Did you know one can of Coca-Cola has around 35 grams of sugar? That's roughly 10 teaspoons of sugar per can.
Now multiply that by how many cans you drink per day, how much sugar are you consuming JUST in soft drinks?
- Erosion
- Cavities
Did you know one can of Coca-Cola has around 35 grams of sugar? That's roughly 10 teaspoons of sugar per can.
Now multiply that by how many cans you drink per day, how much sugar are you consuming JUST in soft drinks?
This article is a year old but I believe a repost is warranted, given the dangerous nature of the trend.
Dentists are condemning a viral TikTok video that suggests people rub a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on their teeth to whiten them, according to a July 13, 2021 news story on KIRO7.com. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is a melamine foam sponge used for household cleaning purposes. |
Her teeth may appear whiter, but Texas dentist Dr. Benjamin Winters explained in a rebuttal video that what the woman has done is scrub the enamel off her teeth.
The sponge should not be used on teeth because it becomes abrasive when melamine foam is mixed with water and other chemicals, according to the news article.
Mr. Clean Magic Erasers already carry a warning advising against their use on the skin or body parts. A safety advisory has also been added to the TikTok video, according to the news story.
Until next time; brush, floss and keep smiling!
The temperatures are plummeting, and changes in the weather mean one thing...flu and cold season. We all know getting a flu shot, washing our hands, and avoiding people who are sick will help keep us healthy. However, that's not always the case.
TMJ is your Temporomandibular Joint that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull. This joint allows you to move your jaw up and down and from side to side.
Have you ever heard the old wives’ tale that women should expect to lose a tooth with each child? Well as it turns out, long ago that belief was well rooted in reality! Now, however, this is a proven modern-day myth. Your baby actually gets the calcium he needs from your diet and if your diet does not contain enough calcium, the body will access the mineral from the supply in your bones, not from your teeth. But today, with careful management, most of us should be able to avoid losing our teeth. So what steps can you take to ensure that you keep your teeth in top condition, and what can you do for your child after he is born to keep his teeth healthy?
The following are some important points to remember for you and your child to ensure healthy teeth:
While you are pregnant:
Eat a healthy diet rich in calcium to keep the stores in your body at a healthy level. Dairy products and green leafy vegetables are good sources of calcium.
Brush and floss daily. It is important to keep plaque and tartar at bay. A healthy mouth will lead to a healthier baby!
Ages 0 To 10
STUDIES have shown that if we have tooth decay as babies, then we are more likely to get decay in our permanent teeth. Dental hygiene can and should begin with newborns. Bacteria can be removed by wrapping a piece of gauze around your finger and gently wiping the baby’s gum pads.
Apart from their food-processing function, baby teeth are important as space maintainers so that permanent teeth have a space to grow into. If these teeth are lost early through decay, the space may not be saved, so permanent teeth can drift - a problem more likely to lead to a need for braces later. Consequently, a baby’s sugar intake should be monitored, bearing in mind that even health foods such as milk and fruit contain sugars.
Baby toothbrushes with soft heads should be introduced as soon as teeth come through, along with specially formulated children’s toothpaste. These contain the optimal dose fluoride for youngsters.
Have their teeth cleaned regularly from the age of 2 years. Regular dental screenings can prevent loss of teeth in early years, and helps get your child in the habit of practicing good dental hygiene.
Nursing Bottle Syndrome - a condition which causes rampant decay in a baby’s teeth - can occur from six months, and constant sweetened drinks are often blamed. Studies have shown that 50% of five and six year old children may have erosion of their front milk teeth - a condition that can cause pain and sensitivity. At around the age of six, the first molar teeth start to appear. These can be sealed with a plastic coating, known as fissure sealant, to prevent decay.
Overall, good hygiene for both mother and baby is essential to healthy teeth. The better their teeth when they are young, the longer they will keep them as adults!! In my line of work, I encounter people almost daily in their 90's who still have their own teeth. In part because of a healthy lifestyle and partly because of amazing technology and advancement in dentistry.
Keep Smiling!
It's almost time for winter break!
It isn't a common occurrence, necessarily. But it does happen. Medical emergencies in the dental chair can't always be prevented but the risks can be drastically reduced if the patient and the doctor are completely transparent and open with each other about illnesses, medication and health history. All dentists have at least some training for medical emergency treatment, however in addition he/she should have at least one staff member trained in CPR, and have an emergency plan in place which includes emergency phone numbers, a defibrillator, medications on hand and procedures to stop bleeding, etc. He should take your blood pressure reading and heart rate prior to treatment, and again after treatment. If administering general anesthesia, he should be anesthesia certified. Some states issue separate licenses for anesthesia. Always make sure he is certified, or that he has a certified anesthesiologist on staff!
