Choose Foods that Protect Your Smile

07/Jun/2025

People do many things to take care of their teeth and gums. Regular brushing, frequent flossing, and dental checkups help keep your smile at its best. Sometimes, we forget that the foods and beverages we consume also impact our dental health. The following choices can help by getting rid of plaque, strengthening enamel, and freshening breath.

Celery
Biting down on abrasive foods like celery stimulates gums and removes debris from your teeth. The extra chewing required to eat celery also keeps saliva flowing in your mouth, which neutralizes acids and washes away bacteria.

Cheese
Low in carbohydrates and high in calcium and phosphates, cheese has several benefits, including balancing the pH in your mouth, strengthening enamel, and encouraging saliva production.

Green tea
The catechins in green tea wipe out the bacteria in your mouth that convert sugar to plaque as well as eliminate the sources of bad breath.

Kiwi fruit
You need Vitamin C for your overall wellness and dental health. Most people don’t realize that a large kiwi contains over 100 percent of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C.

Onions
The powerful antibacterial sulfur compounds in onions will kill many of the bacteria that wreak havoc in your mouth.

Parsley
To maintain sweet-smelling breath, chew on some sprigs of parsley after a meal.

Sesame seeds
By studying fossils, anthropologists have determined that our ancestors had strong teeth, possibly because they often consumed foods such as seeds, which remove plaque and build up tooth enamel. Sesame seeds are a good choice since they contain calcium, a mineral that preserves your teeth.

It’s time to schedule your next visit at Weymouth Smiles, Weymouth, MA dental practice.

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07/Jun/2025

If you have the urge to drink lots of water or you wake up with a sticky feeling in your mouth, you may suffer from dry mouth. Saliva plays an important role in oral health by rinsing away plaque and cavity-causing bacteria; dry mouth occurs when saliva levels are low. Not only does dry mouth feel uncomfortable, individuals with dry mouth are more prone to tooth decay and gum disease. Also, this condition can make eating, swallowing, and talking more difficult.

Medication, certain conditions, nerve damage, and lifestyle choices can make increase the likelihood of dry mouth. During your checkup, let your dentist know if you have any signs of dry mouth because it can lead to other dental problems. Common symptoms include frequent thirst, a parched feeling in the mouth, burning or tingling sensations, and bad breath.

Patients who suffer from dry mouth should talk with their dentists to find effective ways of dealing with this problem. These helpful tips may ease your dry mouth:

•   Carry a water bottle with you all day and take frequent sips
•   Have water before, during, and after meals
•   Avoid very hot or very cold beverages
•   Choose sugar-free drinks and stay away from carbonated options
•   Suck on sugarless candy or chew sugarless gum because it promotes saliva production
•   If you use mouthwash, read the labels and choose an alcohol-free rinse
•   Limit alcohol consumption and tobacco use
•   Consider a humidifier at night to add moisture to the air

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07/Jun/2025

We often hear about how sugary treats and simple carbohydrates aren’t good for our waist lines or our teeth. Though it’s good to know what to avoid, knowing which foods promote oral health is even better. Take a look at this list of foods and beverages that will help keep your smile healthy and strong:

Celery
Not only does raw celery promote saliva production, which helps wash food and bacteria from your mouth, but it also has natural abrasive properties that massage gums.

Green tea
Regularly drinking green tea can kill oral bacteria that cause plaque because of potent antioxidants called catechins. As well, these catechins remove the bacteria that cause bad breath.

Kiwi fruit
Rich in vitamin C, kiwis provide this vital nutrient, which keep the collagen network in the gingival in good working order. When this network is compromised, bacteria can weaken the gums, resulting in inflammation and bleeding.

Wasabi
Often served with sushi, this Japanese horse-radish contains a substance called isothiocyanates that make it very hot. Isothiocyanates have been shown to inhibit the development of cavities.

Shitake mushrooms
Researchers have recently discovered that shitake mushrooms contain lentinan, a special sugar that prevents the formation of plaque.

Water
When you drink water, you can maintain good saliva production and keep your gums healthy, so try to consume eight glasses each day. If you can’t brush after eating, rinsing with water can help rinse debris and keep harmful bacteria in check.

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07/Jun/2025

When a woman is pregnant, her body experiences many changes. Feet swell, food cravings occur, and her stomach expands to make room for the growing baby. A woman’s health is also impacted by pregnancy, so it’s important to take care of your teeth.

While X-rays or cosmetic procedures should be avoided, you should schedule a routine check up. Most doctors recommend making this appointment during your second trimester. A professional cleaning and exam will help keep your mouth in top health.

