Monthly Archives: October 2018

Tricks to deal with dental problems this Halloween

Halloween candy is a sweet treat, but can be a nasty problem for your children’s teeth! Candy brings a lot of smiles, but as you let your children enjoy the special occasion, also be mindful of your child’s oral health.

Did you know that slowly liking a piece of hard candy over several minutes, or slowly sipping a sugary drink can cause even more tooth decay than eating candy or drinking a sweet drink quickly all at once? Long-lasting snacks can cause long-lasting damage to your child’s teeth. Limiting the number of times per day that your child consumes candy can be an easy way to limit the damaging effects of sugar on their teeth.

How to have a safe and healthy Halloween

First, you can choose the right kind of snacks. While candy during Halloween may be unavoidable, look for some sugar-free alternatives and mix in healthy snacks such as cheese, vegetables, peanut butter, yogurt and chocolate milk.

Keep your children hydrated with fresh water during long trips of trick-or-treating. Of course, when you return home, be sure to brush and floss very well. This will help to prevent the sugar from candy causing harmful bacteria in your child’s mouth. Especially after a sweet treat, be sure to help young children with their brushing and flossing to make sure all surfaces on their teeth are clean.

How to take care of your teeth after Halloween

Even with your best efforts, your children will probably enjoy some sugary treats this Halloween. As we’ve discussed, frequently consuming sugary snacks can expose them to tooth decay, so be sure to keep their teeth healthy and strong by visiting your dentist.

Practicing good dental hygiene can allow your child to enjoy the occasional sweet treat and keep them healthy at the same time. Make sure your child brushes and flosses everyday, especially after Halloween. Check your toothpaste to make sure it contains fluoride, and give us a call to make sure that your growing kids are scheduled for their regular dental checkup!

Have a Happy Halloween!!

How to strengthen your enamel and keep it white

For a healthy, strong, and beautiful smile, it is very important to keep your teeth clean and enamel white. In this blog, we will help you understand how can you strengthen your teeth and keep them looking healthy.

Taking care of your teeth is quick, inexpensive, and can be done at home! Taking care of your dental hygiene regularly prevents problems like discoloration or damage to your teeth. There is a range of preventative and curative measures to keep the tooth enamel healthy, white, and strong.

Strong, healthy tooth enamel is key to a great smile!

How to choose the right toothpaste

Not all kinds of toothpaste are created equal. To protect your teeth, use a brand that contains fluoride (you can read the ingredients list on the tube to see if fluoride is included in your toothpaste). Fluoride helps to rebuild tooth enamel every day and reverse the early signs of decay.

A toothpaste that contains sodium chloride, dissolved calcium, phosphate, and fluoride ions will help to keep tooth enamel strong and healthy, especially if your tooth enamel has been weakened by something like drinking a lot of soda or sugary drinks.

Avoid Sugar and Starch

Foods high in sugar and starch (things like milk, soda, dried fruit, and gummy candies) cling to your teeth for a long time and are more likely to cause decay. Sugar and starch are harmful because they breed bacteria in your mouth, which attacks your enamel. After eating foods with sugar and starch, be sure to brush your teeth right away to prevent the growth of bacteria!

Improve Your Nutritional Intake

Dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese have the necessary calcium and phosphorous to strengthen and remineralize your tooth enamel. In addition, they promote saliva secretion, which can help to prevent bacteria and helps balance your mouth’s pH level.

Foods like celery that have high fiber content also help to protect your enamel by cleaning the surface. The chewing process induces saliva secretion, and massages your gums as well. Strawberries are a rich source of vitamin C and antioxidants, which helps your overall oral health, and the presence of malic acid helps to whiten your teeth and remove harmful tartar.

Surprisingly, animal proteins like chicken and beef are good for healthy teeth and enamel as it contains calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Regular brushing and flossing will keep teeth clean, will gradually whiten your teeth, and preserve the enamel over time. Stop by for a visit, or give our office a call to learn more about teeth whitening treatments, and other ways to keep your teeth beautiful and strong.