Tag Archives: teeth

And I Thought Declawing Was Bad?

Once upon a time in our household, there was the question of whether or not to declaw Tabby. So far the “not to declaw” camp (a.k.a. mine) is winning. But once in a while (like lately when Tab’s paying a little too much attention to the carpet on the stairs) Wayne’s camp raises the issue again. However, Tab need not worry about me doing anything to her claws other than trimming them. (Something I haven’t done in a while and why her paying attention to the carpet is posing a problem.) The whole to declaw or not debate sprung to … Continue reading →

Wisdom Teeth: The Basics

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I was lucky — when I had to have my wisdom teeth taken out, I had a very easy time of it. Others (like Families.com’s own Heather Long) didn’t have an easy time at all. Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars in the mouth — a pair on the top and a pair on the bottom. They earned the name “wisdom teeth” because they usually show up when a person is (supposedly) old enough to have earned some wisdom. If your wisdom teeth are healthy and there’s enough room in your mouth for an extra set of molars, … Continue reading →

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth can be a situational problem — like getting nervous before making a speech — or a chronic problem. Chronic dry mouth occurs when saliva glands don’t work properly. Chronic dry mouth could be caused by medication or chemotherapy, it could be nerve damage from a head or neck injury, or it could be a disease that affects the saliva glands themselves. If you do experience chronic dry mouth, you should talk to your doctor or dentist. But for situational dry mouth (or while you’re waiting to see your health care professional) you can try these tips: Sip water … Continue reading →

The Basics for Brushing

Just because we brush every day (often twice a day) doesn’t mean we’re doing it right! Studies have shown that there are lots of people out there who have bad brushing habits. Here are some tips to help you get it right. Don’t brush too hard. You can actually hurt your teeth and gums this way. A thorough brushing takes two minutes or more — whether you use an electric toothbrush or a traditional one. Set a timer if you need to. Most people think they’re brushing long enough and they just aren’t. Those “Tooth Tunes” brushes are great for … Continue reading →

Tooth Brushing Battles

For some families, brushing teeth and dental care becomes one of those ongoing power struggles. It might start when kids are young—babies even—and continue on, or it might be something that pops up as children become more independent. What can be done to combat or end the tooth brushing battles? I have a confession to make—I never brushed my children’s teeth for them. When they were infants, I did wipe out their mouths with a clean cloth during bath time, but once they could sit up for baths and had the finger dexterity, I let them hold their own toothbrush … Continue reading →

Missing Teeth

I’ve heard of things ending up in strange places, but never as bizarre as this story which appeared in our local paper on Wednesday April 2. While swimming at Culburra Beach a woman took her false teeth, which were a little loose, out. She slipped them into the top of her swimming costume. This was fine, till a large wave crashed into her. Unfortunately she didn’t notice the false teeth had gone until much later. Without her teeth, she was restricted to eating soft food. But then a week later, someone found her false teeth and handed them in to … Continue reading →

Keeping Baby Teeth

Here at the Romans family home, we have been experiencing a new milestone. My first born is now old enough to start losing his teeth. This has been an exciting time here. The bottom two teeth are now gone, off in tooth fairy land, traded for two shiny gold dollar coins. But it has me wondering, is it worth storing those baby teeth for years to come? I admit that I am torn. My husband thinks that it is pretty gross to save these teeth. This was said by the man who religiously kept almost every bloody band aid from … Continue reading →

Why Does My Cat Chatter His Teeth?

If you are a cat owner, you may have noticed a peculiar behavior known as “teeth chattering”. If you aren’t a cat owner (or haven’t seen this particular behavior), here’s what happens: the cat sees something he wants but can’t get to — like a bird or a squirrel or something on television. He opens his mouth slightly with his lips pulled back. His jaw opens and closes rapidly, making a sort of lip smacking, teeth chattering noise. It sounds a lot like a human who is shivering badly. If the cat is really excited over what he sees, he … Continue reading →

What to Eat for Healthy Teeth

You can help keep your teeth healthy from the inside out — certain diet choices can help keep your choppers strong and shiny. Here are some tips to help protect your mouth against decay, disease, and more! Sugar isn’t the only thing that’s bad for your teeth — carbs can be just as damaging. After all, carbohydrates break down into simple sugars in your body. In your mouth, sugars are converted into plaque. That doesn’t mean you have to give up carbs! Just try to eat them only at mealtimes. Carbs are kind of sticky, so they tend to adhere … Continue reading →

Foods That Are Good For Your Teeth

The food you eat helps build a strong, healthy body — that includes your teeth! Adding a few simple things to your diet can help your choppers stay strong and healthy. Watch when you eat your carbs. Carbohydrates break down into sugars, which can be converted to plaque in the mouth. Plaque is the primary cause of gum disease and cavities! If you snack on carbs like chips, cookies, and crackers, foods can get caught between teeth and under the gum line, making it easy for bacteria to get to work. If you eat your carbs at mealtimes, you’ll be … Continue reading →