Tag: chewing gum

Lower Your Risk for TMJ Disorders

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Do you ever feel like your oral health has let you down? Does your jaw constantly cause you pain beyond the point to which your mouth can function properly? The truth is that you may have a temporomandibular disorder, also called a TMJ.  Fortunately, you can lower your risk for TMJ disorders by protecting your mouth properly. However, due to the highly complex nature of TMJs, you could still suffer an ailment.

If you should suffer from a TMJ disorder, take the time to care for your jaw as best you can until a visit to your dentist can be made. Typically, your jaw will best function with the help of ice packs for inflammation and heat packs for pain. If your TMJ disorder is caused by another disorder such as bruxism, try using night guards and bite pads to help alleviate some pressure off of your jaw.

Meditation also helps alleviate pain associated with TMJ disorders. There are many forms to try using, including soothing music, soft biofeedback techniques, and yoga. If medication is necessary, be sure it has been approved by your dentist. Also try to cut back on habits that can cause your jaw more pain including eating hard foods, biting your nails, and chewing gum.

If you would like to set up an appointment to discuss your possible TMJ treatment with Dr. Michael Long or Dr. Matthew Thurman at [practice_name], please call [phone] to set up a visit to our dentist office in [city], [state]. We look forward to helping you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted!

Can You Keep Your Mouth Clean Without Toothpaste?

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What do you do to keep up your oral health? Do you make a point of brush and floss every day? If so, good for you—but what would you do if you found your toothpaste tube empty one day and weren’t able to get more right away? As you can probably guess, you shouldn’t just avoid brushing. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do in a pinch.

Mouthwash is one option you should consider. As you may know, mouthwash can fight off cavities, bad breath, gingivitis, and even wash away food particles. However, please remember that, while using mouthwash is better than nothing, please don’t plan on replacing brushing.

Similarly, if you find yourself out of toothpaste and mouthwash, you can also rinse out your mouth with hydrogen peroxide. However, please remember to mix the hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water. Also, please do not swallow hydrogen peroxide. If you would like to brush, you can also use baking powder—which is a safe alternative that is also included in many toothpastes.

However, if you aren’t interested in any of these options, you could also try chewing on a mint or on chewing gum. You see, chewing gum can help because chewing promotes saliva production. As you may know, saliva is actually vital to the health of your mouth, as it gets rid of bad bacteria. If you don’t have chewing gum handy, you can also chew on herbs such as mint, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

Finally, to enjoy a healthy smile, please remember to visit a dentist once every six months for a routine cleaning and checkup. If you would like to learn more, or are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. [doctor_name], please don’t hesitate to contact [practice_name] at [phone]. We will gladly answer any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon.