My Family Dental Care

Things that are bad for your teeth SUGARY TREATS While you may think of candy as the biggest culprit of cavities, sugar-sweetened sodas and sweet tea are right up there. Having a constant source of sugar flowing into the mouth is really bad for the teeth. Sugar leads to more plaque accumulation, and in turn, the plaque releases acids that eat into the teeth. Sugary drinks can also affect the gums and cause gingivitis. ACIDIC FOODS AND DRINKS Grapefruits and oranges may be breakfast staples, but the acid in these fruits can erode enamel on your teeth. Same with lemons (including lemonade) and limes. And it’s not just fruit—the acid content in sodas (even diet sodas) spells trouble for your smile. Fortunately you can limit the negative impact a couple of ways: Use a straw to limit acid exposure, and/or drink faster. Research shows that people who sip their drinks are more likely to have tooth damage than those who finish their beverages quickly.  TOOTH STAINING DRINKS

8 Reasons You Shouldn’t Avoid the Dentist Modern dental care is all about prevention and comfort. We all know somebody who looks forward to going to the dentist. You know, the kind of person who gets positively giddy at the thought of plopping down in that big reclining chair. Then there’s the rest of us—for whom a trip to the dentist ranks right up there with visiting our accountants at tax time. But the truth is, there are lots of compelling reasons for seeing your dentist at least once a year, and ideally, every six months. AVOID MAJOR DENTAL WORK With regular checkups, your dentist can spot early signs of decay at a stage when the damage can usually be reversed, which means you’ll avoid the dreaded drill. “When it comes to cavities, it’s not an all or nothing situation,” says Fotinos Panagakos, DMD, a licensed dentist and Global Director of Scientific Affairs at Colgate-Palmolive. “The tooth enamel gets broken down over time, but your dentist can detect it early a

# periodontitis   # gingivitis   # brushingyourteeth   # periodontalabscess Periodontal Dentistry- Poor Oral Health- Concept of brushing teeth Dental plaque and inflammation of gingivitis- A periodontal abscess is a pocket of pus in the tissues of the gum. It looks like a small red ball pushing out of the swollen gum. An abscess can occur with serious gum disease (periodontitis), which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. This leaves deep pockets where bacteria can grow. If tartar builds up too much, or if food gets stuck in the pockets, pus forms. If the pus can't drain, it forms an abscess. An abscess can cause a fever and a throbbing pain in nearby teeth. It can also cause long-term damage to your teeth and gums. The teeth may get loose and fall out. The infection can spread to another part of your body. In most cases, your dentist will give you antibiotics to stop the infection. He or she may need to cut open (lance) the abscess so that the infection