Skip The Candy This Halloween Season and Keep Your Gums Healthy

With Halloween and the holidays right around the corner you may be tempted to reach into those candy bags, but stop yourself. The more candy you consume the more damage you could potentially be causing to your healthy smile. Sugar mixes with bacteria that is in your mouth, which then causes decay and cavities. Decay and cavities that are not taken care of can eventually cause problems for your gums as well.

When food stays on your teeth for two or more days the plaque hardens and becomes tartar. This tartar sits on the gum and is a hard substance that is difficult to get off of your teeth with normal brushing and flossing. You may scrub and scrub but it will not come off. Tartar on your teeth can then lead to gingivitis. Once your gums are impacted with gingivitis, if it is not taken care of, it can lead to periodontal disease. Dr.Denine Rice and her team, can help put together a plan that will get your smile back on track.

For more information on the impact of sugar on your gums, contact Dr. Rice and her team today.

Stop! You Forgot To Floss!

“Flossing isn’t just a suggestion,” says Dr. Denine Rice, “It is a must.” There is only one way to save your gums and your teeth for a lifetime, and that is flossing. Food gets between the teeth even if you don’t see it, feel it, or think it is there. Regular brushing is awesome, but flossing is the bread and butter of dental health.  Millions of people every day are impacted by periodontal disease, but you do not have to be one of them. Here are 4 reasons why people say they don’t floss and what you can do to help.

1.     “My teeth are too tight.”

a.     Finding a coated floss, like Glide. It can help to glide between the teeth and remove any food that is stuck between teeth that are close together.

2.     “I don’t have enough time in the morning.”

a.     That is okay. Floss on your way out the door, at your first bathroom break, or at night, before bed, when your day has wound down.

3.     “The floss breaks.”

a.     Try different kinds of floss, and you may even want to use flossers. They can help to keep the floss from breaking.

4.     “I have bleeding Gums.”

a.     Gums bleed when you have periodontal disease and gingivitis. After a regular flossing routine has been established, your gums shouldn’t bleed any more. If they do, you may need to schedule an appointment for a periodontal cleaning.

For more suggestions and support with enhancing your flossing routine, contact Dr. Rice and her team today!