Take measures for oral health

Halloween kicks off a series of holidays celebrated with delicious treats from yummy chocolate candies to gut-busting dinners and seasonal alcoholic beverages.



While most parents will make sure their kids brush after eating their treats, National Dental Hygiene Month in October encourages a fuller approach to oral health.



“Teeth and gums are obviously key components of oral health care, but they’re just part of the whole environment inside one’s mouth,” said Dr. Bob Kross, a biochemist who’s been researching and developing oral health-care products since the 1980s.



Kross’ patented Breath Appeal oral rinse, (www.breathappeal.com), destroys both the putrefying anaerobic bacteria that degrade food particles and body cells to form sulfurous bad breath malodorants as well as many of the bacteria associated with gum disease.



“The nooks and crannies in our mouths and gums are not the only places crammed with organic debris, which feed the bacteria that create biofilm, such as plaque, to protect themselves from oxygen,” Kross said. “There are also cracks on the tongue’s surface and in the other soft tissues in the mouth and pharynx where bacteria collect, further compromising dental health and creating bad breath.”



Normal oral bacteria are fine, actually even necessary, when present in proper balance with each other but it’s a problem when putrefying and pathogenic bacteria start to take over, he said.



“The sticky candies and treats children and adults consume during this time of year can disrupt the normal balance of bacteria if good dental hygiene isn’t practiced,” said Kross, who describes how bad breath is created and how we can prevent it.



• If you develop bad breath don’t simply try to mask it with mints. Anaerobic bacteria can also lead to painful and potentially serious conditions such as gingivitis and periodontitis, so it’s best to attack the problem at the root.



Maintaining the proper balance or oral bacteria will not only keep your breath fresh, it will help you maintain good oral health.



• Add tongue scraping and an oxidizing daily rinse to your oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing reach about 25 percent of your mouth, and that’s why you should add tongue scraping and rinsing to your daily routine.



That white stuff you might see on your tongue is a collection of food particles and other organic matter, which can putrefy and create oral malodorants. Oxygen inhibits the growth of the responsible anaerobic bacteria, so scraping off the film and using an oxidizing mouthwash will counter that problem.



• Control bad breath by controlling the mouth’s bacteria. Brush at least twice a day, floss, scrape the tongue and use a non-alcoholic rinse that has oxidizing properties. Individuals suffering from bad breath will experience optimum relief only by using alcohol-free, oxidizing oral hygiene products.



“At least 90 percent of bad breath problems are associated with the sulfurous compounds generated by the putrefying, malodor-forming, anaerobic bacteria, which hide in oral crevices, and which degrade food particles and salivary cell fragments,” Kross said. “For a cleaner mouth and fresher breath, you’ll need oxidants to destroy a major portion of the bacteria in these low-oxygen environments, thereby removing the root cause of persistent halitosis.



Kross is a biochemist associated with All USA Direct, (www.breathappeal.com), producer of Breath Appeal products. Many of Kross’ 40 U.S. patents reflect his interest in biomedical areas, including oral antimicrobials and associated conditions and diseases.



Source: http://www.thespectrum.com/story/life/features/mesquite/2014/09/29/take-measures-oral-health/16453425/



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Talk to Your Kids About Obesity, Nutrition, and Oral Health

If your child prefers cookies to carrots, it's no surprise. Junk food is an unfortunate reality of childhood diets. Sweet snacks and savory treats are the rule rather than the exception for many families, and they're a contributing factor to both tooth decay and obesity.



In observance of National Childhood Obesity Awareness month this September, Delta Dental of New Jersey is calling attention to this problem. It's one that we can solve together.



In the last 30 years, obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Today, more than a third of U.S. children are overweight or obese. As a result, there are an increasing number of obesity-related health problems among young Americans, from pre-diabetes to heart disease.



There also is a link between obesity and poor oral health. While obesity may not necessarily cause poor oral health or periodontal disease, we often find that people who suffer from obesity also have problems with their oral health. In this way, obesity and poor nutrition contribute to the number one chronic childhood disease: tooth decay.



Tips for Healthy Eating



The good news is that you can protect your child's oral health and overall health by making a few significant lifestyle changes. Here are some tips for good nutrition choices that, along with regular exercise, can help your child maintain a healthy weight. Even better, they also are good for your child's oral health.



