Dentist Blog

This is the time of year when many people take a look at their health and resolve to start the New Year with a nice healthy new diet, but the foods you choose not only affect your body, but also your oral health. Choosing a good diet in Provo can help improve the state of your teeth and gums. Everything you put in your mouth affects your oral health. As soon as you eat foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars, then the bacteria in your mouth will begin converting these foods into acids. It’s these acids that attack the hard enamel surface of the teeth causing it to soften and beginning the process of tooth decay and gum disease.

If you like to snack frequently, something that is often recommended in diets, then your teeth and gums are more at risk as they'll spend longer being exposed to the acid. The good news is that by choosing tooth friendly foods you're more likely to be enjoying a healthy diet anyway, and are more likely to reap the benefits in better general health. As any dentist in Provo is will tell you, there is a close connection between oral health and general health.

If you have teenagers then you're probably well aware of how concerned they are about their appearance, especially if they wear braces. However how many teenagers actually pause to think about the possibility of tooth decay or gum disease? Dentists in Provo, Utah are well aware of the need of excellent dental care for teenagers.

This is because their teeth should still be in relatively good shape, and a little extra care at this stage in life should ensure they have a great smile for a lifetime. Unfortunately some teenagers indulge in habits that are not particularly tooth friendly, and which definitely aren't recommended by Provo dentists.

For more than sixty years, dentists all over the country have celebrated National Children's Dental Health Month each February. As a Provo dentist I use this month as a time to remind my patients with small children about the importance of good dental care, starting early in life. When children acquire a good foundation in oral health, they tend to maintain good dental hygiene for the remainder of their life. In turn, their physical health is often greatly improved as well.

Despite the best efforts of dentists like myself, many parents are misinformed about dental health recommendations for children. This is particularly true of the parents of children under five, who, when surveyed, seem to be unaware of when their child should first see the dentist and what kind of care they should be receiving at home. All children, for example, should see a Provo dentist by their first birthday. However, many parents admit that they did not bring their child into see a dentist until they were much older. Do you know the basic guidelines of pediatric dental care of young children?