Are You Brushing Your Teeth Effectively?

Believe it or not you can damage your teeth and gums if you brush too hard or use a hard bristled toothbrush every time you brush.  The consequences can sometimes be painful.  Brushing too hard can cause the gums to recede prematurely, causing pain and sensitivity.  Over a period of time you can also cause abrasion (scratches on the teeth) that can be permanent.  Many people do this without realizing that they may be causing harm to their teeth and gums. The effects are not always immediate.  It can take years for problems to manifest, often it's too late to reverse the damage. In contrast, you can also brush too softly, leaving behind plaque and tartar. How do you know if you are doing it correctly?
Here's an interesting note: If you ever wonder whether you are actually removing all the plaque from your teeth when you brush, there is a product available now that is called a "disclosing tablet".  It dissolves in your mouth and turns all the plaque red so that you can see exactly where you need to brush!  All you have to do is brush until the red is gone, (not hard, of course) and then rinse!  Here is a link to a source online where you can get the tablets.
Try to use a soft bristle toothbrush and take it easy on those pearly whites!

Keep Smiling!

Is Watermelon Good For Your Oral Health?

In our Savon monthly newsletter, I did an article about the health benefits of watermelon and while I was researching, I came across a little section about how watermelon is good for your teeth. I found this interesting so I decided to look into it a little more.

In my article I mentioned that watermelon was a super food that contained high amounts of water, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. So here are a few reasons why watermelon is good for your oral health!

Water Content - Watermelon contains about 92 % of water. This high water content helps rinse your mouth to prevent bacteria.

Vitamin C - Studies have shown that low vitamin C concentrations have been linked to gum disease. Since watermelon is high in vitamin C, eating this fruit can help reduce your risk of getting gum disease. Vitamin C also works to inhibit the formation of tartar and plaque on the teeth.

Natural Toothbrush - Watermelon is fibrous, which means when you're eating it, it's actually scrubbing your teeth. This is a perfect snack after a meal!



The above material was provided for informational purposes only. This is not intended to to take the place of your daily oral health routine. You still need to brush and floss daily along with visiting your dentist every six months for your check ups!

Different Types Of Dental Specialists

There are many different types of dental specialist out there, all of which have a fancy dental term that you may be unfamiliar with. Here are some of the more common ones and what they do:

Endodontist:  Root Canal Specialist

Orthodontist:  Braces, Retainers Etc.

Oral Surgeon: Dental Surgery including extractions

Prosthodontist: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dentures, Bridges, Crowns

Periodontist: Gum Disease and Perio Treatments

Pediodontists: Children’s Dental Specialist

Is A Second Opinion Worth The Money?

In an era of high and rising dental costs and community desire to save money on that cost, it begs to ask the question if getting a second opinion on a diagnosis is worth the investment. Well, this is one of two answer questions, yes and no. It really comes down to the procedure you are seeking a second opinion about. Let me lay out a couple of examples of when it would be good to obtain one and when it would be good to pass on it.

When a second opinion is worth money: If you are sent to specialist for a procedure that you are unsure if you are comfortable with. Different dentists have different abilities, levels of comfortability and technology in their office. All of these factors play into the way the go about your treatment. For example, some dentists are comfortable doing a root canal on a back molar, other dentists are not comfortable doing it and will refer you to specialist to have it done.

When a second opinion is not worth money: When you over utilize it to try to find they dentist that will tell you what you want to hear and charge you the amount you wish to pay. Another way, is because you don’t believe or trust your dentist. At that point, you should be looking for another dentist that you can trust.

The Psychology of Color in the Dental Office

Have you ever wondered why your dental office is decorated a certain way...or maybe why it isn't?  The fact is, color can make a waiting room or an operatory look inviting, or make you want to turn and run!  Imagine that you walked in to a dental office for the first time and the walls were say, a dark shade of ming orange and the chairs were red.  You might immediately turn around and head for the door and see that the accent wall is, eeek!  A deep shade of purple.  Now there is a dentist in serious need of a decorator!
So, would you immediately distrust that dentist?  He or she may be the best technical dentist in the state, but the fact is, color speaks volumes to a patient in a waiting room, and first impressions are everything. There is actually a psychology to color in the medical/dental world.
Green, in pale variations, is a relaxing color.  Seafoam is very popular and is also relaxing.  Blue denotes honesty and security and softer shades of pink and mauve are calming. In contrast, red in darker shades is an angry color...it can enhance an already bad mood, or make an anxious patient more anxious. The idea is that it should be inviting and you should have a sense of being in good hands immediately when you walk in.
Now, that is not to say that you should turn and run if the colors are wrong, but in case you ever wondered why you may feel a certain way or get a certain impression when you walk in to a dental facility, it could be the decor!

Keep smiling!

Yoga For Better Oral Health!

Yoga is a popular form of exercise that helps strengthen the body, helps with flexibility, helps ease body pain and helps improve posture and balance. But did you know that yoga can help improve your oral health?

Below are some interesting ways yoga can help improve your oral health:

• Reduces Jaw Pain - Poor posture can cause the lower jaw to move forward eventually causing jaw pain also known as TMJ. Certain yoga poses can help with posture which will take the strain off the jaw.
• Dry Mouth - Stress is a major factor in causing dry mouth. Dry mouth occurs when there is not enough saliva being produced. Saliva is very important because it helps wash away bad bacteria that is has accumulated. Yoga relaxes the body and mind which increases saliva production eliminating dry mouth. 
• Reduces Inflammation - Inflammation is the body's attempt at self protection. Bacteria in the mouth can cause gum inflammation. Yoga is believed to help reduce inflammation due to stress. 

