Q: How much does diet affect dental health?
A: Your decisions about what you eat affect not only your dental health, but your overall health as well. So here are some things to consider when planning your meals. There are lots of products on the market designed to whiten teeth. In addition, there are some foods that will do it naturally. Apples, oranges, carrots, celery and high-fiber greens like broccoli, lettuce, and spinache contribute to teeth whiteness. That's because they require lots of chewing, which stimulates saliva production and inhibits stain-producing bacteria.
Fruits, vegetables, legumes - peas and beans - and nuts are good for general health and therefore good for your mouth. Milk and cheese are good sources of calcium, which helps keep bones strong and healthy. Studies have found that eating fresh cranberries interrupts the bonding of oral bacteria before they can form plaque. If you crave sugary or high carbohydrate food, it's better to eat them as part of a meal rather than alone. The saliva you produce while consuming a meal will help neutralize the acids those foods will generate before they can damage enamel. Talk with the Drs. Chips about good dietary choices.
Brought to you as a community service by Chips Dental Associates, LLC.
For more information or questions visit www.chipsdentalLLC.com
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Denture Replacement
Q: How often do dentures need to be replaced?
A: When properly cared for, dentures will last a long time. Even with good care, however, they will need professional care and possibly replacement over time. Your mouth naturally changes with age. The ridge of your gums can atrophy or shrink, as can the jaw bones. As these changes occur, dentures can become loose fitting. Loose dentures can lead to sores and infection. They can also make chewing difficult and change your facial features.
The Drs. Chips can explain to you the difference between relining, remaking, and rebasing your dentures as needed. To make a rebased denture, the Drs. Chips will use the teeth from your existing denture and make a new base. Naturally if you break or otherwise damage a denture, it may need to be replaced. Though they are sturdy enough in your mouth, the danger with dentures is handling them outside the mouth. When you are removing your dentures, you should lean over a folded towel. A drop of even a few inches onto a hard surface could damage a denture. Regular visits to Chips Dental Associates are important for denture wearers. You want to make sure that your dentures are in good condition, your mouth is in good condition and have oral cancer screenings done at regular intervals.
Brought to you as a community service by Chips Dental Associates, LLC.
For more information or questions please visit www.chipsdentalLLC.com
A: When properly cared for, dentures will last a long time. Even with good care, however, they will need professional care and possibly replacement over time. Your mouth naturally changes with age. The ridge of your gums can atrophy or shrink, as can the jaw bones. As these changes occur, dentures can become loose fitting. Loose dentures can lead to sores and infection. They can also make chewing difficult and change your facial features.
The Drs. Chips can explain to you the difference between relining, remaking, and rebasing your dentures as needed. To make a rebased denture, the Drs. Chips will use the teeth from your existing denture and make a new base. Naturally if you break or otherwise damage a denture, it may need to be replaced. Though they are sturdy enough in your mouth, the danger with dentures is handling them outside the mouth. When you are removing your dentures, you should lean over a folded towel. A drop of even a few inches onto a hard surface could damage a denture. Regular visits to Chips Dental Associates are important for denture wearers. You want to make sure that your dentures are in good condition, your mouth is in good condition and have oral cancer screenings done at regular intervals.
Brought to you as a community service by Chips Dental Associates, LLC.
For more information or questions please visit www.chipsdentalLLC.com
Monday, February 8, 2010
Start Dental Care in Infancy
Q: When should a child first see a dentist?
A: The American Dental Association recommends that a child see a dentist within six months after the eruption of the first tooth. Bear in mind that the first teeth to erupt, primary or "baby" teeth, are as important as the permanent teeth that follow. Generally primary teeth start showing up between the ages of six months and a year. Not only do the teeth help a child chew and speak, they are placeholders for the permanent teeth that are developing under them.
