Hewlett Family Dental Blog

If all you want this holiday season is to keep your two front teeth, or all of your teeth for that matter, then check out these tips on how to save your smile. Wine Whether red or white, the high acidity levels in wine can eat away at a tooth’s enamel. Tooth enamel is critical in the protection against decay and cavities. To avoid damage, refrain from swishing the wine around in your mouth, and drink water in between beverages to rinse the teeth of the acid. Cheers! Sugary Treats Bacteria in the mouth thrive on the sugars found in candy canes, chocolate, and gingerbread cookies, increasing the likelihood of developing cavities. If you are not able to brush and floss after munching on sweet treats, drink water or chew a piece of sugarless gum. This will boost saliva flow in the mouth and help wash away bacteria. Stress Holiday anxiety can cause people to grind or clench their teeth, causing jaw pain, headaches, and chipping. Finding ways to alleviate your anxiety can hel

Follow these five tips to steer clear of emergency trips to the dentist’s office this season. 1. Don’t crack nuts with your teeth. Although protein found in nuts helps keep muscles and bones strong, you shouldn’t test the strength of your teeth by shelling nuts with them. The hard surface of most nutshells can cause serious tooth and gum damage, and may even crack teeth. Your safest bet? Shell nuts before snacking on them. 2. Pass on chewy treats. Holiday candy platters are often loaded with treats that can harm your teeth. Sticky substances cling to tooth enamel and encourage tooth decay, and thick candies like caramel and taffy can even yank out fillings. Eat these sweets sparingly and along with other foods to help keep the treats from sticking to your teeth. 3. Use proper tools to open packages and bottles. We know you’re excited to rip into that gift from your great aunt, but your teeth are not the right tools for the task. Gripping a package or stubborn bottle cap

Insurance companies make millions of dollars each year from individuals who fail to use all their dental allowance. Once the deductible is met for the year, additional services up to a set amount are fully paid! Here's an example, the typical annual allowance is around $1,000. If you have two checkups, cleanings and a set of x-rays, that adds up to about $435 – meaning there’s another $565 left to use on tooth-colored fillings, occlusal guards, dentures and periodontal maintenance. Not sure how much is left of your allowance? Contact the number on the back of your dental insurance card. 

Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth. Here are some warning signs that can signal a problem: gums that bleed easily red, swollen, tender gums gums that have pulled away from the teeth persistent bad breath or bad taste permanent teeth that are loose or separating any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite any change in the fit of partial dentures Some factors which can increase the risk of developing gum disease are: poor oral hygiene smoking or chewing tobacco genetics crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean pregnancy diabetes medications, including steroids, certain types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium