Kids Know Candy Is Bad for Their Teeth, Says Celina Dentist

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Our kids deserve plenty of credit. They are smart, funny, and extremely astute. In fact, they are so aware, the American Dental Association (ADA) revealed that children think they eat too much sugar, and would rather be gifted a toy or video game than a bag full of candy. Your Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, explains how your child might naturally avoid over-consumption of Halloween treats that can contribute to tooth decay.

Research from the American Dental Association

The ADA and PopCap Games created a questionnaire for children from 5 to 13 in the U.S. These kids were considered “trick-or-treating age” and provided their views on Halloween. Even though 65% of the children questioned consider Halloween to be their favorite holiday of the year, and 94% participate in trick-or-treating, two-thirds felt they eat too much candy around Halloween. Amazingly, 89% of the children queried said they would still love Halloween if candy was not the focus. The most enjoyable activities linked to Halloween were trick-or-treating and dressing up in a costume. Attaining a hoard of candy was third on the list of Halloween perks.

Trading Tooth Decay for Video Games (more…)

Celina Dentist Urges: Don’t Bite Off More than You Can Chew

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Think about how important chewing is to your life. If you enjoy eating (and a great many of us do) chewing makes it all possible. Imagine your favorite food. The last thing you’d probably want to do is stick it in a blender and drink it through a straw. No, chewing is a ritual that is as important in our culture as food itself. We just don’t tend to give much thought to the whole process of masticating food. Your Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, explains some of the reasons why mindful chewing can affect the health of your teeth and your jaw.

Supersized Dental Problems

Taking bites of food that are actually too big for your mouth can injure your jaw. Unfortunately, in American culture, increasingly larger portions have become the norm over the years. Enormous hamburgers, sandwiches, burritos, and pastries, for example, sometimes require the eater to open their mouth so wide that jaw joints can be injured. To that same effect, stuffing your mouth with so much food that you look like a foraging hamster can hurt your jaw and overstress your teeth, and provide you with dental problems.  People who suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) are in a higher risk category, since their jaw joints are already sensitive and susceptible to soreness. If an item of food forces you to open your mouth so wide that it causes discomfort, consider cutting the item into smaller bites before eating it.

Chewing More to Eat Less (more…)

Celina Dentist Says Popcorn Can Hurt!

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When the smell of popcorn fills the air, thoughts of the cinema are sure to come to mind. Whether people are at home, or at their local theater, salty, buttery popcorn remains to go-to snack for movie watchers. Many problems seen at dental offices around the country are caused by this tasty, salty treat.

What is a Popcorn Abscess?

An abscess is an oral infection caused by bacteria, and it usually starts as a cavity or infected tooth. Continuous poor oral health can result in abscess development, and so can eating popcorn. Most people are familiar with popcorn husks being stuck in their teeth, but few realize the potential impact that little husk can make.

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Your Celina Dentist Discusses Latest in Dental Technology

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It’s hard to believe that just 100 years ago, most people would eventually require dentures. As recently as 50 years ago, only a minute number of patients were fitted with braces. Today, not only are fewer people losing their teeth, but advancements in cosmetic dentistry have made teeth much whiter and straighter. Today, your Celina dentist discusses the latest technological advances in the world of family dentistry.

A New Age in Dentistry

Thanks to technology, the unpleasant (and anxiety-inducing) sound of the dreaded drill has become a thing of the past. The following technological advances will make your trip to the dentist today more pleasant than ever. (more…)

Taking Your Toddler To Their First Dentist Visit

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From the moment your baby’s first tooth appears, you should begin planning their first trip to the dentist. That initial appointment is a fine time to not only get your child acquainted with a dentist, but to show them that oral hygiene can be fun. Today, your Celina dentist discusses important information to consider when planning your child’s first visit to the dentist.

When Is the Best Time For The First Time?

Most experts recommend that you should schedule your child’s first dental appointment within six months of their first tooth’s arrival. However, if your child’s initial tooth is discolored, or otherwise unhealthy in appearance, you may want to schedule a visit much sooner.

What To Expect (more…)

All About Oral Cancer Screenings from Your Celina Dentist

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According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, close to 40,000 Americans will receive a diagnosis of oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. Though cancer is a scary prospect, early detection can make all the difference in a patient’s prognosis. Oral cancer, in particular, has a 50 to 80 percent survival rate when discovered at an early stage. Technology, and a trusting partnership between patient and doctor, can make all the difference in oral cancer detection. Your Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, explains what an oral cancer screening entails.

