The Hard Truth About Hard Candy

Sugar Stash

Placing a piece of hard candy in your mouth means (unless it is sugar-free) that your mouth will be filled with sugar. Lots of it. For a long while. Sounds delicious for you, maybe, but even more delicious for the bacteria in your mouth. While your saliva production is increased (good), so is the sugar level (not good). Putting your teeth and gums in contact with a piece of candy for an extended period of time is a great way to encourage cavities to set up shop in your mouth and the concentrated sugars can easily erode the liner of the mouth and tongue and cause mouth sores. 

Chip Off The Old Block

Hard candy is exactly what its name says it is: hard. You may not have the patience to find out how many licks it takes to get to the center of the Tootsie Pop, and instead find yourself cracking away and chewing hard candy instead of sucking on it. As far as candy names go, Jaw Breakers isn’t too far off.

Your teeth are in danger of being chipped or cracked as your hard-candy impatience grows. Any orthodontic or dental work is in danger of damage for the same reason.

The Usual Suspects

When you have a cold, he might seem like your friend, but watch out for Cough Drop. He might soothe your cough but he’s wreaking havoc on your teeth. Had a full meal with garlic and onions? Peppermint Lozenge sounds like a wise choice, but unless he’s sugar-free, he’s busily making a full meal of your teeth. Remember that the Jolly Rancher, and his many relatives, don’t make your teeth so jolly. The steady delivery of bacteria-feeding sugar from hard candy is incredibly hard on your teeth.

Avoid hard candy if you can, and choose sugar-free if you must have it. Whatever you do, don’t chew and crack it. Hard candy is just too hard on your teeth.


Source: Dr. Aaron Johnson- The Smile Center
 http://thesmilecenter.com/the-hard-truth-about-hard-candy/

Tips For Your Child's First Visit to the Dentist

1. NO Negative Comments:
If you absolutely hate the dentist and have been traumatized for life, now is not the time to start blabbing detailed stories to your kids. Sometimes parents can do more damage than the dentist ever could!

Make sure to avoid sentences like these:

• “If you don’t behave the dentist will give you a shot”
• “The hygienist will poke your gums if you make her mad.”
• “Brush your teeth or I’ll tell the dentist to pull them out.”
• “The dentist enjoys torturing people for fun.”

2. Find a Dentist You Love:
There are too many great dentists and hygienists out there to be stuck with someone you don’t love! Take the time to find someone you and your kids will feel comfortable with.


3. Make the First Visit a Happy One:

The dental hygienist will be more than happy to give your child a ride in the chair and take a peak in their mouth. Often times they’ll let them see and touch all the fun dental gadgets we use too. If not… let me refer you back to #2!

Another way to create a happy visit is to  bring your child with you to one of your appointments. This is a great way to introduce them to what the dentist is all about!

4. Attend a Dental Presentation:
February is National Children's Dental Health Month. This often includes dental health presentations at schools and around the community. Find one to attend, or even get a group together and ask your dental office if they will do one for you. This is a great way to introduce kids to the dentist without them feeling pressured or worrying about getting work done. 


5. Dental Themed Activities: 
This is a great way to get kids excited about the dentist and learn about oral hygiene at the same time!

Here are a couple activities you can try with everyday items found around the house:

Supplies:

1. Large Lego block
2. Play Dough
3. Yarn

• Pack the Play Dough in between the pegs of a large Lego block and have your child wiggle the yarn in a "C" shaped motion in between the pegs until the Play Dough is gone. 
• This provides an easy visual for kids to learn how to floss before they try it in their own mouths.

Supplies:

1. 3 hard-boiled eggs
2. Water
3. Coke 
4. Vinegar 

• Take the eggs and put them each in separate glasses filled with water, coke, & vinegar and then check them in a few days. Compare each egg to the one that was in the water and you will see how the outer shell of the egg is like the enamel of our teeth. The longer the egg (or teeth) is exposed to sugar, or acidic substances, it starts to eat it away. It will cause pitting and softening of the egg shell, similar to what happens to the enamel of our teeth after being exposed to similar acidic substances.
• This will show your child the importance of brushing their teeth and having the dentist check for "sugar bugs."

