The Best Foods For Your Teeth

The Best Foods For Your Teeth

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The best foods for our teeth, that will help keep our enamel strong and healthy,  are vitamin rich foods. Foods containing calcium, such as yogurt, cheese, almonds and leafy greens. Also, foods that are high is phosphorus, such as meat, eggs and fish. Crunchy foods such as apples, celery and carrots promote saliva production which in turn helps to keep teeth clean and cavity free.

Some of the worst foods for our teeth include, dried fruits and chewy candy. Also on the list, bread and potato chips, their high starch content is dangerous because it immediately turns to sugar. These foods are most detrimental in excess. Moderation is always key.

The Benefits of Dental Splints

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If you grind or clench your teeth, wearing a dental splint while you sleep can protect your teeth and improve your overall health. Dental splints protect your teeth and prevent damage to enamel and existing restorations, which long term, will save you money. Dental splints can also prevent headaches as well as other aches and pains, reduce or eliminate snoring, and also improve your sleep patterns.

Developing a correct daily flossing habit, the how and why

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Flossing is an important part of your oral hygiene routine. In addition to brushing; flossing nightly can reduce gum swelling, bleeding and gingival sensitivity. Though forming a lasting habit is the hardest part!

Why floss?

The short answer? It helps keeps dental visits short, cheap and painless.

The long (ish) answer? Biofilm! (Cue thunder and lightning) Is evil (muahahahaaa!). Biofilm is a bacterial slim layer that adheres to surfaces in the mouth. The gum line, if left undisturbed (mostly while sleeping) is where biofilm concentrates and forms Plaque, which combines with minerals in saliva and hardens into Tartar (responsible for that lovely “scraping” sound). Proper brushing alone will get rid of most biofilm and plaque, though residual bacteria is left between the teeth and gums. Flossing will keep the bacteria count low and mechanically disturb bacterial biofilm between the teeth and in the Sulcus (the gum pocket surrounding the tooth surface) reducing gum swelling and chronic infection.

Please remember there is a proper technique to flossing! See the correct way via demo video below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz1DN5R6rnA[/embedyt]

How: One way I urge clients to develop a flossing habit is thought repetition. Start with a measurable and attainable goal (eg. flossing 3x weekly). Once said goal is attained, start adding a day per week until it’s a nightly habit. Easier said than done right? Each person is motivated in different ways. Only you know you best, so do what works!

Hope this helps and happy flossing!

Oral Health in Pregnancy

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During pregnancy we all know the importance of regular prenatal visits, vitamins, healthy eating and exercise but if you are expecting you may want to add trip to your dental professional to your list of things to do.

Did you know that having gum disease can place your baby at risk for preterm birth and low birth weight??

Many women experience pregnancy gingivitis because hormonal changes during pregnancy cause their gums to become inflamed placing them at greater risk of developing gum disease. Things to watch out for include tender and swollen gums, receding gums, bad breath and loose teeth.

To eliminate this risk it is important to practice good oral hygiene habits, visit your dental professional regularly and seek dental care immediately if any problems arise.

Water is important for a healthy mouth

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Having a mouth full of water through out the day is a good habit-adults and children.

After eating a small piece or large piece of candy a mouth full of water helps decrease the acid attack from the sugar. You can swish and spit or swish and drink.

After a drink of milk, juice or pop a person should have a mouth full of water to decrease the acid attack.

Children during the day should have water after eating anything, and a mouth full throughout the day helps as well. After recess and after lunch especially.

A dry mouth is more prone to cavities and gum disease. Water helps rinse off plaque and keeps the plaque from getting to0 sticky.

Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic

Water

Preventing tooth decay in children

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Most of the dental hygienists here at Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic are also “moms”. We care deeply about the oral health of all children.  In this age of doctor Google, there can be a great deal of conflicting healthcare advice easily accessed.

Our goal is to educate parents, caregivers, grandparents and anyone else who will listen, by providing facts. Research in dental health and products to combat tooth decay is ever changing, therefore we are continuously learning.

Sometimes going back to the basics is important. There is one truth that is important to understand, and that is Babies are not born with the bacteria that causes tooth decay, they pick it up from a parent, a caregiver, from someone else.

How does that happen? Shared saliva – licking a fork or spoon and sharing with a baby, testing babies food first, or licking off the pacifier instead of washing it off with water (you know you’ve done that!). You can easily see there are many ways saliva (and germs) can be transferred.  Caregivers with active dental disease and tooth decay are potentially going to be a source of significant bacteria.