With pregnancy, the excess hormone levels make your teeth and gums more susceptible to bacteria and plaque build up. Many women develop pregnancy gingivitis because of the extra bacteria in the mouth. Signs include swollen or bleeding gums, space between teeth, and bad breath. If you experience these symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

Left untreated, pregnancy gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease (gum disease). Although gum disease is a concern for everyone, it can cause serious issues for pregnant women. Research has linked periodontal disease to pre-term labor and low-birth weight in women who don’t receive treatment for the condition. Additionally, gum disease can wreak havoc on your mouth, causing bone degeneration and tooth loss.

To keep your teeth and gums healthy during pregnancy, follow these tips:
•   Remember to brush twice a day and floss regularly
•   Eat a balanced diet
•   If you have morning sickness, rinse your mouth after vomiting
•   Contact your dentist if you experience any problems

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07/Jun/2025

When you look your best, you exude confidence and grace. One of the features that people notice immediately is your smile. Because few people have a naturally perfect smile, they often seek help from their dentists. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on correcting stained, misshapen, or missing teeth and producing a sensational image.

A recent study found that individuals with bright, white smiles are seen as more intelligent, attractive, and successful. Even subtle changes, such as teeth whitening, can transform your appearance. Often, cosmetic dentistry includes:

• Porcelain Veneers
Thin pieces of porcelain, veneers are permanently placed over front teeth to cover imperfections. Designed to mimic the translucency of tooth enamel, veneers generate beautiful, naturally-looking results.

• Bonding
For small chips or gaps, your dentist may suggest bonding, a process that involves the use of tooth-colored materials to renew your smile’s appearance.

• Teeth Whitening
The aging process, certain foods and beverages, and tobacco use can stain teeth and make you look older. Professional teeth whitening can remove discolorations and brighten teeth up to 10 shades. Both in-office and at-home professional bleaching are available, so check with your dentist to see what options they offer for patients.

• Invisalign
Though many adults would love a straighter smile, most don’t want to tarnish their mature images. Invisalign clear braces, a series of custom aligners, will gently and discreetly shift teeth into the correct position, resulting in a gorgeous smile without the embarrassment of metal braces.

• Dental implants
Just one missing tooth can cause oral health problems, such as shifting teeth, gaps in your smile, and alignment issues. Made from biocompatible titanium, a dental implant is a small post that acts as the foundation for a permanent crown. Implants can replace one or more missing teeth.

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07/Jun/2025

Very few dental procedures receive as much negative attention as root canal therapy. If you ask most people, they would rather do anything else besides have a root canal. While the experience won’t ever make your Top Ten list, a root canal doesn’t have to be traumatic. In most cases, the procedure isn’t any worse than getting a dental crown.

Why would I need a root canal?
Your tooth contains three layers: a hard coating of enamel, a layer of dentin, and a soft inner core called pulp. The pulp nourishes the tooth and provides adequate blood flow. If your tooth sustains severe trauma or deep decay, the pulp may be compromised and die. When this happens, pressure and infection build up. Your dentist will perform a root canal to save the tooth and rejuvenate your smile.

What is a root canal?
During this procedure, your dentist will clean out the damaged tissue, sterilize the inside of the tooth, and seal the area to prevent future problems. After a root canal, you will probably need a crown to restore the tooth.

Is it painful?
With modern sedation options, your dentist can keep your comfortable throughout the procedure. Though you may feel a little soreness afterwards, any pain you feel is probably from the infection in the tooth. Usually, over-the-counter analgesics will relieve any mild discomfort.

Why doesn’t the dentist just pull my tooth?
For optimal oral health, you need all your teeth. Whenever possible, your dentist will try to preserve your natural teeth. Root canal therapy is one way to do this.

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07/Jun/2025

When you schedule regular checkups, your dentist will examine your mouth and look for any issues at these appointments. Catching problems early on makes it easier to repair damage and preserve your oral health. If you notice the following signs, let your dentist know right away:

• Bleeding gums. You wouldn’t ignore bleeding on your arm or leg, yet most people don’t pay any attention to bleeding gums. This symptom is frequently an early sign of gum disease. Without treatment, gum disease can result in bone degeneration and tooth loss, as well as contribute to overall health issues like heart disease and osteoporosis.

• Sores that don’t heal. Some people develop canker sores or cold sores, which usually clear up in 10 to 14 days. Your dentist should check out any spot that doesn’t heal after two weeks. Oral cancer can begin with a sore that won’t go away, so you should not ignore this issue.

• Areas of white, creamy patches. A yeast infection of the mouth, thrush can crop up because of certain medications such as steroid inhalers for asthma. Additionally, it can indicate a disease like diabetes, so mention this issue to your dentist if you notice any signs of thrush.

