Cavity Prevention – Page 5 – Latest News from Children's Dental Specialties

Yogurt and Your Teeth.

Posted on July 18, 2013March 18, 2021

Yogurt is a dental super food. Yogurt is more popular than ever as a healthy choice for those seeking to supplement their diet with a food that will help their overall health. Several respected studies over the last few years have continuously shown that yogurt has benefits far beyond digestive health. Here are a few of the exciting ways that yogurt can help keep you smiling:

Yogurt helps gums.

A Japanese study of 1,000 adults revealed that the healthiest gums were found in those that ate the most yogurt. Probiotics, the “good bacteria” found in yogurt are the possible reason as these active cultures may help to slow the growth of cavity causing bacteria. Healthy gums are essential to your overall health because gum disease can put you at an increased risk for a wide range of complications including heart disease.

Yogurt strengthens teeth.

Yogurt is high in calcium which helps to keep your teeth strong. Calcium works by maintaining the density of your skeletal bones through years of deposit while your body is growing the most. For this reason, children especially benefit from the calcium found in yogurt. Once permanent teeth appear, calcium continues to help prevent tooth decay by keeping enamel strong.

Yogurt fights bad breath.

Researchers have discovered that eating six ounces of yogurt each day greatly reduces the bad breath causing compounds like hydrogen sulfide. It turns out that the probiotics found in yogurt help to keep “smelly” bacteria in check.

Yogurt makes your mouth less acidic.

Cavity-causing bacteria love an acidic mouth. Yogurt counters this by balancing your mouth’s PH levels and creating a less hospitable place for bacteria to thrive.

The best yogurt for your dental health is plain and sugar free. Greek yogurts are an even better option because they often contain the highest amount of probiotics. If you or your children crave a sweet addition to your yogurt, you might sparingly choose a small amount of fresh fruit or a natural sweetener

Do I Really Need X-Rays?

Posted on June 20, 2013March 18, 2021

We often hear from patients concerned about the exposure to radiation from dental radiographs, or x-rays. Naturally, they want to limit anything that may present a health risk to themselves or their children. New technology, however, means that the amount of radiation received from dental x-rays is extremely limited. The minimal exposure from a focused x-ray beam is certainly safer than risking an oral problem that may go unnoticed otherwise. In fact, in some cases, a dental x-ray may even save your life.

Dental x-rays are beneficial because they can detect more than just cavities. Radiographs are often able to detect existing problems, but also help prevent developing and future issues that are invisible to the naked eye.

For adults, dental x-rays can reveal hidden decay in between teeth or under an existing filing. By looking at the structures of the mouth, x-rays can show bone loss that is associated with gum disease, abscesses, cysts and even some tumors.

In children, x-rays are used to monitor tooth decay as well as look at how permanent teeth are developing. We look for potential issues, checking teeth and their roots along with jaw placement and facial structure. Wisdom teeth are also watched by using to make sure they aren’t becoming impacted.

The benefits of dental x-rays sharply outweighs any potential health risk. Today’s equipment, along with standard precautions, make radiographs for you and your family safe and valuable.

Soda vs. Teeth

Posted on June 6, 2013March 18, 2021

Good news for teeth: Soda consumption in the U.S. is falling. For the eighth-straight year soda consumption has decreased to its lowest level since 1987. Many school districts have banned sugary carbonated beverages from their cafeterias. Well-known politicians have attempted to limit access to large quantities of soda, and even the national “Let’s Move” campaign is urging kids to drink water instead of soda.

But there’s still a lot of soda being consumed, especially by kids. Estimates have shown that one in five children consumes as many as four servings of soda every day. Many teens drink as many as twelve soft drinks a day!

Soda is not only bad for your body, being a major contributor to obesity, but it’s incredibly damaging to your teeth because its war on them hits in two major fronts: acidity and sugar. You may have seen the popular science experiment where an egg is placed in soda and left overnight. Not only will the egg be permanently stained, but if left long enough the acid in the soda will completely dissolve the shell. Just like in the experiment, every time you drink soda it bathes your teeth in acid that eats away the hard enamel protecting your teeth.

This is where the second attack occurs. Soda is extremely high in sugar, containing more than 4 tablespoons in a 20 ounce bottle. Sugar feeds the bacteria that cause cavities. Teeth that are already softened by a constant washing of highly acidic soda are further damaged by this increase in bacteria.

The good news is that it’s never too late to make healthier choices. Replacing soda with water is not only better for your teeth, but also better for your overall health. You can also help reduce the effects of the occasional soda by rinsing with water after consumption and using fluoride toothpaste. Don’t forget to brush two minutes, two times each day and make sure that you are up to date on your dental appointments!