It’s Your
Smile
Turn Your
Frown
Upside
Down!
By Dr. Jernell Escobar
Dr. Escobar has been practicing
dentistry in the Bay Area since
2006. She took over Dr. Palmerlee’s
practice when he retired in 2012.
She is passionate about providing
exceptional oral health care in
a patient centered environment.
Dr. Escobar participates in
continuing education seminars with
other leading clinicians in exploring
new and innovative methods and
materials for restoring smiles.
A
smile costs nothing but gives much.
A smile cannot be bought, begged,
borrowed, or stolen, because it is
something that is of no value to anyone until it
is given away.
Research has proven that smiling is a
“natural drug” because it improves ones health
by reducing stress, boosting ones immune
system, lowering blood pressure, preventing
one from looking tired, and shows one’s confi-
dence. Studies have shown that smiling releases
endorphins, the body’s natural pain reliever,
and seratonin.
So, the simple act of smiling not only sends
a message to your brain that you’re happy, it
also sends a message to others and can make
them happy too. Studies have shown that
something as simple as seeing a friend smile
can activate the muscles in your face to make
that same expression, without you even being
aware that you are doing it.
And, it’s not something we think of much,
but our teeth have a very important role in
smiling. Our teeth help us chew and digest
food, they help us to talk and speak clearly,
they also give our face its shape, but they also
help with our smile.
People with healthy teeth and gums smile
more often, and when you smile more often,
you have better self-confidence, you feel hap-
pier, you change your physical appearance,
you have a more positive mind-set, you’re less
stressed out and you feel healthier.
It makes sense, then, to help maintain that
smile, to give your oral health the best care
possible. In the U.S., the first week of August
was National Smile Week, although it was
really celebrated the whole month.
In the United Kingdom, they have a
National Smile Month, the UK’s largest and
longest-running oral health campaign that
hopes to raise awareness of important health
issues, and make a positive difference to the
oral health of millions of people.
With that in mind, here are some of their
top tips for good oral health, to keep you
smiling, taken from their website
nationalsmilemonth.org.
• Clean in between your teeth using inter-
dental brushes or floss. This helps clean a
higher portion of the tooth and prevent the
build-up of plaque.
• A diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and
fresh fruit and vegetables can help prevent
gum disease.
• Eating and drinking naturally weakens the
enamel on your teeth, and brushing after-
wards can cause tiny particles of enamel
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
to be brushed away. It is best not to brush
your teeth until at least one hour after
eating.
• Chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva to
help prevent your mouth from drying out.
• Always tell your dentist about changes to
your health, as it may help them prevent
gum disease from developing.
• Use a mouthwash containing anti-bacterial
to help control gum disease.
• If you or your child has a sweet tooth, look
for sugar-free sweets.
• Quitting smoking will help you reduce the
chances of developing a whole host of oral
health problems, including gum disease,
tooth decay, yellow teeth and mouth cancer.
• Don’t forget to brush your tongue, or use a
tongue scraper.
• Electric toothbrushes are more effective at
removing plaque. Those with head s that
rotate in both directions (“oscillating”
heads) and pulsate are the most effective.
They are particularly useful for people with
limited movement, such as disabled or
elderly people, who often find that using a
manual toothbrush does not allow them to
clean thoroughly.
• Cold sores are infectious and the infect-
ing virus can be passed to other people by
close contact (such as kissing). A cold sore
is most infectious when it is blistering. It is
important to try and avoid touching cold
sores as you can pass the virus on to other
people’s hands and even, very rarely, to your
own eyes. Avoid squeezing, pinching or
pricking the cold sore as this can spread the
infection.
• If you wear dentures, the general rule is:
brush, soak, brush. Always clean your den-
tures over a bowl of water or a folded towel
in case you drop them. Brush your dentures
before soaking, to help remove any food
debris. Using an effervescent (fizzy) denture
cleaner will help remove stubborn stains
and leave your denture feeling fresher.
• It is better for your teeth and general health
if you eat three meals a day plus no more
than two snacks, instead of having lots of
snack attacks.
• It is better for your teeth if you drink fruit
juices just at meal times. If you are drinking
them between meals, try diluting them with
water and rinsing your mouth with water
after drinking. Drinking through a straw
can help the drink go to the back of your
mouth without touching your teeth.
• And, of course, visit your dentist regularly.
Twice a year is recommended.
gmhtoday.com
25