There is only a month or so of school left and Summer is upon us. The days are longer and the sun is shining hot. It is important to stay hydrated during the hot months coming up. Dehydration can be a serious medical issue if left untreated. Any dentist will tell you that the best drink choice for teeth is water. Water not only helps to remove food debris from your teeth and gums, it [...]
There are things one learns in life that make you think to yourself - Well, that's not rocket science! That's exactly how to feel about these five tips for maintaining a healthy smiles. These are tried and true pieces of advice that you've probably already heard from your favorite dentist or hygienist. When creating good habits, repetition is helpful, so feel free to cut these out and put them on your bathroom mirror. 1. Brush [...]
Since there are two days in March that resonant with woman and with dentists and since I happen to be both a woman and a dentist, I thought I'd spend some time writing about women in dentistry. Dentist Day and Women's Day were on March 6th and 8th, respectively. Women in dentistry have come far and it all started with a determined woman name Lucy Hobbs. In 1866, Hobbs was the first woman to earn [...]
Kids loves chewing gum. They anticipate the age where mom or dad says it is ok to start chewing gum without the fear of choking. When it comes to chewing gum, it is the type of gum that really make the difference in whether it is helpful or harmful to your teeth. If the gum you choose contains sugar, than you are essentially giving your teeth a bath of sweetness. This can invite those pesky [...]
If you asked a pediatric dentist what their favorite month of the year was, my guess is most would say February. Why February? Well, for starters, it has been designated as National Children's Dental Health Month. All over the United States, pediatric dental offices increase their outreach during this time. They visit with local school children and educate them and their parents about good oral health. Some communities even participate in Give Kids a Smile [...]
With a new year, often times comes new resolutions. Whether it's going to the gym more often or promising to stay in touch with family and friends, the new year is a time of thoughtful consideration of how the next 365 days of one's life will go. One of the best resolutions one can make is to pledge to get in good dental health. It is amazing how much poor dental health can adversely affect [...]
I was surprised when Dr. Jamie suggested that my 8-year-old daughter get evaluated by an orthodontist for braces – she’s so young! Aren’t braces for teenagers? On my daughter’s x-rays, Dr. Jamie pointed to permanent teeth still in the gums that are not lined up with the space where they should grow in. An orthodontist, Dr. Jamie explained, can evaluate my daughter’s teeth to predict whether the permanent teeth will likely grow in correctly or [...]
Your body starts digesting food in your mouth, thanks to enzymes in your saliva that break down starches. Swallowing would be terribly uncomfortable without saliva to help us move our food down. You wouldn’t be able to taste your food if you didn’t have saliva. As food mixes with saliva, it carries it to the taste buds that are embedded on your tongue. Your body makes 4 – 8 cups of saliva every day! It [...]
By the time your child starts kindergarten, you may have almost forgotten that their cute set of teeth are just place holders for the permanent ones. After all, it was a long, sometimes tearful, teething process growing in those first teeth - who wouldn’t want to forget that? Well, be reassured that for most kids the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth is more giggles than tears. So don’t be too concerned when the [...]
This relatively new treatment consists of a simple application of a liquid called silver diamine fluoride, or SDF. You probably recognize fluoride in the title, a substance that helps to harden the enamel of our teeth, making it more difficult for bacteria to do damage. The silver component acts as an antimicrobial agent. You can think of it like Neosporin for teeth. It actually kills the bacteria that created the cavity! Altogether, SDF is a [...]
