Monthly Archives: August 2019

Tips for Healthy Summer Smiles

Summer sun brings summer fun! Though summer vacations are great for spending quality time with your near and dear ones, they can throw you off your dental routine. 

Here are the 3 great ways to stop tooth decay during summer:

Stay on a routine

Resist the temptation to skip brushing before a late bedtime or let it slide to the next morning. It’s vital to consistently brush and floss during the summer. It also keeps the kids on track for back-to-school dental visits.

No matter how eventful the coming months become, make sure that your family is brushing twice a day for two minutes with a good quality fluoride toothpaste. Easy things like brushing calendars will help everyone to stay on track over the summer. Plus, it’s also an opportunity to spend more time together. Brushing alongside your children for 2 minutes, twice a day for the three months of summer gives you 6 extra hours together, so make the most of them! 

And don’t forget to clean between those teeth once every day. You should be flossing between any two teeth that touch. Many children don’t have the motor skills to floss until they’re over ten years old. If your child needs help, try different types of interdental cleaners or place your hands over theirs to guide them and get the job done at the same time.

Say no to sugary drinks and snacks 

As the temperature rises, it’s common for families to sip and snack during sports tournaments, festivals, or nearly any community event. Watch your family’s intake of lemonade, juice, and soda. Consider sugary drinks a once-in-a-while treat. Instead, drink water to beat the heat, or milk to drink with meals. Don’t let summer grazing damage your smile. Taking a break from snacking is also healthy for your teeth. It allows time for saliva to coat the teeth, wash away leftover food, and make them stronger.

If you discover yourself spending more time home, snack smarter, and let your kids tell you when they’re hungry rather than providing snacks throughout the day. Kids are not afraid to let you know when they want something to eat!

Make your back-to-school dental visit early 

Some schools need back-to-school dental visits for certain grades, and these check-ups can be a good way to ensure that your child’s teeth stay healthy. It’s a good plan to schedule your child’s back-to-school dental appointment early within the summer to avoid the rush and ensure you get the appointment time that works best for you. Visiting the dentist regularly can help your child’s smile stay healthy all year long.

5 Ways Diabetes Can Affect Your Mouth

Diabetes can take a toll on your entire body, and it may increase your risk of dental disease. In fact, one in 5 cases of total tooth loss is connected to diabetes.

Controlling your blood sugar, brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist often can go a long way to help decrease the likelihood of developing diabetes-related mouth problems.

Gum Disease

Do you notice bleeding after you brush or floss? That could be an early sign of gum disease. If the bleeding becomes severe, the bone that supports your teeth may break down, resulting in tooth loss. Early gum disease can often be reversed with correct brushing, flossing, and diet. Research has shown that gum disease will worsen if your blood sugar isn’t kept in check.

Dry Mouth

Studies have found that individuals with diabetes have less saliva, therefore you could possibly end up feeling parched or thirsty. Chewing sugarless gum and eating healthy, crunchy foods can get the saliva flowing. 

Change in Taste

Your favorite flavors might not taste as good as you remember if you have diabetes. Take the chance to experiment with completely different tastes, textures, and spices to your favorite foods. Just take care not to add too much sugar to your food in an effort to add flavor as this can have a negative effect on the quality of your diet and it also can result in cavities. If you have a persistent bad taste in your mouth, see your dentist or doctor.

Infections

Diabetes affects your immune system leaving you more vulnerable to infection. One symptom common among people with diabetes is a yeast infection called oral thrush (candidiasis). The yeast thrives on the higher amount of sugar found in your saliva, and it looks like a white layer coating on your tongue and the insides of your cheeks. Thrush is more common in those who wear dentures and might leave a bad taste in your mouth. See your dentist if you think that you have oral thrush or any other mouth infection.

Slow Healing

Have you ever noticed a cold sore or a cut in your mouth that doesn’t quite seem to go away? This could be another way that diabetes may affect your mouth. Poor control of blood sugar can keep injuries from healing quickly and properly. If you have something in your mouth that you feel isn’t healing as it should see your dentist.