Healthy Holiday Smile

Now is a great time to take care of things that really matter, like your teeth and gums.

Good oral care is part of a healthy lifestyle. You can help prevent cavities and gum disease by routine daily teeth cleaning, good eating habits and regular dental visits.

 

What causes tooth decay and gum disease?

Your teeth are covered with a sticky film of bacteria called plaque. These bacteria convert the sugar in the foods you eat into acids. This plaque, if left in contact with teeth, damages the teeth and the gums. The acid breaks down the enamel causing cavities, while the bacteria irritate the gums, making them swell and bleed.

Swollen and bleeding gums, also known as gingivitis, are the early signs of gum disease. This early stage is reversible by professional dental cleaning and good oral hygiene at home. If left untreated, the gums pull away from the teeth creating pockets which are harder to clean and get infected. Bacteria in the pockets enter the bone surrounding the teeth and destroy it, making teeth become loose and fall out.

 

Implant Surgery

We are so proud of Dr. Tran and Dr. Mouradian training on the latest and greatest in dental implant surgery!

 

Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. The tooth root implant, which is a small post made of titanium, is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process can take from six to 12 weeks.

 

Once the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post -- called an abutment -- is attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth. To make the new tooth or teeth, your dentist makes impressions of your teeth, and creates a model of your bite (which captures all of your teeth, their type, and arrangement). The new tooth or teeth is based on this model. A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then attached to the abutment.

 

 

 

For more information visit: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-implants?page=2

 

The Importance of Flossing

Georgia, a baboon in the Paignton Zoo in the United Kingdom taught herself to floss:

“One of the older baboons was inspecting a broom head. Then I saw her pull out a bristle, examine it, pull it taut between both hands and very deliberately start to floss her teeth. She did it several times, both top and bottom set. I only saw the one baboon behaving like this, but she had several pupils, as she was being watched by other baboons.” -Paignton Zoo volunteer.

The intelligence and cleanliness of Georgia is astounding. Flossing is a major way to prevent cavities from developing between teeth. The bristles of toothbrushes cannot reach between teeth, allowing bacteria to multiply and produce acid which breaks down tooth enamel.

 

And remember "shoe shining" is not flossing. The floss should go between teeth and then under the gums and then in a "C" shape under the gum along the tooth.

Safe & Fun Halloween

Enjoy and safe and fun Halloween with these CDC tips:

• Swords, knives, and other costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
• Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
• Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
• Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.

• Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. WALK and don't run from house to house.
• Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
• Look both ways before crossing the street. Use crosswalks wherever possible.
• Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
• Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
• Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
• Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
• Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Never accept rides from strangers.
• Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

P.S.: Don't forget to brush and floss after eating candy!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Early detection of cancer can mean the utmost importance in a positive prognosis. Facts on breast cancer from nationalbreastcancer.org include: One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. Each year it is estimated that over 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. Although breast cancer in men is rare, an estimated 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 410 will die each year. Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. The damaged cells can invade surrounding tissue, but with early detection and treatment, most people continue a normal life. See this guideline for self breast examinations: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps

Smokeless Isn't Harmless

Chewing tobacco and baseball have gone hand in hand for a long time in American culture. Unfortunately many young baseball players do not realize the health risks when picking up the habit. The price many chewing tobacco users pay is cancer, tumors, gum disease, loss of jaw or cheek bone, and loss of taste buds or the tongue. "Thirty-eight years after the end of his baseball career, chewing tobacco user Bill Tuttle had an ominous bulge in his cheek — a tumor so big that it came through his cheek and extended through his skin. Doctors removed the tumor, along with much of Tuttle's face. Chewing tobacco as a young man had cost him his jawbone, his right cheekbone, a lot of his teeth and gumline, and his taste buds. Cancer finally took Tuttle's life in 1998. He spent his last years trying to steer people away from smokeless tobacco". More on Bill Tuttle and smokeless tobacco can be read here: http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/tobacco/smokeless.html#

We are proud to see little leaguer Brexton Clubb, 12 years old, from Peoria, Ariz., was the winner of Oral Health America’s 14th Annual NSTEP (National Spit Tobacco Education Project) Slogan Contest. Brexton’s winning slogan — “Run bases, catch balls. Chew tobacco and risk it all!” — was featured during the 10-day Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Read more here: http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/news/usa/25651_winning_slogan_educates_americans_about_the_dangers_of_spit_tobacco.html

Cheese Breakdowns: Is Cheese Good for You?

