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Cavities and Tooth Decay

  • What Is Tooth Decay?

  • Fighting Tooth Decay with "Sugar"

  • Highly Preventable Oral Disease Affects Millions

  • What Is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

  • What Foods Cause Tooth Decay in Children?

  • What Is Amalgam?

  • Schools’ Long-term Soda Deals Kick Kids in the Teeth

  • Soda Attack: Non-colas, Iced Tea Hurt Hard Enamel

  • Living in a Sugar Culture

  • Coffee and Doughnuts: A Disastrous Combo for Teeth?

  • Special Dental Patients Require Special Care

  • Consume Pickles, Lemons and Soda in Moderation

  • Cavity Prevention Tips for Preschoolers

  • The Best (and Worst) Candy for Your Teeth

  • Protect Your Child's Teeth from Harm on Halloween

  • Is My Child at Risk for Early Childhood Tooth Decay?

  • Sip Wine to Save Your Teeth

  • Saved by a Straw? Sipping Soda Reduces Decay Risk

  • Gum Chewers Have Reason to Smile About Xylitol

  • Diet Soda Drinkers, Beware!

What Is Tooth Decay?

 

Tooth decay, also known as caries or cavities, is an oral disease that affects many people. Unlike other diseases, however, caries is not life-threatening and is highly preventable, though it affects most people to some degree during their lifetime.

Natural bacteria live in your mouth and form plaque. The plaque interacts with deposits left on your teeth from sugary and starchy foods and produces acids. These acids damage tooth enamel over time by dissolving, or demineralizing enamel, which weakens the teeth and leads to tooth decay.

Foods containing carbohydrates (starches and sugars), such as soda pop, candy, ice cream, milk, and cake, and even some fruits, vegetables, and juices, may contribute to tooth decay.

Fighting Tooth Decay with "Sugar"

 

If there's one thing that all dentists have in common, it's that they regularly see young patients with tooth decay. Roughly 42 percent of children ages 2 to 11 have had decay in their primary teeth, while approximately 32 percent of children ages 9 to 11 have decay in their permanent teeth. Although it's vital for all patients to brush and floss every day, children in particular can improve their oral health by adding xylitol to their daily oral hygiene routine, according to an article published in the July 2010 issue of AGD Impact, the monthly newsmagazine of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

 

"Sugary foods and sticky candies can be difficult for children to resist, but they are a serious source of tooth decay, particularly when they get stuck in the crevices between teeth," says Scott Cayouette, DMD, FAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. "Additionally, many children consume large amounts of soft drinks and sports drinks, which are known to have a high acidic pH and sugar content—a recipe for disaster in terms of tooth decay." These dietary factors—combined with the possibility that children are drinking more unfluoridated tap or bottled water—might explain why the rates of tooth decay are rising.

 

However, Dr. Cayouette notes that xylitol gives dentists another weapon in the battle against tooth decay. "Xylitol provides a simple solution for tooth decay in children," he says. "It's a natural sugar that doesn't cause cavities and can actually help to prevent them."

 

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in trees, fruits, and vegetables. It's also found naturally in the human liver, which is why it is safe for humans to consume. Unlike table sugar, which breaks down in the mouth and creates an acidic, cavity-promoting pH, xylitol does not break down and therefore does not create any harmful acids.

 

Xylitol can be found in an array of products—including candies, mints, lemonade mixes, all-purpose sweeteners, and certain brands of chewing gum—which can help patients fight cavities without forcing them to drastically change their daily oral hygiene regimen.

 

Research suggests that patients should consume between six and 10 grams, or three to five servings, of xylitol per day. "It's also important for patients to consume xylitol throughout the day and not all at once," Dr. Cayouette says. "The more often that xylitol interacts with the bacteria in your mouth, the better—that way, it's always fighting cavities."

 

While there is no quick fix for eliminating tooth decay, xylitol may offer a realistic way to counteract the problem, especially among the most vulnerable populations.

 

"Parents may wonder why a dentist would recommend that their young patients consume a sugar-like substance," says Dr. Cayouette, "but with more education, they will realize that xylitol is a natural product that can help to prevent cavities."

 

Although xylitol is safe for humans, it is important to note that there is one population—a furry one—that cannot tolerate the sweetener. An article published in the February 2010 issue of AGD Impact reports that, even in small amounts, xylitol can be deadly to dogs. For this reason, it's important to keep xylitol-containing products out of your canine's reach.

Highly Preventable Oral Disease Affects Millions

The statistics are staggering: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over four million children are affected by tooth decay nationwide, a jump of over 600,000 additional preschoolers over the course of a decade.  Senior citizens, those with diets high in carbohydrates and people who live in areas without a fluoridated water supply are also likely candidates for cavities.

Tooth decay is also known as caries or cavities.  The natural bacteria that live in the mouth form plaque, which interacts with deposits left on teeth from sugary or starchy foods and produce acids.  These acids damage tooth enamel over time by dissolving it, which weakens the teeth and leads to tooth decay.

