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Let’s Celebrate World Oral Health Day! | Ottawa Dentist

We all know that our health is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, many of us don’t link oral health to general health, even though it’s DIRECTLY linked to our overall health. We breathe with our mouths, eat and drink with our mouths, if there is a way for a germ to get into our system, it’s likely through our mouth. And this is why it is so important to keep up with our oral hygiene.

According to the FDI World Dental Association, oral diseases affect nearly 4 billion people around the globe, including gum disease, oral cancer, and tooth loss. About 30% of people between the ages of 65 and 74 have no natural teeth.

What better way to celebrate World Oral Health Day than to take stock of our dental health practices? You may think your dental professional holds the keys to your optimal dental health, but it is our duty to keep up with our dental hygiene in between dental appointments. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Brush regularly. You may brush your teeth daily, but it needs to last at least two minutes.

Flossing. Flossing your teeth on a regular basis is ideal to get food and debris in areas a toothbrush can’t reach.

Rinse with mouthwash. Using a mouthwash daily loosens leftover food debris and plaque, just make sure it is ADA approved.

Lose the tobacco. Avoid cigarettes and chewing tobacco, as these types of products contribute to gum disease.

Get healthy. Keeping up a healthy diet will provide the nutrients that are necessary to prevent gum disease.

Visit the dentist. Visiting your dentist regularly for checkups, teeth cleanings, and other dental procedures needed to keep your mouth healthy.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Let’s Celebrate International Eat an Apple Day! | Ottawa Dentist

Have you ever given your teacher an apple? Have you ever heard of the Welsh proverb, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Apples aren’t just randomly chosen to represent a teacher’s pet or a deterrent for going to the doctor, but there are actual health benefits that are bringing this delicious fruit to the forefront of healthy snack options. But did you know that these shiny apples are also helping you keep a health and shiny smile in the process? It’s true. Apples are not only healthy for our overall health, but also helps our mouths stay healthy in the process.

Apples are fantastic on a couple of levels – they are a delicious hand-held snack on the go and they help prevent lots of health issues. What kind of health issues? Believe it or not, apples can lend a hand with various stages of dementia and cancers, help lower cholesterol, aid in the symptoms of diabetes and of course helps when working on weight loss. And that’s not even including your smile!

When it comes to our smiles, the apple will have a dual line of defense against dental issues. Because apples are delightfully crispy, every bite you take gets into the places between your teeth a regular scrub can’t quite get to effectively. Apples also contain malic acid, which acts as a quick scrub on your teeth as you consume the juicy fruit. Speaking of juicy fruit, eating an apple will increase saliva production, and saliva helps naturally rinse our mouth of cavity-causing bacteria.

On September 17th we celebrate International Eat an Apple Day, so go ahead and snack on the greatest natural snack around. Don’t forget your teacher!

If you would like more information about the benefits of apples, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com.

Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.