Seasonal Allergies And Your Oral Health

SPRING IS IN THE AIR…and that means so are allergies. Seasonal allergies affect millions of people every year, but did you know that they can also affect oral health?
 

Why Do We Get Seasonal Allergies?

While there are plenty of allergens that can make us sneeze year round, such as dust and pet dander, seasonal allergies typically flare up twice a year: in the spring and the fall. This can mean long months of congestion, an itchy nose, mouth, eyes, or throat, puffy eyes, sneezing, and coughing for people with allergies.

The reason our allergies act up the most during spring and fall is that trees and grass pollinate throughout the spring, while ragweed pollinates in the fall. Mold will also send out spores around the same time. Allergic reactions, including seasonal allergies, are the result of our immune systems going into overdrive in response to these allergens.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJt8o8fp5_E

Allergies Versus Oral Health

While allergies can result in tingly or swollen lips, mouth, or tongue and irritated gums, the most common way seasonal allergies can become a problem for oral health is dry mouth. Whenever we have congestion, we end up breathing through our mouths instead of our noses, which dries up our saliva. Having dry mouth presents a serious threat to oral health, because saliva is the mouth’s first line of defense against gum disease and tooth decay.

Prevention And Treatment

Because many allergens are airborne, avoiding allergic reactions can be difficult, but there are a few things you can do. It’s best to stay indoors on extra windy days when the most allergens are in the air. You should also wear a pollen mask while doing yard work, and avoid using window fans that could blow pollen and spores into your house.

If you do end up having an allergy attack, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and chew sugar-free gum to stimulate your salivary glands, and keep up your daily brushing and flossing routine. Make sure you also take the anti-allergy medications your doctor or allergist recommends to minimize your congestion.

Fighting Back Against Allergies Together!

If you’re experiencing dry mouth, whether as a side-effect of seasonal allergies or for any other reason, don’t hesitate to come see us! Your oral health is our top priority, and together we can come up with a plan to keep your mouth healthy until the allergies end and beyond!

Thank you for putting your trust in our practice!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Smile-Friendly Breakfast Secrets

BREAKFAST MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT meal of the day, but for many of us it’s also the most unhealthy. A bad breakfast is not only bad for our teeth, but makes us feel sluggish before we even get out the door—setting us on a track for unhealthy choices throughout the day.

How Often Do You Eat Breakfast On-The-Go?

We usually don’t give ourselves time for healthy breakfast options. We grab something handy and rush out the door. Donuts, starchy muffins, and sugary pastries gulped down with acidic orange juice or tooth-staining coffee aren’t exactly tooth friendly. Even our morning cereals may contain more decay-causing sugar than candy bars!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GOuGSujaoA

3 Smart Breakfast Tips To Protect Your Teeth

1. Choose whole grains. They’re better for you, and easier on your teeth than refined starches.
2. Yogurt naturally neutralizes acids on teeth. Adding granola, chopped nuts, or fruit can make your breakfast more nutritious and delicious!
3. If you eat acidic fruits, juices or smoothies, rinse your mouth with water when finished.

Smile-Healthy Breakfasts

What’s good for your teeth is usually what’s good for your body. Here are some great menu ideas:

Whole grain, sugar-light cereal with calcium-rich milk

Scrambled eggs and whole-wheat toast

Yogurt with granola or muesli

What’s your favorite quick-and-healthy breakfast? Share in the comments below. We love to hear from you.

Thanks for being a valued part of our practice family!

Helping Your Child Trust The Dentist

EVEN THOUGH WE ALL know how important it is to go to the dentist, dental anxiety can make many people avoid crucial dental checkups. For some, dental anxiety starts in childhood and lasts a lifetime. How can we help our children start out with a positive mindset towards the dentist so that they will always seek the professional care and attention their teeth need as adults?
 

Be Honest But Avoid Negativity

The most important thing you can do for your child is to not make a trip to the dentist into an ordeal. Simply approach it as a perfectly normal part of staying healthy. Tell your child about an upcoming dental visit ahead of time so that it isn’t a surprise, and answer their questions about what dental appointments are like. Try to avoid scary words like “pain” and “shots,” and leave the detailed explanations of dental procedures to us.

