Hewlett Family Dental Blog

1. THE UNITED STATES AND BEYOND In America (and other primarily English-speaking countries), kids are paid off for their teeth—lose a tooth, put it under your pillow, go to sleep, and at some point, a fairy will arrive to exchange the tooth for some cash. In 2017, the going rate was an average of $5.70 a tooth - Losing teeth really isn’t so bad! 2. INDIA, CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA, AND VIETNAM Kids who lose teeth from their lower jaw will throw their teeth onto their roof, while upper jaw teeth go on the floor or even under it (the idea is the new tooth will be pulled towards the old tooth). That’s not all, though, because as the tooth-losing kiddo tosses their teeth, they sometimes yell out a wish that the missing tooth be replaced by the tooth of a mouse. Mice (and other rodents) have teeth that continually grow, which sounds like a wise request when one goes missing. 3. SPAIN One of Spain’s most beloved myths centers on Ratoncito Perez, a...

Like every other part of our bodies, our mouths change as we age. As the carefree days of youth fade you may be faced with new challenges when it comes to your oral health , or you may start to pay for bad habits from your younger days. And even if you’ve taken good care of your teeth & treated problems as they arise, some old solutions may age as well and need to be repaired or replaced. Darker or Yellower Teeth Perhaps the most notable change as we age is the color of our teeth. Over time, the hard outer layer of your teeth called enamel, gets thinner. Because enamel is semi-transparent, this makes it so the dentin underneath shows through, which makes teeth appear duller and yellow. A lifetime of teeth staining habits, such as smoking tobacco or drinking red wine, coffee or tea can also eventually lead to discolored teeth. A dentist may be able to help whiten your teeth with a professional teeth whitening treatment. Discuss your goals for brightening your teeth with y...

People with diabetes have special concerns when it comes to dental care. In fact, 1 in every 5 cases of total tooth loss is linked to this widespread health conditions. Let's go over some frequently asked questions about oral health and diabetes. In addition to gum disease, what other oral health problems can develop for people with diabetes? While gum disease is the most common problem, having diabetes also makes you prone to other mouth problems such as oral infections, thrush, poor healing and dry mouth. Remember, good dental care can result in a healthy mouth and a smile that will last a lifetime. Can I get a dental implant to replace a missing tooth even if I have diabetes? A number of studies have shown that people with diabetes can be good candidates for dental implants, but there are some concerns regarding dental implant treatment, which involves minor surgery. Wounds tend to heal more slowly in people with diabetes, who are also more infection-prone than those withou...

Why do we lose our teeth? As we age many factors contribute to our overall health. Taking care of our teeth by brushing, flossing and routine checkups are the easiest ways to maintain a lifetime of healthy smiles! So, why do we lose teeth during our lifetime? The answer is rather simple. Losing Baby Teeth During childhood, we grow our first set of teeth commonly referred to as “baby teeth.” Dentists actually call these our “Deciduous” or “Primary” teeth. Typically, the growth and loss of these teeth follow a specific timeline. Primary teeth provide the foundation for our adult teeth. By helping to develop the oral cavity and creating the space necessary to guide our permanent teeth into place, baby teeth act as placeholders for the adult teeth to follow. The root area of a baby tooth allows the permanent tooth a place to grow and easily pass through the gums. As the body grows, the jaw increases in size creating space and causing the primary teeth to loosen and eventually ...