I love cheese. Cheese is a staple in my diet and many other Americans feel the same way. In fact, "the amount of cheese being consumed in the US has tripled over the past 40 years" -Medical News Today. However, many people may not realize that some cheeses are loaded with saturated fat and sodium. This article we found breaks down categories of cheeses to help us make better food choices: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/299147.php All in all, if you are an avid cheese eater- it is better to consume low fat or non fat cheese.

Big Brother Dental Insurance

This new dental insurance program, Beam Dental, reminds me of the Progressive car insurance snapshot. Remember those commercials claiming you can finally pay for car insurance how you drive? The Progressive snapshot device sits in your car and monitors hard breaks, how far you drive, etc and in turn you pay auto insurance based on your driving habits. Well, big brother can now be in your toothbrush - monitoring your oral hygiene habits. Beam Dental insurance will send you an electronic toothbrush which claims to monitor "oral hygiene stats" and thus creates a dental insurance policy. Beam will also send toothpaste, floss and brush replacement heads every 3 months. For anyone who has overall good oral hygiene and needs minor restorations, this insurance might be worth entertaining- if you are willing to give up the privacy of your oral hygiene habits. However, major restorations do not seem to be covered by this insurance company. Read the whole article here: http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/beam-technologies-introduces-dental-insurance-with-its-smart-toothbrush/

Soda’s Effect on our Teeth

This is a great article that explains the harmful effects soda can have on our overall health and oral health. Some studies show that consuming as little as one can of soda per day can give you a 48 percent higher chance of getting a heart attack.

Research suggests it may be just as corrosive to teeth as drinking battery fluid, and this can occur as soon as the first three minutes of consumption. This is caused by a combination of mostly three factors, one is the sugar (which is really a minor factor compared to the others) then comes the phosphoric acid present in some sodas and finally the staining effect that they can have on your teeth. - See more at: http://www.dentistry.net/dental-nutrition/soda-on-teeth/#sthash.Nq5SQkPX.dpuf

Happy July 4th!

Oil Pulling

I've been seeing oil pulling pop up on my social media quite often recently. Oil pulling is the technique of swishing and pulling an oil (usually coconut) through teeth. I've seen claims that it cleans and/or whitens teeth - one tube for only $30! (http://www.cocowhite.com). But does it actually work though? The Huffington post did some research into how it can clean (but not treat teeth) and could be used supplementary with brushing, flossing and seeing your dental professional. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/12/oil-pulling_n_4943808.html?utm_hp_ref=dental-health Teeth whitening was not researched, but our dentist recommends you see your dental professional for a whitening treatment.

Radiation Exposure from Dental X-rays

Digital dental X-rays have significantly less radiation than medical X-rays and naturally occurring radiation. See our handout for some comparisons.

Cut Cake Layers with Dental Floss

Did you know that you can cut cake layers with dental floss? Watch this tutorial here: http://www.health.com/health/video/0,,20811118,00.html And enjoy a patriotic cake this Memorial Day with Red, White and Blue layers!

Even Giraffes Need Dental Treatment

Staff at Blair Drummond Safari Park noticed Kelly, a 14-year old giraffe, wasn't digesting her food properly - so they decided to check her teeth. Read the full article below: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/18/kelly-the-giraffe-gets-high-level-dental-treatment

Eating More Fiber May Help You Lose Weight

A simple high-fiber diet can provide health benefits while being easier to stick with than a diet calling for multiple changes in eating habits, a new clinical trial concludes. The average weight loss for participants of the study was 4.6 pounds and all participants experienced lower blood pressure and reduced blood sugar levels. Read the article here: https://www.webmdhealth.com/nl/nlv.aspx?id=81B7F2FDE52497A2&s=12061&mrdid=92c8ad61-e8c0-e411-be4f-e83935c0f4a9

February is Children's Dental Health Month

Click here for dental inspired children's games: http://www.colgate.com/app/Kids-World/US/Games-And-Activities.cvsp

Making teeth tough: Beavers Show Way to Improve our Enamel

Beavers don't brush their teeth, and they don't drink fluoridated water, but a new Northwestern University study reports beavers do have protection against tooth decay built into the chemical structure of their teeth: iron. This pigmented enamel, the researchers found, is both harder and more resistant to acid than regular enamel, including that treated with fluoride. This discovery is among others that could lead to a better understanding of human tooth decay, earlier detection of the disease and improving on current fluoride treatments. Read the full Article here: www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150212154531.htm

Periodontal Disease

See our handout for information about how periodontal disease progresses:

Caries

What are caries? How do they form? Are they preventable? See our informational handout below:

X-rays and Radiation

We often get asked about radiation from X-rays, so we put together this handout explaining exactly how much radiation you get from dental X-rays versus other everyday events.

Tobacco Use and Oral Health

Smoking leads to dental problems, check out our handout: