Category — dental hygiene

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! For some of you, the occasion calls for the illustrious “green beer” enjoyed at your favorite Irish pub, but if you are in the process of whitening your teeth, you may want to rethink the color of your beverage.

During the whitening process the pores of the enamel are opened from the use of bleaching agents, allowing the hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to enter the dentin layer of the tooth. It is very important that during this time you avoid foods and beverages that contain high levels of pigment, such as yellow mustard, grape juice, red wine, tomato sauce… you get the point. [Read more →]

Everyone I know is complaining about the color of their teeth. They’re too yellow, they’re too brown, they’re not white enough.

When I ask, “When was the last time you had your teeth cleaned?” they can’t remember.  A friend said, “The teeth cleaning strips aren’t working and if they work at all, they leave vertical whitish lines on my teeth.”

1. Get your teeth professionally cleaned just before you get a whitening treatment.
2. Whitening a decaying tooth can allow the peroxide to sink into a cavity, causing nerve damage.
3. If your teeth are professionally cleaned first, there’s no tartar or plaque to interfere with the bleaching process.
4. Your teeth might be so white after a professional teeth cleaning that you won’t need a whitening treatment.

If you haven’t had your teeth cleaned this year, make your appointment now and make your next appointment before leaving the dental office.

What I know for sure is that it’s all connected.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

You know what to do.

Make an appointment to get your teeth examined and cleaned. Your dental hygienist will give you a new toothbrush and floss and another lesson in brushing and flossing.

Make an appointment for your kids and parents, too.  And make your next appointment before leaving your dental professional’s office.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

We all know blueberries and broccoli help stop periodontal disease. But do you know that lemons can wear away tooth enamel?

Jennifer Jablow, a cosmetic dentist in New York City says:

1. Eat your antioxidants. The teeth and gums are made up of collagen, and foods containing antioxidants, like blueberries and broccoli, help protect them from inflammation.

2. Limit lemons. It’s fine to sip some lemon-spiked water on occasion, but don’t overdo it, and never suck on lemons. The high acid content of lemon juice can wear away tooth enamel.

What I know for sure is that it’s all connected.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

I had surgery on my left arm Tuesday and I’m left-handed. That is not an acceptable excuse to avoid brushing my teeth so I discovered 3 reasons to love my electric toothbrush.

1. You can use an electric toothbrush with either hand without getting hurt.
2. Your electric toothbrush does a good job even if you don’t feel well or you’re not in the mood.
3. Your electric toothbrush works when you don’t.

Leave a comment and tell me why you love your electric toothbrush.

Keep smiling

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

Researchers have found that people tend to miss appointments for life-saving procedures like a mammogram, colonoscopy, and skin cancer screenings. Dental appointments can be life saving, too.

If you’re not consistent about keeping appointments, you can begin by choosing a memorable date. Any date reminiscent of time passing (two weeks before or after your  birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Years) can remind you to take care of yourself.

Bleeding or painful gums should not be the reason you make a dental appointment. Make your appointment before it’s too late.

What I know for sure is that it’s all connected.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

People without dental insurance are willing to barter to maintain their smiles.

A listing was seen on Craigslist.com offering pet-sitting services in exchange for fillings and veneers (Courtesy AARP Bulletin).

Dental work is expensive. What are you doing to improve your oral health?

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

Before you toss your toothbrush, get a new one. A new toothbrush will boost your oral health by doing a better job of preventing gum disease.

You know you need a new toothbrush when the bristles separate and you have to work harder to feel as if you did a good job brushing your teeth and massaging your gums.

Buy two at a time so you’ll have a new toothbrush ready when you need it. You’ll feel a renewed energy to stick to your brushing schedule. At least twice a day, right?

1. Get a new toothbrush every two months.
2. Soak your toothbrush in peroxide to keep it germ free.
3. Do not share your toothbrush. Bacteria can be transferred.
4. Keep your toothbrush as far as possible from the toilet to avoid airborne particles after flushing.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com for your Free Tips.

Your teeth, your gums, and your tongue have something in common. They all collect bacteria that can cause bad breath.

That’s why you need a tongue scraper to remove 75% of those nasty lingering bacterial compounds. If you’re still brushing your tongue with your toothbrush, you should know that it moves the bacteria around and only gets rids of 45% of the nasties.

A small investment and a few seconds of your time can make a difference in your life and the lives of those close to you. If your breath doesn’t improve, see your dental professional for help. You might have gum disease.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com/ for your Free Tips.

Make an appointment with your periodontist as soon as possible in 2009 if you haven’t had a dental check up and teeth cleaning in the last six months.

Periodontal cleanings are more in-depth than dental cleanings, so you might want to ask if they have nitrous oxide. They can’t touch me without it.

Please vote for me in the People’s Health Blogger Awards. Just click the “Vote Now” button on the left on my blog and on the right on my Wellsphere page. Thank you.

Happy New Year Blessings.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
http://www.gotteethguide.com/ for your Free Tips.