Trick or Treat?!

"A 2-pound bag of soft candy consumed in 1 minute does less damage to teeth than a single hard candy left in the mouth for 2 minutes."

I recently read this 'Factoid' quote published in a dental journal I receive. One might read this and question if this could really be true. "Is it really possible that ONE piece of candy can do more harm than an entire big bag?!" Well...the answer, surprisingly, is YES. The point that this fact is trying to get across is not "certain types of candy are worse for you than others" (although this is certainly true), but rather, cavity development is directly correlated with the amount of time that sugar touches your teeth. The longer sugar sits on your teeth, the more time bacteria has to break it down and produce harmful acids which damage your teeth.

This is crucial dental health knowledge. It is not only true for candy, but for all sugary foods and drinks. The same statement could be said about Coke. "A 2-liter bottle of Coke consumed in 1 minute does less damage to teeth than a 20oz bottle consumed in 2 minutes." Again, more contact time = more damage.

Some advice:

If you're going to eat or drink something sugary, then just do it and be done with it. Don't nibble on a candy bar or sip on a soft drink for a long period of time.

Try to consume sugary things at meal times, not snack times.

If you consume something sugary, at the very least, swish with some water to help get some of the sugar off your teeth. I stress this all the time with our patients.

Minimize sugar or try switching to sugar-free options (read our article on xylitol to see how sugar-free candy can actually be good for your teeth). Remember, without sugar the bacteria is unable to cause cavities.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Does your mouthwash help or hurt your breath?

There are tons of mouth rinse products on the market…all claiming to give you kissable fresh breath. While most will temporarily mask bad breath with menthol additives, they may actually be doing more harm than good. Most mouthwash products contain alcohol, which actually dries out your mouth. A dry mouth is a much more favorable environment for odor-causing bacteria to flourish in. And so, while these mouth rinses may give you a quick cover-up, they are really just giving bad breath the breeding grounds to come back stronger than ever.

But don’t get me wrong; I am a BIG advocate for mouth rinses, especially those containing fluoride (which help strengthen teeth and can halt cavity formation). Just make sure you are choosing a rinse that states it is “alcohol-free” if you are trying to tackle bad breath.

More Energy & Healthy Mouth? I'll Drink to That.

Sodas, energy drinks, and coffee are being consumed in record-breaking numbers. Our society absolutely craves energy boosts to get us through our “lives on the go”. Let’s face it…most of us are addicted to caffeine and will consume it in one way or another at some point every day!

So here’s the question: Is there a way to obtain your caffeine fix that’s actually good for you?

Actually….Yes. Ever thought about a good cup ah’ tea?

Tea typically contains more caffeine than a coke, but less than a brew of coffee. It is also sugar-free, unless you choose to add some. Tea has long been known to have many systemic health benefits including: decreasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and boosting your immune system. More recently though, tea has been linked to GREATER ORAL HEALTH.

White tea is the least processed form of tea. Basically, the leaves are picked, dried, and that’s it. Because of this, it is the most antioxidant-rich tea there is, even more antioxidants than green tea. Recent research has found that consuming white tea can help prevent cavities and periodontal disease by suppressing the growth of cavity causing microbes and interfering with the bacteria’s ability to stick to teeth. People who drank a cup of tea or two between meals were found to have lower bacterial counts and less plaque than those who did not. A caffeine fix that promotes oral health….a dentist’s dream! The other great news is that white tea is not going to cause erosion of the teeth and unlike coffee and darker teas, white tea will cause minimal to no staining of those pearly whites.

There are many options for obtaining that small boost throughout your day. Consider replacing some of your other options with a nice cup of white tea. Not only will it give you a dose of caffeine, it will promote overall systemic and oral health.

Candy that FIGHTS cavities?!

I am a dentist, I hate plaque and gingivitis, I stress proper brushing, I beg people to floss every day, and yes, I prescribe CANDY almost daily in my practice. Candy?! Is this some kind of dental blasphemy? No, believe it or not, the right kind of candy can actually promote stronger teeth and better oral health!

Streptococcus mutans is the oral bacteria responsible for causing cavities. It breaks down sugars to form plaque and acids which eat away your tooth. This bacteria has a very specific sugar diet...sucrose. Without sucrose, this bacteria has no food and no ability to cause cavities. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that is FDA approved for use as a food additive. It has quickly become the sweetener of choice for many sugar-free gums and candies. What is the first thing you notice about xylitol? It's NOT sucrose! Cavity-causing bacteria cannot digest this stuff! Research has shown that xylitol actually inhibits the growth of streptococcus mutans. Great news for your teeth, terrible news for bacteria!

Besides decreasing the bacterial colonies in your mouth, sugar-free candy and gum, like all food, will get your salivary glands going. Your saliva plays a crucial role in your oral health. Most people realize that it moisturizes food and acts as a lubricant for all the grinding and chewing that goes on in your mouth; however, there are more benefits than just that. Saliva acts as a buffer to neutralize any harmful acids that may be present in your mouth. Also, saliva contains many minerals that help strengthen teeth and restore "soft spots" to healthy tooth structure.

Let's put this all together now. Chewing sugar-free gum or eating sugar-free candy will essentially inhibit cavity-causing bacteria, neutralize harmful acids, and strengthen teeth. That's quite the resume! So, analyze your diet. If you have a high intake of sugary foods consider replacing them with some sugar-free options or using sugar-free candy or gum after consuming sugary foods to neutralize the harmful environment. Cavities can be prevented.

I am a dentist and I prescribe candy to patients.

The Age of Implants

As big advancements are continually made in health care, dentistry is no exception. Implants have revolutionized the way we practice dentistry by giving us the option to truly replace a lost tooth with a new one. An implant is essentially a titanium post that integrates with the bone, mimicking a natural tooth root. After healing occurs, an artificial tooth is then attached to this “root”. This is the beauty of implants: they are the most natural replacement of a lost tooth that you can have, period. Being made of titanium and special ceramics an implant will never decay, thus giving you not only a new tooth that looks and functions like a natural tooth, but one that should be with you for life. It is easy to see why implants are an exciting restorative option.
From an oral health standpoint, there are a few considerations that must be taken into account to determine if implant treatment would be suitable for you. You need to have an adequate quantity of bone at the possible implant site. Your gums will also need to be in good health. The remaining teeth should be evaluated to see if another restorative option would suit you better. Finally, although implants have a high success rate and there are very few contraindications, your overall systemic health should be evaluated.
When facing the decision of how to replace a tooth, implants have many wonderful benefits and are a great option to keep in mind. Sometimes they are the best option, while other times a different route may be better. Our hope is to provide education and guidance on your decision. Ultimately, you need to determine two things: what’s important to you and what’s best for you. We are always more than happy to take time with you and talk about your options, desires, and concerns.

Tooth-o-nomics

The current state of the economy has made us all rethink our finances. Paying for dental health must also fit into our tighter budget. The best way to save money on your mouth is to focus on the preventative side of oral medicine. Proper home care teamed with professional cleanings and exams will equal a health smile. As dentists, we know that we play a crucial role in your oral health care. It's our job and we are very thankful to play that role, but remember, you need to be helping yourself at home as well. Your mouth is one of the most vulnerable parts of your body. It undergoes constant attack from bacteria, acids, food, and grinding forces. It is a battle that can be won, but you must be proactive. Remember the basics: brush twice a day for 2 minutes and flossing, flossing, flossing (your tongue and cheeks help clean all other parts of your teeth, but nothing cleans in between them).

Here are some other helpful hints to maintaining a healthy mouth:

- Drink water. Drink lots. Drink often.
- Limit sweets, colas, and juice to mealtimes
- Chew sugar-free gum containing Xylotol
- Use a fluoride rinse at home before bedtime. Mouth rinses (alcohol-free) can be good for bad breath, but it is a fluoride rinse that will really help keep your teeth strong. You can find these right along side the mouth rinses at most stores. Just make sure it says "Fluoride" on it. ACT Cavity Rinse is a personal favorite of mine.