Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is believed to be the world’s most common habit, with about 100,000 tons of it being chewed each year. Although some people may find it annoying, there are also some benefits. Surprisingly, chewing gum can actually be helpful to your dental health. Chewing gum in various forms has been around since ancient times. The Greeks chewed sap from the mastic tree, called mastiche. On the other side of the world, the ancient Mayans favored the sap of the sapodilla tree called tsicite and the Native Americans chewed the sap from the spruce tree. Today, the base used for most gum products is a blend of synthetic materials.

Read More

Cold Sores

Cold sores are never any fun, here is some information explaining what a cold sore is, where is comes from and how it can be treated.

What are cold sores?

Cold sores, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth, they can also develop on the inside of the mouth. The skin around the blisters is often red, swollen and sore. In some cases, the blisters may break open and leak a clear fluid and then scab over after a few days. The healing time for a cold sore can be anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.

Read More

Here are some fun and interesting facts about our teeth and dental hygiene

  • 83% of people believe their teeth are more important to their appearance than hair and eyes.
  • 80% of people are not happy with their smile.
  • 50% of people consider the smile the first facial feature they notice.
  • According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the average person only brushes for 45 to 70 seconds a day, the recommended amount of time is 2-3 minutes.
  • The average woman smiles about 62 times a day! A man, only 8. And children laugh around 400 times a day compared to adults at 15 times a day.
  • 33% of Americans have untreated tooth decay.
  • People who drink 3 or more sugary drinks a day have 62% more dental decay.
  • 78% of Americans had had at least one cavity by age 17.
  • The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime. That is enough to fill 2 swimming pools.
  • If you don’t floss, you miss cleaning 35% of your tooth surfaces.
  • A tooth that has been knocked out starts to die within 15 minutes, but if you put it in milk or hold it in your mouth it will survive longer. See a dentist as soon as possible if this happens.
  • The calcium and phosphorus found in cheese is healthy for your teeth. It reduces the pH level in plaque and re-mineralizes the enamel. Aged Cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack are some of the best.
  • A sneeze zooms out of your mouth at over 600mph. Wow!
  • Tooth decay is the 2nd most common disease in the U.S. after the common cold.
  • Teeth are the hardest substance in the body.
  • People don’t chew up and down, but side to side.
  • The average American will spend 38.5 during their lifetime brushing their teeth.
  • An elephant’s molar weighs about 8 pounds.
  • Dental plaque contains more than 300 species of bacteria.
  • More people choose blue toothbrushes over red.

We used several sources for these facts. If you know any yourself, please share them with us.

Read More

Beautiful Smiles for a Bright Future

Would you like to join the Willow Point Dental family and experience a true patient-centric dental practice?

Office Information

Phone:

(706) 327-3364
Willow Point Dental
7189 Moon Rd
Columbus, GA 31909
Get Directions

Office Hours:

  • Monday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Tuesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Wednesday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
  • Friday By Appointment Only
  • Saturday Closed
  • Sunday Closed