STOP THE POP!

You may be saving calories by drinking diet soda, but when it comes to enamel erosion of your teeth, it's no better than regular soda.

In the last 25 years, Kim McFarland, D.D.S., associate professor in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in Lincoln, has seen an increase in the number of dental patients with erosion of the tooth enamel - the protective layer of the tooth. Once erosion occurs, it can't be reversed and affects people their whole life.

"I'd see erosion once in a while 25 years ago but I see much more prevalence nowadays," Dr. McFarland said. "A lot of young people drink massive quantities of soda. It's no surprise we're seeing more sensitivity."

Triggers like hot and cold drinks - and even cold air - reach the tooth's nerve and cause pain. Depending on the frequency and amount of soda consumed, the erosion process can be extreme.

She said according to the National Soft Drink Association, it's estimated the average American drinks 44 gallons of soda pop a year. Phosphoric and citric acid, which are common ingredients in many popular sodas and diet sodas, alters the pH balance in the mouth and can cause tooth erosion over time.

"It can be more harmful than cavities because the damage causes tooth sensitivity," Dr. McFarland said. "If a tooth is decayed a dentist can fix it by placing a filling, but if a tooth is sensitive there is really nothing a dentist can do.

"Tooth sensitivity can become a lifetime problem, limiting things we like to drink and even food choices. You could crown all your teeth but that is costly and a rather extreme solution," Dr. McFarland said.

"It hurts to consume cold and hot foods and beverages. Some of my patients tell me when they go outside in the winter they don't open their mouth or the cold air causes pain."

In addition, a significant number of scientific studies show a relationship between the consumption of soda and enamel erosion and cavities.

Dr. McFarland said it's best not to drink soda at all, but she offers tips for those who continue to drink it.

·         Limit consumption of soda to meal time

·         Don't drink soda throughout the day

·         Brush your teeth afterwards -- toothpaste re-mineralizes or strengthens areas where acid weakened the teeth

·         If tooth brushing is not possible, at least rinse out your mouth with water

·         Chew sugar free gum or better yet, gum containing Xylitol.

·

·         References

·         Citations

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Source:

University of Nebraska Medical Center

 

Cheese And Dairy Products May Prevent Cavities

Consuming dairy products is vital to maintaining good overall health, and it's especially important to bone health. But there has been little research about how dairy products affect oral health in particular. However, according to a new study published in the May/June 2013 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), consuming cheese and other dairy products may help protect teeth against cavities

Crooked Ways We Think!

Kelton Research recently conducted a study where 1,047 nationally representative Americans were shown images of men and women with straight and crooked teeth. Those participating in the study were unaware that they were comparing people with straight teeth to crooked teeth. In the study, respondents were shown images of people with varying tooth issues and asked to give their honest opinion about them. According to the study results, it appears that Americans perceive people with straight teeth to have more desirable qualities than those with crooked teeth, including happiness, success, and friends.

I’m not saying it’s right…but it certainly is interesting

Read more at http://betterinbulk.net/2012/05/first-impressions.html#SBZiMB9K24DBgbil.99

Note: This post was sponsored by Invisalign
Read more at http://betterinbulk.net/2012/05/first-impressions.html#SBZiMB9K24DBgbil.99

Worried About Oral Cancer?

Worried About Oral Cancer?

According to the American Cancer Society, over 35,000 Americans have oral cancer. The risks are higher if you are a male, over the age of 35, or have a history of other cancers, but there are some lifestyle habits that increase anyone's risk, and some steps you can take:

 

 

1. Don't use tobacco. Up to 90% of patients with oral cancers use tobacco, and the risk increases with the amount smoked or chewed. Quitting smoking and chewing tobacco will lower your risk, even after years of use.
2. Moderate your drinking. About 75% to 80% of all patients with oral cancer drink alcohol frequently.
3. Limit your exposure to sunlight. More than 30% of patients with cancers of the lip have outdoor jobs associated with prolonged and repeated exposure to sunlight.
4. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. A diet low in the natural antioxidants fresh produce provides is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity.
5. Know the signs. If you have a sore in your mouth that doesn't heal easily or is always bleeding, or a persistent pain in the mouth or ear, see your dentist or physician immediately. Early detection and treatment increases chances of recovery.
6. A cup of joe? In 2012, the American Cancer Society found a link between drinking coffee and reduced risk of death from oral/pharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancer. It showed drinking more than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee a day cut the likelihood of dying from oral/pharyngeal cancer in half. However, I don't recommend drinking coffee if you don't enjoy it, or dislike the effect it has on your nervous system or digestion.

                 

Thank you !

Dr. Weil  for your

informative oral cancer

 information!

Gum Disease- It's More Than Embarrassing!

According to a report commissioned by the Center for Disease Control, “Prevalance of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010,” an estimated 64.7 million American adults, 47.2 percent, have a mild, moderate, or severe case of periodontal disease.

 

 

Gum disease is often silent, meaning symptoms may not appear until an advanced stage of the disease. However, warning signs of gum disease include the following:

Red, swollen or tender gums or other pain in your mouth.

Bleeding while brushing or flossing, or eating hard food.

Gums that are receding or pulling away from the teeth, causing the teeth to appear longer than before.

 Loose or seperating teeth.

 Pus between your gums and teeth.

 Persistent bad breath.

 

 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Robert D. Follweiler, D.D.S.

Periodontology and Laser Technology

901 East Ocean Boulevard   Stuart, Florida 34994

772-283-1400

Please visit us on the web  www.follweilerperio.com        

 

 

 

What's Making You Sick?

Robert D. Follweiler, D.D.S.

Periodontology and Laser Technology 

901 East Ocean Boulevard   Stuart, Florida 34994

 772-283-1400

 Please visit us on the web  www.follweilerperio.com       

 

Research has shown that periodontal disease is associated

 with several other diseases.

The main ones are

•  diabetes
•  heart disease
•  premature and low birth weight in babies.

 For a long time, it was thought that bacteria was the factor

 that linked periodontal disease to other disease in the body;

 

 

 

 

More recent research demonstrates that inflammation

may be responsible for the association.

 

Therefore, treating inflammation not

only helps to manage periodontal

disease but in some cases also

helps with the management of other

chronic inflammatory conditions.

 

Your mouth is a straight shot to the rest of your body and what’s happening in there could be a red flag for — or the instigator — of some potentially serious health concerns.

 

“There is an association between inflammation of the gum tissue and inflammatory processes in other parts of the body,” says Gregg Lituchy, a cosmetic dentist at Lowenberg & Lituchy in NYC. And if you think about it, that makes sense — your mouth is literally a direct link to your insides. And it’s a place where icky bad breath and post-eating gook thrives, which can then go well, everywhere.

Call our office for an appointment today!