Get important information about keeping your smile in tip-top shape.
It doesn’t matter if your glass is half-empty or half-full: Drinking water is always good for your health. Sipping water is also one of the best things you can do for your teeth – especially if it’s fluoridated. Read on to find out why water is always a winner for your dental health.
Drinking water with fluoride (called “nature’s cavity fighter”) is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do to help prevent cavities. Studies show that children in cities with fluoridated tap water have less tooth decay than children in cities that don’t add fluoride to the water.
Drinks like juice, soda or sports drinks can leave unwanted sugar behind on your teeth, which the cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth love to eat. These bacteria produce acid that that wears away enamel – the outer shell of your teeth.
Water, however, washes away leftover food and residue that cavity-causing bacteria are looking for. It also dilutes the acids produced by the bacteria in your mouth. You’ll still need to brush twice a day for two minutes and clean between your teeth, but drinking water through the day will go a long way toward keeping your smile cavity-free.
Saliva is your mouth’s first defense against tooth decay. It washes away leftover food, helps you swallow with ease and keeps your teeth strong by washing them with calcium, phosphate and fluoride. When your saliva supply runs low, dry mouth may put you at risk for tooth decay. Drinking water can help cut your risk as you and your dentist work to find the best long-term solution for you.
Sweetened drinks that are high in sugar and calories, create a perfect storm that puts you at risk for cavities and other unhealthy consequences like weight gain. In fact, studies have shown that drinking water can actually help you lose weight. So the next time you need a drink, go guilt-free with water to take care of your body and your smile.
Find more tips for healthy teeth at MouthHealthy.org.
What do flossing, fluoride and the COVID-19 vaccine have in common? Preventing disease.
Your dentist cares for your mouth because your oral health is essential to your overall health. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, your dentist has been working to put your health and safety first by taking extra steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the dental office.
Now, we have COVID-19 vaccines to add to the other tools we’ve all been using to fight the pandemic — like wearing masks, washing our hands and avoiding crowds. As vaccines become available to more people, you may have some questions about them. Here’s what the CDC (and your dentist!) want you to know about COVID-19 vaccines.
As doctors of oral health, credible scientific information is important to us when recommending treatments for our patients. While these vaccines were developed in a shorter time frame than some other vaccines, it’s important to know that the science behind them was not rushed. These vaccines were tested by thousands of people to make sure they work and are safe for patients like you. The Food and Drug Administration reviewed the data from the tests and authorized them for emergency use after determining they are safe and effective for the public.
You can’t get COVID-19 from the COVID-19 vaccine. It might, however, come with some side effects that make you feel uncomfortable for a short time.
Because vaccines teach your body how to recognize and fight off a COVID-19 infection, you might feel some of the symptoms you’d get if your body were fighting off the real virus, such as a fever, according to the CDC. While unpleasant, this is actually a sign the vaccine is working in your body.
Now, we have COVID-19 vaccines to add to the other tools we’ve all been using to fight the pandemic — like wearing masks, washing hands and watching your distance. As vaccines become available to more people, you may have some questions about them. Here’s what the CDC (and your dentist!) want you to know about COVID-19 vaccines.
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine at MouthHealthy.org/vaccine.
Regular dental visits are an essential part of your overall health – even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The American Dental Association has given dentists guidance on how to see patients safely during this time to ensure patients still have access to their regular dental appointments. Your dentist and their staff are taking a number of precautions to keep you and themselves healthy.
Here are a few things you can expect to see at your next appointment:
Learn more about the precautions your dentist is taking at MouthHealthy.org/BackToDentist.
Do-it-yourself (DIY) trends that claim a few simple steps will lead to a dramatic impact may work well for some home improvement dreams, but what about DIY when it comes to your dental health?
Permanent teeth can never grow back which is why it is especially important to be aware of potential harms before doing things to your teeth. Before you take your dental health into your own hands based on the promises and ease of any DIY treatments, it’s critical to talk to the expert – your ADA dentist. Knowing the risks and benefits is important.
Prepare for your office visit by researching the DIY treatment you’re considering, and come with questions to make sure you are getting the right treatment for your smile.
"Talk to your dentist. We're always here for you and open to discussing what you may have seen in the news or on social media," says ADA dentist Dr. Ruchi Sahota. "Let us know what you are thinking so we can think it through with you!"
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