Some people who have oral appliances such as braces or dentures experience these mouth sores. But can certain foods cause canker sores? Here are a few foods that may trigger these mouth ulcers or increase your risk for them!

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are very acidic and, for some, can trigger canker sores [1]. These include fruits such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruit, but there are other acidic fruits that may cause or worsen canker sores. These include pineapples, strawberries, apples, and tomatoes.

If you have an existing canker sore, eating any of these or other acidic fruits can cause more discomfort, so it’s best to avoid them if possible until your canker sore is healed. The acid present in these fruits can prolong the healing of canker sores, since it’s essentially an open wound.

Foods You May Be Sensitive to

For others, food allergies or sensitivities could be a potential cause of canker sores. Researchers aren’t sure why this is, but it may have to do with your immune system’s response to these foods you may be sensitive to [2]. These foods could include:

• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Gluten
• Nuts
• Spicy foods

Not every person will experience canker sores from these foods, of course, and triggers can be different for everyone. These are just some of the most common foods and drinks that may cause sensitivities in people and lead to canker sores.

Healing Canker Sores

Canker sores can take up to two weeks to fully heal. While your canker sore is healing, avoiding your trigger foods may help, especially foods with citric acid. Avoiding hot, spicy, or sweet foods can help too [3]. It’s also a good idea to avoid alcohol and carbonated beverages, as these can aggravate canker sores and cause additional inflammation and discomfort. Instead, focus on bland foods, and cold foods and drinks can help ease your discomfort as well.

To help accelerate healing of your canker sore, you can try rinsing with salt water (about one teaspoon in a half a cup of warm water) every few hours. Other research shows that zinc and vitamin B supplements may help ease canker sore outbreaks [4].

If your canker sore is excessively painful, large, or you have several sores at once, it’s time to see your dentist. He or she may recommend further testing to ensure there’s not an underlying health issue contributing to the sores, or may be able to recommend a prescription or over-the-counter ointment to help heal your canker sores.

Do you know of any foods that seem to cause your canker sores? If so, you may be sensitive to these foods, or you may need to consume less of them to control your canker sore outbreaks. If you frequently experience canker sores, don’t hesitate to follow up with your doctor or dentist for help!

Sources:
1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10945-canker-sores
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/canker-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-
3. https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=zd1065
4. https://www.jabfm.org/content/22/1/9

The post Can Certain Foods Cause Canker Sores? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

However, the good news is that some candies are better for your teeth than others. Let’s take a look at which candies can be less harmful to your pearly whites and which you should ideally avoid to protect your smile!

Sticky Candies Are the Worst for Oral Health

Any Halloween candy that can stick to your teeth are some of the worst candies you can eat. Why? Because their sticky nature means they hang on to your teeth for longer, getting stick in the grooves of your molars and exposing your teeth to sugar and acids for a longer amount of time than necessary.

These candies include:

• Caramel
• Gummy bears
• Gummy worms
• Taffy
• Fruit-flavored chewy candy, such as Starbursts

Some of these treats can even be so sticky and hard to chew that they damage restorations in the oral cavity, such as filling, bridges, and crowns. Sticky candy is also the enemy of orthodontic appliances such as braces. Sour candies that are also sticky are particularly harmful, as they’re extra acidic to tooth enamel on top of being sticky.

Foods That Require Longer Exposure Can Also Hurt Teeth

Any candy that’s meant to stay in the mouth for a longer period of time can also be damaging to teeth. This is because it keeps the mouth exposed to sugar for longer than it would take to chew and swallow a regular piece of candy. These candies include lollipops, gum that contains sugar, hard candies, Jolly Ranchers, jawbreakers, and Life Savers.

Biting down on these hard candies can also crack or chip teeth and damage dental restorations, so always supervise children with these candies and encourage them to drink water afterward to protect their teeth from sugar!

Which Candies Are Better for Dental Health?

There are candies that are better for your teeth than the above-mentioned ones. Some of the better Halloween candies for teeth include:

• Sugar-free gum. Although your child might not find sugar-free gum in their trick-or-treat bag this year, this type of gum is the best for teeth, as it’s even been shown to help prevent cavities [2].
• Dark chocolate. Milk chocolate is runner-up to dark chocolate, which contains natural chemicals called polyphenols that may actually help inhibit certain types of oral bacteria [3].
• Candy bars with nuts. Nuts help chewy candy bars to not stick as much to teeth—just be wary of candy bars with caramel, which can be quick to stick to teeth and damage fillings!