Tip #1: Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Besides being packed with nutrients, certain fruits and veggies can even help clean the teeth and gums. Choose foods rich in vitamin C, including citrus fruits; leafy vegetables and potatoes; foods with folic acid, such as spinach and broccoli; and foods with vitamin B12, such as dairy and meat. Dairy and spinach also have the added benefit of calcium for building strong bones and teeth.



Tip #2: Choose foods that have an added benefit for your teeth. Cheese, chicken, nuts, and milk help to counteract the acidity in your mouth and provide the phosphorus needed to remineralize teeth. These foods may even help to protect tooth enamel. Check the Snack Smart Food List from Delta Dental for other good choices.



Tip #3: If you want something sweet, choose a crunchy fruit. These types of fruits, like apples and pears, for example, have a high water content, which helps dilute the effects of their natural sugar.



Tip #4: Avoid sticky snacks. These include sugary granola bars that only masquerade as being healthy. Also stay away from candies like caramel, gummy bears, and other sticky sweets that will remain on your teeth for longer periods of time. Not only are they 'empty calories,' but they provide fuel for bacteria.



Tip #5: Choose water or low-fat milk for a beverage. Avoid soft drinks and sweetened carbonated beverages; soda can have as much sugar as a candy bar and diet drinks often include flavor-enhancing acids that can harm tooth enamel. Even sports drinks might have more sugar than you think.



Teachable Moments Start at Home



Finally, teach your child to eat slowly by putting their utensils down between bites. Not only does this help with digestion, but it teaches kids to recognize when they feel full and should stop eating. Also, be aware of portion sizes. A useful trick is to use the size of your fist as a guideline for one portion. Always start with smaller portions; take more only if you're still hungry.



Let children have a say in what they want to eat for dinner and, if possible, let them help you prepare it! Talk about the benefits of eating these healthy and tasty foods, like having more energy, feeling fuller longer, and helping to build strong muscles and bones.



Sources: http://www.nj.com/helpinghands/deltadental/index.ssf/2014/09/talk_to_your_kids_about_obesit.html



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CDC: Oral Health in Young Women Needs Improvment

Women of childbearing age in the United States should be encouraged to maintain better oral care and visit the dentist routinely, according to a study published Sept. 18 in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease. Researchers found young pregnant women, those who are non-Hispanic black or Mexican-American, as well as those with lower income and less education, need to improve their oral care.

For the study, researchers looked at self-reported oral health information compiled on nearly 900 pregnant women and almost 4,000 women of childbearing age (between 15 and 44 years old) who weren't pregnant. The information was taken from the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.



Regardless of whether or not they were pregnant, the researchers found disparities in oral health and use of dental services among women in this age group. The percentage of women who reported having very good oral health was much higher among older pregnant women than younger pregnant women. This suggests that older pregnant women are more aware of their oral health needs and seek out dental care. It could also be that they're more likely to have dental insurance than younger pregnant women. The percentage of younger women who weren't pregnant who said they had good oral health, however, was much higher than the percentage of older pregnant women who said they had good oral health. The study's authors concluded this may be because younger women hadn't developed the same cumulative effects of dental disease.



Oral disease, with symptoms such as cavities or gum disease, may be prevented or treated with regular dental visits. In addition to causing pain, past research has suggested that dental problems may be linked to certain pregnancy problems, according to background information in the study. The study's authors noted prenatal check-ups may provide doctors with a key opportunity to encourage women to get routine preventive dental care.



See more at: http://www.hcplive.com/articles/CDC-Oral-Health-in-Young-Women-Needs-Improvment#sthash.c3sSeLzY.dpuf



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Brush teeth before sleep for healthy smile

How often do you attend late night parties and then use plain laziness as an excuse for not brushing your teeth before sleep? Better not forget that cleaning your teeth daily as just one "miss" begins the process of cavity and plaque building.



And don't trust gum, mints or mouthwash as brushing replacements.



"All three can give your mouth a fresher feel but brushing and flossing are the only ways to effectively physically remove the plaque," Indian-origin dentist Deepinder Ruchi Sahota from Fremont, California was quoted as saying in media reports.



According to Sahota, also a spokesperson for the American Dental Association (ADA), missing night brushing encourages the growth of bacterial buildup in the form of plaque that can lead to cavities and gum disease.



