oral health Archives | Sterling Heights Dentist, Dr. Farhat of Dental 1 Care

4 Tips For Kid’s Dental Health

August 14, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

4 Tips for Kid’s Dental Health

For most parents, getting their children to practice proper oral care is a challenge. You may even try to skip it altogether.

But as a responsible parent, you should ask for help from your trusted dentist in terms of teaching your children how to properly care for their dental health. After all, dentists are your best source of advice and recommendations for teaching children about oral health. We spoke to our friends at Laurich Dentistry about kid’s dental health. From here, you can then take on the role of guiding your children in caring for their teeth and gums.

Bear in mind that it is possible for your child to develop the habit of brushing and flossing their teeth regularly and to actually have fun observing the ideal dental practices.

To help you further in this endeavor, here are 4 tips for kid’s dental health:

1. Begin at an early age

Your child can easily develop the habit of regular brushing and daily flossing if you start teaching them early. Eventually, this can become second nature instead of a chore that their parents force them to do. By starting early, you also help them maintain good oral health to avoid plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum infections.

2. Be a role model

Being your child’s role model is the key to get them to properly brush their teeth. Forcing a brush in their mouth will not help them enjoy this activity. But when you show them that you are performing and enjoying the task yourself, there is a greater chance that you can instill such enjoyment in your kids. Remember that children pick up cues from adults.

Most children wish to become independent. Thus, they learn how to explore their surroundings on their own. If you can teach them through your actions and inform them that responsible grownups practice proper oral care, they will most likely want to do it as well.

3. Offer encouragement

Encouragement can help in letting them practice a daily dental routine. As you teach them how to properly brush their teeth, gently teach and correct them. Do not threaten them with frightening consequences of bad brushing. Be patient because it will take a while for them to know the proper way of brushing their teeth.

4. Make dental visits exciting

Dental visits do not have to be boring or stressful. A dentist in Sterling Heights, for instance, offers educational visits to help children learn about proper dental care. This is indeed a great way to introduce kids to the dentist and educate them that it can be a fun experience and not a scary one.

Finding the right dentist is crucial to making the experience exciting. So make sure to find a dentist who works well with children. How your child perceives dental visits will play a huge role in how easy or difficult it will be for you to get him in the dental chair.

Educating your child about proper oral care can be a challenging process. But a Sterling Heights Dentist shares that these tips can help make the process a lot easier. With encouragement and patience, you can help create a good daily habit.

The Oral Health Benefits of Kissing

July 23, 2018 by dental1admin Leave a Comment

Explore the Health Benefits of Kissing

Great news for couples and, well… motivation for single people actively looking for their significant other: The oral health benefits of kissing extend way beyond the pleasure centers of the human brain.

What, exactly, does this mean? Kissing, like all other things you do, affects your overall health and well-being.

In fact, your Dentist in Sterling Heights, MI, is on hand to help you (and the rest of us mere mortals) understand and appreciate the fine art of kissing.

The Oral Health Benefits of Kissing

Of course, as already previously mentioned, kissing is a pleasurable way of expressing affection and love for your significant other. It’s a great way to bond with each other, and to start and end the day for married couples, and those who are seriously dating.

But did you know about the actual health (physical and emotional) benefits of kissing? If not, well, here they are:

It’s a light workout on its own. Though it may never take the place of your daily jog or Zumba workout, a passionate kiss can burn about 8-16 calories. Not too bad for a kiss, right?

It helps reduce hypertension. Dilated blood vessels mean lower blood pressure – and that’s exactly what kissing does. So if you are hypertensive, make sure you get your daily dose of it!

Kissing helps fight cavities.

Kissing activates saliva production in your mouth, thereby helping wash away plaque or clean up your teeth to a certain degree. However, be sure your partner doesn’t have dental issues since cavity-causing bacteria can also be transmitted through saliva. So, the next time you have the opportunity to kiss your partner, just tell them your Sterling Heights Dentist recommended it.

It also alleviates minor aches and pains. Do you have a headache or are you suffering from cramps? Kiss! Mainly due to its blood dilation effects, kissing can provide headache relief as well as make you (temporarily) forget about those pesky menstrual cramps!

Kissing tones the muscles in the facial area. Toning facial muscles means that kissing gives your face, neck and jaw the “exercise” they need to shape up and tone your face. That’s one beauty-related benefit right there… much like face yoga!

Kissing instantly makes you feel better. Remember that thing about kissing activating the pleasure center in the human brain? Well, kissing leads to the release of the so-called “happy hormones” – a heady cocktail made of oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine – essential for your happiness and helpful in strengthening your personal relationships. And yes, of course it follows that kissing relieves stress. Isn’t that great?

Kissing gives a healthy boost of confidence. A good kissing session can instantly make you look great and feel good about yourself. That is why they say married men who passionately kiss (or get a kiss from) their wives before heading to work actually earn more money – and there’s actually a study that proves this.

If you can think of a better way to improve your mood and fight cavities at the same time, we would love to hear about it! As always, we are here to support your dental health needs in Sterling Heights MI. Contact us for your next cleaning to keep your mouth kissing friendly!

7 Reasons Why Adults Should Get Braces

May 31, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Bad bites, crowded teeth, gaps. You can correct whatever dental problems you might have, no matter your age. A Sterling Heights dentist, Dr. Farhat, has fitted braces for patients who are well into their 60s, and his dental practice has helped countless adult patients straighten their teeth and boost their confidence. Dr. Farhat shares seven reasons why adults should get braces.

Age is merely a number when it comes to corrective treatment that allows you to improve your smile and oral health. If you still need some convincing, here are 7 reasons why adults should get braces:

1. Even people with a strict personal oral care routine can experience teeth movement.

Just because you’re an official adult, it doesn’t mean that you’re exempted from having dental issues, and shifting teeth is one example.

If you had braces as a child or teen, it’s no guarantee that you won’t be needing them again. Perhaps you neglected to wear a retainer for the prescribed period of time, which could cause teeth to move back out of place. It’s also possible that the structure of your mouth can change naturally over time and the teeth will need help getting back to where they should be.

2. It’s great to make it a goal to reach your golden years with your own teeth.

You might be thinking that losing your real teeth is inevitable and you should just resign yourself to the fact, but there’s no reason to subscribe to this way of thinking.

It’s perfectly possible for people in their advanced years to hold on to most of their original teeth with proper care and the right dental devices. Imagine how good that would feel — living to the age of 70 or 80 with your own teeth! And it’s all thanks to getting braces to keep your teeth in the proper alignment (among other things).

3. Dental problems may emerge in adulthood, but can still be prevented.

Allowing your teeth to become and stay misaligned in your adulthood can cause other dental issues to crop up. For example, the movement of the teeth could open up spaces where food debris and plaque can build up. From there, a host of other problems can emerge, like tooth decay, worn-out enamel, gum disease and bone loss.

So get braces from your Sterling Heights dentist them and discover how they can keep other potentially serious problems at bay.

4. There are better orthodontic solutions available today.

The traditional braces that you saw everywhere or used yourself when you were younger are still available today and are still effective. However, there are other solutions that you could consider too, such as the clear plastic aligners of Invisalign which are much less visible. These can make restoring the proper alignment of your teeth a much more comfortable and convenient experience.

5. Adults are in a better financial position to get dental treatments and devices.

Dental treatments and devices naturally cost money, but being an adult who is now earning, you don’t need to rely on your parents’ capacity to pay for braces to get them.

What’s more, you can take advantage of various dental and medical insurance plans that can make the cost of getting orthodontic treatment easier on your pocket.

6. Oral health issues in adults can pave the way for other health risks, so it’s best to keep problems in check.

As you grow older, a dental health concern may not necessarily be just that. A dental problem such as having crooked teeth, for example, can prevent you from properly chewing and breaking down your food, which in turn can cause problems for your digestion. Likewise, an uneven bite could be causing frequent headaches or earaches.

You want to prevent as many health issues as you can as you age, and taking better care of your teeth and gums can help you have fewer concerns to worry about.

7. It’s good to care about your smile.

Finally, you may think that it doesn’t matter whether you have gorgeous teeth or not, but once you discover how beautiful your smile has become thanks to orthodontic treatment, you will discover that it can transform more aspects of your life.

