Most of us are familiar with fluoride and the dental benefits that go along with it, but you may not know about the positive attributes of xylitol. This naturally occurring substance can be found in many different fruits and vegetables. The only problem is that it’s very difficult to consume enough produce to reap the benefits provided by xylitol.

Several categories of dental patients are good candidates for xylitol, including the following:

• Older patients
• People who have a problem with dry mouth (often brought on by certain medications or breathing with your mouth open at night)
• Patients who have undergone chemotherapy treatments
• People suffering from acid reflux on a regular basis
• Patients who eat and drink a lot of acidic foods and beverages

All of these people are likely to have an acidic pH, and when pH is low tooth decay is more likely to form. Xylitol helps return pH balances to normal, as well as relieving the discomfort associated with dry mouth. Although there are many advantages of xylitol, too much of it can cause gastric upset, so you should be careful and avoid ingesting too much xylitol. It’s also important to remember that you should avoid giving xylitol to your pets, since this is one of many food products that may be harmful to the non-human members of your family.

Ask your dentist for more information about xylitol and whether it would be an appropriate choice for you and members of your family.

Source: http://www.dentistryiq.com/articles/2014/12/the-benefits-of-xylitol-for-your-dental-patients-are-numerous.html

In this day and age, when dental technology has come so far, you may be surprised to learn that cavities are still a persistent dental issue for children and adults alike. Simply put, a “cavity” is the term used for tooth decay, a condition that forms when plaque builds up and erodes the enamel of the tooth. Left untreated, cavities can lead to the more serious problem of gum disease. And gum disease, in turn, has been linked to such serious health problems as heart failure, strokes and even cancer. All of which makes it important to treat cavities once they form or, even better, to prevent them from developing in the first place.

Fortunately, following these simple steps can help you prevent your family from developing tooth decay:

• Make it a habit to always brush twice each day and to use a fluoride toothpaste when you do so.
• Make sure your diet is healthy. Eat plenty of nutritious foods, and limit snack foods that may encourage cavities to form – such as sugary sodas and candy.
• At least once a day, make it a point to floss between teeth. These are areas where food can get left behind, even with regular brushing, and that leftover food can form bacteria that can eventually lead to plaque buildup and cavities.
• If your drinking water doesn’t contain fluoride (or even if it does), ask your dentist about using supplemental fluoride. This will help to strengthen your family’s tooth enamel.

Remember that it’s also important to visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams. Following these simple steps on a regular basis can save you and your family from tooth decay and the more serious problems that can follow.

Call today to schedule an appointment with Austin dentist, Dr. John Glennon – (512) 454-0414

Source: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/c/cavities

It’s unfortunate but true –dental insurance coverage may not always pay for all of your family’s dental needs. If that’s the situation you find yourself in, there is another option that might work for you and your family. CareCredit is a healthcare credit card that you can use for your own or your family’s out-of-pocket dental expenses. It works very much like any other credit card. Once you apply and are approved, you’ll be able to pay for dental expenses with convenient monthly payments. You may even be able to afford finance charges if you pay within a certain period of time.

Here are some of the dental procedures you’ll be able to obtain using your CareCredit card:

• Semi-annual checkups
• Professional cleanings
• Fluoride treatments
• Ceramic fillings
• Periodontics
• Endodontics
• Gingivitis prevention

You may be surprised to learn that you can even use your CareCredit card for cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as:

• Invisalign braces
• Root canals
• Dentures
• Dental implants
• Ceramic crowns
• Dental veneers
• Lumineers
• Tooth repair
• Headgear

No one should have to postpone treatment or avoid dental procedures altogether because of finances. Recent studies have shown that poor dental health and gum disease are linked to other health problems. The oral health of you and your family is too important to ignore. Fortunately, thanks to CareCredit, there is a way to afford the dental care that you and your family need and deserve. This convenient healthcare credit card makes it much easier to fit dental expenses into your budget.

