In fact, when you pay
attention to what is on the buffet table you’ll be doing both your waistline
and your mouth a favor.

Be Careful of Good Treats

According to Dr. J. Craig Alexander some holiday treats disguise themselves as healthy when they really aren’t.

For example, your favorite
Aunt’s fruity delicious Christmas cake is loaded with dried and candied fruit.

That fruit sticks between
crevices and at the backs of teeth. If you must have a taste or two, rinse with
water afterwards or enjoy as part of a meal.  

Cakes, Donuts, Cookies and
Pastries

All of those yummy bakery
and homemade goodies that seem to be everywhere during the holidays are not so
great for your teeth.

In fact, if you don’t rinse
right away you’ll be picking out the cookie that you enjoyed during a work
break.

While you may love the
holidays for all of the goodies, be sure to keep starchy foods to a limit. This
includes chips and crackers.

Sparkly Sodas and Holiday
Drinks

Drinking too much sparkly
apple cider isn’t good for your body or your teeth. Sparkly apple cider is
loaded with sugar and although the cinnamon stick is a great idea, chewing on
it isn’t.

Soda is twice as bad as you
have the sugar to deal with and the acidic content too. Sports and energy
drinks are loaded with acid and sugar as well.

Fresh Fruit

If you have been spending
every party with a plated loaded with citrus fruit you aren’t doing your teeth
any favors.

Kiwi, tangerines, limes, lemons, grapefruit and oranges are full of acid. That acid will erode the enamel on your teeth.

Once the erosion starts it is impossible to reverse. Dr. Alexander recommends enjoying citrus fruit with a glass of water.

Hard and Chewy Candy

Both types of candies are
not good for teeth. Sadly, avoiding salt water taffy, chewy caramels,
peppermint sticks and jawbreakers is the best recipe for healthy teeth.

If you must have something
sweet stick with cranberry sauce or chocolate. Research shows it is the best
out of the lot when it comes to sweets for teeth.

Enjoy with Healthy Treats

This holiday season keep the
treats to a minimum and substitute with lots of fresh veggies and dips.

Enjoy and Happy Holidays from your dentist in East Greenbush Dr. J. Craig Alexander.

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If you have chipped, cracked or stained teeth it is probably quite difficult to do any of those without being conscious of your teeth and gums. In fact, some people are so ashamed of their smile that they will miss an engagement all together.

A crooked, cracked, and unhappy smile isn’t good for your self-esteem, but it isn’t good for your overall health either.

According to your East Greenbush dentist, there is a connection between your oral and overall health and in most cases, it starts with oral hygiene.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene for a Healthy Smile

Brushing, flossing, a good diet, and regular dental appointments keep your teeth and gums in check. Twice yearly dental examinations not only check for tooth decay and gum disease, but also for any other abnormalities in the oral cavity.

Dr. J. Craig Alexander offers comprehensive dental examinations to check your overall health as well. During your comprehensive dental checkup, your neck, throat, mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue are checked for anything that doesn’t look right. If a white patch, sore or lump is discovered, your dentist in East Greenbush will probably recommend a biopsy for further examination and investigation.

It is important to remember that early detection prevents diseases from getting worse. A comprehensive dental checkup can do just that.

Diet Oral and Overall Health

Everyone knows that a good healthy diet is great for your body and overall health, but did you know what you put in your mouth also affects teeth and gums?

Your East Greenbush dentist explains that those fizzy sports and energy drinks that you love so much are extremely bad for teeth as they eat away at the enamel. Starchy foods stay in your teeth while dried fruit can become stuck in the backs of teeth.

Enjoy a diet that is full of high calcium foods. Dairy foods are great for teeth. Remember, teeth are just as strong as your bones and will do wonders when you add calcium to your diet.

Include lots of healthy fruits and veggies in your diet as well. Just be sure to keep your intake of citrus to a minimum because of the acid content.

Check Yourself Out for Overall Health

You see your smile every day. That means it is important to check it out every once in a while. Check your teeth and restorations for chips and cracks. Make sure you pay close attention to your gums as well. If they are red, swollen or bleed when you brush and floss, you could be dealing with gum disease.

Schedule Your Dental Checkup for Overall Health

Your oral hygiene really does affect your overall health. Call and schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Craig J. Alexander today.

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Tongue Piercing

At a New York University alone, 16 percent of females and four percent of males had pierced tongues. Although tongue piercing doesn’t seem that serious, some issues could affect your teeth and mouth.

Problems that can occur with tongue piercing include nerve damage, scarring, swelling and gum disease. Of the college students surveyed, six percent had some type of problem with tongue piercing, which was lower than naval piercing, at 24 percent and nipple piercing at 21 percent. However, tongue and floor of the mouth infections seem to be on the rise. Although a trip to the ER isn’t common, a few people have been admitted needing intravenous antibiotics for infections.

Another problem with piercing is scaring. Once the post or bar is taken out, there will always be a scar. If that isn’t bad enough, your dental restorations could also pay a price for your oral piercings.

Chipped and Cracked Teeth

People who have lip or tongue piercings are more susceptible to chipped and cracked teeth. People who wear long barbells and had chips and cracks at the backs of their teeth.

Recent studies have also indicated that oral piercings can cause gum recession as most people with piercings push the stud or bar against the front teeth. Gum recession can cause tooth loss.

If you have been considering oral piercings, talk to your East Greenbush dentist before you do. He may be able to convince you that piercing your cheek, lip or tongue isn’t such a good idea after all.

Call or click for a dental consultation with Dr. J. Craig Alexander today.

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According to your East Greenbush Dentist, teething staining and tooth discoloration is caused by several things that include:

Food and Drink-Tea, red wine, coffee and some times of fruits and vegetables can stain your teeth. Even potatoes and apples can cause tooth discoloration.

Tobacco-Dr. J. Craig Alexander explains that chewing and smoking tobacco will stain your teeth and can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.

Poor Oral Hygiene-Poor oral hygiene habits, such as not brushing and flossing, can cause teeth staining. Brush twice and floss once a day and use a mouth wash to remove stains and plaque.

Disease-The enamel on your teeth can be affected by certain conditions such as head and neck chemotherapy and radiation. Women who are expecting can also have infections that cause teeth staining.

Medications-Doxycycline and Tetracycline, both antibiotics, can discolor your teeth, especially in children who have teeth that are developing. Mouthwashes that contain certain drugs can also cause teeth staining. Benadryl and high blood pressure can also be to blame for tooth discoloration.

Dental Materials-Silver amalgam restorations and mental to porcelain dental crowns can give your teeth a gray or black color, especially those restorations that contain silver sulfide.

Age-As you get older, so does the enamel on your teeth. Over the years, you may notice a yellowish tinge to your teeth.

Genetics-Some people are born with less enamel than others, which could cause teeth staining and tooth discoloration.

Environment-If you live in an area with excessive fluoride in your drinking water, or use fluoride supplements, you may notice tooth discoloration.

Trauma-Tooth trauma from a fall or accident can cause teeth staining and tooth discoloration in both children and adults.

If you suffer from teeth staining or tooth discoloration, call or click and schedule an appointment with your East Greenbush Dentist, Dr. J. Craig Alexander today.

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