Smile with Confidence: A Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health and Care

Monthly Archives: January 2015

What is TMJ?

TMJ is a very dangerous and also painful experience. Most people that know what TMJ is also know when they have it. But, if you have never heard of TMJ or temporomandibular joint disease you might have it and never know it. If you want more information about temporomandibular joint or you want to know how you can get rid of, it’s a good idea to keep reading below for more information. We will be going over what TMJ is, What Causes TMJ, How to Diagnose TMJ as well as what can happen if you have temporomandibular joint disease and you ignore it.

What is A Tooth Friendly Diet?

Not only does what you eat effect your gums and teeth by building healthier foundations, but what you eat also helps prevent in tooth decay, cavities and gum disease as well. If you ever wondered about what you should be eating and shouldn’t be eating or what foods are really healthy for your teeth, you’re in luck because there is a whole list below of stuff you should stay away from and stuff you should start to or continue to eat. Of course when you think about the teeth, you probably think of thins automatically like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. But, there are also some really great foods you may not be aware of.

Is Soda Bad for Teeth?

The burning question of the day. IS soda really bad for you? In a one worded answer: YES! But, it’s a little more complex than that, isn’t it? Soft drinks do cause cavities. But, even more so, they also cause bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay and really they just aren’t good for your health at all – mouth health and otherwise. Even if you drink a soda during the day and brush your teeth at night, floss, use mouthwash, problems can still occur. The biggest reason soda is bad for your teeth is because it’s a sticky and very sugary liquid that can stick to your teeth. Not only your teeth, but the grooves in your teeth, cracks, and spaces – areas where you might not even able to get into with your toothbrush and floss. Also, the bacteria in your mouth can eat the sugar which causes acid – acid eats enamel and once your enamel is gone it leaves your teeth vulnerable to getting cavities. It’s a really vicious circle. Even if you drink drinks that don’t have any sugar in them, they can contain acid or citric acid. These will still eat away at your enamel and teeth. Here are some stats on acid versus sugar in a few different drinks. In this case HIGH ACID is good and LOW acid is bad:

How to Treat a Cavity?

Cavities are small openings or holes in your teeth; they also may be referred to as tooth decay or caries. They oftentimes build up after plaque and bacteria enter the mouth and “lay” on the teeth, but they also can happen if you don’t brush your teeth, eat too many sweet things and don’t brush and floss between the teeth and in some dentists opinion, they are also caused by a lack of minerals in your diet. In some situations, a cavity can be stopped or slowed down, but in other situations dire measures must be taken. If you have a cavity and you are wondering about the options available to you, please continue to read below.

What is A Cavity?

If you have ever had a cavity, you probably already know that a cavity is essentially a hole in your tooth. But, what you may not be aware of is that a cavity or tooth decay is something that happens over time – have it be weeks, months or years, a cavity doesn’t just soda up overnight, it’s something that is ongoing and eventually turns into a cavity. Most people think that when you get a cavity, it’s the end of the road, but did you know that you can actually interrupt, slow, reverse or completely stop the decaying process? It’s true. Anyone can do this, no matter your age.

Questions to Ask a Dentist

Fear of the dentist is a common thing in the US. In fact, a study was done and it showed that nearly 50% of people in the US don’t even visit a dentist on a consistent basis. It’s a little unnerving if you think about it because having things like gingivitis and cavities can lead to more than just mouth problems – it can also lead to health problems. Not only can not going to the dentist lead to bloody sensitive gums and losing your teeth, but it can also lead to bad breath and blood diseases. If you do go to a doctor consistently, or you are just making an appointment to go to get checked out and it’s been awhile, there are questions you should ask your dentist. Make sure you find a Top Dentist that you can have good communication with and have an open dialog with about your teeth, gums and your overall dental health. Dentists are doctors after all; they have the ability to tell you exactly what’s wrong, how it can be fixed, if it can be fixed and what preventions you can take. Here are a few questions you should be asking your dentist!

How To Reduce Bad Breath

A famous person was once quoted as saying, “There’s nothing worse than bad breath.” Not brilliant, and perhaps not even quote-worthy, but a truer statement has never been uttered. Nobody wants to be the guy with the bad breath. In fact, going back thousands of years, people have been searching for ways to remedy their bad breath. So, what did ancient people use to combat their ‘halitosis’? How’d you like to have to use sticky tree resin? Or, how about this one … your child’s urine?! That’s right. Ancient folks back in China, circa 2700 BC, rinsed their mouths with the urine of their kids in order to fight back foul mouth odors. Some of them even recorded their use of it for posterity! Thankfully, today we have family dentists with better ideas concerning dental health. Following are some recommendations from top dentists on how to reduce bad breath.

DIY Tooth Whitening

DIY is huge these days. Anyone and everyone is DIY-ing something, and tooth whitening is at the top of the list. With all the over-the-counter tooth whiteners on the market today, it’s simpler than ever to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. But what about DIY tooth whiteners? Sure, they’re inexpensive and convenient, but are they effective? If you use one of those over-the-counter DIY tooth whiteners today, how long will it be before you have to use it again? And what about DIY tooth whitening home remedies? Do they work? Most people throughout the country have probably thought about using a DIY tooth whitener at one time or another. If you’re someone who’s considering do-it-yourself tooth whitening, here’s more information on the different methods and what to expect.