One crucial thing to do even when there isn’t an appointment coming up is to never use the dentist as a threat. Saying things like, “If you don’t brush your teeth, you’ll end up at the dentist!” will only make a child think dentist visits are punishments — something to be feared and avoided. You can still encourage good oral hygiene habits without portraying the dentist as the boogeyman, like the way this video does:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOebfGGcjVw 

 

Address Existing Sources Of Fear

If your child is already afraid of the dentist, you might have a little more of an uphill battle to fight, but it’s still a battle you can win! Communication is key. Talk to your child about why they’re afraid of the dentist and help them understand that it isn’t so scary. Lead by example and show them that you go to the dentist too.

Patience is also crucial. Even for adults, the idea of having a stranger poking and prodding inside our mouths while we’re lying in a vulnerable position can be unsettling, so imagine how that must be for a child who isn’t used to it. Make sure your child understands that dental cleanings will make their teeth feel great and that the dentist is on their team, helping them fight bad germs and tooth decay.

We Are Happy To Help

Sometimes, dental anxiety is too strong for these strategies to completely cure. That’s where we come in. Our team knows how to work with children to make them feel more comfortable, so don’t feel like you have to make them love us without our help!

We’re looking forward to helping your child’s smile stay healthy and bright!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

When To See The Dentist

BECAUSE PREVENTION IS such a major part of good dental care, it’s critical to visit the dentist for regular checkups. In most cases, two regular dental cleanings a year will be all you need, but not always. So what are the signs that you shouldn’t wait until your next scheduled appointment to come back? For this blog post, we’ve listed the top five.
 

1. Aches Of Any Kind

If you’re experiencing tooth pain, that could mean a cavity has gotten to the point where the dental pulp is getting infected. Don’t tough it out thinking it’ll just go away on its own. Other types of pain you should bring to the dentist are an aching jaw and frequent headaches. These are often connected to oral health issues such as bruxism (teeth-grinding), and the dentist can help!

2. Mouth Sores And Bleeding Gums

Mouth sores usually go away on their own, but they can also be a sign of infection or disease, so it’s important to get those looked at when they appear. If you notice that you’re bleeding after brushing or flossing, it’s time to come see the dentist, particularly if you’re already using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Bleeding gums are one of the first symptoms of gum disease, so don’t ignore the signs!

3. Previous Dental Work

If you’ve had dental work done in the past and there’s a problem with it now, don’t wait until a regular appointment to get that fixed, because it will likely get worse. A cracked or chipped crown needs to be repaired quickly so that infection doesn’t set in. Worn-out fillings need to be replaced to prevent bacteria from thriving in the gaps between the tooth and the filling.

4. Serious Medical Concerns

Serious conditions such as diabetes, eating disorders, and gum disease affect our oral health more than we realize, and sometimes the treatments have negative impacts too. Many medications cause dry mouth, which can seriously jeopardize oral health. That’s why if you are diagnosed with a chronic disease and/or have new medications prescribed to you, your dentist needs to know about it.

5. Bad Breath

Few things are as mortifying as being in a social situation and realizing you have bad breath, but did you know that bad breath is sometimes a symptom of gum disease or other health problems? If you find yourself having an unusually hard time keeping your breath minty fresh, it’s a good idea to visit the dentist so we can discover the underlying cause.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWhF0WYG7P4

Keep Up Your Regular Visits!

While we hope you come to see us right away if you notice any of these signs, we want to reemphasize the importance of scheduling regular appointments. Most dental health problems appear gradually, and an appointment every six months is enough to catch these problems before they become serious.

Thank you for trusting in us to take care of all your dental concerns!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

3 Thanksgiving Dishes Your Dentist Would Approve Of

Published by S&S

Thanksgiving is upon us! Which means it’s time to stuff our stomach’s with all the best food our families can cook. But eating such delectable Holiday dishes shouldn’t just have to taste good, can it also be good for you? Trying to manage good oral health is hard enough without being tempted left and right during the Holidays. So, we put together a list of 3 Thanksgiving dishes even your dentist would approve of! Here are some recipes with a more mindful approach!

Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are an amazing food in regards to oral health. These delicious little morsels contain a healthy amount of vitamins C, D, and B. These vitamins are essential to keeping your oral hygiene in check while practically making them a dental superfood. All of these benefits make sweet potatoes a great mouth-healthy addition to your Thanksgiving meal!

Ingredients :

• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

• 4 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), peeled, cut into 3/4-inch chunks

• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (preferably Grade B)

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

 Directions :

Preheat oven to 400°F. Oil 2 large rimmed baking sheets with 1 tablespoon oil each. Combine sweet potatoes and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in large bowl; toss. Divide sweet potatoes between baking sheets, spreading evenly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast until almost tender, turning occasionally with metal spatula, about 35 minutes. DO AHEAD Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand uncovered at room temperature. Drizzle maple syrup over sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Roast until sweet potatoes are tender and syrup is reduced to glaze and coats sweet potatoes, about 20 minutes.

 

Classic Spinach Salad with a twist

This isn’t just any salad, this is a bowl packed full of goodness for your overall oral health. Rich in fibre which when chewed, acts like a natural toothbrush and helps dislodge food particles while also cleaning the surface of the teeth. Not to mention a classic staple at any Thanksgiving dinner, try this recipe out and rest easy knowing you made your dentist proud!

Ingredients:

• 1 medium shallot, thinly sliced

• ¼ cup white wine vinegar

• ¼ teaspoon crushed red chile flakes

• ½ teaspoon sugar, plus more

• Kosher salt

• 8 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces

• 1 pound shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, large caps torn into 1-inch pieces, small caps left whole

• 1 garlic clove, smashed

• Freshly ground black pepper

• ½ cup light buttermilk

• ½ cup light sour cream

• ¼ cup light mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ¼ cup finely chopped mixed herbs, such as basil, chives, and/or dill

• 2 large bunches mature spinach, stemmed, torn into 2-inch pieces

 Directions:

•  Combine shallot, vinegar, chile flakes, ½ tsp. sugar, and ½ tsp. salt in a small nonreactive bowl; let sit at room temperature until ready to use.

• Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until fat has rendered and bacon is browned and crisp, 8–10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels. Pour off 1 Tbsp. fat; set aside for dressing. Return skillet to medium heat and add mushrooms and garlic to remaining bacon fat; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown, 6–8 minutes. Whisk buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and reserved bacon fat in a medium bowl until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in herbs; cover and chill until cold, at least 30 minutes. Transfer shallot to a large bowl; discard vinegar mixture. Add spinach, dressing, bacon, and mushrooms and toss to coat. Divide salad among plates.

Apple Pie

Last, but by no means least, is dessert. Packed with sugar, apple pie is a Thanksgiving classic that is notorious for causing all kinds of dental problems. This is unfortunate as apples are great for gum health. Try this alternative apple pie recipe that taste phenomenal and is better for you too! With its flaky crust and cozy cinnamon-spiced filling, this apple pie is just as satisfying and delicious as traditional full-fat recipes! A perfect way to end a Thanksgiving meal!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds mixed apples (such as Gala and Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

1/2 cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 large egg white

2 tablespoons turbinado or raw sugar

2 tablespoons apricot jam, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly flour your fingers. With one hand, bring your thumb and index finger together on the edge of the crust of prepared dough to form small peaks all the way around. Use your other hand to stabilize the pie plate. Freeze 10 minutes or until firm. Toss together apples and next 5 ingredients (through cinnamon) in a bowl. Arrange filling in dough in concentric circles. Brush top edges of dough with egg white, and sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake in middle of oven for 40-50 minutes or until crust is golden brown and apples are tender. (If crust is becoming too brown, cover with foil.)Transfer to a wire rack, and brush filling with jam; let cool. Slice and serve slightly warm or cool.

 

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