There is something comforting about Thanksgiving – the gift of family, friends, and a nice heartwarming meal together laden with classic Thanksgiving staple dishes – whole turkey roast, bread stuffing, marshmallow sweet potatoes or yam casserole and gravy, cranberry sauce, an apple, pumpkin or pecan pie, and mulled cider.  

It’s good to count our blessings and celebrate life with loved ones at the end of a pandemic year. We all deserve the indulgence, warmth, and joy this Thanksgiving. 

However, we must extend the same kindness to our teeth and gums, which can take a beating during the festive season. 

In this article, we share simple and easy tips, so you don’t have to worry about the health of your teeth and gums this Thanksgiving day and after. 

1. Reduce the sugar intake

Thanksgiving meals are notorious for their high sugar content. Be it pecan pie or cranberry sauce. However, if you avoid or reduce the extra sugar in these dishes, it will have the opposite effect which will benefit your teeth. 

For example, sweet potatoes are loaded with Vitamin A and C, which helps keep a hard enamel and healthy gums. When it is topped with whipped cream and marshmallows, it can create an environment for bacteria to cause teeth decay and cavities. 

According to the California Dental Association, an effective solution is to skip, limit, or swap sugar with substitutes like xylitol and erythritol, which do not cause tooth decay. Practice portion control when having sugary meals and desserts. Follow it by rinsing your mouth with water to wash away the sugar and food particles and prevent it from sticking to your teeth and gums.  

Making smart choices like making the sauce with fresh cranberries instead of the canned variety helps cut the sugar content drastically. Also, the flavonoids in fresh cranberries help prevent the buildup of plaque and destroy the harmful bacteria in your mouth. 

2. Be on the watch for starchy foods 

Starchy foods are the silent killers of your teeth. They don’t seem harmful at the outset, but starch converts into sugar, which then feeds the bacteria in your mouth. Foods like breaded stuffing, mashed potato, potato chips, cornbread, and dinner rolls are common culprits, and this problem can be resolved by pairing it with fiber and protein foods. 

3. Have a nutritious and balanced Thanksgiving meal 

Thanksgiving meals are not all bad. There is a wide range of healthy food options to choose from – leafy greens loaded with calcium, fruits, and veggies loaded with different kinds of vitamins and minerals which are good for your teeth and gums, raw carrots which make natural teeth cleansers, turkey which is high in phosphorus and aids in teeth development. 

The time is taken for chewing healthy food aids in saliva production, and it helps to clean, fight bacteria, and keep your mouth healthy. Also, some foods like the fibrous strands in celery or hard vegetables like raw carrots help clean the particles stuck between teeth.

Aim to have an array of rainbow-colored food on your plate. The safest and healthiest choices are turkey, vegetables, and fruits. Go easy on the sweets, bread, marshmallows, and gooey syrups, and binge on the Brussel sprouts, turkey, carrots, sweet potatoes, snap peas, pumpkins, and apples. 

4. Snack wisely 

It’s not just the Thanksgiving meal that could damage your teeth, but also the snacks you have during the day. Instead of sugary cookies and candies, opt for nuts, dried fruits, and cheese to maintain healthy teeth and gums. 

Cheese contains calcium and protein, which strengthens teeth and prevents cavities by balancing your mouth’s PH levels. But be wary of melted cheese, which can get stuck between teeth and difficult to clean. 

Assorted nuts are another great snack option as it strengthens your teeth. The chewing of the nuts helps in saliva production, which washes away the harmful bacteria and prevents tooth decay.

5. Avoid teeth staining Foods

Brightly colored foods and beverages are nutritious, but on the downside, they can stain your teeth as well. The acidic content in drinks such as coffee, wine, cranberry juice, or sauce can erode the enamel and stain it. Go easy on the blueberry or cherry pies!

One solution to lessen the impact is to limit the intake of such food, have it alongside non-acidic foods and water, and schedule a post-Thanksgiving dentist checkup. 

