30 Seconds for a Better You

Need a New Year’s Resolution? What if you could add up to six years to your life, improve your cardiovascular health, help fight and control systemic conditions (such as diabetes), improve your looks and social status, and save money…all by doing one thing a day for 30 seconds? Sounds like an infomercial, doesn't it?

Well, you can! And guess what it is: FLOSSING.

Add years to your life: Studies show flossing can add up to six years to your life by ridding your mouth of harmful bacteria and toxins.

Cardiovascular health: Poor oral health is correlated with atherosclerosis, also called "hardening of the arteries," where plaque deposits form on the arterial walls and in essence clog them up. These plaques can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular conditions. You want a healthy heart? Start with a healthy mouth.

Systemic conditions: Studies strongly link flossing to better blood sugar levels control in diabetics. It has also been shown to be a possible link to reducing the risk of pneumonia, alzheimers, arthritis, and breast cancer.

Improve your looks: Nobody likes the “inflamed gums” look. And certainly, no one likes a smile full of cavities.

Improve your social status: You don’t want to be known as the guy or girl that doesn’t floss, do you? But seriously, you probably do want fresh breath. If you’re not flossing, then there is bacteria breeding and hanging out in there, which I can promise you does not smell good.

Save money: You have to spend money to save money, but I guarantee a $3 pack of floss is a lot cheaper than a filling, periodontal treatment, or further treatment for any of the systemic/cardiovascular conditions mentioned earlier.

Stocking Stuffer Ideas...(from your dentist)

My wife and I recently visited New York where we were able to stand beneath the gorgeous Rockefeller Plaza Christmas Tree. If you are still in need of a few gift ideas for loved ones to place beneath your own tree, here is a list of some of my favorite things:

Oral-B ProfessionalCare Series Electric Toothbrush – Electric toothbrushes are one item that I truly do believe you get what you pay for. If you’re going to get one, it’s worth dishing out a little extra cash for a good one.

AirFloss made by Sonicare – Is it better than flossing? Probably not. Are you more likely to actually use it? Absolutely. And for all the “floss-slackers” out there, something is 100% better than nothing. This is a cool product. I use one personally. It’s quick, easy, and less messy than a waterpik.

ACT Alcohol-Free Anticavity Rinse – Great product for fighting cavities

Trident Xtra Care Sugar-Free Gum containing Recaldent – Chewing gum can actually be good for you?! YES!

Lifefactory Glass Water Bottle – Why? Because all of us need to be drinking more water! It’s good for your teeth. It’s good for your gums. It’s good for your body. Water is just very good for us and we don’t drink enough. Less Cokes….more water.

Firefly Light-Up Children’s Toothbrush – It's a toy, no it's a toothbrush. Well, it's kind of both. They have all different characters…superheroes, Barbies, Hot Wheels, etc and they light up! Your kids might actually enjoy brushing properly. Establish good habits young.

Orabrush Tongue Brush – as Orabrush says, “90% of bad breath comes from a dirty tongue”. While that number is a little debatable, there is a lot of funky bacteria on your tongue. Why wouldn’t you clean that thing off?

How Much Radiation Is in a Dental X-Ray?

There are a few different factors that affect how much radiation is given off during a dental x-ray. However, with advancements in technology, especially digital systems, x-rays require very low dose radiation. Radiation dosage can be measured in units called millirems (mrem). A typical dental x-raytaken digitally exposes a patient to less than 0.5 mrem.

To put things in perspective, an average resident of the U.S. receives over 360 mrem every year from background sources. This comes from all over the place: outer space, radioactive materials in the earth, small amounts of radioactive material in foods and products that we use, even over people. Variances in lifestyle likewise cause variances in each individual's total exposure. For example: an individual who flies often is exposed to more background radiation than someone who does not.

While steps should be taken to limit x-ray radiation exposure, dental x-rays are very low dose and are crucial for proper diagnosis. Without them, much of the oral cavity cannot be viewed.

Bitewing x-ray showing cavities between the teeth that cannot be seen upon visual inspection of the mouth. Without x-rays, these would not have been detected until they were massive cavities...most likely requiring more intense treatment such as a root canal or extraction.

Why Is Fluoride Good for Your Teeth?