6. Books and Videos:

There are tons of  great dental books and videos out there. Here are a couple examples: 

 "Geena's Tremendous Tooth Adventure"  

                             and

 “The Tooth Fairy” by Audrey Wood

7. Don't Scar Them For Life:

If they scream bloody murder when you take them to the dentist  maybe wait a few months before bringing them in again. As long as they’re not in pain or having serious dental issues, wait until they can at least sit in the chair and open their mouth by themselves. Forcing them to sit and pry open their mouth just leaves them hating us and probably you too. The more positive experiences they have, the better and easier it gets.

Source: http://oneshetwoshe.com/2014/02/going-to-the-dentist-with-kids.html 

What is Dental Fluorosis and What Treatment Options Do I Have?

Many people think dental fluorosis is a disease, but it’s not; it’s a condition that affects the appearance of your tooth’s enamel, not the function or health of the teeth. These changes may vary from tiny, white, barely noticeable spots to very noticeable staining, discoloration, and brown markings. The spots and stains left by fluorosis are permanent and may darken over time.

Dental fluorosis occurs in children who are hypersensitive to, or exposed to fluoride between 20 and 30 months of age. Only children ages eight years and younger can develop dental fluorosis. Why? That is the period when permanent teeth are still developing under the gums. For kids, fluorosis can cause significant embarrassment and anxiety about the appearance of their teeth. No matter how much they might brush and floss, the fluorosis stains do not go away.

Many well-known sources of fluoride may contribute to overexposure, including:

• Fluoridated mouth rinse, which young children may swallow
• Bottled water which is not tested for fluoride content
• Inappropriate use of fluoride supplements
• Exposure to water that is naturally or unnaturally fluoridated to levels well above the recommended levels

One way to reduce the risk for enamel fluorosis is to teach your children not to swallow topical fluoride products, such as toothpaste that contains fluoride. In fact, kids should use no more than a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste when brushing, and children under the age of two shouldn't use fluoride toothpaste at all.

http://www.southcenterdental.com/blog/page/2/ 

If you already have fluorosis there are a number of treatment options such as crowns, veneers, or composites but the least invasive procedure uses a product called MI Paste. Results vary depending on the individual and severity of the condition but in some cases individuals have seen dramatic results with this method. 

Here are the treatment results from one of our own dental assistants who tried this procedure: 

Before

After 4 Treatments

Painless Parker's Dental Circus

Before local anesthesia could manage the pain, one early 20th century dentist distracted his patients with showgirls and brass bands.

Born in Canada in 1871 Edgar Randolph Parker was perhaps the most eccentric dentist in American history. Parker attended Philadelphia Dental College and two years later graduated with a DDS degree. After graduation Parker set up shop in his hometown of New Brunswick, but there were other dentists nearby and he only had one patient in the first 90 days, this was no way to run a business. While the dental college had taught dignity in dealing with this profession, Edgar soon learned that dignity did not pay the bills. He needed a gimmick. He decided to call himself “Painless Parker.” Other dentists accused him of false advertising and he was told he could no longer call himself “Painless Parker.”  He answered to this issue by legally changing his name from “Edgar” to “Painless.” Believe it or not, this is one of the least controversial things he did.   

Having no luck in his hometown, he decided to become the “P.T. Barnum of dentistry” and moved to the United States. He even hired one of  Barnum’s ex-managers to help him take his practice on the road. He created a traveling medicine show called the Parker Dental Circus.

The first thing he did was to buy a horse and wagon and install a dental chair in the bed of this “travelling office.” Patients would not have to go to him, he would bring his practice to them. Next as a true entertainer, he hired showgirls who would sing and dance to the sounds of a band blasting away. In the middle of this entourage was Painless Parker dressed in his trademark spotless white coat, sporting his grey beaver top hat. Needless to say, this would draw a crowd. The band and showgirls distracted the patient, the noise would silence any painful noise coming from the patient, and of course it promoted his business.  

 Parker promised that he would painlessly extract a rotten tooth for 50 cents. And if the extraction wasn’t painless, he would give the customer $5.00, the equivalent of roughly $115 today. Parker used an aqueous cocaine solution which called “Hydrocaine” or a cup of whiskey to keep the patient as comfortable as possible.

To help advertise his booming business of tooth pulling, a bucket full of teeth he had personally pulled sat by his feet as he lectured to the crowds on the importance of dental hygiene. At one point he claimed to have pulled 357 teeth in one day, which he strung on a necklace.