6. Set a fixed mealtime

Setting a fixed Thanksgiving time and giving it priority over snack time is a smart move. Thanksgiving often finds people grazing all day on snacks. This is not just bad news for your waistline, but also your teeth. So, make a conscious effort to save your appetite for the main meal, and limit snacks during the day at fixed intervals. Ensure there are other non-eating related activities to keep you and the crowd engaged during the day. 

7. Guard your mouth

Use relevant tools like a bottle opener or nutcracker instead of using your mouth to open bottles and crack nuts. You need to be extra cautious if you have braces. Even hard popcorn kernels can break your teeth or braces if you’re not careful. Holidays are a time when teeth accidents and cracked teeth are common occurrences. 

8. Chew sugar-free gum

Having sugar-free gum helps when there is no access to floss or brush your teeth during the party in someone else’s home. Chewing sugar-free gum right after a meal helps clear your mouth from food particles and produces extra saliva. Sugared chewing gum does more harm than good, and it’s best to avoid it. 

9. Stay hydrated with healthy drink options

Skip or limit coffee, carbonated, sugary, alcoholic drinks and consider healthier drink options

Water is one of the best allies for your dental health. It helps clear the buildup of plaque, bacteria, clears the food particles from the mouth, and stimulates saliva production. Fluoridated water is even better as it counters the harmful acidic effects caused by some foods and drinks. 

Green or black tea is also useful as it washes away the acid from sugary and starchy foods. You can prepare it with regular tap water, which contains fluoride and double its benefits for your dental health.

Milk is another teeth-friendly option for its calcium and protein content. 

10. Maintain dental hygiene

Continue to brush and floss your teeth on Thanksgiving Day, and amplify your routine if need be. There is no such thing as being overly cautious with your dental health. 

However, when consuming acidic food, wait for at least half an hour before you brush your teeth. You can drink water, chew gum, and floss immediately after a meal. 

When you cannot brush, floss, or chew gum on D-day, you can use toothpicks. It is useful to remove sticky food particles and loosen the plaque buildup, but you need to be cautious not to damage your gums while doing so. 

Finally, make that appointment with your dentist post-Thanksgiving day for a checkup and teeth cleaning. It also gives your dentist the chance to spot any dental issues early on and treat them accordingly. 

We, the Esthetics Implant Dentistry  team, wish you a fun, safe, and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

We are thankful for our patients, and you can count on Esthetics Implant Dentistry services in Orange Park, and call us anytime with any dental queries, concerns, or to schedule an appointment.

You can trust Esthetics Implant Dentistry in Orange Park, FL, for expert dental care. We are enthusiastic about helping you and your children have a happy & safe Halloween.

You have probably heard the terms “Periodontitis” and “Gingivitis” before. They both refer to risky dental health conditions, but what precisely are they? In simple terms, they are stages of the same condition: gum disease. Here is a post highlighting the differences between gingivitis and periodontitis, their key symptoms, and how an Orange Park, FL dentist can help address these oral conditions. 

Gingivitis: The first stage of gum disease

Gum disease is highly prevalent in the US. According to the CDC, 50% of adults age 30+ suffer from some level of gum disease. Most of these people likely have gingivitis, a typical and mild form of gum disease that leads to gum irritation, redness, and swelling. 

Gingivitis symptoms can be so subtle that many people are unaware they have them. But just because the symptoms you are experiencing are mild, it doesn’t mean you are safe. If not addressed early, gingivitis can turn out to be a serious form of oral disease.

The most prevalent cause of gingivitis is poor oral hygiene. Taking steps to keep your gums and teeth clean is the best prevention there is. Plaque can build up fast if you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly or as advised by your dentist. In simple terms, plaque is usually a buildup of bacteria, food particles, and mucus on your teeth. When left unchecked for long, it will turn into tartar. Tartar is virtually impossible to remove without professional teeth cleaning and might cause tooth decay when left untreated.  

Besides poor oral health, several other things can lead to gingivitis. Medications, diabetes, tobacco use, poor nutrition, and hormonal changes are among the prevalent causes. 

