Back-to-school season signals sports, schedules, and one other important staple — snacks. If you hear, “I’m hungry!” the minute your child hops in the car, you’re in good company. It’s common for kids to have an appetite after school. School-aged children eat early in the day, oftentimes before noon. It’s no wonder they crave mid-afternoon munchies! ... read more
It’s easy to take some things for granted until they’re suddenly gone. Have you ever thought about how it would feel if you lost one or two of your front teeth? You’d probably avoid smiling. It would be uncomfortable talking with someone face-to-face. It wouldn’t be easy pronouncing certain words. And how about eating an ... read more
The school year is underway. Fresh haircuts and new clothes fill the halls. It must be that time again — picture day! Closed eyes, forced smile, squinty face — these are all familiar photography faux pas. Skip the smile skepticism! With minimal coaching and a pinch of parental prep, your child’s “say cheese” can be ... read more
Could brushing your teeth be far more ancient than we thought? New evidence from a rare find deep in the mountains of northwest Spain sheds light on how ancient peoples dealt with dental problems. The concept of toothbrushing has been around for millennia, and for good reason: dental problems bring pain, infection and true danger ... read more
Many parents across the country will issue a common refrain at dinnertime tonight: "You’d better eat that--it’s good for you!" There’s another old favorite in the parental arsenal of dietary admonitions: "Don’t eat that—it’ll rot your teeth!" Now more than ever, kids are faced with a bewildering array of food choices -- from fresh produce ... read more
Research suggests that some people with periodontitis (severe gum disease) have a harder time keeping their blood sugar levels under control, whereas other people, whose blood sugar is not well controlled, may have trouble with gum disease. Gum Disease Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone’s teeth. Gum disease develops ... read more
Piercing may seem daring, cool and totally safe because some celebrities use piercing to flaunt their particular style or attitude. But piercing the tongue, lips, cheeks or uvula (the tiny tissue that hangs at the back of the throat) is not as safe as some would have you believe. That’s because the mouth’s moist environment—home ... read more
Do you smoke or use chewing tobacco? Rarely a day goes by without a magazine, newspaper, or TV news report carrying a message about tobacco-related medical problems — the dangers of lung disease, cancer, heart problems and low-birth weight babies. Perhaps you even tune out those messages because you don’t want to quit just yet—or ... read more
As soon as teeth appear in the mouth, decay can occur. One of the risk factors for early childhood caries (sometimes called baby bottle tooth decay or nursing mouth syndrome) is frequent and prolonged exposure of a baby’s teeth to liquids, such as fruit juice, milk or formula, which all contain sugar. Tooth decay can ... read more
Your teeth’s enamel may be tough, but your teeth still need your help to protect them from erosion. Read on to learn more. What is tooth enamel? Enamel is the white looking outer covering of the tooth crown. This protective shell is the hardest tissue in the human body. What does tooth enamel do? Tooth enamel ... read more
