Sipping Your Way to Tooth Decay

Carbonated beverages are very popular. In fact, the typical American drinks 53 gallons of soda every year! It is nothing we haven't heard before: sugary beverages are bad for your teeth. In an attempt to be "healthier", many have switched to diet soda, iced tea, and sports drinks.

But the sugar in soda is only part of the problem. All these beverages contain citric and phosphoric acids which can start to decay tooth enamel. And, according to a study published in General Dentistry, energy drinks, lemonades, and iced teas are 11 times more decay producing than soft drinks because they contain flavor additives, such as malic acid, which are more aggressive at eroding the enamel! Tooth decay, fillings and lost teeth is 62% higher in people who drink three or more servings of sugary drinks per day.

We are not saying never drink these beverages. We all enjoy our favorite soft drink or a nice glass of sweet tea! But it is important to drink these beverages with a meal, all at once, and avoid sipping them throughout the day.

When sports drinks are sipped to quench thirst at a sporting event or soda (and even coffee or tea sweetened with sugar) is kept at your desk and sipped all through the workday, your teeth are bathed in the sugars and acids constantly! Saliva, your body's natural enzyme used to help cleanse your teeth, doesn't have a chance to help clean your teeth.

A good rule to follow: Everything in moderation! (And nothing beats a cold glass of water as a healthy alternative!)

Protection Your Children's Teeth Need

As a parent or caregiver, you want to do whatever is necessary to protect your children. When it comes to their oral health, you should feel no different. Dental sealants are one way you can protect your children's teeth from tooth decay.

Sealants are not a new technology. Invented in 1967 and approved by the FDA in 1972, dentists have been placing them for over 30 years.

The back teeth or molars have uneven pits where food and plaque bacteria get trapped. As illustrated above, a single bristle of a toothbrush is too large to get into these pits to properly clean the area. The bacteria covert sugar and starch into harmful acids that attack tooth enamel, eventually resulting in decay.

A sealant is a plastic material (resin) that is applied to the chewing surfaces of the permanent molars, the very last teeth in the mouth that erupt around ages 6 and 12. It acts as a barrier that prevents food from getting trapped in the pits of the tooth. It takes only a few minutes to "paint" the sealant onto the tooth where it flows into the grooves of the tooth and bonds to the enamel. This procedure is quick and painless for the child.

Once placed sealants usually last several years before a reapplication is needed. At regular dental visits, the dentist will check the condition of the sealants to determine if reapplication is necessary.

While sealants offer protection against decay to the chewing surfaces of a tooth, decay can still form interproximally (in-between the teeth). Good oral hygiene, including flossing, and regular dental check ups are important to prevent decay in areas that the sealants do not cover.

Most dental insurance plans cover sealants as a preventative procedure for children up to age 14.

It's National Smile Month!

Did you know that June is National Smile Month? That's right! And June is the perfect month to celebrate your smile! The weather is nice, school is getting out, and vacation is right around the corner!

According to a study at Michigan's Wayne State University in March 2010, people with big, enthusiastic smiles may actually live longer than those who smile less. Here are some more facinating facts about your smile.

• A smile is a universal sign of happiness



• We are born with the ability to smile



• It is easier to smile than to frown



• Smiling uses between 5 to 53 muscles, depending on its intensity



• Newborns tend to have more preference for a person who smiles
  


• Children smile, on average, 400 times per day



• Smiling releases endorphins which boost our mood and immune system and reduce our stress level (even forcing yourself to smile can boost your mood!)



• Smiling makes a person seem more pleasant, sincere, attractive and confident



• According to one study, smiles are more attractive on a woman than makeup
  

Smiles are contagious! So give someone a smile today!

Don't Let a Dental Emergency Spoil Your Vacation

It's Memorial Day weekend. The official kick-off to the summer and time for our very much needed vacations! Planning a vacation is an overwhelming chore, especially if you are in charge of packing up a family. In addition to remembering all your travel essentials, it is wise not to forget about your teeth.

