Which Toothpaste Should You Use?

The Toothpaste aisle can be overwhelming. So many brands claiming to whiten your teeth, reduce sensitivity, tartar, or gingivitis…how do you know what is the best for you?

Let’s break it down, first: Brand Name. I do not put emphasis on any one brand of toothpaste, I do however look for the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance located on the box it’s packaged in. Next, I listen to my oral health provider at maintenance appointments to find out what challenges I have to overcome. Such as, ‘Do I have a significant amount of tartar buildup?’ Then a tartar control toothpaste would be advantages. ‘Do I have a lot of sensitivity going on?’ Then I would try a toothpaste focused on sensitivity. Gingivitis toothpaste may be helpful if bleeding hot-spots are a problem from time to time. Whitening toothpaste will help with outside existing stains on teeth, such as coffee, tea, and tobacco. Keep in mind whitening toothpaste limits how white you actually should expect your teeth to get.

Toothpaste is meant to aid in cleaning your teeth, not curing problems you should be seeing your dentist about. Bottom line, you should use a toothpaste that tastes good to you, has an ADA Seal, and fits your budget.

Happy brushing!

~Lynne

Why are my teeth yellow?

   Teeth come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Teeth get there color from the enamel and dentin in each tooth. Enamel and dentin surround the pulp chamber protecting the nerves and blood vessels. Enamel is much lighter in color more of an off white and dentin darker more of a yellow color. Enamel is seen sticking out of the gums and only covers the top portion of the tooth. The root is the bottom part of the tooth and should be covered by the gums. Thus, the roots of teeth do not have any enamel covering them so this part will never be "white" only the top part where the enamel is. Furthermore, enamel is hard and porous like stone. Teeth stains are classified 2 ways intrinsic and extrinsic. First, intrinsic stains are trapped inside the enamel. In early development of the tooth, medication may have been given or a serious illness may have forever changed the color of the teeth. Next, diet choices such as coffee, tea, red wine, dark condiments effect the color of teeth, as well as, iron deposits in home water supplies, inconsistent oral care both at home and professionally. Smoking stains teeth both intrinsically and extrinsically. Furthermore, extrinsic stains though unsightly are easier to treat. These stains lay on the outer surface of the enamel. A few examples are cola's, tea, coffee, smoking, and some mouthwash. Extrinsic stains can become intrinsic if not properly cleaned with a professional cleaning. In Addition, the lack of enamel can make teeth look yellow. The thinning of enamel makes the underlying dentin show through, since this dentin layer is much darker in color the result is yellower teeth. Acid erosion is the greatest cause of thinning enamel. Acids in our diet include pop, energy drinks, coffee, tea, candy, fruit, and vinegar dressings to name a few. Stomach acids from Gerd, reflux, or an eating disorder could also cause thinning enamel. Finally, older adults teeth usually are much more yellow in color. Consequently, many years of acids thinning the enamel, consuming dark colored foods and beverages, and a bad habit or two along the way it isn't any surprise. If you are concerned about the color of your teeth, please call us for a consultation we would be happy to discuss your options for a brighter whiter smile:)

Laser Bacterial Reduction - Now available during your regular cleaning and perio maintenance appointments!

Here at Envision Dental we are constantly learning and striving to advance the standard of patient care in our practice. As such, we have recently added a new procedure available at your routine cleaning to help fight periodontal disease.     

     

         Laser Bacterial Reduction is now available at your cleaning and perio maintenance appointments. Laser Bacterial Reduction removes the bacteria that causes periodontal disease. We now know that the bacteria and inflammation that is present in periodontal disease is linked to a number of other diseases such as:

·       Cardiovascular Disease

·       Diabetes

·       Rheumatoid Arthritis

·       Kidney Disease

·       Preterm/low birth weight babies

·       Respiratory Infection

          Laser Bacterial Reduction decreases the amount of bacteria that may enter the bloodstream during the cleaning process. Also, Laser Bacterial Reduction prevents the harmful bacteria from spreading around from tooth to tooth. Laser Bacterial Reduction only takes a few minutes, is painless, and with no side effects to worry about. The laser decontamination process normally takes about 5 – 10 minutes. We highly recommend that you take advantage of this service as part of your routine cleaning. Laser Bacterial Reduction is $30.00 and is not covered by insurance. Unfortunately insurance coverage is almost always behind the leading edge in high tech health care.

Tell Lynne at your next hygiene appointment if you would like to add Laser Bacterial Reduction to your appointment! ~ 

         

Oral Health and Eating Habits

Nisha Yetter

Good oral health means teeth are properly working for chewing and speech, free of decay, and no inflammation of the gums (gingiva). Tooth decay is caused when plaque come in contact with sugar in the mouth, causing acid to attack the teeth. A regular diet consisting of foods high in sugar, calories, salts, and fat heightens the chances of dental caries. “Sucrose (sugar) can supply both the substrate (building blocks) and the energy required for the creation of dental plaque.” (Karp) Oral health in relation to eating habits can be categorized into three groups under nutrition, over nutrition or the just right range.

