Oral Disease Affecting Athlete's Performances?

According to University College London's Eastman Dental Institute, high levels of oral disease are found among Great Britain's (GB) elite athletes and are the leading cause of poor on-field performances.

This is the largest study of its kind, more than 350 athletes from nine different GB sports teams participated in this study which included an oral health assessment checking for tooth decay, tooth erosion, and gum disease. The athletes also had to fill out a questionnaire focusing on sleeping, eating, and self-confidence.

Results of the oral assessment: 49.1% of the athletes had untreated tooth decay, 77% had gingivitis, 30% reported having bleeding gums and only 1.1% had excellent oral health.

Results of the questionnaire: 32% of the athletes reported that these poor oral conditions negatively impact their sporting performance. 34.6%  inability to eat. 15.1%  relax and sleep 17.2%  smiling and self-confident.

After the study, Professor Ian Needleman made a few comments:

• "Nutrition in sports is heavily reliant on frequent carbohydrate intake, which is known to increase inflammation in the body and gum tissues.
•  "In sports where there is a lot of airflow, such as cycling and running, breathing hard can make the mouth dry so teeth lose the protective benefits of saliva and there is existing evidence of lower quality of saliva with intensive training. 
• "Stress is also clearly a risk factor, with some athletes reporting vomiting before every race, as a result of ore-competition anxiety." 
  
  
  
   *Whether you are an athlete or not, it's important to maintain good oral health by brushing and flossing regularly, eating a balanced diet, and visiting the dentist every 6 months for a routine check-up*

Conscious Sedation for Dentistry - Is it for You?

 If you are dental phobic, anxious because you have a long complex procedure ahead of you or are having oral surgery, conscious sedation may just be right for you! What if you could have your dental procedures done while "consciously asleep" and wake up with no memory or trauma whatsoever? It sounds too good to be true but it is becoming a safe and efficient way for a dentist to treat severely anxious or phobic patients.

Conscious sedation allows you to relax in the chair while allowing the dentist to complete long or complex procedures without further distressing you. Now, please don't confuse this with general anesthesia, because it isn't! You will still be able to respond to questions and follow instructions. You will typically still be given local anesthesia such as lidocaine, but won't remember the shot. While you are not actually physically asleep through the procedure, you may think that you were because of the mind-erasing effect.
The process is rather simple. A small pill, such as triazolam, is given approximately an hour before the procedure. More medication may be given depending on the patients response to the first pill. Everyone is different. It is advised to ask someone to drive you to and from the appointment.
Now, keep in mind that not every doctor is able to use this form of sedation. It requires special training and certification.  This includes Cardiac Life Support training to help ensure the safety of the patient in an emergency.
It is becoming a more popular way to treat anxious and fearful patients, but as always, do your homework first. Check the doctors credentials and make sure he/she has had the proper training, or has a qualified, licensed anesthetist on staff.

Now this is something to smile about! So, Keep Smiling!

7 Things You Didn't Know About Toothpaste!

As we all know there are many different types of toothpaste out on the market! But did you know there are things you need to know about toothpaste?

• It’s all about the fluoride- when buying toothpaste look for the one with added fluoride.
• Look for the seal of approval- when looking for toothpaste look for the ADA seal before purchasing.
• Whitening toothpaste works—at least to a certain degree- All toothpaste contains mild abrasives to help remove surface stains on your teeth, but toothpaste does not contain bleach, so you will not get that professional look.
• Less is more- Most people pile on the toothpaste, I know I do! But did you know actually less is better? All you need is a pea-sized amount!
• How you brush is more important than what you brush with- when brushing your teeth you need to brush at a 45-degree angle, and brush in a circular motion!
• What’s inside your toothpaste might surprise you- some ingredients inside your toothpaste are seaweed and detergents. This is how they get your toothpaste to foam.
• Pastes or gels—they all do the trick- they both work equally!

Stem Cell Dental Implants - A Future Possibility?

 Could traditional implants and dentures be a thing of the past?

Imagine going to the dentist, having a tooth extracted and finding out that you can simply grow another in it's place; with a little help from science, that is.  It may be the way of the near future....it may even be cheaper than implants (and we all know that the full process for an implant can take up to 6 months, right?)  Apparently this new process of growing a new tooth can be done in only 9 weeks.  Unbelievable!

Here is a link to an article that explains the science behind it, and the process.  Amazing.

Now if they could only come up with a way to do an extraction that is non-invasive...well, one can dream, right?

Keep Smiling!  

Mouth Injuries Related To Sports

It's that time of year, sports are back in action!!!

Did you know sports are the leading cause of mouth injuries? If you play or have played a sport you have probably been hit in the mouth at least once. The most common injuries that a dentist has seen related to sports are: broken, displaced, or knocked-out teeth, and broken jaws.

What should you do if your child hurts their teeth or jaw?

1. "If a tooth has been knocked out, the tooth needs to be put back in the mouth within 30 min. for the best chance of survival"

• Avoid touching the root because it can be damaged easily.
• If the tooth is dirty, hold it by the upper part and rinse it off with milk. If you don't have milk, don't clean it. Wiping it off may cause more damage.
• If you can't get it back in the socket, put it in a cup of milk and head for the dentist or emergency room.

***Milk will help provide nutrients to the cells, DO NOT place the tooth in water***

        2. "If your child has hurt their jaw"

• See a doctor

Remember always wear a mouthguard no matter what sport you are playing!

