National Nutrition Month

Rowlett TX Dentist Shares how Important Your Diet Is and Why Your Teeth are Affected, Too

With the month of March almost upon us, it’s time to start eating right! While there’s no perfect time, it’s important for all patients to know how your diets affect the status of your teeth, as well. March is National Nutrition Month, where the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics asks if everyone can pay special attention to what we’re actually eating. Your Rowlett TX dentist wants to bring focus to the foods and drinks that damage your smile.

When you think of what you eat, it doesn’t always occur to you how badly it harms your teeth since most people are preoccupied with how it will affect their weight. There are countless dietary foods and drinks that may benefit some parts of your health, but not others. A popular beverage choice is lemon water and while it can help your physical diet, it seriously damages your dental enamel.

Lemons are highly acidic and they break down the protective surface of your teeth, called your enamel. These minerals are created to protect and strengthen your teeth, but acidic foods and drinks work fast to break them down. If a patient is constantly consuming lemon water throughout their day, they’re seriously weakening the structure and health of their smile.

Most healthy foods and drinks can also benefit your teeth too; foods with whole grains, whole wheat and protein are meant to improve various parts of your body. It’s important to make note of what ingredients are in your foods and drinks since your teeth are always directly and immediately affected.

Remember to try and eat right during March and share information from your Rowlett TX dentist about National Nutrition Month with your friends and family in order to protect all parts of your health, including dental!

Contact our office if you want to learn more or if you’d like to schedule an appointment today by calling 972-412-5064.

Children’s Dental Health Month

In just a few days when February graces us with its presence, it will mark the 75th anniversary of the ADA’s National Children’s Dental Health Month! With your Rowlett TX dentist’s dedication to oral health care for patients of all ages, today we wanted to share with you the new poster promoting the upcoming month- as well as to supply our readers with a few tips for children’s oral health care.

You can click here to view the new poster for 2016!

As you can see, this year’s theme is “Sugar Wars”- which we are sure has everything to do with the immense popularity of a recently released, similarly named movie sequel. To describe the poster in the ADA’s own words:

“The Smileys, McGrinns and K9 are in a spaceship, the USS SweetSwatter. It is equipped with toothbrush swatters, fighting against the Sweet Tooth Invaders for good oral health.”

Besides giving your children access to their very own spaceship, we recommend going over the following suggestions with your kids so that they develop their own regimens and recognize how important the health of their entire mouth is as they get older:

-Brush two minutes, two times a day.

-Clean between your teeth with floss daily.

-Limit snacks and eat healthy meals.

And last, but not least, make sure you are making regularly scheduled appointments with your Rowlett TX dentist to ensure your child’s oral health is the best it can be at all times. Call our office today to schedule an appointment at 972-412-5064.

New Year, Better Smile

Tips for How to Better Your Smile in the New Year with Your Rowlett TX Dentist

The New Year is right around the corner and everyone is thinking of their resolutions. Commonly, resolutions are about saving money, losing weight, eating healthier, but we’re here to talk about your New Year’s resolution to be about improving your dental health. Your Rowlett TX dentist is here with some tips to take into the New Year in order to have a healthy, happy smile!

Quit Bad Habits

This is also included in one of the many popular resolutions. Kicking the habit of smoking cigarettes and tobacco use is not only beneficial for your overall health, but for your dental health, as well. Tobacco intensely lingers in the mouth, causing oral and dental issues right away. It increases your risks of cavities, gum recession, gum disease, tooth loss and types of cancers like oral, throat and lung.

Better Your Diet

Losing weight is another common resolution. It’s well known that gyms are quite populated around the New Year, people wanting to better their physical health. But changing your diet is helpful, too! If you include more foods like vegetables and fruits in your diet, they can also improve your dental health. Fruits and veggies that naturally carry water and are particularly crunchy work with your smile, stimulate your saliva, and work your jaw to become strong.

Schedule Your Next Check-Up

Visiting the dentist is a popular appointment to skip because patients think that their dental health is just fine. Unfortunately, there can be hidden issues that don’t show themselves until it’s too late! These bi-annual check-ups will only improve your oral and dental care and you’ll be happy to share your smile into the New Year!

Your Rowlett TX dentist hopes you have a wonderful New Year and don’t forget to make an appointment with us by calling our office at 972-412-5064!

