A Spoonful of Sugar Helps.....Nothing

It is no secret that a high-sugar diet can lead to some devastating results for your teeth. Did you also know that sugar could negatively affect more than just your teeth? Here are just a few examples:

Sugar suppresses your immune system. Do you get sick often?

Sugar contributes to obesity.

Sugar contributes to diabetes. Diabetes prevalence is growing at an alarming rate.

Sugar contributes to cardiovascular disease.

Sugar has been linked to many forms of cancer.

Sugar intake can contribute to psychological disorders.

Sugar can decrease learning capacity.

Sugar disrupts normal bowel function.

Sugar has been linked to neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

This is by no means a complete list. More and more studies are coming to term and revealing alarming effects of sugar. The scary thing is that we are consuming more of it than we realize. Sugar is not just in sodas, cookies, and cakes. My wife and I recently partook in a diet in which no sugar was allowed. I was shocked to learn of all the normal and even “healthy” foods that I was not able to eat because of their sugar content.

The bottom line is that most of us cannot (and don’t want to) avoid sugar all together. We can, however, take a more proactive role in our health. Examine your diet. Educate yourself about what you are eating. Most likely, you will make some “eye-opening” discoveries, just like I did. Does that list above raise any flags in your mind? Are there some easy changes you can make?

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.