Aging & Your Oral Health

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about aging and your oral health.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

Great American Smokeout

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about about quitting smoking.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

What is a Cavity and What Causes Tooth Decay?

What to Know About Cavities and Tooth Decay

While cavities are very common dental problems in both children and adults, they can be prevented. Find out what you need to know to stay ahead of cavities. 

What Exactly Is a Cavity? 
It’s actually pretty simple. Decay (or softening of enamel) happens over time and the result is a cavity-a defect left in the tooth. Teeth are covered with a hard protective top layer called enamel. But once the enamel is weakened by acids produced by bacteria, a pit or cavity is formed in or on the tooth surface. 

What Causes Cavities and Tooth Decay?
While it’s ultimately acid-producing bacteria that leads to cavity formation, the most common cause of bacterial growth is inadequate daily brushing and flossing. Certain foods (carbs) and sugary drinks contribute to cavity formation-bacteria metabolize these carbohydrates and sugars and produce cavity-forming acids. 

To read the entire article visit OralB.com.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

Parts of the Tooth

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about about what makes up the tooth.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

6 Tips for Cavity-Free Holidays - continued

#5: Watch out for starchy foods 
These are sneaky because they often get trapped in your teeth. If you choose to indulge in chips and cakes, take extra care when you floss that day to remove all the food particles that can lead to plaque build-up. 

#6: You can still have fun 
So, what can you eat? Lots of stuff! Make lean protein choices, such as lean beef, skinless poultry and fish and vary your diet. Eat whole grains and choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods. The holidays are a great time of year to start thinking about healthier habits. If you do snack, make it a nutritious choice-such as cheese, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables-for your overall health and the health of your teeth.

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

Mouth Healthy Moments: How to Floss

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about flossing your teeth.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

6 Tips for Cavity-Free Holidays

#1: Timing matters 
Timing matters. While everything is fine in moderation, it helps to eat sweets and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.  

#2: Be picky if it's sticky
When it comes to picking healthy snacks, many people put dried fruit at the top of the list. But many dried fruits are sticky and sticky foods tend to stay on the teeth longer than other types of food. If you find yourself eating a lot of dried fruits such as cranberries, make sure to rinse with water and brush carefully. 

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

Sugarless Gum

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about sugarless gum.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

What is Dry Mouth?

What is Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth means you don't have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth moist. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, especially if you're nervous, upset or under stress. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to more serious health problems or indicate that a more serious medical condition may exist. That's because saliva does more than just keep the mouth wet -it helps digest food, protects teeth from decay, prevents infection by controlling bacteria in the mouth, and makes it possible for you to chew and swallow.

There are several reasons that the glands that produce saliva, called the salivary glands, might not function properly. These include:

• Side effects of some medications - over 400 medicines can cause dry mouth, including antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers, diuretics and medicines for high blood pressure and depression.
• Disease - diseases that affect the salivary glands, such as diabetes, Hodgkin's, Parkinson's disease, HIV/AIDS and Sjogren's syndrome, may lead to dry mouth.
• Radiation therapy - the salivary glands can be damaged if your head or neck are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment. The loss of saliva can be total or partial, permanent or temporary.
• Chemotherapy - drugs used to treat cancer can make saliva thicker, or "ropey," causing your mouth to feel dry.
• Menopause - changing hormone levels affect the salivary glands, often leaving menopausal and post-menopausal women with a persistent feeling of dry mouth.
• Smoking - many pipe, cigar and heavy cigarette smokers experience dry mouth.

To read the entire article , please visit Colgate.com

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

Diet & Your Teeth

Learn more about the connection between your teeth and what you eat.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

Dentistry & Overall Health

Learn more about dental care and your overall health.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
978-467-4999
MarengiDental.com

The Importance of a Good Diet

In a perfect world, there would be no cavities - but unfortunately that would mean there would have to be no sugar, and let’s be honest, that’s never going to happen.

Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet isn’t just important to your overall health, its important to your oral health as well. Frequent or prolonged intake of sugary foods enables bacteria to maintain an acidic environment on the surface of your teeth. Soft and sticky foods cling to the biting surfaces of the teeth and stay there until itís brushed off. Saliva will spread the sugar between the teeth, and to the front and back.