"Surprisingly, it can take as little as 20-30 seconds for bacteria to take hold and erode the enamel," says Howard S. Doctor, DDS, FAGD, AGD spokesperson.  If a consumer suspects he or she has a cavity, it is important to visit a general dentist right away.

 

"If cavities are left untreated," Doctor warns, "it can result in pain, the tooth can decay down to the pulp, which will result in a root canal, and/or the tooth might even need to be extracted."

How to prevent and treat tooth decay:

 

  • Take children to see a general dentist by 12 months of age.

  • Cut down on sugary and starchy foods, as they put teeth at risk.

  • See your general dentist every six months for check-ups and professional cleanings.

  • Brush and floss daily. Cavities often begin in the hard-to-clean areas.

  • Use rinses and toothpastes that contain fluoride.

What Is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

Baby bottle tooth decay is caused by the frequent and long-term exposure of a child's teeth to liquids containing sugars. Among these liquids are milk, formula, fruit juice, sodas and other sweetened drinks. The sugars in these liquids pool around the infant's teeth and gums, feeding the bacteria in plaque. Every time a child consumes a sugary liquid, acid produced by these bacteria attack the teeth and gums. After numerous attacks, tooth decay can begin.

 

The condition also is associated with breast-fed infants who have prolonged feeding habits or with children whose pacifiers are frequently dipped in honey, sugar or syrup. The sweet fluids left in the mouth while the infant is sleeping increase the chances of cavities.

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hat Foods Cause Tooth Decay in Children?

  • What Foods Cause Tooth Decay in Children?

  • Kids Who Drink Soda at Risk for Decay

  • How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Children

  • How to Help Kids Prevent Tooth Decay                                                                                   

What Foods Cause Tooth Decay in Children?

Many different types of food can cause tooth decay in children, not just candy. Foods that are high in carbohydrates, as well as some fruits, juices and sodas, peanut butter, crackers and potato chips are culprits. Factors that cause tooth decay include the frequency in which the foods are eaten and the time they remain as particles in the mouth. 

 

 Dentists believe that kids who consume too much soda and not enough nutritional beverages are prone to tooth decay in addition to serious ailments later in life, such as diabetes and osteoporosis. Drinking carbonated soft drinks regularly can contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel.  Enamel breakdown leads to cavities. If erosion spreads beneath the enamel, pain and sensitivity may eventually result. This can cause nerve infection, which can result in the need for a root canal.

 

Kids Who Drink Soda at Risk for Decay

 

Any prolonged exposure to soda can cause damage. Sipping a soft drink all afternoon is more harmful to your teeth than drinking a large soda with a meal and then not drinking any soda for the rest of the day. While many dentists advocate drinking nutritional beverages, such as milk, many agree soda should be consumed from a can rather than a bottle with a replaceable cap to discourage prolonged exposure to soda.

 

How to Prevent Tooth Decay in Children ?

 

Children at school should rinse their mouth with water after meals, leaving their teeth free of sugar and acid. Children also should seek sources of fluoridation. If you purchase bottled water, be sure that it is fluoridated. Encourage children to drink tap or fountain water. Use a straw when drinking soda to keep sugar away from teeth. Remember, bottled juices are not a good alternative due to the high sugar content. Regular dental checkups, combined with brushing with fluoride toothpaste, also will help protect children's teeth.

 

 How to Help Kids Prevent Tooth Decay?

 

 

Parents should take their child to the dentist just after the first tooth appears. Brushing teeth after meals, regular flossing and fluoride treatments are the best ways to prevent tooth decay. Children should also be supervised as they brush. A good rule of thumb is that when children can dress themselves and tie their own shoes, then they are ready to brush unsupervised. Children should be supervised in proper flossing techniques until the age of 10. If you have any concerns about your child's dental health or want some tips on preventing tooth decay, ask your dentist.

What Is Amalgam?

  • What Is Amalgam?

  • Is Amalgam a Good Choice?

  • Are There Any Disadvantages?

  • Is Dental Amalgam Safe?

 

What Is Amalgam?

When your dentist determines that you have a cavity in a tooth, he or she will tell you that you need a filling. But what exactly will your dentist use to fill the hole after the decay has been removed? Dental amalgam is the most widely used and researched material for fillings. It has been used to restore the teeth of more than 100 million Americans over the past 150 years. See More Click Here .

 

Dental amalgam is a mix of metal (also known as an alloy) that is made by combining mercury, silver, tin, copper, and sometimes other metallic elements.

 

Is Amalgam a Good Choice?

Because amalgam fillings can withstand a lot of chewing, they are useful especially for restoring molars in the back of the mouth, where the chewing load is greatest. They also are good in areas that are hard to keep dry, such as in deep fillings below the gum line. Amalgam fillings, like other filling materials, are considered biocompatible, which means that patients don't have a lot of problems with them and allergic reactions are very rare.

