The Dentist's Guide to Halloween

Halloween is around the corner, which for most children means bags of free candy and a chance to build up a stockpile of sweets for the winter. One of the most fun times of the year for families, Halloween can also present parents with a variety of health and safety challenges.

The American Dental Association, America's premier source of oral health information, has prepared a list of 10 suggestions to help parents maintain good oral health for their children around the Halloween holiday and throughout the year.

1. Consume Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals.  Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.
2. Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time. Besides how often you snack, the length of time food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to prolonged acid attack, increasing the risk for tooth decay.
3. Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth. The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay. 
4. Drink more water. Consuming optimally fluoridated water can help prevent tooth decay. If you choose bottled water, check the label for the fluoride content.
5. Maintain a healthy diet and make sure the meals you eat are nutritious.Your body is like a complex machine. The foods you choose as fuel and how often you "fill up" affect your general health and that of your teeth and gums.
6. Avoid beverages with added sugar such as soda, sports drinks or flavored waters. When teeth come in frequent contact with beverages that contain sugar, the risk of tooth decay is increased.
7. Chew gum that has the ADA Seal. Chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals has been shown to reduce tooth decay, because increased saliva flow helps wash out food and neutralize the acid produced by dental plaque bacteria
8. Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.  Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed. A worn toothbrush won't do a good job of cleaning your teeth. 
9. Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach. Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
10. Visit an ADA-member dentist for more information on maintaining your oral health.

Candy-Free Valentines!

Valentines Day doesn't have to be a tooth-wrecker! 

You can still spread the love with these great candy-free Valentines ideas! 

You're Out of Sight, Valentine! | I've Had My Eye on You | You're Just Write For Me | You Blow Me Away! 

 You Make My Heart Glow | You Make the World Sparkle | Dropping Down to Say Happy Vday | I Was "Soapin" You'd Be My Valentine

Will you o'fish'ally be my Valentine? | Have a Ball! | You're The Apple of My Eye! | You Are A-MAZE-ING!

How great are these ideas? Click on any of the links above to see how to make them. And, for more awesome candy-free Valentines, head to our Pinterest page here!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

YOU MAKE US SMILE! 

Importance of Oral Care During This Time of Year

It’s extremely important for people to take extra caution with their teeth and gums at this time of year.

With the amount of food and beverages consumed, people can see their oral health deteriorate quickly. The British Dental Health Foundation is making sure people are on notice about this situation.

When consuming sugary food and drinks, it’s important to keep teeth and gums in mind—just like the rest of the year. It doesn’t take much for the teeth enamel to be weakened or worn down based on consistent grazing of food throughout the day. When that happens, the teeth never get a break.

Dentists aren’t necessarily trying to limit fun during the holiday season but they just want people to be cognizant of the possible ramifications of failing to maintain solid oral health at this time of year.

It’s essential to drink water to combat sugar and acidity that come from many foods and beverages. It’s also important to brush as often as you do the rest of the year. That way one’s tooth enamel will remain intact.

Post Credit: http://www.dentistrytoday.com/todays-dental-news/6671-people-need-to-take-care-of-oral-health-this-time-of-year 

10 Tips for Keeping Teeth Extra Clean During Christmas

A beautiful, bright & white smile will always help you stay self-confident. Here are the top 10 tips for keeping your teeth extra clean during Christmas Holidays.

1. Eat right for whiter teeth.

If you are used to consuming coffee, black tea and on top of that you also smoke, chances are that your teeth look yellowish and spotted. After eating any foods that stain your teeth you should immediately brush them in order to avoid staining. Avoid dark juices, cola and gravies and get used to healthy snacks such as raw vegetables (apples, carrots, etc.) that help clean your teeth thoroughly.

2. Respect brushing times.

Latest researches have released a study according to which the perfect time for brushing your teeth is two minutes. Two minutes are needed in order to cleanse your teeth from bacteria and harmful deposits. Use either a timer, or get used to humming a song such as “I Wish You A Merry Christmas” (it actually works!)

3. Use the brush lightly on your teeth.

There is a misconception that if you brush harder the teeth, you will cleanse them teeth better. Brush using circular movements, and by holding the brush at a 45 degree position against your gums.

4. Tea is important for your teeth.

Drink at least one cup every day, because tea contains important flavonoids and fluoride that will prevent the bacteria from sticking to your teeth.

5. Use only alcohol-free mouthwash.

Rinses that contain alcohol dry your mouth excessively, and some studies have even proved that alcohol mouth washes increase the risk of oral cancer.

6. Always cleanse your tongue.

Make sure to clean your tongue thoroughly in order to remove all the harmful bacteria deposits and to obtain a fresh breath. There are several professional brushes that come with a tongue scraper.

7. Use baking soda for whiter teeth.

Use a small amount of baking soda to brush your teeth with it. Alternatively, if you feel that baking soda is rough on your gums, use salt instead because it has the same whitening effect.

8. Don’t use your teeth to open bottles or Christmas gifts with tear plastic covers.

Make sure that you always have in handy a pair of scissors and bottle openers. Using your teeth for such purposes can break or chip them easily.

9. Hydrate properly.

Make sure to drink one glass of water every hour while you are working. This way you will help flush all the harmful bacteria from your mouth, and you will also keep your digestive system healthy. The more water you drink, the healthier and whiter your teeth will be. Moreover, the risk for gum disease and cavities will also be significantly reduced.

10. Chew on cinnamon flavored gum.

Recent studies have shown that if you chew on cinnamon flavored gum the bacteria in your mouth will be significantly reduced. The main ingredient that helps doing this is called “cinnamic aldehyde” (essential oil that fights against the production of bacteria in the oral cavity).

Post credit: http://worldental.org/oral-hygiene/10-tips-keeping-teeth-extra-clean-christmas-holidays/5527/