Learn what the American Dental Association has to say about lifestyle and oral health. The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Cox Family Dentistry      James T. Cox, III, DMD      Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD      101 Perpetual Square Drive    Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com  

Learn what the American Dental Association has to say about why your smile is important. The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Cox Family Dentistry      James T. Cox, III, DMD      Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD      101 Perpetual Square Drive    Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com  

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by Elizabeth SanFilippo Chances are good that visions of cookies, desserts and candy canes may be dancing in your children's heads this holiday season. While you will do what you can to limit their intake of these sugary treats, your kids will probably be eating their fair share of sugar at your family holiday parties. Despite their consumption of sugar, there are ways to keep your kids' healthy teeth and gums in shape and to minimize damage to their dental health. Why Is Sugar Bad for Dental Health? Whether your kids are eating chocolate cake, sugar cookies or peppermint candy, they are ingesting sugar. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth feed on this sugar, and the byproduct is acid. This acid can eat away at tooth enamel, which can lead to tooth decay and cavities. The more time teeth spend exposed to sugar, the higher the risk that your c...

Learn what the American Dental Association has to say about regular dental check-ups. The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Cox Family Dentistry      James T. Cox, III, DMD      Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD      101 Perpetual Square Drive    Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com  

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by Donna Pleis You already know the value of regular tooth brushing and flossing to the prevention of tooth decay and gum disease, but what you eat can help too. Here are a few tips for healthy teeth involving simple foods that may be more helpful to your dental health than you thought they were. An Element of Strength The mineral, fluoride, plays an important role in building strong teeth and bones, and ultimately protecting your teeth against tooth decay. This is why fluoride has been included in toothpastes like Colgate Cavity Protection and many community water supplies. But did you know it's also found naturally in many foods? Any fluoride you ingest is absorbed and distributed throughout the body, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) , though most of it deposited into your bones and teeth. So, to give you and your family's teeth an extra bit of strength now and then, serve up...

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. This month we are featuring information found on MouthHealthy.org that discuss how diabetes can affect  your dental health. Below are two ways that diabetes can affect your oral health. Gum Disease  Notice some bleeding when you brush or floss? That may be an early sign of gum disease . If it becomes more severe, the bone that supports your teeth can break down, leading to tooth loss. Early gum disease can be reversed with proper brushing , flossing and diet . Research has shown gum disease can worsen if your blood sugar is not under control, so do your best to keep it in check. Dry Mouth  Studies have found people with diabetes have less saliva, so you might find yourself feeling parched or extra thirsty. (Medications and higher blood sugar levels are also causes.) Fight dry mouth by drinking water. You can also chew sugarless gum and eat healthy, crunchy foods to get saliva flowing. This is especially impor...

A Lifetime Foundation of Good Habits Dr. Cox and Dr. Kunkel share your goals for preserving your child’s outstanding health. We want to help them learn proper dental care from the beginning and foster a lifetime foundation of strong dental habits. There are many factors that contribute to your child’s teeth being vulnerable to cavities from a very young age. Little kids often don’t have the dexterity to brush correctly on their own. Because of this, it is imperative for parents to assist in their child’s daily hygiene. This encourages both good cleaning and the development of appropriate dental habits. Poorly cleaned teeth are more likely to decay when exposed to food and juice acids. Small children tend to eat constantly throughout the day. This type of extended exposure to food acids often results in more cavities.  The good news is that recognizing poor dietary and hygiene habits, along with employing a fluoride varnish to the mineralizing teeth, can drastically reduce the odd...

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about what cavities are. The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Cox Family Dentistry      James T. Cox, III, DMD      Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD      101 Perpetual Square Drive    Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com  

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org Halloween is around the corner, which for most children means bags of free candy and a chance to build a stockpile of sweets for the winter. No surprise, Halloween can also present parents with a variety of health and safety challenges. “It’s OK to eat that candy on Halloween but it’s important to have a plan,” says ADA dentist Dr. Ana Paula Ferraz-Dougherty.  Here's how you can help your family stay MouthHealthy on Halloween and year-round. Time It Right Eat Halloween candy (and other sugary foods) with meals or shortly after mealtime. Saliva production increases during meals. This helps cancel out acids produced by bacteria in your mouth and rinse away food particles. Stay Away from Sweet Snacks Snacking can increase your risk of cavities, and it’s double the trouble if you keep grabbing sugary treats from the candy bowl. “Snacking on candy throughout the day is not ideal for your dental health or diet,” Dr. F...

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org When he’s feeling under the weather, ADA dentist Dr. Gene Romo says one thing always helps him feel a little more like himself. “Brushing my teeth when I’m sick actually makes me feel better,” he says. “My mouth feels clean, and in a way, I feel like my health is starting to improve.” When you have a cold or the flu, taking care of your body is your top priority-and that includes your mouth. “It’s important to take care of your dental health all year round, but especially when you’re sick,” Dr. Romo says. Here are some simple ways to care for your dental health when you’re not feeling well:  Practice Good Hygiene When you’re sick, you know to cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze . Don’t forget to keep up your dental and toothbrush hygiene as well. According to the CDC, the flu virus can live on moist surfaces for 72 hours. “The number one rule is not to share your toothbrush anytime, but especially when yo...

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by Katriena Knights Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, and is therefore vital to the health of your teeth. Not everyone's is the strongest, though, and still others have teeth without enamel at all. Without enamel to protect the softer interior parts of your teeth, they can't stand up to the stress of natural biting and chewing. These abnormal developments require special care and treatment. Enamel Hypoplasia Teeth can come in without enamel as a result of inherited issues or because of exposure to certain substances while the teeth are erupting. Baby teeth and permanent teeth can both emerge with enamel that is weak, improperly formed or missing altogether. One of these conditions is enamel hypoplasia, which literally means "underdeveloped enamel." A disorder that causes the teeth to develop with thin, deficient enamel, it sometimes manifests as a pit in the tooth ñ or eve...

The Importance of Hygiene Visits   Participating in regularly scheduled cleanings done by a professional hygienist is one of the best ways to increase your chances for excellent health. Plaque clings in the hard-to-reach places of your mouth. Even with methodical brushing, some of it will remain in the grooves and pockets of your teeth and gums. If it’s permitted to stay, plaque hardens into tartar, which is outside the scope of your typical toothbrush and floss to remove. Tartar accumulates below your gum line as well as on the enamel of your teeth, forming a serious threat that invites decay and even gum disease to occupy your mouth. Recent research shows a clear link between untreated gum disease and other life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Which means having your teeth cleaned is one of the most essential reasons to visit your dentist! Cox Family Dentistry     James T. Cox, III, DMD     Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD   ...

Protect Your Teeth from Sports Trauma!   Sports-related accidents cause roughly 5 million teeth to be “knocked out” every year across the United States, which is why we advocate a custom fit mouthguard to protect your teeth. Unfortunately, the one-size-fits-all mouthguards found in stores don’t usually fit well. A sloppy fitting mouthguard restricts your capacity to breathe properly during strenuous activities. On the other hand, a custom-made mouthguard fits and protects well, may enhance your performance, and can be worn for any sport. In fact, the American Dental Association advises both children and adults to wear a custom mouthguard for nearly all their sports activities. Cox Family Dentistry     James T. Cox, III, DMD     Dallas J. Kunkel, DMD     101 Perpetual Square Drive   Anderson, SC 29621     (864) 226-4300     CoxFamilyDentistrySC.com