. However, if teeth are not supported and guided to where they should stay, they tend to shift back to their old position over time. This is where retainers save the day—and your smile! By wearing a retainer, your teeth will stay in their designated positions, keeping your smile exactly the way you want it.
5 Ways to Calm Your Dental Visit Anxieties
If you worry about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Dental anxiety is very common, affecting both children and adults. Whether it’s a fear of pain, concern over a scary treatment, lack of personal space, or embarrassment from imperfect teeth, your dental anxiety can be helped with a few coping tips and strategies. Here are five ways to calm your dental anxieties.
Tell your dentist about your fears. Being open and honest about your feelings with your dentist can allow your dentist to do their best to help calm your nerves. Whether this means being more gentle, talking with you beforehand, or playing music, it’s important to be transparent about what you’re feeling.
Ask the dentist to explain what you can expect beforehand. Having your doctor explain certain treatments beforehand can answer any questions you may have and can help calm your worries. Be sure to remind your dentist that you find this helpful.