For Our Smiles, We Are Thankful

Rowlett Dentist on Thanksgiving Favorites

There is no time quite like the holidays to bring the family together, enjoy a nice home cooked meal and appreciate the time you get to spend with one another. Thanksgiving is typically considered the “start” of these late-in-the-year gatherings, and should make one reflect and be happy for all they have.

But with so many things to be thankful for, your smile may not always outrank some other options. Coupling this with the potentially massive amounts of food that can be put on your plate, and our oral health can be put by the wayside for a few weeks. With that in mind, today your Rowlett dentist wanted to discuss some of the healthier food options you can choose to show your teeth you are truly thankful for them this holiday season.

Turkey, potatoes and the works can take hours to get ready…so you and your guests always need a little warm up. Why not make that appetizer a veggie tray? Include some of the following options to help your guests not only be “held over” until dinner time but to actually help naturally clean their teeth too:
Carrots, Broccoli Florets, Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, Artichoke Hearts, Cucumber slices, Olives & more.

When it comes to your sweet potatoes, try avoiding the gooey and sugary marshmallow topping. Although it may taste good, the marshmallow can get caught between the teeth and cause decay if not properly removed. If you really need that extra boost of sweet in your sweet, try a little brown sugar or maple syrup instead.

Lastly, who can survive Thanksgiving dinner without cranberry sauce? Yeah, we thought so. Instead of going with the canned version this year, which is very high in sugar content, try making it yourself! You can try out different amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners in your recipe that often times can come out to be better than the canned stuff anyway. It may be a bit more work, but it will be worth it in the end.

So with all of those great additions to consider, what can we avoid then? Although a plethora of desserts and carbs will be rolling at you- they are going to be the worst items when it comes to your oral health. Most deserts contain gratuitous amounts of sugar, and carbs from bread and other items can break down into sugars as well- both of which can damage and decay your teeth. Try to watch the amount of both of these that you take in to avoid any holiday oral health hazards.

Your Rowlett dentist hopes you have a Happy Thanksgiving! If you have any questions about this topic or need to schedule an appointment, feel free to call our office at 972-412-5064.

Save Your Teeth from Halloween Treats

Rowlett Dentist on Unavoidable Candy

Since Halloween is right around the corner, children and adults alike will feel obliged to indulge in candy a little more than usual. It’s tradition, right? Unfortunately, eating a large amount of candy in this short amount of time can hurt your teeth more severely than you know! In order to protect your smile, we’ll be discussing what all of these candies can do to your teeth and how to avoid harming them.

Because the consumption of candy is tenfold on Halloween, teeth are more vulnerable than ever. This time of year, parents are less strict on their children to let them enjoy this spooky, fun holiday, but having some restriction is important. It’s no secret that sugar is known to cause cavities, where much of the problems begin in children dental issues. When children (and adults) consume sugar, the sugar is turned into bacteria and lives in the crevices and spaces between your teeth. If it’s left there without being properly cleaned, no matter how long, your teeth are consistently being harmed.

Cavities are small holes in your teeth created by acid erosions from bacteria lingering. The surface of your teeth, called your enamel, works to protect the center of your teeth, called the dentin. When your enamel is being worn down and damaged is when the risk of tooth decay increases. Of course, parents don’t wish to “ruin” their children’s Halloween night, a beneficial fact that parents can hold onto is that there are some candies that are better than others!

Although there is no candy that’s necessarily good for your oral health, chocolate candy and candies much like it easily dissolve in the mouth. These candies are more likely to be washed away by saliva or rinsing your mouth out with water. When you eat or allow your children to eat chewy, sticky candies, these are more likely to get stuck in between and on your teeth, lingering and causing a higher chance of cavities and tooth decay.

Here are some small, helpful tips to prevent damage to your teeth:

· Although tempting, eat small amounts of candies and make sure to rinse your mouth out with water after eating. This lowers the acidity levels of the candy and helps protect your teeth a little bit more.

· Eat candies that will dissolve in your mouth instead of eating chewy, sticky, or sour candies that will stick around longer.

· And, as always, brush your teeth an hour after you’ve eaten and you’ll be able to continue protecting your teeth, just like any other day!

