Tag Archives: bad dental habits

Why You Should Stay Away from Soda | Palm Harbor Dentist

It seems we drink them whenever we have a burger or a delicious slice of pizza. Americans love soda. They’re fizzy, refreshing, bubbly, they’re delicious…but if you are drinking them frequently, they’re also ruining your teeth. Drinking soda is one of the main culprits of teeth harm caused by your diet. Of course, in moderation it poses very little threat, but a steady consumption of soft drinks is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. Heavy soda consumption has also been linked to other health complications including diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis.

Sugar in soda combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid, which attacks the teeth. Diet or “sugar-free” soda contains its own acid, which also can damage teeth. When sipping on soda all day the sugar and the acidity is sitting on your teeth, eating away at your enamel, staining your teeth, and setting off bacteria bombs.

Sugar in soda combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid, which attacks the teeth. Diet or “sugar-free” soda contains its own acid, which also can damage teeth. Each attack lasts about 20 minutes and starts over with every sip of soda you take. These ongoing acid attacks weaken tooth enamel. Kids and teens are most susceptible to tooth decay because their tooth enamel is not fully developed. Some guidelines to avoiding tooth decay:

Consuming two or more servings of dairy foods
Drink water – Water is beneficial in more ways than one in this instance
Restricting other sugared beverages to occasional use

If you’re interested in learning more about the effects of soda on your teeth, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Eat Your Way to a Healthy Smile | Palm Harbor Dentist

When we treat our bodies well, it treats us well in return. But it’s not only in a general sense, a diet filled with nutrition can also help to improve and/or maintain our dental health as well. If the foods are not good for you, they can contribute to the development of gum disease; if they are, they will have the opposite effect.

Foods and drinks high in sugar and acid are typically bad for your teeth because they contribute to both tooth decay and periodontal disease, making them weaker and more vulnerable to tooth decay. Foods like celery can help brush food particles off of teeth, and they also encourage the production of saliva to cleanse the teeth. Foods high in calcium and protein (such as cheese, milk, meats, and nuts) tend to be low in sugar and key to stronger teeth by protecting tooth enamel.

In addition to the sugar and acid contents of food, patients should pay attention to how long the food is in contact with their teeth. Soft foods like peanut butter are more likely to be stuck between teeth, and drinks that are sipped throughout the day tend to stay in contact with teeth all day. In order to keep these foods from having adverse effects on your teeth, eat or drink the sugary ones in one sitting so you can brush or rinse afterwards. If a toothbrush isn’t handy, popping a stick of sugar-free gum in your mouth will create the saliva needed to rinse your teeth enough until a proper brushing is available.

If you’re interested in learning more about smile-friendly foods, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

September Is National Self Care Awareness Month | Palm Harbor Dentist

sedation dentistry Because it is important to take care of ourselves, it is important to take a moment to reflect on the way we are treating ourselves. If we are treating ourselves well, it is easier to remain healthy. If not, this month is a great time to take stock and make any chances necessary to improve our livelihood. One way to do that is through your dental health. The mouth is the first line of defense against bacteria that can affect our overall health. In fact, gum disease as a result of poor oral hygiene, may be more detrimental to your health than you think…

Heart health. Individuals with gum disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease. Harmful bacteria from your mouth enter your blood stream and attaches to fatty plaques in your heart’s blood vessels, making you more prone to clots that may trigger heart attacks.

Memory loss. Researchers have found that there may be a close link to poor oral health with an increased risk of dementia. Oral bacteria may spread to the brain through cranial nerves that connect to the jaw, even contributing to a type of plaque linked to Alzheimer’s.

Diabetes. Gum disease makes it harder to control you blood sugar, resulting in a high chance for diabetic issues, and a higher chance of periodontal disease.

Breathing issues. Individuals with poor hygiene are hurting their respiratory systems. Gum disease may increase your risk of respiratory infections such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Fertility. Women with gum disease take an average two months longer to conceive a child that those who don’t have gum disease.

If you’re interested in learning more about dental health, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Do You Have Trouble Sleeping Well? | Palm Harbor Dentist

It is important for us to get enough sleep every night. Not only does it help us manage our daily tasks, but it also affects how our overall health is looked after. Not enough sleep and your health will slowly begin to take a turn a turn for the worse. But why is it that you are having a tough time sleeping? Is it your lifestyle or is it something else?

If you find that you are waking up with headaches, jaw pain or something related to your face, you may be developing a sleep disorder known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. If would be a good idea to visit your dental professional as soon as possible to find out if this is the case. If left untreated, you will begin to develop other dental issues as a result.