• Remineralizes and strengthens areas of weakened enamel
• Inhibits the loss of minerals from teeth
• Fights against bacteria colonization
• Decreases teeth sensitivity

Are Baby Teeth Important?

Unfortunately, we see it too often. A child gets a cavity and the situation is ignored because “it’s a baby tooth”. Baby teeth are very important. If they were not, we would not have been created to have them

Here are 5 reasons why baby teeth are very important:

1. They reserve the necessary space for the permanent teeth. If a baby tooth is lost early, the space can collapse and create space issues for the permanent teeth.
2. They contribute to facial development and anatomy of the surrounding structures. (This includes the development of the permanent teeth. If an infected baby tooth goes untreated it may permanently harm the developing tooth underneath it.)
3. They aid in proper speech development.
4. They aid in nutrition by allowing proper chewing. Missing or decayed teeth may cause a child to resist eating certain foods.
5. They are the learning blocks for developing proper hygiene. If hygiene is not established as being important with baby teeth, then hygiene will not be important on their permanent teeth either.

Why is it hard to form effective dental hygiene habits?

Answer: Lack of true feedback

Each of us has developed a dental routine that we run through everyday, but how effective is it? Most of us assume that just because we are brushing and flossing daily we are doing a good job. Are you getting any feedback (besides twice a year at the dentist)?

Your dental visits are crucial to your oral health, but in order to develop better technique and habits you need more frequent feedback and reinforcement.

Disclosing tablets and solutions are probably the most overlooked home dental product. These work by staining the plaque on your teeth a bright and easily visible color. This way you can see where you are collecting plaque and spots you may be missing when you go through your regular routine. You can then use this feedback to improve your technique.

Wouldn't you like to know if you're getting all the plaque off? I sure would.

You can buy these tablets or solutions from your drugstore or through your dentist.

Which Toothbrush?

A recent study suggested that expensive toothbrushes are no better than conventional toothbrushes. The study is referring to a comparison of MANUAL toothbrushes only, not electric or battery operated ones. Although, I had a couple of “mind-snags” with the study (mostly, that the study was only performed on children of a certain age), I did agree with some of their conclusions:

1.) A conventional, simple toothbrush design is capable of being just as effective as one with more “bells and whistles”.

2.) Dexterity, frequency, and duration of brushing were much more important factors than the style of toothbrush.

I couldn’t agree more with the 2^nd statement. If you are a bad brusher, a new fancy toothbrush alone will not fix that.

So what toothbrush do I recommend? Here’s my checklist:

• Get one with soft-bristles. Harder bristles often cause gum recession, tooth wear, and sensitivity.

• When in doubt, choose one with a smaller head. This will ensure access to even the tighter spaces in your mouth. Also, a smaller head forces you to focus on smaller areas at a time, which should lead to a more thorough technique.
  
  
• Most importantly...pick one that you like. Simple or fancy…it doesn’t really matter, but what does matter is that you actually use it! Maybe you have a hard time with your hands and you like the fancy gel-grip toothbrush…great! Maybe you love that your toothbrush lights up and plays music when you use it…perfect!

What about electric toothbrushes? Are they worth it?

As I’ve said before, if you are a bad brusher, a new toothbrush alone will not change that. I encourage people to use electric toothbrushes in two situations:

1. Dexterity issues – This is commonly seen in children, elderly, and/or those suffering from a condition, such as arthritis, that can cause difficulty using your hands. Anyone who is having trouble with their hands and the motions needed to brush properly could benefit from the additional motion that an electric brush would provide.
2. Motivational issues – This goes back to my checklist.“Pick one that you like.”If an electric toothbrush will help motivate you to brush better and more often, then “yes!”, definitely get one!

How Fresh Is Your Breath?

Everyone has bad breath sometimes, and for some, they have bad breath all the time. Whether sometimes or all the time, it is never pleasant. It affects our self-confidence and can affect our personal and business relationships.

How do I know if my breath is bad?

Here are a couple of different techniques:

1. 1. Ask someone

1. 2. Place a spoon as far back on your tongue as you can handle. Let it dry. Then smell.

1. 3. Lick the back of your hand using as much tongue as you can stick out. Let it dry. Then smell.

What causes bad breath?

