Interesting Topics for Patients and Their Families
Do you did-your-know- that dry mouth causes cavities? If your water filter removes Fluoride? That digital X-rays have 80% less radiation? If diet sodas are OK for your teeth? Here are links to a wealth of information from reliable sources, including dental organizations, universities, and government health agencies.
HOT LINKS:
- Acid, Sugar & Your Teeth
- Acid Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Antibiotic Premedication
- Bad Breath
- Bisphonates for Osteoporosis
- Bleaching
- Bottled & Filtered Water
- Bulimia
- Cancer Screening
- Cancer Treatment
- Cavities & Tooth Decay
- Dental Implants
- Dental Plans
- Dentures
- DDS & DMD - Any Difference?
- Digital X-Rays
- Dry Mouth
- Emergencies
- Filling Facts
- Flossing
- Fluoride Facts
- Gum Disease
- Heart Health
- Jaw Injuries
- Medical Credit Cards?
- Meth Mouth
- Mouth Piercings
- Mouth Sores
- Oral Health
- Parents & Babies
- Porcelain Veneers
- Receding Gums
- Sensitive Teeth
- Smile!
- Sports Guards
- Stained Teeth
- Teeth Grinding
Remember the old rubber egg trick? Soak an egg in vinegar overnight - by morning, it still looks like an egg… a soft, rubbery egg. The acid dissolved the calcium in the eggshell, leaving a rubber egg!
Acid also dissolves the enamel of your teeth. You wouldn't soak your teeth in soda overnight, but repeated exposure to acidic beverages can erode teeth. The neutralizing action of saliva may not be able to keep up.
How about this laboratory study?Teeth were soaked in various sodas for 2 days & enamel loss was measured. Look at Diet Coke & Root Beer, compared to the others.
What does Acid Erosion look like?
- Yellowish color due to thin enamel
- Transparent biting edges
- Surface pits, not shiny, dull surface, brownish leathery roots.
So where does acid come from?
- Soft drinks, even sugar-free ones. The full-sugar versions are worse. In laboratory tests, diet colas, noncarbonated root beer, and teas are safest.
- Sports drinks cause 3-11 times more damage than colas, in lab tests.
- Fruit juices have sugar and acid – not for baby bottles!
- Acid reflux or Bulimia bathe the teeth in stomach acid.
- Dry mouth problems reduce the saliva that washes away acid.
Prevention! Once enamel is gone, it's gone forever
- Drink soda all at once, don't sip it slowly all day long.
- Rinse, but don't brush for ½ hour after eating or drinking something acidic, so you don't wear away the weakened enamel.
- Avoid lemon in hot tea or hot water, its just hot acid!
- Calcium-fortified orange juice protects teeth, compared to regular O.J.
- Don't suck hard candy, especially sour candies. As they dissolve, they wash your teeth with acid.
- Fluoride and Calcium Pastes help harden enamel. Ask us!
Consumers often consider soft drinks to be harmless, believing that the only concern is sugar content. Many choose "diet" drinks to alleviate this concern. However, diet drinks contain phosphoric acid and/or citric acid and still cause dental erosion—though considerably less than their sugared counterparts."
Read the full article here. - from the Academy of General Dentistry Read more here:
- High Energy Drinks are Highly Acidic, may Contribute to Tooth Erosion - from the California Dental Association
- Dental Erosion - Destructive and Quiet - on the Upswing - from the California Dental Association
- Unsweetened Raisins are the Better Choice for your Cereal Bowl - from the California Dental Association
People with Total Joint Replacements Antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines for patients who have a total joint replacement were updated by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) in 2009. You can access the updated AAOS Information Statement here.
There are many reasons for bad breath. Mouth odor, also called halitosis, is a common condition and sometimes a source of embarrassment. The risk of developing osteonecrosis in patients on oral bisphosphonate therapy appears to be very low. However, though the risk is small, currently millions of patients take these drugs. It is important to understand that the risk is much higher for cancer patients on IV bisphosphonate therapy than the risk for patients on oral bisphosphonate therapy. - from American Dental Association Learn why teeth discolor and if whitening can help. - from California Dental Society and American Dental Society- What Should You Ask Your Dentist?
- What is In-Office Bleaching?
- What are At-Home Procedures and Products?
- How Should I Choose a Whitening Product?
- Tooth Whitening Treatments - from the American Dental Association
- Why are my Teeth Discolored and Can Whitening Help? - from the California Dental Association
CAVITIES, CARIES & TOOTH DECAY
- What is Tooth Decay?
- Highly Preventable Oral Disease Affects Millions
- Soda Attack: Non-colas, Iced Tea Hurt Hard Enamel
- Living in a Sugar Culture
- Coffee and Doughnuts: A Disastrous Combo for Teeth?
- Consume Pickles, Lemons and Soda in Moderation
- Saved by a Straw? Sipping Soda Reduces Decay Risk
- Gum-Chewers Have Reason to Smile About Xylitol
- Diet Soda Drinkers, Beware! - from the Academy of General Dentistry
- Youths with Asthma also have Higher Risk for Developing Caries - from the California Dental Association
Cavities are preventable and caused by certain types of bacteria (germs) that live in your mouth. Find out how to help prevent them - from the California Dental Association
Dental implants offer a way to have artificial teeth that look natural and feel secure. - from California Dental AssociationX-Ray FAQs - from the American Dental Association
- How do Dental X-rays Work?
- How Often Should Radiographs be Taken?
- What are the Benefits of a Dental Radiograph Examination?
- How do Dental X-rays Compare to Other Sources of Radiation? (Here's an interesting chart. Remember, digital X-rays are 80% less!)
- What if I'm Pregnant and Need a Dental Radiograph Examination?