Periodontitis: Advanced gum disease

Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that harms the soft tissue and may even tear down the bone that anchors your teeth. Periodontitis can easily cause tooth loss and has been associated with an increased risk of stroke or heart attack.  

Fortunately, periodontitis is preventable. Like gingivitis, it is primarily caused by poor oral hygiene. Thus, brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting the best dentist in Orange Park, FL bi-annually can help you avert the onset of periodontitis.

Symptoms of periodontitis may include loose teeth, bad breath, gums that pull away from your teeth, pus between teeth and gums, and swollen teeth. If you discern any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is advisable to see your family dentist immediately. There are measures that your dentist can be taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Therefore, the sooner you act, the better. 

The causes and risk factors of periodontitis are akin to those of gingivitis. But the results can be more serious. As we mentioned, asthma, poorly controlled diabetes, stroke, cancer, tooth loss, and other illnesses have been linked to periodontitis. Research has shown that the bacteria that cause periodontitis can enter your bloodstream, affecting the heart, lungs, and other body parts. 

Obviously, neither form of gum disease is better, but periodontitis is, without a doubt, worse than gingivitis. Prevention is encouraged when it comes to gum disease, and proper oral hygiene is the best bet. 

Treatment for gingivitis

You must pay attention to your oral care routine if gingivitis is detected. At least brush your teeth twice a day with a dentist-recommended toothpaste and floss at least once a day to get rid of debris and plaques from your teeth’s surfaces.

Also, avoid using tobacco, which can not only lead to gum disease but aggravate its symptoms. Actually, compared to non-smokers, smokers have a twofold increased risk of developing gum disease. Lastly, the importance of a professional cleaning conducted by your dentist cannot go unmentioned. 

Treatment for periodontitis

Treating periodontitis usually takes more time and expertise. For instance, you will want to consult a periodontist as they are better positioned to offer treatments linked to periodontitis. Some of the common treatments for periodontitis include: 

• Scaling and root planing – A type of deep cleaning that gets rid of plaque and tartar developing above and below the gum line
• Antibiotic therapy – Non-surgical procedure for healing oral infections following a deep cleaning
• Gum grafting – Surgical procedure that entails replacing dead tissue via donated material.

The sooner your gum disease symptoms are addressed, the better!

Gum disease doesn’t just fade away with time, particularly in the case of periodontitis. Note that even a mild case of gingivitis must be carefully monitored by the dentist to stop it from aggravating into a severe issue. As for periodontitis, advanced dental care is necessary, as permanent damage can occur if the infection isn’t controlled on time. 

Remember, if you notice anything unusual with your teeth or gums, that’s enough reason to give your family dentist in Orange Park a call. 

Article resources:

Information in this article has been gathered from multiple public health sources, including:

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/common-myths-of-gum-disease

https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/plaque

 

 

Everyone loves a clean mouth. At Esthetics Implant Dentistry, your family dentist in Orange Park, FL, we are all about promoting healthy mouths. In our article, we discuss how you can have dental hygiene and keep it squeaky clean.

Why Is Dental Hygiene Important For Your Health? 

Your oral health is the window to your overall health. 

Poor dental hygiene can lead to inflamed and infected gums and eventually tooth decay and loss. According to the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA), around 75% of Americans have periodontal disease, which is linked to more serious illnesses.

Without proper dental hygiene, you are at risk of developing several oral and health conditions such as heart diseases, pregnancy complications, pneumonia, etc. On the reverse side, some health conditions such as diabetes and osteoporosis can cause dental problems, which makes practicing dental hygiene even more crucial to reduce the risks. 

Dental Hygiene Tips For A Healthy Mouth  

Practicing oral hygiene and keeping it on track helps keep harmful bacteria at bay. At Esthetics Implant Dentistry, we advocate a simple oral hygiene routine that you can include easily in your busy lifestyle. 

We only ask you to stay committed and consistent with our suggested dental hygiene regimen. It should take only a few minutes of your time each day. 

Here are our simple and effective dental hygiene tips. 

1. Brush Twice Daily For Two Minutes

Brushing your teeth is the most important prevention method for cavities, plaque, and gingivitis. 