Yoga needs to be preformed daily to see any results!

Click here for more information!

Ever been bored while waiting to see the dentist?

Have you ever been in this situation? You are sitting in the waiting room at your dentist's office and start to get bored. You then realize that you have forgotten to bring a book or something else to keep you occupied. The magazines are 2-3 months old and there is not any that you like. I know I have been there before. I have created a list of things that you can do to help pass the time of that dreadful wait. Try them out and let me know which one works the best!

1. See how many different words you can make out of the phrases on the signs hanging on the wall. For example, if there is a sign that says "payment is due at the time service is rendered", see how many words you can make out of that phrase. (team, meat, serve, pending) just to name a few.

2. Engage yourself in a magazine scavenger hunt. Pick a topic or a name and count how many times it is referenced in the mountain of magazines that surround you. (President Obama is one that can keep you occupied for hours)

3. If you brought your cellphone, update and clean up your contact's list. That is something that people always mean to do, just never find the time.

4. Correct and complete the puzzles in the magazines that other people "attempted" to do.

5. Play "name the noise". When you hear a sound coming out of one the exam rooms, try to identify it. (If you are unable to do so, chances are very good that you will experience it first hand very soon).

Some dental centers have created an office theme that is designed to keep you occupied and take your mind off the dental work that you are about to endure. However, if you are stuck in a boring waiting room, give these a suggestions a try. Feel free to comment with more ideas so 

Is Trench-Mouth a Real Disease?

It's a common term that we don't hear very frequently anymore, but many people do not know that it's a real disease that most commonly affects the younger crowd, ages 25 and under. Less commonly, it has been known to affect people older than that.
It is a bacterial infection of the gums, characterized by painful sores of the mouth and surrounding mucous membranes, bleeding, foul breath, increased salivation and difficulty in swallowing and talking. Some causes are poor oral hygiene, stress, poor nutrition, smoking and immune deficiency. It can be treated effectively by your dentist with antibiotics and oxygenating rinses.
Proper hygiene is one of the best preventive strategies!

Here's an interesting fact:
The term "Trench mouth" actually came from epidemics that began among soldiers in the field during World War II where proper hygiene was not always possible, and conditions were unsanitary.

A Dry Socket is No Fun! Try Aspirin!

If you've ever had a tooth pulled, or multiple teeth including wisdom teeth, you may know how painful a dry socket can be.  There is a home remedy you can try if you can't go directly to the dentist..(i.e. maybe it's a weekend, or during the night.)  As it turns out, this is yet another use for aspirin!

According to instructions I read online, crush an aspirin and mix it with a tablespoon of purified water and a dash of salt.  Soak up the solution with a cotton ball and place it directly on the socket. If you have stitches, this may be difficult but you can use a syringe to drizzle the solution over the area or you can swish the solution (VERY gently!) over the affected socket for a few minutes.  Aspirin works rather quickly, so it won't take long and the pain will be diminished if not completely gone. 

Enjoy, and keep smiling!

Importance Of Senior Dental Health

It seems as people age their dental care became less important and general health becomes top priority. One thing many people don't know is your dental health plays a major role in whole-body health. With this in mind, is very important for our aging loved ones to keep dental health a priority.

Here are some reasons why senior dental care is important:

• Heart Disease - Research has shown there is a link between heart disease and tooth decay. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are almost twice likely to have Coronary Artery Disease.
• Pneumonia - Poor oral health has been linked to pneumonia in older adults. 
• Dry Mouth - Usually linked from medications and cancer treatments.
• Denture induced Stomatitis - Caused by poor fitting dentures.

How to improve Senior Dental Care? 

• Brush teeth twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush.
• Clean between teeth at least once a day with floss or a dental pick.
• Rinse with a mouthwash.
• If used- remove dentures and let them soak in a cleaner then scrub.
• Visit the dentist every six months for a routine cleaning.

The mouth is a window to the rest of the body, that's why its important to maintain a healthy mouth!

Full Article click here!

Is Going To Bed Without Brushing Your Teeth Bad?

Brushing our teeth is a natural habit but sometimes we forget to brush before we hit the sack this can be due to laziness, exhaustion, or forgot to pack your toothbrush on vacations.

So, what happens to the mouth if you don't brush at night?

Bacteria live in the mouth and builds up all day causing plaque. Plaque is very acidic and starts breaking down tooth enamel causing cavities and tooth decay.

Obviously this wont happen if you forget to brush one night but this is a warning for those who don't brush at night. Taking the two extra minutes to brush will save your mouth and wallet in the future.

Here are some tips for laziness and exhaustion:

• Leave a toothbrush in your night-stand - You don't toothpaste just a quick once over is better then nothing.
• Keep a flossing stick in your night-stand - This will help remove the food particles in between your teeth and gums. 
• Run your tongue over your teeth -To help reduce the amount of plaque that attaches to teeth.

Tips for forgotten toothbrush:

• Contact front desk of the hotel (if staying in one) they usually keep some for situations like this.
• Use a washcloth - Wrap a corner around your index finger and add toothpaste, then brush like normal. 
• Use your finger - Add toothpaste to your index finger and brush like normal.
• Rinse with mouthwash - Although this is not a method of brushing, moutheash does kill off bacteria.