With healthier, well-aligned teeth, you are inspired to smile more, approach other people with confidence, and socialize to your heart’s content without feeling self-conscious about your appearance. And that can improve the quality of your life in more ways than one.

What Are the 10 Benefits of Clean Teeth and Mouth?

May 30, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Your health plan is likely to include nutritious meals, exercise, and check-ups with your doctor. This plan, however, is lacking one crucial element: oral care. Clean Teeth are

The Link

Oral care is an essential part of your health because countless bacteria fill the mouth, some of which have a connection to gum disease. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, this disease could lead to several other diseases in the body, from diabetes to cardiovascular problems.

Clearly, looking after your overall health needs to include oral care. This could be as simple as brushing and flossing to clean teeth, and rinsing with mouthwash for fresh breath.

Apart from preventing diseases, here are the 10 benefits of clean teeth and mouth:

1. You can maintain your ideal weight or lose the excess pounds.

It turns out that when you brush your teeth three times a day, for two minutes each time, you could burn 3,500 calories annually. It may not seem like much of a loss, but every little bit helps when you struggle to keep your ideal weight.

Burning calories is not the only reason good oral hygiene can help with your weight loss goals. There is also psychology behind the routine; after you brush and floss, you’re not likely to give in to the urge to snack.

2. You don’t have to spend as much money on dental care.

With healthy teeth and gums, you don’t need to worry about spending money on cosmetic treatment. You don’t need to undergo complex procedures and visit your Sterling Heights dentist multiple times in a single month. At most, your dental care spending would be for the twice-a-year visit and professional teeth cleaning.

3. You’ll smile more often, which opens up more opportunities.

A smile indicates confidence, and confidence, for many, indicates success. People naturally gravitate towards people who are ready to smile because it means warmth and trustworthiness. This attraction could open up opportunities that improve your professional and social life.

4. You sustain an intimate relationship.

Having good, clean teeth means you also have fresher breath. This could mean more intimate moments with your loved one. For people in long-term relationships, greater intimacy can bolster deeper connections.

5. You ensure cognitive function and health.

Researchers have linked long-term gum disease with Alzheimer’s. From an American Dental Association-released study to medical teams in Taiwan, various research groups have found a connection between periodontal inflammation and a higher risk of lower cognitive function.

6. You’ll perform better in tests.

The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry reports that adults with gingivitis, in comparison to people with healthy gums, tend to do poorly on memory tests.

7. You ensure a healthy baby.

Healthy teeth gums could help you carry a baby to term. There is a relationship between gum disease and the incidence of low-birth-weight infants.

8. You prevent sexual problems.

A study shows that 79 percent of men who had erectile dysfunction also had gum disease. Oral bacteria and tartar could enter the bloodstream, which could interfere with blood flow.

9. You maintain or develop self-confidence.

With healthy teeth and gums, you’re likely to have a better self-image

10. You retain your natural teeth even as you age.

Finally, losing teeth is part of life. But you don’t need to lose too much that you end up with no natural teeth when you retire.

Read our blog to learn more about your oral health.

7 Best and Worst Breakfast Foods for Your Teeth

May 24, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

The food and drinks you consume will have a crucial role in keeping your teeth and gums in tip-top shape. Just like the different parts of your body, your teeth will require certain nutrients to thrive.

For instance, foods rich in vitamins A and D, calcium, fiber, and phosphorous will protect and strengthen your teeth. Also, those that require some crunching and generate saliva will help prevent decay and eliminate stains.

However, not all food and drinks can benefit your teeth. A reputable Sterling Heights dentist says that there are certain food products that are dangerous for your oral health because they promote tooth decay and erode teeth enamel.

Before deciding which food to prepare each morning, you must know what you should eat and avoid. Dr. Farhat shares some of the best and worst breakfast foods for your teeth.

Best Breakfast Foods

Yogurt

Yogurt is a tooth-friendly breakfast food because it is low in sugar. Also, it has healthy bacteria that maintain the right bacterial balance in your mouth.

Dairy Products

Milk and cheese are some of the best breakfast foods for your mouth because of the calcium they contain. Remember that calcium will prevent tooth decay.

