Anatomy of the Mouth: Part 2

Posted on December 22, 2015December 22, 2015 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, wishing you all a cheerful time of year.

Last week my entire report consisted of facts about the tongue & its functions. But there is a lot more to the anatomy of the mouth than just that. Our mouths are made up of numerous components that work together so that we can breathe, speak, eat & digest food. When you come to understand the parts of the mouth, their functions, & how all the components can affect your general health, you will appreciate the significance of oral care much more.

To sum up last week’s post, the tongue is a powerful muscle that facilitates chewing, swallowing, speaking, & tasting food. If you missed last week’s report & you’d like to learn all the facts about the tongue, visit http://casasmiles.com/anatomy-of-the-mouth-part-1/.

© Fotosearch.com

Lips & Cheeks

Your lips & cheeks are made up of muscles that not only give you the ability to pucker up for a kiss, but also help shape your facial expressions-both happy & sad. Lips let air into your mouth for breathing & together with cheeks, help you speak. They also keep food & saliva in your mouth while chewing. Ultimately, these strong muscles guide your teeth in their proper positions.

Teeth, Gums & Alveolar Bone

Your teeth have a hard enamel crown along with roots that anchor them in your jaw bone. The alveolar bone surrounds the roots to stabilize the teeth in your mouth, while gum tissue also holds the teeth in place & protects the roots from decay. The main function of your teeth is to tear & chew food so it can properly undergo digestion, but teeth also give your face its shape & help you pronounce certain sounds (& aesthetically, they make for beautiful smiles).

Salivary Glands

You have 6 salivary glands that produce the clear liquid known as saliva. Made up of mostly water, saliva also contains substances that break down food to begin the digestive process. In addition, saliva moistens your mouth so that you can easily speak, chew & swallow. It also repeatedly washes bacteria from your teeth & gums to help prevent cavities & gum disease. The minerals & proteins found in saliva play a vital role in protecting the enamel of your teeth from tooth decay, & your body produces about two to four pints of saliva a day, according to Healthline.

Temporomandibular Joint

Your ability to open & close your mouth, move your lower jaw forward & side to side, as well as chew, speak, & swallow is all thanks to the temporomandibular joints. These two joints, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), are located on both sides of your head & work together with your jaw bone, facial muscles & ligaments. Any disruption in the synchronization of this pair-like arthritis or grinding your teeth-can result in facial pain, difficulty in chewing & other hindrances to normal jaw movement.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH & SMILE, HAPPY & HEALTHY

Now that you know how all the parts of your mouth play a part in the basic functions of talking, chewing, swallowing, breathing, digestion, & facial expressions, you can appreciate how important your daily oral hygiene habits are. Brushing at least twice a day for 2 minutes & flossing will keep your smile bright. To keep your taste buds sharp, brush your tongue regularly as well. Rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash (if your dentist recommends it) can also reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth at any one time & fight bad breath germs. In addition, scheduling your routine dental appointment for cleaning & exams will help keep the mouth monsters away!

http://mouthmonsters.mychildrensteeth.org/5-minutes-with-tooth-d-k-secrets-of-cavity-causers/

Keeping all the parts of your mouth in good working order won’t just ensure good dental health, but a healthy body too!

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/casasmilespediatricdentistryandorthodontics?pnref=lhc. Instagram http://instagram.com/casasmiles/, Twitter https://twitter.com/casa_smiles, Yelp http://www.yelp.com/biz/casa-smiles-pediatric-dentistry-and-orthodontics-coral-gables & Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/casasmiles/ to hear all about our daily news! You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation http://www.casasmiles.com/contact-us/.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

Anatomy of the Mouth: Part 1

Posted on December 15, 2015December 17, 2015 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, sending you all good vibes!:)

We rarely consider the anatomy of our mouths. I came across some interesting facts about the human tongue! This prompted me to dig a little deeper & really gather some detailed information regarding what parts make up our mouths & what the function is. Today my report will just cover information about the Human tongue because it really plays a big part of what goes on in the mouth.

© Fotosearch.com

Tongue Facts:

The average tongue is 4 inches long. The tongue consists of two parts: anterior and posterior. The anterior tongue is mostly visible & about two-thirds of the tongue’s total length. The posterior tongue sits near the back of the throat & measures the other third in length.

Your tongue aids in digestion & mouth cleaning. According to the National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the tongue initiates digestions by transferring food during mastication (the chewing process) & subsequently swallowing. It’s attached to the floor of the mouth by a fold known as the frenulum. The tip of the tongue, known as the apex, isn’t directly attached to the mouth floor, thus allowing it to reach the upper parts of the mouth for cleaning & speech.

You have 3,000 to 10,000 taste buds. Can you believe that the tongue has 3,000 to 10,000 taste buds? (www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/humanbody/tongue.html). Your tongue plays a crucial role in taste, & your sense of taste is governed by the tongue via the taste buds on the upper surface. These taste buds house the taste receptors, which register the different flavors in your food.

