Is It Possible To Brush Too Much?

Toothbrush bristles underneath the microscope - notice their soft, rounded edges that make them less abrasive

Yes...it is possible to over brush. I would estimate many of us in this country are overbrushing. We’re obsessed, but we’re brushing incorrectly and we’re brushing with the wrong toothbrush. Everyday I see people in my practice that have brushed away tooth structure and worn their teeth away using a toothbrush. There is absolutely such a thing as too much of a good thing when it comes to brushing your teeth. Think about, for a moment, what a toothbrush is and how it is made. A toothbrush is manufactured by taking a grouping of nylon bristles and inserting them into a molten nylon handle. A machine cuts these bristles to make them all the same height. At this point in the manufacturing process, if you were to look under a microscope with extreme magnification, you would see thousands of little cylindrical nylon tubes with sharp and serrated edges, waiting to scrape away precious dentin and enamel.

Fortunately, there’s another step in this manufacturing process that most (not all) quality toothbrushes undergo. After the bristles are cut to be the same height, they are treated in such a way that the sharp edges of the nylon bristles are rounded into hemispherical, soft domes – this, too, is visible underneath the microscope. This process makes the toothbrush bristles safe to use. After being rounded, they are far less abrasive than when they are freshly cut and safe to use because they don’t scrape away tooth structure. Certain toothbrush manufacturers do a better job of this than others. The toothbrushes made by manufacturers that don’t do a great job rounding the bristles are not safe to use out of the box. This cannot be seen with the naked eye.

The smoothness of your bristles also gets worn away back to its original jaggedness via brushing, which is why you may have heard that dentists recommend you replace your toothbrush often. The key is to throw away your toothbrush before the bristles splay, because by that point, it’s too late. Splayed bristles mean you’ve been using a worn toothbrush that is too abrasive and has been wearing away your tooth structure. I recommend replacing your toothbrush every four weeks for people who brush twice a day. The analogy I like to use is this one: would you wax your car with an old rag with dirt on it? Never, because that would scratch the finish.

The same goes for your teeth. If you use proper techniques in brushing, use a high quality toothbrush, and you throw it away before it becomes this dangerous, abrasive device I’ve described, you should be able to eat frequently and brush frequently without guilt. And remember...you can never floss too much – you can only floss too little!

Safeguard Your Child With Toothprints

One of the greatest fears of being a parent today is either a child getting lost or, worse yet, abducted. Although all states have implemented the AMBER Alert system issuing statewide public alerts about missing children, more on an individual level can be done. As a parent, you play a pivotal role in providing a proven means of identifying your child or, better yet, DNA and saliva samples for tracking them. Each person's set of teeth is unique...even in identical twins.

Toothprints is a simple, cost-effective way of documenting your young child's unique tooth characteristics. Toothprints is an arch-shaped thermoplastic wafer you soften in hot water, and place on the child's lower arch. The child bites into the wafer for 20 seconds. After allowing a 2-3 minute cool-down period in the plastic bag provided. Making a Toothprints bite impression takes only a few minutes. It’s comfortable for young children and will give you, their parent, peace of mind.

Recommended Toothprints Schedule:
 Initial impression: Age 3 (or after all primary teeth have erupted)
Update: Age 7 or 8 (or after the upper and lower incisors and the first permanent molars have erupted)
Update: Age 12 or 13 (or after all permanent teeth, excluding 3rd molars, have erupted).
The following website provides more info:
http://yoursafechild.com/parents-toothprintsr.html

Vitamins and Minerals For Oral Health

For years, we’ve been told how vitamins and minerals have a beneficial effect on our bodies. For example, how vitamins B1, B2 and B3 supports energy metabolism, the health of your skin, normal vision and aids your digestive system…and how minerals like Iron carry oxygen throughout the cells of the body. But little mention had been given to the fact that both vitamins and minerals can have such an advantageous effect on oral health.

Now, before you run out to your local drug store, vitamins and minerals that promote oral health are widely available in what we eat, so try getting them from natural foods. I have included a chart  which you may find helpful. If you are currently incorporating these foods into your meals…great! If not, it will take very little effort to do so. Not only will your mouth thank you, but it may mean fewer visits to the dentist…and wouldn’t you all love that!

Mom sure knew what she was talking about when she forced you to eat your meals, especially your vegetables, when you were a kid!