Stay Safe This Halloween!

When it comes to keeping your teeth safe this Halloween, try focusing on candies that are better for you—and always remember to drink water to help buffer your teeth from sugar, and keep your regular appointments with your dentist for a healthy smile. Happy Halloween!

Sources:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/c/chewing-gum
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19397954/

The post Halloween Candy: Can Some Be Better for Your Smile Than Others? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Dentists are also trained to spot signs of oral cancer that your primary care doctor or urgent care physician may not know to check for. How does a dentist check for oral cancer during your appointment? Here’s what you need to know!

A Screening Will Be Done During Your Exam

During your regular dental exam, your dentist will screen you for oral cancer. These screenings should happen annually starting at age 18 [1]. People who use tobacco products are at higher risk for oral cancer, and should have screenings starting at the age of tobacco use or age 18, whichever comes sooner. Alcohol consumption and family history are two of the other major risk factors for oral cancer. However, people who don’t have any of these risk factors can still get oral cancer and still receive screenings by their dentist!

What Happens During the Screening?

An oral cancer screening is simple, painless, and only takes a few minutes. You won’t need a special appointment with your dentist to check for cancer, as it can happen during your regular checkup and cleaning at the office. During the screening, your dentist will feel your face and neck for any signs of lumps or sores [2].

Your dentist will also ask questions about any symptoms you may be experiencing, including trouble swallowing, having a hoarse voice, or experiencing unexplained numbness or bleeding in the oral cavity. You should inform your dentist if you’re experiencing any symptoms he or she did not ask about as well!

What Will My Dentist Be Looking for?

Your dentist is primarily looking for physical signs of oral cancer, but asking questions is an essential part of this process as well, as your dentist often can’t tell whether or not you’re experiencing numbness or other symptoms from a physical exam alone. Among lumps, your dentist will be checking for [3]:

• Discolored patches in the mouth, such as red or white patches
• Sores that have no cause or appear unusual
• Difficulty moving your tongue
• Tenderness in your face, neck, or mouth

Should your dentist find anything of concern, he or she will let you know what the next steps are. Typically, if your dentist finds anything, they will collect cells uses a special tool and send them out for testing. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your dental practice!

When Was Your Last Oral Cancer Screening?

If it’s been more than a year since your last oral cancer screening, it’s time to contact your dentist. Early detection of oral cancer can minimize your treatment and even save your life. Call your dentist today to ask about an oral cancer screening during your regular exam!

Sources:
1. https://oralcancerfoundation.org/screening/
2. https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/oral-cancer/more-info#diagnosis
3. https://dentistry.uky.edu/patient-care/oral-cancer

The post How Does a Dentist Check for Oral Cancer? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Dental implants are considered the most secure choice when replacing missing teeth, and, when taken care of properly, will never need to be replaced. You can enjoy all your favorite foods and enjoy a natural-looking smile with these restorations!

But what should you expect after getting your dental implants? Here’s what happens following your procedure.

Recovery After the Procedure: Expect Minor Discomfort

During your dental implant procedure, your oral surgeon or dentist will place a titanium or ceramic post in your jaw. This is the first phase of your dental implant procedure, and the implant itself is allowed to heal before your dental crown is placed to finish your restoration.

In the days after your procedure, you may have some minor bruising, swelling, bleeding, or discomfort. Swelling may increase for a few days after your implant placement, but then it will begin to subside. Your dentist may prescribe medication based on how extensive your procedure was and how many implants you had placed.

Your discomfort should only last a few days and be relatively minor. You can use ice as recommended for the swelling, but always reach out to your dentist if you have severe pain, bleeding, or swelling that you feel is not normal after your procedure [1].

Healing Time: Follow Your Oral Surgeon’s Instructions

It’s essential to always follow your oral surgeon’s instructions for healing following your procedure. It’ll take a few hours for the local anesthesia to wear off, and you should wait until the numbness is gone before eating.

You should also avoid drinking with a straw for at least 24 hours after your dental implants have been placed, as the suction motion can disrupt the healing process.

What else should you do to help your mouth heal after your procedure?

