Hidden Sugars

While we typically think of tooth decay as a childhood disease, it can affect anyone at any age. In fact, while cavities are slowly declining in young children, 92% of adults over the age of 20 have some form of decay. This is largely attributed to "hidden sugars" in our daily diets. 

Nearly everyone tries to eat healthy and stay away from sweets and sugary drinks. However, it is important to understand that sugars can "hide" in the foods we eat every day. These hidden sugars are particularly detrimental when used as snacks or consumed over a long period of time. Duration, not quantity, is the most important factor in the decay process. A prime example of hidden sugars would be cheese crackers like Goldfish or Cheez-its. While they may have a low sugar content by recipe, our saliva can break down the carbohydrates into smaller glucose and fructose molecules. Combine this with the the crackers' sticky nature and you have a perfect storm for tooth decay!

Other sugars we consume aren't quite as discreet, but still manage to sneak in without us noticing. This is particularly true in an office environment where coworkers are constantly bringing in donuts, birthday cakes and sweet treats. While we may not plan or think of these foods as part of our diet, they still can have a serious effect on our teeth. 

Asking someone to give up their favorite snacks "cold turkey" is usually impossible. Instead, we suggest keeping the duration and number of snacking sessions to a minimum. For example, instead of eating a box of raisins over the course of an afternoon, try to consume all of them in an even fifteen minute period. Also, make sure to follow any snack or meal with a rinse of water and some xylitol gum. This combination is a quick and easy way to minimize bacterial activity after an influx of sugar.

If you would like to know more about tooth decay, what causes it and how we can stop the process, please call our office. The most important component of dental care is prevention, and we want to keep our patients equipped with the latest research in hygiene and oral health. 

Dental Questions: Why do my gums bleed when I floss?

An example of proper flossing technique.

Gums bleeding while flossing is a frequently recorded complaint at every dental office. Many patients are turned off from flossing as it becomes painful, messy and inconvenient. However, it is important to understand that your gums are probably bleeding because you need to floss more often. 

Plaque accumulates in the spaces between teeth because toothbrushes do a poor job of reaching these areas. As plaque settles at/below the gum line, the tissues there become inflamed, thin and ulcerated. As you floss, you are both eliminating the plaque and bacteria from these areas and temporarily aggravating the  gum tissue (hence the bleeding). Over time, the absence of buildup will allow the gums to heal and rethicken, stopping the bleeding. 

A knee-jerk response to bleeding on flossing is to floss less often or less vigorously. While you may be physically cutting the gums with floss, a proper technique will avoid this. Make sure you thread the floss in between the teeth and move it up the side of each tooth at each contact. Try to "cup" the floss around the teeth and allow it to go slightly below the gum line. This will maximize effectiveness and minimize gingival inflammation. If you would like to know more about flossing, oral hygiene or dental cleanings, please contact our office!

Dental Questions: Are water flossers a good substitute for dental floss?

Water flossers (commonly known as “Waterpiks,” though that is a name brand) are typically marketed as being a convenient replacement for traditional dental floss. However, they can’t remove plaque and bacteria as thoroughly or completely as threaded floss. Overall, no product rivals the benefits of getting a physical object between the teeth and mechanically removing buildup. Still, a water flosser can be a great addition to your existing home care regimen. They are particularly good at removing packed-in food that your toothbrush can’t dislodge. Patients with gum disease will typically see the most benefit from a water flosser. The lowered height of gingival tissue allows the water to more effectively penetrate the periodontal space and remove debris.

Dental Questions: Can Sensodyne Pronamel Rebuild Enamel?

Unfortunately, there are no products that can “rebuild” dental enamel in the traditional sense. Our teeth do not have biological mechanisms that will allow them to create more enamel or to integrate new enamel. Any product that advertises otherwise will not be able to live up to its claims.

The enamel in our teeth is essentially a crystal made from calcium, phosphate and other minerals. When we consume acidic foods and drinks, the low pH causes the crystal to demineralize and become softer. This process can be further intensified by the cavity causing bacteria in our mouth. With time, this demineralization and constant acid exposure leads to permanent loss of enamel structure.

What Sensodyne Pronamel can do is remineralize the softened enamel. It contains a therapeutic dose of fluoride, which is extremely beneficial in restoring mineral content, slowing decay and protecting against future acid exposures. It is important to note that any mainstream toothpaste will have therapeutic levels of fluoride and will provide similar results. The most important factor is that you are using a fluoride toothpaste twice a day for two minutes, along with daily flossing.

Dental Questions: Why are my Gums Bleeding?