Vitamin	How it affects your mouth	Found in these foods
Vitamin A (carotene)	Prevents dry mouth and oral cancer	Broccoli, brussell sprouts, green leafy vegetables (spinach, collard greens, kale, etc.)
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)	Prevents soft, bleeding gums, and loose teeth Prevents oral cancer	Citrus fruits, cantaloupe, strawberries, green leafy vegetables, bell peppers
Vitamin D	Promotes strong teeth and jaw bones	Oily fish, milk, eggs, cereals, sunshine
Vitamin E	Prevents growth of thick white patches in the mouth (leukoplakia). Prevents oral cancer	Vegetable oil, nuts, peanut butter, wheat germ
B2, Niacin, B6, B12 Folic Acid	Prevents soreness, redness and bleeding of the gums, cracking and sores in the corners of the mouth and on the tongue	Salmon, beef, liver, chicken, fish, yogurt, nuts and beans. Breakfast cereals, spinach, navy beans, orange juice, pasta, rice.
Calcium Phosphorous Magnesium	Needed for tooth development, prevents loss of jaw bone and teeth, rebuilds hard surface of the teeth (enamel)	Milk, cheese, yogurt, seafood, dark green leafy vegetables
Fluoride	Prevents tooth decay, helps repair enamel	Fluoridated water, black tea, sardines
Zinc	Needed for digestion, healing cold and canker sores	Liver, various meats, eggs, seafood, whole-grain cereals
Iodine	Needed for tooth development	Iodized salt, seafood, kelp, saltwater fish
Copper	Absorbs iron. Helps produce blood and nerve fibers	Liver, kidney, seafood, nuts, seeds, tap water
Iron	Protects against oral cancer and helps the immune system	Liver, eggs, fish, seafood, various other meats, enriched breads & cereals, green leafy vegetables
Potassium	Needed for nerve function and muscle contractions	Vegetables, legumes, fruits, milk, cheese, various meats, whole grains

Setting the Record Straight on Dental X-Rays

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is taking issue with the findings of a study published this week in the journal "Cancer" that suggests a link between frequent dental x-rays and the risk of developing meningioma, a largely benign brain tumor.

According to the AGD, the study's findings do not apply to modern dentistry, because the study was based upon an examination of outdated radiographic techniques, which produced considerably more radiation than patients would be exposed to today.

"Modern radiographic techniques and equipment provide the narrowest beam and shortest exposure, thereby limiting the area and time of exposure and reducing any possible risks while providing the highest level of diagnostic benefits," said AGD President Howard Gamble, DMD, in a press release. "Today, patient safety is always maintained with the recommended use of thyroid collars and aprons."

The article, which received attention from many reputable news outlets, could cause the public to decide to limit or even refuse x-rays in an effort to keep their families safe, the AGD noted.

"It is regrettable to think that an article based on outdated technology could scare the public and cause them to avoid needed treatment," said Dr. Gamble. "With the radiography techniques in use today, the amount of radiation exposure is reduced and more controlled than it was in years past."

The Cancer study also contained many inconsistencies and possibilities for error, including the fact that its findings were based upon a population-based case-control study, according to the AGD. This means that it relied upon the patients themselves to recall and self-report past events, many of which were from decades earlier. I don't know about anyone else...but I have a difficult time remembering what I did last week, let alone 10 years ago!

The AGD supports radiographic guidelines provided by the ADA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and agreess with the ADA that dentists should order dental radiographs for patients only when necessary for diagnosis and treatment.

Dental radiographs, or X-rays, are an important part of a thorough dental examination. They can expose hidden tooth decay; reveal a tooth abcess, cyst or tumor; show impacted or extra teeth; and also help determine the condition of dental fillings, tooth crowns and dental bridges and root canals. Dental X-rays can also reveal bone loss from peridontal gum disease, locate tarter buildup, find foreign bodies within the gum or bone, and see if there is enough bone for the placement of dental implants.  These are just some of the many reasons why dentists rely on dental X-rays.

I utilize Digital Imaging Technology in my office which offers the following benefits: It's faster, images can be viewed instantly on a computer monitor, up to 90% less radiation and we avoid the chemicals used in the traditional developing process.  But what our patients love about the digital system is that Digital x-rays don’t require film. Instead, we capture the images via a small sensor placed directly in your mouth. Most people find this technique more comfortable, even when we must take the images at difficult angles.

In addition, the AGD encourages dentists to communicate with their patients and address any unexpressed concerns of radiographic risks in order to reduce fear and promote a better understanding of the benefits and the risks associated with the specific needs of each patient.

Your Dentist is the First Line of Defense In Oral Cancer Detection

The dental community is the first line of defense in early detection of Oral Cancer. According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States alone. This cancer, found in the mouth, lips or throat, is often highly curable if diagnosed and treated early. Unfortunately, in its early stages, oral cancer can go unnoticed.

Those at high risk for oral cancer include tobacco users, African-American men and heavy drinkers, but anyone can develop oral cancer. According to the Oral Cancer Consortium, 25 percent of people diagnosed with oral cancer have no risk factors. Studies have also determined there may be a link between HPV (human papilloma virus) and oral cancer.

