CONSUMPTION OF SOME BOTTLED-WATER BEVERAGES PROMOTE DECAY, SENSITIVITY, AND OTHER CONCERNS.

Low levels of pH can contribute to several dental concerns, including erosion of enamel. Additives to water can affect the pH of the product, resulting in problems with continuous use. Soda and sports drinks, such as Gatorade, have an acidic effect. Bottled water and beer have pH levels around 4.0, which is still acidic in nature. Tap water has a relatively balanced pH and normally does not create erosion. It is , thus, undeniable that bottled water drinks promote tooth decay, erosion of enamel, and sensitive teeth. It is the acidity of these products that contribute to corrosion most; sugars such as sucrose and fructose are converted to acid intraorally. In other words, the bacteria normally found in our mouths consume the sugar for energy and create acid as a byproduct.

Dehydration can be a significant health concern for adults and children, and getting proper hydration is best achieved by drinking clean water.

It is best that we enjoy our beverages in moderation and understand that additives may affect our and overall health.

Reference: “Drink Additives and Oral Health” by T. Kosinski DDS, MAGD, Academy of General Dentistry, IMPACT, July 2016

When no natural teeth are present to support or retain a fixed bridge, several dental implants can be used to permanently support a bridge of three or more teeth. After the implants are placed in the jaw sufficient healing time is needed to assure that the implants are fused with or integrated with the bone. Without this “integration” the implants would not be able to withstand the biting forces that we place on teeth. The replacement teeth are made of metal or porcelain or a combination of metal and porcelain. The finished bridge can be cemented to or screwed to the implants. The bridge in the photos below is made of porcelain and metal and is screwed to the two implants. The holes for the screws have been covered by a tooth colored filling material.

With an increasing number of people trying to avoid sugary foods and drinks in order to maintain good oral health and overall health, natural sugar substitutes have become more widely available. One such natural sweetener, XYLITOL, is added to food and drinks, as well as toothpastes and mouthrinses.
Clinical studies have shown that chewing GUM WITH XYLITOL for 20 minutes following meals can help PREVENT TOOTH DECAY. The chewing of sugarless gum increases the flow of SALIVA which washes away food debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and provides disease-fighting substances throughout the mouth. Increased saliva flow also carries with it more calcium and phosphate to help strengthen tooth enamel. Click on the link below to read more about XYLITOL.

FS_Xylitol

A full denture can be retained or supported by two or four dental implants and feel very natural and secure. Denture adhesive is not necessary and the denture can be removed easily for daily cleaning. Most times it is unnecessary to cover the roof of the mouth so the feel is more natural. The surgeon places the implants and after the required healing period the restoring dentist makes the denture to fit over the implants. During the implant healing period your regular denture can be worn over the implants. The final result is a secure, comfortable denture that can be removed by the patient as needed for daily cleaning. Below is an example of one style of implants and denture.

Marijuana or Cannabis or Tetrahydocannabinal (THC). It is now legal in 23 states plus the District of Columbia for medicinal use. For recreational use it is legal in Oregon, Colorado, Alaska, Washington and the District of Columbia. For recreational use smoking inhalation produces a euphoric effect or “high”. The medicinal use is as an appetite stimulant, vomiting and nausea inhibition and pain relief for many illnesses such as cancer and AIDS.

Cannabis contains over 500 different chemicals, most notable is a unique group of compounds called CANNABINOIDS. These compounds react with specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. These naturally occurring receptors play a role in pain, memory, mood, appetite control and brain growth. THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. Smoking the dried leaves produces a pleasant, dreamy state in which attention, cognition and psycho-motor performance are impaired.

There is evidence to show that THC is involved in brain damage and cardiovascular disease and therefore cannot be considered a “safe” drug. There are THC receptors in our immune cells and tissues which when activated affect our body’s inflammatory response and mechanisms of immunity. The drug Naloxone is used to reverse the effects of opiate overdose in morphine and heroin addicts. Naloxone has been shown to reverse the effects of THC, suggesting a link between opiates and THC. Even though marijuana is safer than cocaine, heroin and other abused narcotics, there is evidence that show that chronic use of THC causes brain damage. This brain damage is manifested by attention and memory impairment and a decreased ability to process complex information. This could be especially damaging during adolescence when the brain is still developing.

Marijuana has also been associated with adverse cardiovascular effects including myocardial infarction (heart attack), cardiomyopathy, and sudden cardiac death. The effects of THC on our immune system suggest that there may be a therapeutic benefit: protection against the damage caused by acute and chronic inflammation. These inflammatory diseases include multiple sclerosis, arthritis, lupus and periodontal disease.

As with tobacco, cannabis smoking can cause dry mouth or xerostomia. Dry mouth can produce an oral environment that leads to tooth decay, periodontal disease and bad breath. Smoke from cannabis and tobacco are similar and contain many of the same carcinogens or cancer-causing agents. The research evidence regarding the link between oral cancer and marijuana smoking is unclear and often conflicting and requires further investigation.

For the complete article, “What every dentist needs to know about cannabis”, see General Dentistry, January/February 2016

This can be a real emergency, but not a painful one, when the porcelain on a Bridge breaks or chips off. The brittle outer layer of a porcelain/metal Bridge can fracture exposing the metal underneath. This is as nasty looking as a missing front tooth. Porcelain covering the metal sub-structure can break off due to the forces of chewing or teeth grinding or from some facial trauma. What do you do now ?…contact our office because there is no drug store fix for this. “White-Out” is not recommended. It is impossible to replace the porcelain unless the Bridge can be removed. If the Bridge is retained by implants it may be possible to unscrew the bridge and then repair it. If it is a conventional Bridge cemented to natural teeth it usually has to be cut off from the retaining teeth and usually cannot be re-cemented but must be remade from scratch. This is a time consuming and expensive option. In some cases the Bridge can be repaired by using a special bonding technique that allows addition of tooth colored composite resin where the porcelain broke off.

Below are photos of a Fixed Bridge that was repaired with composite resin and Dr.Buscaglia’s artistic touch.

A Veneer is a thin covering of porcelain or composite resin placed over the front teeth that show when you smile.
Dental Veneers can:
* lighten front teeth that cannot be whitened by bleaching
* correct a chipped or worn tooth
* fill in uneven spaces or a large gap between teeth
* correct slightly misaligned teeth
Read more to learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each type of Dental Veneer.

The most common cause of Dry Mouth is medication related side effect. Many commonly used medications, both prescription and over the counter drugs, can decrease saliva flow. This reduced saliva flow robs the mouth of moisture essential for reducing and buffering decay causing acids, for aiding swallowing and for beginning the food digestion process. Read more about Dry Mouth and what you can do to ease its effects.

FS_DryMouthX

Bad Breath (Halitosis) and Mouth Sores (cold sore, canker sore, apthous ulcer) are the most common oral complaints. Although they are not true emergencies, they are emergencies if they are affecting your daily life. Click on these topics to find out more about these two common emergencies.

FS_Halitosis
FS_MouthSores

February is Children’s Dental Health Month so I have compiled some articles about caring for your child’s teeth. Some helpful websites on this topic are wwww.KNOWYOURTEETH.com and www.2MIN2X.org and www.MOUTHHEALTHY.ORG
FS_ChildrenAndToothDecay_Apr13

FS_BabysOralHealth_Oct12

FS_ChildsFirstDentalVisit_Nov12

FS_Nutrition_Children

FS_Pacifiers_May11

FS_SportsDentistry

TeensFS

FS_Pregnancy