 

Are There Any Disadvantages?

 

Disadvantages of amalgam include possible short-term sensitivity to cold after the filling is placed, which is also true of other dental materials. The silver-colored filling is not as natural looking as one that is tooth-colored and might be visible when you laugh or talk. To prepare the tooth, the dentist may need to remove more tooth structure to accommodate an amalgam filling than for other types of fillings.

 

Is Dental Amalgam Safe?

 

Although dental amalgam continues to be a safe, commonly used restorative material, there have been some concerns because it contains mercury. However, because the mercury in amalgam is combined with other metals, it is safe for use in filling teeth. Major U.S. and international scientific and health organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the World Health Organization, are satisfied that dental amalgam is a safe, reliable, and effective restorative material.

If you are concerned about amalgam, talk to your dentist. Dentists can use other materials to fill a tooth, such as composite resin, porcelain, and gold. Your dentist will advise you about the most practical, safest option for your situation.

 

Schools’ Long-term Soda Deals Kick Kids in the Teeth

Although federal regulations prohibit the sale of soft drinks to students during lunch hours in most schools, soft drink machines often line the hallways, which means the goods are accessible to students all day long. Some students are merely thirsty, and others are looking for an early morning caffeine kick. However, none are looking for tooth decay, though that's what many may get. 

 

Soft drink purchases by teens in schools increased 1,100 percent over the past 20 years, while dairy purchases have decreased by 30 percent, according to a report in the January/ February 2003 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

 

Since 1995, soda companies have approached schools with lucrative, long-term deals – called "pouring rights" contracts – to exclusively sell their brand in exchange for funding. Citizens' groups and dental care professionals have criticized these companies for pushing their products to kids in school.

 

 

Many dentists are worried that the increase in soda consumption is leading to an increase in tooth decay among teenagers. "I think it is easy to lose track of the fact that pop is harmful," says AGD spokesperson William Chase, DDS, FAGD. "A lot of parents just don't ask what their kids are drinking and how much."

 

Studies show an increase in soda consumption over the last three decades. Soda consumption has increased from approximately 20 gallons of cola per person a year in 1970 to more than 50 gallons per person a year in 2004.

 

"We are not trying to get schools to ban vending machines...we want to educate people on what soda consumption can do to kids' teeth," says Dr. Chase.

Soda Attack: Non-colas, Iced Tea Hurt Hard Enamel

  1. Soda Attack: Non-colas, Iced Tea Hurt Hard Enamel

  2. Soft Drink Consumption on the Rise

  3. Sugar and Acid Damage Teeth

 

Soda Attack: Non-colas, Iced Tea Hurt Hard Enamel

 

As summer temperatures rise so will people's thirst. Unfortunately, many people will grab a pop or iced tea instead of water. It isn't just cola's empty calories – about 150 per 12-ounce can – you should worry about. Many of these beverages harm enamel, the protective shell around teeth.

 

A pilot study of the effects some of these beverages had on enamel, appearing in the July/August 2004 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal, found that over time, exposing dental enamel to carbonated beverages and non-carbonated canned iced tea weakens and permanently destroys enamel.

 

Results from the study, which exposed healthy dental enamel to a variety of popular beverages over a period of 14 days, found that non-colas and canned iced tea were especially harmful. They contain flavor additives, such as malic, tartaric and other organic acids, which are more aggressive at eroding teeth. Root beer, which contains the least amount of flavor additives, was found to be the "safest soft drink to safeguard dental enamel."

 

Soft Drink Consumption on the Rise

 

About 27 percent of the beverages consumed by Americans are soft drinks, the study notes. Overall soft drink consumption has steadily increased over the years and remains on the rise, contributing to an increase in oral health problems, namely cavities. In 1977, 12- to 19-year-olds drank 16 ounces of soda a day. In 1996, this same age group consumed an average of 28 ounces a day.

 

Soda consumption has increased from approximately 20 gallons per person per year in 1970 to more than 50 gallons per person per year in 2004. The American Beverage Association has stated that soft drinks account for 28 percent of overall beverage consumption. 

 

Soft drinks and canned beverages are constant features of daily life, and the approximately $50 billion the industry rakes in each year suggests it won't go away anytime soon. However, soda can be enjoyed in limited quantities. J. Anthony von Fraunhofer, MS, PhD, FADM, FRSC, lead author of the study, says that soda consumed "at meal times is less injurious than when consumed alone and continuous sipping is more harmful than the whole drink taken at one time."

 

Sugar and Acid Damage Teeth

 

According to AGD spokesperson Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, soda's combination of sugar and acidity can be damaging to teeth. Though the level of risk varies from person to person, Dr. Sherwood says, "Repeated exposure of soda through sipping over a long period of time increases the risk of getting a cavity."