To read more click here! 

Traditional Dental Floss or Floss Sticks, Your Decision!

Floss sticks are quickly becoming the way of the world. They are easy to use, make flossing quicker and saves you from getting the string imprints in your fingers, but it is really the best option?

Traditional dental floss has been used for years. It is tested, approved, recommended and used by most dental centers. It is great at removing the excess food particles, plaque and bacteria between your teeth. However it is really difficult to control. It takes some work and technique to make sure that you do it right, especially if you are trying to get in between the back molars. It also requires that you stick your fingers inside your mouth, which is a problem for some people. However it is really effective at cleaning your teeth properly.

Floss Swords are less intrusive in your mouth. They are simple and easy to use and allow you to reach the back molars without much trouble. However, their effectiveness is in question. Ideally, when you floss with traditional floss, between each tooth you pull a fresh piece of floss. With a floss sword, you use the same piece until you are done. This can transfer bacteria from one to tooth to another. One could argue that if the sword is rinsed before each tooth that it wouldn't do that, but does anyone actually do that? 

Personally, I use both. In some areas of my mouth, my teeth are tight to each other and it is hard to get the thick piece of floss or sword between them, so I use traditional floss on those. I use traditional floss on all of my front teeth and I use a floss sword on my molars. I do rinse the floss sword after each tooth, but that's just me. 

It basically comes down to your preference and the recommendation of your dentist and hygienist so make sure you check with them. Whatever one you choose you will definitely get kudos for flossing. That's the part of dental care that is skipped the most!

Should I Consider A Permanent Retainer Or A Removable Retainer?

Getting your braces off is unfortunately not the end. Now you have to decide which type of retainer will work best for you, remember you will using this for the rest of your life. There are two types of retainers to choose from you have the removable retainer or the permanent retainer. Knowing more information about each kind will be helpful in making your decision.

Removable Retainer- These are custom-made to fit your mouth, made usually out of wires (older version) or clear plastic, they are worn after braces to keep the teeth in position.

• Need to be worn day/night for about the first 3 months (except when eating and cleaning) After the 3 months they can be worn just at night.
• When not worn they need to be kept in a small case so they don't break.
• Retainers can be rinsed in the morning but should be washed daily.  You can soak them in denture cleaner and then lightly sub them with your toothbrush or denture brush. * Do Not use hot water*
• Keep the retainer in a cool place do not leave them in a hot car, dishwasher, etc.
• Keep away from pets.
• If your retainer needs to be replaced (cracked/worn out) Don't delay! Your teeth can move fairly quickly!

Permanent Retainer- These are retainers that are glued to the back of your teeth. They are considered permanent because you can't take them in or out on your own.

• Stays in your mouth at all times.
• Better long-term results.
• Can slightly be seen by others.
• Difficult to clean.
• May bother your tongue.

Getting straight teeth is only half the battle; the other half is keeping them straight!

Veneers - Not as Popular As They Used To Be, But Still A Viable Option

Let's face it. This is the age of what I like to call "instant gratification".  More and more, we prefer simpler, easier methods to just about everything concerning our daily lives, so why not dentistry, right?  Fortunately for us, the dental industry has done a fantastic job of keeping up with our demands!
Many adults would like to enhance or correct their bite and smile but don't have the patience for braces; or, are embarrassed at the prospect of wearing braces for an extended period of time. There may be a solution in the form of Cosmetic Veneers! Veneers can cover gaps, discolored or slightly misaligned teeth and give you a brighter and overall uniform look to your smile, often in just a few visits to the dentist. The drawback, if there has to be one, is that they can be costly, though not as much as implants and possibly even cheaper than braces! Keep in mind that for severely misaligned or decayed teeth, veneers may not be a good option. There are some things that just need to be fixed by conventional means.

If you think you might be a candidate, check with your dentist. He or she will advise you if Veneers are an option for you.

Keep Smiling!

Save Money At The Dentist Office!!

When you save money at the dentist office, you have money for doing so much more!! Like golfing!

Join Now, Use it Now! No waiting periods. All procedures are covered immediately!

Call us at 800-809-3494 or visit us at: www.SavonDentalPlan.com

Milk is Awesome for Healthy Teeth!

 If you are an avid milk drinker like me, then this is a blog you definitely want to read. I go through 2 gallons of milk a week, and I mean I GO through it. I personally drink at least 2 gallons of milk per week. What can I say, I love milk! So I had to ask to the question, is it good for your teeth? Well, great news my fellow milk drinkers! IT IS!

It has been proven that dairy products such as milk and cheese actually reduce tooth decay. Milk contains proteins called caseins which will join together with the calcium and phosphorus to create a protective later on the surface of your teeth. (aka enamel). This helps prevent tooth decay by reducing the bacterial acids. Furthermore, the calcium and phosphorus also help strengthen and even repair the enamel on your teeth.

So, drink up my fellow milkaholics. It will help keep our smiles bright!

Oh yeah on a side note: The ADA has recommended not to have milk and cookies because as we all know they sugary items such as cookies are bad for your teeth. However... there is still hope for us on that, too. It is recommended that you have the cookies THEN the milk. That will eliminate the sugar acids that attack your teeth.

As great as that sounds, milk and cookies always sounds better than cookies then milk or milk after cookies, and we all it know it tastes better too!