That said, here are some helpful suggestions for the patient to remember when having a procedure done:For those of you who prefer to stay away from artificial and (in some cases) potentially unsafe ingredients that are added to commercially marketed products, here is a recipe I found while searching online!
Out of all the recipes that I looked at, I liked this one best.
I saw an article recently that makes a good argument for Dental Plans! Not directly, of course, but if one considers that dentistry is among the most expensive in terms of healthcare and that there is no regulatory agency that holds dental prices in check, a Dental Plan can be extremely beneficial.
Senior Citizens! Don't be fooled by Dental Insurance Companie's promise to cover $2000, $3000, even $4000 of your dental costs! Dental insurance companies actually pay little to nothing and put a cap on your benefits. It never works out in favor of the patient. Never.
Back to Dental Plans. Now, when I say Dental Plan, I don't mean the ever growing "in-house" type of plan that some dentists are trying to promote; those will save you very little money overall and if a problem arises...well, where are you going to go? The plan would not be accepted by another facility! No, I'm suggesting a bonafide, BBB accredited discount plan.Dehydration is a major cause of bad breath. When the body is dehydrated it doesn't produce enough saliva. Without enough saliva to clean away food particles, bacteria reproduces freely and causes the bad breath. Saliva also neutralizes acids and prevents plaque from forming on the surface of your teeth. Consequently, adding plenty of water to your diet is a good start to having a healthy mouth. The current recommendation is to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, and remember that you can also get fluids through foods such as fruits, vegetables and legumes.
Keep Smiling!
This is a fun but messy activity to teach your young children how to brush and floss correctly!
"I just realized my dentist is older than dirt! Shouldn't he retire?" "Is it safe to see a dentist that is well past retirement age?'
These are some of the questions I have been asked recently. The answers are complicated.
The average age in the U.S for a dentist to retire is 68 years, according to a study done in 2017. That said, I have known dentists who have continued to work into their seventies.
Following the recession in 2008, many dentists were actually forced out of retirement. With the continued volatility of todays market in 2022, many have no choice but to work. However, many dentists simply love the work....and the income!
There is no guideline for when a dentist should retire. If he is able to practice at age 74, then bravo! Many will continue to practice but at a diminished capacity, sticking to the simpler procedures.
If you have doubts or are skeptical about getting treatment by an elderly dentist, you can always contact your local Board of Dental Examiners to see if there are any recent complaints or if his/her license is restricted. Most often, though, they are able to perform just as well as they ever did. Chalk that up to experience!
Keep Smiling!
Many products made for cleaning dentures can be expensive and harsh. If your dentures have metal parts, some commercial denture cleaners can cause them to corrode over time. Here is a short list of inexpensive, reliable (old time, tried and true) products that you can use to clean, disinfect and even help remove tartar from your false teeth! (Yes, even false teeth can get a buildup of tartar over time, cultivating an unhealthy array of germs and bacteria.)
Here goes!:Halloween is over... but that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep an eye on how much of those yummy sugary treats your child consumes! Eating too much candy may lead to tooth decay.
I can not express my heartbreak when I found this out. Eggnog is one my of favorite holiday traditions and drinks. So when I read that with the amount of sugar that is in it, I was quite surprised.
It kind of goes along with my misconception of what eggnog is. I assumed that it's more like milk, thus being better for dental health. I know milk is good for your teeth, I know eggs are good for your teeth. Knowing that both of them are in eggnog, one can only assume that eggnog, too, is good for your oral health. Logical assumption... right?
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, but to diagnose osteoporosis, you will need to see a doctor for a bone density test.Nearly 47% of people in the U.S. have gum disease in the form of gingivitis. Gingivitis is treatable and reversible. It can contribute to tooth decay. It does not cause bone loss, but left untreated over time it can progress to Periodontitis.
Periodontitis by definition is the inflammation of the tissue around the teeth, often causing shrinkage of the gums and loosening of the teeth. It can be reduced with treatment but cannot be reversed. It can lead to bone loss and loss of teeth. It can also be a contributor of poor health.
The main message in this is to get regular cleanings and practice good dental hygiene at home!
Prevention is the best defense.
Keep Smiling!
For most people, a toothache that turns into an expensive procedure like a crown or implant can cost thousands of dollars out of pocket. Even routine check-ups with x-rays and a cleaning can add up to hundreds of dollars. It has been estimated that a large portion of our population has not visited a dentist in the last 12 months.
