Regular dental check-ups are a vital part of maintaining good oral health. These appointments with your dentist allow for early detection and treatment of any issues before they become serious problems. During a check-up, your dentist will examine your teeth, gums, and mouth for any signs of decay, gum disease, or other oral health issues. They may also take X-rays to get a better look at the health of your teeth and jaws.

It’s recommended that you visit your dentist for a check-up regularly. If you have specific oral health concerns or a history of health problems, your dentist may recommend more frequent visits. Regular dental check-ups can save you time, money, and discomfort in the long run, and they’re a great opportunity to ask your dentist any questions you may have about your oral health.

Regular dental check-ups are a crucial aspect of maintaining good oral health and preventing future problems. Don’t neglect your oral health, book your appointment today!

March 6th every year we show appreciation to dentists all over the world who keep our pearly whites in tip top shape. This day is also a way to bring awareness to dentistry so that people can learn how best to care for their teeth. It is also a reminder for those who have neglected their teeth or avoid going to a dentist to schedule a checkup.

Nothing makes a dentist happier then when a patient arrives and it is obvious they have good oral hygiene as they brush and floss regularly.

What the patient can do:
1. Decide on an oral health routine. Include both brushing and flossing and remember to floss after you have brushed.
2. Book that dental checkup you have been putting off. Ask your dentist to show you have to brush your teeth so you are not wearing away enamel.
3. If you have children, brush their teeth until they are mature enough to do it for themselves. Once you have brushed your child´s teeth, give them the brush so they feel they are doing it as well.
4. Smile and show off those pearly whites. It shows the job you do and that of your dentist.
5. Take a picture of those beautiful teeth and post it on your social media accounts.

Tips for a healthy dental routine:
1. Brush at least twice a day for at least 2 minutes.
2. Brush gently using elliptical strokes.
3. Use a soft toothbrush.
4. Brush after eating.
5. Floss after brushing.
6. See your dentist twice a year or as your dentist recommends.
7. Eat a balanced diet and limit eating and drinking between meals.
8. Limit the amount of citrus you eat and drink.

A visit to a dentist is a scary proposition for many people. Remember though, dentistry has come a long way from when Dr. John M. Harris started the world’s first dental school in
Bainbridge, Ohio in 1828.

Evolving dental technology and education are two of the things that make a visit to a dentist much more pleasant than in earlier days. That being said nothing beats a dentist who has the hands of a sculptor, the precision of an engineer, the eye of an artist and the experience to combine all of these professions to carry out either a simple or a challenging treatment and still make the result look natural.

That is in essence Dr. Mikael G. Kahn or as he is so affectionately known, Mikael.

The season of treats is upon us. That means your teeth and any ill-fitting crowns and bridges will be put to the test. What test? The sugar and sticky sweet test!

We all know the dangers of too much sugar: weight gain, an increased blood sugar level and cavities to name a few. As this is the season of Halloween and that means eating more sweets than usual, I will focus on sugar and the hazard it is to dental health. That sweet tooth you have, well the naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth also has a sweet tooth. In fact it loves sweets more than you do. This might actually turn you off your candy for a while, but as this bacteria is nourishing its sugar fix, it is doing nasty things to your teeth. The acid produced by the sugar lowers the pH level in your mouth, leaving you susceptible to a higher rate of tooth decay and tooth erosion.

Remember as a child when you tucked into those ultra-sticky treats? It took time to eat them as they became trapped between your teeth and wedged in any previously eroded parts of your teeth. You ate them just the same as they were so good. Since it took time to eat them, it gave bacteria more time to binge. That prolonged exposure to sugar meant that there was a perfect environment for the production of acid, leaving your teeth vulnerable.

Which sweets are the biggest offenders and give dentists the largest headaches?

Sour Candy
As well as an assortment of acids and artificial colors, you have the added bonus of 36 grams of sugar in a small package. And if that is not enough – what is in a name? Sour! Because they are sour, they have more than usual amounts of citric acid affording you even faster erosion of tooth enamel. 

Caramels
One of the biggest culprits in patients losing a crown, or having a bridge or an orthodontic wire come loose. A dozen of these sticky, delectable treats will also provide you with 32 grams of sugar.

Candy corn
Weighing in with 32 grams of sugar in just a handful and is soft and sticky.

Fruit Chews
The perfect storm of sugar, gelatin and citric acid. That means high sugar content (22 grams), gelatin that sticks to your teeth and acid that lowers pH level in your mouth. Yum!

Sherbert
At practically 100 % sugar it contains 13 grams of sugar in one small packet. 

Snickers
My personal favorite. However, with nearly 300 calories, 27 grams of sugar, the possibility of breaking a tooth on the chocolaty, caramel peanuts, I try not to eat too many. But, oh they are tasty! 

Not all toothbrushes are created equal. Regardless if you are choosing a manual or an electric toothbrush, there are a couple of things to look for.

Size: There are many sizes available, but see that your toothbrush allows easy access to all surfaces of your teeth, also on the molars – those large teeth at the back of your mouth.  If the head of the brush is too large, it will be difficult to use and therefore, will be ineffective.

