Category — gum disease

It’s Earth Day, 2012, and as trustees of natural resources, we must protect our water supply to survive on this planet. Protect Planet Earth for yourself and generations to come by encouraging your family members and friends to turn the water off while they’re brushing their teeth (at least twice a day).

That’s all you have to do to Make Every Drop Count and be a good environmental citizen.

Depending on where your water resources come from, turning off the water while brushing your teeth can have a positive impact on springs, rivers, and wetland habitats for wildlife that would otherwise be damaged by water treatment plants. The impacts from taking water out of processing can be lessened in small ways that will positively affect the future of Planet Earth. [Read more →]

If a serial killer with a family and a job can take time to floss, so can you.

Keep smiling. 

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

Yeah, dental pain sucks! There’s also physical, heart, and soul pain – and it’s always worse at night. Your quality of life declines and suffers as your pain increases and becomes extreme (chronic).

Take the meds, have the periodontal surgery, talk to a trusted friend, get therapy, see a specialist, bite the brownie, scoop the ice cream; do whatever it takes it takes to heal yourself.

This is the time to spend money before it’s too late and pain becomes your life. This is the only time to go into debt if you must.

I experienced extreme neck and left shoulder pain in January and February – and I’m left-handed so I’ve been unable to blog. I’m working on it and I want you to work on it, too.

I’m not abandoning  my blog. I have much to share and I hope to back soon. I’d love to hear how you overcame your pain.

What I know for sure is that its all connected.

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

Your body has natural defensive barriers. Healthy gum tissue is one of those barriers.

In his article, “Are my bad teeth killing me?” Dr. Robert O. Nara wrote that bacteria that live in periodontal pockets are “festering cesspools” of trouble.

If someone with a heart defect contracts a bacterial infection through unhealthy gum tissue, it can travel to his or her heart and cause serious, sometime fatal, problems.

You can read Dr. Nara’s complete article here: http://mizar5.com/killing.htm [Read more →]

There are enough studies to prove that apples are a whole-body benefit fruit that lowers blood cholesterol, protects your teeth from bacteria and plaque, improves bowel function, reduces risk of stroke, prostrate cancer, type II diabetes, and asthma.

1. Apples contain tannins,  nutrients that can protect your teeth against plaque and gum disease. Eating an apple can help clean bacteria from your teeth.
2. Chewing apples help stimulate your saliva production that kills bacteria and helps prevent tooth decay.
3. Apples are a good source of boron, associated with improved bone density and a stronger heart.  Their high folic acid content has a protective benefit for your heart. [Read more →]

Who doesn’t like Halloween candy? Your teeth and your body hate it, your dentist loves it. America’s annual Halloween sugar festival tab is almost $2 billion.

This year give healthy Halloween treats. Be prepared to duck if the kids throw them back at you.

1. Edible treats include mini-packs of chips, pretzels, goldfish crackers, cereal bars, nuts, cheese crackers, and trail mix; all safer alternatives than pure sugar hard candies and candy bars.
2. Sugar-free gum is a healthy choice, just not for toddlers.
3. Vampire teeth, wax lips, small containers of bubbles, small cans of playdoh, plastic sunglasses, pencils, notepads, temporary tattoos, and stickers are fun treats. They still make those, right?
4. Tell the kids you want to see a trick before giving them treats. It’s a lost “trick or treat” tradition.

Refined sugar in candy wreaks havoc with you and your kid’s energy levels, causing mood swings, stress, and fatigue. Too much sugar from candy can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, headaches, digestive disorders, a malfunctioning immune system, Type 2 diabetes, and childhood obesity. [Read more →]

The goal of periodontal treatment is to control and stop the infection. It can’t always save the affected teeth.

These are 6 common preventative treatments of differing degrees:

1. Removing plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line (hurts).
2. Removing hard deposits from the root (hurts).
3. Removing diseased tissue and infection from the tissue lining and jawbone (hurts).
4. Prescribing antibacterial mouth rinses and/or antibiotics (doesn’t hurt).
5. Reshaping your bite by grinding a tooth’s surface (doesn’t hurt).
6. Splinting teeth together to stabilize loose teeth (never had it, don’t know).

Treatments range from deep cleaning (scaling and root planing), flap surgery, bone and tissue grafts, and bone transplants. [Read more →]

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

Pineapple is a golden yellow, sweet, juicy, luscious, tropical fruit that has an ample supply of Vitamin C, which is good for your gums.

A study conducted at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that vitamin C can reduce your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease.

1. Vitamin C increases increases the body’s ability to fight invading bacteria and other toxins that contribute to gum disease.
2. Vitamin C is the antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and boosts the immune system.
3. Vitamin C helps build and repair bodily tissue and promotes wound healing.
4. The body uses vitamin C to help metabolize fats and cholesterol, absorb iron, and synthesize amino acids and collagen.
5. Collagen is one of the primary building blocks of skin, cartilage and bones.

Periodontal disease, which destroys gum tissue and underlying jaw bones, has been linked to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Fresh pineapples are available now. Enjoy.

Keep smiling.

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

If you have gingivitis or periodontal disease, your toothbrush can transfer oral bacteria back into your mouth after every use. To avoid bacterial transfer, do this:

1. Dip your toothbrush into a small amount of undiluted Listerine after every use.
2. Buy a new toothbrush every 2-3 months.
3. Do not share your toothbrush.

Cleaning your toothbrush and replacing it on a regular basis will help keep your mouth free of bacteria.

It’s all connected.

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