Accidental Halloween Happenings: 15 Candies to Watch Out For!

With Halloween just a day away, every year dentist offices across the country encounter a rush of patients experiencing Halloween candy related dental emergencies!! No joke!! It's very common for patients to present themselves to the dental staff with crowns or bridges that have been pulled off, fillings that have been pulled out, teeth that have been chipped or cracked all by these innocent sweeties we consume every year!! I've compiled a list of the most common offenders that can be found in your candy bowl!

Top 5 Worst Culprits

(these are known to extricate crowns, bridges and fillings with ease)

1. Sugar Daddy
2. Milk Duds
3. Dots
4. Bit-O-Honey
5. Good n' Plenty

Top 10 Accomplices

1. Jolly Rancher
2. Laffy Taffy
3. Caramel
4. Gummy Bears
5. Toffee
6. Tootsie Rolls
7. Sugar Babies
8. Now & Laters
9. Super Bubble Gum/ Dubble Bubble Gum
10. Slowpokes

There ya have it! For those of you who have any type of dental work done, watch out for these sneaky little candies...or you may find yourself in the dental chair bashfully blaming your missing filling on one of these sweet little criminals!

Keep smiling, have fun and be safe this Halloween! 

Could Root Canals Become History?

Oh, the dreaded root canal but what if I told you that in the future your teeth could possible heal themselves?

Researchers from the University of Nottingham and the Wyss Institute at Harvard University are trying to develop a new regenerative dental filling that uses stem cells. This will be placed inside your teeth to repair tissues and potentially make root canals a part of history!

This research earned second place at the Royal Society of Chemistry's Emerging Technologies Competition in 2016!

Article found here!

Today’s Dentistry – The Wide Spectrum of the Dental Arts

Technology is rapidly advancing, particularly in the dental industry. So, it is no surprise that dentists are branching out into other fields. Simple dental caries, bruxism, orthodontic malocclusion and misalignment of the jaw have long been treated by the dentist, while treatments for varying ailments such as sleep apnea, migraine headaches, ringing in the ears and even Tourette’s syndrome have always fallen into the purview of an MD or a medical specialist.  However, by advancement of technology, dentists are now able to integrate dental treatments for things like TMJ or structural Maxillofacial problems with the jaw into treatments for these ailments, among other things. 
Devices such as TMD splints, night orthotics and post-orthodontic appliances are proving to be useful for a variety of ailments.  It seems that misalignment of the jaw can contribute to a myriad of ailments...including sleep apnea, digestive issues, poor body posture, muscle spasms, decreased strength overall along with muscle aches and pains, to name just a few. 
If you suffer from any of these ailments, you might consider consulting with your dentist as well as your healthcare provider.  There may be a simple solution out there for you!

Keep Smiling!

Future Prevention Of Yellow Stains On Teeth After Braces!

If you have braces or are getting them put on soon, I'm sure you are looking forward to the day you can get them removed, right? I know I did when I had mine put on years ago!

I didn't have my braces until I was an adult, so I was very conscious of keeping my teeth clean at home and I had professional cleanings every four months to prevent white spots on my teeth. That was my main concern with braces because I remember back in high school seeing my friends coming back to school with their braces removed but they had white spots on their teeth from where the brackets were placed and had "yellowish" looking teeth.

I came across an article that discuss how researchers from Valencia (Spain), London (England) and Sul (Brazil) are trying to develop an adhesive material that will prevent white spots from appearing on the teeth of people who wear braces.

This is copied from the article: 

The study compares three experimental dental adhesives which contain a bioactive nano-mineral called halloysite and whose nanotubes have been loaded with triclosan, a strong antibacterial and fungicidal agent in different concentrations: 5, 10 and 20 per cent. The research compares the three new, experimental biomaterials’ polymerisation properties, their antibacterial strength and bioactive properties, which not only prevent demineralization of the teeth, but also promote remineralisation.

The three experimental materials tested in the laboratory have demonstrated an ability to stop bacterial proliferation in the 24 hours following their use, but only the one with the highest concentration of triclosan, at 20 per cent, has maintained this property after 72 hours. As far as the remineralising effect, all three tested materials have proven to be effective two weeks after their use in dental enamel samples submerged in experimental saliva.

These results are a promising step forward in the development of new adhesives that are capable of preventing the appearance of the bacteria that demineralise the enamel surrounding the brackets and, at the same time, remineralise the area and thus prevent the appearance of white stains on the teeth.

 Luckily I didn't have any white spots or staining after my braces but this maybe helpful for young children who are wearing braces!

Article was found here!

Oral Bone Loss May Be One of the First Signs of Osteoporosis!

Your teeth have been cleaned, x-rayed and examined. You're ready to schedule your next 6-month check-up and be on your way. But instead, your dentist delivers some surprising news: you may have osteoporosis.
You may think your dentist is kidding, but that's probably not the case. Signs of osteoporosis can often be seen on dental x-rays and exams. Oral health and bone health can be directly related. Your dentist can find possible signs of osteoporosis by examining your jawbone, gums and teeth.
Although your dentist may suspect the disease, you can't tell for sure from an x-ray alone. To diagnose osteoporosis, you will need to see a doctor for a bone density test.

Keep Smiling!

