Halloween candy is a treat; not a snack!

For some parents, the scariest thing about Halloween is dealing with all the sugary treats that come home with their little ghosts and goblins. Erin Webley, registered dietitian at Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVo s Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Weight Center, advises parents to view Halloween candy as a treat for their children, not a snack option.

Webley says there are ways parents can help their children prepare for and manage the deluge of candy that comes with trick-or-treating. But, she cautions, parents should not make a big deal of it either way, or it will cause anxiety to both parent and child.

Here are some suggestions for dealing with the Halloween candy deluge: Be consistent with healthy   snacks and meals around Halloween. Make sure you continue to offer the healthy options first, then reward children with a treat.

As soon as you return from   trick-or-treating, separate out the candy your children don’t like and just throw it in the garbage so there is less temptation. Or, you can donate it to agencies that ship candy overseas to our service men and women. *** Halloween Candy Buy Back***

It’s OK to offer your child one or two pieces a day, but offer it with a healthy snack first. Candy is not nutritionally balanced or even satisfying as a snack.

Think about where you   keep the candy. Out of sight is out of mind, but do not hide it. Candy s hould not be forbidden.

After a few weeks, when children tend to focus less on the candy, you can start to throw it out in the garbage for good.

Increase your child’s level of physical activity to make up for the extra caloric intake. Take more walks or bike rides around this time.

Consider giving out nonfood treats such as dollar store favors, stickers or bags of pretzels and popcorn.

Put your Halloween candy in the freezer so it can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Don’t buy candy too far in advance of Halloween or during post-holiday sales or you will be tempted to eat it around non-holiday periods.

You can make better choices about candy. Think of miniatures and those with lower fat content (peppermint patties vs. Snickers, for example).

— Information provided by Spectrum Health and the Grand Rapids Press

An Ounce of prevention is worth a Pound of cure.

If you had a way to reverse a problem or prevent a problem would you try? We have a treatment to help you reverse the beginning stages of tooth demineralization that can lead to tooth decay.

If tooth decay has not reached the inner layer of the tooth (dentin) the enamel can be strengthened and the decay process can be halted using a specialized treatment of MI Paste Plus and custom trays.

First, we make custom trays that will fit onto your teeth. These trays will hold the MI Paste Plus in contact with your teeth. The trays are worn daily at bedtime to strengthen  weakened areas of the tooth. MI Paste Plus has two main components, calcium phosphate and sodium fluoride. These components help strengthen the enamel portion of the tooth. By strengthening the enamel the demineralization process can be stopped and the tooth stabilized.

This minimally invasive technique can help you make your teeth healthier and stronger and possibly prevent you from needing tooth structure removed and replaced with a restoration.

Schedule an appointment for your evaluation.

Val ~ Dental Hygienist

Cheap isn't always cheaper

There is a predictable process many of us go through when we decide to stop living beyond our means. We get cheap. In fact, some even call us cheapskates — a label I personally enjoy because it proves I am not the person I used to be: a credit card junkie and a totally whacked-out spendthrift.

My thinking was that if cheap was good, then cheaper must be better. 

But that is not always true.

Sometimes the cheapest option ends up costing the most.

Case in point: Our house desperately needed painting.

Spending thousands of dollars made m e queasy. So when one of the bids came in much lower than the others, I jumped on it.

After the job was done, we were very disappointed at how it looked. Then, before even two years passed, the trim cracked and peeled, making our paint look 10 years old. I know now that our cheap paint job cost us far more than if we had gone with the highest bid from the start.

After just three years, we had the house painted again. This time, instead of going for cheap, we were determined to buy the most quality we could afford.

The job took nearly six weeks, five of which were devoted to prep, and included three coats of high quality paint. We expect this job will last 15 years.

That turns out to be much cheaper in the long run than getting a cheap paint job every three years. And our bonus is that the house looks like a million bucks.

There are other times — like buying a mattress, putting on a new roof or dental care — when buying the most quality you can afford is the cheapest way to go. 

So how do you know which way to go? Ask yourself this question: How long do I want this item to last?

If the answer is, “As long as possible,” that is a sign that you need to buy the most quality you can afford.

If, on the other hand, your answer is something like, “Until the end of the wedding reception,” you do not need quality.

How do you know you’re making the most cost effective choice? Do the math. Take a mattress, for example. First, determine the life expectancy of the model you are considering. Now divide the number of years into the purchase price. Then divide that result by 365, to see how much this mattress will cost per day. Do the same for the cheap option, making sure you adjust the life expectancy accordingly.

