Why The Heck Do You Need To Know That?

When you come in for your dental visit, you may notice that we do a lot more than examine your teeth & gums.  One of the most important parts of your visit is when we ask you questions about your general health.  But many people have said to us:

"What does that have to do with my dental check up?"
The answer -- a lot!

More and more research is being published linking dental health to overall health, and at DeLand Smiles, we are concerned about both!

A recent study by Columbia University concluded that "Gum disease is an early complication of diabetes."  It continued to say, "70% of adults see a dentist at least once per year"-- this is a perfect opportunity to screen for diabetes and other diseases.  According to a recent article in The British Dental Journal, it works the other way around too, as gum disease can be a contributing factor in heart disease, oral cancer, and other illnesses.

Are you taking any medications, either prescription or over-the-counter?  Many of these can lead to dry mouth, gum inflammation, and other dental problems.  And it's even more complicated for women, as hormonal changes, pregnancy, and oral contraceptives can cause many changes in dental health. (Isn't everything more complicated for women?)

So the good news is, unlike a visit to your physician - you get to keep your clothes on and won't be poked and prodded anywhere other than your mouth!  But as you can see, it is extremely important that we know about your total physical health and any medications you are taking.  Not only can we save your teeth -- we may actually save your life!

APPLE -- King of Technology or King of Fruit?

Due to the unfortunate passing of Steve Jobs, the word “apple” has made its way into mainstream conversations.  We have crowned Apple the King of Technology due to its numerous inventions that has changed the way we interact with the world and they continue to push the envelope of form & function, much like the area of dentistry. I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, the words, “Apple” and “Blackberry” simply referred to fruits.

October is recognized as National Dental Hygiene Month, so let’s talk dental hygiene for a minute.  You know to brush, you know to floss, but did you know there is a particular food you can use to your advantage when it comes to dental hygiene?…The apple. 

Apples are known as Nature’s Toothbrush because of their fibers.  These fibers act as mini toothbrushes when chewed, which helps kill bacteria in the mouth & reduce the risk of cavities.  Apples are also high in water content, which helps to dilute the effects of their sugar & helps to stimulate the flow of saliva.   In addition to water & fiber, apples contain acid that helps to clean & brighten your smile—but you must remember to rinse with water or an antibacterial mouth rinse after eating an apple so the acid & sugar is neutralized & doesn’t harm your teeth.  Because apples are crunchy, they also help to naturally toughen up your gums.

You just read how apples effect your teeth on the outside, so now let’s talk about how they are effected on the inside.  Believe it or not, apples are a good source of both calcium & phosphorus.  Approximately 99% of calcium in the human body is held in the bones & teeth and is the mineral most likely to be deficient in the average diet.  The bones store extra calcium, which the body can extract and use when too little calcium is consumed.  The calcium housed in your teeth tends to stay there, but as your jawbone gives up its supply of calcium stores, your jaw becomes weak, your teeth get loose and gaps begin to form between the gums & teeth where bacteria hide & multiply-- causing infections, inflammation & bleeding.  Amazingly enough, the first signs of osteoporosis are often found by the dentist.

Phosphorus is the 2^nd most abundant mineral in the body & about 80% is housed in the bones & teeth.  This mineral adds rigidity to bones & teeth and plays an important role in stopping the progression of cavities.

Will an apple a day keep the doctor and dentist away?  No, but it will certainly help to.

The King of Technology has provided us with life-changing technology, but the apple superfruit has continued to provide us with life-enhancing benefits since the beginning of time-- which is why I crown it, The King of Fruits!

Saturated Fat Linked to Gum Disease

For years, doctors have informed us about the risks of a diet rich in saturated fats, but until recently, those risks did not include gum disease.  The Journal of Dental Research recently published a study, conducted by a team of Japanese researchers.  The study concluded that a high intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) is associated with nearly double the rate of gum disease compared with a lower SFA intake, particularly in non-smokers.