 

Dr. Sherwood adds that drinking soda through a straw may help reduce the amount of soda that comes into direct contact with the teeth. She also recommends that soda drinkers rinse their mouths out with water after drinking and use toothpaste that contains fluoride. 

Fact :  

  • A typical 12-once can of regular soda contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar.

Living in a Sugar Culture

 

Naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth devour sugar, creating acids that attack tooth enamel. This can lead to decay, as well as a host of other problems, including gingivitis.

 

Living in a culture that moves as quickly as ours, it's easy to bypass a nutritious diet in favor of a diet comprised of fast food and snacks high in sugar. The detrimental effects of this lifestyle are clear. More than 25 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 5 have experienced tooth decay, and almost 80 percent of young people have had a cavity by age 17.

 

"We live in a high-stress society and fast food offers a quick fix," says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Maria A. Smith, DMD, MAGD. She adds that an overabundance of sugar is not only detrimental to oral health, but also the rest of the body's well-being. 

 

For example, the average 12-ounce can of soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar; and many manufacturers incorporate sugar into their foods to help ensure a return purchase. Today, the average person consumes approximately 150 pounds of sugar a year, or about 40 teaspoons a day.

 

It's not only our culture that defines the amount of sugar we consume, but also a lack of education on how much sugar we consume every day – especially when it comes to children and the elderly. Dr. Smith says parents may believe they are doing right by feeding their children processed fruit juice or raisins, however products such as these are mostly sugar. Processed foods also can be harmful because of the low-nutrition and high-sugar content. Substituting these products for fresh fruits and vegetables is a better option.

 

"People don't realize how many high-content sugar products are out there," Dr. Smith says. "Education is the key to creating a nutritious diet." Visiting the dentist twice a year, says Dr. Smith, is a good way to maintain oral health and learn how to curb an excessive sugar intake. Additionally, eating an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables and carefully reading nutrition content labels can curb sugar intake.

Coffee and Doughnuts: A Disastrous Combo for Teeth?

 

You're late for work, skip breakfast and during the commute, pick up a doughnut and cup of coffee and you're on your way. This common quick-fix breakfast scenario can lengthen your time spent in the dental chair, reports the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education. 

 

The sugars in doughnuts have been identified as a risk factor for gum inflammation and cavities. The AGD has reported findings that show the sugars in oatmeal cookies amount to only one-fifth of the sugars in plain doughnut particles.

 

The amount of sugar and cream in your coffee also can have a direct effect on the amount of cavity-causing bacteria. Tannins found in coffee etch into the pits and grooves of the tooth enamel, producing a rough, stained surface.

 

 

What can someone do to lessen the sugar bath their teeth receive from this breakfast combination?

 

"Don't nurse your coffee or pick at that doughnut throughout the morning," says AGD spokesperson Paul Bussman, DMD, FAGD. "When you eat your doughnut quickly, it limits the exposure time to the sugar attack."

 

"Also, cut back on the amount of cream and sugar for your coffee," advises Dr. Bussman. "Try picking up fruit or another morning meal substitute."

Special Dental Patients Require Special Care

  • Special Dental Patients Require Special Care

  • Disabilities and Dental Decay

 

Special Dental Patients Require Special Care

 

Cavities. A disease that affects a majority of Americans is easily fixed with a quick trip to a dentist's office. But how does a person with disabilities, who may be confined to a bed or wheelchair, have cavities filled or receive a dental exam? For the more than 50 million people with disabilities, oral health is among their most neglected needs.

 

"Unfortunately when physicians treat a child or an adult with a disability, dental care often has a lower priority in the face of other health problems," said Fred Margolis, DDS, past president of the Illinois Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped and staff dentist at a residential facility for the developmentally disabled. "Sometimes dentists are unfamiliar in treating persons with disabilities because many dental schools provide little training about caring for these patients."

 

"Yet, children with disabilities must visit the dentist regularly because they are very susceptible to dental disease," said Dr. Margolis. Genetic disorders or very high fevers can cause weakened enamel, which makes the enamel prone to cavity development. Gum disease and poorly aligned teeth are prevalent in children with Down syndrome.

 

Disabilities and Dental Decay

 

 

"Increased dental decay is commonplace because many medications have a high sucrose content," said Dr. Margolis. Some children with disabilities are also restricted to soft diets and do not have the abrasive particles to help remove food and plaque.

 

Although children and adults may have a disability or a disabling condition, they can still take care of their teeth or rely on their family members for assistance, said Dr. Margolis. A dentist or dental hygienist can teach family members how to properly brush and floss a special patient's teeth.

 

"Family members should also speak to their dentist about the special devices available for brushing and flossing teeth," said Dr. Margolis. Certain mouthrinses can be prescribed for the patient that will increase saliva flow and reduce plaque build-up.

