As Presidents’ Day approaches, we thought it would be interesting to review a little Presidential dental history. As it turns out, all of us have dental issues – even our Presidents! Here are a few little-known facts about our past commanders-in-chief and the dental challenges they faced.

The myth about George Washington and wooden teeth: While it’s true that the Father of Our Country did wear dentures, they weren’t made of wood. In fact, President Washington had several different sets of dentures, each made of a different material. Those included artificial teeth made from bone, ivory, lead, and even other people’s teeth, to name just a few. Our first President suffered from dental problems throughout his life, which made him somewhat reluctant to speak in public or even to crack a smile.

John Quincy Adams and the mercury problem: As a young man, our 6th President suffered from smallpox. To treat the disease, Adams was given – believe it or not — mercury! Although this may sound strange, mercury was actually commonly used to treat smallpox in that day and age. As a result, President Adams suffered from terrible oral health for the remainder of his life.

The reason why President Roosevelt had such straight teeth: If you think braces are a new idea, think again! In fact, FDR wore braces when he was a child in the late 19th century. As a result, he had beautifully straight teeth for the rest of his life.

Honest Abe’s connection to dental sedation: President Lincoln is considered by many people to be our greatest President, and was largely responsible for ending slavery and rejoining our nation after the Civil War. But we might be able to give him credit for something else as well – dental anesthetic! While President Lincoln wasn’t the first patient to undergo some form of dental sedation, he was reportedly the first President to do so. History tells us that Lincoln was traumatized by having a tooth pulled as a young boy. Apparently, the procedure went terribly wrong and the young Lincoln ended up losing part of his jawbone as a result, so it’s no wonder he lived the rest of his life with a fear of having dental work done.

Fortunately, dental technology has made huge strides in the last several decades, so many of the issues faced by some of our earlier Presidents can be avoided altogether today. Just be sure that you practice good oral hygiene at home and visit your dentist twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams.

Most of us know how important it is to brush and floss every day. But sometimes that daily regimen can become so much of a routine that we tend to hurry through it, and once that happens, our oral health can suffer. If you feel like you’re stuck in a rut when it comes to taking care of your teeth and gums, here are a few oral hygiene tips to get you back on the right track.

• Pay attention to how you’re brushing and to how long you’re doing it. Keep the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and use short back-and-forth strokes. Make sure you’re brushing every tooth surface, including both the front and back of your teeth. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when brushing their teeth is that they don’t brush for long enough. The American Dental Association recommends brushing for at least two minutes, so it might help to time yourself.
• Use the right kind of toothbrush. Whether you use a manual or electric brush, make sure the head fits easily inside your mouth, and that you can easily reach all tooth surfaces with the head of the brush. Soft bristles are usually best since there’s less chance of brushing too hard, which can actually cause damage to your enamel and hurt your gum tissue as well.
• Use the proper flossing technique. Rather than just running a strip of floss between each tooth, make sure the floss comes into contact with the tooth surface on each side. Try to create a C shape with the floss as you maneuver it between your teeth.
• Kick your oral hygiene routine up a notch. If you’re used to just brushing and flossing, consider adding to your routine by using an anti-bacterial mouthwash once or twice a day and a water flossing device at night. The mouthwash will help eliminate the bacteria that can cause gum disease, and the water flosser will remove leftover food particles that are difficult to reach with just flossing alone.

Of course a daily oral hygiene routine is just half the battle when it comes to maintaining good oral health. The other part involves visiting your dentist on a regular basis for oral exams and professional cleanings. Although the frequency of visits varies somewhat from one person to the next – depending on your oral health history and the current condition of your teeth and gums – most people will need to see their dentist twice per year. That, combined with paying close attention to your daily hygiene routine, will allow you to enjoy good oral health now and in all the years to come.

If you’re beginning to plan your list of New Year resolutions, don’t forget to add oral health goals to your list! When it comes to healthy teeth and gums, the little habits you practice day in and day out really do make a difference, and that means eating the right foods and avoiding foods and drinks that contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. Here are a few ways you can maintain good oral health in the coming year.

• Cut down on sugar. This first resolution should come as no surprise. We all know that sugar can lead to tooth decay. As it turns out, everyone loves sweet treats, and that includes the bacteria that lives inside your mouth. Sugar feeds that bad bacteria, and that means trouble for both your teeth and your gums.
• Eat more fresh produce. Not only will your overall health benefit from this resolution; your oral health will as well. While all types of fruits and vegetables can provide an abundance of vitamins and minerals, some are especially good for your teeth and gums. Apples and carrots, for example, help to clean your teeth and stimulate the flow of saliva, which works to wash away leftover food particles. Onions are great for your gums since they work to neutralize bad bacteria that can lead to gum disease.
• Enjoy more green tea. Some studies indicate that green tea, which is rich in antioxidants, can help to reduce the amount of inflammation in a person’s body, and that includes inflammation of the gums. Enjoying one cup of green tea each day is an excellent resolution to add to your list.
• Increase your calcium intake. Promise yourself to enjoy more yogurt, cheese and milk. Not only do these tasty treats contain more calcium; they also contain a protein called casein that neutralizes the acidity in your mouth. Left unchecked, acids can damage tooth enamel and harm gum tissue.

Of course, it goes without saying that the other important factor in maintaining good oral health is to follow a daily oral hygiene routine of brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Just as important is making sure to visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and exams. Following that routine, in addition to enjoying healthy foods and drinks, will help to make sure that you enjoy great oral health in the upcoming year.

Dental patients with tiny cracks in their teeth – cracks that are so small they don’t even appear on X-rays – are said to have “cracked tooth syndrome.” These tiny cracks can occur either above the gum line or below it, and they most commonly affect molars. This makes sense when you consider that our molars are the teeth we use to chew our food.

But why do some people develop cracked tooth syndrome and others do not? If you have large fillings in your molars, those teeth are more likely to crack. The same holds true for teeth that have undergone root canal treatment, which may weaken a tooth. And if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), your teeth may be more susceptible to cracking due to the excess pressure you put on your teeth.

Knowing whether or not you suffer from cracked tooth syndrome can be difficult to determine. But there are some symptoms to look for:

• A toothache when you chew or bite down — If you feel pain or sensitivity in a tooth, it may indicate that the tooth is cracked.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold food and drinks – If you notice sensitivity in a particular area of your mouth or a specific tooth, it may be a sign that a tooth is cracked. This is particularly true if the sensitivity is new.
• A tooth breaks – If a crack gets larger, it’s possible that a portion of the tooth may break off. When this happens, it’s important to visit your dentist right away to avoid developing an infection.

Cracked tooth syndrome can be hard to diagnose even for your dentist. If you are experiencing periodic toothaches, be sure to tell your dentist. He or she will most likely perform a thorough examination of your teeth, using instruments designed to locate small cracks. He or she may also recommend that X-rays be taken, although tiny cracks don’t always appear on X-rays. Your dentist may also ask that you bite down on a special dental tool that is designed to determine whether you are experiencing any pain when biting down.

If cracks are found in one or more teeth, treatment options vary depending on the size of the crack and how deeply it extends into the tooth. In some instances, a crown may resolve the issue. Other times, a root canal may be required. In extreme cases, a cracked tooth may need to be extracted, in which case your dentist will recommend a suitable replacement for the tooth – typically either a dental bridge or an implant.

If you suffer from cracked tooth syndrome, it’s important to talk to your dentist about ways to prevent further cracks from developing in the future. Although it’s difficult to avoid cracks forming in teeth that have been weakened by large fillings or root canals, it is possible to effectively treat bruxism, which is a leading cause of cracked tooth syndrome. Talk to your dentist for more information.