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 [...]
Valentine's Day is February 14. It is a day to express love. You can love yourself, your neighbor, your spouse, your kids, and even your kids' teeth! Valentine's Day is now one of the three largest consumer holidays in the United States. According to WalletHub, 94% of Americans want chocolate as a gift. This adds up to over 1.8 billion dollars in sales. That is not even counting, how much money is made on flowers [...]
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 [...]
Enamel is the visible outer layer of our teeth and it is made up mostly of minerals. Minerals are the things that make up rocks, so you can think of enamel like a smooth rock, which may be hard, but it can still be damaged. Have you ever known anyone with a kitchen countertop made of marble? Marble is a lot like our teeth. It is a hard rock that can be made into a [...]
The warm weather is back! It’s time to put on sandals and make ice for our drinks! In my household, this also means that I’ll be hearing the crunch, crunch, crunch of my children eating their ice cubes. I cringe as I hear it because I’m much more aware than they are of the daily dangers their teeth face (it might be maturity or just that I’ve paid my own dental bills for more than [...]
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 [...]
