November 2015 - Chester Hill Dentistry

November 13, 2015

8 yearsago

Dentist Greenwich CT on Thanksgiving Favorites

There is no time quite like the holidays to bring the family together, enjoy a nice home cooked meal and appreciate the time you get to spend with one another. Thanksgiving is typically considered the “start” of these late-in-the-year gatherings, and should make one reflect and be happy for all they have.

But with so many things to be thankful for, your smile may not always outrank some other options. Coupling this with the potentially massive amounts of food that can be put on your plate, and our oral health can be put by the wayside for a few weeks. With that in mind, today your dentist in Greenwich CT wanted to discuss some of the healthier food options you can choose to show your teeth you are truly thankful for them this holiday season.

Turkey, potatoes and the works can take hours to get ready…so you and your guests always need a little warm up. Why not make that appetizer a veggie tray? Include some of the following options to help your guests not only be “held over” until dinner time but to actually help naturally clean their teeth too:

Carrots, Broccoli Florets, Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, Artichoke Hearts, Cucumber slices, Olives & more.

When it comes to your sweet potatoes, try avoiding the gooey and sugary marshmallow topping. Although it may taste good, the marshmallow can get caught between the teeth and cause decay if not properly removed. If you really need that extra boost of sweet in your sweet, try a little brown sugar or maple syrup instead.

Lastly, who can survive Thanksgiving dinner without cranberry sauce? Yeah, we thought so. Instead of going with the canned version this year, which is very high in sugar content, try making it yourself! You can try out different amounts of sugar or artificial sweeteners in your recipe that often times can come out to be better than the canned stuff anyway. It may be a bit more work, but it will be worth it in the end.

So with all of those great additions to consider, what can we avoid then? Although a plethora of desserts and carbs will be rolling at you- they are going to be the worst items when it comes to your oral health. Most deserts contain gratuitous amounts of sugar, and carbs from bread and other items can break down into sugars as well- both of which can damage and decay your teeth. Try to watch the amount of both of these that you take in to avoid any holiday oral health hazards.

Your dentist in Greenwich CT hopes you have a Happy Thanksgiving! If you have any questions about this topic or need to schedule an appointment, feel free to call our office at (914) 939-2132.

Make Sure You’re Saving Your Smile at All Times with Tips from Your Westchester NY Dentist

There’s a lot of activity going on in your mouth throughout the day, which is something that patients don’t think about too extensively. Brushing your teeth is one of the most important daily routines that should be followed, but a large majority of patients don’t do so! In fact, half of US citizens don’t brush their teeth at night, which is something that your Westchester NY dentist hopes to change!

When you’re sleeping, you don’t swallow and the bacteria from the foods and drinks you consumed throughout the day are lingering in your mouth and on your teeth. During the day, saliva helps fight these bacteria, but if you’re not working to protect your smile by brushing and flossing in the morning and at night, you’re much more likely to suffer from cavities, tooth decay, and other dental issues.

Here are some tips in order to protect your teeth from nighttime oral problems!

Save More than a Good Night’s Sleep with Your Westchester NY Dentist

Snoring is an extremely common issue, although it’s certainly one of the most annoying! Hundreds of patients complain about their partners snoring so loudly during the night that they’re unable to sleep, but never take the situation seriously further than a simple annoyance. Unfortunately, all of these people who are plagued with snores can be suffering from sleep apnea, a problem that can become worse if ignored. Your Westchester NY dentist explains the importance of addressing sleep apnea and what the next steps are.

The definition of apnea is when a sleeping person stops breathing for 10 or more seconds. Obstructive sleep apnea is a lack of proper breaths during sleep, reducing the airflow through their throat and nose, causing the patient to either move into a lighter stage of sleep or wake up completely. This can cause the patient to become stressed, moody and exhausted during the daytime because of their lack of sleep. Even if they don’t completely wake up, they’re not in a deep enough sleep to energize their body, so they’re still tired when they wake up, no matter how long they were “asleep.”

If this goes untreated for long periods of time, crankiness and exhaustion aren’t the only problems that arise. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are also at risk of high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. Worst case scenario, OSA can even lead to a premature death.

Thankfully, there are some solutions to treating sleep apnea. There is a nasal mask (CPAP) that works to keep your nasal passages open while you’re sleeping. Although many patients may not think to go to their dentist to treat sleep apnea, there are oral appliances that they can receive that will reposition the tongue or lower jawbone, lowering the chances of any obstruction.

If you believe you’re suffering from sleep apnea, contact your Westchester NY dentist to discuss this issue further. Call our office at (914) 939-2132 or click here to request an appointment or consultation online.

• Chester Hill Dentistry •

Archive for Month: November 2015

Dentist Greenwich CT on Thanksgiving Favorites

Make Sure You’re Saving Your Smile at All Times with Tips from Your Westchester NY Dentist

Save More than a Good Night’s Sleep with Your Westchester NY Dentist