Oral Tips |
Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body
Oral Hygiene Tips
P Crest and Colgate and Aquafresh, Oh My!
Soda Pop: Sip All Day & You Will Get Decay!
Bottled Water
The Root Canal Does not Have to be Torture
So you’ve heard of the horror stories, everyone out there has a relative or friend who went through a root canal who rants and raves about how they suffered. Well, I am here to break the news that I cannot remember the last time that I had a patient make one peep or flinch while in my chair for a root canal. And I am not here to take an ounce of credit. What I attribute to the improvement in the delivery of dental services overall, is the advancement of techniques for giving dental anesthetics or “Novocaine” and better dental materials and technology. For those of us dentists with the luxury of all these bells and whistles available nowadays that our forefathers only dreamed of, this is a great time in the history of the world to need a root canal. So there it is, no more excuses for putting up with a bad tooth just to avoid a root canal. Not to bore you, but one of the best technologies related to the art of doing root canal or “endodontic”, is the use of discreet rotary or electric equipment to clean the inside of the roots from top down effectively and efficiently. What used to take dentists hours and hours of grueling time with manual instruments now can be done in minutes, thus minimizing the stress of long visits in the dental chair. |
The mouth is a reflection of the overall health of the body. It can reveal signs of general infection and nutritional deficiencies. For example, signs of systemic diseases such as diabetes and AIDS can show up as sores in the mouth. The mouth is filled with many bacteria, some linked to tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease. Cutting-edge research is uncovering links between advanced periodontal disease and heart problems, such as strokes and chronic heart disease. Some studies suggest that bacteria originating from the mouth can travel through the blood stream to the heart and possibly other organs. These findings help explain why some pregnant women with periodontal disease have been linked to giving birth to preterm and/or low-birth-weight infants. It is known that patients with diabetes are more prone to periodontal disease. Due to the numerous connections between mouth and body conditions, it is important that one maintains good oral hygiene to help contribute to overall optimum health of the entire body. Next week’s column will include tips on proper oral hygiene.
roper oral hygiene is essential for maintaining both a healthy mouth and body. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), it is recommended to brush the teeth twice per day for a minimum of two minutes with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Soft bristles are best because medium and hard-bristled toothbrushes can lead to gum recession and sensitive teeth. It is also recommended to floss between the teeth daily to remove plaque and food debris where the toothbrush cannot reach. There are numerous floss aids on the market to help make the task easier. Mouthrinses are a nice adjunct to brushing and flossing, but are not to be used as a replacement for the manual removal of plaque and debris from teeth. An alcohol-free mouthrinse is best in order to avoid drying and burning of the oral tissues. Additional advice for good oral health includes the following: 1) Choose dental products with the ADA seal of approval, 2) Eat a balanced diet and limit snacking especially on soda pop and other sugary snacks, 3) Visit your dentist for professional cleanings every six months to remove mineralized plaque or tartar along the gumline. Also, be sure to inform your dentist of health problems or medications that you take and are allergic to because all these facts provide proper insight into your overall health
I am frequently asked by patients and friends what types and brands of oral hygiene products are best. Even dentists are amazed at the amount of products available in the toothpaste aisle at the supermarket. What’s a consumer to do? For starters, my best advice is to start with a product with the American Dental Assocation’s (ADA) seal of approval on the box. Such products are monitored and tested for safety and efficacy prior to going to market. Second, only choose a brand of toothpaste that contains fluoride, our best defense against tooth decay. Whitening products today are numerous. Keep in mind some whitening toothpastes can be abrasive on the teeth and if sensitivity results, it’s best to go back to a basic fluoride toothpaste. Tartar-control toothpaste can also be abrasive and is only intended for patients prone to periodontal (gum) disease or who easily collect tartar between the teeth. I mentioned in last week’s column that soft bristled toothbrushes are recommended over medium and hard-bristled ones. Reason being that the harder the bristles, the more likely gum recession and sensitivity can result. If one is seeking the “dentist clean” feeling, my best suggestion would be an electric toothbrush to really be effective, while gentle on the gums. It is also recommended to visit your dentist every six months for professional cleanings to remove the mineralized plaque and tartar that naturally forms on the teeth. At this time an oral cancer screening is performed as part of the oral examination.
So what’s the big deal? Why is your local dentist recommending to cut down on the soda pop? Well, what it boils down to is that any brand of soda pop includes a combination of the following ingredients: caffeine, carbonated water, phosphoric acid, and sugar or aspartame. The dual attack of sugar and acid on the teeth is what causes holes or “cavities” in the enamel. Sugar is the main culprit because as it dissolves in the mouth, it turns into acidic particles in addition to the phosphoric acid already present in the soda pop. I have met numerous patients who have become hooked on sugary, caffeinated soda pop to keep them awake or they become so accustomed to the taste that it becomes a daily, sometimes hourly habit to drink soda pop. The most addictive types have high levels of caffeine. I have also found that sports drinks can also be high in both sugar and acid, so be sure to read the labels prior to purchasing. My best advice for soda drinkers would be to drink no more than one can of soda pop per day and to swish with water afterwards to reduce the acidity in your mouth. Any more than one can per day can easily start resulting in tooth decay. Diet sodas cut out the sugar, but are still high in acid. Consider soda pop an infrequent treat rather than a daily habit. And, also try to choose healthier drinks such as fluoridated water, milk and fruit juices in moderation to help maintain healthy teeth and a healthy body. Next week we will discuss the facts about bottled water and how you may be getting fooled out of valuable fluoride by purchasing bottled water.
Soda pop can be a source for tooth decay due to its sugary and acidic nature. As I mentioned, water is a neutral liquid at a pH of 7, so after soda pop is consumed, one should rinse the mouth with water and/or gently brush their teeth with fluoridated toothpaste to balance out the acidity in the mouth. One should also strive to drink 8 glasses of water per day for a healthy body overall. One interesting fact, however, is more and more people are purchasing bottled water rather than drinking tap water. Most brands of bottled water have been stripped of fluoride through the purification process. Therefore, one may be getting less fluoride through their diet than needed to keep a healthy defense against tooth decay; a concern especially for young children as the teeth are forming and erupting. Most reverse osmosis water purification systems in the home also remove fluoride from the water. Luckily, most water pitcher filters such as Brita or Pur used in the home do not strip the water of fluoride. My best advice would be to keep in mind that most bottled water purchased in the store contain insufficient or no fluoride and children, therefore, should be getting supplemental fluoride from toothpaste or a fluoride mouth rinse. I would also suggest using a home water pitcher or faucet filter that leaves the fluoride intact rather than a reverse osmosis system if possible. In recent years we are seeing a debilitating rise in tooth decay or “cavities”among allage groups and the more knowledgeable the public can be about the benefits of fluoride, the better chance tooth decay can be prevented and excessive soda pop consumption can be reduced greatly.