#wellbeing

Dec 10, 2019
4 min

13 Strange and Interesting Facts from the History of Orthodontics

Braces and orthodontic appliances are a common sight these days. They used to be something only seen on teenagers, but now it is common to see children, teens, and even adults in their fifties and sixties wearing braces. Is orthodontic treatment something only found in modern times? Interestingly, no. History is full of strange and interesting Orthodontic facts. 1. Archeologists have discovered evidence that people in many cultures have used various methods of straightening t

203 views

Dec 3, 2019
5 min

The 10 Most Common Dental Emergencies

If you are a parent, it may be difficult to know what to do if something happens to your child’s mouth. Do you go to the dentist or the ER? How quickly do you need to get it treated? What if it’s a Friday night? Should you wait until Monday? What qualifies as a dental emergency? How in the world are you supposed to find all this out with a child screaming in pain? It is helpful if you already know what to do when this situation arises, so we have created this guide to provide

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Nov 26, 2019
4 min

What Causes Orthodontic Problems? Can they be prevented?

Orthodontic problems are more common than you may think. People are becoming aware of the impact that orthodontic issues can have on their health, and this is reflected in the fact that dental braces are a common sight these days. They used to be something only seen on teenagers, but now it is normal to see children, teens, and even adults in their fifties and sixties wearing braces. With a growing number of people seeking orthodontic treatment, it is valuable to ask: what ca

151 views

Nov 19, 2019
5 min

How Food Impacts Gingivitis

It has become apparent that the food we eat has a significant impact on our health. Consuming the correct amounts of calories and nutrients is necessary, but it also important to get them from the right sources. A healthy diet leads to health, while an unhealthy diet leads to disease and feeling poorly. It may seem obvious, but this is also true for our mouths. What we eat plays an important role in keeping our teeth and gums healthy. Even if we have excellent oral hygiene an

364 views

Nov 12, 2019
5 min

11 Incredible Family Holiday Activities for 2019

As the song says, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Our weather is lovely, and all the holiday festivities are beginning. Even better, Arizona loves to celebrate, and there are holiday activities and events all around us! We have compiled this list of 11 activities you can enjoy this holiday season, including a wide variety of amazing lights shows, phenomenal performances, and Arizona’s own unique Tumbleweed Tree. From all of us at Jungle Roots Children’s Dentistry

583 views

Nov 5, 2019
5 min

Why Dental Sealants are Important for Your Child’s Health

Dental sealants are an easy and painless way to protect your child’s teeth and prevent cavities. The CDC states that sealants can reduce the risk of decay in molars by nearly 80% for two years after they are applied. In contrast, a child who does not promptly get sealants is three times more likely to get a cavity in their molars before they turn 12 than a child whose molars are covered by sealants. Since cavities are one of the most common health conditions in children and t

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Oct 22, 2019
5 min

What is included in Orthodontic Treatment?

October is National Orthodontic Health Month and it provides an important opportunity to bring awareness to the fact that dental health involves a whole lot more than simply getting your teeth cleaned regularly and filling cavities. Many people may connect braces or invisible aligners to the thought of Orthodontic treatment. However, there can be much more to the process of gaining optimal orthodontic health. Even the process of straightening teeth with braces involves more t

115 views

Oct 15, 2019
5 min

Things You Need to Know to Keep Your Kid’s Teeth Healthy

If you have any children, then you know that there is an overabundance of parenting advice floating around. With all this information, it can be hard to discover things that are most important to know. Even when it comes to healthy teeth, it can be difficult to learn what you need to know to help your child’s mouth stay cavity-free. To help you out, we have created this list of important information every parent needs to know so they do not make mistakes that could harm their

144 views

Oct 8, 2019
6 min

What Is Palatal Expansion and Why Is It Important?

Palatal expansion is simply widening the roof of your mouth, which is called your palate. It is a fairly common orthodontic treatment and there are quite a few reasons that an orthodontist would recommend it. This treatment is sometimes needed to correct the bite in ways that braces alone cannot do, and to allow more room for teeth to erupt. Like many orthodontic treatments, there is an optimal age for it, but anyone can get their palate widened if necessary. Why would palata

3,424 views

Oct 1, 2019
5 min

Canker Sores: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

If you have ever had a canker sore, you know how painful they can be. In fact, canker sores can be so excruciating that part of their medical name, oral aphthous ulcers, comes from the Greek word “aphthi” which means “to set on fire” or “to inflame” (1). Unfortunately, one in five people deals with these painful mouth ulcers. Although more common than dental caries (cavities) or periodontal disease, canker sores are still somewhat of a mystery. They have been observed in othe

659 views

Sep 24, 2019
4 min

The Basics About TMJ Disorders and Treatments

TMJ disorders are a common problem. More than 10 million Americans deal with the pain or loss of function associated with TMJ disorders. It seems like people blame its development on many different causes and rely on a variety of treatments. So, what really causes TMJ and can it be healed? TMJ is the abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint where your mandible (jawbone) meets the temporal bone of your skull on each side of your face. Temporomandibular

568 views

Sep 17, 2019
7 min

How do whitening products work and do they harm teeth?

