Archive for ‘Fun Dental Facts’

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May 5, 2011

5 Dental Facts to Fight Rainy Day Blues

 

If you are trapped indoors and need relief from the tedium share some fun facts with your friends and family. Here are five cool dental factoids:

  • Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body
  • Most people have 32 teeth as adults (includes 4 wisdom 8 incisors 4 canines 12 molars and 8 premolars)
  • 1/4 of Americans over age 60 have lost all of their natural teeth
  • The average adult exerts about 20-40 pounds of pressure when biting.  However millions of us can bite with up to 250 pounds of force!
  • Besides colas and citrus overly chlorinated pools can also erode your enamel!

I’m Dr. Peter Pate of Dentistry in Buckhead and I encourage my patients to choose a healthy diet and maintain proper oral hygiene habits of brushing twice daily flossing once a day rinsing after meals and keeping your regular dental visits. Call my Atlanta dental office at (404)266-9424 to schedule an appointment.  Enjoy the beautiful spring weather!

 

 

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April 25, 2011

7 Food Surprises for a Healthy Smile!

Now that we have finished eating Valentine’s Day chocolates and Easter basket treats, it is time to concentrate on a healthier way to treat your teeth.  So what are some mouth healthy foods and what are their benefits?

I’m Dr. Peter Pate of Dentistry in Buckhead, and here are some great food choices for a healthy smile.

Cheese – Cheese is low in carbohydrates and high in calcium and phosphate.  Cheese helps balance the pH level in your mouth and can help to preserve and rebuild tooth enamel.

Celery – Celery protects your teeth by giving your mouth a workout. The chewing increases saliva production which neutralizes the bacteria that cause cavities. The chomping on celery massages the gums and cleans between the teeth.

Onions – Onions contain powerful antibacterial sulfur compounds that kill cavity-causing bacteria.  You may not have sweet breath, but you’ll have a happy mouth!

Parsley – Parsley will help freshen up your onion breath. The leaves of parsley are rich in chlorophyll, which acts as a powerful neutralizer of bad breath.

Kiwis – Kiwis contain more vitamin C than any other fruit. When you don’t get enough vitamin C, the collagen network in your gums can break down, which makes your gums tender and more susceptible to bacteria.

Sesame Seeds – Seeds slough off plaque and help build tooth enamel. Sesame seeds are also high in calcium, which is good for your bones that support your teeth and gums.

Shiitake Mushrooms – The natural sugar found in shiitake mushrooms prevents mouth bacteria from creating plaque.

So next time you are heading to the grocery store, pick up some of these delicious and nutritious treats.  For more information on other healthy foods, contact my Atlanta office at (404)-266-9424.

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April 16, 2011

Healthy Sweet Substitutes

As people become more health conscious, desserts continue to present a problem. Your sweet tooth will not let you rid your life of sugary treats, but with some smart substitutions, you can find balance.   Try these simple culinary tricks and you will find that you can have your cake and eat it too!

  • Use apple sauce in place of cooking oil
  • Try whole wheat flour instead of white bleached flour
  • Use 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa for every ounce of sweetened chocolate
  • Substitute evaporated skim milk for cream – or better yet, experiment with non-dairy alternatives like almond or coconut milk
  • Bake with xylitol instead of sugar
  • Add vanilla extract or lemon zest to compensate for reduced sugar
  • Use egg whites or egg substitutes instead as opposed to whole eggs
  • Skip the top crust and use fresh or frozen berries in pies
  • Sprinkle cookies, cakes, or brownies with cinnamon, cocoa powder, or powdered sugar instead of frosting

These healthy tips will help control your sweet tooth, while setting you on the road to a healthier diet. Be sure to maintain healthy teeth and gums, as well! Remember to brush two times a day, floss once a day, rinse after meals, and keep your semi-annual dental visits.

If you have concerns about the health of your teeth and gums, or need a thorough cleaning, call me, Dr. Peter Pate at Dentistry in Buckhead, at (404)266-9424 to schedule an appointment. We care for families from Buckhead and throughout Atlanta. Don’t let your sweet tooth cause you pain!