Dental emergencies are not fun and can happen at any time, but when they happen on vacation, they can really put a damper on your plans. If you are going on an extended vacation or trip, it is wise to visit your dentist prior to leaving for a check-up and an "all clear" from your dentist. Although planning ahead will not prevent an emergency, it will definitely ease the pain. Dental emergencies range from tooth aches to broken or knocked out teeth. Whenever dental pain or trauma occurs, it is important to seek immediate treatment.

Tips for Handling Dental Emergencies Prior to Seeing the Dentist:

• Toothaches- Rinse mouth with warm water and use dental floss to remove any lodged food. If swelling appears, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek. Never put aspirin against the gums or on a sore because it may burn the tissues.
  


• Chipped or broken teeth- If bleeding occurs, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek to reduce swelling and ease pain.



• Knocked out tooth- Retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part that you see in your mouth) and rinse with warm water. Without force try to replace the tooth facing the right way. If that's not possible, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or a cup of water with a pinch of table salt). A tooth that has been knocked out has the highest chance of being saved when it is returned to the socket within one hour.



• Extruded (partially dislodged) tooth- Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek to ease the pain. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
  


• Lost filling- Stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity or use an over-the-counter temporary dental cement. If the area is sharp, try using a nail file to gently smooth the area.



• Lost crown- Try to slip the crown back over the tooth. Denture adhesives can assist in holding the crown in place until you can get to the dentist. (It is important to put the crown back in so the gum tissue does not overgrow the area.)



• Loose or broken braces bracket, band or wire- Use orthodontic wax to cover and hold the broken piece in place.
  


• Abcess- This is an infection which can be painful and is sometimes visable as a pimple on the gum. Rinse mouth with mild salt-water solution several times a day. It is important that an abcess is attended to immediately to avoid further infection in your body.



• Soft-tissue injuries- Injuries to the tongue, cheeks, gums and lips can bleed easily. Rinse mouth with a mild salt-water solution. Hold a damp piece of gauze to the site for about 15 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop in a reasonable amount of time, see a dentist or go to the emergency room.
  

We do not recommend using an over the counter topical to numb the area, such as orajel, since this will not alleviate tooth pain. Anti-inflammatories, such as Advil, Motrin or Aspirin are best at easing dental pain.

Be sure to take your dentist's name and phone number with you on vacation as well as your dental insurance information. We are here 24/7 to answer all you dental questions and concerns.
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***Excerpts from WebMD, LLC. 2005-2011.

Acid Reflux Can Leave More Than Just A Bad Taste In Your Mouth

Millions of us are familiar with that fiery sensation that grabs hold of your chest after you eat something you know you shouldn't have, and that sour or bitter taste that is left in your throat and mouth. Yes, heartburn! And it can leave more than just a bad taste in your mouth...

Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that causes stomach acid to regurgitate from the stomach into the throat or mouth. Many foods and beverages, medications, smoking and other habits as well as age can exacerbate this condition. Most everyone experiences acid reflux occasionally, but when it occurs on a regular basis it can have adverse side effects on you physical and dental health.

Your teeth are protected by a thin layer of hard tissue called enamel. Enamel is the hardest substance in your body. However, constant contact with stomach acid will cause it to erode, exposing the sensitive inner dentin layer of your tooth. Once this occurs, your teeth become more sensitive and prone to decay.

It is important and necessary to address chronic acid reflux. Following certain recommendations can help you manage the symptoms:

• Avoid fried or fatty foods. Limit acidic foods.


• Enjoy smaller, more frequent meals rather than overeating.


• Lose weight if you are overweight.


• Drink plenty of water and avoid soda.


• Do not smoke.


• Elevate your pillow. Reflux can be most active when lying down.


• Rinse your mouth out after a reflux occurence.


• Use a fluoride mouth rinse, such as ACT, before bed to strengthen your teeth's enamel.


• Avoid tartar control and whitening toothpastes which are abrasive and accelerate wear of your teeth.


• Take over-the-counter or prescription antiacids as prescribed.

Be sure to share your condition with your physician and dentist. Untreated, GERD can lead to ulcers, esophageal damage and in rare instances, esophageal cancer.

Brush Up on Your Dental Trivia

100 years ago 50% of adult North Americans were toothless. Today, less than 10% of adults over age 65 have lost their teeth. This decrease is due to advances in dental health awareness, modern dental and medical treatments and the evolution of common dental products.