Poor eating habits that do not include vegetables and dark leafy greens, not only cause damage to your teeth, but it can also make it more difficult for gingiva to resist disease or infection. This difficulty stems from a lack of certain nutrients. Although it is not as large of an issue in the United States as in Third-World Countries, vitamin deficiencies such as Vitamin A, B, C, and others are still a recurring issue and can have major effect on oral health. Vitamin A deficiency may lead to postponement of healing in the mouth. The lack of vitamin B can cause a burning sensation in the mouth, ulcers, cracks at the corners of the mouth, fungal infection, or the breakdown of taste buds. Vitamin C deficiency may cause gingiva to bleed easily and gingivitis. While lack of calcium and Vitamin D can cause weak teeth and bone structure. 

The over consumption of drinks and foods with pronounced amount of fats, acids, sugar, and salts also causes poor oral health. These substances demineralize tooth enamel. “Poor nutrition affects the entire immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to many disorders. People with lowered immune systems have been shown to be at higher risk for periodontal disease” (Academy of General Dentistry). It is not only important to keep track of what foods are eaten but the characteristics of it too. If a food is sticky or sticks to teeth it is more likely to play a role in developing caries. This sticky food residue and the sugar and acids develops into plaque. The length of time the drink or food is chewed, sits on the teeth, how often you’re eating, or is consumed the longer a substance is in the mouth the longer the sugar and acid stays on the teeth causing demineralization. Demineralization causes tooth decay. Not only is tooth decay caused but with poor oral health it also causes periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is inflammation of the gingiva, causing pockets around the tooth and grows below the gum line.

Avoid snacking on sugary, carbs, and acidic foods and drinks throughout the day and eat only a small amount during meal times. Another very important step to keeping good oral health is to make sure to brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. It is important to make sure to include foods high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Eating and drinking items that are unrefined, whole foods, many vegetables, and leafy greens. Having a well-balanced, low sugar, and low carb eating habit is not just good for amazing overall health but oral health too.

I'm Too Old To Get Cavities!

    Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how old you are. Many people think only children get cavities but the same things that cause cavities in kids, also cause cavities in adults.
    Tooth decay and cavities occur when plaque forms on the teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky substance that contains bacteria. The food you eat provides sugar to the bacteria. The bacteria uses this sugar and produces acid. In turn, the acid will attack the teeth and eat away and the enamel to cause cavities.
    To fight cavities, you will need to thoroughly brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. This will disrupt the plaque and bacteria formation on your teeth. You will also need to reduce the amount of sugary foods and how often you eat them. A fluoridated tooth paste will also help. If you get a lot of cavities or have recession or decalcified areas we may recommend a prescription strength fluoride to use.
    At Envision Dental, I will sometimes see a patient that has not had a cavity in many years, but now they have many. How can this happen? Sometimes, due to aging or certain medications there becomes less saliva which leads to dry mouth. Saliva helps to wash the sugar off of the teeth and neutralize the acid. Thus, no saliva and a greater chance of cavities. To make matters worse, they will sometimes suck on hard candies all day long to relieve the dry mouth. This sugar bath will quickly cause many cavities. They will need to pay special attention to oral hygiene. If they use something, such as candies, to moisten their mouths, make sure they are sugar free. Two good artificial sweeteners to use that do not promote bacteria and acids are Xylitol and Spevia.
    But some people, even if they have great oral hygiene and limit sugary foods, still get cavities. How come? Some people naturally have a highly acidic saliva. To combat this, we recommend a product such as Mi Paste. This paste neutralizes the acid and helps to recalcify the teeth. For any one getting a lot of cavities or who are prone to, Mi Paste can also help. We would be happy to answer any questions you have.
                                                                                                                  Thomas Berard DDS

Flossing Teeth: No More Excuses!

Do you floss? Or, like many people, do you always seem to find a reason not to?
A 2008 survey found that only 49% of Americans floss daily, and 10% never floss. That's most unfortunate because flossing is extremely important when it comes to preventing periodontal (gum) disease and tooth loss.
"If you were stuck on a desert island and a boat could only bring one thing, you'd want it to bring floss," says Samuel B. Low, DDS, professor of periodontology at the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville, and president of the American Academy of Periodontology. "But I'm convinced that the only time some of my patients floss is an hour before showing up in my office."

Dentist hear all sorts of excuses for not flossing, yet there are simple solutions that exist for just about all of them:

Excuse #1: Food doesn't get caught between my teeth, so I don't need to floss.

Flossing isn't so much about removing food debris as it is about removing dental plaque, the complex bacterial ecosystem that forms on tooth surfaces between cleanings. Plaque is what causes tooth decay, inflamed gums (gingivitis), periodontal disease, and eventually tooth loss. Flossing or using an interdental cleaner is the only effective way to remove plaque between teeth.

Excuse #2: I don't know how to floss.

Flossing isn't easy. Low calls it "the most difficult personal grooming activity there is." But practice makes perfect.

