Aging and Dental Health
As we age, good dental health becomes more important. It is a common misconception that tooth loss is inevitable … it’s not! We should be able to keep our natural teeth our whole lives. What IS true is that our teeth change as we age; and previous behaviors that never seemed to harm our teeth before suddenly cause major dental problems. The key is keeping up with regular dental appointments so that we can catch issues before they get to0 big to handle.
If you have an elderly loved one, make sure that they are going to the dentist regularly. Many will forget to make appointments, or forget to brush their teeth altogether. Keeping their teeth healthy will not only increase their comfort, but can even increase the length of their lives.
Happy senior man and woman couple sitting together on a park bench outside in sunshine
Easter Candy and Cavities
Hippity Hoppity!
The Easter Bunny has come and gone on his way; but he has left behind massive amounts of sugar in the form of jellybeans, chocolate, and colorful candy.
Sugar is the favorite food of bacteria, which causes cavities and tooth decay. Cavities are more common in children; but that doesn’t make adults invincible.
You can fight against cavities by following these helpful tips!
• Brush twice a day
• Floss your teeth daily
• Eat healthy foods and limit snacking
• Visit us regularly for routine cleanings and exams!
The Link between Diabetes and your Smile
In the United States alone, a new case of diabetes is diagnosed every 30 seconds, with nearly 2 million people diagnosed each year. People with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease, which in turn can increase blood sugar levels and diabetic complications.
Your gum health is important for diabetes control. Gum disease is the most common chronic inflammatory condition in people worldwide, affecting almost 50% of Americans over the age of 30.
If you or someone you know is diabetic, urge them to make their regular checkup so that they can be checked for gum disease..
Gum disease is also associated with heart disease, strokes, and preterm births/ low birth weights. Current research has also linked gum disease to obesity, erectile dysfunction, pancreatic cancer, dementia and rheumatoid arthritis.
Green for St. Patrick’s Day
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Everywhere you look, fun and unexpected foods and drinks have been turning green with celebration and excitement! Green Eggs and Ham, anyone? How about a green beer to toast the holiday? Or maybe a bright green cupcake with green frosting!
Unfortunately, the luck of the Irish doesn’t keep all of the coloring and dye from staining your teeth and fingers. Usually it only lasts for a short while, but there are plenty of things that can permanently stain your teeth. Coffee, wine and tobacco are just a few of the big teeth-staining items that can dramatically yellow and damage the appearance of your teeth. Rinsing your mouth after consuming staining foods and drink, and drinking coffee through a straw, can help protect your teeth from staining. If damage has already been done and you want to get your white smile back, talk to us about whitening options! From Zoom! to Veneers … we have many ways to whiten and brighten your smile.
Wisdom Teeth
Often considered a rite of passage for young adults, the removal of the third molars, (or wisdom teeth) occurs when these teeth – too big for most mouths – start erupting around 18 years of age. For many people, these large teeth come in sideways, under other adult teeth or only partially – causing bacteria to grow, teeth to shift out of alignment, cysts, infection, and gum disease.
Here at Sunshine Dental, we monitor the growth of the wisdom teeth and will recommend removing them if we notice problems. Don’t worry … removing the wisdom teeth won’t cause any decline in GPA!
5 Promises Dentists Make to their Patients
As your dental team, we here at Sunshine Dental care about your comfort and the quality of your visit. As ethical, honest practitioners, we promise you and your family:
1. To respect your needs and wants
2. To do no harm
3. To do good with your best interests in mind
4. To be fair and treat you to the best of our abilities, no matter your background
5. To be truthful in your diagnosis and treatment
By following these golden rules we can become your partner in your dental health for a lifetime.
Aging and Dental Health
As we age, good dental health becomes more important. It is a common misconception that tooth loss is inevitable … it’s not! We should be able to keep our natural teeth our whole lives. What IS true is that our teeth change as we age; and previous behaviors that never seemed to harm our teeth before suddenly cause major dental problems. The key is keeping up with regular dental appointments so that we can catch issues before they get to0 big to handle.
If you have an elderly loved one, make sure that they are going to the dentist regularly. Many will forget to make appointments, or forget to brush their teeth altogether. Keeping their teeth healthy will not only increase their comfort, but can even increase the length of their lives.
February is American Heart Health Month
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, February is American Heart Health month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women (1 in 4 people). Research shows that gum disease increases the risk of heart disease and can exacerbate existing heart conditions.
With your heart in mind, we highly suggest that people with heart disease or a family history of heart disease be checked regularly for gum disease by getting their regular dental cleanings. The sooner a problem is caught, the better.
Washington, Lincoln and Their Teeth
Happy Birthday, Mr. President! Both the 1st and the 16th presidents celebrated their birthdays in February. While little is known about the state of Lincoln’s oral health (indeed no picture of the president smiling exists),Washington is rather famous for his wooden dentures. Or is he…?
It turns out, Washington didn’t have wooden teeth at all! Wood is one of very worst materials dentures can be made from – the bacteria in human saliva would break down the material and turn it to pulp. Instead, dentures of the 1700s were made out of porcelain, ivory and bone – both human and animal. Washington even kept some of his own pulled teeth with the hopes that they could be used for his dentures. Talk about resourceful!
Today’s dentures are made from plastic or porcelain and have a custom fit – unlike poor Washington’s. Here at Sunshine Dental, we have same-day repair, in case anything should happen to damage your dentures.