• Take medication as directed. Your dentist will prescribe antibiotics and potentially pain medication. You should always take these medications as directed for best results.
• Limit any intense activities. For approximately three days after your implant procedure, you should avoid intense exercise, heavy lifting, and other strenuous activities.
• Eat soft foods. Eating softer foods will help facilitate healing and ease your discomfort [2]. Your dentist will monitor your progress and let you know how long you should continue to eat softer foods.
• Keep your smile clean. You can begin brushing your teeth 24 hours after your procedure, and while you should avoid brushing the implant site directly, go ahead and brush your other teeth gently. Avoid using mouthwash for about two weeks after your procedure.

What Happens Next?

The self-dissolving stitches in your mouth will go away after a few days, and your dentist will schedule a follow-up appointment with you to monitor your healing and see when your final restoration will be placed.

Your dental implant must be fully healed before the dental crown is placed, which will usually take a minimum of six weeks and up to six months depending on your unique case [3].

Once your dental implant is healed, you’ll have a beautiful, secure restoration for life. Have questions about whether or not dental implants are the right choice for you? Don’t hesitate to reach out to your dentist for more information!

Sources:
1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/i/implants
3. https://www.efp.org/patients/dental-implants.html

The post What to Expect After Getting Your Dental Implants appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Oral piercings have the potential to damage both your teeth and gums, especially when worn over a long period of time. Here’s how these piercings could impact your smile in the long run!

Tongue Rings Can Chip Your Teeth

Tongue rings typically include a barbell worn through the tongue. When chewing food, the barbell has the potential to knock against teeth and chip them. Tongue rings can even cause cracks in your tooth enamel [1]. Some people may even experience tooth sensitivity if the tongue ring is positioned in such a way that it rubs against the tooth enamel.

Lip and Tongue Piercings Can Cause Gum Recession

Both lip and tongue rings can contribute to receding gums. When the jaw is at rest, a tongue ring can lie against the backside of the bottom row of your front teeth (your central and lateral incisors), where it can rub against the gum tissue to cause the gums to pull away from the teeth.

Lip studs and rings can rub against the teeth and gum tissue just on the inside of your bottom lip. Gum recession is common in people who wear these types of oral piercings for a significant length of time. While mild gum recession can usually be reversed, severe gum recession will typically need a gum graft to restore your smile.

Potential for Oral Infections

Oral piercings, like any piercing, have the potential to get infected. Between touching your mouth to clean the jewelry and changing jewelry out, these piercings can lead to an infection that will require professional treatment to heal [2]. In addition, people who don’t follow their piercer’s instructions for healing can also increase their risk for an infection—keeping your hands and jewelry clean is essential!

Oral Piercings Can Also Affect Tooth Enamel

Your tooth enamel has the risk of being worn away when it’s in constant contact with your oral jewelry [3]. Tooth enamel is the hardest layer of your teeth and meant to protect them from sensitivity, decay, and discoloration. Once tooth enamel is gone, it doesn’t grow back. The longer you wear your oral piercing, you risk tooth enamel damage that can increase your risk for cavities and sensitive teeth.

How to Take Care of Your Smile With Oral Piercings

It’s important to always follow your piercer’s instructions for healing and jewelry wear—wearing jewelry that’s the inappropriate size for your piercing can cause even more damage! Whether you have oral piercings or not, your dentist can help protect your smile.

Your oral health problems can be treated, especially if caught early. With regular checkups, your dentist can spot gum recession and enamel damage early on to help you overcome these issues that can cause long-term damage to your smile!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259306/
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/o/oral-piercings
3. http://www.ijohsjournal.org/temp/IntJOralHealthSci3284-8521243_234012.pdf

The post Can Oral Piercings Be Harming Your Smile? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

While the frequency of your in-office teeth cleanings will vary based on your unique oral health, teeth cleanings are important for adults and children alike [1]. What can you expect during a professional teeth cleaning? Here’s everything you need to know when it comes to your next appointment!

An Exam of Your Oral Cavity

Before doing any cleaning, your dental hygienist will carefully examine your oral cavity for signs of any issues. The hygienist will be looking for any indicators that gum disease, tooth decay, or oral cancer are present. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, your dentist will likely recommend that you get x-rays to check for tooth decay and other issues that can’t be seen with an exam alone.

Cleaning and Polishing Your Teeth

Once the exam is complete, your hygienist will remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth before polishing them. Your hygienist will even floss your teeth to be sure they get all the plaque out from tight spaces you may have missed when cleaning your teeth at home [2].