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April 3, 2011

Fun Dental Facts

Is visiting the dentist on your list of least favorite activities?  That doesn’t have to be the case.   I’m Peter Pate of Dentistry in Buckhead, and we love to make you smile!  Let’s lighten the mood — chew on our latest set of fun dental facts:

Teeth are as unique as fingerprints. Even identical twins have unique “dental fingerprints!”

Paul Revere not only warned the colonies of the impending British invasion, but he was also a dentist.

Diana Ross, Cher, Carol Burnett, and Jack Klugman improved their smiles with braces after they became celebrities.

Over 200,000 athletes avoid dental injuries each year by using a mouthguard.

Aged cheddar, Swiss, and Monterey Jack are the best cheeses to help maintain your white smile.

Did you know there is a name for burning your mouth on the mozzarella? It’s known as pizza palette.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first city in the United States to add fluoride to its water supply.

If you need a dentist in the Atlanta area, call me, Dr. Peter Pate at Dentistry in Buckhead. My team and I will address your dental concerns, from toothaches to cosmetic dental issues. We’ll partner with you to create a treatment plan for lifelong dental health. We make dental care fun for the whole family!

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February 18, 2011

Fun Dental Facts on Former Presidents

In honor of Presidents Day, we thought it would be fun to explore the dental history of some former US presidents.

George Washington – Growing up, we always thought that George Washington’s false teeth were made of wood.  Scientists have proven this theory untrue.  Washington actually had several sets of ill-fitting dentures made of various materials, including hippopotamus ivory, sea lion ivory, and lead, as well as teeth from pigs, cows, elks, and humans.

John Adams – President Adams had an incredible sweet tooth, which contributed to the loss of his teeth.  However, this was not the only factor.  Adams was in the habit of inducing vomiting to cure other ailments. He refused to wear dentures, and this led to difficulty speaking.  After encountering a fellow senior citizen, Adams wrote: “He is above 80. I cannot speak, and he cannot hear.  Yet we converse.”

read more »

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February 14, 2011

Healthy Valentine’s Day Gifts

Valentine’s Day is often associated with chocolate and sweethearts. Why not shake things up this year and give your sweetheart a healthier gift that won’t land you in the doghouse?  Here are few suggestions:

Breakfast in Bed: You can prepare a love inspired breakfast with heart shaped toast, eggs and/or pancakes, ruby red grapefruit juice, a beautiful red rose, and fruit cut into flower shapes.

Day at the Spa: Instead of hyping your sweetheart up with sugar, soothe the nerves with a relaxing retreat to rejuvenate them.  If you are not sure which treatment your honey will prefer, opt for a gift certificate to a favorite spa. You could also purchase a couple’s massage for a romantic date.

Fruit Bouquet: If you are of the theory, “I don’t want to waste my money on flowers that will die,” consider sending your sweetie a tasty bouquet of fruit. Include oranges, cantaloupes, honeydew, grapes,  and strawberries.  For a touch of sweetness, include some dark chocolate-dipped fruits.

Home Spa: If you would prefer a quiet evening at home, buy a gift basket that includes aroma therapy products, bubble bath, and massage oils.  The scents of love and romance include: gardenia, jasmine, lavender, musk, rain, rose, and vanilla.

Weekend Getaway: If budget and time are of no concern, book a trip to a warm climate and enjoy walking on the beach, snorkeling, and swimming with your soulmate.

If you have any other great ideas for a healthy Valentine’s Day, let us know. Just post comments to this blog. And, of course, if you need a more kissable smile, be sure to book a visit with Dr. Peter Pate of Dentistry in Buckhead!

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January 13, 2011

Go Green… With Your Tea!

You’ve probably heard about the health benefits of green tea, but have you heard about the oral health benefits? Green tea is known to destroy Streptococcus mutans, the main type of bacteria that causes plaque, acids, and tooth decay. By killing S. mutans, green tea fights cavities at the source. In addition, green tea makes tooth enamel slick, which inhibits of bacteria from adhering to a tooth’s surface.

Just a few ounces of green tea can yield these amazing oral health benefits. One study showed that Japanese children who drank a cup of green tea after lunch had significantly fewer cavities than their peers.

Green tea even fights the bacteria that invade a tooth’s pulp.   This means that drinking green tea could save you from needing a root canal. Of 24 types of bacteria taken from a tooth’s infected root, 21 strains were inhibited or destroyed by green tea extract. Amazing!

