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