So how do cavities occur and that ugly dental decay?
Every time you eat, plaque and bacteria in your mouth mix with the sugar and starch from the food you ingest, creating an acidic environment in your mouth. This acid softens the enamel of your teeth, and without proper oral hygiene, can expose your teeth to troublesome cavities.

How to reduce the risk of decay:

• Brush daily with fluoridated toothpaste.
• Follow your country’s food guide necessary for a healthy diet.
• When eating starchy foods such as bread, cereal and pasta, minimize the time teeth are exposed by eating them with meals rather than snacking on them throughout the day.
• Substitute sugary snacks with sugar-free gum and mints. Xylitol found in some chewing gums has been found to reduce risk of cavities. This can help reduce cavities and increase saliva flow.
• Drink high-sugar beverages through a straw, then rinse mouth with water and brush within 30 minutes. But be careful, brushing to quickly following a meal can damage your teeth’s enamel.
• Rinsing with water after eating can help cleanse the teeth before brushing.

To read the entire article please visit Plus.HealthyTeeth.org

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com

Eating Right For Healthy Teeth

Learn what Delta Dental of New Jersey has to say about 'Eating Right For Healthy Teeth'.

The above video is found on the Delta Dental of New Jersey YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com

Four Different Types of Teeth Plus More

Most of us know how important it is to look after our teeth, but do you know what the different types of teeth are and how we use them? Teeth don't just help you bite and chew; they play an important role in speaking and support many aspects of your facial structure. There are four kinds of teeth in your mouth, according to Everyday Health, and each performs a slightly different function. Then there are three rarer formations that can occur in a growing jaw.

Incisors
At the front of the mouth are eight thin, straight teeth called incisors - four at the top and four at the bottom - which bite into the food you eat and help you pronounce words as you you speak. Incisors also support the lips.

To read the entire article by Jenny Green, please visit Colgate.com

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com

Parts of the Mouth and Their Functions

The mouth, or oral cavity, is made up of numerous components that work together so that you can breathe, speak, eat and digest food. When you understand these parts of the mouth and how they affect your general health, the significance of oral care takes on a whole new meaning. Here's what these things do for you.

Lips and Cheeks
Your lips and cheeks are made up of muscles that not only give you the ability to pucker up for a kiss, but also help shape your facial expressions - both happy and sad. Lips let air into your mouth for breathing and, together with cheeks, help you speak. They also keep food and saliva in your mouth while chewing. Ultimately, these strong muscles guide and keep your teeth in their proper positions.

To read the entire article by Donna Pleis, please visit Colgate.com

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com

Ten Human Tongue Facts for Well-Rounded Oral Care

Think back to the days when your tongue served two main functions: licking soft-serve ice cream cones and taunting a sibling when you stuck it out in his direction. But the tongue actually goes beyond melting desserts and young attitude. Here are ten human tongue facts, including some of its functions.

The Average Tongue Is Four Inches Long
The tongue consists of two parts: anterior and posterior. The anterior tongue is mostly visible and about two thirds of the tongue's total length. The posterior tongue sits near the back of the throat and measures the other one third in length.

To read the entire article by Steve Auger, please visit Colgate.com

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com

6 Habits That Harm Your Teeth (And How to Break Them): Constant Snacking

The habit: Grazing all day, especially on sugary foods and drinks, puts you at a higher risk for cavities. When you eat, cavity-causing bacteria feast leftover food, producing an acid that attacks the outer shell of your teeth.

The solution: Eat balanced meals to feel fuller, longer. If you need a snack, make sure it's low in fat and sugar. If you indulge in the occasional sugary treat, follow it with a big glass of water to wash away leftover food.

To read the entire article please visit MouthHealthy.org

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com

Why X-Rays?

Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "Why X-Ray?".

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com

Do White Teeth Mean Healthy Teeth?

Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "Do White Teeth Mean Healthy Teeth?".

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com

Why Do Teeth Darken?

Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "Why Do Teeth Darken?".

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Marengi Dental  
15 Concord Road 
Sudbury, MA 01776
 (978) 424-4038 
MarengiDental.com