Author: bwiley

Chewing gum has been around forever. In ancient times, people used to make it from tree sap. Today, there’s essentially an infinite selection of gums that cover all the fruity, cinnamon, or minty options you could imagine. 

Although it’s typically found in the candy aisle at the grocery store, chewing gum can actually have surprising health benefits you’ll wish you knew earlier. 

Reduce Stress

In a recent study, participants who chewed gum twice a day for two weeks rated their anxiety levels significantly less than their non-chewing counterparts. The reasoning behind this is that the physical act of chewing a piece of gum is calming for most people. As a result, levels of the stress hormone cortisol are reduced, and overall feelings of stress and anxiety decline as well.

Increase Alertness and Memory 

Brain activity happens in a part of your brain called the hippocampus. When you’re chewing gum, the activity is sparked in the hippocampus and delivery of oxygen to the brain can increase 25-40%. The result is more alertness, less fatigue, and an increase in memory. 

Lose Weight

Right off the bat it’s important to note that whether or not chewing a piece of gum is going to lead to long term weight loss. However, certain studies have shown that chewing gum can help you lose a few pounds. You will burn additional calories through the act of chewing gum. The biggest effect in regards to weight loss is the decreased snacking! Snacking for entertainment or taste is something that we all do, but sitting at your desk with a bag of chips everyday can be harmful to your waistline. Swapping the salty snack with a stick of your favorite gum is going to eliminate weight gain from excess snacking. 

Protect Your Teeth

Chewing gum can protect your teeth in a myriad of ways. First, you’ll want to opt for sugar-free options, preferably with xylitol. While sugary gum can actually aid tooth decay, xylitol is the most effective way to protect your teeth with gum. Xylitol prevents the growth of bacteria that causes tooth decay. Chewing gum after a meal has even more benefits. It increases saliva flow which will help wash away harmful sugars and food debris. After a meal, it’ll help neutralize and wash away the acid. The combined effects of chewing sugarfree gum will protect your teeth from plaque buildup and decay.

Bottomline

Opt for a pack of sugar-free gum with the ADA Seal (preferably with xylitol) and you’ll start reaping the benefits of chewing gum beyond fresher breath. While chewing gum won’t drastically change your life, it will help reduce stress and snacking while increasing alertness and tooth protection.

There’s a lot to consider when you’re an expecting mother and a lot of questions that are going to come up too. When it comes to pregnancy and dental care, there are probably some concerns you have, but there’s no need to worry! Our team is here to guide you through your questions and provide you with the best dental care possible through your pregnancy.

First things first, routine dental care during pregnancy is safe! The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all encourage women to keep receiving routine dental care from their dentist while pregnant. Here are our top tips if when it comes to your oral health during pregnancy

Tell your dentist you’re pregnant!

This is the most important part. Your dentist can evaluate your situation on a case by case basis and make sure your next steps and treatment options are the healthiest option for you and your baby.

Postpone any elective procedures until you deliver

Urgent and emergency dental procedures are okay, but any voluntary procedures should be delayed until you’re no longer pregnant. The risks associated with ignoring an infection during pregnancy can be worse than any side effects that come with medications used during dental treatment. 

Tell your dentist about medications or vitamins you’re taking.

Though it’s uncommon for this to affect your dental treatment plans, the dentist may need to adjust your treatment plan accordingly depending on any medications or vitamins you may be taking during pregnancy.

The second trimester is the best time for dental care!

Most of your baby’s vital organs are developed and risks are typically lower, but you shouldn’t experience as much discomfort in the dental chair or during procedures that you may during the third trimester.

Pay special attention to your regular oral care routine

In some cases, pregnancy hormones may increase the risk of gum disease and severe morning sickness or acid reflux that some experience during pregnancy can lead to acid erosion, loss of enamel, and cavities. As always, healthy brushing and flossing habits are important to stay on top of your oral health!

In a nutshell, there’s not much cause for concern when it comes to balancing your oral health care during your pregnancy. Routine dental care does not pose a risk, and when in doubt, your dentist can walk you through any specific circumstances! 