You will not believe how often the cheap option is really the most expensive.

Knowing when to buy the most quality you can afford, and when to go for the cheapest price you can find, is a learned skill.

The more you practice, the better you will get. And the better you get, the more you will enjoy some finer things in life.

Reference: Mary Hunt at Everyday Cheapskate - Grand Rapids Press

 More information: 

quality dental care

Dental Health Investment Plan

Schedule a dental appointment - because the best investment you can make is the investment in your health!

What your mouth reveals about your health

If left untreated, this oral health problem can damage more than your gums. Gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and other health problems.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic infection that can result in a number of health problems, from mild inflammation to severe gum damage to tooth loss, if left untreated. In addition, gum disease can affect your overall health, and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Gum disease develops in the space between your gum line and your teeth. It causes tissue inflammation and damage that can eventually cause your gums to recede. The severity of gum disease is determined by the depth of the excess space, or so-called "pockets," that form as your gum tissue recedes.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research estimates that 80 percent of adults in the United States have some degree of gum disease.

Types of Gum Disease

Gum disease is classified as either gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and is reversible with treatment. But it can also develop into the more serious oral health problem, periodontitis.

·    Gingivitis results in swollen, irritated gums that bleed easily. Good oral health habits, including daily flossing and brushing, as well as getting regular professional teeth cleanings can prevent and help to reverse this disease, which typically doesn't result in the loss of gum tissue or teeth.

·    Periodontitis occurs as a result of untreated gingivitis. In periodontitis, the gums significantly recede from the teeth, leading to the formation of infected pockets. As your body's immune system struggles to fight off these infection, tissues and bones may start to break down. Without proper treatment, the gums, connective tissue, and jaw bones that support your teeth may all deteriorate and begin to compromise your overall oral health. Eventually, the teeth will loosen and either fall out or have to be removed.

Signs of Gum Disease

Your oral health is critical to your overall health. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek care from a dentist who is knowledgeable about treating gum disease:

·      A sour taste in your mouth or persistently bad breath

·      A change in how your partial dentures fit

·      A change in how your teeth fit together when you bite   down

·       Bleeding gums

·      Gum tissue that pulls away from your teeth

·      Loose teeth or increasing spaces between your teeth

·      Pain when chewing

·     Unusually sensitive teeth

·      Swollen and tender gums

Causes of Gum Disease

In addition to poor oral health habits, other factors associated with gum disease include:

·    Smoking and chewing tobacco — tobacco products irritate the gums and make gum disease more difficult to treat.

·    Systemic diseases that affect the immune system, such as cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS

·    Taking certain medications, including some blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, steroids, and oral contraceptives, that can cause dry mouth. The lack of saliva in your mouth makes you more susceptible to gum disease since one of its main functions is to help wash away food particles and bacteria.

·    Crooked teeth

·    Dental bridges that don’t fit properly

·    Old and defective fillings

·    Hormonal fluctuations, particularly those that occur during pregnancy

·    Genetic differences may make some people more susceptible to gum disease

·    Stress, which can reduce your body's defenses when it comes to fighting off any infection, including gum infections

Consequences of Untreated Gum Disease

Untreated gum disease has been associated with an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, and for women, an increased chance of delivering a baby with a low birth weight. Gum disease has also been linked to trouble controlling blood sugar among diabetics.

Gum Disease Treatment Options

Gum disease can be treated in several ways, depending on whether you have gingivitis or periodontitis. The primary goal is to manage the chronic infection that leads to gum damage. Treatment options include:

·    Regular professional deep cleanings

·    Medications that are either taken orally or are inserted directly into infected tissue pockets

·    Surgery, in more severe cases of gum disease. One type, called flap surgery, involves pulling up the gum tissue in order to remove tartar and then stitching the tissue back in place for a tight fit around the teeth. Tissue grafts can also be used to replace severely damaged bone or gum. In bone grafting, for instance, a small piece of mesh-like material is placed between the bone and gum tissue, enabling the supportive tissue and bone to regenerate.

While it's good to know there are treatments, it's better to avoid gum disease in the first place, by brushing and flossing at least twice a day, eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings.

Reference: Everyday health

Did you know that "silver" dental fillings contain 50% mercury?