So where do saturated fats come from & how do they effect gum disease?  Foods that contain a high proportion of saturated fats are cream, cheese, meat fats, milk fat, butter, lard, chocolate, prepared foods (i.e. pastries) & certain oils.  These fats are solid at room temperature & raise bad (LDL) cholesterol levels.  According to the authors of the study, “Saturated fatty acids produce an inflammatory response.  Hyperinflammation is now recognized as one of the key underlying etiologic factors in periodontal (gum) disease.”

If you read the above list & see many of your favorite foods, you are not alone.  Fats are an essential part of your body & are needed for proper function, but never in excess.  To ensure you don’t incur any unnecessary health problems, including gum disease, it is important to read the labels on your food products & avoid or limit the products that are high in saturated fats (some of which are mentioned above) – Saturated fat should never exceed 10% of calories. 

Unfortunately, gum disease is not something that can be brushed away, but diet is a controllable contributing factor to gum disease & overall health.  So, limiting the intake of saturated fats will not only benefit your gums, but your entire body as well. 

New Dental Whitening App Released

New Dental App Released

 

Apple released a new app last week, called Instant Teeth Whitener, available for iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad devices.  Created by SmileRank Technologies, LLC, this application claims to be the world’s fastest and most natural way to see what you would look like with whiter teeth. 

The application uses photographic technology to detect a person’s smile & allows you to use a slider bar to increase the level of whiteness, in a matter of seconds.  It allows you to compare the before picture with the after picture side-by-side, save the enhanced image & even share it via Facebook or email.

Yes, photo technology apps can be lots of fun, but why not pursue the real deal?  If you only care about how you look in photos, then purchase the app & stop here…but if your image beyond pictures is of interest, then let’s continue and pursue the options.

In today’s day & age, teeth whitening procedures are fairly common, and as long as they are not abused, they can provide a range of results.  There are 3 main types of teeth whitening procedures on the market today & we will order them according to effectiveness & long-term investment, starting with the least effective & least investment..

1)      Over-the-counter:  These products come in an assortment of slimy strips to generic trays. 

a.       Advantage: 

·        Lowest cost. 

·        Fairly safe to use for most adults & teenagers

b.      Disadvantage: 

·        Product strength is not as strong

·        Can do damage to teeth if product directions are abused.

2)      Custom Trays:  This product can only be provided by a dental professional.  After a complete examination by a dentist to ensure only healthy teeth are present (if teeth are unhealthy, whitening products can cause damage and/or pain to occur during wear), impressions are made.  An appliance for the upper teeth, and one for the lower teeth are then made.  These trays closely fit to the teeth, ensuring the whitening product will remain on the teeth for the recommended amount of time.

a.       Advantage:

·        Better results due to custom fit of trays

·        Greater product strength means less wear time (~3mins)

·        Appliance can be kept for years

b.      Disadvantage

·        More expensive than over-the-counter products

·        Product strength may cause sensitivity

3)      In-Office Whitening:  This procedure begins by painting a strong whitening material on the teeth, & in conjunction with a special light, jump starts the whitening process in ~1hr.  Most dental offices also provide custom trays for you to leave with.

a.       Advantage:

·        Best results due to jump start

·        Instant gratification

b.      Disadvantage:

·        Most expensive

·        Product strength may cause sensitivity

If you like gadgets & are interested in whitening your teeth, download the app to see what your possible results would be.  If you are serious about whitening your teeth, contact your dental professional to discuss your best whitening option(s).  Options today go beyond the 3 types of whitening procedures mentioned above, so contact a professional today. 

The 10 Most Common Causes of Bad Breath & How To Eliminate Them

As we discussed in the previous blog, the main cause of bad breath is bacteria.  So what if your oral hygiene is impeccable?  Could there be other causes of bad breath?  Let’s continue the discussion by reviewing at the Top 10 Most Common Causes of Bad Breath.

Gum Disease (aka Periodontal Disease)

Without going into lengthy detail, gum disease is basically a disease that affects your gums and teeth that, if left untreated, can cause your teeth to become loose or fall out.   Gum disease is caused by bacteria that sticks to your teeth (plaque) and releases acids and toxins that damage your teeth and gums.  This bacteria feeds on left-over food particles on/around your teeth and gums, resulting in the release of VSC’s (volatile sulfuric compounds).  These VSC’s comprise the “bad” in bad breath.  The bacteria multiplies at an exponential rate so that brushing and flossing can no longer reduce or eliminate the millions of bacteria at a fast enough rate.  As the bacteria continues to multiply, the crevice becomes so deep that even toothbrush bristles cannot reach to clean them out.    If caught early enough, periodontal disease can be kept at bay by your dental hygienist, if seen on a regular basis…  And most patients experience a decrease in bad breath with the decrease in oral bacteria.