During your next visit to our Carlisle dental office, make sure to notify your doctor if you’re pregnant and they can help you with any dental or oral health treatment concerns you may have during your pregnancy.

To schedule your next appointment call us today at 717.243.9020 or request an appointment online!

Want more infomation?

Check out this week-by-week resource with some specific answers that might help you out! https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/dental-work-during-pregnancy/faq-20119318

When life gets crazy, the thought of scheduling dental appointments every six months can easily get pushed to the backburner. And let’s be honest- when is life not crazy?

Let’s say you’re questioning the purpose behind semi annual checkups. You know they’re essential to healthy teeth and gums- but why?

In short, regular checkups and professional cleanings are going to keep your gums and teeth healthy, prevent problems, and stop any new issues before they get worse.

The Importance of a Professional Cleaning

Even when you brush your teeth and floss according to your dentist’s recommendations, plaque and tartar can build up that require a deeper cleaning. This maintenance will help prevent serious buildup that can lead to problems down the road. During your dental appointment, you’ll get a thorough and professional brushing, flossing, and cleaning process to reset your mouth to optimal cleanliness.

Prevent & Mitigate Oral Health Problems

On the other hand, semi-annual appointments can stop problems at their root. This can save you pain, stress, and money from not visiting the dentist down the line when problems could worsen. Our dentists are trained to quickly find any signs of gum problems or tooth decay and provide you with reasonable treatment options that are in your best interest.

When left untreated, these issues could cause severe pain, decay, swelling, and possibly even tooth loss. If dental problems are left to worsen, they may require more extensive, costly treatments that are going to be more difficult to treat in the long run. 

In conclusion, when your daily oral hygiene is in good shape, you’re decreasing the probability of serious issues. Scheduling and following-through with routine dental appointments twice a year ensures that you’re maximizing your oral health and that if an issue pops up, it can be resolved right away and with typically less invasive treatment options.

To schedule your routine dental checkup at a local dentist, call us at 717-243-9020 or request an appointment online and our team will help get you and your family into a routine dental schedule depending on your specific needs.

Is your toothbrush worn out?

Have you been sick recently and are grossed out to use your toothbrush now that you’re healthy?

If you’re questioning the cleanliness of your toothbrush at all, the best idea is probably just to replace your brush or brush head (if you’re using an electric toothbrush).

The American Dental Association recommends that you replace your toothbrush or brush head every 2-3 months on average when you’ve been healthy through that timeframe. Over 75% of Americans don’t replace their brush heads or toothbrushes which can lead to oral health problems.

Why should I regularly change out my toothbrush?

Worn down bristles can cause gum damage.

Toothbrushes are made of nylon and rounded off when created to leave a soft edge so that it’s less abrasive on your enamel and gum tissue. As a brush gradually wears down, the bristles return to their original sharp, jagged edges which can cause gum recession and wear away at your enamel.

If you start to notice your bristle texture change before the 2-3 month recommended replacement time, it may be a sign that you’re brushing too hard. 

If your brush bristles keep ending up splayed before the 2-3 months replacement time is up, consider lightening up your grip and pressure while brushing. You may just be overdoing it!

If you’re noticing that your toothbrush is constantly wearing out fast or that your gums are always sore after brushing, you can talk to your dentist about the proper techniques for proper brushing.

The recommended way to brush your teeth is:

• -pea-sized amount of toothpaste
• -45 degree angle
• -gentle circular motions (if using a manual brush)
• -repeat on inside of teeth surface
• -light-back and forth motions on chewing surfaces (if using a manual brush)
• -light pressure, no brushing motion when using an electric brush similar to a ProSys Variosonic (let the brush work for you)
• -two minutes twice a day

Overused toothbrushes just don’t clean as well.

A worn-out brush head just doesn’t give you as deep of a teeth cleaning as a newer intact brush.

