Give Thanks for Good Food and Good Oral Health

Thanksgiving is a time when we are all reminded of the many things we are thankful for. On Thanksgiving Day with lots of plentiful dishes and treats, we are extra thankful for family gatherings and delicious food. But, don't forget to be thankful for good oral health, too!

Just as Halloween comes with oral side effects, Thanksgiving can wreak havoc on your oral health. It can, however, also be a great time to improve your dental status. With the right menu, you can encourage strong teeth and gums, so why not start on this Thanksgiving Day?

A balanced and diverse menu provides many nutrients to strengthen your teeth and gums, making them less susceptible to disease, including tooth decay.

When planning your holiday menu, include foods that are nutritious and beneficial - not only for your overall health but for your oral health. Essential vitamins and minerals necessary for optimal oral health include calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and vitamins A, C and D. Here's some ideas:

• TURKEY
• High in phosphorus -- great for tooth development! Phosphorus is stored in the teeth and bones and is instrumental in helping your body balance and absorb calcium and magnesium. While turkey is often a staple ofThanksgiving Day dinners, seafood and veal also contain high amounts of phosphorous.
• VEGETARIAN THANKSGIVING?
• Opt for beans, grains and nuts for roasting, raw nibbles, or to incorporate into casseroles or pasta dishes. Beans, grains and nuts provide protein, but are also rich in calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. 
• POTATOES
• Have a proper balance of vitamins and nutrients.
• Milk products in mashed potatoes and other potato dishes provide calcium, which helps strengthen tooth enamel.
• GREEN & WINTER VEGGIE SIDE DISHES
• Green beans, asparagus, butternut squash -- great sources of vitamin A and C which help prevent soft, bleeding gums and help protect against oral cancer.
• CRANBERRIES
• Contain flavonoids that can hinder bacteria from sticking to the teeth and forming dental plaque.
• PUMPKIN PIE
• While the bad (sugar!) might outweigh the good here...at least there is a good!  Pumpkin is a good source of vitamin C and supplies the calcium needed in the development and re-mineralization of teeth. 

What is your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving?

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How can dental floss help you (and your turkey!) this Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is a time for family, food and…floss. Though dental floss is widely known as an essential product for keeping teeth and gums healthy, many have never put this simple tool to work in the kitchen. It has many uses. Try these tips from Delta Dental of Michigan for using floss to help prepare the perfect Thanksgiving dinner:

TIE UP YOUR TURKEY!

It's 4:30 AM on Thanksgiving and you just realized that you need something called "kitchen twine" to tie up your turkey - or chicken. Before you head out to the grocery, hit up the medicine cabinet for some unwaxed dental floss. You can tie up the turkey and be back in bed in no time. Because, after all, we know you really weren't using that floss for your teeth, anyway! It's never too late (or early!) for that New Year's Resolution! 

CUT THE CAKES - OR CHEESE (no pun intended)
Use dental floss to cut cakes, especially delicate and sticky ones that tend to adhere to a knife. Just hold a length of the floss taut over the cake and then slice away, moving it slightly side to side as you cut through the cake. You can also use dental floss to cut small blocks of cheese cleanly.

BAKING SHEET MAGIC!
Easily cut refrigerated dough using taut floss. Remove baked goods without crumbling by sliding floss between them and the baking sheet.

Wellness for your whole body including your smile starts with prevention and good nutrition. Our doctors and team members at Mortenson Family Dental wish you and your family an enjoyable, nutritious, stress-free Holiday Season. We all have so much to be thankful for!

7 Health Problems Your Dentist Can Spot

Open wide! Your mouth can reveal a lot about your health — from heart problems to bone disease to dementia.

Ouch — no one likes to get bad news in the dentist’s chair. But good dental health is a reflection of good health overall — and how well you take care of your teeth may reflect how well you take care of the rest of your body. That’s why your dentist can tell you a lot more about your health than simply the state of your mouth. A routine dental exam may reveal problems with your bones, heart, or digestion because certain warning signs live inside your mouth.

And not only can routine dental check-ups reveal certain health problems, they may also prevent them. In fact, a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association found that people who received regular teeth cleanings and scrapings had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to people who didn’t get such dental care.

1. DEMENTIA

Poor oral hygiene may even be a risk factor for dementia, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society. Scientists at the University of California followed more than 5,000 elderly people over 18 years and found that those who brushed their teeth less than once a day were up to 65 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who brushed daily. The researchers speculate that this is because gum disease bacteria might get into the brain and cause inflammation.

2.  HEART PROBLEMS

Research has found a surprising number of links between the state of your dental health and your heart. Inflamed gums and loose teeth can be warnings of heart disease. If you have a gum disease like periodontitis, the bacteria in your gums could travel to your heart and contribute to coronary artery disease. Bacteria may also increase your risk for heart disease by contributing to the formation of clots or further plaque build-up in your arteries that can interfere with blood flow to the heart. 

3. DIABETES

The most common dental health condition for diabetics? Gum disease. "Gum disease, bleeding gums, and loose teeth are all warning signs of diabetes," Dr. Koslow says. "Diabetics also tend to have a slower healing time." Infections at your gum line can worsen the state of your diabetes and can contribute to the risk for heart disease and stroke, so it’s important to take steps to keep your mouth healthy (and your diabetes under control). 

4. OSTEOPOROSIS

"Osteoporosis does not cause changes in the teeth, but it does cause changes in the bone that supports the teeth," Koslow explains. "This may show up as a receding gum line and loose teeth." 

5. EATING DISORDERS

Eating disorders can cause poor nutrition, which can lead to oral conditions like bleeding gums and dry mouth. In addition, "erosion on the insides of the front teeth may be a sign of forced vomiting in a young person with bulimia — stomach acid wears away at enamel and also makes teeth more sensitive," says Koslow.

6. NIGHTTIME REFLUX

"Erosion of enamel from the insides of teeth, especially the upper back molars, is a clue to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)," Koslow says. Reflux of stomach juices can happen at night --- but you may not be aware of it until your dentist sees its effects on your dental health.

7. DRY MOUTH 

Saliva helps to wash away bacteria and debris that lead to cavities and gum disease.  if you’re producing too little saliva, your dentist will know. Dry mouth may be caused by medications or it may be a sign of a disease such as diabetes or Parkinson's disease. The solution? Up your fluid intake, and your dentist may even suggest a saliva substitute. 

To learn more on each of these topics, read more from the original source here.