Nasal Problems

People with nasal problems are more prone to bad breath because the bacteria breakdown proteins in food particles, and in certain circumstances, the protein in mucus.    The breakdown of mucus proteins produces a VSC (volatile sulfuric compound) that produces a bad smell.  People with post-nasal drip have a collection of mucus on the back of their throat and on their tonsils—both of which have many nooks and crannies.  Because it is hard to clean these places, the bacteria continue to breakdown the mucus proteins and continue to produce the VSC’s causing bad breath.

Dirty Tongue

Many dental offices provide a tongue cleaner/scraper with the supplies that are provided to you at your cleaning appointments.  Tongue cleaners can also be found on toothbrushes and in the toothbrush aisle of your local pharmacy; however, many people don’t really know what to do with them.  JUST SCRAPE!  Yep, that’s it!  When you use this special tool, you are scraping any left-over food particles and bacteria off the surface of your tongue.  Your tongue is a great hiding place for bacteria and small food particles because of its grooves and crevices, thus a great playground for VSC production if left unscraped.  Using your toothbrush bristles to brush your tongue will also have the same effect.

Prescription Medication

All prescription medications have side effects.  One of the most common side effects is a dry mouth (xerostomia).  Dry mouth occurs when you do not produce enough saliva to keep your oral tissues (gums, tongue, etc) moist.   This often feels, and is referred to as, “cotton mouth.”  Saliva is the main proponent for bacteria reduction in your mouth.  Saliva helps plaque not stick to your teeth and washes away other bacteria and food particles everytime you swallow.  A person with a dry mouth does not produce enough saliva to wash anything away, so bacteria rapidly multiplies and sticks to your teeth, collects in your nooks and crannies, and excretes many VSC’s that stay in your mouth.

Tooth Decay

The words, “tooth decay”, basically mean cavities in your teeth.  This can be big cavities leading to crowns, root canals or extractions, or it can be small cavities leading to fillings.  Cavities are caused by bacteria feeding off left-over food particles or sugars in your mouth causing acid to form and eat away at your teeth.  Cavities are an infection of the tooth because of the high levels of bacteria eating your teeth causing them to breakdown.  The tooth is very porous beyond the outer layer of enamel.  So once the bacteria break through the hard part of the tooth (enamel), it begins to eat away at the softer part of the tooth.  This leaves behind rotting tooth particles eaten by the bacteria in addition to food traps.  Cavities often form in places that you miss when brushing, thus leaving food particles to rot and bacteria to multiply resulting in an overload of VSC’s.

Food We Eat

As you learned earlier, VSC’s are basically waste products from the bacteria in our mouth after digesting the proteins in the foods we eat.  Some foods we eat already smell a certain way before they even enter our mouths (i.e. fish, cheese, onions, etc).  These foods carry the smell with them during digestion and the smell is excreted throughout our body on a cellular level, which is why it takes a couple of days for us to exfoliate these smells.  Most people don’t brush and floss immediately after eating a meal either, which seems to compound the issue.  Even if they do, it is virtually impossible to completely rid our mouth of small food particles; however, we can brush and floss to minimize the amount so as to decrease the amount of VSC’s produced, thus decreasing bad breath.  Bacteria, mostly anaerobic, will always live inside our mouth—but we need to make sure we aren’t voluntarily feeding them.

Smoking

This section doesn’t need much explanation.  Apart from smoking being carcinogenic and staining to your teeth, it also makes your breath smell bad.  When someone smokes, it dries out the mouth and causes you to produce less saliva…and as we discussed earlier, a dry mouth leads to bad breath due to the increased growth of bacteria due to the lack of saliva washing the bacteria and other food away.  Tar and nicotine also tend to build-up on the teeth and cheeks (or any other hideaway) due to the lack of saliva flow.  Smoking also exacerbates nasal problems and gum disease, both of which were discussed earlier.