If your toothbrush isn’t cleaning your teeth properly, this can lead to cavities and other damaging oral health concerns. The bristles start to bend and curve in multiple directions, leaving open spaces.

When using your brush those open spaces aren’t getting in between your teeth and aren’t cleaning out bacteria along the gum line.

Germs run rampant on an old toothbrush.

Replacing your toothbrush on a regular basis also allows for less bacteria to build up on the bristles.

It’s probably not a surprise to you, but a bathroom is a hot zone for bacteria. Not rinsing your brush off with tap water after use or not storing it in a vertical position so the bristles can dry out can lead to a bacteria influx.

The longer you use that toothbrush the worse it can get, which can end up affecting your oral and overall health. You may not be able to visibly see the germs, but trust us…they’re there!

Germs on toothbrushes also are on overload after you use your toothbrush while you’re sick.

Continuing to use your brush after a sick spell spreads those same germs back into your body, kicking your immune system back into battle mode every time you brush your teeth. Just throw away the brush or brush head, especially if you’re diagnosed with something that you’re taking an antibiotic for. Throw it away after starting a new prescription!

Changing brushes like the seasons.

In the end it’s best to think of changing your brush or brush head as the seasons change! Just by doing this one thing you’re improving your oral and overall health.

There are also subscription services online that will send you new brushes or brush heads on 3 month intervals in case you forget.

If you have any questions about toothbrushes or brushing techniques feel free to your local dentist, they’ll be more than happy to help your family with proper tooth brushing techniques.

Unfortunately, most children don’t see the dentist for the first time until well after they’re two years old. Many kids dentists experience doesn’t happen until far later.

The American Dental Association recommends that your children should first visit the dentist office when their first tooth forms and begins to poke through the gums. 

The impacts of starting your children on a path to proper oral health are staggering and can lead to a lifetime of good habits that impact more than just their teeth.

The Importance of Children’s Dentistry

Many people underestimate the importance of baby teeth since they think they’re just temporary and will be replaced by their children’s permanent teeth. While it’s true that baby teeth are eventually going to fall out naturally and be replaced by permanent adult teeth, the importance and care of them isn’t a temporary thing.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) stresses on the importance in proper care of our children’s primary (baby teeth) until they fall out naturally because they serve an extremely important role in the health of our permanent teeth including:

• Helping our children chew, digest and properly maintain good nutrition. 
• Aiding in proper speech development
• Creates a good foundation for children’s permanent teeth
• Builds confidence in your child when they feel good about their smile

How can you ease your child’s anxiety about the dentist

When you begin taking your child to the dentist when they’re young and their first tooth is erupting, they’ll quickly get used to seeing the dentist and will probably be too young to become anxious. As you wait longer and longer to take your child to the dentist for their first dentist, they may become anxious or nervous about their first visit. 

There are a few things you can do to ease your child’s nervousness and apprehension about visiting the dentist and preparing them for their first interaction with a dentist and hygienist. Some of the things you can do include:

• Take your child with you for your next dental checkup. First, ask your doctor if your child can accompany you during your next appointment so they can see what happens during a routine dental exam.
• Allow your child to learn about the dentist. There are thousands upon thousands of resources available to allow your child to learn about how friendly the dentist is and what happens when they visit the dentist. From YouTube videos for children about dentists to kids books about dentists for kids, there is a bounty of educational tools to inform your children.
• Play dentist with them. You and your child can pretend and “play” dentist at home. You can go through exercises and count your teeth, and pretend to examine your teeth. By doing this you can reduce the stress involved with seeing a dentist for your child.
• Participate in dental care with your child. By brushing teeth and taking care of their oral health with them they can establish a solid foundation of fun and interactive oral care which they can carry with them into adulthood.

Are you ready to schedule your child’s first dentist appointment?

Our team and Dr. Noll loves to help children with their dental health and they’re always excited to see new younger patients at the office. When you schedule your child’s first dentist appointment make sure to use some of the tips above, so they feel comfortable and confident in their first exams. To schedule their first dental exam, call us at 717.243.9020 or contact us.