Source: http://www.carecredit.com/dentistry/

We all know that good oral hygiene habits – such as regular brushing, flossing, use of antibacterial mouthwashes and regular trips to the dentist – will most likely help to prevent tooth loss and gum disease. But what you might not know is that practicing good oral hygiene habits may also help to prevent other diseases as well. Just look at what some recent studies suggest:

• Gum disease – and most likely the inflammation that goes along with it – has been linked to a higher risk of developing coronary artery disease.

• The inflammation caused by gum disease may make it harder to conceive if you’re trying to have children. And if you’re already pregnant, gum disease could increase your chances of having a child that’s born prematurely.

• You may be more likely to develop diabetes if you have gum disease.

• People with gum disease may also be more susceptible to pulmonary diseases, such as acute bronchitis and pneumonia.

• Worried about developing dementia later in life? Then keep brushing and flossing! Recent studies show that people who lose a greater number of teeth prior to the age of 35 are more likely to develop dementia than those who lose fewer teeth.

If you thought that good oral hygiene habits just prevented tooth loss and gum disease, think again! As it turns out, regular brushing and flossing, as well as visiting your dentist for professional cleanings and dental exams every six months, could be saving you from all kinds of physical problems later in life. Putting it succinctly – healthy mouth, healthy you!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/01/oral-hygiene-health-problems_n_914565.html#s319360title=Reduced_Risk_Of

Everyone benefits from whiter teeth. Not only do you feel better about yourself and more self-confident, but other people react positively to your brighter smile as well. While there are plenty of over-the-counter products that will help you to achieve whiter teeth over time, the fastest way to a brighter smile is to have your teeth professionally whitened in your dentist’s office, and one of the most effective professional methods is called Zoom whitening.

The procedure can be done by dental professionals in an hour or less. It involves using a 25% hydrogen peroxide whitening solution on your teeth, followed by a 15-minute session under the Zoom Advanced Power Chairside Lamp. The procedure is performed three times in a row, and the result is pretty amazing.

After your initial whitening in the dentist’s office, you’ll receive custom-fitted trays and your own whitening solution so you can whiten your own teeth at home whenever you’d like. You should keep in mind that whitening only works on your natural teeth, so crowns, veneers, etc. won’t be impacted by the solution. And although the Zoom procedure is definitely effective, it may not be appropriate for people with sensitive teeth. It’s also not recommended for pregnant women or children.

Talk to your dentist about Zoom whitening, and find out if you’re a good candidate for this popular procedure. A brighter smile really can make a positive difference in your life, and Zoom is the fastest way to achieve it.

Source: http://www.yourdentistryguide.com/zoom-whitening/

Ever wonder why most of your dental work has been done on the teeth in the back of your mouth?

That’s because these teeth, molars that are primarily involved in chewing food, are much more likely to form decay than the teeth in the front of your mouth. When you think about it, it makes perfect sense.

Because you do the vast majority of chewing with your molars, it’s no wonder that food gets trapped in the pits and fissures of these teeth. Even for people with very good dental hygiene habits, it’s often difficult to get out every last bit of food from your molars.

It’s this leftover food that can eventually cause tooth decay which, of course, is why the majority of our dental work is done to the teeth in the back of our mouths.

While this is true for adults, it’s not the case for small children. In fact, just the opposite is true.

For very young kids – those who are still being bottle-fed – tooth decay is much more common in the front teeth. That’s because those are the teeth exposed to milk and sugary drinks left in the bottle for long periods of time when the baby falls asleep with a bottle in his or her mouth. And since babies aren’t chewing solid food with molars in the backs of their mouth, it only makes sense that their front teeth would be more vulnerable to decay.

Fortunately, brushing and flossing twice a day, along with regular trips to the dentist, can help reduce your chances of cavities and gum disease. If you have young children, gently brushing their teeth with a soft-bristled wet toothbrush after feeding will reduce their chances of cavities in exposed front teeth.

