Diet Pop: The Dental Connection!

It sounds too good to be true. A drink that tastes like your favorite pop but has zero calories. No wonder people think that they can sip on it all day long. It's practically like drinking water! Or is it? By now you've probably heard that diet pop isn't the health drink it pretends to be.  If you can't seem to get motivated to stop your daily diet pop habit, read on for the latest news on why you need to cut it out of your life.

• Diet Pop Can Boost Your Diabetes Risk
• Diet Pop changes the make-up of gut microbes, which increase the risk for Type II Diabetes.
• Artificial Sweeteners leads to glucose intolerance.
• Diet Pop Can Increase You Waist Line
• Researchers found that diet pop consumers had a 70% increase in waist size compared to non-diet pop drinkers.
• Diet Pop Erodes Your Tooth Enamel
• Diet pop may be sugar free, but it does contain phosphoric and citric acids as flavoring agents, which studies have shown to dissolve enamel.
• Diet Pop Changes Your Metabolism
• One diet pop a day increases the risk for metabolic syndrome by 34%.
• Diet Pop Can Lead To A Higher Risk Of Depression
• Research has now linked that drinking more than 4 cans of pop a day increases the risk of depression by 30% as compared to those that do not. The risk is even higher among diet pop consumers.

All that said, it isn't a good idea to switch back to regular pop either.  One can of pop has 33 grams of sugar-and most people drink more that just one 12-ounce serving! If you have any questions or are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT

Your Overall Health: The Dental Connection!

There are many ways in which your oral health has an impact on your overall general health.  There are naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth.  Some of those bacteria, including strep and staph, are harmful, while other bacteria are essential for the balance of intestinal flora. The healthier that your mouth is, the less likely it is that the harmful bacteria will travel to other parts of your body to infect it and potentially make you sick.  There is much more to good dental hygiene than brushing and flossing.

Did you know that ancient civilizations relied on natural remedies for maintaining oral health?  While certain Egyptians used myrrh and other herbs as antiseptics for treating infected gums, others who lived in the Nile River Valley, drank beer to ease the pain of infected teeth!  At first thought, I figured that the alcohol content must have numbed their pain.  However, their beer was effective because they used grains that were contaminated with the same bacteria that produce the antibiotic tetracycline!

In the past due to a lack of routine dental care and products that strengthen enamel, tooth decay was more of an issue.  However today, gum disease has replaced tooth decay as the most serious dental problem currently facing people.  According to the American Dental Association, a staggering 80 percent of Americans over the age of 65 suffer from some sort of periodontal disease. Researchers now know that gum disease causes a chronic inflammation, which is a driving force for multiple chronic illnesses, including clogged arteries, heart attacks, arthritis, and even cancer. Bacterial overgrowth in the inflamed gum tissue can even enter your bloodstream while you are eating.

If you have any questions or are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Sensitivity: The Dental Connection!

If a sip of ice water, a spoonful of ice cream, or a piping hot latte is enough to send shivers up your spine from tooth sensitivity, be assured that you're not alone.  It's estimated that as many as one in eight adults suffers from tooth sensitivity.

Some of the common causes of sensitivity include brushing too hard, a cracked tooth, receding gums, periodontal disease, tooth bleaching, or other conditions that expose the sensitive roots of your teeth. For example, brushing too aggressively can injure your gums, and lead to exposed roots and tooth sensitivity.

When the enamel on the outside of the tooth or tissue located between the teeth breaks down or wears away, nerves inside the tooth are triggered, which are particularly noticeable when you drink or eat anything hot or cold.

Fortunately, there are a number of things that you can do, both at home and at our office, to reduce the discomfort of sensitive teeth.  Check out the following list of current recommendations to reduce sensitivity.

• BRUSH WITH SENSITIVITY TOOTHPASTE
• BRUSH WITH A SOFT BRISTLED TOOTHBRUSH
• AVOID BRUSHING AFTER CONSUMING ACIDIC FOODS OR BEVERAGES
• DRINK WATER OR MILK AFTER CONSUMING ACIDIC ITEMS
• USE A STRAW WHEN DRINKING ACIDIC BEVERAGES
• WEAR A NIGHT GUARD TO PREVENT ENAMEL THINNING
• OBTAIN PROFESSIONALLY APPLIED DESENSITIZERS

If you have any questions about tooth sensitivity or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT

Dentistry Around The World!

From the clinical perspective, dentistry is similar around the world.  All dentists go to school, obtain a license, and work hard to prevent and treat tooth decay, gum disease, oral infections, throat and oral cancer, tooth loss, and other conditions that might limit a person's ability to smile, bite, chew, or speak.  However, the quality of dental care and the payment method for dental services varies between nations.

Although developed countries like the United States have about one dentist for every 2,000 citizens, there is only one dentist for every 150,000 people living in developing nations like those in Africa.  The lack of dentists in these underserved countries means that dental care is restricted to pain management and emergency care only.

The requirements for obtaining a dental license and the standard of dental care is set by each country. Although European schools and standards are very similar to the United States, many other countries are not able to provide the same level of education and care due to the lack of access to much needed resources such as modern equipment, supplies and facilities.

While the role of every dentist is nearly the same in every county - to ensure the oral health of the citizens - dental care can be different in each nation.  Regardless, rest assured that our country is blessed to have the highest standard of dental care available in the entire world!

If you have any questions about the dental care that is available in the United States, or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT