Healthy Choice of the Week: YOGURT

Healthy Choice of the Week: YOGURT

A major cause of bad breath, plaque, and gum disease is a buildup of bacteria. Research shows that the good bacteria in yogurt may help fight the bad ones in your mouth!

In fact according to one study, those who eat yogurt 4 or more times a week tend to get fewer cavities. So try to add some plain, sugar free yogurt to your day - if you must have it sweetened, try stirring in some honey which also contains compounds that prevent bacteria!

Oral Health: The Ultimate Guide

Back to School Checklist

For those of you with school age children, you know that school is just around the corner. Granted there is still some summer left to enjoy, we want to make sure you are ready when the big day comes.

See below for a quick checklist to use in preparing your family for this school year:

• Stock Up On School Supplies
• Confirm Babysitting Arrangements
• Plan Healthy Meals
• Organize Your Calendar (After school activities, parent teacher conferences, etc)
• Lay The Ground Rules (bedtime, homework, etc)
• Fill Out Necessary Medical Forms and Emergency Contact Sheets
• Schedule Physical Exams, Eye Exams, and Dental Visits

 Make sure you schedule your child’s back to school dental visit with us today! Please contact one of our offices!

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

 For more on a parent’s Back-to-School checklist, please click here!

Alternative Uses for Toothpaste

So, you’re cleaning out your bathroom drawers and find three old tubes half-filled with toothpaste. What do you do? Throw them out? No way. Turns out, there are a lot more uses for toothpaste than you could ever think of! So, if you need something to do with all of your excess toothpaste, or have one of these problems listed below… Toothpaste might be the answer!

 Here are a few things you can use toothpaste for:

• Relieving bug bites, blisters, and sores. A drop of toothpaste can stop itching and decrease swelling!
• Strengthening your fingernails. If you apply toothpaste underneath and on top of your nails, it acts as a cleaner, shiner, and strengthener.
• Removing stains! You can scrub toothpaste directly on top of clothes, carpets, or shoes until the stain vanishes.
• Shining jewelry. Gently rub toothpaste on to the jewelry and leave it overnight. Wipe it clean in the morning with a soft cloth and see results.
• Removing crayons from walls! Grab a scrub brush and rub away the mess.
• Defogging goggles. Who knew!? Rinsing toothpaste off the lenses eliminates the fog.
• Removing DVD smudges. If the scratches aren’t too deep, rubbing a thin coating over the area and washing it clean can remove the imperfection!

So, what are you waiting for? Put your extra toothpaste to good use! To see more creative uses for toothpaste, read the rest of the article here. Let us know of any other uses you have for toothpaste on our Facebook page. Good luck!

Alzheimer’s and Gum Disease - Is There a Connection?

Image Source: © Colinda McKie / Fotolia

Alzheimer’s disease is mostly associated with elderly people, and the number affected by this condition is growing worldwide as the average world population age rises. The World Health Organization predicted dementia cases would triple to 115 million in 2050 from 36 million worldwide in 2010. The exact cause of the illness is unknown.

One possible cause that has gotten the attention of scientists is that gum disease can possibly increase the chances of developing a brain disease such as Alzheimer’s. According to the Journal of Alzheimer’sDisease, signs of the bacterium, known as Porphyromonas gingivitis, were found in four out of 10 samples of brain tissue from Alzheimer’s patients, while no signs of the bug were found in 10 brains from people of similar age who never developed dementia.

This stunning news has made it all the more important to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Bacteria that enters the blood stream through your gums can cause diseases in almost all of your organs and can quite possible cause diseases in your brain as well.

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!

Healthy Choice of the Week: WATER!

Healthy Choice of the Week: WATER

It sounds like a no-brainer, but a lot of people don’t drink water! They drink soda or other sugary

beverages. Sure, water is in those drinks, but there’s nothing like a cold glass of refreshing water!

Water not only hydrates you, but helps to clean your mouth of toxins and foot that is stuck in your teeth from after you ate. Drinking water helps to keep your gums hydrated and helps to produce saliva in your mouth, which deposits essential minerals into your teeth.

So the next time you have a meal or snack, fill up a cool glass of water instead of soda or juice. Your body needs it and your teeth benefits from it!

Let us know if you get your eight glasses a day on our Facebook page!