Thanksgiving is behind us, but the holiday season is far from over. From now until the end of the year, you can look forward to plenty of twinkling lights, decorated Christmas trees, and the joy that comes with sharing your time, and more, with family and friends.
Food is of course a major part of the holiday season. Everyone has a favorite holiday dish, that one special recipe that you have to have for Thanksgiving or for Christmas dinner. You’ll also find plenty of delicious desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth this time of year.
From all of us at Dr. Mindy Salzberg-Siegel’s office, we want you to enjoy everything December has to offer, including those holiday favorites. There are many times throughout the year when it’s good to pass on seconds, but when you’re spending time with loved ones, you should enjoy the moment and who you’re with. Just for these few remaining weeks, give yourself permission to splurge a little.
Of course, splurging on seconds doesn’t mean putting aside your normal brushing and flossing routine. If anything, we need to be more vigilant during December when it comes to great home care. That’s especially true for parents of young children.
To help you and your little ones enjoy good oral health this month, see what the knowledgeable folks at Oral B have to say about caring for teeth when sweets are in abundance. Some of those tips include:
- Make flossing more fun with special flossers decorated with a character your little one loves.
- Limit how often and when your child consumes sweets.
- Take advantage of the oral health benefits of dairy by serving your little one milk or cheese alongside treats.
Additionally, if you’ll be doing any baking this month, try substituting sugar for xylitol, a natural sweetener found in plant fibers. Xylitol reacts to the bacteria in our mouths differently than sugar does.
Do you want to schedule an early 2014 visit with Dr. Salzberg-Siegel? Call our Clinton Township office for an appointment. We’re happy to serve families from Sterling Heights, Macomb, Shelby Township, and nearby communities with excellent general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry.
October 15, 2013
Halloween is just weeks away. Children get excited about it, but so do adults. After all, who doesn’t like a little candy from time to time?
As fun as Halloween is, though, it’s important to remember how sugar affects teeth. While sugar itself doesn’t cause cavities, the interaction between sugar and certain bacteria does. When these two mix, they create an acidic environment that encourages decay and cavities. Children are especially at risk, because they’re just learning to brush.
Thankfully, with the products offered by CariFree, Dr. Salzberg-Siegel can help patients of all ages enjoy better protection from bacteria and decay. CariFree is an innovative system designed to stop tooth decay before it starts.
How Does CariFree work?
CariFree works by promoting remineralization. When our teeth decay, the protective layer of enamel on the outside weakens. Remineralization is about strengthening enamel with the minerals it needs to stand up against bacteria and acid.
During your family’s visits to our Clinton Township office, we can determine you and your child’s risk for decay with a quick, painless test. First, we’ll swab your teeth to collect a small amount of plaque. Looking at your sample will help us determine how many cavity-causing bacteria are in your mouth. If you or your child has a high level of bacteria or is at risk for developing a cavity, Dr. Salzberg-Siegel will recommend a treatment plan with one or more CariFree products, plus nutritional advice. We may even recommend a general and restorative dental service.
Of course, we want our patients to have a good time on Halloween, so don’t feel guilty about enjoying a few pieces of candy—just remember to brush and floss afterwards. You may also want to substitute traditional candy for candy sweetened with xylitol. This naturally-occurring sweetener doesn’t react with bacteria the way normal sugar does. As a result, your family and your friends in the community can still have fun this Halloween without putting your oral health at risk.
Would you like to have your family tested for cavities and bacteria before or after Halloween? Call Dr. Salzberg-Siegel’s Clinton Township office for an appointment. We serve patients from Sterling Heights, Macomb, Shelby Township, and all surrounding areas.