The toothbrush is an always evolving cultural artifact, not an invention. It all began around 3000BC with a twig, frayed at one end, called a"chew stick". The Chinese took it one step further, using twigs from trees with a nice smell. (Perhaps an early attempt at freshening their breath?!) The modern toothbrush originated in China about the time that Columbus discovered America. The bristles were made from boar, badger or horse hair which were attached to a piece of bamboo or bone.

Mass production of the toothbrush began in the United States about 1885. DuPont Corporation replaced the coarse animal hair bristles with softer nylon ones in 1938 bringing awareness to the practice of good oral hygiene. However, tooth brushing did not become routine in the U.S. until it was enforced on soldiers during World War II!

The first paste used to clean teeth was invented about 5,000 years ago by the Egyptians and consisted of a mixture of pumice and wine. Colgate began manufacturing toothpaste in 1873. It was packaged in jars until the collapsible tubes were introduced in 1896.

Today, approximately $2billion a year is spent on dental products in the United States. Your toothbrush should be replaced every two to three months due to splaying of the bristles and sanitary reasons. Although you should brush 2 minutes twice a day, most people only brush for 30-45 seconds once a day!

So the next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to be thankful that you have a nice, clean, soft toothbrush instead of a stick!

A Shining Blue Light on Oral Health

Our practice continually looks for advances to ensure that we are providing our patients with the optimum level of oral health care. We are concerned about oral cancer and examine every patient for it.

Approximately 75% of oral cancer is attributed to the use of smoked and smokeless tobacco. Other factors that can place a person at increased risk include alcohol consumption, immunodeficiencies, poor nutrition, and exposure to excessive UV light. Each year, more that 30,00 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed. Early detection is the key to increasing the survival rate for these cancers.

Most early signs of oral cancer are painless and difficult to detect without a thorough head and neck exam by a dental professional. Individuals age 18 and older should have at least one oral cancer screening per year. Our practice has recently incorporated the VELscope Vx, an enhanced oral detection tool. This simple 2 minute exam uses a handpiece which emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity. Diseased tissues react differently to the light allowing the dentist to clearly differentiate betweeen normal and abnormal tissues.


An increasing number of insurance plans are beginning to cover this procedure. We are commited to ensuring the dental health of our patients. If your insurance carrier does not reimburse for this procedure, we are happy to provide this service for a nominal fee to cover our cost for the disposable cap that is used to ensure safe and accurate test results.

For more information call our office or visit www.velscope.com.

Don't Let Stress Be Such A Grind

This is a fast-paced, stressful world we live in.  Sometimes it feels like there is not enough time in the day to get everything done.  Our bodies deal with these stresses in many ways, one of which is bruxism, better known as clenching and grinding our teeth.  When someone grinds their teeth while sleeping, there is an average force of 250 pounds of pressure on the teeth...it's like having a football player stand on your teeth!

In children, teeth grinding does not pose much of a health concern and helps loosen primary, or baby teeth. However, in adults clenching and grinding has many adverse side effects.

Grinding your teeth usually starts as a response to stresses in our lives and then becomes habitual. We don't even know we are doing it and might even deny it.  However, if ignored clenching and grinding can lead to chipped and worn teeth, jaw pain, gum recession, chronic headaches and disrupted sleep.  It can even cause the premature facial wrinkles we all dread.

There are many ways to deal with the effects of grinding your teeth.  When at rest, your teeth should never be touching.  If they are, take a moment and try this exercise: push your tongue forward so your teeth open slightly.  This is the anatomically correct position your jaw should be in at rest.  Regular exercise and meditation can also help manage daily stresses in your life.  Many times, however, clenching and grinding cannot be managed alone.  A custom made biteguard or bite adjustments may be required to take away the ill effects of grinding.  Make sure to share your symptoms and concerns with your dentist so he or she can properly diagnose and treat you.

Welcome To Our New Blog!

This new age of technology has taken our practice to another dimension. Follow our blog for tips to help you maintain optimum oral health and to learn about the latest and greatest in dental technology that will make your next visit to the dentist more pleasant and stress free.