Many people are self conscious about the color of their teeth. White teeth are attractive, and with the variety of options available, they are also attainable. The yellowing of your teeth comes from the outer enamel of the tooth forming very, very small cracks that allows the dentin (the inner layer of the tooth, which is a darker color) to show through. There are also many foods and drinks that can actually stain the enamel of the tooth, further causing discoloration. This can include coffee, smoking, red wine, sodas, etc. Surface stains to the teeth can easily be taken care of by regular dental hygiene visits, as well as over-the-counter or professional bleaching treatments. Stains coming from the inside of your teeth (the dentin) are harder to fix, and usually require professional treatment.

Many people wonder if the drugstore bleaching options are worth their money. In some cases, they really do work well, especially light staining. However, often the solutions are not strong enough for lasting results, so you will often have to reapply on a regular basis. Professional bleaching provides a tray custom-fitted to your teeth so that every inch of surface area is covered. The solutions are also stronger so your teeth look whiter for a longer period of time.

Having an attractive, white smile can change your life. It can give you the confidence you need to make a new friend, go after a promotion, or speak in public. People who smile more seem more approachable, which can be important in your social life and in your professional life. Our website discusses the science behind white teeth in further detail as well as some different professional whitening options to consider. Don’t hesitate to call us at 410-876-2096 with questions about individualized whitening options.

Our society has a thing for sugar. Often foods labeled low fat have added sugar to make them taste better. Instead of fruit, we eat fruit snacks or drink fruit juice. Even our “health foods” are often processed and full of added sugar. Check the label on your favorite iced tea, coffee drink (frappuccinos, we are looking at you!), fruit juice, or of course, soda, and you are most likely looking at over 40 grams a sugar–which you will consume in the matter of a half hour or so! That can be a shock to your body. For non-diabetics, health professionals only recommend women consume about 30 grams of added sugar, and men about 45 grams. Added sugar is sugar that doesn’t naturally occur in the foods your eat, such as fruits and vegetables, which naturally contain sugars. Drinking one sugary beverage could put you over your limit–for your whole day!

We know sugar isn’t good for your teeth. You are probably aware that sugar can equal a thicker waistline in the long run. However, sugar can be harmful to your body for other reasons too. Ingesting too much sugar can cause headaches, attention issues, fatigue, and moodiness. Depending on your dietary habits, you may experience an “afternoon slump” because of the sugar you consume in the morning or at lunch. For some people, sugar can cause breakouts or other skin issues. Your body can also become addicted to sugar, which causes you to crave sugary junk foods instead of the foods your body really needs. If you are really interested in the effects sugar can have on your body, check out this link here (warning: it may seriously affect the way you look at sugar!).

We aren’t suggesting that you cut added sugar entirely out of your diet. A great step in taking a healthy look at your sugar intake would be to make a food journal for a day or two. Write down everything you eat or drink, then calculate how much sugar you are consuming. Compare this to the recommended amount of sugar for you. If you are a diabetic, please consult your doctor regarding your sugar intake. Find foods and drinks that may have a high sugar content that maybe you are not realizing, and take steps to replace them or make them a special treat rather than something you have every day.

Broken/Cracked Tooth

This can happen from biting down on hard food or objects, or trauma to the face. For a broken or cracked tooth, you should avoid eating or drinking, especially hot or cold foods (it will be sensitive), or biting down on anything with the hurt tooth. It’s important to avoid further damaging the tooth if it is cracked to avoid root damage. If your tooth is broken, collect the broken pieces and bring with you to your dentist. You should make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

Lost Tooth

This is especially common at sporting events (wear your mouthguard, athletes!), but can happen at any time. It is important to receive treatment by your dentist as soon as possible because it is possible that your tooth could be saved. Your first step should be applying gauze or a towel to stop bleeding, then locate the tooth. Once the tooth is located, clean it with a small amount of saliva in a cup, or water. Once you have thoroughly cleaned the tooth, try to place the tooth back in its socket within an hour of losing it, if possible. Hold it down with a piece of gauze and go see your dentist immediately. If you cannot place the tooth back in its socket, store it in a glass of milk or saline solution. If the root is broken, it will not be possible to place the tooth in the socket. In this case, store in milk, saline solution, or saliva, and see your dentist.