Our dental office has been placing resin dental restorations exclusively since 1995. Resin restorations are better for you, your teeth and the environment.


The following is an article by Dr. Mercola regarding "silver" or amalgam dental fillings:

Dentists who use mercury fillings claim that amalgam is safe because it's been used for 150 years. More accurately, dental amalgam is a Civil War relic, hardly a point in its favor. It is no better, nor safer, than other discarded medical practices like bleeding patients, administering calomel, and performing surgery with unwashed hands.

In fact, amalgam poses a whole swarm of problems at every stage of its lifecycle, including…

·                  Releasing mercury during production: Mercury is released into the environment when amalgam is manufactured.

·                  Deceiving dental patients: Most dental patients are not informed that amalgam is 50 percent mercury – many are told that amalgams are "silver fillings."

·                  Damaging healthy tooth structure: To place an amalgam, a significant amount of healthy tooth matter must be removed – permanently damaging the tooth structure.

·                  Exposing patients to mercury: Amalgam continues to release mercury after it is implanted in your body, and can even cross the placenta to reach unborn babies.

·                  Fracturing teeth: Amalgam expands and contracts over time, leading to cracked teeth and hefty dental bills.

·                  Polluting the environment: Sooner or later, most of the mercury from amalgam ends up in air, soil, and water via numerous unsound pathways.

·                  Contaminating fish: Once in the environment, amalgam can convert to methylmercury, contaminate fish, and wind up on your dinner plate.

 

 

Reference:  Dr. Mercola @ Mercola.com

 

 

 

Bad Breath: 5 Causes and 5 Cures

How to restore your fresh breath—and relationships

Wondering why your loved ones are giving you more personal space than you’ve asked for? Suspicious about the Altoids left on your desk with dental floss bows? If you’re one of 90 million Americans suffering from chronic bad breath, here are some of the possible causes, as well as remedies to restore your fresh breath—and relationships.

 

Top 5 Causes of Bad Breath

 

1. A dirty mouth

“Ninety percent of mouth odors come from mouth itself—either from the food you eat or bacteria that’s already there,” says Dr. Richard H. Price spokesman for American Dental Association. “Mouth odor is like any other body odor—the result of microbes living in the body giving off byproducts.” In the mouth, this means bacteria that normally live in the mouth interact with food particles, blood, tissue, etc., to create volatile (i.e., stinky) sulfur compounds. If you don’t clean properly, the bacteria build up, and next thing you know—that’s not toothpaste on your tongue.

 

2. A mouth out of balance

Certain mouth conditions can exacerbate bacterial growth and odor, such as gum disease and dry mouth. Gum disease causes bloody gums, creating more elements for those pesky bacteria to putrefy. But it is a dry mouth that is the more common cause of bad breath. Saliva helps flush out the mouth, keeping bacteria moving so they don’t settle down and multiply, while drier mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria. In spring and summer, allergy medications can dry you out; in winter, dry heat tends to be the culprit.

 

3. Stinky foods

If it stinks going in, chances are it’s going to stink coming out. The obvious offenders are onions, garlic, alcohol and tobacco. And foods don’t only create a stench in the mouth. “Plant oils are absorbed and the byproducts enter your bloodstream so you are actually breathing the odors out via your lungs three to four hours later,” says Jeannie Moloo, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. [Fulldisclosure: Moloo is the author’s cousin.]

 

4. Not enough carbs

You look great after four weeks on Atkins, so how come you still can’t get a date? High-protein, low-carb diets cause your body to burn stored fats for fuel instead of carbs and can lead to a condition called ketosis. “As fat burns, ketones build up in the body, and some are released through breath,”explains Moloo. “Unfortunately ketones don’t smell particularly good.” And bad breath trumps six-pack abs.

 

5. Illness

Occasionally, bad breath can be a sign of a more serious illness. The most common systemic causes of bad breath are diabetes or GERD (or gastro esophageal reflux disease). Diabetes can also cause ketosis, and the resulting bad breath is sometimes one of first symptoms that lead to diagnosis. GERD is a backflow of acid from the stomach to the esophagus. Less common but possible are liver or kidney disease—when toxins from these organs are excreted through the lungs, causing bad breath.