Sometimes gums will bleed for obvious reasons, like cuts from flossing or abrasion from brushing. Other times, the root cause is less clear. The most common reason for gums to bleed randomly is due to calculus or tartar build up beneath the gum surface. Our office often sees patients that haven’t had their teeth professionally cleaned in a number of years. The number one complaint of these patients is that their gums bleed when brushing, when touched, or even while they are sleeping. A professional cleaning from a hygienist or dentist will remove the tartar, allow gums to heal and end the bleeding. 

Another common complaint is that gums bleed upon flossing. Interestingly, this is generally caused by not flossing enough. We recommend flossing or using some sort of hygiene instrument below the tooth contact once a day. This will help keep the gum tissue healthy and free of any plaque or tartar build up.

Dentistry Through the Ages: Adults

Greetings and welcome to our on-going blog series, Dentistry Through the Ages. In these blog posts, we will cover age-group specific dental needs and concerns. Your life is constantly changing, and we want to equip you with the best information possible to keep your teeth healthy!

In this article, we will be covering the dental needs of the adult population. For better or worse, this is one of the most stable periods of oral health. Patients who took good care of their teeth from childhood will likely continue to avoid cavities and plaque buildup. Likewise, those with poor oral health will need to work harder at keeping their gums and teeth clean.

Since tooth decay is (generally) caused by bacteria in the mouth, we can look at past histories of cavities as good indicators of the future. Patients with few dental problems (lower bacterial counts) will generally continue to have healthy teeth (and vice versa). However, changes in diet, medication and certain activities can interrupt the balance. This can be both harmful or beneficial. Healthy patients who start to eat more in response to stress or begin new medical regimens can find themselves developing their first cavities late in life. At the same time, patients with a history of tooth decay can introduce new habits or therapeutics to stop bacterial growth and improve their oral condition. This continuum is important to remember as we grow older, take on more responsibilities and develop new medical conditions and diseases.

The adult years are also the time that many patients start to show the signs of periodontal disease. Years of plaque buildup, trauma, and tartar deposits can leave your gums in less-than-optimal condition. While good home care can stave off the progression of gum and bone loss, some will find themselves in the need of a deep cleaning. Our office utilizes a range of services that can target many different stages of periodontal disease, from mild recession to severe pockets. Those with the most extreme losses of gum and bone height may be candidates for grafting or other periodontal surgeries, typically offered by a periodontist.

The important idea to remember in regards to adult oral health is that good habits will be rewarded with a healthy mouth. Even as your life becomes more complex and stressful, it is important to stay on top of your home hygiene. Our office is here to serve as a partner in keeping your teeth and gums in top shape- no matter what the concern. If you would like to know more about home dental care, cleanings or any other questions, please give us a call!

What's in a Toothbrush?

“What type of toothbrush do you recommend?”

- A question heard daily at dental offices around the world. Between TV ads, flashy packaging and nearly miraculous promises, there seem to be an infinite number of variables on the simple brush. Fortunately, picking a great toothbrush is easy and straightforward. There is no need to go out and buy the priciest or latest model; as long as you keep some simple principles in mind, you are sure to make a great choice.

When picking out a manual toothbrush, the most important factors to consider are brush head size and bristle stiffness. In general, a smaller brush head will allow you to better access the more difficult-to-clean areas of your mouth. This is especially true for young children, who have much less room to accommodate a large head. Also, make sure you are using a toothbrush with soft or (at the most) medium stiffness bristles. Stiff and extra stiff options can actually cause damage to your enamel and gum tissue, particularly if you tend to brush with a lot of force. Beyond size and stiffness, the brush you use should be a matter of personal choice. Make sure to use a toothbrush that is comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver all over your mouth.

For those looking to “upgrade” their brushing experience, our office recommends switching to an electric toothbrush. For the average patient, electric toothbrushes offer a more complete cleaning experience by taking the guesswork out of duration, proper motion and amount of force necessary. While it may be possible to achieve the same level of clean with a manual brush, electric variants simplify the process while simultaneously making it harder to “cheat” on brushing time.

When shopping for an electric brush, we recommend looking for the best deals available on brushes with timers and force sensors. Big box stores tend to have the best prices, particularly on two packs (for you and a loved one!). Most brushes will fall into either the sonic (vibrating) or the spinning (mechanical) category. We recommend picking whichever motion you think you will like the best. As with manual brushes, the most important factors are brush head size and bristle stiffness. So long as the brush comes with a reasonably small and soft head, any mechanical motion will be beneficial to your teeth and gums.

If you have any further questions about toothbrush choices, do not hesitate to call our office. Any of our staff members can offer great perspective on what models have worked best for them personally. We are more than happy to make recommendations and suggestions with all your home dental hygiene choices!