WHAT COMES TO MIND when you hear the word “sugar”? Probably your favorite type of candy or dessert, maybe your favorite soda. You probably didn’t picture barbecue sauce, granola bars, flavored yogurt, or fruit juice, but all of these and plenty more foods you wouldn’t suspect are loaded with sugar. That isn’t great news for our oral health. Sugar Versus Our Teeth Why are dental health professionals like us wary of sugar? Simple. The harmful bacteria on our teeth and gums like to eat sugar as much as we do. When they’ve enjoyed a tasty meal from the food fragments that remain in your mouth after a sweet treat, they excrete acid onto your teeth. This acid eats away at tooth enamel and irritates the gums, and if we aren’t careful, it can lead to issues like tooth decay and gum disease. Learn to Recognize the Many Names of Sugar If sugar…
kids health
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Halloween Survival Guide! The bacteria in your mouth are probably more excited to eat Halloween candy than you are! When the bacteria eat the sugar and leftover food in your mouth, a weak acid is produced. That acid is what attacks the enamel of the teeth and can contribute to cavities. Here are a few ideas to help you sort through the trick-or-treat bag loot and make sure kids keep their teeth healthy and braces intact! Choose Candy Carefully! Chocolate is probably your best bet, especially for kids with braces on! This is good because it’s also the most popular kind of candy handed out on Halloween! Chocolate can wash off your teeth easier than other types of candy. Dark chocolate is even better because it has less sugar than milk chocolate. Sticky candies cling to your teeth, which makes them some of the worst candies for your teeth! Watch…
Does Your Child Breath Through Their Mouth or Their Nose?
Normal, well-developed airways allow normal breathing through the nose, with the mouth closed. Nasal breathing is important because it is now known to be vital to good health. Research has shown that air breathed through the nose is quite different to the body than air breathed through the mouth. The benefits of nasal breathing begin within hours of birth when nasal nitric oxide gas can first be detected. Nitric oxide is a potent gas and a key component of human health. Nitric oxide is produced in the nasal sinuses, secreted into the nasal passages and inhaled through the nose. It is well known to prevent bacterial growth, and in the lungs, nitric oxide improves the ability to absorb oxygen. Nitric oxide is a strong vasodilator and brain transmitter. Furthermore, nitric oxide increases oxygen transport throughout the body and is vital to all body organs. A good airway and normal nasal…