| Carbonated Water - Does It Damage Your Teeth? |
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If you are one of carbonated water’s biggest fans, you might want to rethink your habit. Even though it is true that you are drinking water, which we all know is good for your oral and physical health, the carbonation in these flavored or even non-flavored waters can do damage to your teeth. In some cases, the damage can be just as bad as the effects of drinking soda! Here are the top reasons to avoid carbonated water:
• They are high in acid, which is what is present in soda and juice. This means that the water you think is so healthy is not doing your teeth any more good than drinking a can of soda.
• The acid in the carbonated water weakens the enamel of your teeth for at least the next 30 minutes after drinking it. This gives food debris, sugar and bacteria a chance to get into your tooth and cause decay.
• Many people add lemons or limes to their carbonated water, which exacerbates the acidity problem. Lemons and limes are guilty of eating away at the enamel of your teeth on their own; when you combine it with an acidic drink, the damages can be monstrous.
• Many carbonated waters also have added sugar, which makes them even worse for your teeth as you face the risk of tooth decay and gum disease as a result of your drink.
It is always best to drink plain water. If you do consume carbonated water on occasion, make sure to follow it up with a regular glass of water and brush your teeth 30 minutes after drinking it. |
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| Proper Tooth Brushing Techniques
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Sometimes it is not how long you brush your teeth, but the technique that you use. You could brush your teeth for more than the recommended two minutes, but if you are not hitting the right angles, the bacteria will still reside in your mouth. Here’s a quick refresher:
• Use back and forth motions on the chewing surfaces in order to work the food debris and bacteria out of the nooks and crannies of this surface of your teeth.
• Use up and down motions on the rear side of your top and bottom teeth to eliminate any plaque that may be behind your teeth.
• At a 45 degree angle, use small, circular motions on the front of all of your teeth.
• Make sure to reach back to the posterior teeth to ensure that no food or bacteria is left behind as this is the most common place for tooth decay to begin.
Using the right technique can help make sure that your pearly whites stay clean and shiny in between professional visits! |
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| Regular Periodontal Checkups Save Lives |
Have you been diagnosed with periodontal disease? That's the same as gum-disease. In addition to your regular dental check-ups, it is a good idea for you to also have a yearly periodontal check-up. If you see us for regular checkups, this is already being done. If not, then you're missing out on important information that can help you keep your teeth for a lifetime. Once periodontal disease has progressed, it is often a matter of regular maintenance visits to help keep the disease in remission. The annual periodontal exam includes periodontal charting and comprehensive x-rays to monitor any bone-loss that may be occurring. You may already have been diagnosed with periodontitis and have seen a periodontist, a dental specialist who's practice is limited to treating gum-disease. If so, then the periodontist handles the regular periodontal check-ups and you still need to see us to have your teeth checked. If you aren't sure where you stand, call us today and we will be happy to talk with you about it.
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