Four Tips for Healthier Eating

People are smart―perhaps too smart. Our sense of taste is supposed to tell us what is healthy to eat and what isn’t. But because we’re so smart, we’ve learned to outsmart our appetites and our taste buds. For example, our taste for sweetness tells us that the sweet things that exist in nature, such as fruit, are good for us. But man-made edibles created specifically to be sweet, such as candy, can actually be harmful to your dental and overall health.

People crave sweetness, saltiness and other taste sensations. We like to snack; the mere act of eating is pleasurable. So how do we trick ourselves into not tricking ourselves? Here are some tips.

1. Control your portions. Snacking isn’t necessarily the problem―the problem is excessive snacking. Prepare your snacks in advance in small portions that will satisfy your urge for a quick snack, but won’t let you overdo it. Resist constant snacking throughout the day as this increases your teeth’s exposure to potentially harmful foods or drinks.

2. Replace candy with fruit. As we mentioned earlier, sweetness exists in natural forms. Fresh fruit can satisfy your sweet tooth just as well as a chocolate bar or a hard candy.

3. Replace acidic and sugary drinks with water. Water is the purest and most basic answer to thirst. Acids and sugars are harmful to your teeth. Water helps to protect hard and soft oral tissue and washes away harmful particles. If you do drink a lot of juice, consider watering it down.

4. Limit consumption of fermentable carbohydrates to mealtime. Chips, crackers and cookies are popular snack foods that seem to be made for bingeing. If you must indulge, do so during mealtime. Mixing these foods with mealtime foods such as cheese will help to neutralize acidity in your mouth and prevent tooth decay.

If you have other “bad” eating habits you want to break or dietary questions that need answers, bring them up at your next appointment.

The “C” Word That Isn’t Cavities

Most dental patients worry about cavities. But there’s another “C” word that dentists think about during your examination: cancer. Oral cancer screenings are an integral part of any regular dental checkup.

More than 42,000 Americans receive a diagnosis of oral cancer every year. While heavy drinkers, smokers and those using other tobacco products over the age of 50 are at the highest risk for developing mouth and throat cancers, a form of oral cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) has become more prevalent in young people with no other known risk factors. Early detection is very important, which is why we perform a thorough examination during your twice-yearly visits.

The examination is painless and simple. We look and gently feel around your face, lips, mouth and neck, checking for any abnormalities or lumps. After you open your mouth we can check for signs of cancer (such as red or white patches) on the inside of your cheeks and lips along with the roof and floor of your mouth. Then we will take some gauze and gently move your tongue from side to side to better visualize its base and underside.

You can do your part to protect yourself from oral cancer by keeping an eye out for symptoms between dental visits. Let us know immediately if you notice any of the following potential warning signs:

• mouth sores that don’t go away within two weeks
• painful, tender or numb areas in your mouth or on your lips
• lumps around your face, jaw or neck
• rough spots, crusty areas, continuous bleeding
• red or white patches in the mouth
• trouble chewing, swallowing or moving your jaw or tongue

By making sure you see us for regular cleanings and dental examinations, you’re already participating in the best screening process available for oral cancer―and keeping your mouth healthy and disease-free in other ways at the same time.

Grinding Your Teeth Over Social Anxiety

Millions of people unconsciously grind or clench their teeth, a condition called bruxism. Because many individuals grind their teeth while asleep, they may not even be aware that they are doing it. While science has known for years that abnormally aligned teeth, sleep apnea and stress can lead to bruxism, a new study has found that people with social phobias are more likely to grind their teeth.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University analyzed 75 men and women in their early 30s—40 of whom had a social phobia and 35 of whom did not. Symptoms of bruxism were reported by 42.5% of those with a social phobia and only 3% of those without. Because interaction with people seems to trigger bruxism in socially anxious people, the researchers concluded that treating social anxiety may help treat bruxism.

Bruxism needs to be treated because people who grind their teeth can wear down the surface of teeth and cause jaw problems; bruxism can even lead to a cracked or fractured tooth. Among the most common treatments for bruxism is a nighttime mouth guard, which we custom make from a dental impression so that it fits your mouth securely. If misaligned teeth are an issue, we may recommend correcting the problem, sometimes with crowns or onlays.

Should stress, anxiety or a social phobia cause you to grind your teeth, the best way to treat your bruxism may be stress management, behavioral therapy or another treatment that addresses the root cause. Strategies that promote relaxation, such as meditation or exercise, can also be helpful. We also recommend avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking at night, because these can intensify tooth grinding during sleep.