Source: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/oral-care/problems/why-do-some-teeth-decay-more-quickly.htm

Most of us realize that gum disease, also known as the pathogen Porphyromonasgingivalis, can lead to tooth loss. But a study published recently in PLOS Pathogens reached another startling conclusion: the same pathogen that causes gum disease and tooth loss can also greatly increase your chances of developing atherosclerosis, or hardening and narrowing of the arteries.

The Porphyromonasgingivalis pathogen has the ability to evade the immune system. Ultimately, in people with chronic gum disease, this can lead to inflammation of not only gum tissue, but other areas of the body as well.

For several years, researchers have questioned whether gum disease is somehow connected to atherosclerosis. Although the jury has been out for quite some time, this latest study seems to confirm that fact. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce your chances of developing gum disease:

• •Brush your teeth at least twice each and every day, and floss at least once a day.
• •Use an antibacterial mouthwash every day.
• •Have your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year, and ask your dentist or hygienist to check for signs of gum disease. Checking for gum disease should be done every 1 ½ to 3 years.
• •Eat a healthy diet.
• •Don’t smoke, since smoking can cause inflammation of the gums.

By following these simple steps on a daily basis, you could do much more than save your teeth – you just may avoid atherosclerosis as well.

 

Sources: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/279487.php

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-10/gums-problems-gingivitis

While it’s true that baby teeth don’t last forever, that doesn’t mean that they’re not important. In fact, healthy baby teeth play a major role in having a healthy set of adult teeth. And without strong baby teeth, your little one will have a hard time eating properly and even learning to talk!

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to help your child’s dental health, even before his or her first teeth begin to appear.

• • Using a clean, damp washcloth, gently wipe your baby’s gums to remove any bacteria. You should do this at least twice a day, and it’s particularly important to do it after feeding and before your little one goes to sleep at night.

• • Once your baby’s teeth begin to appear, use a wet, small toothbrush with very soft bristles to brush your infant’s teeth much as you would your own – except much more gently, of course. There’s no need to use any kind of toothpaste until your child is at least a year old. When you do begin to use a small amount of toothpaste, make sure it does not contain fluoride. Most experts agree that fluoride toothpaste should not be used on children under the age of 2.

You should continue to care for your child’s teeth for this way until he or she can do it alone. Make sure to take your child in for regular dental checkups beginning at a very early age, usually around 1 year old. Not only will this ensure that your child has healthy teeth, it will also give your toddler the opportunity to become accustomed to dental visits and establish good dental care habits for a lifetime.

 

Resource: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/caring-babies-teeth

Most of us know the basic steps involved in good oral hygiene, including thoroughly brushing and flossing at least twice a day, having your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year or more, and visiting your dentist for regular checkups. But there’s another important step to remember – the proper care and storage of your toothbrush.

It may not be particularly pleasant to think about, but there are literally hundreds and hundreds of microorganisms that live in your mouth. That means that a lot of those are transferred to your toothbrush each time you brush your teeth. Even worse, since toothbrushes are stored in bathrooms, they’re exposed to gastrointestinal microorganisms as well. All of which is ample reason to take the following steps in making sure your toothbrush is cleaned and stored properly:

• • Thoroughly rinse your toothbrush after each use, making sure that all toothpaste and food particles are removed.
• • Soak your toothbrush in antibacterial mouthwash to help reduce bacteria.
• • Store your toothbrush upright. Avoid using a closed container since this encourages the growth of microorganisms.
• • Make sure that all toothbrushes in a bathroom are stored separately to avoid cross-contamination.
• • Replace toothbrushes whenever they begin to show wear, or every three to four months.

You might also consider rinsing your mouth with an antimicrobial mouthwash before brushing your teeth. This will eliminate some of the microorganisms in your mouth before you begin brushing, which will also reduce the amount of bacteria transferred to your toothbrush.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140506094439.htm