A game you can win!
It's no mystery that sugar resides in treats like candies, pastries, and soft drinks, but you know that it's also hiding in foods like breads, dressings, and lunch meats?
Most processed foods contain hidden sugar. Check the labels on chip bags, cracker boxes, and even low-fat packaged foods, and if an ingredient ends in "ose" (e.g. dextrose) or if the word "syrup" appears (e.g. corn syrup), it's sugar.
Without proper oral care, sugar can lead to cavities and gum disease, and a high intake can cause obesity and an increased risk for heart disease and type-2 diabetes. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends a maximum of just 6-9 teaspoons of sugar a day - about the amount in one can of soda!
We can't avoid sugar altogether, but armed with knowledge and willpower, we can reduce our intake for the sake of our mouth and our health!
Taken from our Winter 2013/2014 Newsletter! http://www.patientnews.com/clientpdf?&cid=8131&oid=86257 #chambersburgdentist #chambersburgdentalcare
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Protect yourself against Alzheimer's
Flossing may protect you from Alzheimer's says a British study that found bacteria from gum disease in brain samples of some people who died from the disease. So while you are sampling your holiday treats, remember you dentist's advice: Brushing is not enough. You should floss at least once a day.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
What are you putting in your mouth?
Take medicines for example. Many drugs, both over-the-counter and prescription, contain sugar, especially cough syrups and lozenges. Even vitamins and antibiotic syrups can hide anywhere from 10-75% sugar. That's plenty enough to cause decay.
Ever wonder why breath mints taste so good? Unless they say sugar-free, half of what you are sucking on may be sugar. Antacid tablets are another guilty sweet. They range from 10-50% sugar. You might as well have some candy.
That's not all. Sugar isn't always called sugar. Many products contain sweets sugar-coated in exotic sounding names. Check labels for words like turbinado, invert sugar, coupling sugar, sorghum and cane syrup, corn syrup, fructose, glucose, galactose and lactose, honey, and raw or brown sugar. They're all really the same thing ... sugar!
If you're serious about eliminating dental disease from your life, you're going to have to rely on more than your sweet tooth to avoid sugars. Read food labels carefully. You may even want to pack a magnifying glass so you can make out the small print. If you do eat anything that contains sugar, rinse your mouth immediately and brush as soon as possible.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
5 Most Common Oral Complaints
Some of the most commonplace mouth problems can be prevented with proper home care and regular checkups. And the good news is that they're all treatable!
1. BAD BREATH: Don't blame strong foods. Poor oral health is the major cause of chronic halitosis, and it can be a warning sign of gum disease, so if you have bad breath, we should take a look.
2. TOOTH DECAY: Placque bacteria produce acids that attack tooth enamel, and if not removed from teeth through thorough brushing and flossing, cavities will form. We can fill cavities, but they can severely compromise teeth, the only part of the body that cannot heal itself.
3. CANKER SORES: Their cause is unknown, but stress, diet, and weakened immunity can all play a part. If they persist, visit us as they can warn of other oral and overall health issues.
4. GUM DISEASE: Gingivitis is often caused by poor oral hygiene, and if left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis. If you have red, swollen, or bleeding gums, bad breath, mouth infections, or loose teeth, see us immediately. Gum disease is treatable and sometimes it's even reversible!
5. RECEDING GUMS OR A GUMMY SMILE: Gum sculpting can fix a gummy smile, but if your gums are receding, you may have periodontitis. We can help stop further damage and make reparations.
If you have oral health concerns, don't wait for them to escalate. Come and see us!
This was taken from our Spring 2013 Newsletter!
To see the full newsletter visit --- http://www.patientnews.com/clientpdf/8131-78069.pdf
1. BAD BREATH: Don't blame strong foods. Poor oral health is the major cause of chronic halitosis, and it can be a warning sign of gum disease, so if you have bad breath, we should take a look.
2. TOOTH DECAY: Placque bacteria produce acids that attack tooth enamel, and if not removed from teeth through thorough brushing and flossing, cavities will form. We can fill cavities, but they can severely compromise teeth, the only part of the body that cannot heal itself.
3. CANKER SORES: Their cause is unknown, but stress, diet, and weakened immunity can all play a part. If they persist, visit us as they can warn of other oral and overall health issues.