"The longer plaque sits in one place the more likely it is to become tartar - a hard, yellow, rough material in between your teeth," she added.



This can later cause inflammation and bleeding in the gums.



"Untreated for too long and you could risk losing teeth," she emphasized.



Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health/Brush-teeth-before-sleep-for-healthy-smile/articleshow/42625497.cms



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Simple Teeth Whitening Solutions Revealed: Importance and the Benefits

There are numerous reasons why smile is one of the most important aspects of a person. The primary reason being that your smile reflects your character. It makes the very first impression on others, and if you are comfortable with your smile, your confidence level is bound to soar.



Teeth Whitening is in vogue right now, and people over 70-years of age are also trying it out. Your teeth can get stained due to numerous reasons such as genetic structure, food habits, antibiotics and age.



Your teeth can get discolored naturally too due to changes in the dentin and enamel. Smoking, drinking red wine, tea or coffee can stain your teeth too. Contrary to popular belief, Teeth Whitening can be done successfully at home too, although, they take a lot more time than the professional products available at the dentists’.



Store-bought teeth whitening solutions are safe and should be used under proper guidance mentioned on the pack. This is the primary reason why most people still opt for professional help.



Apart from teeth whitening, regular cleaning is crucial, as its absence is bound to lead to significant damage. Teeth Whitening can have its side effects too if not done properly and the most common problem that people face is sensitivity.



However, there are numerous ways by which this can be avoided. Hence, there is nothing to worry about as long as you got a professional taking care of the situation.



Looking for Teeth Whitening solutions? Choose a dentist carefully!



Source: http://airherald.com/simple-teeth-whitening-solutions-revealed-importance-and-the-benefits/10412/



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Removing Wisdom Teeth – Is It Wise?

When a dentist suggests removing someone’s wisdom teeth, many parents or young adults do not think twice and made appointments. For people in their 40s and 50s, removing the wisdom teeth was a milestone like getting a driver’s license and graduating high school. The assumption was that the wisdom teeth were going to cause problems, so get them before they can. But today, that assumption is being questioned.



For many, removing the wisdom teeth is still a right of passage – at least in the U.S. In other areas and some circles here, the latest thinking is that removing wisdom teeth may not be needed.



What are Wisdom Teeth and Reasons for Removing Them?



Wisdom teeth are the third molars. They usually come in when a person is in their late teens or supposedly once someone has matured and gained “wisdom.” Because not everyone’s jaw can accommodate 34 teeth, they sometimes come in at odd angles or do not descend below the gum line at all (i.e., are impacted).



According to a 2007 American Journal of Public Health report cited in the Wall Street Journal, 10 million wisdom teeth are extracted each year. Reasons given for the procedure range from the weak to the unlikely:



If the wisdom teeth are not removed at a young age, people are simply postponing the inevitable.

There is not always enough room in the mouth for wisdom teeth to grow properly. Whether they do break through or remain impacted, they many crowd the other teeth. Wisdom teeth can come in at an awkward angle or push straight teeth out of alignment (ruining all that orthodontia!)

In teens and those in their early 20s, the wisdom tooth’s roots are not fully developed and the jaw bone is not as dense, so it is easier to remove the tooth at that age. Consequently, the recovery should be the easier too.

Wisdom teeth are difficult to reach and clean so they may develop decay and gum disease.

If wisdom teeth only break partway through the gums, a flap of gum tissue typically grows over them. Food can get trapped under the flap, which then becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and causes gums to become swollen, and infected.

If a cyst forms around a wisdom tooth that is impacted, it could permanently damage nearby teeth and the jaw.

If someone has a medical condition that could get worse as they age, it makes sense to have the wisdom teeth removed before the condition precludes it. Wisdom tooth extraction like any surgery poses risks for complications.

Guidelines Evolving Today



The guidelines from the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons’ (the people who usually do wisdom teeth extractions) have changed in the last few years. In 2010, removal of wisdom teeth was still preferred if there was insufficient space for them. By 2012, the Association began to recommend regular monitoring of the teeth when the patient is a young adult to determine if they should be retained or removed. A panel of experts could not reach a decision whether they should be removed or not.



