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Soft Drinks…What Are the Dangers?

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Bursting the Bubble

 

The popularity of soft drinks increases year after year, due in part to their sweet taste, and in part to the aggressive advertising campaigns run by soda companies. The amount of soda consumed by the average American every year is staggering – over 50 gallons per person.

Soft drinks are a danger to oral health due to the high amounts of sugar and acids. Because of their liquid nature, gulping down soft drinks is equivalent to bathing teeth in a solution of acids and sugar. Over time, even the relatively mild acids in soft drinks can eat away and weaken tooth enamel, making teeth more susceptible to decay and damage.

Another indirect effect of soda consumption is the reduced consumption of other, healthier drinks. The reduced consumption of milk has led to a deficiency in the intake of important vitamins and minerals. Calcium, in particular, is important to the maintenance of strong teeth and bones. Without a sufficient supply of calcium, the body cannot properly maintain the integrity of teeth – combined with the damaging effects of the sugar and acid in popular soft drinks, and it is easy to see why dentists are concerned.

Lowering or eliminating soft drink consumption entirely is not a very likely solution. Sodas are so prevalent in the American diet that elimination is simply unrealistic. Therefore, if you are concerned about the effect of soft drinks on your oral health, consider the following steps.

First, take a good look at your brushing and flossing habits. These are vital if you are to counteract the negaive effects of soft drinks.

Second, try to reduce your soft drink consumption as much as possible, and replace it with beneficial liquids such as milk or fluoridated water.

Third, if you must drink sodas, use a straw when possible, to minimize contact with your teeth.

A timely visit to the dentist is always a key factor in maintaining good oral and dental health.

What Everyone Should Know About Their Dentist

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About 80% of Americans fear going to get their teeth cleaned. Unfortunately, less than 50% of Americans visit us twice-a-year as is recommended by the ADA. To help bring both of these percentages up, below are some of the reasons why no one should fear this, and why more people should be visiting their local dentist more often.

Dentists undergo 8 years of study (4 in undergraduate and 4 in a doctoral program). Dentists graduate with a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). In short, if you have no problem going to the doctor for a check up, going to the dentist for an oral check up should be a breeze.

What’s more, advancements in relaxation and sedation dentistry make it even easier. Aside from sedation, new, comfort-based technology and the fact that you can listen to your favorite music, make visiting the dentist at the very least, comfortable.

But perhaps the most important thing to know is that dentists can pinpoint and detect other health issues that may be developing, like diabetes or cancer of the mouth. (Just ask Dr. Oz!)

If you’d like to learn more about sedation dentistry, or, just get a general check-up, or schedule a FREE 2nd opinion, call our office: (503) 371-2424.

WELLNESS SPRINGS DENTAL 3460 LIBERTY RD S SALEM, OR 97302 (503) 371-2424

The Cleaning of the Teeth

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pediatric dentist salem orThe Cleaning of the Teeth (Part I)

She told me to open my mouth, she started the exam, and, she was in there for about 30 seconds,. Suddenly, she started crying (this is a dental story there might be some exaggeration for point). My dental hygienist said that my teeth were not very happy; in fact they were down right sad. I hadn’t been to the dentist for my recommended twice-yearly cleaning and I’m not the best flosser – in that I don’t really floss. The good news is that I don’t have periodontal disease, the bad news is if I don’t take care of my teeth now, I will.

I brush my teeth every day and use mouthwash with fluoride and, I don’t eat sweet stuff, so why can’t I just come in every five years and clean my teeth?  After all, that’s what I have done for the past forty years. She looked at me and said, “Listen, I have a really full schedule, I’m booked out for months, and I can’t force you to take care of your teeth. Other people get it, you don’t yet, call me when you do.”

And that was the last time I saw my dental hygienist. Not because I haven’t “gotten it” yet. I understood almost immediately, cleaning your teeth doesn’t just make them whiter; it actually keeps your gums healthy and free from gingivitis and periodontal disease. I haven’t seen my hygienist since then because she really was booked for months and I just couldn’t get in.