What is unique about cheese is that it contains casein. This is a type of protein that repairs and strengthens tooth enamel.

Berries

Blueberries, strawberries and other berries contain minerals and nutrients the will benefit both your oral and overall health. These non-citrus fruits are also great for your metabolism. Since they are slow carbohydrates that gradually break down, they will keep you fuller longer. Don’t forget though that these fruits also contain sugar, so you have to brush soon afterward.

Fatty Fish

Fish like sardines and salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids that can keep your teeth and gums healthy. Also, they are full of vitamin D, which is essential in calcium absorption.

Worst Breakfast Foods

Cereal

Eating cereal early in the morning is probably the most common breakfast mistake people commit. Even the healthiest cereals contain plenty of sugar, causing cavities and late-morning energy crashes.

Pancakes and Waffles with Syrup

It is okay to occasionally indulge in foods with syrup. But this should not be a part of your morning routine. Instead, you must save waffles and pancakes for special occasions. Also, limit the amount of syrup. If not, skip the syrup and use sugar-free jam.

White Bread

White bread is awful for your teeth because it can stick into the crevices of your teeth. After chewing, the enzymes of the bread are converted to sugar, which can wreak more havoc on your oral health.

Eating foods that can damage your teeth is unavoidable. Thus, a dentist in Sterling Heights recommends visiting your dentist regularly for checkups and teeth cleaning.

6 Reasons for Regular Dental Cleanings

May 22, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Regular cleaning, flossing, and visits to the dentist are essential in keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

You might ask, “But I brush and floss my teeth regularly. Why should I have my teeth cleaned by my dentist?”

Here are 6 reasons for regular dental cleanings that will convince you to schedule regular visits to your Sterling Heights dentist.

For the protection of your teeth

Left unchecked, the diseases that can wreak havoc in your mouth can lead to tooth loss. With regular cleaning, your Sterling Heights dentist can nip the particular dental problem plaguing you in the bud, preventing its progression that may eventually lead to tooth loss and additional costs.

Cavity prevention

The buildup of plaque has been identified as one of the leading causes of tooth decay. And no matter how thoroughly or how often you brush and floss your teeth, you simply cannot remove plaque by yourself.

Plaque is often described as a film that builds upon the surface of your teeth. The acids contained by plaque can slowly erode the surface of your teeth and eventually lead to cavities.

Smile overhaul

Want to have a brighter smile?

Overtime, your teeth will lose its natural luster due to the food and drinks that you consume. Some of these food and drinks can actually stain your teeth, leading to a dull, lackluster smile.

Regular dental cleaning can help restore or even improve the quality of your smile.

Fresh breath

Nothing can dampen confidence faster than foul breath.

Sure, regular brushing, flossing and even using a mouthwash can help curb this problem. But if there is an underlying issue beyond the cleanliness of your teeth, it’s your Sterling Heights dentist who can provide an effective solution.

Improve your health

Quite simply, a healthy mouth is a vital component of overall health.

There is a substantial body of research which points to a correlation between oral and overall health. Risk for diseases like stroke and heart disease increase when a person has poor oral health.

Savings

Not yet convinced?

If losing your teeth or the idea of having clean teeth and fresh breath do not convince you to visit Dr. Farhat for regular cleanings, how does spending tons of cash to treat diseases and other oral health problems (which could have been easily prevented with professional attention) sound?

Think of regular dental cleanings as an investment in yourself. At first, you might not see the dividends. But over time, you’ll thank yourself (and your Dr. Farhat) for taking a proactive approach to caring for your oral health.

What Are the 10 Benefits of Clean Teeth and Mouth?

May 14, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Your health plan is likely to include nutritious meals, exercise, and check-ups with your doctor. This plan, however, is lacking one crucial element: oral care. Visiting your Sterling Heights dentist regularly in addition to proper oral care will help you achieve the 10 benefits of clean teeth and mouth.

The Link

Clearly, looking after your overall health needs to include oral care. This could be as simple as brushing and flossing to clean teeth, and rinsing with mouthwash for fresh breath.

