A fun brushing chart you and your kids can enjoy!

Foods That Stain Your Teeth

Tea and Your Teeth
Although tea has a reputation as a healthy beverage, it may not be the best choice when it comes to keeping your teeth white. Dentists say tea -- especially the basic black variety -- can cause more stains than coffee. However, recent studies have found that even herbal teas and white teas have the potential to erode enamel and cause tooth staining.

Sauces May Stain Teeth
They may be delicious, but deeply-colored sauces -- like soy sauce, tomato sauce, and curry sauce -- are also believed to have significant tooth-staining potential. Consider lighter cream sauces for less damaging options and rinse or brush soon after eating to reduce the potential for teeth stains.

Sports Drinks and Staining
Acidic foods and drinks can also lead to tooth discoloration. Recent research finds that highly acidic drinks -- like sports or energy drinks -- can erode tooth enamel, setting the stage for staining. When exercising, limit the intake of these drinks. Water may be a better choice -- at least for your teeth.

Wine and White Teeth
If a food or drink can stain a tablecloth, it has the potential to stain your teeth. Red wine, an acidic drink with intensely pigmented molecules called tannins and chromogens, is notorious for tooth discoloration. White wine is even more acidic and can lead to stains, too.

Tooth Stains and Berries
Intensely pigmented molecules stick to dental enamel. That's why blueberries, blackberries, cherries, pomegranates, and other vibrantly colored fruits can stain teeth. Juices and pies made from those fruits can also cause stains. Fruits with less pigmentation -- like white grapes and white cranberries -- are less likely to stain teeth. But these acidic substances can still harm enamel, so be sure to brush and floss.

Soda, Cola and Other Carbonated Drinks
The acid and chromogens in these drinks can lead to serious staining of your teeth. Even light-colored sodas contain enough acid that they can encourage staining by other foods and drinks. The acidity in some carbonated drinks is so intense that it actually compares to the acidity in battery acid. Many of these beverages contain flavored additives that add to their erosive effects.

Candy, Sweets, and White Teeth
If your favorite sweet -- like hard candy, chewing gum, or popsicles -- makes your tongue change colors, it may contain teeth-staining coloring agents. Fortunately, unless you eat those goodies often they probably won't do much to stain your teeth.

Minimize Staining: Cut Back
You may not want to cut all teeth-staining food and drinks out of your diet. Many of those foods and beverages -- like blueberries, blackberries, and tomato sauce -- are rich in antioxidants. You want these beneficial nutrients in your diet. So keep eating them -- but in moderation -- or substitute other antioxidant sources such as cauliflower, apples, grapefruit, and melon.


Use a Straw to Fight Stains
Try using a straw to sip your favorite drinks -- like sodas, juices, and iced tea. This should keep teeth-staining drinks away from your front teeth and reduce your risk of unsightly stains.

Swallow Swiftly
Don't let stain-causing foods and drinks linger in your mouth for long. Instead, swallow them quickly to help protect your teeth from stains. To avoid choking, it's still important to chew your food well before swallowing and be sure not to gulp.


Rinse -- then Brush -- After Eating
Swish your mouth with water right after eating a stain-causing food or drink. For about 30 minutes after you consume something acidic, the enamel on your teeth is especially at risk of abrasion from tooth brushing. So rinse, then brush well after every meal. If you can't get to your toothbrush, chew a piece of sugarless gum as soon as you've eaten.

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-10/slideshow-foods-stain-teeth

Avoiding Dental Decay

Avoid dental decay. Visit your Orlando dentist at Orange Dental Associates regularly!

A wonderful St. Patrick's day to each and everyone!

Natural toothache home remedies!

Green smoothies may be good for your health, but not your teeth

The current trend for Green Smoothies may be great for your Health, but could be dulling your smile.
People need to realise that quite simply put, if a food or drink would stain a white top, it can stain your Teeth.
The colour in foods comes from chromogens, highly pigmented molecules which easily adhere to tooth enamel.  The staining action is increased if food high in chromogens are combined with tannins, found in citrus foods and legumes as well as tea and coffee, as tannins boost chromogens’ ability to stick to the enamel.