In England, the thinking has changed too. Removing wisdom teeth used to be one of the most common procedures, according to the National Health Service. But now, Britain’s National Health Service stopped paying for the procedure if there was no good reason for it.



So, what should an adolescent or parent do? If a dentist recommends removing wisdom teeth, ask why? What other options are there? After all, while it is rarely harmful to one’s health to have the wisdom teeth removed, it costs a lot (many dental plans only cover part of the cost) and there are health risks involved with any surgery.





Read more at: http://guardianlv.com/2014/09/removing-wisdom-teeth-is-it-wise



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How coffee can save your Discover

Chugging a daily cup of joe may have you spewing sour coffee breath, but it also might pack some sweet rewards, too. Research from Boston University suggests that drinking coffee can help protect your chompers from periodontal disease, the inflammation of your gums and jawbone.



After studying more than 1,000 men for up to 30 years, the researchers found that those who drank one or more cups of coffee each day had fewer teeth with bone loss--the hallmark of periodontal disease which can lead to loosening and ultimately loss of your teeth. The researchers also found no evidence that even moderate or heavy coffee drinking was associated with any other markers of periodontal damage, such as bleeding of the gums or development of bacteria-collecting pockets around the teeth. (Is there a more brain-dead time than the 2 minutes you spend brushing your teeth?



The researchers believe that the antioxidants in the coffee may explain the protective measure of the brew.



“They could be muting the body’s own inflammatory processes that normally would be harmful to the gums and the jawbone supporting the teeth,” said study author Raul Garcia, D.M.D. (The oil pulling teeth whitening trend is popular again, but it may make you want to gag. Would You Do THIS for Whiter Teeth?)



Now, coffee will still stain your teeth, Garcia said, but you don’t have to worry about it leading to any dental demise. Plus, it’s less acidic than many other common beverages, like fruit juices, sodas, and energy drinks. According to a study in the British Journal of Nutrition, all of those drinks--but not coffee--were shown to weaken teeth’s protective enamel.



Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/09/07/how-coffee-can-save-your-teeth/



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Warning to parents on high acidity drinks

Dental researchers at the University of Adelaide are warning parents of the dangers of soft drinks, fruit juice, sports drinks and other drinks high in acidity, which form part of a "triple-threat" of permanent damage to young people's teeth.




For the first time, researchers have been able to demonstrate that lifelong damage is caused by acidity to the teeth within the first 30 seconds of acid attack.



The researchers say drinks high in acidity combined with night-time tooth grinding and reflux can cause major, irreversible damage to young people's teeth.



"Dental erosion is an issue of growing concern in developed countries, and it is often only detected clinically after extensive tooth wear has occurred," says Dr Sarbin Ranjitkar, corresponding author of a paper on tooth enamel erosion published in the Journal of Dentistry. Dr Ranjitkar is a member of the University's Craniofacial Biology Research Group, which is part of the Centre for Orofacial Research and Learning. The research was conducted by School of Dentistry Honours student Chelsea Mann.



"Such erosion can lead to a lifetime of compromised dental health that may require complex and extensive rehabilitation - but it is also preventable with minimal intervention," Dr Ranjitkar says.



Speaking during the Australian Dental Association's Dental Health Week (4-10 August), Dr Ranjitkar says the number of cases of tooth erosion from the consumption of acidic beverages is on the rise in children and young adults.



"Often, children and adolescents grind their teeth at night, and they can have undiagnosed regurgitation or reflux, which brings with it acidity from the stomach. Combined with drinks high in acidity, this creates a triple threat to young people's teeth which can cause long-term damage to teeth," he says.



Dr Ranjitkar says parents should minimise consumption of any kind of soft drinks, sports drink, fruit juice or acidic foods to their children.



"Our research has shown that permanent damage to the tooth enamel will occur within the first 30 seconds of high acidity coming into contact with the teeth. This is an important finding and it suggests that such drinks are best avoided.



"If high acidity drinks are consumed, it is not simply a matter of having a child clean their teeth an hour or 30 minutes later and hoping they'll be okay - the damage is already done," he says.



Dr Ranjitkar suggests children consume fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. "Although fresh fruit is naturally acidic, it is a healthier option to fruit juice, which can have additional food acids in it. The important thing to appreciate is that there is a balance between acids and host protection in a healthy mouth. Once that balance is shifted in favour of the acids, regardless of the type of acid, teeth become damaged," he says.