Apart from preventing diseases, here are the 10 benefits of clean teeth and mouth:

You can maintain your ideal weight or lose the excess pounds.

You don’t have to spend as much money on dental care.

With healthy teeth and gums, you don’t need to worry about spending money on cosmetic treatment. You don’t need to undergo complex procedures and visit your dentist in Sterling Heights multiple times in a single month. At most, your dental care spending would be for the twice-a-year visit and professional teeth cleaning.

You’ll smile more often, which opens up more opportunities.

You sustain an intimate relationship.

You ensure cognitive function and health.

You’ll perform better in tests.

The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry reports that adults with gingivitis, in comparison to people with healthy gums, tend to do poorly on memory tests.

You ensure a healthy baby.

Healthy teeth gums could help you carry a baby to term. There is a relationship between gum disease and the incidence of low-birth-weight infants.

You prevent sexual problems.

A study shows that 79 percent of men who had erectile dysfunction also had gum disease. Oral bacteria and tartar could enter the bloodstream, which could interfere with blood flow.

You maintain or develop self-confidence.

With healthy teeth and gums, you’re likely to have a better self-image.

You retain your natural teeth even as you age.

Finally, losing teeth is part of life. But you don’t need to lose too much that you end up with no natural teeth when you retire.

Schedule a cleaning appointment with Dr. Farhat today.

Be sure to read more articles on our blog to learn more oral health tips.

Do Adults Need Fluoride Treatments?

April 25, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Professional associations, like the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend the use of toothpaste with fluoride as soon as a child’s first tooth erupts.

Fluoride helps fortify the teeth of young children which can be vulnerable to tooth decay brought about by bacteria, acids and sugars in their teeth.

The use of this mineral can minimize damage on the teeth of children and even reverse some of the damage brought about by the onset of tooth decay.

But do adults need fluoride treatments?

What the pros say

According to Dr. Farhat, a trusted dentist in Sterling Heights, some adults can benefit from fluoride treatments.

Ideally, you should get your fluoride from a variety of sources, including your diet, your water, and dental products like toothpastes and rinses. However, your dentist may recommend products with stronger concentrations or a fluoride treatment, depending on your needs.

Who can benefit from fluoride treatments?

An example of people who can immensely benefit from fluoride treatments would be those who have a moderate to high risk of getting dental cavities.

You may also need to get a fluoride treatment if you are taking medications which alter the flow of saliva in your mouth. When the flow of saliva in your mouth is substantially reduced, your mouth becomes drier and puts you at a higher risk of getting cavities.

If you have not been taking good care of your teeth, getting a fluoride treatment can help undo some of the damage caused by poor oral hygiene practices like irregular toothbrushing and flossing.

Finally, if you are about to undergo radiation treatment for cancer, ask your Sterling Heights dentist about the benefits of fluoride treatments and whether they would be good for you. Radiation can wreak havoc on your salivary glands, adversely affecting the flow of saliva in your mouth.

If you are planning on getting braces or restorations like dental crowns, your dentist may also recommend that you undergo fluoride treatments. Fluoride can help strengthen your teeth, thus ensuring that you get more value out of the specific dental treatment you are planning on getting.

Patients suffering from gum recession should also seriously consider getting fluoride treatments. Gum recessions create gaps between the teeth and gum, exposing the teeth’s root surface. This can leave the teeth more vulnerable to decay.

Not sure if you need a fluoride treatment? Dr. Farhat will gladly answer your questions and determine if you need one.

To learn more interesting facts about your oral health, visit our blog.

Things You Need to Know About Temporary Filling Aftercare

April 23, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

As their name implies, temporary fillings are used by dentists as a partial solution until the patient is ready for a permanent solution for a dental issue.

Cases where temporary fillings are used

According to Dr. Farhat, there are several instances wherein temporary fillings are used.

One such example is when a patient has suffered a dental emergency. In such a situation, a dentist in Sterling Heights needs to administer a quick solution to the emergency which can be used until the patient’s next dental visit.

If you are undergoing a root canal procedure, your dentist may use a temporary filling in order to protect the affected tooth until your next appointment. The temporary filling is used primarily to protect said tooth from bacteria and food debris.