However, you don’t have to sacrifice your morning green boost to keep your Teeth gleaming.
Tooth tips:
• To further prevent staining, drink your smoothie through a straw, minimising contact with teeth.
• Don’t mix chromogens and tannins, so omit citrus fruit from your smoothie mix
• Brush three times daily with Pearl Drops Restore White 4D to remove stains, then twice daily to prevent reoccurrence.
In consumer trials 79% of people said Pearl Drops Restore White 4D toothpolish gently removed stains, and 81% of people said new Pearl Drops 4D Whitening System, containing natural pearl powder, helped make their teeth visibly whiter and improved the shine and lustre of their teeth, feeling like they’d had a professional treatment.

Read more: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/health/green-smoothies-good-for-your-health-but-not-for-teeth-431455.html#ixzz2vGpGNqkk

Laser Dentistry : Orange Dental

Laser dentistry is the latest advancement in dental technology, treating a wide range of dental and cosmetic problems from cavities to gum disease to teeth whitening. A special beam of light—or laser—is directed onto the problem areas, correcting decayed teeth, enamel, and gums. Many such lasers have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration Approval (FDA) and are safe for adults and children alike. To learn more about laser general or restorative dentistry, consult our Orlando office today.

Is Invisalign® for Me?

Invisalign® treatment can help to correct a broad range of dental and orthodontic issues. Several common issues below that an experienced Invisalign® doctor can work with you to correct include:

• Overly crowded teeth
• Widely spaced teeth
• Crossbite
• Overbite
• Underbite

Keep Calm and Floss like a Boss!

Are cavities contagious?

Are #cavities contagious? Ask an Orange Dental Associates dentist today how you can stop those cavities! http://orangedental.net/

A glass of milk after eating sugary cereals may prevent cavities

Washing down sugary breakfast cereal with milk after eating reduces plaque acid levels and may prevent damage to tooth enamel that leads to cavities, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.

Dry ready-to-eat, sugar-added cereals combine refined sugar and starch. When those carbohydrates are consumed, bacteria in the dental plaque on tooth surfaces produce acids, says Christine Wu, professor of pediatric dentistry and director of cariology, who served as principal investigator of the study.

The research is published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Reports have shown that eating carbohydrates four times daily, or in quantities greater than 60 grams per person per day, increases the risk of cavities.

The new study, performed by Wu's former graduate student Shilpa Naval, involved 20 adults eating 20 grams of dry Froot Loops cereal, then drinking different beverages—whole milk, 100 percent apple juice, or tap water.

Plaque pH, or acidity, was measured with a touch microelectrode between the premolar teeth before eating; at two and five minutes after eating; and then two to 30 minutes after drinking a liquid.
The pH in plaque dropped rapidly after consuming cereal alone, and remained acidic at pH 5.83 at 30 minutes. A pH below 7 is acidic; a pH greater than 7 is basic. Pure water has a pH close to 7.
Participants who drank milk after eating sugary cereal showed the highest pH rise, from 5.75 to 6.48 at 30 minutes. Those who drank apple juice remained at pH 5.84 at 30 minutes, while water raised the pH to 6.02.

Fruit juices are considered healthy food choices, but the added sugar can be a risk to dental health, Wu said.

"Our study results show that only milk was able to reduce acidity of dental plaque resulting from consuming sugary Froot Loops," said Naval, who is currently a fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. "We believe that milk helped mitigate the damaging effect of fermentable carbohydrate and overcome the previously lowered plaque pH."

Milk, with a pH ranging from 6.4 to 6.7, is considered to be a functional food that fights cavities because it promotes tooth remineralization and inhibits the growth of plaque, Wu said.

Wu says most consumers think that since milk is considered to be cavity-fighting, acid production by plaque bacteria can be minimized by mixing it with cereal. However, in an unpublished study in her lab, it was discovered that the combination of Froot Loops and milk became syrupy. Eating cereal combined with milk lowered plaque pH to levels similar to that obtained after rinsing with a 10 percent sugar solution.

