Do You Need Dental X-rays?

Although dental X-rays play a vital role in detecting serious oral health problems, not all X-ray methods are created equally. Because radiation exposure can be dangerous, especially for the developing tissues of children, dentists and patients must be wary of the type of X-rays they use. Because of this, experts recommend that dentists forgo annual routine X-rays and instead allow the patient’s needs and medical history to determine whether or not an X-ray is necessary. For the full article, click here.  

Teach Kids To Have Fun With Dental Health

The philosophy that children learn best through fun and games is not a new one, which is why the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) created their website, www.padental.org/kidscorner. Their Kids Corner section debuts the lovable Topher Tooth who teaches children how to take care of their teeth through interactive games and activities. The website also features a section on nutrition, brushing and flossing and frequently asked questions. For the full article click here.

Helpful Tips for Maintaining Good Oral Health

You only get one body and one natural set of teeth, so it’s important that you actively work to preserve the health of both. By scheduling regular visits with your dentist, switching to an electric toothbrush and identifying whether your grind or clench your teeth, you can help to maintain strong, healthy teeth throughout your life. By following five simple tips, you’ll be on the road to healthier teeth. For the full article, please click here.

Let Your Mouth Do the Talking and the Listening

A new cutting edge hearing aid allows patients with single-sided deafness to hear through their teeth. Because bone is a good conductor of sound, patients are able to hear again when sound is transmitted through their teeth. This recent technology is called the Sound Bite Hearing System and it allows hearing-impaired patients a convenient and non-invasive way to hear sound. Read the full article here.

Polar Bear Cub Gets Much Needed Dental Care

After a polar bear cub was discovered abandoned and extremely thin in Manitoba, Canada, she was transported to Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg where she underwent a dental procedure to extract two broken and infected baby teeth and one adult tooth. The polar bear was sedated prior to the procedure and is now making a full recovery back at the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre. For the full article, please click here.

Rohnert Park Dentist’s Homemade Toothpaste Recipe

Your favorite Rohnert Park Dentist has found a safe alternative to the common toothpastes! Did you know that there are simple recipes you can make at home?

Once you realize how easy it is to make DIY toothpaste you will never again spend a fortune on the store-bought brands.

The Keeper Of The Home shared some amazing tips that inspired us. Baking  soda alone will definitely go to work for your pearly whites. To amplify the results, team it up with sea salt. This is a gentle yet abrasive clean. Another option is to use a mineral powder such as calcium and/or magnesium. Don't hesitate to add hydrogen peroxide to the powder right before use or rinse with hydrogen peroxide for added benefit.

Adding coconut oil to the recipe will form a paste, and antibacterial properties. Essential oils will add flavor. Your recipe can be as simple as coconut oil, baking soda, a dash of salt, and essential oil.

Recently I have been completely inspired by the benefits of  xylitol and have now come to realize that it is the best way to help combat the saltiness. Xylitol, according to research, does appear to be safe and effective for cavity prevention. I also recently added trace mineral drops to my paste. I use these to add minerals back into our reverse osmosis filtered water when making water kefir and I thought it would be a great addition to our toothpaste as well.

Homemade Toothpaste

2 Tbsp. coconut oil

2 Tbps. baking soda

2 Tbsp. calcium magnesium powder

2 Tbps. xylitol or green stevia powder

2 tsp. real sea salt

20 drops essential oil (I use peppermint.)

10 drops trace minerals

Simply read, the recipe is just: equal parts coconut oil, baking soda, calcium/magnesium powder, xylitol with a dash of salt, a few drops trace minerals, and essential oils to taste.

Another easy to make, yet effective recipe was found by DIY Natural and also includes a complete savings breakdown for our cost conscious clientele.

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup baking soda
• 4 tsp fine sea salt (optional – gives paste extra scrubbing power, but is okay to leave out if the taste is too salty)
• 1 – 2 tsp peppermint extract or 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil (or add your favorite flavor – spearmint, orange, etc.)
• water (add to desired consistency)

COST BREAKDOWN & SAVINGS

Here is the breakdown in cost analysis for 5.33oz of this homemade toothpaste:

• baking soda @ 16oz = $1.00 | 2/3 cup is 5.33oz which = $0.33
• fine sea salt @ 22oz = $2.00 | 4tsp is .66oz which = $0.06
• peppermint extract @ 1oz = $3.00 | 2tsp is .33oz which = $1.04 | Better yet, use 1tsp is .17oz which = $0.52

(**note** you can use as much or as little peppermint or other flavor as you wish, add the flavoring little by little until you reach an amount you enjoy.)

Tom’s of Maine Spearmint Gel® costs an average of $5.00 for a 5.2oz tube.  Based on the calculations above the same amount of the homemade toothpaste will cost  between $0.91 and $1.43 for 5.33oz, depending on how much flavoring is used.

The cost savings will be between $4.09 – $3.57 per tube!

Since you are on a roll saving money, come visit our Rohnert Park Dentist Office for a free teeth whitening with any dental exam! Call today to schedule your visit!

(707) 200-1191