Cheese and your oral health

Did you know research shows cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child's teeth? Not only does cheese provide large amounts of much-needed calcium, cheese also fights cavities. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss and Mozzarella all do their part to stimulate our salivary glands to clear the mouth of debris ...and protect them from acids that weaken them.

What does that mean? Cheese disrupts the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese reduce or prevent decreases in the plaque's pH level and work to re-mineralize the enamel of your child's teeth.

Hope this helps!

What’s on your reading list?

With the school year close to winding down for a lot of our patients at Whole Earth Dental, we wanted to remind all our patients about the importance of reading. Sure it’s easy to keep putting off reading this time of year, but reading is a vital step in brain development and literacy. And if you needed any more reason to read, May marks “Get Caught Reading Month.”

Today, we thought we’d ask: What's on YOUR summer reading list? What are some of your all-time favorites? Out of ideas for great summer reads? Ask us for suggestions, and our staff would be happy to provide a few suggestions. You may also ask a local librarian for some ideas or check out these summer reading ideas that we came across today, courtesy of Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading! Be sure to share with us your summer picks or your all-time favorites on our Facebook page!

What, exactly, are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are a type of molar that is found in the very back of your mouth and are the last molars to develop. There are four wisdom teeth: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right. These teeth usually appear in late teens or early twenties but may become impacted (fail to erupt) due to lack of room in the jaw or angle of entry. The removal of wisdom teeth has become so commonplace that it is almost a rite of passage for young adults.

Dr. Gutkin will tell you that when a tooth is impacted, it may need to be removed. If it is not removed, you may develop gum tenderness, swelling, or even severe pain. Impacted wisdom teeth that are partially or fully erupted tend to be quite difficult to clean and are susceptible to tooth decay, recurring infections, and yes, even gum disease.

In addition to visiting our website with any questions you may have about wisdom teeth, our friends at WebMD have developed a helpful explanation about wisdom teeth and how they impact your health. Also, feel free to give us a call with any questions you have or ask us on Facebook!

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!

Did you know the month of May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged Americans to incorporate more physical activity into our lives. The reminder is even more significant today as people are more distracted by television, social networking, video games and working more hours. Living an active lifestyle can improve physical and mental health, productivity and overall well-being. The best part? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these public health guidelines for your reference. The guidelines call for people to exercise one hour every day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At Whole Earth Dental, we always encourage our patients to exercise or participate in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when doing so. To learn more about how often you should exercise, we recommend you check out these helpful tips, courtesy of our friends at the American Heart Association.