Archives for January 2017

So if one needs to cut off dairy products from the diet it is important to keep in mind that:

•  Calcium is an essential mineral that the body cannot create and it must be absorbed from food. Other source of calcium beside dairy products are dark leafy vegetables, such as bok choy and broccoli, foods fortified with calcium such as orange juice, cereal, soymilk and nuts such as almonds. Make sure you know the recommended calcium intake for your age—the average daily need of an adults is 1,000 mg.
• Vitamin D is important in helping the body adsorb calcium from the food, without it the ingested calcium will not be absorbed. Our body can make vitamin D when our skin is exposed to the sun. But if we don’t get enough sun exposure, we can get vitamin D naturally from seafood like mackerel, salmon and tuna. Other sources of Vitamin D can be from processed foods such as orange juice, cereal and soymilk. The average daily need of an adults is about 600 mcg (micrograms) of vitamin D.

Having the right levels of calcium and vitamin D will allow your teeth and bones to stay in good health.

• Squats: Are a great way to improve flexibility and strengthen your whole lower body and core. To get the full benefit of the squat, pull your hips and bottom back as you sit towards the floor, making sure your knees do not protrude past your toes. Keep your heels on the floor, your back flat and your toes facing outward. When squatting down, your knees should also push out, following the direction of your toes – be sure that your knees do not cave inward. Try to do as many squats as possible as you brush.
• Lunges: Are great for toning your thighs and strengthening the hips. To get the full benefit from the lunge, keep your upper body straight, your shoulders back and your core tight. Step forward with one leg and lower your hips until your front knee is bent at a 90-degree angle and your back knee is touching the ground. Ensure that your front knee is directly above the ankle and not pushed out past it. Then repeat on the other side.
• Calf raises: Are a great way to help tone and shape your legs, and are very easy to perform. Simply stand with your feet directly over your hips. Then lift and lower your heels in a slow and controlled motion.

Add these exercises to  your brushing routine to make a better use of the time you clean your teeth.

1. Wear a helmet and a mouthguard when participating in any contact sport or riding a scooter.
2.  Frequent swimmers are prone to yellow-brown or dark brown stains on teeth. These spots are the formed when the chemicals in the pool water come into contact with teeth. These stains do not affect the teeth and can be easily removed by our team at Tooronga Family Dentistry.
3. When diving  one may experience sensitivity or pain in the center of a tooth. It can be due to a cavity trapping air inside the tooth at the low pressure. When the air pressure from the regulator increases in can cause the tooth around the cavity to crumble. During diving biting too hard on the regulators can cause jaw pain, gum issues or tooth pain. It is better to have the teeth checked before scuba diving.
4. When at the pool slipping and falling or rough playing are common. These falls can lead to broken teeth. It is important to talk to your kids to be be calm and considerate with their peers and avoid running in wet areas.

The team at Tooronga Family Dentistry wishes you a great time during the summer time.

During the formation of our teeth and bones fluoride can become embedded in them as part of their mineral content. Normally the mineral content of the teeth and the bones is hydroxy apatite which is made of calcium, phosphate and hydroxyl ions. But if fluoride ions are present, during the formation of these tissues, they can replace the hydroxyl ones and form a crystal called fluoro-apatite, which can interfere with the proper formation of the teeth and bones. This the reason why ingesting high doses of fluoride will lead to the formation of floor-apatite in the teeth.

When we are born our “baby” and permanent teeth are already forming under our gums in the jawbone. An overexposure to fluoride during the pregnancy or during the first eight years of life, will lead to changes in the formation of the teeth and the appearance of stains – these stains are called fluorosis. There can be different stains ranging from yellow to dark brown and there can be pits and surface irregularities depending on the severity of the affliction.