Don’t let Halloween be an excuse to harm your smile. Contact us for your bi-annual check-up appointment by calling (972) 412-5064 today!

National Dental Hygiene Month 2015

In just a few days, we will be in the midst of October! Not only does that mean cooler temperatures, leaves falling and some spooky treats to protect the kids mouth from at the end of the month, but it also means National Dental Hygiene Month has arrived!

Every October dentists like your dentist in Rowlett make a push to educate patients about the importance of oral hygiene, as well as encouraging them to make one of their twice-yearly cleaning and exam appointments!

Why push to inform the public about the importance of dental hygiene though?

Well, because tooth decay and gum disease are not only some of the most common issues for people of all ages and locations to battle- but because they also have greater implications.

Links between heart disease, diabetes, lung problems, allergies and more are being linked to ailments such as gum disease…and where can the prevention start for these? A great oral health regimen and amazing dental hygiene.

The focus of the National Dental Hygiene Month is to educate patients in the importance of four key factors:

1) Brush your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes per session

2) Floss every single day

3) Rinse with mouthwash

4) Chew sugar-free gum after a meal to fight tooth decay and stimulate saliva

By utilizing these behaviors, as well as by eating healthy and making twice-yearly appointments for cleanings and routine exams- a patient’s oral health, and thus whole body health, can thrive for years to come.

For more information on National Dental Hygiene Month, you can head to the official website of the ADHA (the American Dental Hygienists’ Association) by Clicking Here!

Keep not just your oral health, but your whole body health amazing by keeping on top of your oral hygiene! For any questions or to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Rowlett, call our office today at (972) 412-5064.

Why Fruits & Veggies Matter

Learn from September’s Month Awareness why Fruits & Vegetables should be Incorporated in Every Meal

September is right around the corner, which means that children are getting ready in their best outfits for the first day back at school! While having a snazzy outfit is important, something else that improves your appearance is your smile. Scheduling a check-up appointment is only half the battle—what’s essential to make sure that your children are eating the right foods for lunch to maintain their healthy teeth.

To help promote better foods for children, September is Fruits & Veggies—More Matters Month! Throughout the upcoming month, we want patients to know how important it is to integrate multiple fruits and vegetables into your everyday diet to lessen the risks of diseases for the young and old.

Snacking is one of the most harmful activities that children partake in. Although it’s important for children to eat more than three times a day (because they need more energy than adults), many children eat snacks like chips, pretzels, candies and more that are harmful to their teeth. Since their teeth are still growing, they’re more susceptible to cavities and other dental issues.

A great substitute for children’s harmful snacks is fruits and vegetables! They’re just as convenient to pack as a travel-sized chip bag and they work to clean, strengthen and improve your child’s smile. Try giving your children these snacks so they’re able to get the right energy without any consequences:

· Celery and carrots: Both crunchy and delicious, these raw vegetables work to strengthen your children’s teeth since there’s more jaw movement to properly break them down.

· Apples and pears: These sweet fruits are also crunchy and naturally hold water in them so your children’s mouth will be refreshed while also working with their teeth! They also clean their teeth and help loosen any lingering, harmful food particles from their previous meals.

To learn more about September’s month awareness, look through their website to learn about healthy alternatives for snacks and meals that will not only maintain your children’s oral hygiene but make it that much better! To schedule a check-up appointment, call our office at 972-412-5064 or click here to request your appointment online.

Dental Benefits of Breastfeeding

With the 2015 World Breastfeeding Week being the first one in August, and all of August being dedicated to National Breastfeeding Month- today your Rowlett dentist wanted to discuss some of the dental benefits of breastfeeding!
The perks of the actual breastmilk itself, and how it can help the developing child, has always been a point of focus for years. What we wished to focus on in this article, however, is how the act of breastfeeding, the system of delivery, can benefit a child and their oral development for years to come.

 

After some years of studies and research, recent reports have been published showing the advantage of being breastfed exclusively, in comparison to a combination with bottle feeding. Those children who were exclusively breastfed were 33% less likely to develop overbite or cross-bite issues later in life. This same category of children were also 45-72% less likely to develop teeth misalignment as they matured.
But what factors drive these substantial odds?
That seems to be directly correlated to the muscles in the mouth that develop during breastfeeding. The breastfeeding child also develops a stronger ability to breathe through their nose at a younger age, which also assists in the development of the oral cavity.
And while these numbers are impressive, certainly, there are factors that can disrupt these statistics, specifically pacifier usage. If a child uses a pacifier past the 6-12 month mark, they are much more likely to develop the misalignment and bite issues that breastfeeding can help diminish. Typically this type of long-term pacifier habit will result in the need for some type of orthodontic work later in life.
Your Rowlett dentist respects the individual needs of your child, and the individual choice of a family as it comes to feeding. We just felt that with this upcoming health month and the importance we see that these factors can play, that it was worth mentioning in this post today.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, call our office today at (972) 412-5064.

Foods to Avoid

There are well-known items to avoid your teeth from becoming stained. Coffee and smoking are two of the most popular, but there are other harmful substances that can damage the surface of your teeth and make them become that unattractive yellow color that patients do their best to steer clear of. Here are some foods and drinks that your Rowlett dentist wants you to think twice about before using.

 
Tea
People believe that just because they avoid drinking coffee and switch to tea means that they’re off the hook, but that’s not the case. Tea is still a dark liquid, much like coffee. Many different kinds of tea have tannin in them, which is also in wine, and it is notorious for damaging the surface of your teeth. If you’re unable to avoid tea altogether, then try drinking more water in your daily regimen, while also brushing your teeth when you’re finished.

 
Berries
Since it’s summer and nothing feels better than a handle of fresh berries, it’s easy to pop these in your mouth for a quick snack or add them to a meal. But berries have the ability to damage your enamel, as well, since they have a large amount of color pigments within them. You’ve seen how easy they can stain clothes and other surfaces—why would your teeth be any different?

 
Cough Drops
Even though these are beneficial for your throat doesn’t mean you should substitute it if you have a sweet tooth. Cough drops do the same damage to your teeth that other candies do because you’re sucking out the flavors, which are sticking to your mouth and teeth. Also, make sure you don’t bite down on these! They can cause chips or cracks on your teeth, maybe without your knowledge, which can cause serious damage down the road!

 
If you’re wondering what other foods and drinks could be doing more damage to your mouth than you previously knew, don’t hesitate to contact your Rowlett dentist at (972) 412- 5064 to schedule an appointment today!

Significance of Speech Disorders

Rowlett dentist on Troublesome Tongues

With the month of May being “National Better Hearing and Speech Month,” your Rowlett dentist wanted to take the opportunity to discuss the importance of the latter half of this: speech. Every day your teeth, tongue, lips, cheeks and rest of your mouth plays a huge factor in the way that you speak by combining multiple complex systems in hopes of articulating a clear result.

 
Sometimes, however, there are mouth-related conditions, such as OMDs, Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders, that can negatively impact speech.

 
What are OMDs and how do they affect my speech?

 
OMDs correlate to the tongue’s placement in the mouth either while speaking or swallowing. It may move too far back or forward, in between the teeth during speech or rest. This can result in an outward tongue thrust and speech impediment with certain sounds (such as “ch” “sh” or “th”) that can dissipate with age, but can also stay around until corrected.

 
Causes of OMDs?

 
Although allergies, enlarged tonsils, and heredity can cause OMDs, so can some dental related issues. Chronic thumb sucking, teeth grinding and biting at other objects, especially while still young, can alter the shape of the jaw and teeth- that may lead to OMDs. These causes may also lead to other orthodontic and dental work being required as the patient ages, as well.

 
How are OMDs diagnosed and/or treated?

 
A dentist or orthodontist may be able to diagnose OMDs when the tongues continual pressure affects alignment or eruption of the teeth. Consistent airway blockage due to this behavior could also be a warning sign.

 
Some of the best forms of treatment are related to behavioral therapy. These means will help the patient increase strength in, coordinate with and become aware of the muscles in the mouth and tongue, helping them to speak and swallow easier.

 
Disorders like OMDs are just some of the ways that the mouth can affect speech and overall impact an individual’s life. Other issues such as TMJ disorders, oral cancer, saliva reproduction issues and various misalignments of the teeth can also affect speech, and be diagnosed and potentially treated with the assistance of dental professionals like your Rowlett dentist.

 
To further discuss the importance of your mouth in speech, or to schedule an appointment today, please call (972) 412-5064.