Individuals suffering from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ, experience many symptoms such as discomfort and pain in areas surrounding the face or jaw. There are a series of remedies recommended in order to alleviate tension found in those areas. Some of these include:

Facial exercises such as stretching, relaxing, or massaging the muscles found around the jaw
Evading actions such as yawning, singing, or excessive chewing.
Learning new stress relieving techniques including but not limited to: Meditation, Breathing Exercises, or Personal stress relievers.
Formulating an exercise plan in order to increase our pain tolerance.

TMJ is nothing to worry too much about if you take care of it early. Dr. Lieberman highly encourages patients suffering from TMJ to follow these few techniques in order to alleviate TMJ pain and symptoms.

If you’re interested in learning more about TMJ, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Why Visit the Dentist? | Palm Harbor Dentist

We all know proper oral hygiene is important not only for your smile, but for your overall health as well. And regular dental visits are essential for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. They will help keep your mouths in tip top shape, but the brunt of the work relies on you. So, don’t think of these regular dental appointments as a bad thing – they are doing more than you know…

Gum disease prevention. Gum disease is a tissue infection surrounding your teeth, and one of the major causes of bone loss if left untreated. Regular dental cleanings and DIY care are main factors in prevention.

Oral health maintenance. On these visits, your dentist will look closely for any problems that may have happened in between visits. The sooner you treat issues, the better.

Oral cancer detection. Early diagnosis of oral cancer is very important in improving of the prognosis of cancer. When you have dental cleanings, you are also screened for oral cancer.

A healthy smile. When you have a beautiful smile, you feel more confident and satisfied with your being. When you feel confident, you live it that confidence.

Brighten your smile. Our diets have a tendency to stain our teeth over time. A dental cleaning can remove built-up stains and leave you with freshly polished teeth.

Fresh breath. Even if you brush and floss regularly, getting a cleaning is a great way to keep your mouth healthy and odor-free.

Good overall health. There is a correlation between poor oral health and chronic diseases, like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, premature and low birth weight.

If you’re interested in learning more about dental exams, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

You Don’t Have to Have Gum Disease | Palm Harbor Dentist

No one wants gum disease, but it is more common than one would think. In fact, most adults will have some sort of gum disease in their lifetime. Luckily, with proper dental hygiene and an examination by your dental professional. The symptoms are visible, and include gum inflammation, sensitive teeth, and pain when chewing but can develop into much worse if left untreated, even as far as the loss of your permanent teeth. Luckily, preventing periodontal disease is simple. Here is what you need to know:

Brush your teeth. This should be a given – brushing your teeth is important. The number one way to prevent periodontal disease is to brush after every meal. Brushing after every meal prevents plaque from building up in the mouth.

Floss. Flossing is extremely important in preventing periodontal disease by removing the plaque and bacteria that accumulates in the mouth.

Watch what you eat. Your diet is key is preventing periodontal disease. Keep things healthy by replacing your sodas and junk food with water and veggies.

In order to prevent periodontal disease, it is essential to keep your gums and teeth healthy. Extensive brushing and flossing is recommended, along with regular dental visits. Taking preventative measures is the key to good dental health. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms for periodontal disease, avoid waiting and make a dental appointment as soon as possible. By preventing or treating periodontal disease, you will not only save a significant amount of time and money, but your will save your smile from decay and permanent loss.

If you’re interested in learning more about gum disease prevention, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

The Energy Drink Is Ruining Your Smile | Palm Harbor Dentist

It’s been a busy few days and all the work’s starting to take its toll on you. You find yourself tired and sleepy. So, you go down the hall, find the vending machine, look for an energy drink of your flavor of choice, toss in a few bucks and voila, you’ve just found a way to get yourself out of that mid-shift funk.

All is well and good, right? Well, not exactly. Fact is, even if most people know that drinking energy drinks regularly is bad for the body, it seems that the energy boost isn’t all that worth it, especially since it comes at the expense of your beautiful smile.

The main root of the problem is a mix of extremely high sugar content and a citric acid pH that’s usually as low as 2.9 all in one drink. Even the extremely high sugar content alone isn’t enough to fully describe just how bad energy drinks are for one’s teeth. It’s the combination of the sugar content and pH levels that makes energy drinks such a danger to the teeth.

Anything acidic, when consumed regularly and in high amounts, can cause damage to tooth enamel, which in time can lead to a myriad of dental problems, including tooth sensitivity, tooth discoloration and pain or discomfort in the teeth. With energy drinks, the teeth are exposed to a huge amount of these acidic substances, which leads to it having a similar detrimental effect on teeth as that of carbonated drinks and juices.

If you’re interested in learning more about the effects of energy drinks on your teeth, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

Your Bad Habits May Be Ruining Your Teeth | Palm Harbor Dentist

Do have a bad dental habit? Believe it or not, most individuals have acquired bad dental habits over the years. What’s worse is that if this habit affects our teeth, it can lead to many issues down the road. The problem is, most of the time we are unaware we even have a habit, much less know we’re doing damage to our teeth. Here is a list of some bad habits that does a lot of damage to your teeth:

Chewing ice. After you’ve finished a drink, you might have the habit of chewing the ice that is leftover. Little did you know, the cold and hardness of the cubes can actually do damage to your teeth by chipping or cracking them.

