Month: March 2018

Tooth-Friendly Holiday Foods

Easter is slowly approaching and with that comes increased pressure to eat sugary and stain-causing foods. However, you can refrain from indulging in these snacks and keep your teeth happy this holiday. Adding these healthy foods below to your upcoming dinners are not only nutritious to your body, but healthy for your teeth, and will make the Easter bunny happy to see, as well!

Cheese-Milk Products

Having a plate of cheese is a great substitution for a plate of chips and cookies. Cheese is healthy for the teeth because it contains calcium and casein. Casein is a protein found in milk products that strengthens the surfaces of teeth, preventing the growth of cavities. Cheese also acts as an antibacterial and its low pH level helps make your mouth less acidic.

Nuts

Like cheese, nuts contain calcium and other minerals that help strengthen your teeth. Chewing on nuts may sound like it could be a bad idea because of it harshness on your teeth, but in fact, chewing on nuts stimulates more saliva in your mouth, thus keeping out bacteria. Of course, if you have problem teeth areas, stay away from hard nuts. And never, ever use your teeth to crack nuts from their shells.

Raw Vegetables

Fibrous veggies are good for dental health because of their ability to act as nature’s “toothbrushes” that clean between your teeth and remove plaque. Raw celery and carrots are prime examples of fibrous vegetables. Not only are vegetables packed with vitamins and nutrients for your teeth, but also provide plenty of energy.

Fish and Turkey

Fish and turkey are foods high in phosphorous that help keep your enamel strong and healthy. Foods with calcium and phosphate help deposit lost minerals back into lesions caused by harmful acidic foods and beverages.

10 Of The Most Interesting Facts About Teeth

You may not think about your teeth much. You might even consider them boring. But here are 10 fun and interesting facts about your teeth that just might catch your attention.

1. Teeth are like fingerprints; no two teeth are the same. Even identical twins have signature teeth that are individually special to the person.

2. Saliva acts as a rinse to rid teeth of sugar and bacteria. We produce around one to two quarts of saliva a day, which adds up to two swimming pools worth of saliva in a person’s lifetime.

3. About 73 percent of Americans would rather go grocery shopping than floss their teeth.

4. Each year, approximately 5 million teeth are lost to sports related injuries.

5. George Washington’s legendary wood dentures are a hoax. The President’s dentures were constructed from gold, lead, and elephant and hippopotamus ivory.

6. Children between the ages of 5 and 6 usually have 20 teeth, while adults have around 32 permanent, including wisdom teeth.

7. Newborn babies are generally perceived as toothless. However, 1 in 2,000 babies is born with a tooth.

8. Before minty fresh toothpaste was invented, a concoction of charcoal, ash, chalk, lemon juice, tobacco, and honey was used to clean teeth.

9. Teeth grills may have originated as early as 2,500 years ago, as some Native American tribes were infamous for teeth bedazzling, using resin to embed gems in their teeth.

10. The plaque found on your teeth is composed of more than 300 species of bacteria. (Yuck!)

Procrastinating a Dental Visit?

Whether being busy, or having anxiety about going to the dentist, procrastinating a visit can have serious consequences.

When we see a patient due to pain or sensitivity, often this pain and the treatment they consequently have to receive could have been prevented. In some cases, the issued could have been avoided by maintaining proper oral hygiene and dental checkups every six months.

Checkups allow dentist to help you prevent issues or catch issues early. Early detection, before symptoms of pain appear, is often extremely important and can dramatically reduce the amount of treatment needed.

There is a higher chance of cavities forming, gum disease, or a number of other oral issues in the duration of a dental absence. This can lead to tons of dreadful side effects, including root damage, severe tooth aches, and even tooth loss.

If your little one hasn’t been to the dentist in over six months, they’re due for a visit! We recommend you schedule an appointment as soon as possible and continue to schedule regular visits every six months. In addition, if you experience any discomfort or pain, do not delay seeing a dentist. Making time for a visit will provide healthy and pain-free smiles to last a lifetime!

