The Evolution of Wisdom Teeth

 What is happening to our wisdom teeth?

Humans are evolving!  Proof of this is that we have smaller jaws than those of our distant ancestors and that a chromosomal mutation called MYH16 may have allowed for humans to have larger brains, while at the same time has reduced the need for wisdom teeth. This is fascinating!

 It is estimated that up to 35% of the current population have congenitally missing wisdom teeth.  It isn’t that uncommon anymore, as wisdom teeth are considered to be vestigial structures, meaning they are no longer necessary, even though they once served a purpose. Additionally,  ethnicity and environment may play a role.  People of Asian descent and the Inuit are the least likely group to have wisdom teeth, however, it appears that the current trend towards fewer or absent wisdom teeth is due to simple evolution.

The Unexpected Way Running Affects Your Teeth

We all know that exercising is great for your health. One of the primary reasons for running is that it helps lose weight, fight heart disease, and relieve stress. However, running can also have hidden negative effects on one of the most important parts of your body; Teeth.

When you add all the carbs, sports drinks, and protein bars likely consumed during or after a workout, your mouth has the perfect environment for cavities. Sugar feeds decay-causing bacteria and our defenses against these bad bacteria that live in our saliva.

While most runners breathe through their mouth, the mouth is usually dry during the entire run which slows saliva rates and makes it harder for the mouth to clean itself. Therefore, when the mouth is dry, your teeth are at risk.

Here are a few things to save your teeth during a workout!

1. Stay hydrated
2. Pop a sugar-free mint or a piece of gum after a workout (this helps your saliva glands to start working again)
3. Brush and floss regularly

Remember oral hygiene is very important!!

Still No Taste Buds? The Ever-lingering Loss of Taste After Covid-19

 

We’re sure there are still many people who haven't  regained their sense of taste and/or smell after a bout with COVID-19.  Articles and statistics indicate that some people have had problems for a year or more after contracting the virus.  The gnawing question is:  do these patients just have to “wait it out” or is there a treatment or remedy available to help?  The following might offer you, as a provider, a suggestion for them to try.

An article by a doctor at the Mayo clinic indicates there is hope for these patients.  It is a process called olfactory retraining by which the patient smells 4 specific fragrance substances for 15 seconds twice per day for several weeks.  The doctor asserts that roughly 95% of patients can see improvement in their symptoms over time.  Those fragrance substances are clove, lemon, eucalyptus and rose.

We found a website that promotes this theory. It is called AbScent.org.   AbScent is a non-profit charity organization based in the UK that can offer helpful insight and support for people with taste and smell disorders. Their company has become internationally known and is a great source of information for people looking for relief from these lingering effects.

You can visit their website at AbScent.org.uk to learn more about their mission, their company and the olfactory retraining process.

Keep Smiling!

Probiotics For The Mouth?

That's right! Probiotics are not just for gut health they can keep your mouth healthy too!

Here are some ways the benefits of oral probiotics:

• Helps prevent Plaque 
• Helps fight bad breath
• May prevent oral cancer
• Helps manage symptoms of Gingivitis
• It may decrease inflammation in the mouth

If you are the type of person who cannot swallow pills or like me who forgets to take them you're in luck because there are many different types of foods that you can get probiotics from such as enhanced milk, yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut to just name a few!

Remember to consult with your dentist before taking probiotics!

Things to Do to Make Sure Your Child Will Have Strong Teeth

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! 

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.

Original post by Clay III on October 14, 2018

Aches And Pains In The Jaw - It Could Be TMJ!

Also known as TMJ, this disorder has a series of problems that go along with it. Your aches and pains might actually indicate Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction.

The following are some of the symtoms associated with TMJ:

1. Misaligned teeth (an incorrect bite will affect the jaw.)
2. A 'clicking' or 'grinding' sound when you open or close your mouth.
3. A ringing or aching in and around the ear.
4. A pain or tenderness of the hard or soft tissue in the jaw area.
5. Facial pain.
6. Aches or pains when chewing or swallowing.
7. Headaches.
8. A 'locking' jaw joint.
9. A shoulder and/or neck ache.

Although any of these signs and symptoms could be a Temporomandibular Joint Problem, it takes a health care professional that is trained in that specific area to diagnose a TMJ problem. If you think you may have TMJ, discuss all of your symptoms with your dentist or your personal care physician.  It is a treatable disorder.  There is no need to suffer!

Keep smiling!

Could Toothpaste be Linked To Heart Attacks And Strokes??

Could a zero-calorie sweetener in toothpaste be a leading cause of heart attacks and/or strokes? Check out this article from Dr. Biscupids Melissa Busch. 

"A zero-calorie sugar substitute commonly found in toothpaste and chewing gum may be associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes, according to a press release dated June 6 from the Cleveland Clinic.

In the future, more studies should be conducted to examine the cardiovascular safety of xylitol, a natural sugar alcohol found in plants but which is considered an artificial sweetener because it contains no sugar, according to the large study published on June 6 in the European Heart Journal.

"Xylitol is associated with incident MACE (major adverse cardiovascular event) risk," wrote the authors, led by Dr. Stanley Hazen, PhD, of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute and the Preventive Cardiology in the Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute in Ohio.

Xylitol is a common ingredient in sugar-free candy, gum, and oral care products like toothpaste. Over the last decade, xylitol and other sugar substitutes have gained in popularity and have been promoted as healthy alternatives for those with obesity and diabetes.

To explore factors that contribute to residual cardiovascular risks, an analysis of more than 3,000 patients in the U.S. and Europe were analyzed. Untargeted metabolomics studies were conducted on patients undergoing heart evaluation, and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses were done on an independent, nonoverlapping cohort. Human blood and animal model studies were studied to investigate the effects of the sugar substitute on platelet responsiveness and blood clot formation in vivo, according to the study.

High levels of circulating xylitol were linked to an elevated three-year risk of cardiovascular events. Additionally, a third of patients with the largest amount of xylitol in their plasma were more likely to have a cardiovascular event, according to the release.

Furthermore, xylitol caused platelets to clot and heightened the risk of thrombosis. Also, it was found that the platelet activity of patients who drank a xylitol-sweetened drink had a clotting ability that notably rose immediately compared to those who drank a glucose-sweetened drink, according to the authors.

The study had several limitations, including that clinical observation studies show correlation and not causation, according to the release. The study, which was supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Office of Dietary Supplements, highlights the need to further investigate sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.

"It does not mean throw out your toothpaste if it has xylitol in it, but we should be aware that consumption of a product containing high levels could increase the risk of blood clot related events," Hazen said in the release."

Do You Have Old Amalgam (Silver) Fillings?

To be sure, many dentists currently do not use amalgam fillings.  But why?

This is an excellent question. I thought it might be interesting to stir the debate a little....after all, so much controversy surrounds the issue. In this day and age when everyone (medical professionals and the average patient alike) is so much more aware of the harmful toxins in the air we breathe and ingredients in our food and water....it's nice to be able to have a choice about what goes into our body.
Here is a link to a very good article that has an interesting twist...a link to a youtube video that actually shows mercury vapor coming out of an extracted tooth that had an amalgam filling. This will knock your socks off! Watch and decide for yourself. It might just help you to make that ever-important decision...Amalgam or Composite?

Always remember to keep smiling!