6 Tips for Cavity-Free Holidays

#1: Timing matters 
Timing matters. While everything is fine in moderation, it helps to eat sweets and other sugary foods with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals and helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and helps rinse away food particles.  

#2: Be picky if it's sticky
When it comes to picking healthy snacks, many people put dried fruit at the top of the list. But many dried fruits are sticky and sticky foods tend to stay on the teeth longer than other types of food. If you find yourself eating a lot of dried fruits such as cranberries, make sure to rinse with water and brush carefully. 

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

Honolulu Smile Design   
John Ha, DDS   
1481 S. King Street, Suite 303 
Honolulu, HI 96814   
(808) 941-2088   
HonoluluSmileDesign.com

Comfortable Root Canal Treatments

Saving Hopeless Teeth

Missing teeth can create big issues for your dental health. A root canal can save teeth with roots that have been damaged or infected, a situation that used to require extraction. A root canal is a procedure that fixes a tooth by removing the pulp chamber and filling the space with a filling material. This is often required when dental decay reaches the nerve of the tooth (or the tooth has become infected), and beyond the scope of a simple filling. At Honolulu Smile Design, we are skilled in advanced root canal therapy. The root canal has earned an undeserved reputation as something to be avoided. However, with modern anesthetics and technology, root canals are actually a manageable form of treatment.

Honolulu Smile Design   
John Ha, DDS   
1481 S. King Street, Suite 303 
Honolulu, HI 96814   
(808) 941-2088   
HonoluluSmileDesign.com

Good Food for Dental Health: Water

Water Rules
Water, especially fluoridated water, is the best beverage for maintaining your oral health. That's because fluoride helps to make teeth more resistant to the acid attacks that can cause cavities. As of 2012, nearly 75 percent of the U.S. population had access to fluoridated water, so drinking water from your own kitchen sink can help prevent dental problems. 

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org

Honolulu Smile Design   
John Ha, DDS   
1481 S. King Street, Suite 303 
Honolulu, HI 96814   
(808) 941-2088   
HonoluluSmileDesign.com

Good Food for Dental Health: Fruits & Veggies

Fruits and Veggies Pack an Extra Punch
Fruits and veggies are an important part of any balanced diet, and they are also good for your teeth. Since they are high in water and fiber, they help to balance the sugars they contain and help to clean your teeth. Chewing also helps to stimulate saliva production, which washes harmful acids and food particles away from your teeth. 

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org

Honolulu Smile Design   
John Ha, DDS   
1481 S. King Street, Suite 303 
Honolulu, HI 96814   
(808) 941-2088   
HonoluluSmileDesign.com

Gum Disease & Your Overall Health

Gum Disease Can Contribute to Heart Disease and Even Stroke

Do you know that doctors have studied recent medical research and reached an astonishing conclusion – that gum disease, stroke, and heart disease are connected? Since heart disease is usually deadly, it is quickly apparent that gum disease is no laughing matter. The American Dental Association estimates that 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal (gum) disease. These types of numbers would indicate an epidemic if this were any other affliction. Most dentists think it is just that! They also realize that because "no one ever dies from it" gum disease will likely never be labeled an "epidemic." The worst is that you lose your teeth. Not pleasant – but certainly not life threatening. But that's all changed.

The American Academy of Periodontology reports that "Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases." In short, the bacteria that infects your gums can move into your bloodstream and straight to your heart.

Honolulu Smile Design   
John Ha, DDS   
1481 S. King Street, Suite 303 
Honolulu, HI 96814   
(808) 941-2088   
HonoluluSmileDesign.com

Good Food for Dental Health: Nuts

Nourishing Nuts
Nuts contain protein which help strengthen and protect your teeth. Also, chewing helps to stimulate saliva production, which naturally cleans your mouth. Remember: Not only is a balanced, nutritious diet essential to healthy living, your eating patterns and food choices play an important role in preventing tooth decay and gum disease. You may eat with your eyes first, but your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org

Honolulu Smile Design   
John Ha, DDS   
1481 S. King Street, Suite 303 
Honolulu, HI 96814   
(808) 941-2088   
HonoluluSmileDesign.com

Tooth Cavities

Tooth cavities aren't uncommon - but with the right dental health know-how, you can help prevent them. It all starts with proper brushing, daily flossing, and fluoride. Get the details right here.