Milk And Teeth: The Perfect Match

To build strong bones, you must provide yourself with tons of calcium, which milk happens to have. In fact, it contains about 300 milligrams in one cup! So does drinking milk or eating dairy products benefit the strength and health of your teeth? The answer is yes, and here are some of the reasons why:

  • According to the National Institutes of Health, ninety-nine percent of calcium is stored in your teeth and bones.
  • Since baby teeth begin forming long before birth, expecting mothers should consume their “Recommended Dietary Allowance” of it: between 1000 and 1300 mg per day.
  • Milk and dairy products such as cheeses can actually reduce tooth decay.
  • Milk forms a protective coating on enamel that can prevent bacteria coming in direct contact with your teeth.

 

Overall, consuming plenty of milk and dairy can make your family’s teeth stronger and more decay-resistant, but, at the end of the day, incorporating a good oral care routine is key to preventing dental disease.

FAQ’s: Dental Talk

Questions about your teeth probably pop into your head while you’re brushing and flossing or even when you least expect it. But then at your dental visit, the dentist asks, “Any questions?” Your mind then goes blank. Still, we know you have questions, so rest assure; here are the answers to the most common of the bunch!

Is there any reason to visit the dentist more than twice a year?

Every mouth is different, so some may need to see the dentist more often than others. If you have a high risk for tooth decay or gum disease, you may need to visit the dentist as often as every three months. A person with good oral hygiene is usually OK with only seeing the dentist twice a year.

Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual?

The great debate: electronic versus manual. If a manual toothbrush is used appropriately, it can be just as effective as an electric brush. This means brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day with proper techniques. Electric toothbrushes are not necessarily “better,” but they do provide some ease to the process. If you are not sure, ask us during your next visit and we will help you pick the right one.

What is plaque and why is it bad for you?

Plaque is a sticky film, made of bacteria, that constantly grows on your teeth. As the plaque collects and hides from your brush or floss, it becomes hard and turns into tartar. If not treated, tartar build up will lead to gum disease.

What causes bad breath?

Bad breath originates in your mouth most of the time. A low level of saliva and dry mouth are common reasons why you may have bad breath. You need to control the bacteria in your mouth and neutralize the sulfur compounds that form from the bacteria build up.

I have a cavity. Why doesn’t it hurt?

Symptoms are not common with dental problems. You may not experience any pain with a cavity until the condition becomes severe. Don’t wait for the pain to get it checked out though. The longer you wait, the more difficult and expensive it will be to have it fixed.

 

The Don’ts For Toddlers & Their Teeth

Baby teeth are more important than you think. They pave the way for a happy, healthy smile in the future. They most importantly create healthy habits of oral care to last a lifetime!

It can be hard to tell sometimes, but there are a few common things that can negatively affect the health of baby teeth. Here are the three don’ts you should pay attention to for you and your little one(s) at home.

  1. Putting your toddler to bed with a bottle: sipping on juice or anything that contains sugar can cause bacteria buildup from sitting in your child’s mouth throughout the night.
  2. Consuming unhealthy foods: Candies and sweets can be the perfect cure for that sweet tooth, but not for cavities and tooth decay. Be sure to eliminate foods with high sugar contents or closely monitor intake to wean your little one off frequent indulging.
  3. Infrequently brushing: Regardless of the amount of teeth your child may have, you must be sure that the right amount of brushing gets done each day. You may also encourage them to help you out to develop good oral hygiene habits in the future!

 

Second Annual Touch-a-Truck Fort Myers

 

Pediatric Dentistry of Florida, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD & associates is hosting the second annual family-friendly ‘Touch-a-Truck’ Fort Myers on Saturday, April 21, from 11 am to 2 pm. This free interactive experience is geared towards reducing the number of injuries and fatalities due to children approaching large work vehicles in the community.

Touch-a-Truck is a hands-on experience where children will be able to learn about their favorite trucks and vehicles, plus interact with those who drive them. Children will be able to be as if they were the true professional behind the wheel. Featured vehicles will include emergency service, law enforcement, military, public service, and local commercial businesses.

Other activities include trackless train rides, pony rides, and face painting, haircuts, photo booth, costume character meet & greet, and food trucks. Please bring can food donations benefiting the Harry Chapin Food Bank for entry.

