3 Dental Signs of Good Health

Nov 21st, 2012
Easton Dentists Mar 1st, 2017

If you ever have any questions concerning your health, it is always a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor.  However, trying to make it into your doctor’s schedule could take weeks or even months.

Since you are the best advocate for your own health, you need to make sure that you are taking care of yourself.  No one knows what is normal for you like you do.

Luckily, there are a few simple things you can check on your own to help monitor your health.  These quick and easy examinations are the simple way to assess your health and keep you in the best shape possible.

 

  1. Examine your saliva.  Sounds weird but stick with us.  Your saliva is a barometer for your dental health.  The liquid in your mouth should move freely and cover your teeth, gums, and tongue.  If your saliva is especially thick or barely there at all, you could begin to suffer from it.  A dry mouth is a breeding ground for tooth decay and oral infection.  If you’re lucky, the easy solution to thick saliva is to drink more water.  A healthy flow of water is good for your body and great for your mouth.  If that doesn’t work, there are mouth moisturizers that may help you.
  2. What color is your tongue?  If your tongue looks more pale than usual, you may be suffering from an iron deficiency.  Iron helps keep the immune system in working order so it is vital that you maintain a balanced level of it in your body.  If your iron deficiency is minor, it can be remedied by simply eating more iron-rich foods like kale, spinach, liver, eggs, and beef.  If your beef, liver, and kale salad doesn’t get your tongue looking right, you may want to see your dentist for more help.
  3. Your gums shouldn’t hurt.  This may seem like common knowledge but if your gums are in pain, it’s typically bad news.  Brushing your teeth should not automatically cause your gums to turn red and start bleeding.  Healthy gums actually enjoy a good cleaning.  Get on a routine of brushing your teeth when you wake up and before you go to bed and if your gums continue to hurt, see your dentist.  Painful gums could be a sign of gum disease which needs to be taken care of as quickly as possible.

By checking your oral health, you’re checking your overall health.  If you want a professional to check out your mouth, let us know at The Dental Center at Easton Town Center!

Drinking Red Wine for Your Dental Health

Nov 5th, 2012
Easton Dentists Mar 1st, 2017

The news keeps getting better!  A few years ago it was discovered that red wine could be beneficial for your heart but now a researcher has concluded that red wine may also be good for your teeth.

Researcher Hyun Koo has found that polyphenols, a compound in red wine, are an effective tool that can be used to fight a molecule created by bacteria that lives in everyone’s mouths.  These bacteria typically break down the sugars that you eat which then cling to your teeth, preventing cavities.  When sugar sticks to your teeth for an extended period of time, it begins to eat away at your enamel and cause permanent damage to your teeth.

The polyphenols in the red wine can also come from the fermented grape stems, skins, and seeds that are remnants of the wine making process.  Getting a hold of this byproduct of wine making would also be good for your teeth but, just maybe, drinking the actual wine would be more enjoyable.

So from our professional standpoint, we’ve concluded that, if you’re of legal drinking age, red wine has three qualities that we think make it the perfect drink.

  1. It’s good for your heart.
  2. It’s good for your teeth.
  3. It’s delicious!

While conducting the research, Koo also discovered that eating cranberries may have the same benefits as red wine.  While cranberries don’t have polyphenols they do have another very scientific-sounding compound called A-type proanthocyanidins.  This compound also helps to keep bacteria from letting sugar stick to teeth.

While these are fascinating advancements in dental research, no one is suggesting you start your red wine and cranberry diet.

The benefits of red wine are clear but you don’t need to drink a gallon of it to see the results.  Also, red wine tends to stain teeth, which is another problem unto itself.

Cranberries also have their drawbacks.  Since getting fresh cranberries is not the easiest thing in the world, most people get their cranberry fix by purchasing them in sauce or juice form.  Typically, cranberry sauce and cranberry juice are loaded with sugar, which, as we all know, is terrible for your teeth.

So while wine and cranberries may be good for your dental health, they are best consumed in moderation.  A glass of wine and a few cranberries a day never hurt anyone and now they may help.  If you’d like a recommendation on which wine is right for you, let us know (but we’d probably be better helping with your other dental needs!).