Rene Piedra DMD celebrates National Smile Month: May 19-June 19th - Canada Social Issues

Rene Piedra DMD notes that 61% of us have been attracted to someone by their smile alone. It isessential for everyone to keep up with regular dental checkups and cleanings to keep their teeth inoptimum condition. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), maintaining healthy teethwill not only provide you with a brighter smile - it is also beneficial for your overall health.

National Smile Month is a long running campaign sponsored in the UK. Together, with thousands ofindividuals and organizations, National Smile Month promotes three key messages, all of which go along way in helping us develop and maintain a healthy mouth. They are:

Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste

Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks

Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

The ADA has provided comprehensive information about myths associated with dentistry to helpease the fear of going to the dentist. "Some myths are funny and some are dangerous." Rene PiedraDMD notes.

Teeth Brushing Can Ruin Enamel

Brushing your teeth will not ruin the enamel in your teeth, but instead help protect it. Dentistsencourage patients to simply remember the basics and brush at least twice a day for two minutes infront of a mirror. The continuous practice of brushing teeth with toothpaste that contains fluorideusing a soft bristle brush will strengthen the tooth enamel. Electric toothbrushes are also good forthe teeth because their advanced technology can provide a full two minutes of thorough cleaning.

Salt or Lemon Juice Can Whiten Teeth

Salt is bad for the teeth. Brushing with salt can cut the gums and also rub away the enamel on theouter layer of your teeth. Lemon juice is also bad for your teeth because it erodes the outer enamelas well, which can lead to rapid tooth decay.

Stop Brushing Your Teeth If Gums Bleed

Do not quit brushing your teeth because of bleeding gums. The most common reason for bleedinggums is due to plaque and debris that accumulates around the teeth. The body works as a healingagent and when it notices an inflammation or infection, antibodies are delivered through thebloodstream. For this reason, it is essential to continue brushing and flossing daily so that the gumscan begin to heal.

Aspirin Placed on the Tooth Will Stop Pain

Actually, placing aspirin directly on the tooth may cause the gums to burn and even create anabscess. Aspirins can certainly help to alleviate tooth pain; however, they should be always beingested normally through swallowing. It is important to keep in mind that severe pain in the toothmay be a sign of something serious, and treating it with medicine may not be the best long-termoption. "When in pain, visit a dentist to find out why it hurts rather than attempting to treat it athome and waiting for the pain to go away on its own," Rene Piedra DMD advises.

Pain is the First Sign of a Cavity

Typically, a person may not realize that they have a cavity because it starts out small and does nothurt. When a person has a painful cavity, it is due to tooth decay that has damaged nerves. Bygetting regular check-ups at the dentist, patients are able to have cavities fixed before they begin todecay and cause mouth pain.

Brushing and Flossing Regularly Alleviates the Need Go to the Dentist

Brushing and flossing regularly can help to maintain good teeth, but it is still essential that a dentalcheckup be completed in case of underlying issues. It's also a good idea to floss between meals to ridyour mouth of plaque build-up between teeth. The flossing will reach portions of the teeth that thetoothbrush can't reach. This will help to prevent cavities as well.

Rinsing the mouth is an essential hygienic procedure and should be completed twice a day toprevent bacteria build-up and bad breath. Dentists recommend rinsing the mouth with fluoride, asthis also decreases one's chances of developing cavities.

However, it is still essential for visits to the dentist to be scheduled at least twice a year.Professional cleanings will get rid of bad breath and make your teeth look whiter because surfacestains are removed during the cleaning process.

Fun Facts

? It seems children have the right idea about smiling; they smile about 400 times a day. Womensmile about 62 times a day, compared to men who smile eight times a day on average.

? Foods that make us smile the most: chocolate, Sunday roast, BBQ

? Each person's set of teeth is unique much like their fingerprints.

? Top of the list of things we would not do without when we go on a holiday: a toothbrush

? We would share our toothbrush with: a partner (24%), our child (18%), a friend (7%), and acelebrity (6%).

As Rene Piedra DMD emphasizes, it is essential to separate fact from fiction when it comes todentists, as this will minimize patient anxiety about visiting them and make the entire experiencemuch more pleasant.