Your mother was right: Never open bottles, packages, or other containers with your teeth. You might permanently chip or crack the enamel.Gnawing on anything else -- like pens or fingernails -- or chomping down on seeds, popcorn kernels, or ice could have the same result.Above article from: Webmd.com/oral-health
Watertown Dental Care600 4th Street NE, Suite 207Watertown, SD 57201(605) 882-0747WatertownDentalCare.com
Learn more about the importance of saliva.
What Is Oral Thrush?
Oral thrush, also known as candidiasis, can occur in anyone of any age, from babies to the elderly. Oral thrush is a condition that occurs when a fungus called candida albicans builds up on the lining of the mouth. The result is white lesions on the tongue or inner cheeks.
Oral thrush can sometimes be confused with leukoplakia. But leukoplakia lesions are caused by chronic irritation from rough edges on teeth, fillings or crowns, not by an organism. And leukoplakia lesions develop over time, while thrush lesions may develop suddenly. A thrush infection can spread and involve the roof of the mouth and the gums, where it can cause symptoms such as redness and irritation. See your dentist if you have any type of lesions on your tongue or in your mouth so you can determine the cause of the problem and plan a course of treatment. The goal in treating thrush is to stop the infection from spreading.
Healthy babies and children may not need treatment-the lesions may resolve on their own. Sometimes adding yogurt to you or your child’s diet may do the trick and reset the bacterial imbalance caused by the excess amount of the thrush fungus.
People with HIV or other immunosuppressive illness are at increased risk for the infection to spread. If you are in this category, your doctor or dentist may recommend an antifungal medication.
To prevent thrush from occurring or recurring, follow a consistent oral health care routine, and try to include yogurt with live, active cultures in your diet, especially if you take antibiotics for a chronic condition. Frequent use of antibiotics can promote the growth of the Candida fungus because they upset the natural mixture of microorganisms in the body.
The above article is from: OralB.com
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
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.
Above article from: Webmd.com/oral-health
Watertown Dental Care600 4th Street NE, Suite 207Watertown, SD 57201(605) 882-0747WatertownDentalCare.com
White for Life Program
Join the White for Life Program for $99.00 and receive a custom, take-home bleaching kit. When you return for your scheduled preventive care visits every six months, you will receive a free touch-up kit of bleaching solution for FREE!
KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching System™ – For Extreme Whitening
For severely stained teeth, we use KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching to obtain the results you need. You may have been disappointed with other treatments, but this deep bleaching system will address even the worst discoloration and amazingly give you a brilliant, white smile again. Even staining from the antibiotic tetracycline can be reversed for a beautiful, dazzling smile. We 
also offer chair-side power whitening and professional-strength take-home whitening. Ask us which is right for you.
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
Learn more about why gums recede.
Recognizing and Treating Oral Thrush
Oral thrush, also known oral candidiasis, is a condition that occurs when a fungus called Candida albicans builds up on the lining of your mouth.
Anyone can develop oral thrush, but babies, young children, older adults, or anyone with a compromised immune system due to an illness such as HIV are more susceptible. Conversely, candidiasis lesions can be an early sign of an HIV infection.
The main symptom of oral thrush is creamy white lesions in the mouth, usually on the tongue or inner cheeks. In some cases, the lesions may appear on the roof of the mouth or on the back of the throat.
Interestingly, oral thrush is not caused by poor oral hygiene. Thrush is caused when the naturally occurring fungi in the body get out of balance, which is why the very old, very young, and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk. Good oral hygiene, however, is an essential part of treating oral thrush. Healthy adults and children can recover fairly easily from the infection, especially if they follow a complete oral care routine of twice-daily tooth brushing and daily proper flossing.
To read the entire article please visit: OralB.com
Watertown Dental Care
600 4th Street NE, Suite 207
Watertown, SD 57201
(605) 882-0747
WatertownDentalCare.com
