As I sit here and drink a morning coffee I can’t help but wonder what all this drink is doing to my mouth. I mean, I love the taste of a little coconut milk in my coffee as a natural creamer, and I enjoy the boost in energy and mood that a single cup brings to my day (though I really don’t prefer any more than a single cup in a day). But what about everything else that’s happening? Perhaps the “bad” things, as you could refer to them. What are those doing to my mouth every time I drink a coffee or other hot drink? As much as we love our hot drinks during the all times of the year, our dental health can suffer from drinking too many of these drinks. It’s important to consider these risks as you continue to consume your coffee like it’s going out of style. Still, keep it in moderation and you can avoid the following. Stains This is a big reason I avoid coffee more than once a day. Green tea helps me to still have a warm drink that brings some energy to my morning, yet it won't’ stain my teeth and it has healthy antioxidants. On the other hand, coffee and dark teas will absolutely stain your teeth over time, even if it’s little by little. Damage will be done to your teeth
Truthfully,coffee isn’t that bad on your teeth by any means. The chemical makeup is better than you would think for your teeth. But what happens when you add sugar to your teeth is these compounds get worse all together and are quite negative. The main reason this is so bad is because coffee tends to stick to your teeth because some of its staining particles, which allows other sugar in the coffee to stick to your teeth as well. This, as you may have guessed, is the perfect recipe for plaque. Other hot drinks like cider and hot chocolate pretty much have sugars you can’t get rid of, so they’re equally as bad or even worse. In all, moderation is key with any sugary drinks and hot drinks that may stain. So long as you have control over the things you like and don’t let a coffee addiction (especially a Starbucks coffee addiction) take place, you’re good to go. That’s all it takes! Be healthy, drink what you like, and learn to clean your teeth right.
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The new year is upon us! And with a new year coming in, new things are on the horizon for everyone. Perhaps you think of a new year as a time to reset your life and do all the right things you’ve been putting off. Or maybe you think of it as a time to rethink your lifestyle and consider others. No matter what you end up thinking, there’s one thing for sure: everyone loves to use it for resolutions and knocking out their own personal goals. And honestly, I can’t blame those people. It’s a good method to get in the habit of trying new things, cleaning up old messes, and tackling new goals. It’s that yearly renewal we all need to keep things fresh and interesting while also tidying up our lives in many aspects. For me, I’m choosing to look at my financial situation with a more mature and responsible perspective in order to tackle debt, invest in some low-risk accounts, and cut back on spending on things I simply don’t need. But I’m also taking this moment to focus on my health, too. Considering that your health is indirectly tied to your financial situation, it’s important to focus on both if you’re going to hone in on one. So this year, I’ll be making the effort to restore my gumline. It’s not that it’s currently bad by any means, so I think using the word restore is poor word choice on my part. Nonetheless, my gums are known to bleed from time to time, and I know this is an early sign of gingivitis. While that can sound scary to some, it’s affected over half of the American population at some point or another, and it’s always reversible if caught early enough. My plan for this year? Floss every single day. That’s the number one goal of mine for my health, and to back it up, I want to get a water pick in order to bust out any plaque along my gumlines that may be hampering my oral health. So long as you have a plan in mind for your goals for the new year, you can achieve them. The problem is, so many people say they have a resolution, they write it down, and then they never follow through because there was no actual plan set on achieving that goal. It’s the missing link in new year’s resolutions for everyone who ends up giving up on their goals.
February marks a period much needed for a lot of people in the Northern Hemisphere who celebrate it: a time to be joyful. You see, early January through late March, there’s quite a bit of a gap in major holidays or breaks for people at work and school. Spring break is one of those times that people look forward to, but when you’re only into February, things can seem to drag on forever before you make that trip south to warmer waters. February happens to be the perfect “break” in that long expanse I mentioned. It’s perfect for taking your mind off the daily grind and giving you a halfway point that you can now say you’re past. After V-Day, you’re more than halfway to spring break. So what’s the appeal? Why is it so fun? Well, hearts, reds, pinks, and all sorts of candies riddle stores during February season. Whether or not you enjoy all the things is besides the point: it’s a time of year to be with those you love and enjoy being around. By appreciating one another (and possibly exchanging gifts), you can realize there’s a lot of love surrounding you.o edit. And the candy. Oh the candy. From a dentist’s point of view, February can be a nice hiatus from the “don’t eat candy” mantra. Now, should you go crazy over the span of two weeks and eat all sorts of Valentine’s candy and chocolate that you bought on sale? Definitely not. But is the day itself a good time to pig out on chocolate?
You betcha. What’s the harm in engorging for one day on the things that you normally abstain from? So long as you didn’t used to be addicted to chocolate or something, you should be good to let loose. Just remember not to keep eating all that candy for days on end afterwards. For the most part, it’s fine to eat sugary treats and sweets from time to time. The entire key to it, however, is eating it moderation. And if you’re brushing well afterwards, there’s not too much to worry about. Dentists typically warn against too much candy (especially hard candy) when brushing and proper dental care is neglected. That’s when cavities form in a hurry. That’s when your teeth can take a major hit in no time at all. Keep your indulgence in all the holiday sweets to a one or two day minimum and get back to your normal diet and you’ll be just fine! Valentine’s Day draws a lot of people in with its charms of vibrant reds and pinks and numerous products plastered with hearts. For the most part, I look at it as a positive thing that inspires people to care a little bit more about their relationships, be those friendships or romantic in nature. One thing that I definitely do think happens around this time of year is a welcome sight: more smiles. February can be a particularly boring, drab, cold, and just overall unpleasant time of year. There’s not really much going on regarding holidays from January 2nd all the way until late March. So, Valentine’s Day falls right in the middle of that stretch, giving a much needed boost in morale and something to look forward to. And I mean who wouldn’t smile about love and affection and appreciation? Even if you’re not involved in a romantic relationship, you at least can appreciate the love your family and friends show you. So, you have an excuse to give gifts to those people who you care most about and who care for you. Smiling is good. That’s the important thing here. The more we show off our teeth and smile, the more we feel happiness, true joy, and acceptance. So, strictly speaking, Valentine’s Day has a positive effect on people, instilling smiles everywhere thanks to all the gift giving, going out to eat, and just spending time with loved ones. In this regard, it’s a holiday much needed during a very bland part of the year that can get you down. V-Day is really a pick me up. At the very least, seeing all sorts of hearts and red and pink can at least make you scoff because it makes you nauseous with love. Not a bad problem to have, is it? Whether or not you love this holiday of hearts, it at least gives you something to do with people you enjoy being around. Smiles should abound when with your family, friends, or lover, and showing off those teeth of yours can directly impact your mood and mental health for the better. So why not get into the dentist around this time of year? You’ll have just eaten a boatload of chocolate anyway, but now that we’re on the other half of V-Day, spring is nearing and it’s a time of renewal for nature and should be, too, for your smile. |
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