Habits That Wreck Your Teeth: Opening Stuff With Your Teeth

Opening bottle caps or plastic packaging with your teeth may be convenient, but this is one habit that makes dentists cringe. Using your teeth as tools can cause them to crack or chip. Instead, keep scissors and bottle openers handy. Bottom line, your teeth should only be used for eating.

Above article from: webmd.com/oral-health

 

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Habits That Wreck Your Teeth: Bedtime Bottles

It’s never too early to protect teeth. Giving a baby a bedtime bottle of juice, milk, or formula, can put new teeth on a path to decay. The baby may become used to falling asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth, bathing the teeth in sugars overnight. It's best to keep bottles out of the crib.

Above article from: webmd.com/oral-health

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Habits that Wreck Your Teeth: Cough Drops

Just because cough drops are sold in the medicine aisle doesn't mean they’re healthy. Most are loaded with sugar. So after soothing your throat with a lozenge, be sure to brush well. Whether the sugar comes from a cough drop or a hard candy, it reacts with the sticky plaque that coats your teeth. Then bacteria in the plaque convert the sugar into an acid that eats away at tooth enamel. Hello, cavities.

Above article from: webmd.com/oral-health

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

What's Your Excuse?

At East Berlin Smiles, we cannot tell you how many times we have heard people say things like....

"I've been meaning to make an appointment but I haven't gotten around to it yet."

With that in mind, here are some of the most frequent excuses people have for not visiting the dentist.


* Going to the dentist is too expensive!!!

Actually, the opposite is true! While quality health care can certainly be costly, the investment in preventive dental procedures such as hygiene visits, exams and necessary digital images can save thousands,if nottens of thousands of dollars in more expensive treatment later. The sooner you go, the less it will cost!! And, if you don't have insurance, that's OK! Insurance is not necessary. As a matter of fact, most of our patients don't have insurance. We offer no interest financing and several affordable options to make it stay within your budget.

* Dental appointments are uncomfortable!

While a dental visit may not be as much fun as a night at the movies, it's not as difficult as it was decades ago. Modern anesthetics and dental techniques have made a trip to the dentist more pleasant than ever before. Dr. Cockley uses the latest in topical anesthetics to numb your gums and she is pretty slick with her injection technique!! Many patients ask if they have been given an injection because they never even felt it!! We are always searching for the latest "comfort" items to make your visit as relaxing as possible. Allow us to pamper you with an MP3 player and headphones, heated neck wrap, blanket, paraffin wax hand treatment or cushy pillows!! Our new hygiene chairs have heat and massage that you control yourself so you might say that your dental appointment was the most relaxing hour of your week!

*I don't want to take off work to go to the dentist!

We are open from 7am until 7pm to accommodate work schedules. You can come in before or after work.

*I'm not in pain so I don't need to go!

Even if you take fantastic care of your teeth and gums, waiting until you have pain means you have waited too long! Early cavities and gum disease are painless. Waiting for symptoms can lead to complicated and expensive treatment and even tooth loss.

At East Berlin Smiles, we value the importance of regular dental examinations and preventive cleanings. Our goal is to make your dental treatment  as comfortable and cost-efficient as possible, and to help you keep your teeth for a lifetime.

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to make an appointment, please give us a call at 717-259-9596 and let Christa or Cathy help you. They are here for you!

If you aren't making any of these excuses, please feel free to forward this to someone who is. You'll be doing them a huge favor!!

East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Who Gave the Tooth Fairy a Raise??

If you are of a "certain age", you may remember gently placing your lost baby tooth under your pillow and hoping the tooth fairy (or one of her agents) would come by in the middle of the night and replace it with a quarter. Well it seems those days are gone!

According to a survey by Visa, the National average is now $3.70 per tooth, up 42 percent in the last two years!

"Tooth Fairy inflation is surging", says Jason Alderman, Visa's director of global education. Alderman goes on to say this rise in rates is due to several things and names the economy and parental guilt as the two main drivers. "It's hard for us to say 'no' to our kids", he adds.

Neale Godfrey, chair of The Children's Financial Network, agrees on the guilt aspect. They have seen that about 6 percent of the time, tooth fairies (or her parental representatives) are leaving more than twenty dollars and two percent are tipping the scales at a whopping fifty bucks per tooth!!!!!!

So, while we can't counsel you on how much to suggest that your local tooth fairy slips under the pillow, when it comes to all things concerning children and their teeth, at East Berlin Smiles we are here for you!

To discuss any problems or questions or to schedule an appointment for you or your child, please call and speak with Cathy or Christa at 717-259-9596 today! We'd love to have your child come visit us for one of our Kids' Days, making their dental visits fun. There is never a charge for a Kids' Day visit under the age of 3. Remember-having regular dental checkups saves you money-so you can be prepared for whatever the tooth fairy requires!