A Sterling Heights dentist will sometimes use a temporary filling if he is unsure if the tooth can still be saved or needs to be extracted. If the decay in the tooth is found close to its nerve, the dentist will need to buy some time to determine the final outcome, whether the tooth can be saved with permanent fillings or needs to be extracted.

There are instances wherein the teeth of patients with new permanent fillings become sensitive to temperature extremes. In some cases, the issue resolves itself. In other cases, the dentist needs to remove the permanent filling and replace this with what is called a sedative temporary filling. This type of filling is used until the sensitivity is eliminated.

Finally, temporary fillings are used in patients with fractured teeth. These fillings are used while a permanent solution like a crown or veneer is ready for installation.

Your quick guide for temporary filling aftercare

Due to their temporary nature, patients need to be extra careful in caring and maintaining these fillings. Specifically, you would want your temporary fillings to remain on your tooth just until your next dental visit.

Here are things you need to know about temporary filling aftercare.

Eat mindfully. There are several types of temporary fillings dentists can choose from, depending on the unique circumstance of the patient.

But whatever type of temporary filling is used on your tooth, you must take great care while eating. Ideally, you should avoid chewing your food with the affected tooth. How long this will last will depend on the type of filling used.

As a rule of thumb, avoid eating hard and crunchy foods. It may also be beneficial to go on a soft diet.

Clean your teeth with care.

Although teeth with temporary fillings can be cleaned like normal teeth, you have to be careful when brushing and flossing.

In brushing your teeth, use a toothbrush with soft bristles and avoid using vigorous strokes. When flossing, pull gently on each side of the affected tooth to prevent snagging the edge of the filling with the floss.

Monitor your tooth.

Your dentist will give you a rundown of things that you may experience once the anesthesia wears off. These may include numbness and discomfort.

You need to watch out for anything unusual and contact your dentist if something is going on.

What Soda Does to Your Teeth

April 16, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Soda is an American favorite. Six in 10 kids and five in 10 adults consume sugary drinks every day. The childhood favorite and sometimes go-to adult drink, however, is getting expensive as cities impose a tax. As of 2017, six cities have collected soda tax, making a 12-pack Coke $2 pricier. Why the duty?

Bad for Your Health, Worse for Your Teeth

Cities aim to steer families away from unhealthy food and beverage choices, and it begins with getting them off sugary drinks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that soda is the leading source of added sugar in the American diet. There is a connection, it seems, between drinking soda and weight gain, heart disease, kidney disease, gout, and tooth decay and cavities.

What Soda Does to Your Teeth

Every sip of a sugary drink starts a damaging reaction on your teeth that lasts for about 20 minutes. It makes sense given that soda contains more sugar than food; every 20 ounces of soda is the same as consuming 22 packets of sugar.

But it’s not just the sugar that destroys your teeth; the acid in soda can also damage the tooth enamel, reducing its surface hardness. A damaged enamel will mean more cavities.

Soda can also destroy the next layer, the dentin. Cavities develop quickly if you drink too much soda and even further if you have poor oral hygiene.

Manage the Damage

There are two things you can do to counteract the effects of soda: Stop or reduce your consumption and visit your Sterling Heights dentist regularly. It’s reasonable to think that you might not be able to instantly get rid of soda from your diet, especially if you’ve been used to drinking it.

You can start weaning off of the sugary drink by taking it in moderation. You can also sip through a straw and rinse your mouth after drinking. You’ll also want to avoid grabbing a can of soda off the fridge before you sleep.

Then make sure to go to your dental appointments. Your dentist in Sterling Heights may prescribe regular cleanings because this essential oral hygiene practice can prevent cavities. Dental cleaning also freshens your breath, keeping your mouth odor-free as well as healthy.

When you do drink soda, don’t brush right after; wait for 30 minutes before you brush. Brushing after drinking sugary drinks with their harmful acid will only weaken the tooth enamel.

Soda may taste delightful, especially on a hot day. And you may enjoy it less now what with the tax. But the experts, from dentists to the CDC, are clear. Soda consumption can damage your teeth through erosion and cavities. So think before you grab another can, and consider your oral health.

To learn more interesting facts about your oral health, visit our blog.