Eating sugar-added cereal with milk, followed by drinking fruit juice is thus a highly cavity-causing combination, Wu said.

Diet plays an important role in oral health, Wu said. Studies of food intake and cavities have focused mainly on the sugar, or carbohydrate, content. Fewer studies have looked at how combinations of food, and the order in which they are eaten, may help fight cavities.

"Results from a previous study suggested that the last food item consumed exerts the greatest influence on subsequent plaque pH," she said. For example, eating cheese after a sugary meal reduces acid production, and consumers can modify their diet in such a way as to prevent the cavity-causing effects of sugary foods."

"If understood and implemented properly, food sequencing can be used as a public health educational tool to maintain and preserve good oral health," said Naval.

Breast cancer facts

Did you know that women with gum disease or missing teeth were 11 times more likely to have #breastcancer?

 

Kids' Cavities On The Rise, Report Finds

AAPD explained that caries is a common chronic disease that can be transmitted by bacteria in saliva. When caries ocurrs in very young children (called early childhood caries or ECC), the decay can be especially quick, AAPD explained.
The report found that the rate of tooth decay in the baby teeth of children between the ages of 2 and 5 increased almost 17 percent from 1988-1994 to 1999-2004.
In the most recent available data, it was estimated that by the age of 3, between 5 to 10 percent of US children will have had tooth decay, a number which increases to about 60 percent by age 5.
The tooth decay problem seemed to be worse among children living in poverty. According to the report, impoverished children between ages 2 and 9 were twice as likely to have tooth decay than their peers in other economic groups, and the decay was more likely to go untreated.
AAPD stressed that untreated tooth decay can lead to further infection and, in some cases, hospitalization.
"One of the key reasons a preventable disease, like caries, is becoming an increasingly significant threat to the health, welfare and future of the youngest members of our society is that children are not seeing the dentist early enough," reported AAPD.
According to AAPD, it is recommended that children get their first dental exam when their first tooth appears (which usually happens between ages 6 and 12 months old), and that the first exam is recommended no later than when the child is one year old.
In an online survey of 1,000 US parents with children aged 5 or younger, 60 percent reported thinking it was important to take children to the dentist before age one, but only 25 percent reported actually doing so.
The report cited other studies, including one national survey which estimated that only 16 percent of parents took their child to the dentist prior to age 2.
"The early dental visit, combined with good dental habits and dietary practices, can slow or even reverse the caries epidemic among our children," explained AAPD. "The goals of an early visit are to establish a dental home for the infant, introduce healthy habits and prevent early childhood caries."
In an interview with dailyRx News, Dana Fort, DDS, a dentist with private practices in Illinois, seconded the notion of getting an early start on oral health and highlighted some of the many ways parents can help prevent cavities in children.

"Good oral health starts early," said Dr. Fort. "Avoid putting baby to bed with a bottle, especially one containing juice or milk, as the sugars present in these drinks can cause cavities. If a baby must take a bottle at bedtime, it's best to give it plain water."

Do children need to see a dentist before they turn 1 year old? Yes, says the group behind a new report, though many parents might not realize this.

According to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), tooth decay is a common problem in children and is an issue that's growing.

AAPD suggested that delays in children's first dental visit might be contributing to the problem.

Dr. Fort recommended the daily cleaning of infants' gums with a wet washcloth until teeth appear, at which point they should be brushed.

"Parents should supervise tooth brushing until a child can develop sufficient hand eye coordination to brush independently — often around age 7," said Dr. Fort, who noted that a timer can help kids brush their teeth for a full two minutes.

"Since cavities are a communicable disease, it's best to teach children not to get into the habit of sharing utensils or cups with others," Dr. Fort also suggested.

For older kids, Dr. Fort recommended avoiding drinks like sodas and sports drinks, which can contribute to tooth decay.

"For teens, chewing sugar free gum actually prevents cavities as it stimulates the production of cavity fighting saliva," said Dr. Fort. "Many sugar free gums also contain xylitol, a sugar known to kill cavity-causing bacteria."