Winter is the perfect time of year to add green tea to your menu because of the overall health benefits. The wonder-beverage has been shown to be useful against allergens, viruses, and inflammation. It’s also known to reduce the signs of aging and reduce the speed of cartilage deterioration. The list of positives goes on and on. Drink four cups of green tea each day, and you could reduce your risk of cancer. Your cholesterol could go down, as well. It’s good for weight loss and increases the body’s rate of calorie burning. Green tea drinkers show higher bone mineral density, and one study showed that in heart attack patients, green tea can reduce the risk of death by 44% over about 4 years. Wow!

This is a perfect gift for friends and loved ones.  Green tea is the gift that keeps on giving.

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November 16, 2010

How Pilgrims & Indians Brushed Their Teeth

Thanksgiving is coming up, and it started me thinking… did pilgrims and Indians brush their teeth? Thanks to Google, I found my answer. I think you might find it interesting!

As we mentioned in another blog post, people throughout history have used twigs and hog’s hair toothbrushes to clean their teeth. Pilgrims may have used salt to brush their teeth. While it didn’t taste as good as our minty gel toothpaste, it was quite effective. Indians likely rubbed herb leaves, like sage,  against their teeth. Other tribes used paste made from the cucacua plant to remove debris and plaque from their teeth. Additionally, some foods, like cranberries,  have cavity-fighting powers.

To relieve a toothache, American Indians used the inner bark of butternut trees. They may have also used cloves, terragon, Calendula, and Yarrow root for pain relief.

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October 29, 2010

Don’t Neglect Your Tongue!

What’s the strongest and most flexible muscle in your body?  It’s your tongue!  Your tongue is the only muscle that’s attached only on one end.  It also has a unique print, just like your thumb – and it heals faster than any other body part.  The tongue has 9,000 taste buds and can sense four basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.  About 10% of your taste buds, though, are on your cheeks and palette.

Can you curl your tongue in a u-shape? About 15% of people can’t.

Your tongue harbors HALF of the bacteria that live in your mouth.  If you have bad breath, brush your tongue or consider using a tongue scraper to gently remove bacteria and food particles from the surface of the tongue.  It can really help!

And, according to Guinness, this is the most difficult tongue twister:

The sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick.

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October 26, 2010

Toothbrush Facts that Make You Say, “REALLY??!”

Get this!  In 2003, Americans chose the toothbrush as the “cannot live without” invention. The toothbrush won over computers, cars, cell phones, and the microwave!

People have always wanted clean teeth. Until the first toothbrush was invented, folks used a frayed stick, feathers, bones, porcupine quills, and just about anything they could come up with to get plaque and food off their teeth.

The first toothbrushes on historical record were created in China around 1498. They were made of hog’s hair in bamboo and worked much like today’s toothbrush.

In 1780, William Addis first mass produced a toothbrush. He came up with the idea and made the prototype while in prison (for causing a riot — those rowdy oral healthcare guys!). The toothbrush was made with a small animal bone and bristles inserted through drilled holes. (What small animals are in a prison? Ugh. Don’t ask.)

In 1857, Mr. H. N. Wadsworth patented a toothbrush in the United States, and mass production came about in 1885. Again, the inventor used a bone handle and boar’s hair in the design.

DuPont introduced nylon bristles in 1938, and they were a much better choice. They did not harbor bacteria, and they dried much faster than boar’s hair.

Broxodent released the first electric toothbrush at the American Dental Association (ADA) convention in 1960. (Yay!)

Now, here are the best toothbrush practices for your family…

  • Get a new toothbrush every six weeks. Opt for a soft or medium brush for adults, and a soft brush for children and elderly, unless Dr. Pate or our hygienist has other advice for you.
  • Kids need appropriately sized toothbrushes and non-fluoridated toothpaste.
  • If you’re ill, microwave your toothbrush for a minute in a glass of water to kill bacteria. If the bristles fall out, get a new toothbrush!
  • Electric toothbrushes are great – just replace the head every six weeks.
  • Be sure to clean your travel toothbrush thoroughly and let it dry before packing it away. You might even consider using the newer version of the travel toothbrush: a disposable toothbrush with water-activated toothpaste powder in the bristles.

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