Stomach Problems

Most stomach problems are caused by bacteria being absorbed into your body and excreted through your breath.  The most common is acid reflux disease where stomach acid works its way up from the stomach into your throat and the odor is then excreted in your breath.  (It is best to see a medical professional if you are experiencing any type of stomach problem).  Stomach acid, whether it be from bulimia, acid reflux, or something else, also causes tooth enamel to erode, leading to increased cavity formation.

Mouth Breathing

Mouth breathing can be a difficult habit to change because it is almost an auto response to your body being dehydrated.  When the body is the least bit dehydrated, the nasal passages are one of the first to feel the effects.  When the nasal passages dehydrate, they become more sensitive,  causing your body to react via the only other way it can still inflate your lungs – through your mouth.  Upon breathing solely through your mouth, your mouth begins to dry out even more causing a decrease in saliva flow (as discussed earlier).  The saliva that is produced is thicker, thus making it a less effective lubricant for your teeth and certainly less effective in washing away any bacteria.  Needless to say, as you mouth breathe, the bacteria continue to multiply at high rates while excreting the foul smelling VSC’s. 

Dentures / Partials

The same bacteria and debris that collect on natural teeth and gums is also collected on and/or under dentures/partials.  The same bacteria produce the same VSC’s.  This bacteria is collected on a person’s tongue, cheeks and underneath the dental appliance.  Since the appliance sits against the gums, it is a great place for bacteria and food particles to hide, causing significant bacterial reproduction.  Most people experience a decrease in bad breath after cleaning their tongue in addition to cleaning their appliance thoroughly after each meal.  (An ill-fitting appliance will cause a collection of much debris in addition to damage to the tissues, so it is best to see a dental professional if your appliance is causing problems.)

How Can I Prevent / Eliminate Bad Breath?

• See your dental professional on a regular basis
• Have a dental hygienist clean your teeth every three - six months
• Make sure you are seen by your dentist regularly
• Tell your dental office each medication you are taking
• See your medical professional on a regular basis
• Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing a dry mouth due to medications or if you are experiencing stomach problems
• See your doctor if nasal problems are not eliminated by over-the-counter medicines
• Decrease the intake of food/drinks that cause water loss & increase dehydration  (i.e. alcohol, coffee)
• Consume more water to keep your body hydrated throughout the night
• Clean any dental appliance after each meal
• Eliminate/reduce smoking
• Brush/floss after each meal
• Use a tongue cleaner or brush your tongue daily

So as you can see, bad breath can be prevented. .. But, please remember, if you are having a chronic problem with bad breath, please seek professional dental and/or medical help.

Take the Sniff Test

It’s Valentine’s Day. The day millions of people around the world put forth an effort to become more kissable & pay closer attention to their breath. Mouthwashes will be swished, gum will be chewed—and for some, it will work…but for others, they will be masking one, if not many, underlying problems. To find out which category you fall into, do a Sniff Test.

A Sniff Test is something you can perform on your own, in the privacy of your own home. All you have to do is floss your teeth, then sniff your floss. Yes, I said, Sniff Your Floss! If your floss doesn’t have an odor, then you fall into the healthy category of people who brush & floss daily, reducing oral bacteria. This category of people can use supplemental, over-the-counter breath freshening items more effectively in their oral hygiene regimen & can mostly likely, expect kissable, fresh breath. If your floss has an odor, you fall into the unhealthy category of people & it is important that you continue reading.

The main cause of bad breath is bacteria. We have thousands of bacteria living in our mouth that are both good & bad. The job of bacteria is to help neutralize pH & foster a healthy environment by breaking down (eating) anything that doesn’t belong. Bacteria feed on left-over food particles on/around your teeth, gums & tongue…and, like people, what goes in, must come out…resulting in the release of volatile sulfuric compounds (VSC’s). VSC’s are not only smelly (like passing gas), but are also acidic and toxic, causing damage to your teeth and gums.