Tongues know 5 taste types. Five categories make up your taste perception: sweet, sour bitter, salty, & savory. Saliva is needed to moisten food before a tongue’s taste receptors can recognize it.

Bacteria on your tongue can cause bad breath. That taste doesn’t always go away at night. According to the American Breath Specialists, as many as 60 million people in the United States suffer from chronic bad breath, or halitosis. And as Jordan D. Davis, DDS (www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2014/04/a-deeper-look-into-tongue-cleaning.html) states, it can develop from bacteria collecting on the tongue. In order to negate this accumulation, soft-bristled toothbrushes like the Colgate 360 Sensitive Pro-Relief not only go easy on your teeth’s enamel, but contain a tongue cleaner on back of the brush head to scrape away bacteria.

Your tongue has eight muscles. The four intrinsic muscles aren’t attached to any bones, allowing the tongue to change shape. The four extrinsic muscles, however, are attached to bone, & allow your tongue to move in different directions, facilitating speech.

The tip of your tongue is very sensitive. According to the NCBI this allows it to perform 2 functions. First, it determines the “mechanical characteristic” of food. This is why a fish bone, for example, feels much larger than it actually is. Secondly, after you swallow a mouthful of food, your tongue searches the entire mouth for the remaining portions of the chewed pieces.

It can produce more than 90 words per minute. People rely on the tongue’s extreme agility & flexibility to speak. It works in conjunction with the lips & teeth to turn sounds from your vocal cords into syllables & words.

Tongues have defense cells. Your tongue has defense cells that comprise the lingual tonsil, as noted by the NCBI. Located in the back of the mouth at the tongue’s base, it is part of the lymphatic tonsillar ring. The palatine tonsils & the adenoids work with the lingual tonsil to guard the body against germs that enter through your mouth.

Tongues can grow bacteria nests. When most people think of their oral health, they focus on brushing, flossing & using mouthwash. But in many ways, the health of your tongue is just as important as that of your teeth. A tongue that doesn’t nest bacteria is key to preventing serious conditions such as gum disease & tooth decay, as well as lesser ailments such as bad breath. Though small in size, the human tongue is big on importance. It plays crucial roles in helping us taste, eat, digest, & speak. Now, that’s nothing to stick your tongue out at!

In light of today’s topic, below you will find some fun Holiday tongue twisters!:)

HOLIDAY TONGUE TWISTERS:

Ten tiny tin trains toot ten times
Seven Santas sang silly songs
Santa’s seven sleighs slid sideways
Tiny Tim trims tall trees with tinsel
Santa’s sleigh slides on slick snow
Bobby brings bright bells
Silly smelly snowman slips and slides
How many deer would a reindeer reign if a reindeer could reigh deer?
Running reindeer romp round red wreaths
Santa Clause’s cloak closes tightly
Santa sang seven songs
Kris Kringle climbs Christmas chimneys
Chilly chipper children cheerfully chant
Rudolph runs rings ’round Rover
Eleven elves licked eleven little licorice lollipops
Santa’s sleigh glides in the sky
Santa stuffs Stephie’s striped stocking
There’s chimney soot on Santa’s suit
Comet cuddles cute Christmas kittens carefully
Kris Kringle clapped crisply
Santa’s short suit shrunk
Eight elves eagerly ate everything
Crazy kids clamor candy canes and Christmas cookies

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

NAUGHTY OR NICE?

Posted on December 8, 2015 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, spreading good cheer:)

I’m sure you little ones at home are working hard at making the NICE list, but here at Casa Smiles we are checking our list twice to see who’s been Naughty & who’s been Nice~to your teeth & smiles!

So my job is to remind all moms & dads how to help your munchkins keep up with good oral hygiene during the Holidays. Together you can all make good choices as a family. Below you will find the most important tips to keep in mind during the Holidays & into the New Year courtesy of the AAPD.

During the Holidays we tend to eat a lot of goodies, but we also go out of our way to diet so that we can indulge at the Holiday feasts & celebrations. Below I have provided (courtesy of Delta Dental) important facts about dieting & how doing so can affect the health of your smile:)

During you countdown to Christmas, it may be a good idea to help your little ones write Santa a letter to remind them how important it is to stay on the NICE LIST. below I have provided a link to a free printable letter you can send to the North Pole. This is always a nice family activity you can all do together during this magical time of year!

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

SPACE MAINTAINERS-Helping Children Develop a Healthy Smile:)

Posted on December 1, 2015 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, hoping your tummies are still full from your yummy Thanksgiving feast!

Sometimes children lose a primary tooth from decay or injury before a permanent one is ready to come in. This can lead to dental issues down the road. When a tooth is missing, the other teeth shift to fill the gap. This is NOT what you want to happen in your little one’s mouth. This can take up space that permanent teeth would normally occupy when they descend. As a result, permanent teeth come in crooked & crowded. This can affect your child’s speech & ability to chew. Eventually, your child could need orthodontic treatment to correct the problems caused by one missing tooth.

