In 1984, President Ronald Reagan decreed a day for ice cream and his proclamation for the dairy industry in America. Every third Sunday in July is when all Americans celebrate their love for ice cream on National Ice Cream Day. At Cakmes Dental, we love our ice cream, don’t get us wrong, although we must warn you what happens if you don’t keep your teeth clean when you indulge in the frosty treat. Cavities are the number one disease in your teeth that comes from sugar. Cavities are preventable, so here are a few ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy from the sugars in your favorite dessert.

Space out the Sweets

When you eat sweets, such as ice cream, the pH level in your mouth drops, making it more acidic. Acid is not suitable for your tooth enamel, and the bacteria associated with cavity formation thrive in acidic conditions. A healthy mouth is overwhelmed if it has to defend against acid attack multiple times a day, which is why you should limit the number of times you eat sweets throughout the day. At Cakmes Dental, we fully support eating ice cream during a designated time of the day: Dessert Time! 

Swish Your Teeth With Water

Establishing healthy habits after consuming lots of sugar will help your teeth significantly. If you swish water in your mouth after eating sugar, it will help clean your teeth, but do not scrub your tooth enamel. Brushing your teeth immediately after eating sugar can weaken your enamel from the acid attacks.

Don’t Eat Your Ice Cream in Bed

Nights of sleep and sweets do not mix. Late-night eating before bed poses its threat to tooth enamel. If you eat sweets right before bed, you increase a risk that your saliva won’t adequately rebalance your mouth, and cavities can be created from bacteria. Make sure you eat your ice cream before falling asleep and do not brush your teeth too soon after eating your ice cream! Timing is everything.

For National Ice Cream Day, check out if there are any specials at your local ice cream parlor, or try to make your own ice cream. Make sure to schedule teeth cleaning with us at Cakmes Dental to ensure you don’t have any cavities. Head to our website for more information.

Root Canals have a horrible reputation: the terrifying name, the horror stories from the dental chair, and everything else surrounding the title. In reality, root canals are not that bad. Millions of teeth are treated and saved by root canals each year, relieving pain and making teeth healthy again. Root canals are something many adults have to deal with, so we are here to break down the procedure to make those nerves go away when you hear from your dentist that you need a root canal.

A root canal treatment is nothing like the scary stories you hear about, with the help of modern-day dentistry. Root canals are very similar to a routine filling and can usually be completed in just one trip to your dentist. A root canal is relatively painless and extremely effective. When you undergo a root canal, the inflamed pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed.

A root canal’s advantages are efficient chewing, regular biting force, natural appearance, and protection for other teeth from excessive wear or strain. How do you know if you need a root canal? There are a few symptoms people experience, which means that a root canal is necessary. Symptoms may include severe pain while chewing, pimples on the gums, a chipped tooth, sensitivity to hot or cold, swollen gums, and darkening gums. 

After a root canal procedure, most patients can return to school or work. Your mouth is numb for around 2-4 hours following the procedure, so the only advisory given is not to eat until the numbness is gone. Root canals are an easy procedure. You can eat up to 1 hour before a procedure, and you can receive local anesthesia not to feel any pain. 

At Cakmes Dental, we promise to give efficient and pain-free treatments. Our doctors and dental team make the experience as easy as possible for our patients, breaking the stigma of root canals being painful and scary. If you are experiencing any tooth sensitivity or pain, please give us a call or head to our website. We’ll let you know if a root canal can help stop your pain.