If you have any tartar on your teeth—which is the hardened form of plaque—it will need to be scraped off with a special tool. While the sound can be alarming, this process is painless, so there’s no need to worry.

The cleaning process will include the use of a mildly abrasive paste and a small instrument which is a lot like a toothbrush to polish the teeth. This thorough cleaning and polishing method helps remove surface stains that may have accumulated from foods, drinks, and plaque to give you a truly clean smile!

A Potential Fluoride Application

Most patients, including children, will receive an application of fluoride at the end of their teeth cleaning. Dentists use a professional-grade fluoride solution that helps strengthen the teeth and prevent tooth decay [3]. Not every patient will need this, so you and your dentist can discuss if he or she recommends it before your cleaning begins. The fluoride application is painless, quick, and can give your teeth the boost they need to resist tooth decay until your next visit!

Is It Time for a Teeth Cleaning?

Teeth cleanings are simple processes that have numerous advantages—not only do they help keep your smile clean and strong to resist tooth decay and gum disease, but they also remove surface stains to help keep your teeth bright. Regular teeth cleanings also help spot oral health issues early, giving you the opportunity to correct them with minimal intervention before they get worse! Is it time to schedule a teeth cleaning? Make an appointment with your dentist today!

Sources:
1. https://www.ada.org/en/press-room/news-releases/2013-archive/june/american-
2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001957.htm
3. http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Member%20Center/FIles/patient_72.ashx

The post What Can You Expect During a Teeth Cleaning? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

But why do we grind our teeth? The answer won’t always be the same for everyone, and is usually more complex than people realize. Below are some of the top reasons we may grind our teeth!

Stress

Stress and anxiety are major causes of bruxism. People who grind their teeth due to stress may not realize they have this habit, or may clench or grind their teeth only when asleep.

Unfortunately, ignoring the problem won’t make it go away, and can even make teeth grinding worse [1]. To know for sure if stress could be causing your jaw pain or sensitive teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist to rule out other potential causes first. Then, you can begin to put stress reduction techniques in place to hopefully curb this bad habit!

An Abnormal Bite

Our teeth are not meant to knock against each other—instead, when closing our mouths completely, our top and bottom rows of teeth should rest against each other in a way that’s natural and comfortable. Having an abnormal bite such as a crossbite, open bite, overbite, or underbite can cause discomfort and disharmony in the jaw, and can lead to teeth grinding [2]. A simple x-ray and exam with your dentist can tell if you have a misaligned bite that could be influencing your teeth grinding habit.

Sleep Disorders

For reasons that aren’t quite known, research links sleep disorders such as those seen in sleep apnea with teeth grinding [3]. Snoring and fatigue—two common symptoms of sleep apnea—have also been linked to bruxism. If you snore, have excessive daytime fatigue, or frequently wake up with a headache or dry mouth, it’s time to visit your dentist for an evaluation and potential referral for a sleep disorder.

Substances

Other research has linked certain substances such as caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco to teeth grinding [4]. Although more evidence is needed to support these substances as a potential cause of bruxism, the risk for heavy coffee drinkers (those who drank more than eight cups of coffee daily) increased 1.5 times, while for smokers and alcohol drinkers, the risk for bruxism increased twofold. You may consider telling your dentist if you consume a lot of caffeine or alcohol, or use tobacco products.

For some people still, their teeth grinding will be a combination of the things listed above. Only your dentist can help you identify the cause and come up with a treatment plan. You should never ignore bruxism, as over time, it can severely damage your smile. Getting help sooner rather than later can make all the difference and could even save your teeth!

Sources:
1. https://www.sleep.org/articles/reasons-grinding-teeth/
2. https://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/patient_49.ashx
3. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/teeth-grinding
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27522154

The post Why Do We Grind Our Teeth? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

There are many benefits to getting your teeth professionally whitened—it’s safer, tends to last longer, and provides a more even white color for your entire smile. However, all forms of teeth whitening can fade with time, especially if you’re not caring for your newly-whitened teeth like you should.

Here’s how you can keep your teeth bright after a professional whitening for results that last!

Avoid Tobacco Products

This goes without saying, but tobacco products—whether smoking or chewing tobacco—stain your teeth [1]. Some people experience a mild yellow color, while others can see a deep brown staining, especially with years of tobacco use.