• Mouth

• Bacteria and food debris that cover your tongue and teeth produce foul smelling odors
• Gum disease creates pockets below the gumline where bacteria collect
• Cavities can also create a foul smell
• Oral infections
• Diet
• Certain foods are smellier than others
• An unbalanced diet can cause increased prevalence of malodor
• Alcohol can dry out the oral cavity creating a breeding ground for odor producing substances
• Habits
• Smoking
• Chewing tobacco
• Illness
• Sinus drainage
• Respiratory tract infections
• Some systemic diseases, such as diabetes, has been documented to increase prevalence of bad breath
• Esophagus and Stomach
• Although a more rare cause of bad breath, these anatomical areas can also harbor foul smelling food and bacteria

How to fix bad breath?

• Maintain proper oral hygiene

• Daily brushing AND flossing. Between the teeth is a favorite hang out for odor-causing bacteria. If you want fresh breath, you need to floss!
• Routine visits to your dentist. Hard tartar builds up on teeth over time and can only be removed by a dentist’s special tools. If gum disease is present a “deep cleaning” may be necessary. Also, any cavities or infections can be addressed
• Brush your TONGUE
• Studies show that the tongue is the #1 source of bad breath. Invest in a good tongue brush and actually use it! Orabrush is my favorite.
• Avoid mouthrinses that contain alcohol
• Most mouth rinses do contain alcohol, so look for one that specifically says on the label “alcohol-free”
• Stay hydrated

• Drink lots of water and often. This has many benefits beyond helping your breath as well.
• Chew sugar-free gum
• Chewing sugar-free gum after meals stimulates your saliva (your body’s natural mouth rinse) and helps clean food debris.
• Adjust your diet
• Avoid smelly foods
• Avoid excess alcohol
• Maintain a balanced diet
• Even some dieting strategies, like low-carb diets, can cause bad breath.
• Stop smoking and using chewing tobacco
• Visit your doctor
• Studies show that ~90% of bad breath cases are mouth related. If you are still suffering from bad breath after following these guidelines then visit your doctor to determine if you may have an esophagus, stomach, lung, or systemic issue that may be affecting your breath.

Sports and Oral Injury Protection

Studies show that approximately 30% of children will experience a dental injury and that many of those are sports related. These injuries include: chipped teeth, broken teeth, teeth knocked out of place, and teeth knocked out completely. Treatment ranges from simple repair bonding to more complicated root canal and crown treatment. Unfortunately we also see situations where there is no option other than complete loss of the tooth. Soft tissue, such as gums, lips, and tongue, can also be abraded or lacerated.

Although contact with people and objects cannot be eliminated from sports, most oral injuries can be prevented by wearing a protective mouth guard. You have several options for yourself or your child when choosing a mouth guard. There are stock preformed mouth guards that can be purchased from a store. They are very inexpensive; however, they also offer the least amount of protection, they are typically bulky and uncomfortable to wear. I would not recommend these. Then there are "boil & bite" mouth guards. These can also be purchased at an athletic store. The user is then able to shaped the guard themselves at home after heating the guard in water. This gives a little bit more of a custom fit, better protection, and more comfort in wearing. Finally, there are true custom made mouth guards. These are made by your dentist from molds of your teeth. They are the least bulky (therefore the most comfortable), stay in place the best, and offer the greatest amount of protection. However, they are typically the most expensive of your options.

Which mouth guard is best? Well, the one that you or your child will actually wear! Many times you see kids with their mouth guards hanging out of their mouths. This is because they are uncomfortable to the child and they take every opportunity to not wear it. Comfort is a big deal to compliance. You want them to have something that they do not mind keeping in or even notice. Comfort in a mouth protector is generally one that is not bulky, does not pinch soft tissue, does not affect breathing, and has little affect on speech. Ideally, you want it to become second nature. A football player wouldn't feel right running on the field without their helmet. This is how we would love for athletes to feel about their mouth guards as well.

For a child, the "cool factor" is also essential to compliance. Common sense, but if they are self conscious about wearing one, then they will be less likely to wear it.

