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When it comes to oral health, one thing most patients are concerned about is cavities. The technical name for cavities is “caries,” and we get quite a few questions about how to deal with them. Where do cavities come from? THE PROPER WAY TO TREAT A CAVITY
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Roasted Corn Salsa
There’s a lot of bacteria in your mouth. Don’t panic; this is perfectly normal. The plaque on your teeth is actually millions of bacterium all stuck together.
Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine
Most of this bacteria is natural and doesn’t cause any harm — as long as you practice good oral hygiene, of course. The bacteria feeds on the sugar in the food you eat. When the bacteria eats sugar, it releases an acidic substance. If you don’t regularly clean your teeth, this substance will break down tooth enamel and cause cavities. How do I get rid of the bacteria? It’s impossible to banish all the bacteria in your mouth, and you wouldn’t want to even if you could. There’s good bacteria in there too, and it’s important to the health of your oral biome. However, it’s important to clean your teeth daily to avoid letting the bad bacteria — which can cause tooth decay and gum disease — build up. Brushing your teeth twice a day helps remove a lot of bad bacteria, but the bristles of your toothbrush can’t clean between your teeth. This is why you need to floss at least once a day to remove all the bacteria hiding in the crevices. What if I already have a cavity? Never fear! Even those who brush and floss every day might find themselves with cavities every once in a while. It’s not a sign of dental failure. It is important to take care of cavities as soon as they are through the enamel. Letting small cavities go unchecked is how patients end up with broken teeth, crowns, or root canals down the road. Drilling out the decay and filling your tooth goes a long way to protecting your oral health. It’s much easier to take care of small cavities today than deal with bigger problems later. At Elizabeth Duling DMD, we’re always ready to deal with almost any dental problem, including cavities. We take regular X-rays of our patients’ teeth to ensure we find cavities early and treat then in the least invasive way possible. Don’t wait until it hurts!
Corn is plentiful during the summer months, and this easy-to- make salsa is sure to be a hit at your next get-together. INGREDIENTS
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2 medium ears of corn, shucked 1 jalapeño or Fresno chile, seeded and thinly sliced 1/2 red onion, diced
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1 large tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped 1/4 bunch cilantro leaves, sliced
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Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Heat a cast-iron skillet to high. Char corn, turning occasionally, for 10–14 minutes until kernels begin to blacken in spots. 2. Using a sharp knife, remove corn kernels from cobs and transfer to a large mixing bowl. 3. With a wooden spoon or potato masher, gently crush corn to release starch and juices. 4. Add jalapeño, onion, tomato, and cilantro. Mix to combine.
5. Top with lime juice and season with salt. 6. Serve alongside your favorite tortilla chips.
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