National Dental Hygiene Month 4 IMPORTANT ROUTINES TO MAINTAIN
Sugar haunts us all during the Halloween season. From bags of chocolate at the grocery store to “borrowing” a few pieces of candy from your kids, temptation is everywhere. However, a sweet little treat now and then is okay, as long as you stay on top of your oral health. October is National Dental Hygiene Month, which is the perfect opportunity to talk about the importance of dental health and the best ways to keep teeth healthy and clean. The Goal for 2019 The goal of National Dental Hygiene Month is to spread awareness about oral health. Oral health is vital, not only to prevent tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease but also to prevent other health problems, like poorly controlled diabetes, strokes, and heart attacks. For 2019, National Dental Hygiene Month is focusing on the four routines that improve oral hygiene: brushing, flossing, rinsing, and chewing. • Brushing and Flossing: These two routines go hand in hand. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing teeth twice every day and flossing once every day. By creating
these habits, you decrease the risk of losing teeth when you’re older and limit the chances of developing other health problems.
• Rinsing: A toothbrush can’t clean every part of the mouth, which is why rinsing is crucial. After
brushing your teeth, a good rinse will help remove any bacteria and biofilm you missed.
• Chewing: Another way to improve dental hygiene is to chew sugarless gum after each meal. Gum increases the amount of saliva in the mouth, which helps break down food. The best way to observe National Dental Hygiene Month is to incorporate better oral health into your daily habits, no matter how scary it may seem at first. Start these four routines today so you can trick-or-treat without guilt later.
SMILE-FRIENDLY RECIPES
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produced by bacteria. Sugar-free gum is also an excellent treat alternative that actually helps your teeth! Don’t forgot to floss. Most of us do a great job remembering to brush (who doesn’t love that minty fresh feeling?), but daily flossing sometimes gets left out of our routines. Floss reaches plaque and food particles a toothbrush cannot reach — especially in the areas most likely to develop a cavity! Don’t forget your dental appointments. Regular dental visits can help prevent problems from occurring and catch those that do occur early, when they are easy to “treat!” I hope the above list and tips are helpful to ensure your Halloween season is full of treats and hopefully no tricks! If you aren’t already scheduled for your next dental visit with us, call us at 770-932-4240 to get it set up. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Halloween!
Inspired by Food Network
CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT
This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy.
Ingredients
• 1 package melting chocolate • Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes
Directions
1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Don’t forget to Brush-Floss-Smile!
–Dr. Eric Jones
770-932-4240 • 3
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