A Friendly Reminder…
Our office will be closed for vacation from July 1st thru July 17th. We will return on Monday July 18th. If you have a true dental emergency during that time, please call our office at (908) 852-8858 and our voice mail will provide you with the covering dentist’s name and phone number.
Pregnancy and Cleanings…
A study by researchers at Yale and NYU has confirmed a bit of folk wisdom. The more children a woman has, the more likely she is to have missing teeth. A possible explanation is that pregnant women tend to develop gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) as hormonal shifts make the tissues more sensitive to irritation. More frequent dental cleanings can help keep that gingivitis under control.
Another Reason to Love Peanut Butter…
Did you know that peanut butter, salmon or any other food rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can help fight gum disease? New research shows people whose diets were rich in PUFAs were up to 20% less likely to have periodontitis. Periodontitis is a common inflammatory condition in which the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth, allowing bacteria to build up and potentially lead to bone and tooth loss.
Before You Grab that Energy Drink…
In the heat of the summer, your first choice for a refreshing beverage may be an energy or sports drink. A better idea would be to skip these tooth strippers, mainly because they had little ability to buffer the acids in the beverage. Drinks like these are especially bad for adolescents and young adults, whose tooth enamel is less mature and more porous. Stick with plain water or unsweetened iced tea instead.
Fun Fact
First President George Washington didn’t really have wooden dentures. They were actually made from elephant ivory and hippopotamus tusk.
