Healthy Choice of the Week: SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

Healthy Choice of the Week: SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms have been a culinary staple for years! But did you know they also serve a positive impact on your oral health?

Due to the lentinan content in shiitake mushrooms, bacteria and plaque have a hard time adhering to teeth. Lentinan is a compound found in these mushrooms that has anti-microbial properties that target the type of bacteria causing tooth decay.

So prevent tooth decay and try adding shiitake mushrooms to your food dishes for great taste all while helping your teeth. Do you have any favorite shiitake dishes? Share with us on our Facebook page!

Bad Breath? Causes and Treatments

Halitosis, generally called bad breath, is a common condition most people experience in their lifetime; but why does it occur? And how is it treated? 

Whether it's just morning breath or a constant odor, see below for what you can do to treat and avoid the issue.

Causes:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Dry mouth
• Smoking
• Medical conditions
• Medications

Treatment:

• Brush and floss every day to reduce bacteria that causes bad breath - don't forget to gently brush your gums and tongue as well
• Visit your dentist to have your teeth professionally cleaned
• Check with your doctor if any medications you're taking or conditions you have could be the cause to your halitosis
• Sugar-free gum increases saliva flow and gives you fresh breath
• Avoid strong flavored foods
• Keep hydrated to flush away bacteria
• Quit smoking (also beneficial for your overall health)

Do you think you are suffering from halitosis? Make an appointment for a checkup with All Brite! Call us at:

    West Dearborn – (313) 908-5110
    Woodhaven – (734) 365-7720

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Healthy Choice of the Week: STRAWBERRIES

 

Healthy Choice of the Week: STRAWBERRIES

Not only a delicious summer fruit, strawberries can actually help your teeth. These berries contain malic acid, a natural enamel whitener.

You can even make your own home-made whitening treatment:

• Crush a strawberry to pulp, mix it with 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda, and spread it on your teeth using a soft toothbrush.
• Wait 5 minutes and brush it off, rinse, and voila! A whiter smile! (Use floss to get rid of unwanted strawberry seeds that may get trapped between your teeth)

Let us know how the strawberry whitening treatment works on your teeth on our Facebook page!

Easily Avoidable Flossing Mistakes

Most people make a point of brushing their teeth twice a day, as recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA), but fewer people follow the recommendation to floss regularly. 

Floss specifically cleans the tight spaces between teeth that the toothbrush just can't reach. It does more than just keep your smile pretty and healthy, flossing helps prevent gum disease, bad breath, and tooth decay. Yet there are some common mistakes people make when flossing that they don't even realize they are making.

Are you one of those people? See below for the top flossing mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. You Don't Floss Every Day - Flossing not only removes food particles, but plaque build up as well
2. You Don't Floss The Teeth on Both Sides of the Gap - To floss effectively you need to clean the teeth on both sides of the gap, not just pushing the floss between your teeth and out again
3. You Don't Floss Behind Your Back Teeth - Plaque can build up behind your back teeth which is difficult to reach with a toothbrush
4. You Cut Your Gums When Flossing - Avoid snapping the floss down to get it between your teeth, this will cause you to cut and hurt your gums. Gently move the floss back and forth to slide it between your teeth
5. Not Flossing Under Your Gums - Gently clean under your gums with floss to rid accumulated plaque
6. You Stop Flossing When Your Gums Bleed - If your gums bleed when you floss, it is a sign that plaque has built up and needs to be removed. Continue to floss and over time the bleeding will lessen and eventually stop

To learn more, please visit: DentAbout

Avoiding these mistakes can help to prevent future problems and keep your smile nice and bright! For information on cleanings or other teeth services, contact All Brite Dental at one of our offices!

• West Dearborn – (313) 908-5110
• Woodhaven – (734) 365-7720

Healthy Choice of the Week: GINGER!

Healthy Choice of the Week: GINGER!

As you may know, this fibrous root helps relieve a variety of ailments - from headaches to upset stomachs, to treating ringworm. So it shouldn't be a surprise that it helps your teeth as well!

Ginger acts as an anti-inflammatory to support healthy mouth tissue. The anti-inflammatory properties found within ginger root serves as a pain killer and can aid in minor infections, swelling and discomfort associated with a minor toothache. 

Try adding some ginger to spice up your foods and help your teeth! Let us know how you're preparing your meal with ginger on our Facebook page!

Reminder - Importance of Mouth Guards This Season

Child or adult, a mouth guard is essential for all athletes.  Did you know, an athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard?

In fact, several types of dental injuries can occur without the use of a mouthguard, such as:

• chipped or broken teeth
• fractured crowns or bridgework
• lip and cheek injuries
• root damage
• fractured jaws
• concussions

Avoid the above injuries and invest in a mouthguard for protection. Mouthguards are most effective if they fit properly, are comfortable, and stay in place. Not sure which mouth guard is best for you? See below for your three options:

1. Custom Made - most expensive but offer the best fit and protection. These are made by a dentist from a mold of your teeth.
2. Boil and Bite - these self fit guards are inexpensive and can be purchased at sporting goods stores. These can be molded to the athlete's mouth by boiling the mouthguard in hot water to soften the plastic
3. Stock Mouthguards - very inexpensive and come in a pre-formed shape. Unfortunately they are so poor fitting that they often fall out and can dislodge on impact.

Talk to us today if you have questions in choosing which is best for you!

When Should Dental Care For Your Child Start?

Don’t wait until your little one has their first tooth, proper dental care beings before your baby’s first tooth arrives.

So what should you do before your child has teeth? You can run a damp washcloth over your child’s gums each day. This will help to remove harmful bacteria that are sticking around. When you start seeing teeth, use an infant toothbrush using water and a little bit of tooth paste. Around age 2, most children can spit after brushing. Make sure to supervise your child while they brush until they are around the age of 5.

Read more on child tooth car on KidsHealth.org. What do you do for your children’s teeth? Let us know on our Facebook page!

Do You Have Dry Mouth?

You may have a serious medical problem. Saliva does much more than just keeping your mouth wet and moist. 

Benefits of saliva include:

• Helps digest food
• Protects your teeth from decay
• Prevents infection by controlling bacteria in your mouth
• Allows you to chew and swallow your food

Everyone’s mouth gets dry from time to time, but if it is a chronic issue, you may actually have a problem with saliva production. If notice any of these symptoms, you should be checked by a doctor or dentist.

Symptoms include:

• Dry or sticky feeling in mouth or throat
• Trouble swallowing
• Burning feeling on your tongue
• Cracked and dry lips
• No taste or a metallic taste in your mouth
• Sores
• Bad breath
• Difficulty chewing or speaking

Let us know if you’ve had any problems with Dry Mouth. What did you do to treat it? Let us know on our Facebook page!