Five Myths About Your Teeth, Debunked

Crooked teeth are just a cosmetic issue.

Crooked teeth are much more difficult to keep clean.  The gums get inflamed by bacteria, which gets into the bloodstream.  Studies suggest this bacteria can lead to heart disease, Parkison’s, Alzheimer’s, low birthweight and other diseases.  Straight teeth = healthier teeth.

Baby teeth aren’t important since they’re just going to fall out.

It’s true that baby teeth fall out; however, while they’re in your child’s mouth, they affect his health and maintain the space for permanent teeth to grow in.  If a baby tooth falls out prematurely, the detention in the gums may collapse, and the permanent tooth will come in crooked due to lack of space.  You should take care of baby teeth the way you take care of permanent adult teeth.  As a big bonus, your child will develop healthy habits early on!

Candy gives you cavities.

It isn’t the candy that directly causes cavities; rather, the sugars feed the bacteria that cause cavities.  Junk food like potato chips turn to sugar and linger in your mouth, as well.  So floss and brush after eating, and especially after eating junk food of any sort.

Kids should wait until their teeth are finished moving before getting braces.

Early intervention is key to solving orthodontic problems during growth phases.  Each case is different, but normally orthodontics is accomplished in two phases with an early and late phase.  The early phase takes three to six months.  The late phase can be one to two years.  Each treatment can prevent a long phase if done correctly.

All people eventually need dentures when they get older.

With today’s proper care, people who take excellent care of their teeth may have them throughout their lives.

New Information about HPV and Oral Cancer Link

We've long known that alcohol and smoking consumption makes people three times more likely to get oral cancer.  But now, there's a surprising new statistic that puts the previous one in perspective.  The human papilloma virus makes people thirty-three times more likely to get oral cancer.

The new age bracket for those at high risk for cancer is eighteen to forty year olds.  The high-risk age bracket used to be forty and older.  HPV has changed everything.

For more information on HPV and oral cancer, you may visit the Oral DNA Labs website.

At Crabapple Dental, we test our patients for the HPV virus infection.  To schedule an appointment, please call 678-319-0123 or email us today.

Friday Inspiration

Doesn't it feel good to make others smile?  That in itself is enough to make us smile.  That, and it's Friday. Happy Friday!

Sugar: Is it so bad for my teeth, and why?

Did you know that the ancient Greeks were the first, as far as we know, to make the connection between sweets and tooth decay?  They wrote that sweet figs seemed to cause tooth decay, but like many people today, they didn’t understand exactly why.

Here’s why.  When you eat something sweet, little bits of sugar stick to your teeth.  The sugar that finds its way to hard to reach cracks and crevices stays there for a while.  The problem is, bacteria also takes refuge in those cracks and crevices.

Sugar is “food” for this bacteria.  When the bacteria eat the sugar, the excrete acids, and these acids are what erode our tooth enamel and cause decay and eventually cavities.

Now you know why brushing, flossing, and regular professional cleanings are necessary.

You don’t have to refrain from sugar.  You just have to make sure that sugar doesn’t stay on your teeth, including in those hard-to-reach cracks and crevices!

If you live in the Atlanta, Roswell, Alpharetta or Cumming area, call  (678) 319-0123 or email Crabapple Dental to schedule an appointment today!

It's Friday, Take a Smile!