The online survey of parents used in the "State of Little Teeth Report" was designed and executed by a company called KRC Research for AAPD.

8 Tips to Help Kids Overcome Fear of Dentists

Taking kids to the dentist is necessary to keep their teeth healthy and promote excellent oral hygiene habits. But from a child's point of view, a trip to the dentist can be a scary event -- lying on a chair in an unfamiliar room filled with unfamiliar noises and objects, all while a stranger is poking cold, metallic, and unusual instruments in his mouth. Plus, as your child's teeth continue to fall out and grow, he may take at least 10 trips to the dentist before starting kindergarten. To help ease future visits for your child (and for the dentist!), follow these steps so that he will feel comfortable and more relaxed.

Start Young
The earlier a child visits the dentist, the better. "This will provide your child with a 'dental home' where all her needs -- whether a periodic preventive visit or an emergency -- will be taken care of," says Rhea Haugseth, D.M.D., president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. It's best that the first visit starts at age 1 or when the first tooth is visible.

Keep It Simple
When preparing for a visit, especially the first time, try not to include too many details. Doing so will raise more questions, and adding more information about an extra treatment like a filling he might need may cause unnecessary anxiety. Keep a positive attitude when discussing an upcoming visit, but don't give your child false hope. "Avoid saying that everything will be fine, because if you child ends up needing a treatment, he might lose trust in both the dentist and you," says Joel H. Berg, D.D.S., M.S., Director of the Department of Dentistry at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Watch Your Words
"Don't use the 'S' (shot),'H' (hurt) or 'P' (pain) words with children. Let the staff introduce their own vocabulary to children to help them get through difficult situations," Dr. Berg suggests. Instead, tell your child that the dentist is looking for "sugar bugs" so he can clean them off their teeth. "My favorite thing to have parents tell their child is that we are going to check their smile and count their teeth -- that's it, nothing else," says Michael J. Hanna, D.M.D., a pediatric dentist in McKee Rocks, Pennsylvania, and a national spokesperson of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Use positive phrases like "clean, strong, healthy teeth" to make the visit seem fun and good rather than scary and alarming.

Consider a Pretend Visit
Before the first dentist appointment, play pretend with your child to be the dentist and the patient, Dr. Berg says. All you'll need is a toothbrush. Count your little one's teeth by starting with the number 1 or the letter A. Avoid making drilling noises or lining up other "instruments." You can even hold up a mirror and show her how the dentist might look at and check her teeth. Then let your child role-play by using a toothbrush to clean the teeth of a stuffed animal or doll. The key is getting her familiar with the routine so that she's more comfortable for the real visit.

Picture books with detailed illustrations and easy-to-understand language can also help children get a sense of what to expect. Read Spongebob Squarepants' Behold No Cavities! A Visit to the Dentist or Dora the Explorer's Show Me Your Smile!: A Visit to the Dentist.

Do Not Try to Relate
Some parents take their children with them to their own dentist appointment, but experts say this is a mistake. Parents themselves might feel anxious about the visit without even realizing it, and their child might sense those fears. Telling "war stories" about extractions, root canals, or other negative experiences will also trigger anxiety, especially because your child may not even have those procedures. Taking your child to a sterile, adult office also gives the wrong impression, whereas most pediatric dentists make their offices kid-friendly -- some have video games, pleasing pictures on the walls, and movies or TV shows kids enjoy.

Prepare for Some Fussing
"It is normal and age-appropriate for a young child to cry, whine, wiggle, and not want to be examined by a stranger," Dr. Haugseth points out. "Stay calm and remember that the dentist and her staff are used to working with children and have seen their share of tantrums." Let the dental care professionals guide you; they might ask you to stay at a distance or to hold your little one's hand, which will provide comfort and prevent him from grabbing any dental instruments.

