Diet and Oral Health

Cut the sugar, grab the milk!

Each time you eat a snack containing sugar or starch (carbohydrates), the resulting acid attack on your teeth can last up to 20 minutes, and a lot of snacks and drinks contain sugar. How much sugar? A single can of pop contains up to 10 teaspoons of sugar, and if you think that natural sugar (like the sugar in raisins or other fruit) is better for your teeth it’s not. Sugar is sugar, and the average Canadian consumes over 40 kilograms of sugar each year! Click here for a list of how much sugar your favorite snack might contain.

How can you defeat the sugar bug?


Beat the Clock - foods that are eaten during a meal usually pose less of a threat to teeth because of the additional saliva produced during mealtime eating. Saliva helps to wash food particles from your mouth and lessen the damage from acid.

Brush & floss those teeth - toothbrushing is important, and you should brush twice a day. Did you know that if you don’t floss, you miss cleaning up to 35% of each tooth? If you’re not sure how to floss, just ask your dentist.


Stock up on Dairy Products - yogurt and cheese, milk and milk products contain things that are good for your teeth. Everything that’s made from milk is a good source of calcium - an essential nutrient for the development of bones and teeth. Some scientific studies have shown that eating cheese might actually help to protect your teeth from cavities by preventing something called demineralization (the loss of important calcium in your teeth).


Above article from HealthTeeth.org


Dentist NoblesvilleHamilton Town Dentistry
David Shock, DDS
Telephone: (317) 773-9992
14139 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 200
Noblesville, IN 46060

Dental Root Canals

Root canal treatment is necessary when the pulp (soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue) becomes inflamed or diseased. During root canal treatment, your dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in treating the insides of teeth) removes the diseased pulp. The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of the tooth are then cleaned and sealed. If the infected pulp is not removed, pain and swelling can result, and your tooth may have to be removed.

Causes of an infected pulp could include:

•   a deep cavity

•   repeated dental procedures

•   a cracked or broken tooth

•   injury to the tooth (even if there’s not a visible crack or chip)

If you continue to care for your teeth and gums your restored tooth could last a lifetime. However, regular checkups are necessary; a tooth without its nerve can still develop cavities or gum disease. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits. Best of all, it can save your tooth and your smile.

Above article from mouthhealthy.org

Dentist NoblesvilleHamilton Town Dentistry
David Shock, DDS
Telephone: (317) 773-9992
14139 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 200
Noblesville, IN 46060

What is Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that is constantly forming on the tooth surface. Saliva, food and fluids combine to produce these deposits that collect where the teeth and gums meet. Plaque buildup is the primary factor in periodontal (gum) disease, including gingivitis.

How to Get Rid of Plaque
To help prevent plaque buildup, be sure to brush your teeth at least twice a day with an anti-plaque toothpaste such as Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste for around the clock protection against plaque buildup, and floss once a day.

Adding a mouth rinse such as Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection Rinse to your routine can help against plaque buildup, without the burning sensation of alcohol. Eating well-balanced meals and brushing after snacks will reduce the formation of plaque. Visit your dental office regularly for oral exams and cleanings, during which your dental professional will scrape away any accumulated plaque with a special instrument.


Above posting from: www.crest.com


Dentist Noblesville
Hamilton Town Dentistry
David Shock, DDS
Telephone: (317) 773-9992
14139 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 200
Noblesville, IN 46060

What is Gingivitis?

Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease — an inflammation of the gum tissues surrounding the teeth. Bleeding and swollen gums are signs of gingivitis. In fact, what may seem like a little “problem area” in your gums can actually be the early stages of gingivitis. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which can be a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Gingivitis can sometimes be painless and, therefore, people may be unaware they have it.

Causes of Gingivitis
One of the primary factors contributing to gingivitis is plaque buildup, a sticky colorless deposit of bacteria that regularly forms on teeth. These bacteria build up and can produce byproducts that damage the gums.

While gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of gum disease, it may lead to more serious, destructive forms if left untreated.

Help Prevent Gingivitis
Helping prevent gingivitis requires removing plaque buildup, and that starts with good brushing habits.But it’s also essential to have the right products on your side. That’s why we recommend the following dental hygiene routine:

• Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled or power toothbrush, such as the Oral-B® Vitality™ Precision Clean electric rechargeable brush. It removes up to two times more plaque than a regular manual toothbrush.
• Be sure to use an anti-gingivitis and anti-plaque toothpaste containing fluoride to strengthen teeth. Crest® Pro-Health™ Toothpaste is a good option because one of the medicinal ingredients it contains is therapeutic stannous fluoride, an effective anti-microbial agent that kills harmful bacteria that cause plaque and gingivitis.
• Rinse thoroughly after brushing with an anti-bacterial rinse, such as Crest® Pro-Health™ Multi-Protection Rinse. It contains a clinically proven anti-microbial agent, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), which is attracted to bacteria in your mouth, making it effective at fighting plaque, gingivitis and bad breath.
• Floss at least once a day with a product like Glide® to help remove food particles and plaque between teeth. Glide is the #1 dentist-recommended dental floss brand, and it gently stimulates gums and helps remove plaque to prevent gingivitis.
• Removing plaque is an important step to help prevent gingivitis. Try using the Oral-B® Vitality™ Precision Clean toothbrush along with Crest® Pro-Health™ Toothpaste and Crest® Pro-Health™ Multi-Protection Rinse for up to 7x better cleaning.*
• Visit your dentist regularly for oral exams and cleanings.

* On teeth with regular use versus a regular manual brush and regular anti-cavity toothpaste.

Gingivitis Symptoms
If you are experiencing the following symptoms, visit your dental office as soon as possible to determine if you have gingivitis.

• Mild inflammation of the gums
• Red or swollen gums
• Gums that bleed easily

Above posting from: www.crest.com


Dentist Noblesville
Hamilton Town Dentistry
David Shock, DDS
Telephone: (317) 773-9992
14139 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 200
Noblesville, IN 46060

Dental Emergencies

If a dental trauma occurs, the best advice is to remain cool, calm and collected. Read and learn the following steps now, and you'll know what to do in an emergency. Keep in mind that the advice of a dental professional should be sought any time there is an injury to the teeth or mouth.

Dental Emergencies
Unlike a chipped or cracked tooth, some dental hygiene injuries are not obvious. Trauma to the mouth can cause damage that may not be seen, but could result in loss of one or more teeth. So check with your dental professional as soon as possible after any injury to the teeth or mouth.

If a tooth is knocked out during an accident:

• Do not scrub or clean the tooth.
• Place the tooth in a small container of milk, saline solution if available, or a special tooth-preserving solution available at your pharmacy.
• See your dental professional as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes. Don't forget to take the tooth with you.

With prompt attention, a permanent tooth may be re-implanted into the tooth socket and remain normal and healthy-looking.

Above posting from: www.crest.com


Dentist Noblesville
Hamilton Town Dentistry
David Shock, DDS
Telephone: (317) 773-9992
14139 Town Center Boulevard, Suite 200
Noblesville, IN 46060