Baby teeth can develop cavities, just as permanent teeth can. Once an infant's diet contains anything other than breast milk, the new teeth are at risk for decay, sometimes called early-childhood caries or baby-bottle tooth decay. A visit to Chips Dental Associates with a toddler is also an opportunity for a parent to get a demonstration from the Drs. Chips on how to care for your child's mouth and how to show the child what to do. The Drs. Chips can also assess whether a thumb-sucking habit is having a harmful impact on a child's teeth. Also the sooner your child starts becoming comfortable in the dental office environment, the easier it will be for him or her as they age. Talk with the Drs. Chips about your child's dental health.
Brought to you as a community service by Chips Dental Associates.
For more information or questions, visit www.chipsdentalLLC.com
A: The American Dental Association recommends that a child see a dentist within six months after the eruption of the first tooth. Bear in mind that the first teeth to erupt, primary or "baby" teeth, are as important as the permanent teeth that follow. Generally primary teeth start showing up between the ages of six months and a year. Not only do the teeth help a child chew and speak, they are placeholders for the permanent teeth that are developing under them.
Baby teeth can develop cavities, just as permanent teeth can. Once an infant's diet contains anything other than breast milk, the new teeth are at risk for decay, sometimes called early-childhood caries or baby-bottle tooth decay. A visit to Chips Dental Associates with a toddler is also an opportunity for a parent to get a demonstration from the Drs. Chips on how to care for your child's mouth and how to show the child what to do. The Drs. Chips can also assess whether a thumb-sucking habit is having a harmful impact on a child's teeth. Also the sooner your child starts becoming comfortable in the dental office environment, the easier it will be for him or her as they age. Talk with the Drs. Chips about your child's dental health.
Brought to you as a community service by Chips Dental Associates.
For more information or questions, visit www.chipsdentalLLC.com
Monday, February 1, 2010
Danger of Sports Drinks
Q: Are these so-called sports drinks okay for kids' teeth?
A: Sports drinks, some researchers say, serve a beneficial role in some circumstances. Consumed during or after an intense workout of an hour or more, a child may take in more fluid with a sports drink than if offered water alone. But the fact is that most sports drinks are essentially sugar water with electrolytes added. Kids don't really need supplemental electrolytes, they get plenty in food. Sugary sports drinks are very tough on teeth as well.
It will vary by brand, but generally one 20-ounce bottle of a sports drink contains about 10- teaspoons of sugar and 130 calories. Research has shown that when sipped over a long period of time, sports drinks can do more damage to enamel than a carbonated cola product. Any sugary drink will have a corrosive effect on enamel, especially if it is sipped through the course of a day. The American Dental Association continues to recommend that we drink 8 to 12 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. If the water is fluoridated, it also helps to prevent tooth decay. Ask Drs. Chips for tips on diet - drinks and solid food - that are most conducive to oral and general health.
For more information or questions visit http://www.chipsdentalllc.com/.
Brought to you as a community service by Chips Dental Associates.
A: Sports drinks, some researchers say, serve a beneficial role in some circumstances. Consumed during or after an intense workout of an hour or more, a child may take in more fluid with a sports drink than if offered water alone. But the fact is that most sports drinks are essentially sugar water with electrolytes added. Kids don't really need supplemental electrolytes, they get plenty in food. Sugary sports drinks are very tough on teeth as well.
It will vary by brand, but generally one 20-ounce bottle of a sports drink contains about 10- teaspoons of sugar and 130 calories. Research has shown that when sipped over a long period of time, sports drinks can do more damage to enamel than a carbonated cola product. Any sugary drink will have a corrosive effect on enamel, especially if it is sipped through the course of a day. The American Dental Association continues to recommend that we drink 8 to 12 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. If the water is fluoridated, it also helps to prevent tooth decay. Ask Drs. Chips for tips on diet - drinks and solid food - that are most conducive to oral and general health.
For more information or questions visit http://www.chipsdentalllc.com/.
Brought to you as a community service by Chips Dental Associates.
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