4. GUM DISEASE: Gingivitis is often caused by poor oral hygiene, and if left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis. If you have red, swollen, or bleeding gums, bad breath, mouth infections, or loose teeth, see us immediately. Gum disease is treatable and sometimes it's even reversible!
5. RECEDING GUMS OR A GUMMY SMILE: Gum sculpting can fix a gummy smile, but if your gums are receding, you may have periodontitis. We can help stop further damage and make reparations.
If you have oral health concerns, don't wait for them to escalate. Come and see us!
This was taken from our Spring 2013 Newsletter!
To see the full newsletter visit --- http://www.patientnews.com/clientpdf/8131-78069.pdf
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Foods that stain your teeth!
Tea and Your Teeth
Sauces May Stain Teeth
Sports Drinks and Staining
Wine and White Teeth
Tooth Stains and Berries
Soda, Cola and Other Carbonated Drinks
Candy, Sweets, and White Teeth
Minimize Staining:
Use a Straw to Fight Stains
Swallow Swiftly
Rinse -- then Brush -- After Eating
Although tea has a reputation as a healthy beverage, it may not be the best choice when it comes to keeping your teeth white. Dentists say tea -- especially the basic black variety -- can cause more stains than coffee. However, recent studies have found that even herbal teas and white teas have the potential to erode enamel and cause tooth staining.
Sauces May Stain Teeth
They may be delicious, but deeply-colored sauces -- like soy sauce, tomato sauce, and curry sauce -- are also believed to have significant tooth-staining potential. Consider lighter cream sauces for less damaging options and rinse or brush soon after eating to reduce the potential for teeth stains
Sports Drinks and Staining
Acidic foods and drinks can also lead to tooth discoloration. Recent research finds that highly acidic drinks -- like sports or energy drinks -- can erode tooth enamel, setting the stage for staining. When exercising, limit the intake of these drinks. Water may be a better choice -- at least for your teeth.
Wine and White Teeth
If a food or drink can stain a tablecloth, it has the potential to stain your teeth. Red wine, an acidic drink with intensely pigmented molecules called tannins and chromogens, is notorious for tooth discoloration. White wine is even more acidic and can lead to stains, too.
Tooth Stains and Berries
Intensely pigmented molecules stick to dental enamel. That's why blueberries, blackberries, cherries, pomegranates, and other vibrantly colored fruits can stain teeth. Juices and pies made from those fruits can also cause stains. Fruits with less pigmentation -- like white grapes and white cranberries -- are less likely to stain teeth. But these acidic substances can still harm enamel, so be sure to brush and floss.
Soda, Cola and Other Carbonated Drinks
The acid and chromogens in these drinks can lead to serious staining of your teeth. Even light-colored sodas contain enough acid that they can encourage staining by other foods and drinks. The acidity in some carbonated drinks is so intense that it actually compares to the acidity in battery acid. Many of these beverages contain flavored additives that add to their erosive effects
Candy, Sweets, and White Teeth
If your favorite sweet -- like hard candy, chewing gum, or popsicles -- makes your tongue change colors, it may contain teeth-staining coloring agents. Fortunately, unless you eat those goodies often they probably won't do much to stain your teeth.
Minimize Staining:
Cut BackYou may not want to cut all teeth-staining food and drinks out of your diet. Many of those foods and beverages -- like blueberries, blackberries, and tomato sauce -- are rich in antioxidants. You want these beneficial nutrients in your diet. So keep eating them -- but in moderation -- or substitute other antioxidant sources such as cauliflower, apples, grapefruit, and melon.
Use a Straw to Fight Stains
Try using a straw to sip your favorite drinks -- like sodas, juices, and iced tea. This should keep teeth-staining drinks away from your front teeth and reduce your risk of unsightly stains.
Swallow Swiftly
Don't let stain-causing foods and drinks linger in your mouth for long. Instead, swallow them quickly to help protect your teeth from stains. To avoid choking, it's still important to chew your food well before swallowing and be sure not to gulp.
Rinse -- then Brush -- After Eating
Swish your mouth with water right after eating a stain-causing food or drink. For about 30 minutes after you consume something acidic, the enamel on your teeth is especially at risk of abrasion from tooth brushing. So rinse, then brush well after every meal. If you can't get to your toothbrush, chew a piece of sugarless gum as soon as you've eaten.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
10 Wild & Crazy Dental Facts
Did you know...
1) The average human produces 25,000 quarts of saliva in a lifetime. That is enough spit to fill 2 swimming pools!
2) You are should not keep your toothbrush near a toilet. The airborne particles from the flush can travel up to a distance of 6 feet. Yuck!
3) People who drink 3 or more glasses of soda each day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings and tooth loss than others. Put down the pop and sports drinks and pick up some nice fresh water instead.
4) In 1994, a prison inmate in West Virginia braided dental floss into a rope, scaled the wall and escaped. (We suggest that you use floss to clean between your teeth instead of climbing prison walls! If you don’t you are missing around 35% of your teeth’s surfaces.)
5) You should replace your toothbrush at least every three months, and always after you have an episode of flu, cold or other viral infections. Notorious bacteria can implant themselves on the toothbrush bristles leading to re-infection.
6) Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. However, we do not recommend that you use your pearly whites to open bottle caps!
7) The standard advice to “see your dentist twice a year” was actually invented by an ad agency for Pepsodent toothpaste! Your dental professional should recommend the correct schedule for your regular dental visits.
8) A recent poll has shown that health professionals (physicians, dentists and nurses) were among the most trusted people in The United States. The least trusted? Lobbyists and congressmen of course!
9) According to a recent survey done by Time Magazine, 59% of Americans would rather have a dental appointment than be sitting next to someone talking on a cell phone. Maybe some of us should take a hint!
10) Over three out of four people in the United States suffer from some form of gum disease. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in people over age 35. The good news is, in most cases gum disease can be prevented or controlled!
2) You are should not keep your toothbrush near a toilet. The airborne particles from the flush can travel up to a distance of 6 feet. Yuck!
3) People who drink 3 or more glasses of soda each day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings and tooth loss than others. Put down the pop and sports drinks and pick up some nice fresh water instead.
4) In 1994, a prison inmate in West Virginia braided dental floss into a rope, scaled the wall and escaped. (We suggest that you use floss to clean between your teeth instead of climbing prison walls! If you don’t you are missing around 35% of your teeth’s surfaces.)
5) You should replace your toothbrush at least every three months, and always after you have an episode of flu, cold or other viral infections. Notorious bacteria can implant themselves on the toothbrush bristles leading to re-infection.
6) Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. However, we do not recommend that you use your pearly whites to open bottle caps!
7) The standard advice to “see your dentist twice a year” was actually invented by an ad agency for Pepsodent toothpaste! Your dental professional should recommend the correct schedule for your regular dental visits.
8) A recent poll has shown that health professionals (physicians, dentists and nurses) were among the most trusted people in The United States. The least trusted? Lobbyists and congressmen of course!
9) According to a recent survey done by Time Magazine, 59% of Americans would rather have a dental appointment than be sitting next to someone talking on a cell phone. Maybe some of us should take a hint!
10) Over three out of four people in the United States suffer from some form of gum disease. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in people over age 35. The good news is, in most cases gum disease can be prevented or controlled!
Hope you enjoyed!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
LEMON AID
A word to the wise...
You'd think that acidic food would digest meals faster, but weirdly the opposite is true. Citric acid in lemons, for example, slows down gastric emptying, holding food in your stomach longer so you feel full longer and avoid snacking.
That's great if you're watching your weight! Lemon juice tastes terrific on poultry, fish, or salads when combined with oil and herbs for salad dressing. But just a note - you can get too much of a good thing. Lemons, like many foods that contain acids naturally, can cause enamel erosion if consumed excessively.
Still, go ahead and release your inner gourmand! Wise choices and a little moderation will let you enjoy great meals, your best weight, and a fabulous smile!
Taken from our Fall 2012 Newsletter! Check it out for more information!
You'd think that acidic food would digest meals faster, but weirdly the opposite is true. Citric acid in lemons, for example, slows down gastric emptying, holding food in your stomach longer so you feel full longer and avoid snacking.
That's great if you're watching your weight! Lemon juice tastes terrific on poultry, fish, or salads when combined with oil and herbs for salad dressing. But just a note - you can get too much of a good thing. Lemons, like many foods that contain acids naturally, can cause enamel erosion if consumed excessively.
Still, go ahead and release your inner gourmand! Wise choices and a little moderation will let you enjoy great meals, your best weight, and a fabulous smile!
Taken from our Fall 2012 Newsletter! Check it out for more information!
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