In fact, many people get a professional whitening to help lighten and remove stains from former tobacco use. If you smoke or chew tobacco, a professional teeth whitening is another reason to kick this habit to keep your bright teeth!

Exercise Caution with Dark-Colored Foods

Dark-colored foods and drinks have the potential to stain your smile over time, and the more frequently you consume these items, the more likely your teeth are to stain. These products include red wine, coffee, and even tea [2]. Other food products that can stain your teeth when eaten include spices such as turmeric, berries such as blueberries, and even soy sauce.

How can you prevent the stains these items can cause without avoiding them completely? A good trick is to sip water while consuming them, and remember to brush your teeth about 30 minutes to an hour after eating!

Visit Your Dentist

Teeth whitening does need to be touched up over time, even if you do your best to minimize staining. Visiting your dentist for professional teeth cleanings every six months or as recommend by your dentist can help remove surface stains and keep your smile as bright as possible [3].

Some people may choose to re-whiten their teeth every few years or whenever necessary to keep their smile bright—but if you keep up with professional cleanings as well as at-home brushing and flossing, you can make your white teeth last even longer.

Keep Your Smile Bright!

When you take care of your teeth, it’s simpler than you think to prolong your professional teeth whitening. By avoiding tobacco products, taking care when eating certain dark-colored foods, and keeping up with your oral hygiene, you can make your bright teeth last as long as possible!

Sources:
1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10958-tooth-discoloration

2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321480.php

3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/teeth-whitening/faqs

The post How to Keep Your Teeth Bright After Professional Teeth Whitening appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

But what happens when the healthy things we do for our bodies aren’t exactly healthy for our smiles? These four health trends have been touted as beneficial, but they could actually be hurting your teeth!

Lemon Water

Drinking lemon water, particularly in the morning, has become a popular practice. The idea is that you add the juice of about half a lemon to a glass of water and drink first thing in the morning to rev up digestion, detox the body, and even help with weight loss.

Despite the fact that these claims have little scientific evidence to back them up, there’s another problem with lemon water: it has an extremely low pH of just 2.25, meaning it’s very acidic [1].

In fact, this pH is even more acidic than most types of soda, which means that lemon water could be eroding your tooth enamel, leading to sensitive teeth and an increased risk for tooth decay.

Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is another practice that’s gained popularity. An ancient method of pulling toxins out of the oral cavity, this regimen requires that you swish sesame or coconut oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes upon waking every morning.

Not only does the American Dental Association not recommend oil pulling due to lack of evidence, but oil pulling requires that your brush your teeth after spitting the oil out [2]. As we know, tooth enamel is porous and brushing immediately after your teeth come into contact with food isn’t recommended.

Kombucha and Other Fermented Foods

Foods such as kimchi and kombucha are fermented and packed with probiotics, which are beneficial organisms that exist in food. Research is showing that probiotics play a much bigger role in our oral and bodily health than previously thought [3].

However, as a result of their fermented nature, these foods are also acidic, which can weaken tooth enamel and leave it vulnerable to damage. For example, kimchi, which is fermented vegetables, has a pH of around 4, which is lower than the neutral number of 7 on the pH scale [4]. You can still reap the probiotic benefits of these foods by drinking water after consuming them, and, of course, avoiding brushing your teeth until about one hour after consumption.

Charcoal Toothpaste

You may have seen black toothpaste at the store or advertised. For some people, the charcoal toothpaste trend has been in full swing for a few years now. Charcoal toothpaste is said to remove toxins from the mouth, naturally whiten teeth, and even help sensitive teeth.

Unfortunately, charcoal toothpaste is also known for being extremely abrasive. When used daily, charcoal can actually remove tooth enamel and lead to even more sensitive and discolored teeth [5]. Until more research is done, the efficacy of these products is still in question.

Have you heard of any of these health trends? Use caution when adopting practices without knowing how they can affect your body or your smile. Talking to your professional dentist can help you know what’s safe, and to take the best care of your teeth!

Sources:
1. https://www.ada.org/en/~/media/ADA/Public%20Programs/Files/JADA_The%20pH%20
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/o/oil-pulling
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22632388
4. http://farmtotable.colostate.edu/prepare-ferment/kimchi.pdf
5. https://now.tufts.edu/articles/charcoal-and-white-teeth

The post These Health Trends Could Be Hurting Your Teeth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.