Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Video: Understanding Tooth Sensitivity

Do you suffer from sensitive teeth? Watch the video below to figure out what causes this very common phenomenon and how you cab take steps to help alleviate symptoms. 

Video Source: Colgate

David L. Kitchen, DDS
9850 Genesee Avenue
Suite 540
La Jolla, CA 92037
Telephone: 858.558.1946
info@davidkitchendds.com

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Smart Snacks For Healthy Teeth


What's wrong with sugary snacks, anyway?

Sugary snacks taste so good — but they aren't so good for your teeth or your body. The candies, cakes, cookies and other sugary foods that kids love to eat between meals can cause tooth decay. Some surgary foods have a lot of fat in them, too. Kids who consume sugary snacks eat many different kinds of sugar every day, including table sugar (sucrose) and corn sweeteners (fructose). Starchy snacks can also break down into sugars once they're in your mouth.

How do sugars attack your teeth?

Invisible germs called bacteria live in your mouth all the time. Some of these bacteria form a sticky material called plaque on the surface of the teeth. When you put sugar in your mouth, the bacteria in the plaque gobble up the sweet stuff and turn it into acids. These acids are powerful enough to dissolve the hard enamel that covers your teeth. That's how cavities get started. If you don't eat much sugar, the bacteria can't produce as much of the acid that eats away enamel.

How can I "snack smart" to protect myself from tooth decay?

Before you start munching on a snack, ask yourself what's in the food you've chosen. Is it loaded with sugar? If it is, think again. Another choice would be better for your teeth. And keep in mind that certain kinds of sweets can do more damage than others. Gooey or chewy sweets spend more time sticking to the surface of your teeth. Because sticky snacks stay in your mouth longer than foods that you quickly chew and swallow, they give your teeth a longer sugar bath.

You should also think about when and how often you eat snacks. Do you nibble on sugary snacks many times throughout the day, or do you usually just have dessert after dinner? Damaging acids form in your mouth every time you eat a sugary snack. The acids continue to affect your teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized and can't do any more harm. So, the more times you eat sugary snacks during the day, the more often you feed bacteria the fuel they need to cause tooth decay.

If you eat sweets, it's best to eat them as dessert after a main meal instead of several times a day between meals. Whenever you eat sweets — in any meal or snack — brush your teeth well with a fluoride toothpaste afterward.

 

When you're deciding about snacks, think about:

  • The number of times a day you eat sugary snacks
  • How long the sugary food stays in your mouth
  • The texture of the sugary food (Chewy? Sticky?)
If you snack after school, before bedtime, or other times during the day, choose something without a lot of sugar or fat. There are lots of tasty, filling snacks that are less harmful to your teeth—and the rest of your body — than foods loaded with sugars and low in nutritional value. Snack smart!

Low-fat choices like raw vegetables, fresh fruits, or whole-grain crackers or bread are smart choices. Eating the right foods can help protect you from tooth decay and other diseases. Next time you reach for a snack, pick a food from the list inside or make up your own menu of non-sugary, low-fat snack foods from the basic food groups.
How can you snack smart? Be choosy!

 

Pick a variety of foods from these groups:

  • Fresh fruits and raw vegetables
    • Berries
    • Oranges
    • Grapefruit
    • Melons
    • Pineapple
    • Pears
    • Tangerines
    • Broccoli
    • Celery
    • Carrots
    • Cucumbers
    • Tomatoes
    • Unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices
    • Canned fruits in natural juices
  • Grains:
    • Bread
    • Plain bagels
    • Unsweetened cereals
    • Unbuttered popcorn
    • Tortilla chips (baked, not fried)
    • Pretzels (low-salt)
    • Pasta
    • Plain crackers
  • Milk and dairy products:
    • Low or non-fat milk
    • Low or non-fat yogurt
    • Low or non-fat cheese
    • Low or non-fat cottage cheese
  • Meat, nuts and seeds:
    • Chicken
    • Turkey
    • Sliced meats
    • Pumpkin seeds
    • Sunflower seeds
    • Nuts
  • Others (these snacks combine foods from the different groups):
    • Pizza
    • Tacos

 

Remember to:

  • Choose sugary foods less often
  • Avoid sweets between meals
  • Eat a variety of low or non-fat foods from the basic groups
  • Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste after snacks and meals

 

Note to parents

The foods listed in this leaflet have not all been tested for their decay-causing potential. However, knowledge to date indicates that they are less likely to promote tooth decay than are some of the heavily sugared foods children often eat between meals.

Candy bars aren't the only culprits. Foods such as pizza, breads, and hamburger buns may also contain sugars. Check the label. The new food labels identify sugars and fats on the Nutrition Facts panel on the package. Keep in mind that brown sugar, honey, molasses and syrups also react with bacteria to produce acids, just as refined table sugar does. These foods also are potentially damaging to teeth.

Your child's meals and snacks should include a variety of foods from the basic food groups, including fruits and vegetables; grains, including breads and cereals; milk and dairy products; and meat, nuts and seeds. Some snack foods have greater nutritional value than others and will better promote your child's growth and development. However, be aware that even some fresh fruits, if eaten in excess, may promote tooth decay. Children should brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste after snacks and meals. (So should you!)

Please note: These general recommendations may need to be adapted for children on special diets because of diseases or conditions that interfere with normal nutrition.

Article Source: http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patienteducation/Smart-Snacks-For-Healthy-Teeth/article

David L. Kitchen, DDS
9850 Genesee Avenue
Suite 540
La Jolla, CA 92037
Telephone: 858.558.1946
info@davidkitchendds.com
 

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Video: Tooth Loss -- Health Loss


David L. Kitchen, DDS
9850 Genesee Avenue
Suite 540
La Jolla, CA 92037
Telephone: 858.558.1946
info@davidkitchendds.com

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis - Trench Mouth


If there were ever a reason to properly care for your teeth, Acute Necrotizing Ulverative Gingivitis (ANUG) would be one of them. This is the first of many posts we will be featuring on the blog highlighting diseases that result from poor oral hygiene.

Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (ANUG), which is also known as trench mouth or Vincent's Stomatitis, is a painful bacterial infection and ulceration of the gums. The term "trench mouth" comes from World War I, when the disorder was common among soldiers. The mouth normally contains a balance of different microorganisms. ANUG occurs when there is an overabundance of normal mouth bacteria resulting in infection of the gums, which develop painful ulcers. Viruses may be involved in allowing the bacteria to overgrow.
ANUG Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivits

Symptoms of ANUG include:

  • Painful gums 
  • Profuse gum bleeding in response to any pressure or irritation 
  • Gums appear reddened and swollen 
  • Grayish film on the gums 
  • Crater-like ulcers between the teeth 
  • Bad breath 
  • Foul taste 

Treating ANUG typically requires antibiotics and dental treatment. Irrigation of the mouth with salt water or peroxide solution often helps to relieve symptoms. Rest, a balanced diet, no smoking, and avoiding hot and spicy foods are also important.

Risks include the following:

  • Poor oral hygiene 
  • Poor nutrition 
  • Throat, tooth or mouth infections 
  • Smoking 
  • Emotional stress
David L. Kitchen, DDS
9850 Genesee Avenue
Suite 540
La Jolla, CA 92037
Telephone: 858.558.1946
info@davidkitchendds.com