Your teeth's biggest enemy is food
Feb 28, 2024

A recent article in the New York Times about the worst food for your teeth inspired this post. But since not all readers of the Huszti Dental Care blog are subscribers to that newspaper, we thought we would write our own.

We start with this: There are lots of foods that can be bad for your teeth. But the real issue comes in how people eat those foods.

  • Sugar Bombs: Candy, pastries and sugary drinks can be a one-way ticket to a cavity. Bacteria in your mouth love to feast on sugar, leading to enamel erosion and tooth decay. Consider these treats an occasional indulgence, and always rinse with water afterward. Sugary drinks like shakes and sodas are bad because you sip on them for a long time, which means your mouth hasn't had enough time to fight off the last round of sips before take another. That means the pH in your mouth is off for a longer period of time. That bad pH means cavity-causing bacteria has a longer time to do its evil work.
  • Acid Attacks: Foods and drinks high in acidity, like citrus fruits, pickles and sodas, can weaken your enamel over time, making your teeth more prone to damage. Limit your intake. Some people think using a straw to minimize the drink's contact with your teeth can help. It may not help, but it won't necessarily hurt.
  • Sticky Stowaways: Sticky snacks such as caramels, dried fruit and chewy candies can cling to your teeth like nobody's business, providing a breeding ground for cavity-causing bacteria. If you must indulge, brush and floss diligently afterward to remove any lingering residue.
  • Crunchy Culprits: Potato chips, pretzels and other crunchy snacks might satisfy your cravings, but they can also wreak havoc on your teeth by getting lodged between them, which promotes plaque buildup. Opt for healthier alternatives like raw veggies or nuts instead.

At Huszti Dental Care, we don't recommend you completely cut out sugary foods and drinks. We just suggest you be conscious of how you take them in and rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after eating or drinking.

Bottom line: what you eat matters, not just for your waistline, but for your dental health too. Choose tooth-friendly snacks and beverages, and remember to brush and floss regularly to keep your smile shining bright.

