Healthy Smile Series: The hidden powers of chewing gum

Chewing sugarless gum does more than just exercise your gums, according to the American Dental Association You might be surprised to learn how it can help decrease your risk for tooth decay.

Chewing sugarless gum helps prevent cavities    

Research shows chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay. That’s because the act of chewing increases the flow of saliva in your mouth, which helps neutralize and wash away cavity-causing acids and bacteria. Over time, acids can wear away tooth enamel, causing little holes in your teeth.

Be sure to look for chewing gum with the ADA seal to be sure it can help prevent cavities.

Helps prevent heartburn

Chewing gum can help lessen the symptoms of heartburn. That’s because chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva, which is an acid buffer. Chewing gum also makes you swallow more often, which pushes acids back out of your esophagus.

So the next time you’re worried about heartburn, try chewing some sugarless gum after you eat.

All chewing gum is not created equal

It’s true that chewing gum for 20 minutes after meals helps reduce your risk for tooth decay, but that’s only if it’ s the sugarless variety.

Chewing gum with sugar also increases saliva, but beware — the sugar also increases chances of decay. Look for chewing gum with the ADA seal to be sure it can help prevent cavities.

The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs awarded the seal to several gums after finding the physical action of chewing certain sugarless gums for 20 minutes after eating, stimulates saliva flow, which helps prevent cavities by reducing acids and making teeth more resistant to decay.

Question:

 If I chew sugarless gum after a meal, do I still have to brush and floss?

Answer:

Absolutely.


Don’t let chewing sugarless gum replace brushing and flossing. It’s not a substitute. The ADA still recommends brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning plaque from between your teeth once a day with dental floss or other interdental cleaners.

Along with chewing sugarless gum, you can help prevent tooth decay by following these other tips: Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Floss daily.

 

Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking. Check with your West  Michigan District DentalSociety dentist about the use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from decay.

Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examinations.

So the next time you reach for that package of chewing gum, make sure it’ s sugarless and has the ADA seal.

Reference: West Michigan District Dental

Healthy Smile Series: Four important steps to maintain a healthy smile

Unhealthy gums increase your risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Here are four things you should do everyday to give you an advantage to your long term health:

1. Brush Correctly.  

Using a soft toothbrush, brush at least twice a day for two minutes. Clean every surface, including your tongue, using a circular massaging motion. Be gentle - receding gums are often the result of brushing too hard.

2. Flossing is not an option. 

If you do not floss you are missing more than a third of your tooth surfaces. Flossing daily removes bacteria and food residue that you cannot reach with a toothbrush. 

3. Kick the habit. 

Tobacco stains your teeth, causes bad breath and can lead to gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancer. Tobacco use is said to be responsible for almost 75% of periodontal diseases among adults. 

4. Call our office. 

Proper home care when teamed with regular cleanings and evaluations will benefit your overall well being. Visit us today for a healthier tomorrow !. 

Brought to you by Nylaan dental team.

Healthy Smile Series: X-rays can detect dental problems early

Since many oral diseases cannot be spotted by just a visual or physical examination, X-rays are a valuable preventive tool to help your dentist identify oral health problems early.

X-rays provide information about your oral health, such as early-stage cavities, gum disease, infections or some types of tumors.

How often dental X-rays should be taken depends on your overall oral health condition, age, risk for disease and signs of oral disease that might be present. While a recent study suggests yearly or more frequent X-rays might increase the risk of developing meningioma, the most commonly diagnosed brain tumor, the American Dental Association reiterates its professional opinion that dentists should continue to order X-rays when necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment.

It is important to note that this latest study relied on patients’ memories of having X-rays taken years earlier. Studies of this type have shown that the ability to accurately recall information is often difficult. Therefore, the results of studies that use this design can be unreliable because they are affected by what scientists call “recall bias.”
Further, the study acknowledges that some of the subjects received dental X-rays decades ago, when radiation exposure was greater.

Radiation rates were higher in the past because of the use of old X-ray technology and slower speed film.

The West Michigan Dental Society urges patients to continue to see your dentist regularly and to talk with your dentist about the importance of X-rays and what standard safety precautions are used in the dental office.