Source: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news72162.html



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Tooth plaque provides unique insights into our prehistoric ancestors' diet

An international team of researchers has found new evidence that our prehistoric ancestors had a detailed understanding of plants long before the development of agriculture. By extracting chemical compounds and microfossils from dental calculus (calcified dental plaque) from ancient teeth, the researchers were able to provide an entirely new perspective on our ancestors' diets. Their research suggests that purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus) -- today regarded as a nuisance weed -- formed an important part of the prehistoric diet.




An international team of researchers has found new evidence that our prehistoric ancestors had a detailed understanding of plants long before the development of agriculture.



By extracting chemical compounds and microfossils from dental calculus (calcified dental plaque) from ancient teeth, the researchers were able to provide an entirely new perspective on our ancestors' diets. Their research suggests that purple nut sedge (Cyperus rotundus) -- today regarded as a nuisance weed -- formed an important part of the prehistoric diet.

Crucially, the research, published in PLOS ONE and led by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the University of York, suggests that prehistoric people living in Central Sudan may have understood both the nutritional and medicinal qualities of this and other plants.

The research was carried out at Al Khiday, a pre-historic site on the White Nile in Central Sudan. It demonstrates that for at least 7,000 years, beginning before the development of agriculture and continuing after agricultural plants were also available the people of Al Khiday ate the plant purple nut sedge. The plant is a good source of carbohydrates and has many useful medicinal and aromatic qualities.

Lead author Karen Hardy, a Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) Research Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and an Honorary Research Associate at the University of York, said: "Purple nut sedge is today considered to be a scourge in tropical and sub-tropical regions and has been called the world's most expensive weed due to the difficulties and high costs of eradication from agricultural areas. By extracting material from samples of ancient dental calculus we have found that rather than being a nuisance in the past, its value as a food, and possibly its abundant medicinal qualities were known. More recently, it was also used by the ancient Egyptians as perfume and as medicine.

"We also discovered that these people ate several other plants and we found traces of smoke, evidence for cooking, and for chewing plant fibres to prepare raw materials. These small biographical details add to the growing evidence that prehistoric people had a detailed understanding of plants long before the development of agriculture."

Al Khiday is a complex of five archaeological sites which lie 25km south of Omdurman; one of the sites is predominantly a burial ground of pre-Mesolithic, Neolithic and Later Meroitic age. As a multi-period cemetery, it gave the researchers a useful long-term perspective on the material recovered.

The researchers found ingestion of the purple nut sedge in both pre-agricultural and agricultural periods. They suggest that the plant's ability to inhibit Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium which contributes to tooth decay, may have contributed to the unexpectedly low level of cavaties found in the agricultural population.

Dr Stephen Buckley, a Research Fellow at the University of York's BioArCh research facility, conducted the chemical analyses. He said: "The evidence for purple nut sedge was very clear in samples from all the time periods we looked at. This plant was evidently important to the people of Al Khiday, even after agricultural plants had been introduced."

Dr Donatella Usai, from the Instituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente in Rome led the excavation and Dr Tina Jakob from Durham University's Department of Archaeology, performed the analysis of the human remains at Al Khiday. Anita Radini, an Archaeobotanist at the University of Leicester Archaeological Service (ULAS) and a PhD candidate at BioArCh, University of York, contributed to the analysis of microfossils found in the dental calculus samples.

Dr Usai said: "Al Khiday is a unique site in the Nile valley, where a large population lived for many thousands of years. This study demonstrates that they made good use of the locally available wild plant as food, as raw materials, and possibly even as medicine."

Dr Hardy added: "The development of studies on chemical compounds and microfossils extracted from dental calculus will help to counterbalance the dominant focus on meat and protein that has been a feature of pre-agricultural dietary interpretation, up until now. The new access to plants ingested, which is provided by dental calculus analysis, will increase, if not revolutionise, the perception of ecological knowledge and use of plants among earlier prehistoric and pre-agrarian populations."

Fieldwork was funded by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente, Centro Studi Sudanesi e Sub-Sahariani, and the Universities of Milano, Padova and Parma. The research was endorsed by the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums (NCAM) of Sudan.



Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140716141047.htm



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