There will be a special ‘horn-free’ hour from 11 am to 12 pm for children with special needs and sensitive ears. Touch-a-Truck is free to the general public and is located at Pediatric Dentistry of Florida, 8016 Summerlin Lakes Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

Tooth-Harming Habits To Ditch

We can’t stress enough of how important it is to have hardy and strong chompers. There could be some habits you go-about on a daily basis that can harm your teeth more than help them. That being said, we want to bring about some of the most common habits that make your teeth run for the hills!

  1. Ice chewers- beware!: Although ice is frozen water and contains no sugar, it can potentially crack your teeth over time due to the pressure from biting down on the hard surfaces of the ice.
  2. Teeth grinding: Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw frequently can cause your teeth to wear down. If you happen to have this problem, a mouth guard can help prevent anymore friction from occurring.
  3. The sugary stuff: Common tasty pleasures that are full of sugar such as cough drops and soda can cause cavities or tooth decay from sugar building up over time that can make its way to some of your bacteria-free teeth.
  4. Coffee lovers: Lets face it, some of us need that caffeine kick in the morning to get through the day. But since our helper of the day contains acidic properties that can stain teeth, it is best to have this guy in moderation or look up whitening options to combat any yellow shades that may come about onto your precious pearly whites.
  5. Snacking: The more you snack, the less saliva you produce which can cause more food to be stuck on your teeth for the day. If you decide to snack, snack healthy and try avoiding any foods that are sugary or starchy.

 

If you happen to currently have any of these habits- don’t stress. Its not mandatory to eliminate all of these forever. However, it is crucial to provide the best care for your teeth that you possibly can. By gradually getting rid of any of these habits, you can be on your way to a set of teeth to die for!

Dental Health Tips During Cold And Flu Season

It’s that time of year again.. people are coughing and sneezing and germs can be anywhere at any place. Not many people enjoy getting the flu, so it is best to be on your toes with your dental care! You must always make sure you are first taking care of yourself in order to stay healthy and flu-free this season. So have no fear about the cold and flu season being here; we have a few tips to help you get through the next few months happy and healthy (hopefully with a smile, too!).

Keep up with good oral hygiene practices

We all know you don’t want to be bothered when you’re sick and all you want to do is rest, but maintaining daily brushing and flossing habits can go a long way. You also must not share your toothbrush along with not necessarily replacing your toothbrush after you recover, but only after the 3-4 month mark of usage when the bristles begin to separate from each other.

Choose cough drops carefully

These guys are good for dry or sore throats, but they also contain sugar. It is best to purchase sugar-free cough drops to avoid any cavity-causing bacteria that can sit in your mouth and eventually make its way onto your precious pearly whites, which can cause buildup over time.

Hydrate yourself

Drinking lots of fluids can give you huge benefits; such as preventing your mouth from getting dry which can lead to cavities in the end. It is important to keep in mind that liquids containing large amounts of sugar can cause cavities due to the bacteria that causes cavities feeding off of the sugar. With that being said, water would be the best option when choosing something to guzzle down.

Resist brushing too early

If you feel the need to vomit, resist brushing for at least 30 minutes prior. Since your teeth are coated in stomach acid, brushing can just make things worse by distributing the acid all over your teeth. An alternative would be to swish and spit a mixture of water and one tablespoon of baking soda in order to wash away any stomach acid that can cause harm to your teeth.

What Dentist Appointments And Oil Changes Have In Common

Ever get your teeth cleaned and feel like you’re getting a tune-up on your pearly whites? If so, you’ve made the right correlation. Getting your teeth checked is like getting your tires rotated or having your car serviced. After a certain number of miles, your car will need to be checked, just as you teeth need to be checked after not visiting the dentist after a certain amount of time. This way, you can make sure that there are no cavities, tooth decay, or other problems that may develop down the road for your teeth. Just as your car, you would need a checkup every few months to make sure everything is running smoothly to prevent it from breaking down. Be sure to care for your teeth and visit a dentist at least twice a year. This can avoid hitting any bumps in the road for a smooth ride to a better smile!