Why are X-rays Important? - from the California Dental Association
The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) are awarded upon graduation from a U.S. dental school. The education and degrees are the same. Dr. Wagnild received a DDS degree from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Mueller received a DMD degree from the University of Kentucky. Reduced saliva flow that results in a dry mouth is a common problem among older adults. Without adequate saliva to lubricate your mouth, wash away food, and neutralize the acids produced by plaque, extensive decay can occur. Click here to learn more. Oral Health for Seniors - from the California Dental Association Dry Mouth - from the American Dental Association Newly Developed Lozenge may Help Treat Xerostomia - from the California Dental AssociationSaliva is like a bloodstream to the mouth. As does blood, saliva helps build and maintain the health of the soft and hard tissues. Click here to learn more.
Call our office (415) 956-5162. If you have notable pain or swelling when the office is closed, you can leave an emergency message with our VoiceMail. After hours, the telephone message will instruct you to PRESS 4, and Follow the Instructions. Leave a detailed message in this emergency mailbox, including your phone number and your Pharmacy phone number. Our telephone system will alert us of your emergency message.Learn what to do now in case of a dental emergency later. There are simple steps and urgent timeframes that need to be kept in order to heal properly. Knocked Out, Moved, or Broken Teeth - from the California Dental Association
Floss your Way to a Healthier Mouth - from the California Dental Association Bonded, tooth-colored fillings made directly in the mouth or in a laboratory. Everyone can benefit from fluorides ability to help prevent tooth decay. Learn the products that provide fluoride and why it's good for your teeth. - from the California Dental SocietyHowever, too much fluoride can cause white marks in developing teeth; so young children should use toothpaste without fluoride. Once the adult teeth have fully formed, even if they have not come in yet, white lines will not develop. Once children are able to brush their teeth without swallowing toothpaste, they can take advantage of the cavity-preventing effects of fluoride toothpaste. Until then, use baby toothpaste without fluoride.
"Like anything else, you can have too much of a good thing," said Dr. Howard Pollick, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco's dental school and spokesman for the American Dental Association. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans to lower the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water for the first time in nearly 50 years. (From the Associated Press)
The recommended level of fluoride in drinking water has been 0.7-1.2 parts per million. The new recommendation is the same as the lower level, 0.7 parts per million. San Francisco water is in the middle, at 1.0 parts per million.
Government to Recommend Less Fluoride - from the New York Times
Respiratory Diseases linked to status of Gum Health - from the California Dental Association Diet High in Fish and Nuts Can Protect Against Gum Disease - from the California Dental Association Evidence Backs Link Between Brain Diseases and Gum Inflammation - from the California Dental AssociationHEART HEALTH
- Regular Dental Care Benefits Women's Heart Health, Study Says - from the California Dental Association
- Number of Natural Teeth Linked to Heart Disease Deaths - from the California Dental Association
Cavities are Contagious??? – New Information for Families! It is now recognized that mothers, or main caregivers, are the most common source of transmission of decay causing bacteria to their infants.
Pregnancy Pregnancy is a time to pay extra attention to your dental health. Some research suggests that serious gum disease (periodontal disease) is linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
Pregnancy and Oral Health FAQs from the American Dental Association
- Is There a Connection Between my Diet Pregnancy and my Oral Health?
- Does a Woman Lose Calcium from her Teeth During Pregnancy?
- What if I'm Hungry Between Meals?
- What if I'm Pregnant and Need a Dental Radiograph Examination?
- Does Pregnancy Affect my Gums?
- What are "Pregnancy Tumors"?
- What can I do to Keep my Mouth Healthy During Pregnancy?
Pregnancy - from the California Dental Association
New Moms The key to a child's good dental health begins before his or her teeth become visible. Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked dental health questions relating to pregnancy, infants, toddlers and children.
Here is some Information for moms and moms-to-be from the California Dental Association
Baby Teeth
- Baby Teeth - from the California Dental Association
- When do baby and permanent teeth come in? - from the American Dental Association
- Survey: Parents Unaware of Proper Infant Oral Care - from the California Dental Association
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Here are some scary pictures of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay, and how to prevent it - from the American Dental Association
Children
- What Foods Cause Tooth Decay in Children?
- Schools' Long-term Soda Deals Kick Kids in the Teeth
- Cavity Prevention Tips for Preschoolers
- Protect Your Child's Teeth From Harm On Halloween
- Is My Child at Risk for Early Childhood Tooth Decay?
- Saved by a Straw? Sipping Soda Reduces Decay Risk - from the Academy of General Dentistry
- Parents Cautioned to be Mindful when Young Children use Fluoridated Toothpaste - from the California Dental Association
When that Smile is too Perfect - from the New York Times
Receding gumline could be a sign of periodontal disease, the culprit in 70 percent of tooth loss cases for those over 40 years old. (From California Dental Society) http://www.ada.org/sections/professionalResources/pdfs/patient_33.pdf Aggressive Tooth Brushing Tops the List of Causing Sensitive Teeth - from the California Dental Association Tressed Out: Redheads are More Sensitive to Pain - from the California Dental Association Smile Tops List as most Attractive Physical Attribute - from the California Dental Association They aren't mandatory in all sports, but maybe they should be. Losing is tough enough, be sure you don't lose a tooth!Mouthguard FAQs - from the American Dental Association
- Do I need a Mouth Protector?
- What are the Advantages of Using a Mouth Protector?
- Are there Different Types of Mouth Protectors?
- I Wear Braces. Can I Use a Mouth Protector?
- Wearing a mouth guard can prevent serious injury and save a lot of pain.
- Mouthguards Effective Against Injuries - from the California Dental Association