 

Although dentists specially trained in providing dental care for persons with disabilities are sometimes hard to locate, family members have choices to finding dental care. Check with a primary care provider, local hospitals with on-staff dentists or contact a local dental society about mobile dentistry services, advises Dr. Margolis. Family members who have a child in a center for the developmentally disabled should inquire about on-site dental care or access to a mobile dentistry service.

Consume Pickles, Lemons and Soda in Moderation

 

Frequently consuming foods with a low pH value, such as soft drinks, fruit juices, pickles, fresh fruit and yogurt can lead to irreversible dental erosion, according to a report in the January/February 2005 issue ofGeneral Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal. Dental erosion is the breakdown of tooth structure caused by the effect of acid on the teeth. Dental enamel is the thin, outer layer of hard tissue that helps maintain the tooth's structure and shape while protecting it from decay.

 

"A low pH environment in the mouth helps contribute to dental erosion," says Samantha Shipley, DDS, and lead author of the report.

 

pH (potential of hydrogen) is a standard way to measure the acidity of a substance. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. A lower pH means that a solution contains more acid. The higher the pH, the more alkaline (or non-acidic) the solution. When a solution is neither acid nor alkaline, it has a pH of 7, which is neutral.

 

 

When acidic food or drink is consumed the enamel will soften for a short amount of time. Typically, saliva slowly helps to restore the natural balance of the acid in the mouth. If foods high in acid are consumed on an excessive basis, the mouth can't repair itself and there is a greater chance for dental erosion, says Dr. Shipley.

 

"As the availability of soft drinks increase so does the amount of erosion in our population," says Dr. Shipley. "The primary action patients can take to decrease their likelihood of erosion is to reduce consumption of sugary sodas, fruit juices and sports drinks."

 

"Vegetarian diets and diets in which fruit comprises more than two-thirds of the total food intake also makes patients more susceptible to erosion," says Dr. Shipley. "Erosion can also be caused by stomach acids introduced into the mouth through vomiting and acid reflux."

 

"These findings are important and suggest that caution should be exercised when consuming certain foods over long periods of time," says AGD spokesperson Cynthia E. Sherwood, DDS.

 

Acids found in common foods:

 

  • Soft drinks - phosphoric acid

  • Fruit and fruit products - citric and malic acids

  • Fermented products (yogurt) - lactic acid

  • Grapes and wines - tartaric acid

 

After eating or drinking:

  • Chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow.

  • Rinse with water for 30 seconds.

  • Use a fluoride toothpaste.

Cavity Prevention Tips for Preschoolers

 

  • Cavity Prevention Tips for PreschoolersIs

  • Tooth Decay in Your Genes?

 

Cavity Prevention Tips for Preschoolers

Providing proper care and oral hygiene during preschool years can mean a lifetime of good oral health, according to an article in the January/February 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Research shows that children who develop cavities in their baby teeth are more likely to develop cavities as an adult. So how can a parent determine if their child is at risk for cavities? It all begins with that first trip to the dentist.

The first dental visit should include an exam to determine if the child is at low, moderate or high risk for cavities and will help decide which oral hygiene program best suits them. Your dentist will be able to explain to you how often your child should be brushing, as well as provide flossing instructions for the child.

"Brushing should begin when the first tooth erupts," says lead author of the report, Jane Soxman, DDS. "Parents should be in charge of a child's brushing until the child is able to tie his or her shoes or write their own name clearly – usually 5 or 6 years of age."

 

Is Tooth Decay in Your Genes ?

 

Children whose parents are prone to cavities and tooth decay need to be extra careful. "We know there's a genetic predisposition to tooth decay," says Dr. Soxman. Children at high risk for cavities should be discouraged from eating starchy snacks such as crackers and chips. In fact, one good way to determine if a snack is good for a child is to check their teeth 20 minutes after consumption. If the teeth are still filled with food, the snack should be discontinued.

"Regardless of what food is eaten, regular efforts have to be made to clean the teeth before decay can begin," says Academy of General Dentistry past president Tom Howley, DDS, MAGD. "This means things like brushing, flossing, rinsing after snacks and using non-sugary beverages in bottles or sippy cups.

"It is always good to schedule routine dental checkups and to limit your child's intake of sugary foods," says Dr. Soxman.

"Essentially all children are at risk for cavities to some extent or another," says Dr. Howley. "So the same basic principles apply � control of exposure of cavity-inducing food and thorough cleaning of the teeth. Even if decay is a low risk for an individual child, they can still develop gingivitis or other problems if home care is inadequate."

 

The Best (and Worst) Candy for Your Teeth

 

As each October creeps up on Cindy Flanagan, DDS, MAGD, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry(AGD), her mind always wanders to the amount of sweets both children and adults will be consuming during the last few months of the year.

 

"Too many sweets can cause a spooky mouth," says Dr. Flanagan. "People have the tendency to graze on the sugary treats lying around the house during the holidays, and this increases the likelihood of cavities."