How do dental X-rays work?

As X-rays pass through your mouth, they are mostly absorbed by teeth and bone because these tissues are thicker than cheeks and gums. When X-rays strike the film or a digital sensor, an image called a radiograph is created. Radiographs allow your dentist to see hidden problems, such as tooth decay, infections and signs of gum disease.

Patient safety

The American Dental Association recommends the use of protective aprons and thyroid collars on all patients. In addition, the ADA recommends that dentists use E- or F-speed film, the two fastest film speeds available, or a digital X-ray.

Patients are encouraged to talk to their dentist if they have questions about their dental treatment. As a sciencebased organization, the ADA fully supports continuing research that helps dentists deliver high-quality oral health care safely and effectively.

Benefits of dental X-rays

Since many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be seen when your dentist examines your mouth, an X-ray can help reveal: Small areas of decay  between the teeth or existing fillings; Infections in the bone;   Gum disease;  Abscesses or cysts; Developmental  abnormalities; Some types of tumors.
Finding and treating dental problems early can save time, money and unnecessary discomfort.

Dental X-rays vs. other radiation sources

The amount of radiation patients are exposed to from dental X-rays is very small compared to daily exposure from cosmic radiation and naturally occurring radioactive elements.

Radiation exposure is measured in millisieverts (mSv), a unit of measure that allows for some comparison between radiation sources that exposure the entire body (natural background radiation) and those that only expose a portion of the body (dental X-ray).

For example, a dental bitewing X-ray yields 0.038 mSv, while radiation from outer space yields 0.510 mSv per year. In addition, the average radiation in the U.S. from natural sources each year is 3.0.

Pregnancy and dental X-rays

In some cases, a dental X-ray might be needed for dental treatment that cannot wait until after a baby is born. Because untreated dental infections might pose a risk to the fetus, dental treatment might be necessary to maintain the health of the mother and child.

The use of a leaded apron minimizes exposure to the abdomen and should be used when any dental radiograph is taken.

The use of a leaded thyroid collar is recommended for women of childbearing age, pregnancy women and children.

Also, dental X-ray exams do not need to be delayed if a patient is trying to become pregnancy or is breastfeeding.


Reference: West Michigan Dental Society

LINKS:

Dental X-Rays

Digital X-Rays

Panoramic X-Rays

Children's Dentistry

Healthy Lifestyle Series: Not too sweet - Teaching kids about sugar dangers

This article is dedicated to all of the kids out there who think the orange juice they drink at breakfast, the cookies they eat after lunch, the candy they trade at school and the Gatorade they chug after practice are no big deal.  

This is the amount of sugar in RockStar Energy Drink !

In other words, all kids across America. And also to their parents who believe the same thing: Daily intake of sugar is harmless and just a function of childhood.

This is also for my children, who know from my endless preaching that sugar is not good for them, yet never seem to remember any of the reasons why.

WHAT IS SUGAR?

Sugar is a sweet substance that comes from plants, mostly sugar cane and sugar beets. It is one big carbohydrate called sucrose made up of two smaller carbohydrates called fructose and glucose. Sugar has absolutely no nutritional value — no protein, vitamins, minerals or fiber.

WHY DO I LIKE IT SO MUCH?

Sugar has been shown to have an effect similar to an addictive drug, triggering you to want and need more, and making it hard to give up.

Sugar was brought to Europe in the 1100s as a precious drug, known for its “tremendous addictive potential,” and was called “crack” during that time in France, said psychotherapist Julia Ross in her book “Mood Cure.”

Quickly removing refined sugar from a diet can cause withdrawal symptoms like those with a drug: fatigue, depression, headaches and achy limbs.

Studies also have shown that over consumption of sugar can alter your taste buds so you begin craving sweeter and sweeter foods, leaving the more natural sweetness of fruits or whole foods less flavorful.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I EAT SUGAR?

This is the amount of sugar in a 20 oz soda. 