 

The Cleaning of the Teeth (Part II)

I finally made it in to see my hygienist and my gums are so much happier now. Of course it takes a bit of work on my part, learning to floss after 40 years of not flossing is like learning a new language.  I’d rather go to the dentist once a month for a monthly cleaning but personal responsibility is important. For now I will continue to keep my gums happy and therefore healthy by flossing and brushing every day. And, I will resign myself to the recommended twice-a-year cleaning. I hope my little story has impressed upon you the importance of regular cleanings. If I can do it after forty years of not doing it, then anyone can.*

*Two visits annually for a cleaning is normal. If you have periodontal disease, it will likely be recommended you visit your dentist and hygienist 3 to 4 times per year until the condition of your gums improve.

 

Image Used under Creative Commons license. Photo Credit: Dental floss (whole)

It Hurts to Eat

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I had a patient come in who loved hamburgers; the texture, the taste, even cooking them. This was a wiser patient, over the retirement age; he came in because he could no longer enjoy his favorite food. Every time he bit into or chewed a food his teeth moved causing untold discomfort and misery.

People grind their teeth, but imagine grinding your whole mouth and it moving while you did. If you have ever had arthritis you know the pain of inflammation. Having your entire mouth hurt (gums, roof, lips, everything) is a pain only those who experience it can imagine.

The reason for dentures is simple; periodontal disease has decayed the teeth so much that they are no longer useful. Though people are taking better care of their teeth, now that most dentists can tweet about the importance of “teeth care,” there are still one in six people over the age of 60 who have or will have dentures. And since folks keep their dentures seven years or more and rarely have them looked at, problems arise. So, if you have dentures that move when you eat or you feel great discomfort, the following is what you should do:

  • Relining. A liquid acrylic molds the denture closely to the shape of the gums.
  • Recasting. The dentures can be re-made to get a better fit.
  • Mini-implants. Mini implants are inserted into the bone, to stabilize dentures. This minimally invasive procedure can typically be accomplished in one visit.

Just remember it doesn’t matter why your dentures hurt, only that they do. As we are coming more and more knowledgeable about our bodies, we just have to remember what an integral part of our body our teeth are.

Call today for your free implant or denture consultation.

Dr. Irene Glanville, Wellness Springs Dental

3460 LIBERTY RD S SALEM, OR 97302 (503) 371-2424

Mad about Oral Health?

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I have written several articles about how regular oral check-ups positively impact your overall health. In this article I substantiate the Oral Systemic Connection. In other words I will summarize in further detail how there is indeed a connection between your oral health and your overall health.

Though the Oral Systemic Connection may sound like a new theory in dentistry, it has been around for quite a while. In 1985 an article appeared in the Quintessence International(Berlin, Germany) that talked about the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Though poor oral health can’t be linked directly to causing poor health, there is absolutely a connection between the two. For example this early article points out:

Ample studies have reported on the association between periodontal diseases, a persistent inflammatory process, and other chronic ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer disease, and cancer. Other conditions such as low birth weight and premature delivery due to chorioamnionitis are also known to be linked to poor periodontal health.

As far back as the late 1800’s, dentists were looking at the connection between poor oral health and diseases. Obviously health care, both oral and generally speaking, has made substantial advances since. But, unlike using leaches to cure addictions, the Oral Systemic Connection has been proven to have substantial merit.

Of course getting a dental check-up won’t cure any diseases that may or may not be present, but, as is well documented, the sooner any oral health problems are discovered, the better equipped we are to fight it. Please, Google “oral systemic connection” and see for yourself, just how important it is to have regular dental check ups! Remember, your teeth are the windows to your overall health! And, second opinions at my office are always free.

WELLNESS SPRINGS DENTAL 3460 LIBERTY RD S SALEM, OR 97302 (503) 371-2424

- Wellness Springs Dental
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