How We Breathe Impacts our Teeth for Life

MOUTH-BREATHING CAN cause all kinds of short-term issues, many of which are connected to poor sleep quality from getting insufficient oxygen by breathing through the mouth. Short-Term Consequences of a Mouth-Breathing Habit If a child exhibits the following symptoms, it could be due to mouth-breathing: Impaired speech. When a child’s mouth is always open, certain sounds…

Quit That Ice-Chewing Habit!

WHAT’S SO BAD about chewing ice? It can actually do a lot of permanent damage to teeth, and yet many people have a habit of chewing ice that can be difficult to quit. Let’s look closer at ice chewing and its effects on dental health. Compulsive Ice Eating, or Pagophagia The scientific name for compulsive ice…

Charcoal Toothpaste: Science Versus Fads

IF GIVEN THE CHANCE to change something about their smiles, most people would choose to have whiter teeth, and quite a few are willing to try just about anything for it, including something as counterintuitive as scrubbing them with toothpaste made of charcoal. The History of Charcoal as a Remedy The activated charcoal-based dental and skin…

Smile-Friendly Breakfast Secrets

BREAKFAST MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT meal of the day, but for many of us it’s also the most unhealthy. A bad breakfast is not only bad for our teeth, but makes us feel sluggish before we even get out the door—setting us on a track for unhealthy choices throughout the day. How Often Do You Eat Breakfast On-The-Go? We usually don’t give ourselves time…

How to Train a Flossing Pro

FLOSSING DAILY IS such an important part of maintaining good oral health and hygiene in between dental visits. The best way to ensure that kids make flossing a part of their day is to teach them how! Here are a few tips parents should bear in mind when teaching their children how to floss. Is It…

What Builds a Healthy Smile?

WE ALL KNOW how important daily brushing and flossing are to a growing child’s smile. We know about scheduling regular dental appointments, and hopefully we know that cutting back on sugar and keeping it to mealtimes instead of snacks throughout the day is also important. But what about the vitamins and minerals that help build those…