Early Signs of Oral Cancer

You shouldn’t panic every time you have a bump or sore in your mouth. Most often, the bump will have a benign cause. However, this can be an early sign of oral cancer, so it is important to keep an eye on the amount of time that the sore persists. Soap opera star, Colleen Zenk Pinter, says that her oral cancer began in the form of something she thought was a canker sore. The bump would appear to heal, and then recur, finally persisting long enough to prompt  a dental examination. Mouth bumps that don’t show signs of healing after a week are worthy of an appointment with the dentist, just to double check. (more…)

Celina Dentist Explains What Stress Can Do To Your Teeth

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Stress can sneak up on you. You may find yourself staying up late at night with your mind racing, compiling to do lists you think will never end, and becoming more irritable with your family or co-workers. You may already know that stress can contribute to your weight, damage your immune system, and harm personal relationships. However, did you know that stress can also have negative effects on your teeth? Our Celina family dentist, Dr. Newton, will explain what stress has to do with your smile and how you can prevent dental health issues.

Teeth Grinding and Stress

Next time you are driving in traffic, do this self-test: feel your jaw muscles. Are you clenching your jaw? Are your teeth grinding together? If so, you may have a bigger problem than running late. Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, can have a huge impact on your oral health. One of the main contributors to this dental health issue is stress. Stress can cause you to clench your jaw muscles during times when you are focused on an activity like driving or typing. The constant clenching and grinding pressure erodes your tooth enamel and damages the integrity of your tooth structure. Bruxism can lead to increased cavities, tooth sensitivity, and a wide variety of dental and overall health problems.

Ulcers and Stress

Although the exact cause of canker sores is undetermined, stress is considered to increase your risk of ulcers. Since stress can weaken your immune system, your mouth is more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses, and other sources of mouth sores. These small white and red sores should heal in about one week. If you notice a prolonged ulcer or canker sore, contact your Celina family dentist immediately. Ulcers that do not heal in ten days may be a sign of oral cancer. (more…)

Bridging the Gap: Celina Dentist Replaces Missing Teeth

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When you have a missing tooth, you may notice a difference in your usual habits. Chewing and speaking will not feel the same with a void between your teeth. In addition, if you are missing one of your anterior teeth, or front teeth, you may also find yourself hiding your smile. However, one of the most frustrating consequences of tooth loss may not be readily apparent. Our Celina family dentist will explain some of the dangers of untreated tooth loss and how restorative dentistry can bridge the gap.

The Consequences of Tooth Loss

Unfortunately, tooth loss will not only affect your smile image and your tooth function. Ignoring a missing tooth can lead to much more serious consequences. Since each of our teeth serve a specific purpose, once one tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth will attempt to make up for the loss. Some teeth drift out of place, and other incur chewing pressure not meant for their size or shape. The result is excessive tooth wear, which could lead to tooth decay or even further tooth loss. In fact, five years after losing a tooth, your chances of losing another tooth increase by 20 percent.

What a Dental Bridge Can Do for You

So how can you avoid these devastating consequences? Our Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, offers restorative dentistry options to replace your missing teeth. The dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth in an arch using artificial teeth attached to porcelain crowns. The dental crowns bond to existing teeth surrounding the void, while the artificial teeth hover over your gum line, almost undetectably. The tooth replacement will prevent teeth drifting and excessive tooth wear. Dental bridges can restore your ability to chew and speak with ease while avoiding the costly consequences of untreated tooth loss. (more…)

Celina and Prosper Family Dentist Celebrates Chocolate!

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If you’ve ever doubted the magnificence of chocolate, you should know that the cocoa tree from which it comes is scientifically known as Theobroma Cacao, meaning “food of the gods” in Greek. Despite the many years of belief that chocolate tastes too good to be healthy, studies show that the sweet treat can actually help fight illnesses like heart disease.  As an added bonus, research also shows that the husk of the cocoa bean contains cavity-fighting properties. To celebrate, Dr. Newton and the staff at Celina Family Dentistry bring you these fun chocolate facts. Enjoy!

Did You Know?

  • The word chocolate is derived from the Aztec word xocolātl, meaning “bitter water.”
  • The earliest known use of the cocoa bean was as currency among the Aztecs. For instance, a turkey could cost about 100 cocoa beans.
  • Europe was graced with chocolate’s presence in the 16th century, after the Spanish conquered the Aztec people. (more…)

Back to School with a Healthy Smile in Celina and Prosper

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As the new school year draws near, now is the perfect time to ensure that your child’s oral health is at its best. Studies show that poor oral health in children can relate directly to poor academic performance and attendance. To help you prepare and optimize your child’s oral health, Celina and Prosper dentist Dr. Newton presents the children’s oral health checklist.

Children’s Oral Health Checklist

  • Tooth brushing and flossing—Morning time during the school year can be hectic. As you rush to get yourself ready for work and your child ready for school, you could probably use a little help to move things along. Instill in your child the habit of brushing their teeth at least twice a day, especially in the mornings before school. Be sure to show them the proper method of softly brushing every surface of every tooth. Discourage them from scrubbing harshly, which can quickly wear away tooth enamel. Flossing can usually be saved for the time right before bed, but you should teach your child to this alone, but properly, as well. (more…)