Using your teeth as a tool. Using your teeth to crack open nuts, or tear through plastic can be incredibly detrimental. Just like chewing ice, using your teeth as a tool may cause damage to your teeth.

Drinking soda. While this isn’t a surprise, we’re adding the usage of sugar free sodas as well. Sodas are acidic and incredibly harmful to teeth.

Nail biting. Perhaps one of the most common bad habits, biting your nails itself is not only damaging to your nail beds, but also to your teeth.

Grinding your teeth. The official term for this habit is bruxism and is a common occurrence at night. But grinding your teeth wears them down. While this is difficult to control, a dentist could suggest using a nightguard to help you get it under control.

If you’re interested in learning more about bad dental habits, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

Cavity Prevention Is in Your Hands | Palm Harbor Dentist

A cavity occurs when plaque produces enough acid to eat through tooth enamel. The effects are usually reversible through extensive dental treatments, but there’s an easier way to deal with cavities – prevention. Just follow these three simple tips:

Watch your diet. People who love sugary treats are more likely to suffer from cavities, as well as other dental problems, compared to those who don’t. Frequently snacking on sweets leaves sugar and starch on your teeth, causing plaque and eventually resulting in cavities. To minimize the risk, cut back on your sugar intake, if not avoid it all. By making the decision to eliminate sugar from your diet, you’ll not only improve your oral health, but your health overall.

Visit your dentist. Plenty of people suffer from cavities because they rarely pay a visit to their dentist. If it’s been a while since your last appointment, consider scheduling a visit ASAP. Your dentist will examine your entire mouth and give you a proper assessment of how good (or bad) your oral health is.

Take care of your teeth. Make it a habit to brush your teeth every day and floss regularly. People tend to forget to floss, but it gets in spots a toothbrush can’t. If you don’t know if you’re brushing or flossing your teeth properly, make it a point to ask your dentist. Gargling mouthwash will also go a long way in eliminating plaque buildup, so don’t forget to ask your dentist for any brands they recommend.

If you’re interested in learning more about cavity prevention, contact Dr. Larry Lieberman, DDS at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and surrounding areas.

What Bad Breath Could Mean | Palm Harbor Dentist

Do you suspect you have bad breath? If so, it might be an indication of other problems and not just a lack of proper oral hygiene. With perpetual bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth may be a warning sign of gum (periodontal) disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on teeth. Bacteria cause the formation of toxins to form, which irritate the gums. If gum disease continues untreated, it can damage the gums and jawbone.

The medical condition dry mouth also can cause bad breath. Saliva is necessary to moisten the mouth, neutralize acids produced by plaque, and wash away dead cells that accumulate on the tongue, gums, and cheeks. If not removed, these cells decompose and can cause bad breath. Dry mouth may be a side effect of various medications, salivary gland problems, or continuous breathing through the mouth.

Many other diseases and illnesses may cause bad breath. Here are some to be aware of: respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems.

Bad breath can be reduced or prevented if you:

Practice good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Brush teeth after you eat (keep a toothbrush at work or school to brush after lunch). Don’t forget to brush the tongue, too. Replace your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or after an illness. Use floss or an interdental cleaner to remove food particles and plaque between teeth once a day. Dentures should be removed at night and cleaned thoroughly before being placed in your mouth the next morning.
See your dentist regularly — at least twice a year. He or she will conduct an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning and will be able to detect and treat periodontal disease, dry mouth, or other problems that may be the cause of bad mouth odor.
Stop smoking and chewing tobacco-based products. Ask your dentist for tips on kicking the habit.
Drink lots of water. This will keep your mouth moist. Chewing gum (preferably sugarless) or sucking on candy (preferably sugarless) also stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria. Gums and mints containing xylitol are best.
Keep a log of the foods you eat. If you think they may be causing bad breath, bring the log to your dentist to review. Similarly, make a list of the medications you take. Some drugs may play a role in creating mouth odors(Source: WebMD).

In most cases, your dentist can treat the cause of bad breath. If your dentist determines that your mouth is healthy and the odor is not of oral origin, you may be referred to your family doctor or to a specialist to determine the odor source and treatment plan. If the odor is due to gum disease, for example, your dentist can either treat the disease or refer you to a periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating gum conditions.

To find out more about bad breath contact Dr. Larry Lieberman and make an appointment 727-785-8017 or visit our website at www.dentist-lieberman.com.

Accepting patients from Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and all surrounding areas.