
- Red, tender or swollen gums
- Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
- Gums that seem to be pulling away from your teeth
- Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Teeth that are loose or are separating from each other
If there’s one thing that can ruin the most romantic holiday of the year, it’s bad breath. In a recent Match.com survey, 45 percent of the 5,000 singles polled listed fresh breath as the most important consideration when prepping for a date and both women (71 percent) and men (58 percent) said that teeth matter most when scrutinizing a potential match.
Whether you’re married or single… going on a first-date or celebrating your 25th Valentine’s Day together, you don’t want bad breath to become a major embarrassment if you’re snuggling up to your sweetie and he or she asks you what you had for lunch. And you definitely don’t want to have your significant other give you breath mints as a gift like this famous celebrity couple.
Most of these ideas won’t be new to you, but if you want to be kissable this Valentine’s Day, here’s what you should do:
Before the Date
During Dinner
After Dinner
In the same way preventative maintenance is the best way to avoid major car problems, taking care of your teeth could save you a lot of headaches (and toothaches) this year.
Here are some of the most common dental problems we see (and how to avoid them):
1. Gum Disease
Gum disease is typically caused by three factors: bad oral hygiene, smoking and genetic susceptibility. Periodontitis, whose symptoms can include constant bad breath, swollen or bleeding gums and loose or sensitive teeth is the more severe form of gum disease and can put you at greater risk for heart attack or stroke. Practicing good dental habits and making wise food choices are good prevention strategies, but if you already have gum disease, here’s a pain-free option to solving your problem.
2. Mouth Sores
The most common type of mouth sore is canker sores. Canker sores are non-virus based and caused by everything from stress to genetics, and typically take about 12 days to run their course. If you, or someone you know, has canker sores, you know how annoying and painful they can be. Fixing this issue has never been easier.
4. Tooth Decay (Cavities)
Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the mouth being left alone and given time to cause damage. Bacteria feasts on sugar and starch remnants left on and between our teeth. Good oral hygiene is your best bet on prevention, and parents should be particularly mindful, as cavities most often occur in kids. Once a cavity has formed, however, there are easy treatment options.
5. Enamel Erosion
Acid on the enamel of your teeth causes erosion. As the enamel is worn away, bacteria can then attack, leading to tooth decay. To prevent this, be sure to drink lots of water, cut down on acidic drinks and foods, and chew sugarless gum with xylitol. Here are some other great tips to avoid enamel erosion and keep your teeth white throughout the year.
With 2014 officially upon us, many Nashvillians have kicked off their New Year’s resolutions. While people know eating right, tossing the smokes and exercising are all part of leading a healthier lifestyle, most are not aware of the overall health benefits of taking care of their teeth.
Here are 3 common resolutions that also help you take care of your teeth:
Eat a healthy, balanced diet. A poor diet that consists of sugary treats and fast food can result in premature loss of tooth enamel, resulting in a weaker tooth structure. Due to this, it is especially important that you try to maintain a healthy diet. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables are full of valuable antioxidants and nutrients that help your body – and your mouth – fight off bacteria and infection. If you want more ideas about healthy foods that help your teeth, check out our “Head to Toe Healthy Food Choice” on Facebook.
Quit Smoking. This is another common resolution most people make during the New Year. As we all know, the effects of smoking can lead to serious health complications, including gum disease, bone loss, and oral cancer. While the impact it has in improving your long-term health is widely known, what you may not know is how it can benefit your teeth. Smokers are twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers.
Give up carbonated beverages. Many people resolve to drink the recommended eight glasses a day of water each year. Eight or more glasses a day leads to feeling better and can is beneficial to your mouth as it cleans your teeth. For example, if you drink a glass of wine and follow with water, the wine has less time to sit and stain your teeth. In addition to that, the fluoride in most tap water fights cavities. Drinking water will not only improve your overall health, but also improve your oral health.
We hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2014 and we wish you all the best achieving your goals!
What are some of your New Year’s resolutions for 2014?
Last month we hosted our 2nd Annual Downtown Food Drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. And we were blown away by the way you responded!
We were overwhelmed by the compassion you showed and we are so grateful for everyone who donated or helped collect food for those in need. We’re truly inspired by your generosity. YOU donated 1196 food items! That's nearly 100 items more than we received last year. Thank you to our patients and other downtown residents and business professionals who came together to help feed familiies across Middle Tennessee this holiday season!
How you can continue to give back this holiday season
While the food you collected will help feed hundreds of families, the need is still great….
Whether you missed the food drive or you’re looking for ways to continue to give back this holiday season, here are a few simple ways you can provide food to those in need this holiday season:
These are just a few of the incredible ways you can help to bring a smile to someone in need this holiday season, but they’re definitely not the only ways to give back.
What are some other ways that you enjoy giving back here in Nashville during the holidays?