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 [...]
Sudsers, abrasives, humectants and binders? What are those? They are ingredients in your toothpaste! Can you name an ingredient in your toothpaste? I bet I can guess the first one that popped in your mind. Is it fluoride? That is probably the most famous ingredient, and yet it is not in every toothpaste (make sure your read the label when you’re toothpaste shopping!). When it does get in the mix, it is not a major [...]
Here comes February! It’s one of our favorite months since it is National Children’s Dental Health Month! Whoohoo! One of our favorite days is also coming: GIVE KIDS A SMILE DAY on February 7 Without fail, our team takes part in Give Kids a Smile Day every year since we opened. It is a day for dentists across the country and their communities to provide dental services to underserved children. The American Dental Association estimates [...]
Dentists like it when we all eat healthy - even babies! Breast milk is the first and only food that a baby needs for the first six months of life. It is has over 500 ingredients naturally provided in the perfect mix by the mother’s body. It changes from day to day to match a baby’s nutritional needs and helps fight off any germs that happen along! Like any other food, bacteria like to eat [...]
Sodas have been called “liquid candy” and we all know why: SUGAR. That’s why we like soda, right? Well, those little sugar bugs in your mouth like soda, too. While the bacteria feasts on the sugars, the saliva in our mouths becomes more acidic. It’s the acid that corrodes teeth and leads to cavities. Whether someone drinks a sip of soda or the whole bottle, their mouth will suffer from its acidic affect for about [...]
Its summer and an ice-cold drink sure hits the spot! What’s your favorite drink on a hot day? Maybe its lemonade, apple juice, soda, or a sports drink. I bet one of those could be found in everyone’s fridge about now. Which drink do you think is the favorite for your teeth? Teeth like drinks with low sugar and that aren’t very acidic. I bet you can think of the one drink that fits that [...]
Qualities of a Good Pediatric Dentist Many dental offices advertise themselves as family dental clinics or even pediatric dental clinics, but that doesn't actually mean they have a pediatric dentist. A pediatric dentist has a specialized education and desire to work with kids. Before you take your child to a dental clinic, be sure to ask if the dentist is a pediatric dentist. Once you arrive at the office, be on the lookout for these [...]
It can be incredibly frustrating for a parent to be told by the dentist to brush their kids’ teeth for two minutes twice a day and then face the reality of a non-cooperative child at home. We understand – really, truly we do! We want to help you establish a healthy routine for your children, so let’s brainstorm some troubleshooting tactics for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers! Babies really like to stick things in their mouth, [...]
WHEN TO START: It is important to start the brushing routine as soon as your baby’s first tooth appears. It doesn't hurt to start the routine before you see the first tooth since bacteria are already moving into your baby’s mouth. HOW TO START: If you’re baby still has a toothless grin, just wrap a soft washcloth around your finger and wipe gently along the gums after each feeding or twice a day. Once that first tooth [...]
February is National Children's Dental Health Month and this year’s theme is “GET A GOLD MEDAL SMILE”. Our office wants to celebrate along with the American Dentistry Association by helping your child make sure their smile is worthy of a gold medal! Wouldn't it be great if your child brushed and flossed their teeth with the same enthusiasm as an athlete training for the Olympics? We think so! Sometimes, you just need something fun to get [...]