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes, each using a soft-bristled toothbrush. 

Fluoride toothpaste is recommended for adults as well as for babies and toddlers by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Dental Association.

If you’re using a manual toothbrush, tilt it at a 45-degree angle and brush gently to avoid damage to your enamel. Brush in soft circles inside, outside, top, bottom, and in between your teeth to remove bacteria and plaque. Also, brush your tongue to remove the harmful bacteria that can live there and cause bad breath. 

Electric brushes are better than manual brushes, as studies have proven. Electric brushes have indicators to help you know if you’re brushing too hard and for how long.

2. Floss Daily 

Flossing is ideal to clean the ‘hard to reach’ places in your mouth, like in-between your teeth and up under your gum line. It removes the food particles and plaque buildup in those areas and prevents tooth decay, gum disease and formation of tartar. 

If you’re new to flossing or not regular with it, then you might notice that your gums may bleed. People think that it’s because they hurt themselves with flossing. This is a wrong assumption, as the bleeding results from inflammation and early gum disease. Continue to floss daily carefully and the bleeding should stop as your gum becomes less inflamed with time. But first, inform your dentist about your teeth bleeding after flossing for their advice to rule out the possibility of an underlying condition. 

The order of brushing and flossing doesn’t matter. The advantage of flossing first is that it allows the fluoride in your toothpaste to get in between your teeth better and keeps the enamel strong and free from decay. 

3. Use A Mouthwash

Most people think using mouthwash is optional. But if you’re serious about your dental hygiene, then mouthwash is a must. 

Brushing and flossing help clean less than half of your mouth. Rinsing your mouth with an effective mouthwash can help eliminate harmful germs, plaque, and prevent gum disease. 

However, not all mouthwashes are the same. There are two distinct types: 

• Cosmetic mouthwash:  This helps control bad breath but only temporarily. See a dentist for a permanent solution to bad breath.
• Therapeutic mouthwash: This controls a variety of dental issues, such as bad breath, infection, decay, plaque, and gingivitis. This has a more lasting effect, compared to cosmetic mouthwash.

Depending on your condition, you can opt for any of the two kinds of mouthwash. We suggest using any good antimicrobial, non-alcohol-based mouthwash with the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Brushing more than twice a day can hurt your delicate enamel. To keep your teeth clean all day, a good idea is to chew sugar-free gum with the ADA Seal of Acceptance for around 20 minutes, preferably after a meal. 

4. Use Sugar-free Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates the secretion of more saliva that helps rinse away bacteria from your mouth. It also spreads disease-fighting substances in your mouth.

However, be cautious, as excessive gum chewing can strain and damage your teeth and jaw. Those with alignment issues can be prone to muscular tension and pain.

Using the above four hygiene steps daily can help keep your mouth healthy. But that isn’t enough.

5. Get A Professional Dental Cleaning Done 

Professional dental cleanup is a step up from your home dental hygiene regimen. There will still be areas in your mouth that are not effectively cleaned with brushing and flossing. 

A regular dental checkup starts with an examination that can detect an underlying dental issue. Regular checkups can lead to early diagnosis and treatment for any dental issue. It’s also an opportunity for you to discuss and clear any queries about your dental hygiene and any other underlying condition. Based on your responses, your dentist can help you with the right care for your teeth and gums. 

Visiting your dentist in Orange Park, FL is a mandatory step in your dental hygiene regimen.

Keep It Clean, Keep It Healthy

We need to take dental care and hygiene seriously by taking action daily. It doesn’t take much of your time daily. Also, it’s just 2 dental checkups in 365 days. 

That’s the least we can do for our health. If you’re due for your dental checkup, call us now to schedule an appointment

 

Disclaimer: We routinely draw upon public health resources to inform our write-ups. Information in this article may be drawn up from multiple public health sources, including:

American Dental Association’s MouthHealthy.org

California Dental Association

American Dental Association’s Action for Dental Health

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Webmd 

Healthline

Laser Dentistry

 

Use A MouthwashChew Sugar-free Gum Get A Professional Dental Cleaning Done