• Hairline cracks in teeth. People who suffer from problems such as TMJ dysfunction or bruxism, which is clenching and grinding of the teeth, may develop small cracks in their teeth. Stress, fatigue, and injury can contribute to these types of problems. Your dentist can recommend treatment to correct any misalignment and relieve discomfort.

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07/Jun/2025

When you lose even one tooth, you increase the odds that 20 percent of subsequent teeth will be lost in the next five to eight years. Missing teeth can create dental health problems, cause chewing difficulties, and make you feel self-conscious about your appearance. With modern dental therapies, your dentist can restore the strength and beauty of your smile.

Replacement options include:

Fixed bridgework
By permanently joining to remaining teeth, a fixed bridge closes the gap left by a missing tooth, or teeth. With a bridge, the false tooth is fused between two porcelain crowns. The entire bridge is cemented into place and cannot be removed once it is in your mouth.

Dentures and Partials
If you have lost all your teeth, you could replace them with a full set of dentures. These rows of prosthetic teeth attach to a gum-colored base. Dentures are secured either by suction or adhesive creams. When you still have teeth left, the dentist may suggest a partial denture, which fits into the open space like a puzzle piece and completes your smile.

Dental Implants
The closest prosthetic to nature, a dental implant contains a small, metal post that acts as an artificial tooth root and a prosthetic crown. One implant post is inserted into each empty socket by a skilled surgeon. Your mouth will need about three to six months for healing. During this time, the bone will fuse to the posts in a process called osseointegration. When the time is right, your dentist will affix the permanent crowns, creating a solid attractive appearance.

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07/Jun/2025

The earliest stage of gum disease, gingivitis is an inflammation of the tissues surrounding teeth. Because gingivitis is often painless, many people don’t realize they have a problem. Without treatment, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a more severe form of gum disease that leads to bone degeneration and tooth loss if it isn’t stopped.

What are the signs of gingivitis?
Usually, the initial symptoms are mild. Swollen, red gums and bleeding when you brush are common indicators that you may need to talk to your dentist about a periodontal evaluation.

Are there any risk factors for gingivitis?
This condition is very common and almost anyone can develop gingivitis. You may have an increased risk for gingivitis because of poor oral health, tobacco use, older age, certain medications, hormonal changes, dry mouth, and substance abuse.

What causes gingivitis?
One of the primary contributors to gingivitis is plaque, the sticky, colorless film that regularly forms on teeth. As the plaque builds up, it irritates the gums and can cause damage. If plaque remains on teeth for more than a couple days, it will harden into tartar, which can only be removed by your dentist or hygienist.

How do I prevent gingivitis?
Good oral hygiene is a key part of keeping gums healthy. Remember to:

•   Brush at least twice a day to remove plaque
•   Floss regularly to get between teeth
•   Have teeth professionally cleaned to remove tartar
•   Schedule twice yearly checkups
•   Use a prescription rinse to improve gum health

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07/Jun/2025

When people are missing teeth, their self-assurance disappears and oral health diminishes. Dentures can allow you to once again live life to the fullest. Designed to look and feel more like natural teeth, modern dentures can rejuvenate your smile.

Patients who need replacement teeth on both your upper and lower jaw will require a full denture to cover one or both arches. If healthy teeth remain, your dentist will likely recommend partial dentures, which fit like puzzle pieces into the gaps left between your teeth. After an adjustment period, most people revel in the stability and confidence they enjoy with their new dentures.

What are traditional dentures?
With this type of prosthesis, the dentures are fabricated in the lab, but the device isn’t place until the swelling has subsided. Waiting gives the gums a chance to heal and ensures that the dentures feel comfortable.

What are immediate dentures?
Placed right after removal, immediate dentures allow patients to have a new set of teeth right away. Sometimes, the fit may not be quite right, so modifications may be required.

Do I need to worry about brushing?
Absolutely. Clean the tongue, cheeks, and gums to remove plaque and bacteria from your mouth.

Can I eat whatever I want?
Generally, you should be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods. When you first receive the dentures, adjusting to their fit can make eating a little tricky.

Will dentures impact my speech?
Initially, you may need to get used to talking with your new appliances, but eventually you should have no trouble communicating with others.

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NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Choose Foods that Protect Your Smile

Choose Foods that Protect Your Smile

Dealing with Dry Mouth

Food and Beverages that Help Your Oral Health

Protecting Your Teeth during Pregnancy

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

If You Need a Root Canal

Signs of Trouble in Your Mouth

Exploring Options for Missing Teeth

Dealing with Gingivitis

What You Should Know about Dentures

Family Dentistry – The Most Convenient Choice

Instant Orthodontics (aka Porcelain Veneers)

Make the Most of Your Dental Visits