 

Dr. Flanagan knows that candy consumption is almost unavoidable at this time of the year, so she's offering some advice as to which sweets are less damaging to your teeth than others.

           

The Good:

  • Sugar-free lollipops and hard candies: These treats stimulate saliva, which prevents dry mouth. A dry mouth allows plaque to build up on teeth faster, leading to an increased risk of cavities.

 

  • Sugar-free gum: Chewing gum can actually prevent cavities, not only because it helps to dislodge food particles from the teeth, but also because it increases saliva. Saliva works to neutralize the acids of the mouth and prevent tooth decay.

 

  • Dark chocolate: Chocolates are loaded with sugar, but studies (

    Taubert's team signed up six men and seven women aged 55-64. All had just been diagnosed with mild high blood pressure -- on average, systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 153 and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) of 84.

    Every day for two weeks, they ate a 100-gram candy bar and were asked to balance its 480 calories by not eating other foods similar in nutrients and calories. Half the patients got dark chocolate and half got white chocolate.

    Those who ate dark chocolate had a significant drop in blood pressure (by an average of 5 points for systolic and an average of 2 points for diastolic blood pressure). Those who ate white chocolate did not.

    In the second study, Serafini's team signed up seven healthy women and five healthy men aged 25-35. On different days they each ate 100 grams of dark chocolate by itself, 100 grams of dark chocolate with a small glass of whole milk, or 200 grams of milk chocolate.

    An hour later, those who ate dark chocolate alone had the most total antioxidants in their blood. And they had higher levels of epicatechin, a particularly healthy compound found in chocolate. The milk chocolate eaters had the lowest epicatechin levels of all.

     ) have shown that the antioxidants in dark chocolate can be good for the heart and may even lower blood pressure. Just be sure to eat it in moderation.

 

The Bad:

  • Sugary snacks: Candy corn, cookies, and cake all contain a high amount of sugar, which can cause tooth decay.

 

  • Chewy/sticky sweets: Gummy candies, taffy, and even dried fruit can be difficult for children and adults to resist, but they are a serious source of tooth decay, particularly when they get stuck in the crevices between teeth and make it nearly impossible for saliva to wash away.

 

  • Sour candies: High acid levels in these treats can break down tooth enamel quickly. The good news: Saliva slowly helps to restore the natural balance of the acid in the mouth. Dr. Flanagan recommends that patients wait 30 minutes to brush their teeth after consuming acidic foods or drinks, otherwise they will be brushing acid onto more tooth surfaces, increasing the erosive action.

 

So this Halloween season, try not to overdo the sweets. And, that goes for the little ones, too. "Parents, remember: A proper oral hygiene routine for your little ghosts or goblins is essential to maintaining good oral health all year-round," says Dr. Flanagan.

Protect Your Child's Teeth from Harm on Halloween

 

  • Protect Your Child's Teeth from Harm on Halloween

  • How Sweets Are Linked to Decay

 

Protect Your Child's Teeth from Harm on Halloween

 

More than 90 percent of children go trick or treating and return home with bags full of sugary candy that can turn anyone's mouth into a nightmare. By taking a few preventive steps, however, children can enjoy Halloween without harming their teeth.

Since sugar-free gum is one treat that actually helps prevent cavities, it is a smart choice to drop in Halloween bags. Parents can also give it to their children to help neutralize the effects of sugary snacks after eating. Chewing sugar-free gum containing the artificial sweeteners sorbitol and xylitol reduces cavities. The chewing motion stimulates the flow of saliva, which helps cleanse the teeth.

Sweets are especially harmful, since damaging acids form in the mouth every time you eat a sugary snack and continue to affect the teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized. The sweetening agents in sugarless gum are effective in combating the bacteria in plaque and fighting the acid that eats away at enamel.

 

How Sweets Are Linked to Decay

 

 

Certain foods such as sweets and soda are easily linked to tooth decay, however all foods can promote tooth decay if eaten in excess. The key is to teach kids to eat in moderation and make sure that they take proper care of their teeth.

"While healthy alternatives to candy, such as fruit and nuts, are great, these foods are sticky and can get caught in the pits and grooves of teeth, causing decay," says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Julie Barna, DMD, MAGD. "Reading nutrition labels and being sensible about the foods you and your children eat on a daily basis helps promote good oral and overall health."

Children should also brush three times a day for two minutes and rinse with a fluoridated mouthrinse.

Is My Child at Risk for Early Childhood Tooth Decay?      

  • Is My Child at Risk for Early Childhood Tooth Decay?

  • Sugary Liquids Can Cause Decay

  • Tips to Reduce Childhood Decay

 

Is My Child at Risk for Early Childhood Tooth Decay?

The average healthy adult visits the dentist twice a year. The average healthy 2-year-old has never been to the dentist. By kindergarten, 25 percent of children have never seen a dentist, yet dental decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease in America.