Bristle texture: Again whether it is a manual or an electric toothbrush, you can choose between soft, medium and hard. Today most stores selling toothbrushes also carry the extra-soft variety. If you clean your teeth regularly, twice a day, then an extra-soft toothbrush will be good.  If you brush too enthusiastically, then a hard toothbrush is the last thing you want to be using. You could actually do more damage than good to your gums and more so to the root surfaces of your teeth, should they be exposed.

Providing you clean your teeth regularly using a proper brushing technique, you should be able to get rid of the plaque and by doing so keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Jaw and facial tension is a very common stress-related problem. The most easily recognized symptoms are unconscious grinding or clenching of the teeth, pain around the eyes, headaches, and neck pain. Chronic jaw tension can even cause shoulder pain and lower back problems.

Face & Jaw Treatment will give you powerful and effective techniques for relaxing your jaw and facial muscles. As tension disappears, you will also lose some of those unwanted lines and wrinkles. This is an excellent exercise to do before and/or after going to your dentist.   

You will need a comfortable chair or seat, or an exercise mat.

• Go slowly
• Make each movement small and easy
• Repeat each movement 4 times
• Relax as much as you can
• Rest briefly after each movement

Starting positions either seated or lying down

Seated:  Find a comfortable position. Rest your hand on your thighs. Your feet should be flat on the floor, shoulder width apart, directly below your knees.

Lying down: Lie on your back and rest your arms by your sides. Either stretch out your legs or bend your knees and rest your feet flat on the floor, shoulder width apart, directly below your knees.

1.    Very slowly open and close your mouth, just a little bit.

• Go slowly & make each movement small and easy
• Repeat each movement 4 times
• Relax as much as you can & rest briefly after each movement

2.    Simultaneously, open your mouth while tilting your head back a little. Then slowly close your mouth and bring your head back to the starting position.

• Notice that tilting your head back helps your mouth to open more easily
• To make this movement easier, relax your neck

3.    Open your mouth a little and keep it open. Slowly move your lower jaw to the right very slightly. Then let your jaw return to the middle, close your mouth and rest.

• Put your left forefinger on your chin so you can feel the movement of your lower jaw more clearly. Does your lower jaw move smoothly or does its movement seem rough and uneven at certain points?
• Go slowly and relax your jaw, so the movement can be smooth and easy.

And now, rest.

• Feel the right side of your mouth and jaw beginning to relax.

4.    Open your mouth a little and keep it open. Slowly move your lower jaw very slightly to the left. Then let your jaw return to the middle, close your mouth and rest.

• Put your left forefinger on your chin so you can feel the movement of your jaw more clearly.
• Does moving your jaw to the left feel different from moving it to the right?
• To make this movement smooth and comfortable, go slowly and move your jaw only a small amount.

Relax your jaw, neck and shoulders. Make each movement relaxed and easy.

Rest for a moment.

• Feel your jaw, mouth and entire face relaxing. As your jaw relaxes, headaches, neck and shoulder pain often begin to disappear.

5.     Open your mouth a little and keep it open. Alternately, slowly move your lower jaw to the left a little and then to the right a little. Move your lower jaw slowly from side to side.

•  Use as little muscular effort as possible.
• Relax your eyes. Notice how they are moving from side to side to side slightly, following the jaw movement.
• Rest often so the muscles of your face and jaw do not get tired.

6.    Open your mouth a little and keep it open. Slowly move your lower jaw forward a little so your lower teeth are slightly more forward than your upper teeth. Then let your jaw return to its normal position and rest.

•  Put your finger on your chin so you can feel the movement more clearly. When your jaw moves forward, does it move straight forward, or does it veer slightly to the right or left?

Go slowly and rest after each movement

7.    Open your mouth a little, move your lower jaw forward and keep it there. Slowly move your jaw to the right a little. Then let your jaw return to the middle and rest.

•  Relax your tongue and throat as much as possible.
• Breath freely.

8.    Open your mouth, move your lower jaw forward and keep it there. Slowly move your lower jaw a little to the left. Then let your lower jaw return to the middle and rest.

•  Relax your arms, stomach and legs.
• Does moving your jaw to the left feel different than moving it to the right?
  

Use as little effort as possible

9.    Open your mouth a little, move your lower jaw forward and keep it there. Then alternately, move your lower jaw slowly so the right a little and then to the

left a little. Move your lower jaw from side to side, gently.

•  Make this movement smooth and continuous.
• Relax your face and entire body as much as you can.
• Don’t let your jaw get tired.

Rest for a moment.

• Feel the ease and relaxation in your face and neck.
• Notice how relaxed and comfortable your mouth and jaw feel.

Measure your improvement: simply open and close your mouth a few times.

•  Let gravity and the weight of your lower jaw open your mouth gently.
• Notice that when your mouth and jaw are closed and relaxed, there is a slight space between your upper and lower teeth.
• Notice how much more easily and comfortably your mouth can open now.

When you stand up and walk around, enjoy your improvement!

You have just done a Feldenkrais exercise.   Do you want to try more ATM (Awareness Through Movement) lessons? This one is from Relaxercise by Mark Reese & David Bersin. You can also try Open ATM  http://openatm.org/ or visit the website of the International Feldenkrais Federation where you will find links to your national Feldenkrais Guild.   http://feldenkrais-method.org/en