Cut in the mouth

This often accompanies other dental emergencies. It is important to control the bleeding in the mouth immediately. To assist a person with a serious cut in their mouth, wash your hands and put on non-latex gloves. Have the person lay down and elevate their head. Use a clean towel or gauze to apply light pressure to try and stop the bleeding until emergency personnel arrive or the person can be taken to the dentist or doctor. Even if you are able to stop the bleeding on your own, be sure to have your dentist check out your injury. Infection is likely for a cut in the mouth because of the contact with food.

Fractured or dislocated jaw

This is a serious injury. Follow protocol for head and neck injuries and seek immediate medical attention.

Bite on the Lip or Tongue

This rarely requires immediate medical attention, but it sure can hurt! If you are bleeding, apply clean gauze or towel. If bleeding doesn’t stop, seek immediate medical attention. If the bleeding does stop, apply a cold compress to prevent swelling. Monitor for infection. At any sign of infection, see your dentist right away.

Some parents are banking on this. Store-a-Tooth bank harvests stem cells from baby teeth and wisdom teeth and store them in the correct atmosphere in case they are able to be used. Teeth are removed by the child’s dentist and packaged in a kit to be sent to the Store-a-Tooth lab. Many dentists are excited and hopeful that these stem cells could open up a new avenue for healing of very serious of childhood diseases. Parents of children with health issues are willing to pay the money to store stem cells on the chance that they could be used.

Dr. Mark Hyman, author of Ultrametabolism, recently wrote a blog post we thought was excellent in regards to the importance of sleep, the seriousness of sleep apnea, and some tips on sleeping better and getting to sleep faster. If you have ever had sleep issues, you know that they can truly impact every area of your life, from your job, to stress level, and even your nutrition (it is proven that if you are more tired, you are less likely to make proper food choices). Below are some of our favorite new-to-us sleep tips (for the entire article, click the link above) :

How to sleep better and fall asleep faster:

1. Consider how much stimuli you receive during the day–especially right before bed. Make a commitment to begin winding down at least an hour (better yet–two) before bed by cutting off the TV and computer, and begin relaxing by reading, taking a bath, or enjoying some decaf tea.

2. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Even if you really enjoy sleeping in on the weekends, try to maintain a set bed-time and wake-up time.

3. If you have issues with your mind racing as you try to fall asleep, begin writing your thoughts and worries down before bed, as well as some possible solutions for your worries. This can help clear your mind for sleep.

4. Sleep in total darkness. People often invest in room-darkening shades for their children, but consider installing some in your own room, or use a sleeping mask. If noises keep you up, try a sound machine or white noise app for your phone.

5. Stretch your muscles before bed.

6. Look into herbal remedies such as melatonin or valerian. As always, consult your doctor or pharmacist before trying out herbal remedies or medications.

7. Don’t eat dinner any later than three hours before bedtime. This can cause restlessness because your body needs to digest the food.

8. Look at your medications and check to be sure they are not interfering with your sleep. Certain headache and cold medications, as well as steroids and antihistamines can make it difficult to fall asleep. Consider taking them earlier in the day or talk with your doctor about alternatives.

9. Get regular exposure to sunlight. Even 20 minutes a day regulates your melatonin levels.

10. Take magnesium supplements to relax your body and your muscles for sleep.

Again, be sure to check out the full article for more comprehensive information regarding herbal supplements, sleep benefits, and sleep apnea.

If you have any issues with sleep apnea, check out our website for helpful information on the benefits of treatment and treatment options.

April is National Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and a great time to become aware of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer–one of the only types of cancer that is on the rise rather than the decline. This is mostly from lack of awareness. People often don’t talk about oral cancer, or get screened often enough. 30,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with oral cancer, and within the first year, the survival rate of oral cancer is 50%. It is really important to catch oral cancer early, because in the early stages it can be very treatable. Treating oral cancer in its more advanced state can cause chronic pain, and even facial disfigurement from the surgeries involved.

Your dentist should check for lumps and tissue changes at your regular dental exam (every six months). At your next visit, be sure to ask your dentist if this is a part of your visit, and ensure that the screening will be completed regularly. Dentists have been proven to “play a key role in diagnosing oral cancer” (see article here ). It is difficult to check your own mouth for irregularities as thoroughly as your dentist can, however, see here for an outline on how to check your mouth for cancer. As a reminder, the following can be signs of oral cancer:

• Any lump, sore, or ulcer that does not heal in 2 weeks
• A sore that bleeds and doesn’t heal in 2 weeks
• Patches that are red or white
• Pain in the mouth that does not heal in 2 weeks
• Ear pain
• Enlargement of thyroid or lymph nodes/external neck mass
• Trouble chewing/swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Sore throat that does not heal in 2 weeks
• Numbness or burning of the mouth
• Swelling or difficulty extending the tongue
• Skin rashes that suddenly appear

Be sure to maintain regular visits to your dental health professional, and if you have any of the above symptoms, talk them over with your dentist.