 

The culprit? A combination of misinformation about when a child should first visit the dentist, when a parent should start caring for a child's teeth and the frequent and long-term exposure of sugary liquids to a child's teeth.

 

A child should first visit the dentist six months after the eruption of the first tooth. During this first exam, the dentist can teach parents the best way to guard against early childhood tooth decay by wiping down the teeth with a damp cloth after every feeding and remind parents to limit sugary beverages.

 

Sugary Liquids Can Cause Decay

 

Frequent and long-term exposure of a child's teeth to sugary liquids is commonly called baby bottle tooth decay. Most parents are aware of baby bottle tooth decay but may not know that the long-term and regular consumption of sugary liquids in a bottle or cup puts children's growing teeth at increased risk for decay.

 

"Unsweetened fruit juices, teas and water are always best for children to help promote oral and overall health," says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Cindi Sherwood, DDS. Fruit juice causes tooth decay if children are allowed to hold a bottle, cup or box of juice in their mouth through the day.

 

"If left untreated, baby bottle tooth decay can result in pain and infection," says Dr. Sherwood. "Baby teeth are important because they hold the place for permanent teeth and help guide them into correct position. Severely decayed teeth may need to be extracted, which could effect the development of permanent teeth, speech and chewing."

 

Caring for children's teeth beginning in infancy promotes good oral health care habits for a lifetime and increases the chances of a child maintaining healthy permanent teeth.

 

Tips to Reduce Childhood Decay

 

 

  • Wean a child from the bottle or breast by age 1.

  • Use spill-proof cups as a transitional step in the development of children, not a long-term solution.

  • Don't allow children to use spill-proof cups throughout the day. Save spill-proof cups for snack and mealtimes when increased salivary activity helps clean teeth.

  • Drink sugary beverages through a straw. The best spill-proof cups to protect against decay are those with collapsible rubber straws.

  • Introduce oral health care habits early. Wipe baby's gums with a damp cloth after every feeding. Introduce brushing with a soft-bristle brush and water when the first tooth appears. Parents can add a pea-sized dab of fluoridated toothpaste to the toothbrush by age 2.

Sip Wine to Save Your Teeth

 

  • Sip Wine to Save Your Teeth

  • Other Liquids that Harm Teeth

 

Sip Wine to Save Your Teeth

 

Tooth erosion may be an occupational hazard for wine tasters because of the beverage's acidity, and even regular wine drinkers may need to take some precautions, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education.

 

A 2001 study found that wine tasters who tested between 20 and 50 different wines daily for sessions of more than one hour experienced some form of enamel erosion.

 

Enamel erosion develops when wine tasters swish the wine and spit it out after tasting, keeping the wine in constant contact with the enamel. White wine has a higher acidic value than red wine, and Italian red wines with higher fluoride content have less erosive potential than French wines.

 

Other Liquids that Harm Teeth

 

"Other beverages, such as orange juice and soda, also may cause tooth erosion when consumed in high quantities," says AGD spokesperson Charles Perle, DMD, FAGD. "Bulimia is another cause of tooth erosion because of constant regurgitation of stomach acids."

 

When drinking acidic beverages, use a straw or take small sips, limiting the acid contact against the teeth. "Remember, your teeth aren't thirsty, your throat is," says Dr. Perle.

 

The study indicated a low saliva flow increased the erosion potential because saliva serves as an enamel barrier. Brushing before or after wine tasting increases erosion by removing the protective saliva barrier, so brush gently only before bedtime using a toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride toothpaste.

Saved by a Straw?Sipping Soda Reduces Decay Risk

 

  • Saved by a Straw?Sipping Soda Reduces Decay Risk

  • Replace One Soda with One Water

  • Drinking Tips to Protect Enamel

 

Saved by a Straw?Sipping Soda Reduces Decay Risk

Americans drink more than 575 soft drinks on average every year – about one and a half cans a day for everyone in the United States. Drinking these beverages places those who may not follow proper oral hygiene techniques at a higher risk for cavities and other oral health problems.

 

However, according to a report in the May/June 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal, drinking soft drinks and other beverages through a properly positioned straw can help to minimize the risk of cavities. The report tracked patient drinking habits and found that different factors – such as the frequency of sipping and the amount of time the beverage remains in the mouth – affect the type, location and severity of tooth decay.

 

For example, decay will be concentrated in the back molars of a person who drinks directly from a can and allows the liquid to pool in the mouth. Or, decay will be found on the front teeth in a person who drinks through a straw positioned at the front of the mouth, right behind the lips.

 

"Your best option is to sip soft drinks and other beverages through a straw positioned towards the back of the mouth," advises Mohamed A. Bassiouny, DMD, MSc, PhD, and lead report author. "Doing so will limit the amount of time the beverage is in contact with the teeth."

