Category: Kara’s Corner

Maybe it’s because we’ve always gone to the doctor and dentist separately, but many people think of oral hygiene and overall health as separate concerns. While I understand the reason for this misconception, it’s important to remember that your mouth and teeth are parts of your body and just as connected to your systemic health as anything else. In recent years, an increasing body of research has demonstrated just how important solid oral care is to your overall wellness.

Much work has been done exploring the link between oral health and two major diseases: diabetes and heart disease. Diabetes and gum disease have a reciprocal relationship. According to WebMD, “people with poor blood sugar control get gum disease more often and mo re severely, and they lose more teeth.” On the flip side, periodontal issues like gum disease can cause glucose spikes, which presents a serious issue for patients with diabetes.

The studies involving heart disease are just as revealing. The bacteria that causes gum disease travels through your blood stream, where it comes in contact with your heart and circulatory system. During heart surgeries, doctors have found the same species of bacteria in clogged arteries that are common in gum diseases. Needless to say, those pesky organisms in your mouth can end up affecting your entire body.

The connection between oral hygiene and your health is why it’s so important for us to know about any conditions you have or medications you take. We want you to have a beautiful smile, but it’s just as important to promote a healthy environment in your mouth. It’s not just a cosmetic issue; it’s a part of your overall wellness.

Your dentist and doctor may be in separate offices, but the work they do is intertwined. Or to put it another way, you can’t get a full picture of your health without taking a look inside your mouth.

For whatever reason, summer is the season when we receive the most questions about whitening options. As the number of methods and tools to whiten teeth has increased, it’s become harder for patients to decide which treatment is right for them. Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide a little insight on how whitening works and how you can get safe, longlasting results.

Despite the dozens of whitening products available on store shelves and online, there are really only two fundamental ways to treat stains. The first is to treat surface level stains with over-the-counter whitening strips or toothpaste. While these methods are less intensive than other treatments, you still need to be mindful of using them correctly to avoid damaging your enamel. Whitening toothpastes, including the increasingly popular charcoal options, contain microabrasives. Too much exposure to these compounds can wear down tooth enamel, so it’s important to use them only as directed. A whitening toothpaste shouldn’t be used for every brushing session.

The second way to whiten is from the inside out. It’s more comprehensive and longer-lasting than surface-level treatments. At Eagle Dental Care, we can create custom trays for you to use during your whitening program. We’ll also provide instructions on how to get the best results from your treatment.

Many patients experience sensitivity during and after whitening treatments. Brushing with fluoridated toothpaste is a great way to limit the intensity and duration of any sensitivity. We recommend you use it during your whitening, no matter which method you choose.

Of course, preventing stains is crucial when you’ve just completed a whitening program. Dark beverages like coffee, tea, and red wine are often the major culprits for stains. Limiting your consumption of these drinks or enjoying them through a straw is a great way to keep your smile sparkling.

Here’s to a bright, shiny summer.

Patients with young children always ask about fluoride. There’s a lot of misinformation about fluoride out there, leading some people to think it does more harm than good. I’m here to dispel those rumors and show you that fluoride is a crucial part of anyone’s dental hygiene routine.

Cavities occur when tooth enamel breaks down — called demineralization — causing decay. Fluoride helps prevent cavity formation in three major ways. First, fluoride actively halts demineralization, keeping your enamel healthy and strong. Second, when demineralization does occur, fluoride can help remineralize teeth, restoring them to their ideal condition. Finally, fluoride inhibits bacterial growth, eliminating nasty compounds that can lead to tooth decay.

Many cities fluoridate their drinking water because it’s so beneficial to oral health. To find out if your community is one of them, you can go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “My Water’s Fluoride” website and search by state and county. Whether or not your drinking water contains fluoride, it’s a good idea for children to begin using fluoride toothpaste as soon as they have teeth.