Usually, when you have an infected tooth, your dentist gives you antibiotics before any procedure, right?
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?
We all know children are eager to pull out their loose baby teeth because they know the tooth fairy will come and leave money!
A recent call from a member of our Dental Plan brought this topic back to my mind and it warrants a re-post, as it is something we encounter frequently in Arizona as a border state. She said that she traveled to Mexico years ago with her family to have their routine dental work done and now, 20 years later, is wondering if the risks are worth it since the world is not as safe a place anymore. Many people still choose to outsource their dental and medical care. Many come through our state from other states to cross the border for dental care. There are mixed feelings on the topic.
The following excerpt was taken from a blog I published in February of 2008 in which I posed the question: "Why would anyone want to risk their health and safety by visiting a doctor or dentist in a country where sanitation standards are questionable and there is no way to determine whether a doctor is reputable; or even competent? There would be no legal recourse for a mistake, no refund, no malpractice insurance."More and more dental centers are moving to the digital x-ray system in their office. In fact, more times than not a dental center that we visit has moved to this technology. There are major advantages to the dental office making the switch, but what about the patient?
The effects of MS are widespread over the body but one thing many don't consider is how it can affect your oral health, both directly and indirectly.
As the disease progresses, motor function becomes impaired, pain can be intense, the immune system is suppressed. Brushing and flossing can be difficult for these patients as motor function and dexterity are essential to be able to exercise proper hygiene.If you follow your dentist's recommendations on cleaning and flossing your teeth then you should have healthy gums and strong teeth.
I recently heard about someone who went to the dentist with severe pain in the area of her bridge. This pain had been present for a couple years but only when she chewed, so she didn't think much of it. Eventually it got worse and worse until the pain was unbearable, she was sick, her face was swollen and she couldn't eat.
As it turned out, for 2 years the bridge was actually broken. There was decay in a tooth underneath it allowing for trapped food to get in, which led to a major infection. This made her really sick.Yes, this is true. The Pittsburgh Dental School did some research and found that people who drink and/or smoke have a greater number of filling that fail.
For those of you that already have a great smile, I say this... Do whatever you need to do to keep it! With the cost of dentistry not going down and only increasing, the cost to get that smile back could be insurmountable.
Trust me when I tell you that the cost of toothpaste, mouthwash, floss and regular dental cleanings is a lot less expensive than the cost of restorative dental work. In today's market, you may literally need dental financing to cover it.Is there a correct order on how you keep your teeth clean? Is it brush then floss or floss then brush?
Yuck, what is that smell? Could it be your breath?
Checking your breath may not just save you from embarrassing social moments, but it may save your life!
Recurring bad breath could be a sign of underlying medical conditions.:
This is a very old story from 2013 but a good one! It is always great to hear about modern "human" remedies being successfully used for animals. In this case, a sea turtle was saved...with denture glue.
Denture glue is something that you would think to only use for one thing.. dentures..right? Well a turtle rehab center in Florida turned to it in a last ditch effort to save the life of a sea turtle. The 40 pound turtle was brought into the center with a 10 inch crack on its shell from being struck by a boat. With a fractured shell, a turtle becomes vulnerable to infection on top of the danger of the cracked shell to begin with.
After unsuccessfully repairing turtle shells with various marine epoxies and dental glues in the past, the center turned to a local dentist to see if there was something new they could try.We all know how uncomfortable and painful canker sores can be, right? I'm sure you have tried Orajel and canker x to help heal the pain but have you tried any natural remedies? I know, I haven't.
Repost from August 2019, because we need to be reminded once in awhile!
Cavities are no fun at all. No joke about that! However, there are a lot of myths out there about cavities. Let's see if we can play myth busters on a few of them.Eating the right foods might be the key to long-lasting healthy teeth and gums!
It is estimated that eating disorders affect at least 9% of the population worldwide. 9% of the U.S. population, or 28.8 million Americans, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime.
It's likely that we have all known someone who suffers from an eating disorder. Bulemia Nervosa is a psychiatric disorder that involves frequent purging of stomach contents in order to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight. It is one of many types of eating disorders but is particularly troubling because it primarily affects teen girls between the ages of 15 and 19, and young women into their early 20's. What many people don't know is that the disease has a devastating effect on dental health.
Click the link below to read a wonderful article about the effects of Bulimia on teeth and gums and what can be done to prevent and treat it
You will find the full article here.
Keep Smiling!
If you have been intubated for more than one week due to Covid-19, you need to check out this article "10% of COVID-19 survivors may develop craniomandibular disorders" written by Melissa Busch, DrBicuspid.com associate editor.
"July 19, 2022 -- Approximately 1 in 10 survivors of severe COVID-19 may develop craniomandibular disorders (CMDs) within six months following prolonged intubation, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Furthermore, bilateral molar loss, convex face, and higher levels of peak C-reactive protein (CRP), a protein found in the blood that indicates an increase in inflammation in the body, during intensive medical care were predictors of CMDs in these patients, the authors wrote.
"(Survivors of severe COVID-19 with these predictors) indicate CMD screening and/or referral to a CMD specialist, regardless of patients' age, gender, underlying CMDs, or previous dental checkups," wrote the authors, led by Dr. Poramate Pitak-Arnnop of the department of oral and craniomaxillofacial plastic surgery at the University of Giessen and Marburg in Germany (J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg, July 7, 2022.)
Multiple predisposing or precipitating factors can lead to CMDs. These types of disorders may originate in the muscle tissue, or they may be related to a joint injury, occlusion, or comorbidities, such as autoimmune diseases.
Additionally, a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injury is a critical risk factor for CMDs. Left untreated, CMDs can cause chronic facial pain, headache, jaw malfunctions, and deformities.
When a patient must be intubated, a clinician uses temporomandibular rotation-translation maneuvers to reach a person's maximal mouth opening. Sometimes, when excessive force is used, a patient's TMJ can be injured during intubation. Prolonged intubation with the TMJ in a stressed position can worsen the damage, the authors wrote.
To identify the predictors of CMDs in survivors of severe COVID-19 after prolonged intubation greater than or equal to one week, the paper's authors conducted a retrospective study that included 176 patients. Of those patients, 21 had CMDs and 155 did not have these conditions.
In bivariate analyses, statistically significant associations were found between CMDs and bilateral molar loss in at least one jaw, skeletal class II/convex face, and serum CRP during intensive care that was greater than or equal to 40 mg/L, they wrote.
Compared to those with no or only unilateral molar loss, patients with bilateral molar loss had 12.6 greater odds (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9 to 41.1) for developing CMDs. Additionally, convex face subjects were at a 2.6-fold higher risk (95% CI, 1.2 to 5.9) of developing a CMD compared to those with a normal or concave profile. Finally, patients with peak CRP levels greater than or equal to 40 mg/L were 3.5 times more likely to have CMDs (95% CI, 1 to 12.1) than those with lower CRP levels, the authors wrote.
Screening about two to four survivors of severe COVID-19 who underwent prolonged intubation and had at least one of the predictors may result in one CMD event during the first six months after being mechanically ventilated, they wrote.
There are limitations to the study, including that its retrospective nature makes it difficult to control for bias and confounders, the authors stated. Further research should be conducted in multi-institutional settings with a larger cohort, they wrote.
"The benefit-risk analysis favors post-PI (prolonged intubation) CMD screening," Pitak-Arnnop and colleagues wrote."
There are many causes of TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Pain) but it seems the most common occurrence is pain. Studies have shown that by treating the causes of TMJ, pain can be greatly reduced or even alleviated. One of the chief causes of TMJ is bruxism, or teeth grinding. This can happen as a result of whiplash, misalignment of teeth, stress, anxiety and a variety of other reasons. It can cause damage to the teeth, headache, tinnitus and pain, among other things, over time. It has been suggested that CBD oil (Cannabinoids) can help relieve the painful symptoms of TMJ by reducing stress, anxiety and relaxing muscles; thereby relieving pain.
Click here to read an interesting article about TMJ and treatment with CBD oil for relief without side effects!We run into this a lot here at Savon Dental Plan. A valued member will call in and talk to us about their dentist only to hear the bad news from us that the dentist that they are going to is not credentialed with our office. We get the same response each time... "Our dentist said that they accept your plan." That may be the case. Most dental offices will agree to honor the plan in order to retain you as a member, but still, that does not mean that they are a credentialed provider for the plan.
Are you a nail biter? Do you know someone who is? If so, this is something you may want to pay attention to!! Nail biting is actually considered by some psychologists and physicians to be a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD). Here are some fast facts about nail biting that you may not know:
Malocclusion is also known as a bad bite. It is a condition in which a person's teeth are out of alignment, crooked or crowded.
We all know that coffee, tea, wine, dark snacks and condiments will stain our teeth. This does not mean you have to swear them off though!