 

Replace One Soda with One Water

 

However, even when drinking through a straw, the teeth located in the back of the mouth are still bathed with sugary and acidic liquids. "Try rinsing your mouth with water after drinking, and use toothpaste that contains fluoride," advises AGD spokesperson Paula Jones, DDS, FAGD. "Your teeth aren't thirsty, your throat is."

 

Soft drinks contain one or more acids, commonly phosphoric and citric acids. Non-colas and canned iced teas also contain flavor additives, such as malic, tartaric and other organic acids, which are more aggressive at eroding teeth. These acids erode dental enamel, the thin outer layer of hard tissue that helps maintain the tooth structure and shape, while protecting it from decay.

 

A dentist can tell when a patient gets cavities from drinking acidic beverages, such as soft drinks, since the decayed areas are often darker in color and take up more space on the tooth. The cavities also often appear near the gumline. "Enjoying an occasional soft drink in moderation will likely not cause significant damage," says Dr. Bassiouny. "However, substituting these beverages as a replacement for water may cause significant, irreversible long-term problems and damage."

 

Dr. Jones also encourages patients who have cavities caused by erosion to substitute a glass of water for one soft drink every day and increase the water for soft drinks, until the soft drink intake has been severely limited.

 

Drinking Tips to Protect Enamel

 

  • Reduce your soda consumption.

  • Don't leave fluids in your mouth when sipping.

  • Don't drink soda before going to bed.

  • Don't brush immediately after drinking soda (it will harm the weakened enamel).

  • When brushing, brush in a circular motion (horizontal brushing can wear away at the weakened enamel).

  • If you have dry mouth, try to avoid carbonated beverages.

 

 

Gum Chewers Have Reason to Smile About Xylitol

  • Gum Chewers Have Reason to Smile About Xylitol

  • How Cavities Form

  • Three Tips for a Sugar-free Mouth

 

Gum Chewers Have Reason to Smile About Xylitol

n the eighties, artificial sweeteners in blue and pink packets, diet soda and sugar-free gum set the standard as "healthy" alternatives to their sugar-laden parent products. Today, there's another sweetener called xylitol touting sweet-as-sugar taste that is low in calories, and studies show it may help reduce and prevent cavities.

 

A natural sweetener found in plants and fruits, xylitol was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986 as a food additive and is now appearing in sugar-free gum, mints and toothpaste.

 

Research confirms that of all factors studied, xylitol most likely inhibits the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the oral bacteria that causes cavities, according to Allen Otsuka, PhD, one author of a study in the July/August 2002 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed publication of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

 

How Cavities Form

"I use xylitol and have recommended products that contain xylitol, such as mouthrinses, for patients with dry mouth," says AGD spokesperson John Chandler, DDS, MAGD. "While dentists need to monitor the continuing research on xylitol, I do see a place for patients using xylitol in conjunction with good oral health care."

 

A U.S. government study indicates that approximately 90 percent of all American adults have experienced cavities; 23 percent suffer from untreated cavities, which can result in serious oral health problems including pain and eventual tooth loss. Experts recommend using xylitol immediately after meals and snacks to help reduce plaque, inhibit adhesion of bacteria to the teeth and reduce contact time of sugar on teeth.

 

Three Tips for a Sugar-free Mouth

  • Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste handy; children can keep travel-size products in lockers or backpacks, and adults should keep a spare pair at work.

  • Chew sugarless gum, with or without xylitol, after meals or snacks when unable to brush.

  • Drink water throughout the day to help cleanse teeth of excess bacteria.

Diet Soda Drinkers, Beware!

 

  • Diet Soda Drinkers, Beware!

  • The Worst Time to Drink Soda

 

Diet Soda Drinkers, Beware!

Drinking carbonated soft drinks regularly can contribute to the erosion of tooth enamel surfaces.

 

Soft drinks, which contain sticky sugars that break down into acids, adhere easily to tooth surfaces. These acids can soften the teeth and promote formation of plaque, which erodes the enamel. Enamel breakdown leads to cavities. If erosion spreads beneath the enamel into the dentin, pain and sensitivity may result. This is usually a precursor to nerve infection, which can require root canal surgery.

 

The Worst Time to Drink Soda

 

Because saliva helps neutralize acids and wash your teeth clean, the worst time to drink soda pop, ironically, is when you are very thirsty due to low levels of saliva. "The larger the volume of intake, the more impact soda pop has on your teeth," says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Gordon Isbell, III, DDS, MAGD. "Diet sodas are part of the problem. Women especially like to drink them throughout the day and between meals because they have no calories, yet the higher frequency and volume is putting their teeth at risk."

 

Try to drink soda pop only with a full meal, and be sure to brush and floss soon after drinking or eating. Also, resolve to quench your thirst with water, a healthier alternative to soft drinks and sports beverages. And if you drink pop alone or between meals, chew sugarless gum afterward to increase your saliva flow.

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