Keep Smiling!
Good oral hygiene is the key to lifetime of healthy teeth. These simple steps will help you maintain a happy, healthy and beautiful smile.
Brush and Floss
While brushing and flossing once a day is okay, twice a day is much better. When you brush and floss teeth and gums, you help remove plaque. Plaque is a complex mass of bacteria that forms constantly and when left in your mouth can combine with sugars to create acids that lead to decay. Plaque that is not removed hardens into tartar, which builds up under the gum line and must be removed by a dental hygienist. Plaque that is not removed hardens into tartar, which builds up under the gum line and must be removed by a dental hygienist.
Use Fluoride
We all know that fluoride strengthens teeth developing in children, but did you know that it is just as important for adults? Fluoride helps prevent cavities and can even reverse the effects of tooth decay in adults and children. For many people the fluoride found in toothpaste, mouthwash and tap water is enough to do the job. However, if cavities and tooth decay are a concern, your dentist can also prescribe gels or rinses that provide stronger doses of fluoride.
Take a bite out of tooth decay…brush and floss twice a day!
Talk with your dentist about…
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes or borderline diabetes be sure to talk with your dentist about increased risk for gum disease. High blood sugar levels can lead to additional plaque buildup and weaken your mouth’s natural ability to ward off bacteria and germs.
Xerostomia, or dry mouth, can be a side effect of some diabetes medications or you may notice it when your blood sugar levels are high. When you experience dry mouth on a regular basis you produce less saliva. Because saliva washes away germs and germs left in your mouth in result in acids, you run an increased risk for gum disease and cavities. Drinking fluids more often and chewing sugarless gum can help increase the flow of saliva.
For more information about diabetes and gum disease, speak with your dentist and visit The American Diabetes Association website.
Pizza Palate, Anyone?
It's Friday night and the pizza you ordered finally arrived. It smells so good you can hardly wait to bite into it. So you grab a piece, take a huge bite and immediately burn the roof of your mouth. There you have it... pizza palate!
Pizza palate, the common term used anytime the roof of a patient's mouth has sustained burns, is a minor ailment with symptoms disappearing in just a few days. While you're healing the best course of action is to avoid crusty, hard foods that can further irritate your mouth and be sure to test all foods and drinks for temperature before gulping. If discomfort and blistering continue for more than ten days, call your dentist.