Teeth play a vital role in chewing and digesting food, in speaking clearly, smiling proudly, and in promoting good overall health. Your dentist for Seattle knows a lot about teeth – but how much do you know about your own pearly whites? 1. Incisors—These are the 8 teeth (4 on the top/4 on the bottom) located in the front of the mouth and most visible to others when we smile and speak. They are used when taking bites of food and they play an essential part in clear, understandable speech. 2. Canines—These 4 teeth are found next to the outer incisor teeth, one in each quadrant of the mouth (e.g. Upper left, lower right). These teeth are sharp and useful in tearing and ripping food apart, making it easier to swallow and promoting necessary digestion. 3. Molars—The next teeth are the 8 premolars/bicuspids with 2 located in each quadrant of…

Researchers discovered that your brain has high plasticity. This property can be controlled through diet and lifestyle choices. Sadly, many people have been brainwashed by sugar and the processed food industries into believing that it is entirely reasonable for sugar to be in a healthy diet. If you eat a fruit or an ice cream, you will be in no danger, but most people are overindulging. The average American consumes between 100 and 150 grams of sugar every day. Another statistic suggests that around 50% of Americans consume as much as 225g per day. Too much sugar is bad for your brain Typer 2 diabetes, obesity and heart disease are known to be caused by a poor diet, full of extra sugars. But any link to brain problems? Most Americans don’t know and are not aware of the dangers sugar present to the brain. Studies have shown that a high-sugar…

Dental researchers have concluded that endurance athletes have greater chances to suffer from dental problems than non-athletes. Why? There are two culprits that contribute to this phenomenon: consuming lots of sports drinks and improper breathing during training, thus causing dry mouth. Oral health and elite athletes In the International Journal of Sports Medicine, it was debated about the training strategies elite athletes use that “coincide with dental caries and erosion”. It was about a study that identified specific dental health risk factors from elite triathletes. The results showed that 85% of athletes consume sports drinks during training, most of them taking “little sips” often from the bottle. Another study was conducted with 35 triathletes and 35 non-exercising persons. After an oral examination and after looking at the participants drinking, eating and oral habits, researchers have determined that athletes have an increased risk of dental erosion (not carries). The more they…

It is often unsettling when people stare at your mouth, trying to figure out the color, size and configuration of your braces. This may undoubtedly cause one to become uneasy. Even though braces effectively serve their purpose and have done so for many years, they also draw attention to themselves. This is one major reason why most people who want to straighten their teeth are opting to visit their Dentist for invisalign. Benefits of Invisalign over Traditional Braces Since Invisalign works in more or less the same way as the traditional braces, the only major difference is that it is invisible. This means that you can smile as much as you like without worrying about people staring at your teeth. Besides this, invisalign is uniquely tailored for every patient which guarantees a perfect and comfortable fit. Further, this treatment is suitable for patients of all ages. Given that the aligners…

People think that exercise only has the role of muscle gaining, losing weight and improving the cardiovascular health. But in reality exercise is much more important than that. Exercise is an entire health booster that has an impact all the way to the cellular level. It reduces the risk of getting sick and requiring chronic diseases, such as cancer. Exercise also improves the circulation of the immune cells throughout your body. The immune cells (white cells) neutralize the pathogens that have entered your body and destroy them before they become cancerous. The more these cells circulate, the more efficient the immune system is. A series of studies were made, and the results showed that a direct link between the lack of physical activity and cancer exists. These studies showed that the lack of exercise could lower the: With just 5 hours a week you can keep the breast cancer away…

f you’re adopting a holistic dentistry approach to your oral care, then you’re already familiar with the idea that alternative wellness treatments can provide benefits to your overall health, as well as your smile. Holistic dentistry encompasses everything from not using mercury fillings to diagnosing the environmental and physical factors that may be contributing to conditions such as sleep apnea. It also includes choosing products that are gentler on your system while still effective. Below are some alternatives to conventional oral care products, all of which are readily available in Seattle, and beneficial to your health. Alcohol-Free Mouthwashes One of the tenets of holistic dentistry is to find a real solution to a problem and not simply cover it up. Most people use alcohol-based mouthwashes because they are trying to rid themselves of bad breath. In actuality, alcohol can dry out your mouth and reduce saliva production. Saliva is essential…

With Halloween on the horizon, many parents (and adults simply concerned about their own general health) have a wary eye on the amount of sugar they’re about to be inundated with. With the average child hauling home and potentially consuming up to 3 cups of sugar in their Halloween treats, there’s definitely cause for concern – especially when it comes to oral health. But with all the alternative sugar products out there, it can be confusing to understand how these various sweeteners impact your teeth (if at all). Below is a handy guide to some of the most prominent sweeteners out there and what havoc they can wreak on you or your child’s oral health. Sugar Good old fashioned cane sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. After consuming sugar, a sticky plaque begins to form and stick to your teeth. The bacteria living in your mouth…

Great Steps of Eliminating Mercury Fillings Worldwide Natural Seattle dentist, Dr. Mitch Marder is an advocate to providing mercury-free fillings and removing any amalgam fillings because of the countless scientific research stating the dangers mercury can cause to your overall health. The dangers of amalgam fillings are gaining nationally and worldwide recognition. In fact, the International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology (IAOMT) sent out a press release announcing its aid to help the U.N.’s commitment for a global phase-down of mercury fillings. On January 19, the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Intergovernment Negotiating Committee (INC5) and IAOMT “formalized a legally-binding treaty to reduce global use of dental amalgam, a restorative tooth filling material containing 50% mercury.” In this treaty, the IAOMT is creating an educational program to “assist interested nations in facilitating a UN global treaty’s requirement to phase-down use of dental amalgam fillings.” The program will include “six…