Friday, December 26, 2008

Periodontal disease won't wait.

Make an appointment with your periodontist as soon as possible in 2009 if you haven't had a dental check up and teeth cleaning in the last six months. Periodontal cleanings are more in-depth than dental cleanings, so you might want to ask if they have nitrous oxide. They can't touch me without it.

Please vote for me in the People's Health Blogger Awards. Just click the "Vote Now" button on the left on my blog and on the right on my Wellsphere page. Thanks.

Happy New Year Blessings.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
http://www.gotteethguide.com/ for your Free Tips.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Holiday tips for seniors includes dental health.

Special dietary care and concern should be taken into consideration by and for elderly people. Tooth loss, pain, and joint dysfunction (arthritis) can diminish the chewing abilities of elderly people who are on restrictive diets and under medical treatment. These people may be isolated or too weak to shop for, prepare, and/or eat the nutritional meals so vital to their existence.

Toothpaste and/or denture cleaner, a toothbrush and/or a denture brush in their favorite color, dental floss (waxed and unwaxed), and antiseptic mouthwash are things that they use and run out of all the time. I know I do. Throw in some soaps, hand creams, and shampoos you know they like to make a thoughtful gift basket. You’ll be helping people who are on a fixed income save money.

You may want to include some nutritious food in the basket such as crackers, cheese, single serving soups and cereal, tuna fish, peanut butter, canned fruits, their preference of coffee or tea, and their favorite cake or cookies.

That’s a great gift.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
http://www.gotteethguide.com/ for your Free Tips.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Green Week: Save water and your teeth.

If you missed Earth Day 2007, you can still save Planet Earth and guard against periodontal disease. Encourage your family members and friends to turn the water off every time they brush their teeth - at least twice a day. Of course, everyone should be brushing after lunch, too. Run the water to rinse your mouth.

That’s all you have to do to be a Water Warrior and a good environmental citizen. You’ll have a better chance of saving your teeth, too. Flossing and brushing every surface of every tooth and brushing your gums every time you eat are your primary defenses against periodontal disease. Seeing your dentist or periodontist at least twice a year is your next best defense.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says, "The average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth in the morning and at bedtime can save up to 8 gallons of water per day, which equals 240 gallons a month!"Applying this practice equals saving 2,880 gallons of water each year for every individual in the United States who takes this simple step. You, your family, and your friends can participate in protecting the future of our nation’s limited water supply and your children’s future each time you brush your teeth.

Depending on where your water resources come from, turning off the water while brushing your teeth can have a positive impact on springs, rivers, and wetlands habitat for wildlife that would otherwise be damaged by water treatment plants. The impacts from taking water out of processing can be lessened in small ways that will positively affect the future of Planet Earth.As model citizens of Planet Earth, you are trustees of the little things that will make a big difference and ensure efficient use of our water supply.

Make a conscious effort to turn off the water while you brush your teeth. Each person in each family can use water more efficiently to preserve water supplies for future generations and protect our planet’s environment. It’s easy.Visit www.epa.gov/watersense/ to learn more ways to use water and energy more efficiently.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
http://www.gotteethguide.com/ for your Free Tips.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

The Patron Saint of Dentistry



In 249 AD Rome, a woman named Apollonia was tortured and killed for practicing her Christian faith in public. Legend has it that “her tormentors broke her teeth with iron points, and extracted the roots with tongs.”

The legend also says that after her teeth were broken, she was given a choice of renouncing her faith or being burned alive, whereupon she voluntarily jumped into the fire. Her suffering resulted in her canonization as the Patron Saint of Dentistry in 300 AD.

The following is a prayer to Saint Apollonia:

“Apollonia, Apollonia, Holy Saint in Heaven,
see my pain in yourself. Free me from evil pain,
for my toothache may torture me to death.”

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
http://www.gotteethguide.com/

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Five vitamins and minerals that help maintain healthy teeth and gums.

1. Vitamin A: Beef, eggs, liver, salmon, shrimp, fortified milk, cheddar cheese and Swiss cheese.

2. Vitamin C: Bell peppers, broccoli, potatoes, spinach and fruits and fruit juices (especially citrus). Studies have revealed that people who consume less of Vitamin C tend to be 25% more likely to suffer from gum disease.

3. Vitamin D: Fortified cereals, fortified milk, fatty fish (helps absorb Calcium).

4. Calcium: Cheese, fortified juices, milk, tofu, salmon, sardines with bones, yogurt, and leafy green vegetables (including broccoli and kale, but not spinach or Swiss chard, which have binders that lessen absorption). 99% of the calcium in your body is your bones and your teeth. Dietary calcium is needed to make sure they’re in good shape.

5. Phosphorus: Almonds, broccoli, eggs, dairy products, green peas, fish, liver, meat, milk, potatoes, and poultry.

If you don’t eat fresh fruits and vegetables, take vitamins to supplement your diet.
If you have, or will soon have dental or periodontal surgery, it is especially important to include Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin E.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.

http://www.gotteethguide.com/

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The trouble with teeth: October is National Dental Hygiene Month.

More than 30 million denture wearers in the United States didn’t see a dental professional in time to save their teeth: 75% of new patients don’t know they have gum disease until they are diagnosed.

If you haven’t been to a dental professional this year, now is the time to begin your oral health regime. Regular check-ups will identify gum disease and help you save your teeth and half of your bank account.

Early gum disease (gingivitis) is reversible with professional treatment and diligent oral home care.

1. Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day.
2. Get your teeth professionally cleaned at least every six months to maintain healthy teeth and gums.

If left untreated, early gum disease can lead to periodontal disease, which can result in jawbone loss, tooth loss, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, pre-term low-birth weight babies, stroke, and more.

Don't ignore the warning signs of gum disease:

1. Red, swollen or tender gums.
2. Gums that bleed when you brush (pink in the sink).
3. Recurring bad breath.

Go to your dental professional this month and keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivors' Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
http://www.gotteethguide.com/ for your Free Tips.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Periodontal disease is a contact sport with teeth.

The American Academy of Periodontology (http://www.perio.org/) says, “Research suggests that the bacteria causing periodontal disease can pass through saliva. This means that common contact of saliva in families puts children and couples at risk for contracting the periodontal disease of another family member.”

Exchanging medical and criminal records are old news when getting serious about a relationship. Does this mean we have to exchange dental records before dating someone new?

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
For more information, please visit http://www.gotteethguide.com/ and get your Free Tips.