What Causes Tooth Cavities?
Cavities are holes in the teeth resulting from acid attack. They generally start in the enamel, but can spread to the softer inner layer of the tooth. Tooth cavities are caused by decay that can occur when foods containing carbohydrates become trapped between teeth, and are not completely removed with brushing and flossing. Bacteria living in the mouth digest these foods, generating acidic byproducts that can eat away at tooth enamel.

Help Prevent Tooth Cavities
Fluoride, which is found in most public drinking supplies, some mouth rinses, and Crest toothpastes, helps prevent tooth cavities by slowing the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the remineralization process. Check with your dental professional to see if your drinking water is fluoridated. If it isn't, he or she may recommend that you use high concentration fluoride treatments.

To help strengthen weak spots in tooth enamel, and help prevent the early stages of tooth decay, brush regularly with a fluoridated toothpaste, floss daily, and visit your dental office regularly for professional cleanings.

Above article from: Crest.com

Honolulu Smile Design   
John Ha, DDS   
1481 S. King Street, Suite 303 
Honolulu, HI 96814   
(808) 941-2088   
HonoluluSmileDesign.com

Porcelain Dental Veneers

'Smile Makeovers' in as Little as Two Visits!

Our porcelain veneers may offer the smile solution for which you've been looking. Veneers are thin, durable sheets of the most advanced dental ceramic available. They are bonded to natural teeth in a way that makes your teeth appear straight and uniform, creating an attractive smile. In no time, your crooked teeth can look like they've had years of straightening. Veneers can also be applied to a tooth to completely conceal a chip or crack or to reshape a worn or misshapen tooth. The veneer is made to match the color of the surrounding teeth, so your smile looks completely natural. If you have misshapen teeth, unsightly gaps, or deep discoloration, ask us if veneers are right for you.

Honolulu Smile Design   
John Ha, DDS   
1481 S. King Street, Suite 303 
Honolulu, HI 96814   
(808) 941-2088   
HonoluluSmileDesign.com

Fun Fact from the Doc: Love Pumpkin? Your Smile Does Too!

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR everything pumpkin. Around this time of the year, pumpkin doesn't just star in our autumn decorations, it starts to show up on our menus too. And as far as we're concerned, that's a good thing. Pumpkin is great for your oral and overall health!

Pumpkin: Fall’s Superfood

We’re glad pumpkin has so many health benefits because it sure is delicious! Pumpkins are high in fiber and are a great source of beta-carotene, which are both important for our health in various ways. They’re also full of potassium which can help lower blood pressure. But the reason we dentists love pumpkin is that it’s great for your smile!

Pumpkins benefit your oral health because they are:

• A great source of zinc. Zinc is considered an anti-plaque agent and is often added to toothpaste to prevent buildup. It also strengthens teeth and bones and boosts gum health.
• Rich in vitamins. Vitamin A found in pumpkin aids in the flow of saliva, keeping your teeth clean and protecting them from decay. Pumpkin’s vitamin C contributes to a healthy immune system, helping you to fight off oral infections.
• High in magnesium. In tandem with calcium, magnesium strengthens tooth enamel and prevents decay. Without magnesium, our enamel would be much weaker and more susceptible to cavity-causing bacteria.

Not All Pumpkin Treats Are Good For You

Now before you go running off to Starbucks for that pumpkin spice latte or the bakery for a batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, there are a few things you should know. Not everything you encounter with pumpkin in it is going to benefit your health.

A lot of the most popular pumpkin snacks–pumpkin pie, bread and cake, in addition to the aforementioned treats–should actually be considered desserts because of their high sugar content. So when it comes to these sugar-filled pumpkin treats, consume them in moderation.

Here are some healthier ways to satisfy your pumpkin cravings this fall:

• Baked pumpkin seeds–a guilt-free, vitamin-filled snack
• Pumpkin smoothie–perfect for breakfast or as a dessert substitute
• Pumpkin soup–a great way to warm up in the colder autumn weather
• Roasted pumpkin–make it the main course, use it as a side dish, or throw it in a salad

Enjoy The Fall Season

Nothing says autumn more than the big orange fruit. When you’re eating all that pumpkin this fall, remember that you’re not only satisfying your tastebuds, but you’re also boosting your oral and overall health! So go ahead, eat more pumpkin.

Wishing a wonderful autumn to all our patients.