Clear mouth guards can be made that are hardly noticeable and on the other end of the spectrum, you can also have one made with vibrant "intimidating to the opponents" colors or even school colors. Many professional athletes wear custom mouth guards. Point this out to your child and show them pictures. When they see that their favorite athlete wears mouth protection, they will be more motivated to wear their own. Also, many athletes believe that mouth guards can actually enhance athletic performance. Do I believe this is true? I believe it doesn't matter if it's true or not...if someone believes it is helping them, then maybe it will help them! Athletes are notorious for good luck charms and superstitions; it all comes down to mind over matter and if an athlete believes they will compete better, then typically they will. So...if an athlete believes a mouth guard helps them compete...GREAT! At least they are motivated to wear one!

Mouth guards can be an expense up front, but it sure beats the cost of treatment resulting from an oral injury. Research or talk to your dentist about which option may be the best for you or your child's needs.


Side note:
Many people ask if they can use an athletic mouth guard to protect their teeth at night from grinding/clenching. Do not do this! Using an athletic mouth guard for this purpose can many times actually worsen your condition and lead to increased muscle & joint pain. If you are a grinder/clencher your dentist can fabricate a mouth piece that is specific for treating this condition.

The Truth about Kissing

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, the obvious question on everyone’s mind is this: “Is kissing good for my teeth?” Ok, so it may not be the biggest question on your mind, but nonetheless, I’m going to give you three reasons as to why, yes, kissing can be good for your teeth!

1. Stimulates saliva production: Saliva is the mouth’s natural protector of teeth and gums. It rinses away food particles, neutralizes harmful acids, and carries important minerals that remineralize teeth. Countless studies show a dry mouth is more susceptible to developing cavities and obtaining oral diseases.
2. Builds your immune system: When spit is swapped, you are mostly only being exposed to the same bacteria that are in your own mouth already. However, your immune system will kick on and create antibodies to fight any foreign bacteria. By doing this, your body is building up its immunity to any future threats.
3. Scrubs your teeth: Kissing also mechanically cleans your teeth by rubbing your cheeks, lips, and tongue over the teeth surfaces. Don’t take this to the extreme though…you still need to brush and floss!

*This is intended for fun factual knowledge only. Kissing may be good for your teeth, but it can also transmit diseases that can affect other parts of your body. Remember to use good judgment. Avoid kissing if you or your love is sick or has an active mouth sore. Consult with your medical doctor if you have any other medical condition that is of some concern with kissing.

Gum Disease & Premature Births

To get straight to the point: studies have shown a direct correlation between gum disease in pregnant women and premature births of their babies. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, "pregnant women with periodontal disease may be seven times more likely to have a baby that's born too early and too small." They believe this is linked to a "labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin." Higher amounts of oral bacteria lead to higher prostaglandin levels in the body, which can throw off a pregnant woman's natural clock for beginning labor. This of course then leads to preterm labor and birth.

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory process, most often caused by bacteria, that affects the gums and supporting tissues of the teeth. Not all periodontal disease is characterized by severe bone loss around the teeth. Gingivitis is actually a milder form of this disease.

This sounds scary and it definitely can be, but realize that this is an easily preventable situation when you maintain good home care and compliment that with professional support.


Here are some tips to store in the ol' memory bank:

• If you are thinking of getting pregnant (or pregnant already), maintain your regular check ups with your dentist both before becoming pregnant and also during your pregnancy. Regular cleanings are an important step to maintaining healthy gums, as your hygienist is able to remove bacteria-harboring build up that you are not able to remove at home.
• Dental xrays are very low radiation, but are typically avoided during pregnancy. They are usually only taken on a "must have" basis, in which case they can be safely administered under the protection of lead aprons. Ideally, have your routine xrays taken shortly before a planned pregnancy.
• Dental treatment (fillings, etc) can be completed during pregnancy. If it is not an emergency, it is recommended to have any necessary treatment completed during the 2nd trimester. Again, ideally have a thorough exam completed before pregnancy, so any necessary treatment can be finished beforehand. Any elective treatment needs to wait until after the baby is born.
  
• Take time for yourself. We see this with a lot of young mothers and mothers to be...their minds are consumed with the baby and they don't think to take time for themselves. Make sure you still think of you each day and give yourself time to maintain a good home regiment for taking care of your mouth.
• Brushing AND Flossing becomes even more important! With hormonal changes going on, the gums respond more severely to plaque, which leads to heavier inflammation than in a woman who is not pregnant. Brushing alone is not good enough, you've got to floss as well. Most periodontal disease processes begin between the teeth.