Benefits of a Healthy Mouth

Oral health is essential to overall health. If you brush your teeth, floss and visit the dentist, regularly you are going to see the benefits in other areas of your life and body as well. Here are five reasons why it pays to take care of your mouth:

Lower Your Risk Of Heart Disease

A study found that people who never or rarely brush their teeth are 70% more likely to suffer heart disease as those who brush twice a day. In fact, bushing your teeth at least twice a day greatly decreases your chances of a stroke and heart attack! Also, regular brushing and flossing reduces your risk of gum disease, which is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults and a major precursor to heart disease.

Preserve Your Memory

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reported that people who did not brush their teeth on a regular basis had a 65 percent greater chance of developing dementia, compared to those who did brush. Don’t forget to brush your teeth otherwise you may forget a lot more than that!

Maintain A Healthy Weight

Brushing your teeth sends a signal to your brain that mealtime is over. If you brush your teeth after every meal, you’ll be less likely to continue eating or snacking and can thus maintain a healthy weight.

Prevent Respiratory Disease

As you breathe, you inhale bacteria, which form on the surface of your teeth and make their way into your lungs and respiratory tract, wreaking havoc along the way. A 2006 study found that by brushing, you are getting rid of that bacteria and therefore decreasing your risk of respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (See 1 below) 

Boost Your Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem

When you are self-confident, feel good about yourself, and are happy, you probably want to smile. If you have a healthy smile, you won't be embarrassed to show those pearly whites and your confidence will shine. But if your teeth are stained, crooked, chipped, or dirty, you might feel like keeping your mouth closed.  A dentist can check for and treat cavities and other dental health problems and can even do cosmetic dental work to improve the appearance of your teeth, such as whitening your teeth, implants, facial rejuvenation, and cosmetic and restorative dentistry.

1. Azarpazhooh A, Leake JL. Systematic review of the association between respiratory diseases and oral health. J Periodontol 2006;77(9):1465- 1482. 

10 Best Toothbrush Practices

1. Choose a soft-bristled toothbrush. Toothbrushes with soft bristles are the safest and most comfortable choice. Medium and hard bristled brushes can actually damage the gums, root surface, and protective tooth enamel.
2. Change your toothbrush every three months. If the bristles are frayed, change it sooner. A new toothbrush removes more plaque than a worn out one.
3. Replace your toothbrush after recovering from a cold, virus, or the flu. These viruses can survive for many days on a toothbrush and can prevent you from getting better.
4. Keep your toothbrush away from the toilet. You most likely store your toothbrush in your bathroom, right? Be careful where your store it in proximity to the toilet because when you flush your toilet it tosses up bacteria that can land on and infect your toothbrush.
5. Use a toothbrush with a small head. That way it can reach all of the corners of your mouth so you don’t miss a spot when brushing!
6. Let your toothbrush dry after every use. Toothbrushes can house up to 10 million different forms of bacteria and germs, most of which are harmless. These germs need moisture to survive so if you don’t let your toothbrush dry in between uses, you’re just putting old bacteria back into your mouth. 
7. Brush for at least two minutes. This is what dentists recommend and most people fall short. Take the extra time and brush for a full two to three minutes to ensure a healthy mouth!
8. Don’t cover your toothbrush. Covering your toothbrush or storing it in a closed container creates a moist environment, allowing bacteria to grow more easily.
9. Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Or after every meal!
10. Clean your toothbrush. Make sure you rinse your toothbrush of any leftover toothpaste or debris after each use. You can even dip it in alcohol or mouthwash to rinse away germs. 

Celebrity Smiles

Having a fabulous smile has been valued throughout history as a special mark of one’s unique personality. For example, 4,000 years ago the Japanese stained their teeth to enhance their smile. The Mayans even drilled small holes into their teeth to insert jade and other jewels for decoration. While those methods of dental enhancements seem a little bizarre, in today’s world there are many options out there to enhance our smile, from over-the-counter whitening products to cosmetic dental procedures. Whether it’s a big grin or a shy smirk, your smile is a reflection of your character. No one knows this better than Hollywood stars, whose captivating smiles light up the big screen.

So, which movie stars dazzle you with their pearly-white smiles? Here’s a look at some of the best in the business.

Julia Roberts:  America’s sweetheart became famous not only for her on-screen talent but also for her mega-watt smile.  She has admitted to getting veneers, a popular cosmetic dental procedure to give you the smile you always wanted. 

Zac Efron fixed the gap in his teeth and whitened them to create his winning smile!

Kate Middleton recently topped the list of best celebrity smiles! Do you agree?

Even celebrities need a little work done. Tom Cruise got braces in the early 2000s to fix his leading-man smile. Good decision, Tom!

Tell us, what are you favorite celebrity smiles? 

10 Steps To Your Whitest Smile

There are many benefits to smiling, including increased happiness and attractiveness. Why not make your smile the best it can be? Improving your smile can have dramatic effects on changing your appearance, boosting your self-confidence, and attracting others. A great way to improve your smile is whitening your teeth. The next time you’re looking in the mirror before work or a date, take a moment and check out your smile. Is it as healthy and white as you want it to be? If not, here are some steps to take to make those pearly whites shine!

