Dental Tips For Kids

1. Curb thumb-sucking by approximately age 5 to prevent developmental abnormalities.

2. Don't allow young children to carry around sippy-cups containing anything but water.

3. Take care of your own oral health. Research shows that the bacteria that causes decay can be passed from caregivers to infants and young children. Rinsing with antibacterial mouthwashes has been shown to significantly reduce the number of cavity-causing bacteria.

4. Limit sticky foods such as raisins and fruit roll-ups, which cling to the teeth. Experts note that raisins are very nutritious, but they tend to get wedged in the teeth and stay put. Encourage children to take a sip of water after eating these and other snacks.

5. Limit the sharing of spoons and bottles between caregivers and children and among children themselves.

6. Cut down on sugary snacks between meals. One of the major cavity-causing culprits is eating sugary foods throughout the day,

7. Let older children chew sugar-free gum. Gum increases the flow of saliva in the mouth and helps neutralize acids on the teeth. Further, studies have suggested that chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after meals can help prevent tooth decay.

8.Parents, don't let your children brush their own teeth until around the ages of 7 to 9 - or until they're able to tie their shoes or cut the meat on their plates.

Schedule an appointment with Baltimore Dentist Dr. Robert Jacobson at (410) 665 - 5205 for additional dental hygiene tips for children.

All About Cavities...

What causes cavities?

Your mouth is a busy place. Think of it as Grand Central Station... With teeth. Instead of commuters, Bacteria - tiny colonies of living organisms are constantly on the move on your teeth, gums, lips, and tongue. Having bacteria in your mouth is a normal thing. While some of the bacteria can be harmful, most are not, and some are even quite helpful.

Certain types of bacteria can attach themselves to hard surfaces like the enamel that covers your teeth. If the bacteria is not removed, it multiplies and grows until a colony forms. More bacteria of different types attach to the colony already growing on the tooth enamel. Proteins that are present in your saliva also mix in with the bacteria colony and become a whitish film on the tooth. This film is called plaque, and it is what causes cavities. Brushing and flossing after EVERY meal is the only way to prevent this.

How does Plaque cause cavities?

The hard, outer covering of your teeth is called enamel. Enamel is very hard, mainly because it contains durable mineral salts, like calcium. Mineral salts in your saliva help add to the hardness of your teeth. Mineral salts, however, are prone to attack by acids. Acid causes them to breakdown.

The plaque that forms on your teeth and doesn't get washed away by saliva or brushed away by your toothbrush, produces acid as it eats up sugar. This acid is produced inside the plaque and can't be easily washed away by your saliva. The acid dissolves the minerals that make your tooth enamel hard. The surface of the enamel becomes porous - tiny holes appear. After a while, the acid causes the tiny holes in the enamel to get bigger until one large hole appears. This is a cavity. It's important to see your dentist before a cavity forms so that the plaque you can't reach with your toothbrush or floss can be removed.

Contact Baltimore Dentist Dr. Robert Jacobson today at (410) 665 - 5205 for a dental cleaning and check up.

Got Halitosis?

Bad breath is something we all fear. We know the guy at the office who stuffs his face with pastrami and onions, downs a soda, and then smokes a cigarette to cap it off. You pull out a mint and quickly offer him one. "No thanks, I'm good," he replies. While you are being inundated with his odorous onslaught, take this time to ask yourself, "What can I do to NEVER have breath like that?"

To avoid bad breath the first step is awareness. Take proper measures to ensure that you don't offend. Perform a quick test. Lick the back of your hand, waive it around and then smell it. I know, sounds gross -- but, if it smells gross that's a pretty good idea what your breath smells like...providing you haven't been handling rotten eggs.

Once you are aware of the state of your breath, take measures to combat the culprit. What does your diet consist of? Halitosis is caused by several factors, one of them being diet. Foods such as garlic and onions can consume our blood and digestive systems releasing gasses that exit through the mouth. If you love garlic, as many do, take a travel tooth brush to lunch with you. Give your teeth a thorough cleaning and rinsing after lunch. Halitosis is often easily treatable if the cause is recognized. A mint won't cut the mustard. Brush and floss after every meal and you should be fine. If the problem persists, it could be an underlying medical problem that needs further diagnosing.

Contact Baltimore Dentist Dr. Robert Jacobson today if you have an issue with persistent halitosis.

Dental tips for thirty-somethings

As we age, so do our teeth. Over the age of 35 we become much more susceptible to dental health woes. Here are 10 things to be aware of as we age...

• Biannual Check Ups. It's a good idea for everyone to visit the dentist twice a year for a check up and thorough cleaning. Over the age 35, it is of great importance to practice dental vigilance as this is the age when we become susceptible to tooth, gum, and mouth disease. Adults need to be aware of the repercussions of skipping dental visits. Even flossing incorrectly can lead to gum disease, tooth loss, and worse.
• Caffeine -- Enemy of the tooth. Coffee and Tea not only discolor our teeth, the caffeine in them can cause excessive teeth grinding. So, moderation is the key... And maybe decaf!
• Have Many Headaches? Do you frequently suffer from headaches? Many people aren't aware that their headache could be caused by a dental malady. If you suffer from headaches contact our office to schedule a consultation for TMJ.
• Missing Any Back Teeth? Anytime we lose a tooth, we MUST replace it immediately. Not doing so will cause our bite to cave in and ultimately age us beyond our years.
• Need Your Teeth Aligned? Feel Too Old For Braces? There are a great many ways to straighten a smile. You don't have to get the cumbersome braces you stereotypically associate with adolescents. There are removable transparent retainers available, Invisalign, or any of the other invisible orthodontic pieces that are widely available. Don't discount the simplicity of straightening your smile. Depending on the severity of the problem it can be fixed in as little as a few months. Contact our office for a consultation. 
• Are You Preventing Wear And Tear? If you are grinding your teeth in your sleep, consider a bite-guard. It will prevent the irreparable damage caused by grinding our teeth in our sleep.
• Whitening! As we age, our teeth tend to lose their luster. Contact our office for teeth bleaching today to keep your smile white, bright, and youthful. 
• Smoking! We all know the risks: GUM CANCER, THROAT CANCER, FACE CANCER, LUNG CANCER, and DEATH
• Smile! Take care of your smile and share your smile with the world!

Contact Baltimore Dentist Dr. Robert Jacobson today if you would like to address any dental issues or to prevent any future dental issues.