Your dentist and hygienist usually screen you for any signs of oral cancer at your regular checkups, but some symptoms of oral cancer can be invisible to the naked eye. Our office utilizes an FDA approved device to detect oral cancer called a VELscope. The VELscope is non-invasive and uses a bright blue light to emphasize any changes in the mouth that a dentist or hygienist could not normally see.

The problem, for the most part, is that early oral cancer looks like everything else. It looks like a million other injuries and changes in the tissue in the mouth. It's a red spot or a white spot. We see them all the time. But using the VELscope to detect oral cancer can make abnormalities stand out like sore thumbs.

The Oral Cancer Foundation estimates that 34,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year alone, with only 50 percent still being alive in 5 years. The problem is much larger worldwide. Even with these statistics, the experts agree that early diagnosis pushes the five-year survival rate to an astonishing 80 percent. Since oral cancer can affect anyone, without regard to age or gender, it is very important to have regular screenings for this deadly disease. Talk with your dentist about the latest developments and technologies for diagnosing oral cancer.

If you have a mouth sore that doesn't go away and is accompanied by unexplained numbness in the face, mouth, or neck and/or problems chewing, speaking, or swallowing, call my office immediately!  Don't let fear keep you from getting a check-up -- oral cancer that is caught early is treatable and curable.

Pregnancy Gingivitis

Pregnancy can bring many wonderful new joys to an expectant mothers’ life. Pregnancy gingivitis is not one of them.

The shocking truth is that pregnancy gingivitis affects anywhere from 50 to 70 percent of pregnant women, and those with the disease are 7 times more likely to go into preterm labor, preclampsia and have low-birth weight babies! Premature infants are at greater risk for short and long term complications, including disabilities and impediments in growth and mental development. Additionally, if an expectant mom had untreated tooth decay and/or consumed a lot of sugar, their children have 4 times the risk of developing tooth decay.

Pregnancy gingivitis is characterized by swelling/inflammation of the gums, and is caused by a bacterial film that grows on the teeth, resulting in plaque buildup. This plaque irritates the gum tissue, making them tender, bright red, swollen, sensitive, and easy to make bleed. These infected and swollen gums harbor disease causing bacteria, which release toxins that can attack ligaments, gums, and bones surrounding your teeth to create infected pockets similar to large infected wounds in the oral cavity. These pockets provide access to your bloodstream and allow bacteria to travel throughout your body. Since the bacteria that cause gingivitis can enter the bloodstream, they are able to travel down to the uterus. This triggers the body to produce prostaglandins, which is a natural fatty acid that normally controls inflammation and smooth muscle contraction. When a woman is pregnant, her level of prostaglandins increases, and peaks when she goes into labor. It is possible that if extra prostaglandins are produced when the body is reacting to infected gums, a pregnant woman’s body may think it is a signal to go into labor sooner than expected, thus causing a baby to be born too early.

Ultimately then, hormonal changes during pregnancy affect the body’s natural response to dental plaque, which affect how gum tissues react to the bacteria in plaque; thus resulting in a higher chance of pregnant women getting gingivitis.  If you already have gingivitis going in to a pregnancy, it will likely get worse during pregnancy if you do not seek treatment. Although the gingivitis generally subsides shortly after birth, it should nonetheless be periodically monitored by your dentist (during and after pregnancy), in order to prevent the gingivitis from turning into the more serious (and irreversible) form known as periodontitis.

The following are guidelines suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in response to the increased concern about oral health during pregnancy:

1) Oral Health Education – DO have consultations with your dentist before, during and after your pregnancy. Early intervention is key, but ongoing care is just as important!
2) Oral Hygiene – DO brush and floss regularly – and properly. It is especially important to try and always brush after meals and snacks, especially sugary ones. Also, have more frequent dental cleanings than you normally would (2-3 during your pregnancy is about right). This will greatly increase the amount of plaque that is removed from the teeth and gums, thereby lowering your risk.

3) Nutrition – DON’T eat junk. This is good advice in general during your pregnancy, but just know that proper diet and nutrition during pregnancy will limit sugar intake which, in turn, will minimize plaque build up.

4) Treat Tooth Decay – DO try and have all urgent dental work completed prior to becoming pregnant. Although, it is safe to perform certain emergency dental procedures during your pregnancy, it is best to have it done prior to becoming pregnant, and especially prior to it becoming an emergency dental treatment!

5) Transmission of Bacteria – DON’T share food and utensils, so as not to potentially transmit bacteria known to cause tooth decay.

6) Use of Xylitol Gum – DO chew gum. Expectant mothers, and everyone, are encouraged to chew xylitol gum (around 4x/day), since research suggests that it may decrease the rate of tooth decay. Chewing sugarless gum increases saliva and thus increases the production of salivary enzymes that help equalize the Ph in the mouth and thus reduce cavity growth.