Have you ever whitened your teeth? If so, you are not alone. According to Statista, more than 40 million Americans used a tooth whitening product in 2018. That means that nearly 1 out of every 5 adults tried to gain whiter teeth last year. Tooth whitening is so common that it may never have occurred to you to wonder if it is safe. You may assume that if it is allowed to be sold in stores that must mean it is harmless. What about for kids and teenagers? Is it safe for your 16-

260 views

Sep 13, 2019
5 min

Answers to Common Questions About Orthodontics (Part 3)

As with any new situation, if you or your child are planning to get braces you probably have a lot of questions. In the past few orthodontic blogs we have answered some common questions about orthodontic treatments, and about the rubber bands that some people need to wear with their braces. In this article, we are going to provide answers to a few more questions such as whether you can play sports or certain musical instruments with braces, if your braces will set off metal d

113 views

Sep 3, 2019
5 min

How Sharing Germs Impacts Your Dental Health

We all know that germs can spread a cold or flu and that it is important to wash your hands to reduce your exposure. However, did you know that cavities, gum disease, and other infections are also spread through saliva? Saliva does provide quite a bit of protection. It flushes germs away and contains antibodies, antimicrobial proteins, enzymes, and normal mouth flora (good bacteria) that help protect you and decrease the risk of sharing germs. However, it is not able to elim

190 views

Aug 27, 2019
5 min

Answers to Common Questions About Orthodontics (Part 2) – All About the Rubber Bands

A common element of orthodontic treatment for many people is the rubber bands, also called elastics. In our last orthodontic article, we discussed answers to some common questions about orthodontics and in this article, we are going to focus on questions about rubber bands. Why do I need rubber bands with my braces? While creating your orthodontic treatment plan, we carefully map the movement of your teeth. The movement is achieved by using tiny, constant amounts of force whi

3,131 views

Aug 20, 2019
5 min

Extraordinary Animals in the Jungles of India

India is an incredibly interesting place. Home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, it may conjure images of ancient temples, monkeys, and energetic, crowded cities. India is also the land of The Jungle Book, with many jungles full of tigers, elephants, snakes, and birds. The second most populated country in the world, India is home to over 1.3 billion people! A man in India, Vijay Kumar, has 37 teeth and holds the record for the human with the most teeth. The world’s

4,439 views

Aug 13, 2019
5 min

Answers to Common Questions About Orthodontics (Part 1)

If you’ve ever considered orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, you probably have questions. Some can only be answered by an Orthodontist, because every person is unique, and their treatment will vary. However, we would like to provide answers to some common orthodontic questions. What are my treatment options? Metal braces, which use metal brackets and wires, are the most common orthodontic treatment. Standard metal braces are much smaller than they were a few de

130 views

Aug 6, 2019
6 min

Incredible Animals in the Jungle of New Guinea

There are phenomenal jungles all over the world. Most people have heard of the rainforests in South America and India, but there are many more that have their own unique characteristics and animals. One of these little-known jungles is on the island of New Guinea. New Guinea is the world’s second-largest island, situated a bit north of Australia. Politically, it is split into two parts. The western half is composed of Papua and West Papua, which are provinces of Indonesia, an

1,495 views

Jul 23, 2019
7 min

Jungle Roots Guide to Fun Family Activities in Phoenix

Family outings are a wonderful way to enjoy each others company, but it can also be a challenge to find fun things to do without destroying your budget. To spark some ideas, we have compiled this list of things to do near Phoenix. Click on the links to find additional details and directions. We are not affiliated with any of these places and don’t receive anything when you click a link; we just want to help you have a great time together! We hope you find something interestin

241 views

Jul 16, 2019
7 min

11 Unusual Animals of Tarzan’s African Jungle

Although Africa is well known for the Sahara Desert, nearly a quarter of the African continent is covered by rainforests. These jungles are not as well know or protected as the Amazon, but what we do know is fascinating. The largest jungle in Africa is the Congo Basin, which is the second-largest rainforest in the world and is thought to be the setting for Tarzan. Africa also has many other, smaller rainforests. Altogether, Africa’s rainforests cover as much land as the Amazo

17,204 views