Hi, dear readers.

It's time for the 2nd annual Peoples Health Blogger Awards and I need your help to win. Pleae vote for me at www.gotteethguide.com or click my badge in the sidebar.

Thank you and go brush your teeth.

Saundra

My new web site is active.

Hello, everyone. My new website is active.

Please visit me at http://www.gotteethguide.com/ where I will continue to provide information and support about good oral health and keeping your teeth or losing your teeth with humor and grace. Periodontal disease, bone loss, tooth loss, and denture gain are the enemy.

You may contact me at saundra@gotteethguide.com. Your coments are welcome. See you there.

Keep smiling,

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

http://www.gotteethguide.com/

http://www.gotteeth.blogspot.com/

New insight for brushing teeth at midlife.

Here's some new information about brushing, flossing, and chewing gum for healthier teeth and gums after the age of 40 when your saliva production diminishes.

Edmund Hewlett, DDS, UCLA School of Dentistry, says, “Brushing when you get up and before you go to bed is just fine.” Don't brush immediately after eating acidic food or beverages (wine, orange juice, soft drinks).

Dr. Hewlett said, “The acidity slightly softens tooth enamel.” Brushing right after eating or drinking acidic foods and beverages may contribute to tooth sensitivity and cavities.

You don't have to brush after every meal, but you still have to remove debris between your teeth after meals. Use a toothpick, a glass of water, mouthwash, or a piece of gum that contains xylitol, a sugar substitute that inhibits the growth of cavity-causing tooth bacteria. Chewing gum with xylitol can increase your saliva and decrease the acidity levels in your mouth.

You still need to floss.

Keep smiling.

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

Cigarette smoking is an addiction that causes gum disease.

Smoking restricts the blood capillaries in your gums so you can miss early warning signs of gum disease, such as swollen and/or bleeding gums. Gum disease leads to periodontal disease, which can lead to gum loss and tooth loss if you don't see a dental professional at least twice a year.

Smoking cigarettes, pipe tobacco, marijuana (even with a hookah pipe), cocaine, meth, candy (kids are smoking it to get high), or anything under the kitchen sink is hazardous to your health.

I won't go into the amount of money that went into marketing cigarettes to get you addicted or government-protected lobbyists and cigarette companies keeping you addicted by adding more addictive chemicals to cigarettes annually so it's harder to quit and then raising taxes on cigarettes. What are “they” smoking?

Uncle Sam wanted you to smoke because it made everyone rich. Smokers got hooked. Now Uncle Sam wants you to stop smoking because lung and heart disease is expensive. It's not about oral health. It's about health insurance companies that don't want to pay out.

Nobody takes responsibility for gum disease and tooth loss caused by the chemical addiction of cigarettes created in the population. They don't call smoking a disease like they do alcoholism and create government subsidized help for smokers.

Cigarette smoking is an addiction that kills. Millions of people (80% of the population) have gum or periodontal disease and they don't all smoke. Visit http://www.smoking.drugabuse.gov/ for more information.

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.

Lies people tell their dentist.

Gum disease is a silent, aggressive disease that can damage your gums and take your teeth. The most common lies people tell their dental professionals are:

1. I brush my teeth every morning and every night.
2. I floss at least twice a day.
3. Of course, I took all of my antibiotics.

Don't bother lying. Your dental hygienist will know if you're not brushing and flossing or taking prescribed antibiotics. You will be poked, prodded, and measured during every visit.

More importantly, don't lie to yourself and risk gum disease and tooth loss.

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.

Denture Cream Consumer Alert

Today Good Morning America announced that excessive use of denture cream can cause dizziness and nerve damage and adversely affect your balance and walking.

The consumer alert targeted 35 million Americans who use denture creams containing zinc.

1. Use only 3 to 4 dime-sized dots on your denture at one time.
2. Do not overfill your denture. You are using too much cream if it oozes out of your denture.
3. Do not use denture cream overnight.
4. If your denture does not fit properly, have it relined or get a new one.

Long exposure to too much denture cream means high doses of zinc in your body. High levels of zinc in your body drive down the natural amount of copper in your body, which can adversely affect your spine, which may put you in a wheelchair.

Super Polygrip, owned by Glaxo Smith Klein, and Fixodent, owned by Proctor & Gamble, were specifically mentioned.

Do you think that if a company does not list the ingredients in a product, it has something to hide?

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.

Eliminate soda from your diet for healthier teeth.

Change a habit and stop drinking all sodas, including diet soda. Soda contains phosphoric acid that can make your teeth and bones soft. Dr. Robbin Quarterman, DMD, suggests that drinking soda may do as much damage as cigarettes to your teeth. Dr. Quarterman also suggests avoiding beverages high in salt.

Water, green tea, coffee, and lemonade with natural sugars may help you maintain healthier teeth. Prevention is a critical aspect for healthy teeth.

Water and green tea are my favorites. Okay, once a year on a special occasion I might have a soda, but only if ice cream accidentally falls into – and that hardly ever happens. A root beer float reminds me of my childhood and quenches my craving.

Keep smiling.

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

Financial stress takes the bite out of your teeth. Part III

Research shows that stress can make it difficult for our bodies to fight all infections, including periodontal disease and heart disease. Teeth grinding is an indication of stress.

The following techniques may help you stop grinding your teeth:

1. Find ways to reduce your stress level and relax.
2. Avoid or limit the amount of caffeine and alcohol you consume.
3. Ask your dentist about the use of a night guard.
4. If an abnormal bite is the cause of teeth grinding, your dentist can treat the improper alignment.

Teeth grinding is treatable and usually begins with a custom-made, plastic mouth guard that is worn while sleeping. Less intrusive and effective methods involve biofeedback and behavior modifications such as tongue exercises and learning how to properly align your tongue, teeth and lips. (Some of these methods are expensive.)

Constant teeth grinding will cause more stress and grinding if you wait too long. See your dental professional now.

Keep smiling.

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