When you consume sugar, it enters your blood rapidly because there aren’t any nutrients or fiber to slow it down. This causes the sugar or glucose levels in your blood to rise. Your body then hustles to process this sugar because it knows you could be in grave danger from too much blood sugar.

To process the sugar, your pancreas releases a hormone called insulin. Insulin allows the glucose to leave your blood and enter your cells, providing a rush of energy. As the cells absorb the glucose from your blood, your blood sugar levels drop.

If you eat a lot of sugar, the insulin works overtime to force the glucose out and your blood sugar down, dropping it too low, which makes the brain react. This reaction causes you to feel tired and grumpy or agitated and anxious, and leaves you craving more sugar.

WHAT LONG-TERM EFFECTS DOES IT HAVE?

Eating too much sugar can make you feel full so you don’t eat enough healthful foods. Then your body ends up missing important nutrients such as protein, vitamins and minerals.

Refined sugar has been linked to the following diseases and health complications:

• Obesity and Type 2 diabetes

• Heart disease and high blood pressure

• Cancer

• Depression

• Allergies

• ADD/ADHD

• Asthma

• Arthritis

HOW DOES SUGAR MAKE ME FAT?

If you eat more sugar than your body can use in a day, it stores the sugar it doesn’t need in the liver or converts it to fat. When you do this regularly, you damage your liver and build up fat.

DOES SUGAR REALLY CAUSE CAVITIES?  

Yes. Tooth decay begins with bacteria that naturally live in the mouth. These bacteria burn sugar in order to thrive, and during this process convert sugar into acid. The acid eats away at a tooth’s enamel, which causes cavities. Sticky foods like Skittles and Starburst and long-lasting candies such as lollipops and Jolly Ranchers are the worst for teeth because they allow the sugar to dawdle in the mouth for a prolonged period.

WHAT CAN I DO?

I recommend that parents and their kids (age 10 and older) watch the film “Fed Up” together and join the filmmakers’ challenge to give up sugar for 10 days and see how they feel.

And if you want to have a sizable impact on your lifelong health, reduce your sugar consumption all year long! References:
By Casey Seidenberg 
The Washington Post
The Grand Rapids Press
M-Live 

Healthy Lifestyle Series: Healthy tips for active adults

May is Older Americans Month and it is the perfect time to start thinking about your health and the ways you can improve your overall well-being as you age.

U.S. residents generally are living longer, but more than 100 million adults — almost half the adult population — now have a chronic healthcondition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Such a staggering statistic might make you think illness is synonymous with aging, but growing old doesn’t have to bring disability and disease.

Here are some tips to help you stay healthier, stronger and happier in your golden years.

HAVE FUN WITH FOOD

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring.

Have fun with a new recipe that uses a different source of protein or find a way to incorporate fish or beans into an old favorite.

Remember, as you age, it’s important to eat a variety of foods to help your body get the necessary nutrients.

GET ACTIVE

Physical activity is safe for almost everyone, and the health benefits of physical activity far outweigh the risks.

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things older adults can do for their health.

For older adults who have chronic conditions that hinder their ability to be active on a regular basis, some physical activity is better than none.

And older adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits.

TWEAK YOUR ROUTINE  

Our office offers Zumba. To learn more visit Zumba for a Cause 

To get the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity, change your routine to 10-minute sessions throughout the day.

To increase your cardio vascular endurance, take the stairs instead of the elevator or park farther from the entrance to work.

Practice balancing on one leg while doing an everyday activity. This can improve your balance and may prevent a fall.

GET SOCIAL

Socialization is an important part of aging.

Take a walk with a friend or a neighbor, join a book club or volunteer at your local pet shelter.

Social interaction provides meaningful engagement, builds relationships, enhances a sense of belonging and provides opportunities for involvement, all resulting in greater bonds and a stronger sense of community.

For more information about your dental health visit www.nylaandental.com 

For more information about our Zumba for a Cause events visit Zumba for a Cause. 

Healthy Smile Series: Start healthy habits now

When should you start teaching your children about the importance of physical fitness? When they are preschoolers? Before they are 10? When they become teenagers? No matter how old your children are, the answer is now. Now is the time to make sure your whole family exercises. 