 

· 

Top 5 Cures

 

1. Keep it clean

Gum, breath mints, mouthwash… these are all helpful stopgaps, but they won’t cure bad breath. The way to get rid of bad breath for most of us is to brush, floss and tongue scrape twice a day. Yes, for fresh breath, the key is tongue scraping. “You can brush and floss till the cows come home, but it won’t help unless you get way back,” says Price of the American Dental Association. A tongue scraper is available at most drugstores. Price swears it helped him when he was suffering from bad breath (not something you want in your dentist, he points out). “Now I smell like a petunia,” he says. “For most of us, brushing, flossing and tongue scraping twice a day will control bad breath.”

 

2. Keep it moist

The best way to keep the right saliva balance is to drink plenty of water or liquids. To prevent dry mouth in winter, use a humidifier. If you snore or suffer from postnasal drip, try saline nasal spray to keep nasal passages moist.

 

3. Watch what you eat

Avoiding the main offenders (onion, garlic, tobacco, coffee, etc.) is the best way to avoid food-related bad breath. Dietitian Moloo also cites research that suggests certain foods can help: “Two cups of tea a day can prevent bad breath for some. The polyphenols, a plant chemical in tea, may prevent growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath.” You can also chew parsley, which seems to curb offending smells from other foods and bacteria. And cranberries may eliminate offensive smells and make the bacteria less sticky, which makes plaque less likely to form. Price says sugarless gums that contain xylotol may kill some bacteria and help reduce plaque.

 

4. Eat some carbs

Apparently the only way to help the ketosis caused by low-carb diets is… to eat some carbs. Moloo recommends fruits, vegetables and whole grains over frosted doughnuts.

 

5. See your doctor

If tongue scraping and carbo-loading doesn’t do the trick, check with your doctor to see if he or she suspects a more serious cause. Diabetes, GERD or other diseases require specific diagnoses and treatments.

 

Reference : MSN Healthy Living

7 Nightime tips for improving your oral health

A lot can happen to your mouth in eight hours — especially when you're sleeping and bacteria are gathering on your teeth. But don't let the thought of nasty plaque, cavities, tartar, or gingivitis stop you from getting a good night's rest. There are many ways to maintain your oral health while you sleep. Here are eight tips to get you — and your mouth — through the night.

1. Brush before bed. Brushing your teeth before you go to sleep at night helps protect against plaque buildup, tooth decay, and gum disease. If you are particularly susceptible to cavities and gum disease, dentists recommend that you brush immediately after dinner, then again right before bedtime.

2. Use good form. According to dentists, the best way to clean your teeth is to brush back and forth gently in short strokes. Brush the outer tooth surfaces first, then the inner tooth surfaces, followed by the chewing surfaces. To clean the backs of your front teeth, use the tip of the brush and stroke gently up and down.

3. Switch to an electric toothbrush. The rotating and oscillating movement of the electric toothbrush head removes plaque from your teeth more efficiently than a regular toothbrush. Be sure to choose an electric toothbrush that's comfortable to hold, easy to use, and has the rotating-oscillating head.

4. Don't just brush — floss! Flossing removes food particles and plaque buildup while it's still soft. If this debris stays on the teeth, bacteria will increase throughout the night and feed off them while you're sleeping. Furthermore, if the plaque is allowed to harden, it will turn into tartar, and tartar can only be removed by a hygienist or dentist during a professional cleaning. Flossing only at night is fine for most people, but if you're prone to gum disease or tartar buildup, dentists recommend that you floss in the morning as well.

5. Rinse with mouthwash. Mouthwash isn't just for fresh breath — therapeutic mouthrinses contain special ingredients that strengthen teeth and help treat certain oral health conditions. Rinsing with a therapeutic mouthwash before bed will help keep your teeth free of plaque and cavities and your gums safe from gingivitis. On the contrary, most commercial, over-the-counter mouthwashes — known as cosmetic mouthwashes — are designed to mask bad breath and they won't do much to contribute to your oral health. Talk to your dentist about which mouthwash is right for you.

6. Be aware of teeth grinding. If you experience worn tooth enamel, increased tooth sensitivity, or torn cheek tissue, you may be grinding your teeth in your sleep. Though dentists can't stop you from doing it, they can make you a mouthguard that you can wear at night to protect your teeth from the effects of grinding.

7. See your dentist regularly. Be sure to schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings. Your dentist and hygienist will help you keep your teeth clean and your gums healthy over the long run. Remember, preventive care and maintenance are just as important for a healthy mouth as good daytime and nighttime oral hygiene.

Reference: Everyday Health.com