Avoid Bribery
Many experts do not recommend promising your child a special treat if she behaves well at the dentist. Doing so will only increase their apprehension. Saying, "If you don't fuss or cry, you'll get a lollipop," might make your little one think, "What's so bad about the dentist that I might want to cry?" Promising a sugary treat also sends the wrong message after a dentist emphasizes having clean, healthy teeth by avoiding sweets that can cause cavities. Instead, after the visit is over, praise your child for her good behavior and bravery. Every once in a while, surprise her with a sticker or a small toy as an encouragement.

Emphasize the Importance of Good Oral Hygiene
Teach your child that visiting the dentist is a necessity, not a choice, and that the dentist will take care of his teeth so that they are strong enough for him to eat. You might also explain that the dentist helps keep cavities at bay and ensures that his patients will have a beautiful smile for years to come. As Dr. Haugseth explains, "A no-nonsense attitude from the parent will set the stage for what the child should expect to achieve excellent oral health."

Dina Roth Port is the author of Previvors: Facing the Breast Cancer Gene and Making Life-Changing Decisions. She has written for publications such as Glamour, Parenting, and The Huffington Post. Visit her website at www.dinarothport.com.

Dr. Shrager & Associates Serving Central Florida With a Walk-In, One Stop Dental Experience!

At Orange Dental Associates, Dr. Joe Shrager and our entire team believe strongly in offering all our patients superior care and an unmatched standard of personal attention. Our entire dental staff is committed to treating each patient in as complete and customized a manner as possible.

Our cosmetic dentists – serving Orlando, Kissimmee and Central Florida patients – offer general and restorative dental treatments, including dental crowns, composite fillings, and dental implants. We are especially proud to offer the Invisalign® teeth straightening system, Zoom!® teeth whitening and LUMINEERS® porcelain veneers. These treatments can beautifully remedy cooked, stained or flawed teeth. Indeed, we can dramatically improve the appearance and health of your smile.

To learn more about how you can achieve a smile makeover, contact a cosmetic dentist at Orange Dental Associates’ Orlando office today. We can help you obtain the brilliant smile that you deserve.

LUMINEERS® Dental Veneers: Orange dental Associates

LUMINEERS® dental veneers are a beautiful, pain-free way to correct stained, chipped or crooked teeth. With ultra-thin LUMINEERS®, our Orlando cosmetic dentist can completely transform your smile. LUMINEERS® can correct many cosmetic problems that otherwise cause embarrassment and self-consciousness.

Unlike traditional dental veneers, LUMINEERS® do not require removing the tooth's enamel. That means no shots, no drilling, and no pain. Instead, ultra-thin LUMINEERS® are placed over your existing teeth creating a new, bright smile. LUMINEERS® are unique in that they are ultra-thin. While traditional veneers are much thicker, requiring the grinding down of your original tooth structure, LUMINEERS® are so thin, little to no tooth reduction is necessary.
LUMINEERS® are an easy, advanced way to restore, improve and enhance your smile. Our cosmetic dentist can completely transform your smile. To learn more about porcelain veneers or LUMINEERS® dental veneers, contact Orange Dental Associates in Orlando, Florida.

Inlays and Onlays: Orange Dental Associates

Dental inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair teeth that have a moderate or significant amount of tooth structure to replace. They are often the restoration of choice when a regular resin filling would be too big but not severe enough to require a crown. The inlays and onlays can be made from porcelain, composite resin or even gold and the location and esthetic needs determine the best material to select. Cosmetically, the porcelain inlays and onlays are virtually invisible and are often used to replace old, large silver fillings for a more natural appearing smile.

Did ya know?

Every tooth in a man's head is more valuable than a diamond!

Orange Dental Associates

Your doctor can be one of the most important people in anyone’s life. When they are doing their job, they are the premiere models and final arbiters of good values. The outcome of your treatment must reflect this. The late Fred Rogers wrote, "If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of.

There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person." People do best when treated by those who act responsibly and in caring ways.

At Orange Dental we believe that the ability to love and be loved is supremely important and everything we do, strives to convey this all the time. Only then can we say, “Orange Dental – White Teeth and Happy Smiles.”