Regardless of the cause, it is important that bruxism be treated before it leads to more serious dental problems. To lessen the grinding of your teeth—either while awake or asleep—call our office for an appointment. We can assess your symptoms and propose a treatment that is right for you

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: We Can Help

Your dental health is linked to many other aspects of your personal health. Dental health can provide clues about other health issues, including some potentially life-threatening conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Often associated with snoring and poor sleep, OSA actually causes you to stop breathing many times during sleep.

There’s a good chance that we will be the first to recognize your symptoms. We may also play a pivotal role in resolving them.

Why might we be the first to observe that you could have OSA? One of the more common symptoms of OSA is dry mouth, a condition that patients frequently bring up when visiting our office. Other common symptoms are snoring, morning headaches and lethargy. Once you tell us about your symptoms, we may refer you to a sleep specialist, who will make the final diagnosis.

If the sleep specialist determines that you have OSA, our role in your treatment begins. We can fit you with devices that will help keep your breathing passages open, such as a mandibular advancement device. Despite its complicated-sounding name, this device is simply a specially fitted mouthguard that keeps your jaw tilted down and slightly forward, helping keep your airway clear while you sleep.

Another implement that treats OSA is a tongue-restraining device. It does exactly what its name implies—it prevents your tongue from blocking airflow during the night. Whatever device you end up using, you need to visit us regularly. We can make sure your device is clean, remains in good shape and doesn’t need replacement.

If you think you may have sleep apnea, discuss it with us at your next visit

Who’s Allergic to Dental Amalgam?

While we usually associate allergies with things like pollen, insect bites and certain foods, a very small percentage of the population is allergic to one or more of the metals we sometimes use in fillings. For those with metal allergies, we have plenty of alternatives.

If you have tooth decay, we will likely need to remove the decayed portion of the tooth and fill it with another material, such as gold, porcelain, silver amalgam or composite resin. Each material has its own benefits; we select a filling material based on the size and location of the filling, while also considering cost and insurance benefits.

Although they don’t match the color of your teeth, silver amalgam fillings may be the best choice for some because of their strength, durability and low cost. However, approximately 1% of the population is allergic to the mercury in silver amalgam fillings.

Usually, people who are allergic to amalgam fillings have a history of metal allergy in their families. Symptoms are similar to those of a skin allergy, and can include rash or itching. If an allergy is confirmed, several alternative materials are available.

• Tooth-colored composite. Popular with many patients because they match the color of the teeth, composite fillings bond chemically to teeth, providing extra support; but they may not last as long as amalgam fillings.
• Ceramics. While expensive, ceramic fillings resist staining better than composite fillings do and can last more than 15 years.
• Glass ionomer. Though weaker than composite fillings and prone to fracture, glass ionomer fillings release fluoride, which can protect teeth from further decay. Glass ionomer is most commonly used for fillings below the gumline and for fillings in young children.

Fortunately, there are no documented cases of allergic reactions to composite, porcelain or glass ionomer fillings, so they are safe for people with allergies to metal.

If you are allergic to metal or have a family history of such allergies, let us know. If you need a filling, we can review and discuss with you all treatment options so that we can select the best option to restore your teeth to good health.

“D” Is for Decay—and the Vitamin That May Help Prevent It

Candy, starchy foods and sugary drinks can all contribute to dental problems. But new research suggests that your risk of decay may be higher because of what you are not eating as well as what you are eating. Vitamin D has been in the news, with low levels of vitamin D linked to health problems such as Alzheimer disease, cancer and depression. Now we’re learning that vitamin D deficiency might also be linked to dental caries (also known as cavities).

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women has a well-established connection with poor dental development in children. Studies have pointed to higher rates of dental caries in children and adults with lower levels of vitamin D. But the reason for this link isn’t completely understood.

Here’s what we do know: Vitamin D plays an important role in the body’s absorption of calcium and phosphate, the two elements that make up tooth enamel. Therefore, lower levels of vitamin D could lead to weaker enamel, which makes your teeth less able to fight the damage caused by bacteria.

In 2012, the journal Nutrition Reviews published a large study that reviewed evidence from the 1920s through the 1980s and found that supplementation with vitamin D reduced the incidence of tooth decay by 50%. Making sure that everyone has adequate levels of vitamin D may be an easy and effective way to help keep teeth healthy on a population level.

What does all this mean for you? Vitamin D deficiency is very common, especially for those who don’t get a lot of exposure to direct sunlight. Ask us—and your physician—about adding a vitamin D supplement to your diet as an easy way to reduce or eliminate cavities.

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