To sum up, pregnancy gingivitis is a real and prevalent threat but, so long as you take the appropriate steps, it can be managed with relative ease. 

Toothpaste: It Does More Than Clean Teeth

Toothpaste: it whitens, brightens, deodorizes, removes stains, and restores and protects enamel. But toothpaste’s cleaning capabilities work wonders on many things besides our teeth. The same ingredients that help polish our pearly whites can also soothe some common ailments, make household items sparkle, and even get rid of stains and pungent smells. Try out these fifteen tricks with a white, non-gel toothpaste (unless otherwise noted), and watch that cavity-fighting, breath-freshening tube of wonder work its magic

1.  Relieve irritation from bug bites, sores, and blisters. These skin irritations all tend to weep and, in the case of bug bites, often itch. Apply a drop of toothpaste to a bug bite or insect sting to stop the itching and decrease any swelling. When applied to sores or blisters, it dries them up, thus allowing the wound to heal faster. It’s best when used overnight.

2.  Soothe a stinging burn. For minor burns that don’t involve an open wound, toothpaste can deliver temporary cooling relief. Apply it delicately to the affected area immediately after a burn develops; it temporarily relieves the sting and prevents the wound from weeping or opening.

3.  Decrease the size of a facial blemish. Want to speed up the healing of a zit? Apply a tiny dot of toothpaste to the affected area at night before bed. Wash it off in the morning.

4.  Clean up your fingernails. Our teeth are made of enamel, and toothpaste is good for them, so it stands to reason that toothpaste would also be good for our fingernails. For cleaner, shinier, and stronger nails, simply scrub the underneath and tops of fingernails with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

5.  Keep hair in place. Gel toothpastes contain the same water-soluble polymers that many hair gels are made of. If you’re looking to style and hold an extreme hair creation, try gel toothpaste as your go-to product if you’re out of regular hair gel. (This is also a great trick for making baby barrettes stay in place.)

6.  Scrub away stinky smells. Garlic, fish, onion, and other pungent foods can permeate the skin cells on our hands. Scrubbing hands and fingertips briefly with toothpaste removes all traces of smelly odors


7.  Remove stains. Toothpaste can make tough stains on both clothing and carpets disappear. For clothes, apply toothpaste directly to the stain and rub briskly until the spot is gone, then wash as usual. (Note that using a whitening toothpaste on colors can sometimes bleach the fabric.) For carpet stains, apply toothpaste to the stain and scrub it with an abrasive brush, then rinse immediately.

8.  Spruce up dirty shoes. This tactic works great on running shoes or scuffed-up leather shoes. As with carpet stains, apply toothpaste directly to the dirty or scuffed area, then scrub with a brush and wipe clean

9.  Remove crayon stains on painted walls. Rub a damp cloth with toothpaste gently on the marked-up wall and watch the Crayola marks disappear.

10.  Make silver jewelry and other silver pieces sparkle. Rub toothpaste onto jewelry and leave overnight. Wipe clean with a soft cloth in the morning. Make diamonds shine by giving them a gentle scrub using a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a little water. Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of toothpaste. Do not use this method on pearls, as it will damage their finish.

11.  Remove scratches on DVDs and CDs. This remedy has been used with mixed success rates, but it seems to work fairly well on shallow scratches and smudges. Apply a thin coating of toothpaste to the disc and rub gently, then rinse clean.

12.  Tidy up piano keys before tickling them. Piano keys retain oil from the skin, which then attracts dust and dirt. Clean away grime gently with a damp, lint-free cloth and toothpaste; after rubbing in the toothpaste, wipe the keys clean with a second lint-free cloth.

13.  Deodorize baby bottles. If baby bottles develop a sour-milk smell, a good cleaning with some toothpaste and a bottle scrubber will clean away residue and deodorize. Always make sure to rinse well.

14.   Remove the burned crust on irons. For those of you who still use an iron, you may find that after time, the plate of the iron develops a burned crust. The silica in toothpaste gently grinds away this rusty-looking layer.

15.  Defog goggles. Scuba divers, swimmers, and triathletes may already know about this handy little trick: Rub a small spot of toothpaste into each lens of your goggles, then rinse thoroughly, and voila! There’ll be no need to ever buy expensive defogger gels again. Avoid rubbing too vigorously, though, as the abrasive ingredients in toothpaste could scratch the lenses.

16. Clean your headlights.  Use toothpaste to clean the headlights on vehicles that have become yellow and foggy over the years.  Apply a generous amount (Crest seems to be popular) to the area of the headlight that needs to be cleaned. Grab a dry soft cloth and rub the toothpaste in a circular motion making sure to apply a good amount of pressure until the grime comes off. Rinse the headlight off with water and wipe it with a wet cloth.

Now your toothpaste could actually save you time and money over the course of a year, not to mention help reduce your shopping time and cleaning-supply collection!!