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It’s an age-old myth that chewing gum is bad for oral health and one that was perhaps created by moms who got tired of finding gum stuck to their hardwood floors, in their childs’ hair, or as a result of the simple irritation of watching a young one chew gum with their mouth open.

If you choose a sugar-free gum (or even one that’s not) there are benefits to your teeth, and they’re greater than just minty fresh breath if spearmint is your flavor of choice.

1. Chewing gum is the next best alternative to brushing – if you can’t brush and floss, chewing gum can help improve your oral health. Of course, it shouldn’t replace brushing or flossing, but if you do these things twice a day, chewing gum in between will keep your mouth in even better shape

2. Chewing for long periods cleans teeth – you receive the best benefit from chewing gum for longer periods of time; even after the flavor has run out. Doing this cleans plaque and food particles from the surface of your teeth

3. Chewing gum develops saliva – saliva can help prevent bacteria that causes decay and neutralizes acid in your mouth, even that from food or drink. The more your salivate, the better you’re protected!

Via: MyNewSmile

1. Periodontal gum disease – this is the number one issue experienced by people with diabetes and it damages the gum and bone that hold your teeth. This can result in pain when eating, as well as more difficulty controlling blood sugar
2. Dry mouth – dry mouth can result in thrush which is an infection
3. Increased glucose in saliva – with diabetes, glucose can increase in the saliva
4. Tooth loss – in order to help prevent tooth decay individuals with diabetes need to focus on proper oral health techniques

Those with diabetes don’t need to take any additional steps to ensure their oral health isn’t affected; but they do need to make an effort to brush and floss, visit a dentist regularly and keep blood glucose levels under control.

1. Tooth enamel is breakable – tooth enamel might be the hardest tissue in the body, but it can still break and chip. Take it easy when eating hard foods or avoid them outright. Tooth fractures in the enamel can also occur when people have piecrings in their mouths

2. Various types of foods can cause harm – it’s not just sugary foods that you need to avoid or limit. Sour and acidic foods and drinks can also cause harm to your teeth

3. Braces can have negative effects – braces and retainers are commonly used for tooth alignment, but they can increase the likelihood of cavities and decay and require extra care. Understanding essential dental care methods for children and adults with braces can prevent severe dental problems

4. Fluoride, in high quantities is not healthy – though flouoride is an essental component in improving dental health, too much of it is not a good thing. Fluoride should never be swallowed, and children should be supervised to prevent ingestion of fluoride toothpaste

5. Not everyone has all of their teeth – some children and adults do not develop all of their teeth. This is especially common with wisdom teeth; many people never develop all four of them. Also, tooth decay and other issues can result in the removal of teeth. Though missing teeth is often associated with older adulthood, it can happen at any stage of life

1. It’s abrasive – toothpaste is abrasive with a special agent that’s contained and that removes solid particles from the teeth, as well as stains and polishes teeth as well. If you’d like to take a trip back in time, you can try tooth powder instead of paste for more abrasive properties
2. It’s antiseptic – with components like Xylitol, bacteria growth in the mouth is prevented
3. It contains fluoride – fluoride helps to strengthen and protect teeth and is a key element of toothpaste

Via: Dental Health Site

Regular dental checkups can help you detect, treat and even prevent cavities. But you do want to catch the onset of cavities early and get in to see your dentist even if you do not have a scheduled appointment. Sometimes signs of cavities can be obvious, but the effects are not always so severe to obviously indicate that something is wrong. Here are some things to look for that can indicate the presence of a cavity:

1. Bad breath – while bad breath can be an indicator of a number of things, tooth decay that comes with cavities can cause bacteria which results in bad breath. If oral hygiene is properly maintained, it’s necessary that other potential issues be ruled out.
2. Tooth pain – cavities may be felt when chewing directly on a tooth where one is present. Pain or sensitivity may be the symptoms. Pain is an indication that a dentist visit is necessary
3. Looks for holes or spots – if cavities are left untreated, dark spots and holes can form as a result of decay. Once visible signs appear, immediate dental care is necessary

Image Via: Flickr Creative Commons

As with any form of cancer, knowing the signs of oral cancer is key to early detection and treatment:

1. Sores – not all sores in the mouth indicate cancer, but those that are present for 2 or more weeks should receive medical attention

2. Patches in the mouth – dark red or white patches appear in the mouth

3. Lumps – lumps can appear under or over the skin on the lips, tongue or neck

4. Bleeding – bleeding from the mouth, not triggered by traumatic activity

5. Issues with swallowing – consistent difficulty swallowing or a sore throat that doesn’t go away can be indicative of oral cancer

Choosing a dentist based on their personality alone is never a good idea. Just because you like someone personally, doesn’t meant that they’ll be the best choice to care for your oral health. That being said, once you’ve determined that a dentist’s qualifications and their practice meet all of your criteria, their personality is important. No one likes a doctor with a poor bedside manner, no matter how proficient they may be; and the same applies with dentists. So here are a few things to evaluate about your prospective dentist’s personality.

1. Are they upfront and honest – for many dental patients, it’s important to have information upfront from their dentist, particularly those that do not have sufficient dental insurance coverage. A good dentist should be willing to at least estimate the costs of treatment they’re suggesting and give you an idea about the care they expect you will need in the future
2. Compassion – many dental patients feel like every time they set foot in the dentist’s office they are being judged. Dentists should be compassionate and supportive while providing the required information and motivation to their patients
3. Their complete focus – a busy dental practice sees a lot of patients, but when you’re in their chair, you should feel like you’re the primary focused. A good dentist should not give you the feeling that they’re trying to rush through your appointment, nor should they voice their stress to you even on the busiest of days. You need to feel like you’re the top priority!

Remember, it’s not just an individual dentist you should evaluate when you visit a practice – it’s everyone from the hygienists to the support staff that will give you a feeling if you’ve come to the right place for you!

A ToothSavers’ patient provides their feedback about the level of customer service provided to dental patients in the office.

“At ToothSavers, I got the best medical assistance. I also found the dentists offered a dignified presence made me feel at ease and safe”

Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons

1. Know which foods can cause discoloration – some food that can discolor your teeth may surprise you and they include blueberries, lemons, apples, sweet potatoes, tomato sauce and balsamic vinaigrette
2. Understand which drinks can cause discoloration as well – drinks that discolor your teeth may not surprise you as much. Coffee, tea, cola drinks, red wine, grape juice and cranberry juice are all culprits
3. Limit your intake of the above – of course, you don’t have to cut out the food and drink you enjoy entirely, but you can cut back to maintain your pearly whites!
4. Use whitening products – toothpaste and strips are available at many stores, or you can take a trip to your dentist for professional whitening

Also read our post on the various tooth whitening options and learn more about the whitening services offered by ToothSavers

1. Celery – cleans between teeth, massages gums and produces saliva that protects oral health

2. Cheese – balances the PH levels in the mouth, rebuilds tooth enamel and helps to protect against gum disease

3. Kiwis – filled with vitamin C kiwis help protect the collagen in the gums preventing decay

4. Onions – they can help kill bacteria in the mouth with the sulphur content

5. Sesame seeds – they can remove plaque and help rebuild tooth enamel

6. Green tea – kills the bacteria that turns sugar into plaque

Remember, a dentist plays a big role in your oral care, but they can’t do it alone! Oral health requires well-rounded positive habits that include positive eating habits!

Image Credit: Flickr Creative Commons