Zumba for a Cause

Physical exercise is important for everyone in your family. Health benefits include lower blood pressure, stronger bones and muscles, reduced risks of heart attack and an overall longer life. Exercise boosts energy levels, helps you sleep better and gives you more confidence.

The benefits of family exercise are not reserved for marathon runners. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise each day can greatly improve your family’s health. The key is creatively approaching how you and your kids get moving. Forget that “all or nothing” attitude. Break up the time into three 10-minute blocks. Focus on activities that get your heart rates above resting levels.

GET TOGETHER AND GET MOVING

A fun and easy way to stay healthy is spending quality time with your family. Exercising together encourages family members to hold each other accountable for fitness goals. 

Zumba for a Cause 

•Is your children’s school less than a mile away? Let them walk. If you have safety concerns, walk with them or find other families on your block to join you.

•Take a 15- to 30-minute fitness break when everyone gets home at the end of the day.

•Take a walk, jump rope, go sledding or skating or play an active Wii game.

•On family errands, park your car at the far end of the parking lot to get added steps.

•Walk or bike to the grocery store, bank or library when you can.

•Join your kids on the playground at the local park.

•Sign up for family fitness or aquatics classes. As you plan activities, get input from each family member. Simple events such as a hike on a snowy nature trail or an outing to a local gym’s family night not only get everyone moving, but also create memories you can share for a lifetime. 

Zumba for a Cause 

Don’t wait until the kids are older or the weather is warmer.

Get moving and get healthy today.
Reference: 
 Nicole Pratt Associate Childcare Director, Spartan Stores YMCA

Are you looking for a fun, outdoor, family event? Join our dental office for Zumba for a Cause with the Nylaan Dental Team. Zumba is an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party that's moving millions of people toward joy and health. 

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Healthy Smile Series: "X" marks the spot... Xylitol will lead you to the treasure of good dental health.

 "X" marks the spot... Xylitol will lead you to the treasure of good dental health.  

 

Dental Benefits of Xylitol 

Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consume the sugars we eat. When you eat food containing ordinary sugar (sucrose), it gives bacteria on your teeth energy, allowing them to multiply and start making acids that can eat away the enamel on the teeth. This “acid attack” causes tooth decay and cavities to begin to form.

Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the fibrous parts of plants. It does not break down like sugar and can help keep a neutral pH level in the mouth. Xylitol also prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth. This is how it protects the teeth from tooth decay. With the dental benefits of Xylitol, the acid attack that would otherwise last for over half an hour is stopped. Most people are not aware of this benefit because such a claim makes xylitol into a drug, crossing a boundary not allowed by the Food and Drug Administration.

 Less Bacteria, Less Acid – Healthier Teeth!

Because the bacteria in the mouth that are causing cavities are unable to digest xylitol, their growth is greatly reduced. The number of acid-producing bacteria may fall as much as 90%. No acid is formed because the pH of saliva and plaque does not fall. After taking xylitol, the bacteria do not stick well on the surface of the teeth and as a result, the amount of plaque decreases.

Repairing damaged enamel

Research has shown that the use of xylitol also helps repair damage to the enamel. Saliva in itself protects the mouth and teeth. Stimulated saliva in particular contains all the components needed to repair early cavities. If sugar is only taken a couple of times a day, the saliva can do the job alone. But most people take sugar so often that the mouth’s own defensive tools are not enough.

The dental benefits of xylitol also include saliva. Saliva that has xylitol is more alkaline than saliva stimulated by other sugar products. After taking xylitol products, the concentration of basic amino acids and ammonia in saliva and plaque may rise, and plaque pH rises as well. When pH is above 7, calcium and phosphate salts in saliva start to move into those parts of enamel that are weak. Therefore, soft, calcium-deficient enamel sites begin to harden again.

While reversing a rising trend of negative health and high health-care costs won’t happen overnight, improving your own health can begin sooner than later, and the dental benefits of xylitol can have a significant influence on that trend.

Schedule your dental evaluation today. 

References:
Xylitol.org
Brian S. Nylaan, D.D.S.