Tag Archives: dental care

The Best Foods For Your Teeth

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in General Dentistry, oral hygeine, Tooth Enamel

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We’ve all heard the adage, “You are what you eat.” Well, the first thing that gets affected by what you eat are your pearly whites. So what are the best things to eat so that smile stays bright and white?  St. John Providence helps us with the answer:

Fiber-rich fruits and vegetables – Fiber-rich foods work like a detergent in your mouth, says the American Dental Association (ADA). They also stimulate saliva flow, which neutralize the acids and enzymes attacking your teeth. Saliva also contains calcium and phosphate, so it helps restore minerals to teeth that have lost them from the bacterial acids. Apples, avocados and broccoli are all high in fiber to help that smile sparkle.                                   

Cheese, milk and other dairy products – Like the fiber above, Cheese makes you salivate. Plus, the calcium and phosphates in dairy products help put back minerals your teeth might have lost due to those nasty bacterial acids. According to the Medicinal Food News, “Aged cheddar, Swiss, blue, Monterey Jack, brie, Gouda and processed American cheese all have been shown to reduce dental caries.”

Green teas – Tea contains polyphenols, which kill or suppress plaque bacteria, preventing them from producing tooth-attacking acid. A Science Daily report said, “Researchers found that routine intake of green tea may also help promote healthy teeth and gums.”

Sugarless gum – Another saliva generator, sugarless gum also helps removes food particles from your mouth. Orbits, Extra and Eclipse have all been given an ADA seal of approval.

 

Fluoridated drinking water – Most water in the United States has fluoride added to it. So, any product you make with fluoridated water will help your teeth. Dehydrated soups, powdered juices and drinks; really anything using fluoridated water. That’s, of course, as long as they are low in sugar.

Before You Reach for That Halloween Candy, read this!

28 Friday Oct 2011

Posted by in General Dentistry, oral hygeine, pediatric dentistry

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Halloween Trick or Treat bucket

It’s that time of year again where little ghouls and goblins will get to stay up past their bedtime and dress up as pretty princesses, superheroes or cartoon characters and go door-to-door filling up pillowcases with candy.  October 31 is a day children look forward to with excitement and parents seem to dread thanks to fear of cavities or unhealthy candy consumption.

Trick or Treat?

We did a little research (thank you internet) on the best and worst types of candy for your little one’s teeth and for your waistline.

Chew On This:

Even though chewy, gummy candies like Laffy Taffy or Starburst have fewer calories (35 and 40 calories each for the fun-sized), they make up for it with their cavity inducing stickiness.  These scary treats require extra time to dissolve, giving cavities extra time to develop thanks to the sugar and acid lingering in your mouth longer.  What’s doubly-frightening is that Skittles are 60 calories for a Bite Sized bag and is the culprit behind most braces brackets breaking (might result in a trip to the Dentist!  Not to fear, just use DentistUSA.com to find a dentist.).  Frightening!

Chewy candies do boast the least amount of calories, but dentists won’t suggest them due to their sticky factor.  Here’s the breakdown here:

Skittles Bite Size 60 calories
Nerds Mini Box 50 calories
Starburst Fun Size (Original + Tropical Chews) 40 calories
Laffy Taffy Bar 35 calories
Life Saver Gummies 30 calories
Sweet Tarts 25 calories
Gobstoppers 20 calories

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark:

Dark chocolate tends to be better for you thanks being antioxidant rich and full of Flavanoids which help ward off high blood pressure, according to WebMD.  Eating about a 1.6 oz bar is actually not bad for your health, but be careful because our favorite Hershey’s Special Dark miniatures will set you back 45 calories EACH.  Mindlessly chew on 4 and you’ve consumed 180 calories.

Milk Chocolate Melts in Your Mouth

…that’s why it tends to be better for your teeth than other types of candies.  Because it melts so quickly, most milk chocolate Halloween candy tends to be less cavity inducing.  They are still very high in calories.  We did some grueling research down the candy aisle.  Ready?

100 Grand Fun Size 95 calories
Twix Fun Size 80 calories
Milky Way Fun Size 76 calories
Kit Kat Snack Size 70 calories
Milk Duds Snack Size Boxes 53 calories
Hershey’s Miniatures 45 calories
Whoppers Snack Size Tubes 32 calories
Hershe’s Pumpkin Spice Kisses 23 calories
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses 22 calories
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Snack Size 110 calories

It’s no surprise that the peanut rich Reese’s Peanut Butter cups top the list in caloric intake.

Is Smaller Better?

Now for the mini bags (we saved this for last, because we think it’s the most deceptive), one would think these itty bitty bite sized treats wouldn’t be as high in calories as they are, but oh no! Wait until you read this:

3 Musketeers Minis: A modest 24 calories each for this soft, fluffy candy
Milky Way Minis: 40 calories
Milky Way Midnight Minis: 35 calories for this dark chocolate alternative
Snickers Minis: 45 calories
Butterfinger Minis: An outrageous 45 calories
Twix Minis: 50 calories for this caramel and cookie bar

Enjoy trick or treating with your little ones, and make sure they brush and floss after a night out.  A twice annual visit to your local dentist can’t hurt, either!

Five Alternatives to Halloween Candy

25 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by in oral hygeine, pediatric dentistry

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Halloween is right around the corner, and what child doesn’t love dressing up and going door-to-door to stock up on Halloween candy?  Halloween treats can prove to be frightful to your little one’s teeth, so how can you help them enjoy Halloween and prevent tooth decay?

Five Alternatives to Handing Out Halloween Candy:

ONE: Halloween pencils and erasers.  These are great for kids and they’d enjoy them at school.

TWO: Halloween stickers.  Which child doesn’t love stickers?  These could keep them busy and will last longer than candy.

THREE: Halloween Tattoos.  Children can wear spooky spider-web tattoos on their arms and faces.  These are always a fun alternative!

FOUR: Noisemakers.  Fun, entertaining, and can be played with long after Halloween.  This is sure to make your house a popular destination! (Though, beware of the kids’ parents!)

FIVE: Halloween Bouncy balls.  Many stores sell these in interesting shapes and designs around Halloween, like a monster’s eyes, spiders, and many more!

Even if you don’t hand out Halloween candy, your child is bound to get some in their trick-or-treat bag.  The best thing to do is encourage your child to continue proper oral hygiene habits and brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time.  You can also control how much candy they are allowed to eat by portioning it out and encouraging them to donate the rest.  Or, you can do what actress Brooke Sheilds does–she lets her daughter pick out her 10 favorite pieces of candy and then the “Halloween Fairy” magically turns the rest of it into a toy!

Many dental offices offer Halloween Buy Back Programs, so contact your local dentist office and see if they offer similar incentive programs.  Additionally, Homeless shelters or Foster homes would be a great place to donate candy to.

Happy Halloween!!  Make sure your child still visits your dentist for regular cleanings and exams.  If you don’t have dental insurance, find a dentist offering special offers using DentistUSA.