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Habits That Wreck Your Teeth - Tongue Piercings

Tongue piercings may be trendy, but biting down on the metal stud can crack a tooth. Lip piercings pose a similar risk. And when metal rubs against the gums, it can cause gum damage that may lead to tooth loss. The mouth is also a haven for bacteria, so piercings raise the risk of infections and sores. Bottom line, discuss the health risks with your dentist first.

Above article from: webmd.com/oral-health

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Habits That Wreck Your Teeth - Playing Sports With No Mouth Guard

Whether you play football, hockey, or any other contact sport, don't get in the game without a mouth guard. This is a piece of molded plastic that protects the upper row of teeth. Without it, your teeth could get chipped or even knocked out when the action gets rough. Self-fitting mouth guards may be purchased at a store, or you can have one custom made by your dentist.

Above article from: webmd.com/oral-health

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Habits That Wreck Your Teeth - Chewing on Ice

It’s natural and sugar free, so you might think ice is harmless. But munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or even crack your teeth. And if your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth, regular toothaches may follow. Hot foods and cold foods may trigger quick, sharp jabs of pain or a lingering toothache. Next time you get the urge for ice, chew some sugarless gum instead.

Above article from: webmd.com/oral-health

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Oral Warning Signs Can Indicate Serious Medical Conditions

Regular dental exams not only help to decrease a patient's risk of oral diseases, such as cavities and periodontal (gum) disease, but they may also help to diagnose other, sometimes life-threatening, medical conditions.

 

Dentists are able to assess a patient's overall oral health and may recognize symptoms of serious diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and eating disorders, which often manifest as signs and symptoms inside of the mouth. Click here to learn more.

Above article from KnowYourTeeth.com

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Halloween Tips

Halloween is around the corner, which for most children means bags of free candy and a

chance to build up the stockpile of sweets for the winter. Being one of the most fun times of the year for families, Halloween can also present parents with a variety of health and safety challenges.

The American Dental Association, America's premier source of oral health information, has prepared a list of 10 suggestions to help parents maintain good oral health for their children around the Halloween holiday and throughout the year.

1.     Consume Halloween candy and other sugary foods with meals.
Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.

2.     Avoid hard candy and other sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time.
Besides how often you snack, the length of time food is in your mouth plays a role in tooth decay. Unless it is a sugar-free product, candies that stay in the mouth for a long period of time subject teeth to prolonged acid attack, increasing the risk for tooth decay.

3.     Avoid sticky candies that cling to your teeth.
The stickier candies, like taffy and gummy bears, take longer to get washed away by saliva, increasing the risk for tooth decay. 

Click here to read more tips.

Above article from: ada.org

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

Don't Forget to Clean Your Tongue

Your oral health routine should always include brushing your tongue with your toothbrush or using a tongue scraper, which you can find in the dental products aisle at the drugstore. That’s important because foods can get stuck in the grooves of your tongue, causing bacteria to grow. Other oral health problems that can develop if you don't clean your tongue are a bad taste in your mouth, staining on your tongue, and bad breath, Abayon says.

Above article from EverydayHealth.com

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA

12 foods that naturally whiten your teeth

We've all been told to avoid red wine, dark berries, and black coffee in our quests for pearly whites, but what about foods that actually brighten your smile? Try these natural solutions for a brilliant beam. | By Julia Marino

Strawberries
They may be bright red, but malic acid, a chief component of this summery fruit, acts as a natural astringent to remove surface tooth discoloration, says Dr. Irwin Smigel, president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics. Fresh, juicy strawberries taste great in any meal—salads, desserts, cereal—and are widely available at farmers markets this time of year, so getting your daily dose is both simple and delicious.

Apples
The loud crunch you hear when you bite into this hard fruit may be annoying, but it's also good for your choppers. Apples' crispiness strengthens gums, and their high water content increases saliva production, dispersing and neutralizing colonies of bacteria that lead to bad breath and plaque, says Smigel.

Water
Drink lots of water to keep your mouth hydrated and your smile bright, advises Smigel, who recommends sipping and swishing between glasses of wine and when eating dark, pigmented foods to prevent staining. However, while water reduces the acidity in your mouth and the resulting damage to your enamel, Dr. Smigel warns against imbibing too much sparkling water, which has greater potential to erode enamel and harm teeth.

To view all 12 foods go to: Yahoo - http://tinyurl.com/p6mru46

Above article by: Julia Marino

Dental Clinic East Berlin -  East Berlin Smiles

Tel: 717-259-9596

418 West King Street

East Berlin, PA 17316

USA