By Ron Bernas 11 Apr, 2024
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By Ron Bernas 12 Mar, 2024
The videos are all over Instagram and TikTok, which means many Huszti Dental Care patients are asking about them. In these trends, young men – mostly – chew on a flexible silicone ball and their jawlines are instantly transformed into the chiseled look of a male model. Other videos demonstrate “mewing” the practice of pressing your tongue to the roof of your closed mouth. Done regularly, it is said to reduce sagging skin under your chin, thus creating a square jawline. Spoiler alert: No matter what these videos may show, these practices don’t work and may even be detrimental. Let’s start with mewing. This has been around since the 1970s and its creators say it helps resolve issues from misaligned teeth to sleep apnea, speech disorders and more. Disorders like these, the creators – Dr. John Mew and his son Mike – say have been caused by the fact that people’s jaws are getting smaller. That part is true. Chances are it won’t hurt you, but here is very little evidence to support the doctors’ claims. The funny part is that, if not done properly, there is some reason to believe mewing can lead to the very things it was meant to fix. Give this one a pass. The more problematic of these two trends is the one often called Jawzrsize, for the product that launched the craze. Chewing on a rubber or silicone ball as a jaw workout designed to square up the jaw and reduce double chins. Doing this can strengthen your bite, but for the vast majority of people, there is no need for that. Problem No. 1 is that patients can develop temporomandibular disorders, which is pain in the jaw and the muscles that control it. Injuries can occur causing popping and clicking of the jaw and, importantly, pain. A second possibility dentists worry about with jaw strengtheners, is that the device puts force on the teeth in ways that could cause them to move, causing alignment issues and loosening of teeth. Another potential problem is that chewing stimulates the production of stomach acid because the body thinks it’s getting some food. Because it is not, the extra acid the body produces can lead to acid reflux, which erodes teeth. We’ve said this over and over , and we’ll say it again. Don’t take medical advice from teenagers on social media. Huszti Dental Care professionals can explain the pros and cons and help you to make an informed choice. And always remember, just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true.
By Ron Bernas 09 Feb, 2024
Dental school these days is not only about learning biology, chemistry and chairside manner. It's about becoming part of a national and international network of dental practitioners. And, just as important, it's about being part of the community from which you draw patients. Olivia and Sophia Huszti, daughters of Huszti Dental Care owners Drs. Bill Huszti and Anna Chong-Huszti, are students at University of Detroit Mercy's School of Dentistry. It's the same school where Bill and Anna met and learned about how important organized dentistry can be in terms of networking, continued education and support of dental practitioners. Here is only a bit of what Olivia and Sophia have been involved in recently. National Leadership Conference in Chicago with ASDA (American Student Dental Association) Dental students from around the country are selected from applications to attend NLC to learn more about the dental profession and being a leader in this field. Olivia and Sophia were selected to represent Detroit Mercy's School of Dentistry. At the conference, above) they listened to various lectures, networked with other dental students and others within the dental profession.
By William Huszti 24 Jan, 2024
Lions Colors Fly High at Huszti Dental
By Ron Bernas 21 Nov, 2023
It's the holiday season and probably the sweetest time of the year. While that may be good for your tastebuds, it isn't necessarily good for your overall oral health. Here are a few things you can do to keep a little annual indulgence from becoming a problem. Watch your sugar intake. Yes, that is a little difficult when relatives and friends and coworkers share pumpkin and pecan pies, cookies, cakes and candies. Or when you have some sweet hot chocolate to wind down at the end of a long day. Look for sugar-free alternatives when possible and remember to brush your teeth after enjoying those sugary delights. Drink lots of water! It helps wash away food particles that can get caught in the nooks and crannies. That's a good thing! Another benefit of drinking water is that it helps keep your mouth moist. Both of these things help reduce tooth decay. Chew sugar-free gum. It stimulates production of saliva, which is the body's natural way of cleaning your teeth. (Chewing gum is also a way to stop yourself from having just one more sweet treat. Eat healthy foods, too. Most people graduate toward the sweets, so that leaves the path to the carrots, broccoli and other crisp veggies available. Fresh vegetables can neutralize acids in the mouth, which is what you want for health teeth and gums. Use a straw. Beverages travel to all parts of your mouth, coating your teeth with sugar. If you are drinking something that is especially sugary or acidic, using a straw will minimize contact with your teeth. Don't forget your good habits: Don't let the parties, the preparations and the work that comes with making the holidays special distract you from brushing and flossing at least twice a day. These tips should help you have a happy and healthy holiday season!
By Ron Bernas 15 Oct, 2023
It's Scary Season! So many people spend October getting ready for one of the biggest kid-centered days of the year: Halloween. They design funn or horror-inducing costumes, bake witchy cookies, decorate their homes to make them look like haunted houses and watch scary movies. Most people love a good scare every now and then -- some people even think it's a good stress release -- but there is one place you don't need to be scared of. That place is Huszti Dental Care, serving Milford and Highland. We designed our whole office experience, from requesting an appointment (see the button below) to the invoice at the end to be pain, stress and scare free. Fear of the dentist, or dentophobia, is a real thing. It's very common and often stems from a lack of knowledge about what happens during a dental visit. Huszti Dental Care even has a video tour of their Milford Road office, which should help eliminate any fears. We get it. Patients often think a visit to the dentist will involve pain. That may have been true in the past, but it isn't now, especially at Huszti Dental Care. Most of our patients come in for cleanings and, while holding your mouth open while one of our team members perform an examination may be uncomfortable, there is generally no pain. Even if you experience pain in the dental office, that can be a good thing! Pain is a sign that something needs to be addressed by our hygienists, doctors and specialists. If there is an issue, the Huszti Dental Care team has invested in the newest technology to improve outcomes, but also to eliminate pain. We use this tool instead of a needle for some anesthetics! We've even addressed the fear of a hefty bill for dental work by working with most insurances and knowing what to do to keep costs down. We all work together to ensure that you leave smiling after a good experience. Getting over your fears of dentists is an important way to keep your oral health in good shape. So this Halloween season, if you want scares, visit a haunted house. To take control of your oral hygiene, come visit us. There is nothing to fear!
By William Huszti 09 Oct, 2023
Unraveling the Threads of Optimal Oral Hygiene 
By Ron Bernas 03 Oct, 2023
Huszti Dental Care prides itself on being at the leading edge of dentistry when it comes to treatment and technology to provide better results in less invasive ways for the people of Milford and Highland. But what you might not know is that the practice is the oldest continually running dental practice in the area. Its history dates back to the 1940s and, with Drs. Huszti and Chong-Huszti's two daughters in dental school, it looks like its future is set for quite a while. Three decades ago, fresh out of University of Detroit Mercy's School of Dentistry, the newlyweds spent a lot of time touring southeastern Michigan, looking for the right place to set up a practice. They wanted someplace with a community feel, where they could become part of the town's fabric and where they could raise their children. But they went out with open minds — they would know it when they saw it. "When we found Highland and Milford, we knew it was it," said Dr. Chong-Huszti. "It had a small-town feel that we really loved. Everyone was so friendly, we knew we had found our home." As they explored the area, they found so much more to love. Avid runners, the two explored the many trails at Kensington Park both walking and training for extended runs. They enjoyed the large, undeveloped areas that meant natural beauty was never far away. And when they built their state-of-the-art building on Milford Road near Highland, they ensured patients could also look out over the protected wetlands while visiting the office. The view has calmed many anxious patients. They discovered that the practice they purchased dated back to the 1940s and a small brick building on N. Milford Road in Highland. The practice went from father to son before it was sold, moved and expanded over the years. In 2002, the practice moved to its current location. Over the years, the Husztis have become a proud booster of Highland and Milford, sponsoring events, visiting schools to teach about good oral hygiene, and supporting local businesses and events. If you want to know how much they love Milford, check out this short film ! If you love Highland and Milford as much as Huszti Dental Care does, we would love to meet you! Call for an appointment today.
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