How To Deal With Dental Phobia

To begin, I think it's important to note that dental phobia is a very common affliction, with over 80% of the population having at least some level of anxiety and fear over dental procedures. So, to the dental phobics out there, please know that you are not alone!! Conversely, a higher percentage of women have reported having dental phobia than men. (Ok, I'll admit that this statistic surprised me. Just a little.) Having worked in this industry for the past 16 years, it occurred to me to write on this topic because I have witnessed so many people who have been diagnosed as needing major restorative work all because they were afraid to see a dentist for preventative care. Some have avoided the dentist for 15 to 20 years! Anyway, I did a little hunting on the web and found some interesting ideas for overcoming dental phobias. Hope this is helpful! 

• The first and, I think, most important thing is to find a dentist that you can trust. The best method for this is word of mouth. Talk to a trusted friend or co-worker, or ask family member for a referral. Chances are if they've had a good experience, you will too.
• Proceed with treatment at your own speed. (Except in the case of an emergency, of course.) Do not allow yourself to be rushed into treatment before you are ready. Mental preparation is important to your dental experience. Discuss all options with your dentist prior to the treatment. Knowing what to expect goes a long way toward relaxation.
• Try to bring a spouse or trusted friend with you for treatment. Sometimes just knowing someone is there (even if they stay in the waiting room) can help to relax you and put your mind at ease. Also, sometimes talking about your fears with that person can help to alleviate and irradicate the jitters. You might even be surprised to learn that they have similar fears!
• Predetermine a "stop signal" with your dentist. Most people will just raise a hand....that seems to be the most common signal, but the important thing is that he (the dentist) needs to know if you are experiencing discomfort at any level. Sometimes all that is required is to stop for a moment and let the feeling pass, or if you are in pain, to administer more anesthetic.
• Bring an MP3 player or CD player with headphones to distract you. Music calms the soul, and consequently the mind and body. If you are in to motivational CD's or inspirational types of listening material, that is helpful as well. Many of the new state of the art dental facilities already have these things available.

These are just a few of the ideas that are available on the internet to help overcome your fear of the dentist. Here is a link for some information on the newest dental techniques and tools coming out on the market. Many of these are designed to aid or eliminate pain and anxiety.

Do I Need A New Crown After A Root Canal?

If a tooth with a crown on it needs a root canal, it doesn't always need a new crown put on it. There are several reasons to replace a crown, but needing a root canal on a tooth is not one of them. If a tooth that has a functional crown (margins are good, no recurrent decay, good occlusion) needs are root canal, many times it can be done by going right through the existing crown. There is always the danger of the crown fracturing, depending on the material it is made of, so the dentist will usually caution you that a fracture can occur that will lead to the need for a new crown.

Original post by Dr.C on January 28, 2008

Food & Your Oral Health - Good vs. Bad

Have you ever wondered what you've eaten that causes dental caries (cavities)? Or, on the flip side, have you ever wondered what foods have contributed to your good dental health?
 
The following is a list of the five best foods for your teeth, followed by the five worst. 

BEST FOODS

1. Milk
2. Yogurt
3. Strawberries
4. Green Tea
5. Sugar Free Gum

WORST FOODS

1. Raisins
2. Lemons
3. Soda
4. White Bread
5. Gummy Candy and Hard Candy

Eat the good stuff, and Keep Smiling!

Tonsil Stones

Tonsil stones are white or yellowish hard masses that are located within the tonsil.

Tonsils are supposed to help prevent and fight infections but sometimes that's not the case. Nooks and crannies can fill up with dead cells, mucous, saliva and food which gets trapped and builds up. Over time this debris hardens into a tonsil stone.
 
If you notice any of these symptoms you could have developed tonsil stones:

• Bad breath
• Sore throat
• A sense that something is stuck in your mouth or in the back of your throat.
• White visible clumps in the back of the throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pressure or pain in the ears

 Luckily tonsil stones are harmless but you will wont to remove them because of the symptoms listed above. Treatments can range from home remedies to professional removal.

Home remedies:

• Gargling - Gargling with warm salt water will ease a sore throat and reduces the smell of bad breath but most importantly it my help dislodge the stones. 
• Coughing - Energetic coughing can help loosen stones.
• Manual removal - *Not recommended, can cause severe bleeding and infection* If you decide to manually remove the stones use a water pick or a cotton swab.

Professional removal:

•  Laser tonsil cryptolysis - Laser is used to eliminate the crypts where stones are lodged. You will have local anesthesia and recovery time is minimal.
• Coblation cryptolysis - Radio waves transform a salt solution into ions. These ions cut through he tissue.
• Tonsillectomy - Surgical removal of the tonsils, this is usually done if the stones are severe or if other methods tried have failed.
• Antibiotics - Sometimes antibiotics can be used to manage the stones.

Green Tea-More Oral Benefits Than You Think!

It's a commonly known fact that green tea has many health benefits.  It's a natural antioxidant and it's great for your digestive system.  I honestly had no idea it provided any oral health benefits.  Here's what I learned from an article I read recently..

In a Japanese study some years ago (2010), it was determined that men and women who drink one or more cups per day of fresh brewed green tea are more likely to keep their own teeth, less likely to suffer from periodontal issues and have fewer cavities than people who drink other beverages. It was noted that black tea has fewer benefits because it is more processed and lacks the amount of antioxidants that green tea has.  It also has higher amounts of caffeine, which can cause side effects like the jitters or sleep disturbances.

Below are some of the benefits of green tea:

1. Reduces Periodontal Inflammation

2. Can Help to Kill Oral Cancer Cells

3. Inhibits the Formation of Dental Plaque

4. Repels Odor-Causing Bacteria

5. Helps Prevent Cavities

There are also oral care products out there  that contain green tea. With all of those benefits, it might just be worth checking out!  

Keep Smiling!