For those who brush, floss & clean their tongue on a daily basis, they are removing left-over food particles & bacteria. Therefore, they are minimizing the number of bacteria that produce smelly VSC’s that cause bad breath. If brushing, flossing & cleaning the tongue is not done on a daily basis, bacteria begin to multiply at an exponential rate, causing bad breath to get worse & irreversible damage to your teeth & gums. At a certain point, a toothbrush & floss can no longer reach the places bacteria is hiding & you must seek help from a dental professional.

For now, understand that the easiest way to eliminate bad breath is to reduce the amount of oral bacteria by brushing, flossing & cleaning your tongue on a daily basis. If bad breath continues, contact a medical or dental professional, as other problems may be the cause.

If you are looking for fresh breath this Valentine’s Day, you should start with a Sniff Test. The greatest gift is the gift of good health…and remember, good health begins with good oral hygiene (daily brushing, flossing & tongue cleaning.) What’s a better Valentine’s Day present than that?

(Next week we will discuss the 10 leading causes of bad breath & how to eliminate them, so stay tuned…)

21st Century Energy Crisis Affects Teeth

As many of you are aware, Starbucks rolled out their new 31oz “Trenta” sized cup a few weeks ago, available only for iced coffee, iced tea & lemonade drinks. For Starbucks groupies, the announcement was a godsend, but it left many wondering how much is too much? Convenience stores provide cups of larger sizes for their iced beverages & no one bats an eye, so why is Starbucks in the hot seat?

There are two common threads of concern in a beverage this size: caffeine & sugar—and both are contributors to tooth decay.

Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system, alleviating fatigue & increasing wakefulness. According to Stephen Cherniske in his book, Caffeine Blues, the drug begins its effects by initiating uncontrolled neuron firing in the brain. The excess neuron activity triggers the pituitary gland to secrete a hormone that tells the adrenal glands to produce adrenalin, the source of our “fight or flight” response. Once the high wears off, you experience fatigue once again, and long for another “high”. By continuing to supply the “high” with “hits” of caffeine, the roller-coaster effect is continued, leaving your body in a constant state of alert, called “caffeinism”.

Over a period of time, caffeinism pushes the adrenal glands to the max, causing adrenal exhaustion. Thus, it begins to take more and more caffeine to make up for less and less adrenalin production, which is why, over a period of time, it takes more coffee to get the same result.

A normal cup of coffee is considered to be 6-8oz, meaning the Trenta offers 4-5 cups of coffee in one serving. According to the Mayo Clinic, 4+ cups of coffee per day is considered heavy daily caffeine use, and can result in one or more of the following symptoms: Insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, irritability, nausea or other GI problems, fast/irregular heartbeat, and muscle tremors.

Sugar, on the other hand, is also a strong contributor to adrenal exhaustion. There is a viscious cycle that occurs with a sweetened beverage: Sugar stimulates & weakens the adrenals, which creates fatigue. Then we reach for another caffeine “hit” to continue the “high”, which further depletes the adrenal glands and results in fatigue. Most then respond by drinking more caffeine with sugar…and the cycle continues.

In addition to its contribution to adrenal exhaustion, sugar is a concern related to increased obesity in America, or around the world for that matter. When it comes to beverages, most people order the sweetened varieties of both the iced coffees, iced teas and iced lemonades, increasing their caloric intake with each increase in cup size. [For those who are thinking that caffeine increases metabolism, that is correct; however, the Trenta may pack extra caffeine, but not enough to burn off its potential extra 600 calories.]

As far as teeth are concerned, there are a few areas of concern regarding both coffee & sugar. Coffee is an acidic substance that changes the pH in the mouth, creating an acidic environment. As the pH becomes more acidic, Calcium & Phosphate can be pulled from tooth enamel, weakening the tooth structure. And as you know, weakened tooth structure results in increased cavity formation.

Caffeine, the drug found in coffee, tea, etc, is also a diuretic that results in dehydration & decreased saliva flow. Saliva flow is essential to, not only maintaining a balanced oral pH, but also helps to wash away bacteria. An environment with a decrease in saliva flow creates a breeding ground for bacteria that eat away at both your gums & teeth.