Naturally like most showman-practitioners his shameless advertising was looked down upon in the medical community. The American Dental Association described him as “a menace to the dignity of the profession.” But despite all his theatrics, Parker was an active supporter of preventative care before it was widely promoted, as well as local anesthesia. He believed in bringing oral education and affordable services to all walks of life.

Sources:

http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/07/painless-parker%E2%80%99s-dental-circus/

http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/curious-fact-of-the-week-painless-parker

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painless_Parker

TAKE MY WHAT?!?

   

  Taking a blood pressure reading is one of the first things our clinical staff does when a patient comes in for a dental visit. This may seem insignificant but there can be serious consequences if certain dental procedures are done on a patient with high blood pressure. Consequences may include excessive bleeding and increased risk of heart attack or stroke. 

    Normal blood pressure readings for healthy individuals 20 years and older should be 120/80 mmHg. If blood pressure readings are consistently higher than 120/80 it means that individual is most likely suffering from hypertension. According to Heart.org, the website of the American Heart Association, "Untreated high blood pressure damages and scars your arteries." High blood pressure increases the risk of blood clots, organ damage, heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure also results in increased plaque build-up and weakening of blood vessels. 

    Since most people see their dentist on a more consistent basis than their general physician, dentists can provide valuable information to patients by checking their blood pressure regularly and informing them when the measurements are suggestive of Hypertension. If blood pressure readings are higher than normal, the dentist will likely refer the patient to a physician for further testing before any dental work is done. Even if an individual is taking medication for hypertension, blood pressure should still be monitored. A blood pressure screening at the dentist's office is just too good an opportunity to pass up. It takes only a few minutes and the information is potentially life-saving. 

The History of Dental Floss

 

 

 

During Ancient Times

Over the years, anthropologists have found evidence that ancient people used various implements such as pointed sticks for interdental cleaning.

 

 The Beginning

But according to most sources, credit for the invention of dental floss as we know it goes to a New Orleans dentist, who in 1815 began advising his patients to use a thin silk thread to clean between their teeth.

 

 The Evolution Of Dental Floss (1882-1896)

The idea caught on, and in 1882 a company called the Codman and Shurtleft Company, based in Randolph, Massachusetts, began marketing an unwaxed silk dental floss. This was followed in 1896 by the first dental floss from Johnson & Johnson. The New Jersey-based J&J took out a patent for dental floss in 1898 that was made from the same silk material used by doctors for silk stitches.

 

 The Evolution of Dental Floss (1940-1950)

During the 1940s, nylon replaced silk as the material for dental floss-its consistent texture and resistance to shredding were an improvement over the silk versions. The use of nylon also allowed for the development of waxed floss in the 1940s, and for the development of dental tape in the 1950s.

 

 Today

Since then, the variety of types of dental floss has expanded to include newer materials such as Gore-Tex, and different textures such as spongy floss and soft floss. And today's floss has other features to make flossing easier. For example, floss with stiffened ends to help with flossing around braces or other dental appliances. 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.oralb.com/topics/history-of-dental-floss.aspx 

 

The Twilight Zone

      Choosing a toothbrush sounds like an easy task but taking a stroll down the toothbrush isle can sometimes be overwhelming! They each promise something different, fresh breath, deep cleaning, or tooth whitening. So how do you know what toothbrush is best for you? Well, here are a few easy guidelines to follow when choosing the proper toothbrush:

1)Electric vs. manual
      a. Studies show there is no significant difference between electric and manual toohbrushes in their ability to remove plaque and prevent gum disease. Choose the one you are most likely to use.

2)Bristle flexibility
     a. Choose a brush with soft bristles. Stiff bristles can cause gum recession and sensitivity.
 
3)Size
     a. The size of the toothbrush head is important too. Bigger is not always better. Smaller heads can get into difficult to reach areas more easily than large heads can. Pick a brush that compliments the size of your mouth.

4)Handle
      a. Look for a toothbrush that has a handle that fits comfortably in your hand and is easy to maneuver. (electric toothbrush handles can sometimes be easier to use for individuals with limited dexterity)

5)Safety
      a. Make sure to choose a brush with the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval on the package.