The food we eat and the drinks we consume have a direct impact on our health but also our oral health as well! Do you have a sweet tooth? Partaking in sugary beverages and foods is a slippery slope that leads to serious conditions like tooth decay, which is a leading chronic childhood disease.

Plaque that lays in wait on the surface of our teeth is met with sugars from what we consume creates an acid that wreaks havoc on our teeth and can lead to tooth decay. The bad news? It can be very serious and sounds awfully scary. The good news? It can be preventable!

Preventing tooth decay starts with you. We have to be cognizant about our nutritional intake and limit the amount of sugary drinks and food we intake on a daily basis. It’s time to practice that out with the old for the over sugared treats and in with the new for lower sugar and better tasting snacks. Having a diet that is low in variety and lacking nutrients makes it challenging for your mouth to properly defend itself. If your mouth isn’t able to properly defend itself, it opens up to a variety of ailments including gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.

Practicing good overall health while simultaneously practicing good oral health genuinely is one of the very best things that you can do for you and for your body. It’s important to be more mindful about the types of foods and drinks consumed and their sugar content. Eating a healthy diet that includes increased water intake, limited snacks, and increased vitamins and minerals will set you up for success!

Good oral hygiene is a little more in-depth than flossing and brushing twice every day. Give us a call or schedule your appointment today so that MaDental & Associates can help be the watchdog for your oral health, detect any issues and get ahead of the problem as soon as possible!

Do your teeth stop you from eating a few of your favorite treats? Hot chocolate and ice cream shouldn’t be avoided just because your teeth can’t bear it. Teeth Sensitivity occurs due to exposed dentin. Exposed dentin reacts to temperature changes due to exposed tubules that house dental nerves. The dentists at MaDental & Associates can help you make the best decisions when it comes to sensitive teeth! Schedule your appointment easily today!

How to Choose the Right Toothpaste?

There are so many toothpastes to pick from, but which one is the right one? Walking down the aisle full of toothpaste can be overwhelming and downright challenging. Not all toothpastes are created the same and there are some toothpastes specifically engineered for sensitive teeth. This toothpaste is beneficial to sensitive teeth because it contains elements like potassium nitrate which, helps desensitize teeth by blocking the tubules holding the nerves. Additionally, fluoride needs to be an active ingredient as well so that the fluoride can rebuild enamel that is resistant to damage.

Oral Hygiene Routine

Oral hygiene shouldn’t be taken lightly especially with sensitive teeth. Instead of putting off oral hygiene instead select a brush that has softer bristles in order to prevent any damage to the tooth enamel. Make sure not to brush too roughly either, because even with the softest of brushes a rough brush routine can still cause substantial damage. Lastly, when flossing between those teeth choose a softer floss to reduce tooth and gum discomfort. Brushing and flossing regularly will ensure that they stay in tip-top shape! Shying away from oral hygiene can cause the gums to recede away from the tooth which means more tooth exposure and a higher risk of sensitivity.

Do you Grind your teeth?

Are you often waking up with a sore jaw or headache? Are you wondering why your teeth may be wearing down each time you see your dentist? It’s possible that you grind your teeth when you sleep, otherwise known as bruxism. Teeth grinding can lead to significant damage to teeth enamel. The best preventative measure for this is to purchase a mouthguard and inquire about one with your dentist. Using a mouthguard can prevent teeth grinding meaning less enamel damage and less stress on your jaw and mouth muscles which are required for functionality.

 

Acidic Beverages Can Make the Difference

A lot of factors can cause sensitive teeth, one of the biggest factors though is acidic foods and drinks. Your favorite beverages could be the ones doing the most damage. Coffee, wine, and soda are just some of the culprits that lead to tooth decay and cavity formation. Try to limit or omit acidic drink/food consumption entirely. We know it’s a lot easier said than done, so if you find yourself craving your old favorites try to incorporate a straw which will reduce the amount of contact the liquid has on the teeth. If you don’t have a straw or if you are eating something acidic the best practice is to rinse and or brush after consumption.

 

You know that smoking is bad for your health, but do you know exactly how harmful the habit is for you? With over 15% of adults and nearly 20% of youth reporting to be current tobacco users, tobacco kills approximately 480,000 people each year in the United States alone. As 2 in 5 children are regularly exposed to tobacco smoke, it’s time to start taking the habit seriously.

Cigarettes and chewing tobacco are very harmful to your dental health. And while many of us know that tobacco products can cause bad breath, that’s only the beginning. Other potential oral health risks include the following:

• Reduced sense of taste and smell
• Stained teeth and tongue
• Gum disease
• Oral cancer
• Tooth loss
• Difficulty in correcting cosmetic dental issues

Even the use of smokeless tobacco products and exposure to secondhand smoke can all have a significant impact on your oral health. Children that have been exposed to tobacco smoke are at a higher risk for tooth decay.

Visiting your dental office can be an opportunity to screen for tobacco use and exposure while delivering an important message about protecting children and families from the effects of tobacco products.

Dental professionals play a critical role in identifying tobacco exposure as well as supporting cessation attempts. By helping smokers protect their children and families from harmful exposures, dental professionals are able to provide appropriate screening and resources for tobacco uses in as little as just a few minutes.

The majority of people who use tobacco, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping devices, or chewing tobacco, picked up the habit in their teens. This is why educating and protecting our children from tobacco exposure is so important! Some habits, such as brushing your teeth twice a day, are great to keep. Other behaviors, such as smoking, can lead to a lifetime of addiction.

Quitting tobacco products is the only way to decrease your risk of all tobacco-related health complications. We recognize how addictive nicotine can be which is why it’s important to have a plan when you’re looking to quit. Identify your support network and write down your reasons for quitting to keep yourself accountable. Exercising, chewing gum, and keeping yourself occupied can help you remain successful in your attempts to quit.