Now add sugar to the mix…Acidic substances, such as coffee, tea, lemonade, weaken tooth enamel, and the caffeine reduces saliva flow, so sugar hits the teeth & basically dives right into the tooth!

Think about how long it takes to drink a 31oz Trenta sized beverage—916 milliliters. The human stomach, on average, has a 900 milliliter capacity, so it would be hard to literally gulp this size drink, and most people would take their time consuming it. Think about how long your mouth would be in an acidic environment, sucking the Calcium from your teeth. Think about how long sugar would be eating away at the weakened teeth surfaces. Think about how quickly the amount of stain would build-up on your teeth by bathing them in coffee or tea for such a long period of time.

I know, I know, everything in moderation…but is Starbucks pushing the limits & contributing to the already existent energy crisis or creating a new one? Only time will tell, I suppose.

Maybe one day Starbucks will offer an IV drip that would not only save time in line, but would bypass the mouth altogether & save your teeth as well. It would take the term “docking station” to a whole new level.

Beans, Beans Good for Your ... Teeth?

Happy Bean Day! Yes, there is actually a day dedicated to beans, thanks to Gregor Johann Mendel. According to FoodReference.com, “Mendel was an Austrian botanist whose work was the foundation of the science of genetics. Working mainly with garden peas (some 28,000 plants over 7 years), he discovered what was to become known as the laws of heredity.” Mendel’s work (the basis of the study was the bean) was so important to the study of genetics that National Bean Day was said to have commemorated in his honor.

Let’s talk beans for a minute. Beans (legumes) are high in fiber & protein and are a great source of many nutrient-rich vitamins & minerals, such as Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Selenium, Vitamin B, C and Folate, to name a few. They also may help to prevent certain types of cancer. [There is some preliminary research that suggests that certain legumes may help to prevent colon cancer. Another study found an association between legume ingestion and decreased likelihood of cancer of the esophagus, oral cavity, and larynx.]

So how do beans affect your oral health? Although healthy teeth & gums require a balanced diet, there are specific vitamins & minerals that are vital to healthy teeth & gums: Calcium, Iron, & Vitamins A, B, C and D (all of which are in beans, I may add). Let’s take a look at how each of these can affect your oral health…

Calcium: Teeth & jaw bones are made mostly of calcium. When combined with phosphorous, it forms calcium phosphate, the dense, hard material of the teeth & bones. Without enough calcium in your diet, you are at risk for gum disease & tooth decay (cavities). If your jawbone is not healthy, the chances are your whole mouth is not healthy.

Iron: Iron deficiency can cause your tongue to become inflamed, and sores can form inside your mouth.

Vitamin A: Vitamin A has a lot to do with the formation of healthy teeth, gums & skin. It aids in the formation and maintenance of mucous membranes and soft tissues, and has antioxidant properties. These antioxidants help to destroy free radicals that cause your body to decay.

Vitamin B3 (niacin): A lack of Vitamin B3 can cause bad breath and canker sores in the mouth.

Vitamins B2 & B12 (riboflavin): Mouth sores can also develop when you don’t consume enough B2 & B12.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that promotes healthy teeth & gums and assists in the absorption of iron. A deficiency will lead to bleeding gums and loose teeth.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is created in the body after exposure to sunshine. It helps your body absorb calcium—necessary to develop and maintain healthy teeth & bones. A diet low in Vitamin D will cause burning mouth syndrome. Symptoms include a burning mouth sensation, a metallic or bitter taste in the mouth, and dry mouth.

The following is a summary statement published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition on the benefits of legumes:

“…Dry beans supply protein, complex carbohydrate, fiber and essential vitamins and minerals to the diet, yet are low in fat and sodium and contain no cholesterol. Both protective and therapeutic effects of bean intake have been documented. …Including dry beans in a health-promoting diet is especially important in meeting the major dietary recommendations to reduce risk for chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity and cancer.”

As you can see, beans are not only good for your heart. The nutrient-rich contents they house are good for your entire body. So in honor of National Bean Day, I think I’ll have a bean burrito, lentil soup, or maybe some hummus…oh the possibilities!