It is not a problem if you lose a primary tooth prematurely as long as you put into place the right solution. The answer is SPACE MAINTAINERS. These are devices that fill the space left by a missing tooth. They are custom fitted to your child’s mouth, & they keep the other primary teeth in place so permanent teeth can come in where they belong. The dentist removes the appliance when the permanent tooth above the missing one is ready to emerge.

There are several different types of space maintainers, available, so be sure to discuss the options with your child’s dentist. Space maintainers can be a band or a temporary crown attached to one side of the open space with a loop or bar contacting the tooth on the other side of the space. They may be made out of plastic or metal.

Your child may have a space maintainer for years, since some permanent teeth don’t emerge until your child is 14 years old. So it’s important to care for it properly. Below are some good tips to keep in mind for children with space maintainers:

Child should not eat sticky candy or chew gum.
Make sure the child does not tug, push, or play with space maintainers with their fingers or tongue.
Keep the appliance clean by helping your child brush & floss regularly.
Make sure you take your child to visit the dentist at least every 6 months.
If the space maintainer becomes loose, DO NOT THROW IT AWAY, it is important to schedule an appointment with the dentist right away & BRING THE APPLIANCE IN WITH YOU.

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

GOBBLE, GOBBLE=THANK YOU IN TURKEY:)

Posted on November 24, 2015 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here,…wishing you & your loved ones a very Happy & Healthy Thanksgiving holiday!:)

At Casa Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we are very grateful for all of our patients! We ask that you to give thanks to your teeth & your dentist by showing your teeth & gums some love:)

First & foremost, remember that your pearly whites are a very hardworking part of your body. They grind up your food so that you can eat. They help you pronounce words so you can speak. And they make your smile sparkle. With that in mind, you should NEVER use your chompers to open, rip or chomp down on objects. It can be tempting to use your teeth to turn a stubborn soda cap or tear apart a package. But doing so can break a tooth. Chewing on hard objects such as ice, popcorn kernels, hard candy, pens & pencils may also chip or crack your teeth. A cracked tooth can be very painful & may require a root canal & crown (not the princess type). It may even result in an extraction. So the message is to GIVE THANKS TO YOUR TEETH by being kind, hygienic, & appreciative for all the work they do, everyday!

Save your smile by using your teeth only for the things they are designed to do. During the holidays we want you to enjoy & eat, drink, be merry, but also brush & floss. Below you will find some free printables for you to use at your holiday event to document you & your family’s beautiful smiles.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/89579480065781653/

Just a reminder, that vacation does not mean that your oral hygiene habits should take some time off! Brush at least 2x a day for 2 mins & floss every day. Below you will find a little quiz to help set the tone for making smart choices during the Holidays! Click on the link below the image to access the right answers & the interactive version, courtesy of the AAPD. We want to keep the Mouth Monsters away!

http://mouthmonsters.mychildrensteeth.org/a-day-of-dental-health/

Although I’d like for you all to give thanks to your teeth, don’t forget to remember everything & everyone you should be thankful for. Follow the link below to print up some cute ways to help the family participate in sharing their reasons for why they are Thankful!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/271271577528580255/

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)

DIABETES-ORAL HEALTH LINKS-2 WAY STREET

Posted on November 17, 2015 by casasmiles

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here, spreading good vibes to all!

If you have diabetes, it’s important to take good care of your teeth & gums. Why? Gum disease can make your diabetic condition worse. Additionally, if you have diabetes, & good dental care can lower your chances of developing periodontal (gum) disease. Research suggests that the relationship between gum disease & diabetes is a two-way street. One disease impacts th other. Because diabetes reduces the body’s ability to fight infection, the gums are likely to be affected. Periodontal (gum) disease is an infection of the gum & bone. People with uncontrolled blood sugar have a tendency to develop periodontal diseases more often & more severely. They are also more likely to lose more teeth than people who have their diabetes under control.

Diabetes makes the body more susceptible to bacterial infection, so people with diabetes have an decreased ability to fight germs that invade the gums. Diabetes impairs the immune system, making it more difficult to fight off bacteria & fungal infections. In addition, diabetics typically produce less saliva–the body’s way of naturally rinsing the mouth. Diminished saliva productions can lead to dry mouth & tooth decay.

If you do have diabetes, it is imperative that you tell the dentist. As recommended for all children, with & without diabetes and/or gum disease, getting your cleanings & exams at least 2x a year will help in keeping your gums & teeth healthy. Remember to brush your teeth gently, at least 2x a day for 2 minutes, giving special attention to the gum line & floss at least once a day.

As parents, there are measures you can take to protect your family’s oral health to reduce the risk of developing conditions such as gum disease & tooth decay. One common method for reducing the chances of oral problems associated with diabetes is to control glucose with medication & proper diet low in sugar. The American Dental Association (ADA) has found that patients with poorly controlled glucose levels are more likely to develop gum disease than those whose glucose levels are controlled. To help members of your family control blood sugar, consider consulting with your primary care physician regarding healthy eating practices for patients with diabetes.

Below you will find a visual chart to highlight the important facts about DIABETES & ORAL HEALTH:

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)