For little ones under 2 years of age, you should only use a smear the size of a grain of rice. Children between 2 and 5 can upgrade to a pea-sized dollop. If your kids love the flavor of their toothpaste, it’s a good idea to keep it in a place they can’t reach. Too much fluoride, while not dangerous in the long term, can cause an upset stomach.

Plenty of adults can benefit from fluoride as well. Those with increased sensitivity and exposed roots will find fluoride helpful in lessening pain. Patients who take medications that cause dry mouth should also use fluoride to fight the bacteria that saliva naturally combats.

I swear by my electric toothbrush, and I always recommend that patients switch from manual to electric. Many people balk at the idea of spending more than a couple of bucks on a toothbrush, but the increased upfront cost ends up paying for itself.

Basically, the only significant investment is in the system itself. You just need one or two bases for your whole family, because everyone can swap out the heads easily. Replacement heads are inexpensive, especially when they go on sale on Amazon. I can’t remember the last time I paid standard retail price for a set. Not to mention, the increased effectiveness of electric toothbrushes could end up saving you money on dental care.

Why do electric toothbrushes work better than their manual counterparts? The motion and speed created by a motor can’t be replicated by human hands, making the time spent brushing more productive. Most electric models also come equipped with timers that ensure you spend adequate time brushing. Sometimes, they’ll even have alerts every 30 seconds to let you know it’s time to switch to a different region of your mouth.

Electric brushes are a great option for everybody, but there are certain groups of people for whom they can be particularly beneficial. If you tend to develop plaque at a faster-than-average rate, an electric brush will help keep buildup at bay. For folks with arthritis and other conditions that limit dexterity, electric models also decrease the discomfort that can come from manual brushing. Those with braces and other orthodontic devices will discover that electric brushes are much better at clearing away hard-to-reach food stuck between wires. Finally, those of you who are naturally hard brushers — the type of people who fray a toothbrush in a month — will find that an electric model will decrease tissue damage associated with over-enthusiastic brushing.

For all of these reasons, it’s a great decision to go electric. You probably don’t use a flip phone anymore, so why use outmoded technology on your teeth?

Regular brushing with proper technique is the foundation of great oral health, but you shouldn’t discount the importance of toothbrush care. A musician would never take the stage with an out-of-tune trumpet, but many people try to clean their teeth with a toothbrush that’s in rough shape. Don’t let a broken instrument hamper your oral care. Here are a few tips for toothbrush maintenance.

Buy a good toothbrush. There are dozens of toothbrushes on the shelf of your local pharmacy, but they’re not all created equal. Look for soft bristles and a head size that will fit your mouth comfortably. Even better, ask your dentist or hygienist to recommend a brand or model.

When it comes to storing your toothbrush, limiting possible exposure to bacteria should be your primary concern. After brushing, thoroughly rinse your entire toothbrush (not just the head) under warm water to wash away any lingering plaque. Store your toothbrush upright so the bristles don’t come into contact with any surfaces. If you have multiple brushes in one location, make sure the heads do not touch. If you’re traveling, avoid airtight covers, as they tend to trap germs. It’s much better to buy a cheap toothbrush for your trip and throw it out when you head back home.

Toothbrushes should be replaced as soon as the bristles begin to fray, which should be about once every three months. If you find that they are fraying much earlier than that, it probably means you are brushing too vigorously.

Taking the time to maintain and replace your toothbrush can provide significant benefits for your oral care. After all, the best brushes create the best smiles, and that’s what we all want.

I’m guessing you’re probably thinking about your New Year’s resolutions right now. As you finalize your list of goals for the year, may I humbly suggest devoting one to doing something that can dramatically improve your oral health? You might assume I’m going to tell you to cut out sugar, but what I have in mind isn’t that drastic. Instead, it’s a simple, long-standing part of oral care that too many people ignore: flossing.

Brushing without flossing is like washing your hands without scrubbing between your fingers. Even the most high-tech, expensive toothbrushes will not dislodge all of the plaque and bacteria from between your teeth.

Flossing helps prevent bad breath and gum disease. Given that gum disease has been linked to conditions ranging from heart disease to diabetes, resolving to floss will benefit your overall health.

Now that you know just how important flossing is, how can you make sure you do it regularly? To start, put floss in a readily available location. If you watch TV before bed, put some floss on your nightstand or next to the couch. You can also stick a few floss picks in your purse, so you have them in a pinch. Another great tactic is to stick a Post-it note on your bathroom mirror that reads, “FLOSS!”

If you’re not a regular flosser, try to begin by flossing at least two or three times per week. From there, work your way up until you’re flossing once daily. Flossing after every brushing session is awesome, but once-daily flossing is enough to prevent the build up of nasty substances between your teeth.

There’s no specific type or brand of floss that works best. Decide which you are most likely to use and go with that. Flossing may not be a dramatic resolution, but it can make a big difference when it comes to your oral health.

If there’s one long-held truism when it comes to foods that harm your health, it’s that sweetness is usually cause for concern. The bacteria in your mouth eat sugar, then create acids that eat away at your enamel. Even when sugar is replaced by artificial sweeteners, you don’t eliminate the risk for decay. Artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose are highly acidic, which accelerates the rate of decay.

Recently, however, new natural sweeteners have arrived on the market that provide great flavor without posing a risk to your oral health. Chief among them is xylitol. This natural sweetener, derived from the fibrous parts of plants, doesn’t break down like sugar, because bacteria cannot digest it. It also benefits from having a neutral pH (it’s neither acidic nor basic), protecting your teeth from decay and sustaining a healthy environment in your mouth. As an added bonus, xylitol stimulates saliva production. Saliva is your body’s natural defense against decay, and more of it is never a bad thing.

Where can you find this magic sweetener? Sugar-free gum is often the most common place. If you’re shopping for gum, take a second to check ingredients. Xylitol should be one of the first listed on the package. When you opt for gum with xylitol, you actually benefit from having three to five pieces per day. It’s hard to imagine a hygienist recommending you chew more gum, but that’s the case with xylitolbased gum.

You can also purchase xylitol in packets to sweeten everything from coffee to cookies. The sweetness is much more concentrated than in traditional sugar, so be careful how much you use. If you’re baking with xylitol, you’ll also need to look up recipes that account for how it differs from sugar. But you can still get delicious results!

This holiday season, try to include a little xylitol in your favorite treats. It may require a bit of tweaking to your traditional favorites, but your teeth will thank you.

The holidays are a time of festivity and cheer. For the youngest among us, that holiday spirit includes eating sweets. Given that your kids are probably holding on to some of their Halloween stash and anxiously awaiting candy cane season, I wanted to talk about sugar and oral health.

When it comes to sugar intake, what you eat is less important than how you consume it. Obviously, moderation is key. Kids should be able to enjoy their Halloween candy, but they should also be careful to not overindulge. Too much between-meal snacking is a cause for concern. If you have sweets after a meal, your mouth will have more saliva, allowing you to break down the sugar better. Sticky, chewy, and hard candies are often the worst for your teeth because they tend to get stuck in your mouth.

Candy isn’t the only problem food. Sweetened beverages do just as much, if not more, damage. At this point, everyone knows that soda is basically just a can of sugar water, but even diet sodas aren’t great for your teeth. Sports drinks and flavored water are also packed with sweeteners. Read the label before you fill the fridge with cavity-causing drinks.

On the other hand, there are some foods that actually promote oral health. Cheese, raw veggies, crunchy fruits, and nuts all have oral health benefits. They’re packed with nutrients and they can also help remove plaque and dislodge nasty substances from between your teeth. These foods, uncoincidentally, are all natural. The more processed the food is, the more likely it is to have elevated sugar levels.

With all this talk of food, I can’t help but think about my Thanksgiving favorites. Sure, turkey is delicious, but what I look forward to most is the stuffing. For as long as I can remember, it’s always been my favorite.

I hope everyone has a chance to eat their favorite foods this holiday season. Keep in mind, though, that too many sweets could create a sour situation for your teeth.