How the Color Red Affects Your Oral Health - Corbet Locke D.D.S. Corbet Locke D.D.S. in Woodway
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How the Color Red Affects Your Oral Health

added on: February 1, 2012

Teeth are commonly associated with one specific color—white! However, one other color has an important role in healthy teeth. The first Friday in February is National Wear Red Day, created to raise awareness for women’s heart health. Let’s take a look at some of the important red items that affect your dental health.

Red Hearts

We’re not talking about the red Valentine’s Day hearts. Your dental health affects your overall body health, including your heart. Heart disease and heart attacks are often linked to periodontal disease. Your oral bacteria can spread throughout your bloodstream and clog your arteries or inflame your tissues. Keeping your mouth clean of harmful bacteria will help protect your heart health.

Red Gums

Your gums should naturally be a pinkish color. Red or bleeding gums are generally one of the first signs of gum disease. If your gums are swollen or sore, visit Dr. Locke immediately to address any gum infection concerns.

Red Food

Strawberries may be one of the few red foods that can actually brighten your smile. Many colored foods, like red wine, tomato sauce, and cherries, can leave a mark on your smile. Your teeth will soak in the red color from these foods and begin to show signs of discoloration. Also beware of dark-colored brown or black foods.

Red Hair

Studies show that redheads have a more difficult time at the dentist due to their sensitivity to pain. The gene that affects hair color also determines your pain tolerance.  Fortunately Dr. Locke’s sedation techniques can ease nerves and panic for redheads, blondes, brunettes, and all other hair colors.

It’s not necessary to wear red only on February 3, because you do it every day in your mouth and body! A red color tells you that your heart and blood are healthy. Furthermore, your tongue and palate are light reddish shades, and any altered coloring should be reported to Dr. Locke. To make sure all the reds in your mouth are supposed to be there, contact Dr. Locke at our dentist office in Waco, Texas, at (254) 776-4888.