1. Brush and Floss Daily

The best way to make sure you’re removing stains from your teeth is to brush them after every meal for 2-3 minutes. Try an electronic toothbrush, as they are proven to more effectively remove plaque and often time come with timers to let you know how long you’ve been brushing. Also, floss! Flossing is the best way to remove plaque from between the teeth that you’re toothbrush can’t reach, thus eliminating any stain potential.

2. Whitening Toothpaste

There are many types of toothpaste out there that offer whitening benefits. If your stains are minor, you may have good results by simply using whitening toothpaste, which contains mild abrasives that scrub away stains while you brush. Whitening toothpastes that are awarded the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance have special chemical or polishing agents added that provide extra stain removal, but do not change the color of your teeth.

3. Do-It-Yourself Teeth Whitening Products

The active ingredient in most whitening kits is carbamide peroxide, which acts as a bleach to remove surface stains from teeth. While these kits can produce a noticeably whiter smile, they tend to take about two or three weeks to get the job done. Teeth can become sensitive from these and gums can become irritated. If side effects are a concern to you, the safest choice is to have a dental professional whiten your teeth.

4. Professional Whitening

If you would like faster or more dramatic results, a professional whitening session at the dentist’s office is in order. Your dentist will use a higher concentration of peroxide for a “Hollywood Smile” in no time!

5. Quit Smoking

Smoking is a major cause of yellow stains on the teeth. To avoid this, quit smoking altogether. Your health (and your teeth!) will thank you.

6. Carefully Choose Your Beverages

Beverages like soft drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks contain high amounts of harmful acids that erode the protective enamel on your teeth, causing serious, sometimes irreversible, damage. Coffee and tea also stain your teeth. Try drinking through a straw and limiting or eliminating these beverages from your diet altogether.

7. Go to the Dentist Regularly

Have your teeth cleaned professionally by a dentist every 6 months. A professional clean is far more through than just brushing at home and will keep plaque and tartar, which cause stains, at bay far more effectively than home cleaning.

8. Drink More Water

Saliva is your body's natural protection for hard and soft oral tissue. So keep your mouth hydrated by drinking plenty of water -- it not only helps to boost your metabolism and quench your thirst, it keeps your mouth moist so your saliva can do its job!

9. Chew Sugar Free Gum
Chewing gum after a meal also gets your saliva glands working and can wipe away any debris from your meal. If you can’t brush right after a meal, at least chew some sugar free gum.

10. Make Your Dentist Your New Best Friend
Exciting advancements in dental technology are bringing more and more people to the dental office in search of a whiter smile. During your next appointment, your dentist can tell you all about the latest in whitening care!

The Role Nutrition Plays in Maintaining Healthy Teeth

Every morning we go through the same routine of getting up and brushing our
teeth, something we’ve been taught to do ever since our first teeth came in as
children. What you probably don’t think about on a daily basis is how the food you
are putting in your mouth is affecting your teeth. It’s no secret that your diet is
directly correlated with your overall health, but the right diet and nutrition also
play an integral part in ensuring strong teeth and healthy gums. Every day your
teeth, tongue and gums come into direct contact with the foods you ingest, and if
you make poor dietary choices, the results will eventually show on your teeth. Just
as proper nutrition plays a supportive role in maintaining a healthy weight, it also
helps prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral maladies.

So how can you adjust your diet to maintain healthy teeth and a beautiful smile?
Here are some tips

1. Stay Away From Sugar
We’ve been hearing this adage since we were admonished as little kids
for eating too much candy on Halloween. But it turns out our parents (and
dentist!) were right. The bacteria in your mouth convert the sugar to acid,
dissolving the enamel on your teeth. The erosion of the enamel from the acid
can lead to a tiny hole, known as a cavity. Cavities, left untreated long enough,
can reach the nerve of the tooth, requiring a root canal. Stay away from
candy and even sugary drinks like soda and juice that can really damage your
teeth.

2. Eat Your Veggies
Eating lots of vegetables is not only good for your overall health because they
contain essential vitamins and nutrients the body needs, it’s also good for
your oral health. Watery veggies and roughage help to naturally and gently
scrub and away lingering food particles and bacteria.

3. Calcium = Strong Teeth
Did you know that your bones and teeth contain over 99% of the calcium in
the human body? Higher levels of calcium consumption result in stronger
teeth, thus resulting in fewer breaks, cracks and physical damage. Calcium
also helps make the jaw stronger to hold our teeth more firmly in place,
which is important as we age. Time to replace that soda with a glass of milk
at your next meal!

4. Reduce Carbohydrate Consumption
Eliminating carbs is a big diet fad when it comes to losing weight, but cutting
down on carbohydrate consumption can also greatly affect the health of your
teeth and gums. Each time you eat a carbohydrate-containing food, such as
bread, pasta, or cake, the carbs turn into sugar, which turn into plaque on
your teeth, resulting in everything from cavities to gum disease. Your saliva
production increases at meal time, so if you isolate your carb consumption to
times when you’re eating large meals, as opposed to a snack, your saliva will
aid in the dissolution of sticky, sugary particles from the carbohydrates.

Nutrition plays a role in maintaining healthy teeth on so many levels. Sugary and
acidic foods can damage enamel and leave plaque; hard foods increase the risk
of cracks; chewy substances are dangerous for fillings and loose teeth. The more
nutrient rich and natural your diet, the healthier your teeth—and your entire
body—will be!