It is becoming more and more evident that prolonged inactivity, whether because of a desk job or just relaxing in front of the TV is not good for your health. Sitting for most of the day has been linked with:

• increased risk of heart disease
• slow metabolism
• weight gain
• high cholesterol and blood pressure
• higher blood sugar

Interestingly enough, even those who regularly work out, but then spend the majority of the rest of their day sitting, are not spared from the health risks of being a “couch potato.” A couple of recent health studies have targeted this group of “active couch potatoes,” who diligently work out for a half hour to an hour almost every day, yet have desk jobs or lifestyles that involve sitting for most of the rest of their day. Unfortunately, the workouts did not appear to reverse the effects of prolonged inactivity. Obviously, any physical activity is good for you and your heart, but the fact of the matter is that working out for a half hour leaves a large portion of the day sedentary. In fact, those who worked out seemed to factor that in and were less likely to take the stairs or take a walk over a lunch break because they had already clocked in their workout time.

Depending on your profession, you may end up with spending much of your day in a desk chair, cubicle, etc., however, there are some easy changes you can make to get up and get moving throughout the day.

• Take at least one break an hour. It doesn’t need to be long–just get out of your chair, stretch, fill up your water bottle, or deliver a message in person to a coworker, rather than shooting an email to the office next door.
• Take the stairs in and out of the office.
• Take a short walk over your lunchbreak.
• Get up and stretch every so often–this will help with any tightness in your back as well.
• Take your phone calls standing up.
• Use an exercise ball instead of a desk chair. If this is too much, just replace your desk chair with the ball for a short period of time every day–it strengthens your core and keeps your moving.
• Talk with your employer about a stand-up work station or treadmill work stations at the office. It may be a long shot, but it also may be worth the try–studies are conclusive that active, healthy employees are more productive.

Even some of these smaller changes have proven to reverse the ill effects of sitting all day long. Let us kn0w: how do you remain active in a job that requires a lot of sitting?

When preparing for the birth of a child, your teeth may be the last thing on your mind. Studies have linked gum disease during pregnancy to premature labor, as well as some other complications. It is also important to take care of yourself and your teeth, even when your focus may be on caring for your new family member.

Many pregnant women complain of swollen, bleeding gums, which results from the increase of progesterone in your body.The increase in hormones can also cause you to be more prone to gingivitis, so it is extra important to care for your teeth and gums.

While expecting, a couple key steps can be taken to ensure oral health throughout your pregnancy:

1. It may be tempting to skip your six month (or whatever your dentist recommends for you) dental visits, but maintain your usual schedule of hygiene visits. Talk with your dentist about the best time to come (factors can include comfort, increased gag reflex, etc), which is generally in your second trimester, and don’t forget to fit in a good cleaning before you have the increased scheduling demands of a newborn.

2. When snack attacks happen, reach for fruits, vegetables, and nuts, rather than sugary, processed foods. This is better for your whole body–and your baby.

3. Maintain your routine of brushing at least twice a day, and flossing, even if your gums are sensitive. Talk over some other flossing options or see here if you are looking for alternatives to traditional flossing.

1. An apple a day keeps the doctor away– Apples are a great source of many vitamins and eating one is never a bad idea, but the real “super fruit” is blueberries. They are full of antioxidants and fiber, as well as easier to toss onto your cereal or yogurt.

2. Carbonated drinks can cause osteoporosis.– It’s true that soda is linked to osteoporosis, but the carbonation is not the reason, so carbonated water and seltzer are okay for your bones.

3. Stress=gray hair– Stress does release hormones into the body, but there is no evidence that it causes gray hair.

4. Egg consumption is linked to higher cholesterol.– Eggs have gotten a bad rap for years, but they actually are a great source of lean protein, even when consumed daily.

5. Spicy foods cause ulcers.– Hot peppers actually reduce the acid in the stomach that causes ulcers.

6. Going outside with wet hair makes you sick.– Being cold doesn’t make you sick, but viruses do.

7. It’s always a good idea to take a multivitamin– If your doctor prescribes you with a vitamin, take it. However, many people take a daily multivitamin that ends up providing them with more than enough of certain vitamins and minerals. At high levels, some vitamins can be toxic, and at the very least you may be wasting your money on expensive vitamins. Consult your doctor first.