When Your Toothbrush Isn’t Handy, Reach For Scrubber Foods!

WE’VE ALL BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE we’ve wished we had a toothbrush—but didn’t. Perhaps it was on a recent camping trip. Perhaps it was right after lunch, on a day when you were headed into an important business meeting. Regardless of when it was, you knew that a fresh, sparkling smile would bring the comfort and/or confidence you needed.

Certain types of foods can help you in a pinch.

Introducing Nature’s Tooth Scrubbers

Scrubber foods naturally clean your teeth–not perfectly, but enough to help you smile with confidence. As you chew scrubber foods they remove plaque and leftover particles from other foods you’ve eaten. They also increase saliva flow, which helps clean your mouth as well.

Most Scrubbers Are Crisp, Firm, And High In Fiber

Here are a few common scrubber foods:

Apples
Celery
Radishes
Carrots
Broccoli
Cucumbers

All of these foods are excellent at freshening your mouth. Use them at the end of a meal or after a snack. Remember that these foods cannot be used as a replacement for brushing and flossing. But, they can be little helpers until you get to your toothbrush.

Try It Yourself!

Try finishing up meals with scrubber foods instead of sweets and let us know if you notice the difference. You may never go back! Do you know of another great scrubber food that we haven’t mentioned? Share your tip below.

Thanks for your continued trust in our practice!

IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU CARE FOR SPENDS SIX HOURS A WEEK or more in a swimming pool, listen up! This is super important information to know…

Prolonged Pool Water Exposure Can Affect Teeth

Most swimmers are surprised to learn about the potentially corrosive effects pool water chemicals can have on teeth. When maintaining a pool it’s a constant battle keeping the temperature, chlorine level, and pH level balanced. When the pH level isn’t properly balanced (and sometimes even if it is) your smile can be exposed to excessive acidity levels.

So if you’re on a swim team, play water polo, swim daily for exercise, or have children who spend their entire summer in the pool, watch for these potential problems:

Swimmer’s Calculus

Swimmer’s calculus reveals itself as hard brown tartar deposits that show up primarily on front teeth. It’s difficult to remove by yourself, but it can be removed during a deep dental cleaning.

Eroded Enamel

Regardless of where acids come from—whether it’s from sports drinks, certain foods, soda pop, or pool water—acids can eat away at tooth enamel. Thin enamel can lead to accelerated decay and uncomfortable sensitivity.

A Simple Idea That Helps

Drink water! NOT pool water… Drinking water! For example if you’re swimming laps, set a bottle of drinking water poolside that’s easily reachable from inside the pool. Take a drink often and swish your mouth with fresh water. Also, be sure to drink and swish a lot right after your workout.

Typically, This Doesn’t Apply To “Casual Swimmers”

If you’re only in pool a couple hours a week, or at the hotel on vacation, chances are you don’t need to worry about this. However, pass this information along to others! Most people have a friend, extended family member, coworker, or mail carrier who spends a lot of time in a pool.

Enough Of The Serious Stuff… Try This For Fun:

Thanks for the trust you place in our practice.

Call us if you any questions about this topic, or leave a comment below. We look forward to seeing you during your next visit!

THEY’RE SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS “e-cigs” or “vapes”. Regardless of what they’re called, they’re not good for your health—or your smile.

A New Twist In The Same Ol’ Story

The oral health risks associated with traditional cigarette smoking are widely understood and accepted:

Smoking increases periodontal disease risk by 7 times
People who smoke are twice as likely to lose teeth
Smokers increase their oral cancer risk by 5 to 10 times

Technology DOESN’T Change Everything

E-cigarettes are being marketed as a cleaner, healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. And while it’s true that a couple of unsavory side effects aren’t present (like smoke and stained fingers) e-cigs still pose health risks to your teeth and body.

E-Cigs Still Contain Nicotine

Nicotine is a “vasoconstrictor” that restricts blood flow, inhibiting our mouth’s natural cleaning and disease-fighting functions. Nicotine also reduces our body’s ability to heal and create new healthy tissues and cells. E-cigs contain vaporized nicotine, derived from tobacco. And when a person uses nicotine, gum disease is more likely to thrive.

E-cigs can also contain MANY other chemical substances. France’s National Consumer’s Institute recently conducted a study that found 3 out of 10 e-cigs contain hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde and diethylene glycol.

Learn More About E-Cigarettes:

The Takeaway Message…

If you’re a smoker trying to quit, e-cigarettes may be a transitional help.
If you don’t smoke, don’t get lured in by this trend. Signing up for a nicotine addiction is dangerous—in any form.
If you’re a parent, share this post with your children. Since e-cigs are not technically tobacco, in many states children can purchase them and the companies that sell them are marketing to teenagers.

Let Us Know What You Think

Do you have experience with, or questions about this trend? If so, let’s visit. If you’re a smoker (in any form), or if someone you care about smokes, remember that it’s even more important to schedule regular cleaning and checkup appointments.