As fall progresses, the delicious foods and spices of the season make their way onto our tables and into our lattes. Just in case you thought pumpkins’ only purpose was to be carved and discarded after Halloween, your Houston dentist has compiled a list of the top ingredients that make the pumpkin an incredibly healthy choice for both your oral health, and your overall health.
What’s in a Pumpkin?
Before you stick a candle in your jack-o-lantern, take a look at the amazing bundle of vitamins and minerals this little orange gourd contains:
Zinc – Zinc contributes greatly to strong bones and teeth, and can help ward off osteoporosis. Recent studies have also found evidence that zinc supplementation in children can help ward off dental cavities by lowering the formation of plaque on teeth. Zinc is also known to help remove volatile sulfur compounds, the primary causes of bad breath. (more…)
When it comes to dental advice, it’s more often that you’ll hear what you shouldn’t eat and not what you should. However, what about foods that can help fight tooth decay? Over the years, studies have shown that a wide range of consumable things might have cavity and gum disease fighting properties. Coconut oil, cheese, green tea – these are just a few of the things that hold positive powers in oral health maintenance. Today, Dr. Deborah Gennero, your Houston dentist, will highlight a holiday favorite that holds cavity-fighting compounds: the cranberry.
For some people, attaining a great smile requires more than just brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly. Cosmetic dentistry has been a growing field for some time. Dentists that are trained in the cosmetic field have the amazing opportunity to help people attain smiles they can feel good about. Dr. Gennero, your Houston dentist, provides cosmetic dentistry services, and would like to challenge you to a quiz to see how much you know about the art of making over smiles.
Biting into a crisp, tangy apple is one of those quintessential fall activities. Most of us feel great about choosing an apple as a supposedly healthy snack for our children or ourselves. After all, isn’t that apple keeping the doctor away? Well, the nutrients in apples are certainly good for our bodies, but apples have some qualities that are not ideal in terms of dental health: sugar and acid. Your Houston dentist, Dr. Deborah Gennero, explains why the timing of eating apples can save you from permanently damaging your teeth.
For many people, October is associated with the rich colors of fall foliage, and the blacks and oranges of Halloween. This October, you may be seeing more pink than usual, however, because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Deborah Gennero, your Katy dentist, wants to show her support of the women and men who have valiantly battled cancer by highlighting the potential link between breast cancer and gum disease.
For most of us, having a smile that meets the status quo is desirable. There are a select few that choose to express themselves through their drastic changes in their appearance. An example of this would be die-hard vampire fanatics that have their teeth reshaped to appear as fangs. Dr. Matthew Messina, advisor to the American Dental Association (ADA) worries that filing teeth is likely to weaken tooth enamel and tooth structure, leading to serious oral health issues. Your Katy dentist, Dr. Deborah Gennero, discusses some other extreme dental fads that could have dire consequences on the future of your smile.
As Halloween approaches, children are sure to gain access to countless lumps of sugary bubblegum from trick-or-treating. Gum chewing has a reputation of being bad for your teeth. Even sugarless gum, when chewed excessively, can lead to tempormandibular joint disorder (TMD) in some patients. Your Houston dentist, Dr. Gennero, has some information that can allow you have your gum, and chew it too.
Last week, we discussed the importance of protecting teeth from high-impact injuries in athletics. Beverages that are marketed to athletes can present an entirely different hazard to the teeth. Sports and energy drinks have been under fire lately for their extremely high acidity levels. Dr. Deborah Gennero, your Houston family dentist, recommends that you think twice before guzzling any liquid that causes so much damage to your teeth.
Football season is here. Unfortunately, harsh training sessions and rigorous games can lead to injuries. Teeth are particularly vulnerable to high impact sports like football. To help protect athlete’s smiles from the blows that are likely to occur, mouth protection is essential. Houston dentist, Dr. Deborah Gennero, explains common dental injuries that can result from sports, and how you can protect your smile.
An online poll administered by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) to general dentists, found that women are more likely to stick to their regular checkup schedule than their male counterparts. The number of men going to the dentist is on the rise, however, but the motivation behind these dental visits is not overall health. Dr. Deborah Gennero, your Houston dentist, explains how the quest for a better looking smile is behind the surge of male patients in dentist offices.
