Cheat The Tooth Fairy We sure can try, but your help is needed, and the most important word is TIME. When a permanent tooth is knocked out, the less time it is out of the mouth the better. In fact, the best results are obtained when the tooth is replaced within 30 minutes! A parent or friend can place the tooth back into the socket or place it in a wet issue and bring the patient, and the tooth to the dentist at once. [...]
You've got the glow of a mother-to-be. Keep it with these tips for better oral health for you and your baby. Now you're eating (and brushing, flossing and keeping dental appointments) for two. Make an appointment at the outset of your pregnancy for a healthy head start and advice on changes that could lead to dental problems. Hormonal changes can lead to diet changes, for a famous example, and morning sickness acids can threaten tooth enamel. Schedule non-emergency dental care for the fourth to [...]
The Reality is, Today's Dentistry is Virtually Painless There's a bright new trend in dental offices these days: More people are making appointments because they want to, not because they have to. What is it about a visit to the dentist that feels this good? One simple, wonderful fact: In most cases, the pain is gone. Painless dental treatment is bringing us to a level of well-being—and appearance—makes a positive, tangible difference in our lives. Dental medicine has come a long way. The reality [...]
How important is calcium to us? It' s very important. Here's why. It builds strong bones and teeth; helps the heart to beat, muscles to flex, blood to clot, and nerves to send messages throughout the body. Calcium helps to reduce risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, and high cholesterol. Calcium Advantage Tips Drink milk with meals, have cereal with milk, order cheese on your sandwich, snack on cheese and crackers, cheese and fruit, yogurt or a glass of milk. Consume [...]
One of the tenets of good dental health is obvious—Brush your teeth after every meal. This can help keep your mouth healthy throughout a long life. Another rule should be just as carefully observed: Do NOT use someone else's toothbrush. Sharing toothbrushes can shorten your life. Be safe, not sorry. But what about emergencies, when you have no other option than to borrow someone's toothbrush—just once? That's when this rule is most important. It's far better to risk tooth decay by not brushing than to [...]
About the only good thing about canker sores is, they're hidden inside the mouth. Beyond that—they're painful, annoying, and bound to erupt at the worst possible time. And common though they are, the medical world has mixed opinions on what causes them and what can prevent them from recurring. Canker sores, or mouth ulcers, are different from fever blisters, though they're often confused. They occur only inside the mouth and aren't contagious. Fever blisters, on the other hand, are caused by the herpes virus, are [...]
Ever think of asking your dentist which musical instrument you should play? Few people do. But especially for young people, an early dental analysis–before selecting a musical instrument–can be important. Surprisingly, some instruments–woodwind or brass–can actually help some children who have an overbite problem. Yet, the same instrument can make the problem worse in another child. Each case must be judged individually. Consider Michael who wants to play a saxophone in the school band. His parents think it's time for braces, but Michael wonders [...]
When it comes to most common, not even winter colds strike as many of us as gum infection (periodontal disease). As many as 75% of adults will be a victim sometime in their lifetime. If this infection could grow on your arm, you'd be horrified. Instead, periodontal disease does its dirty work out of sight: inside your mouth. Left alone, it opens up gaps between gums and teeth. Too soon, you're on your way to losing your teeth entirely. How can I stop gum [...]
If you're one of the millions of caregivers of an elderly patient who perhaps suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, then you probably maintain a checklist of the many daily tasks necessary to care for them. When making your list, don't forget to include dental health as part of your routine. How Caregivers Can Help For as long as possible, encourage the patient to care for him/herself. It's a dignity issue. When you must step in, physically demonstrate brushing and flossing, and the patient may [...]
Kids' teeth—paying special attention to them lays a firm foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth. They're milestones in your child's development, those first teeth. You mark the date in the baby book when the first baby tooth works its way through the gum. You record the day when that first loose tooth lets go, leaving an oh-so-cute gap in the grin and a bit of cash beneath the pillow. But you can't ignore the care of baby teeth on the grounds that when [...]
