Eating Your Way to a Healthy Mouth

While it is common knowledge that you need to brush and floss for a healthy mouth, many do not know that eating can help, too! At Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, our patients’ oral health is our top priority. Take some of these tasty tips for eating your way to a healthy mouth!

Dairy Milk is great for building strong bones and teeth. The calcium in milk aids in building enamel and keeping it strong. In addition, milk lowers the levels of acid in your mouth, further protecting teeth and gums. Cheese yields similar results. One more powerful dairy product is yogurt. The good bacteria in yogurt help fight bad bacteria in your mouth, especially bad breath-causing bacteria!

Citrus Citrus fruits like clementines and limes are great for healthy gums. They strengthen blood vessels and connective tissues that hold your teeth to your jaw. They can also reduce inflammation.

Crunchy Fruits and Veggies Crunchy and fibrous foods like cucumbers and apples help clean teeth as you eat them. The fibers scrape against your teeth and remove plaque! If you’re worried about plaque at a party, go for the snack trays!

Polyphenols Foods and drinks like cranberries and tea contain polyphenols, which help prevent plaque from sticking to your teeth. This can lower your risk of cavities. In addition, green tea has properties that help fight bad breath!

Food is a major contributor to your overall health, including the health of your mouth. Be sure you are getting the right nutrients to function at your peak! To learn more about Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

At-Home Tips for Controlling Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can increase the risk for several types of dangerous conditions like heart failure and stroke. That is why it is important to seek treatment, like we have available here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY. In addition to the treatment we can provide, there are some at-home tips to help minimize the effects of obstructive sleep apnea.

Your Sleeping Position. Sleeping on your side is the best sleep position for someone with sleep apnea. Sleeping on your back can worsen the symptoms and effects of sleep apnea. Sleeping on your side will help keep your airway open.

Sedatives. The second tip is to avoid sleep aids and alcohol. Sedatives, alcohol, and anything else that can depress your breathing can also make sleep apnea worse. If a person with sleep apnea is heavily sedated, the combination can be highly dangerous because the body may not react as it should to begin breathing. This can result in death in severe cases.

Healthy Weight. A healthy weight is very important for patients with sleep apnea. Overweight individuals can make the effects of sleep apnea much worse because it can cause further collapse of your airway. Live a healthy lifestyle of eating right and exercising daily. You can talk to your doctor about safe ways to lose weight if needed.

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that should be treated. If you are suffering from sleep apnea, it’s important to find out your options for treatment. To schedule an appointment with Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com.