Give the Gift of Dental Essentials

In this season of giving, what’s better than the gift of health? Since the condition of our teeth and gums is crucial to overall wellness, think about what you can give yourself or someone you know to maintain a healthy mouth.

The mouth connection

The mouth is the start of the gastrointestinal (GI) system, which is crucial to many aspects of health. The teeth masticate (chew) our food, starting the process of digestion. The better the bite, the better the chewing, the better the digestion. What enters the mouth winds up in the gut. 

Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with billions of bacteria. Fortunately most are harmless. This is the microbiome. It is the boss, both of oral and gut health. Normally, the body's natural defenses plus good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, keep these bacteria in balance — which supports health, not disease.  

However, without proper oral hygiene, more bad bacteria can proliferate. This leads to a pathologic microbiome, which often causes oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. The same bacteria in oral Infections are found in endocarditis, cardiovascular disease, and pregnancy complications, among other conditions. Diabetes is further complicated by a mouth with inflammation. The list goes on. 

Maintenance and daily cleaning are paramount. Plaque, a biofilm that constantly grows on your teeth, needs to be removed regularly — at least once every day.  

What you need

Our favorite toothbrush is from Sonicare. Research shows that it does a better job than a manual toothbrush, breaking up biofilm with ultrasonic vibration. 

Of equal or more importance is dental flossing. The technique of circling the side of the tooth and getting under the gums to polish off the plaque is more important than what brand or kind it is. Learn to do it with your fingers in front of a mirror. Learn on YouTube. Check yourself with disclosing tablets. We also support Waterpiking, but not at the expense of flossing. 

We like fluoride-free and natural products like Xylitol, which helps groom the microbiome. The natural sweetener changes the ecology and microbiome of the mouth. Xylitol raises the pH, decreases the bacteria responsible for most of the decay in the mouth and adds minerals that can help restrengthen and reverse early cavities. (Keep Xylitol away from dogs.)

There are many good new products out there, often found at the health food store. We’ve recently partnered with Risewell, a company with outstanding all-natural products containing Xylitol and the bioavailable minerals to reverse decay.. We are giving a nice cloth bag with a bamboo toothbrush and sample of Risewell toothpaste, floss and mouthwash to our hygiene patients. 

A Sonicare toothbrush, floss, Risewell and other products like Xylitol ice chips would be great gifts and stocking stuffers. 

For someone who may need a bit of nudging, a gift certificate for a comprehensive oral exam and the start toward a journey of health could be the most important gift ever.

Smile Design and Wellness Center

5445 Village Drive, #100, Rockledge, FL 32955

www.smiledesign.us

321-751-7775 

After practicing dentistry for five years in Honolulu and 20 years in Rhode Island, Dr. Chris Edwards moved to Brevard County in 2002 and opened the Smile Design Center in Viera. He is a consummate learner and as his knowledge base expanded, he changed the name to the Smile Design and Wellness Center in 2015. He was certified as a doctor of naturopathy in 2013 and is accredited by the IAOMT. Dr. Edwards has been a forward thinker with regard to technology to enable a higher level of service to his patients.

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