Here's how the American Dental Association describes the process:

Start with about 18 inches of floss. Wrap most of it around the middle finger of one hand, the rest around the other middle finger.
Grasp the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers, and use a gentle shoeshine (back and forth) motion to guide it between teeth.
When the floss reaches the gum line, form a C shape to follow the contours of the tooth.
Hold the floss firmly against the tooth, and move the floss gently up and down.
Repeat with the other tooth, and then repeat the entire process with the rest of your teeth, "unspooling" fresh sections of floss as you go along.

Don't forget to floss the backs of your last molars. "By far, most gum disease and most decay occurs in the back teeth," Low says. Be sure to ask your dentist or hygienist to demonstrate proper flossing techniques if you are still unsure.

Excuse #3: I'm not coordinated enough to floss.

Many tooth-cleaning options exist for people whose manual dexterity is compromised by poor coordination, hand pain, paralysis, and amputations - or simply by fingers that are too bigh to fit inside the mouth.

One option is to use floss holders. These disposible plastic Y-shaped devices (some equipped with a spool of floss) hold a span of floss between two prongs to allow one-handed use.
Another option is to forgo floss and clean between teeth using a disposible toothpick-like dental stimulators (Stim-U-Dents, Soft-Picks, and so on); narrow spiral brushes (interproximal brushes); or the conical rubber nips (tip stimulators) found at the end of many tooth brushes or mounted on their own handles. Waterpiks, or water flossers are also a good option.

Excuse #4: I don't have time to floss.

Effective flossing doesn't take a while - once a day for a "good three to five minutes" according to Low. But even 60 seconds of flossing is of enormous benefit. As with excercise, bathing, and other daily activities, the key is to make flossing a habit.

"If you make time for your personal hygiene, you can find time to make for flossing," says Maria Lopez Howell, DDS, a dentist in private practice in San Antonio.

She recommends keeping floss in plain view, alongside your toothbrush and toothpaste. If you're too tire to floss before bed, floss in the morning or in the afternoon. Or keep floss on hand and use it when you find the time.

Mark S. Wolff, DDS, PhD, chairman of the department of cardiology and preventative medicine at New York University School of Dentistry in New York City, keeps a stash of dental stimulators in his car. "I use them when I'm stuck in traffic," he says.

Excuse #5: It hurts when I floss.

If flossing causes gum pain or bleeding, odds are you have gingivitis or gum disease - precisely the conditions for which flossing is beneficial.

"Flossing should not be a painful experience," Wolff says. "But stopping flossing because of bleeding (or pain) is just the opposite of what you should be doing." The good news? With daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing, gum pain and bleeding should stop within a week or two. If either persists, see your dentist.

Excuse #6: My teeth are spaced too close together to floss.
If unwaxed floss doesn't work for your teeth, you might try waxed floss or floss made of super-slippery polytetrafluoroethylene.

If the spacing between your teeth varies (or if you have significant gum recession), yarn-like "superfloss" may be a good bet. It stretches thin for narrow spaces and fluffs out to clean between teeth that are more widely spaced.

If you're having trouble finding a workable floss or interdental cleaner on your own, your dentist should be able to offer guidance - and may even offer free samples.

Excuse #7: The floss keeps shredding.

In many cases, broken or fraying floss is caused by a cavity or a problem with dental work - often a broken or poorly fabricated filling or crown. Consult with you dentist.

Excuse #8: I have dental work that makes flossing impossible.

Try floss threaders. These monofilament loops make it easy to position floss around dental work.

Connecting Oral and Overall Health

Regular dental exams not only help decrease your risk of oral health problems, such as cavities and gum disease, but also may help to diagnose other, sometimes fatal, medical conditions. Many diseases with oral signs may first prevent themselves in the mouth. The dental team can often recognize early signs of serious diseases, such as, diabetes and cancer.

Diabetes:
More than 25 million people in the US suffer from diabetes. They have high blood sugar levels and a low resistance to infection and an increase in the chance of:

• Gum disease, including swollen and tender gums that bleed easily
• Tooth decay
• Taste impairment
• Inflammatory skin disease
• Persistent bad breath

Oral Cancer:
During your regular dental check up, we look for signs of oral cancer:

• Sores that bleed easily and do not heal
• Crusted, rough areas of skin
• Lumps or thick hard spots
• Changes in the lymph nodes
• Tenderness, pain, or numbness inside the mouth

People with an increased risk of oral cancer are those that smoke, use smokeless tobacco or drink heavily.

Eating Disorders:
Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. They can damage your oral and overall health. They can rob the body of much needed nutrition such as vitamins and minerals. The person is often malnourished and sickly. The gums can become soft and tender, bleeding easily. The excess acid from vomiting can eat away tooth enamel, making the theta thin, sensitive and more prone to decay. They may also experience swollen salivary glands and dry mouth.

Regular dental exams, allows the dental team to look for damage to your mouth, teeth, and gums. It allows us to also look for early signs of health problems. Make sure to let us know any changes to your health history and medications you are taking.