A great source of information can be found on the following site-  American Pediatric Dentistry 

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BABY’S TEETH FROM CAVITIEShttp://www.aapd.org/assets/2/7/Education_-_Caries.pdf

The results are in…decay is on the rise in Calgary

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Is there a dental topic more polarizing than water fluoridation? Supporters adamantly defend this public health initiative and opponents are just as resolute in their position.

On the fence about community water fluoridation?  An internet search on the topic can lead to hours of reading, and information that is all over the map. Adding to public perplexity is the fact that within dental health communities you will find both supporters and opponents, even though the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association and Canadian Dental Association both have position statements supporting community water fluoridation, (1,2) as do a long list of other organizations and groups. (1)

One thing that is clear, regardless of your stance on fluoride, tooth decay rates have increased among children in Calgary since water fluoridation was discontinued in May 2011. This was brought to media attention in 2014, with Registered Dental Hygienist, Denise Kokaram speaking out about significant tooth decay being treated on the Alex Dental Health Bus,

 “more than half of the children who get treated on the bus have tooth decay”, she said. “We see lower self-esteem with these kids, attention spans are affected. Loss of days at school.”(3)

At this same time, Calgary pediatric dentist Dr. Sarah Hulland said

“I’m seeing a lot more children having a lot more cavities. I’m seeing a lot of decay on 19- to 20-month babies, and this is even before they’ve got all the teeth in.

We frequently have to put them to sleep to rehabilitate them. We don’t have enough anaesthetists that actually help us to put them to sleep. We don’t have enough OR time. We don’t have enough manpower to actually do the care that needs to be given.“

What used to be a one-month wait to see a pediatric dentist in Calgary is now at least three months.” (3)

Fast forward to today, and now we have hard data thanks to a recently published study carried out in Alberta. 

Lead author Lindsay McLaren, PhD, from the Cumming School of Medicine and O’Brien Institute for Public Health revealed children in Calgary are experiencing higher rates of tooth decay compared to children of the same age in Edmonton.

Comparing more than 5,000 grade two children in both cities, “there was a worsening in tooth decay in Calgary since the discontinuation of fluoridation in 2011, compared to Edmonton, where water is still fluoridated. In fact, the number of tooth surfaces with decay per child increased by 3.8 surfaces in Calgary during the time frame of the study, compared to only 2.1 in Edmonton. This is a statistically significant difference. The average child has about 20 teeth with four or five surfaces per tooth.”(4)

Dr.Mclaren says, “We first of all looked at trends over time in tooth decay in the two cities and whether there was a difference and after that we systematically went through and explored a number of possible alternative explanations for those differences. Everything pointed pretty consistently to fluoridation cessation being the main reason for the difference.”(4)

You can read the full study here htttp://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2016-02-17/study-shows-tooth-decay-worsened-calgary-children-after-fluoride-removal (5)

At Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic, we provide our patients with recommendations based on their individual dental health needs, which may or may not include fluoride treatments. We respect a patient’s decision regarding treatments they consent to, and treatments they decline. 

When demineralization is present, or an individual (child or adult) is a high risk for tooth decay, fluoride and re-mineralizing fluoride alternatives can be recommended. Our philosophy of care is to treat individuals on an individual basis. 

Children should be seen for their first visit with a dental health care provider 6 months after their first tooth erupts, or by age 1 year. Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic offers to see children for this first visit at no charge. It is an important visit, despite the myth that baby teeth are NOT important. Baby teeth are VERY important. Let’s work together to ensure a future of cavity free adults, who do not require dental filling replacement over and over throughout their lives. Tooth decay is preventable. Let’s work together to prevent it.

References

  1. http://www.cdha.ca/CDHA/The_Profession/Resources/links/position_statement_water_fluoridation.aspx
  2.  http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/about/position_statements/fluoride/
  3. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/dental-decay-rampant-in-calgary-children-pediatric-dentist-says-1.2864413
  4. http://www.ucalgary.ca/utoday/issue/2016-02-17/study-shows-tooth-decay-worsened-calgary-children-after-fluoride-removal
  5. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291600-0528 

Post Author: Sally Lloyd BScDH, Registered Dental Hygienist at Lifetime Smiles Dental Hygiene Clinic , Calgary,AB

Don’t Suck Lemons!

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Did you know sucking fresh lemons or limes can have a detrimental impact on tooth enamel? The acidic pH of these citrus fruits can create an acidic oral environment, which allows for minerals to leech out of tooth enamel. A bit of lemon juice diluted in drinking water is not likely going to have the same negative impact. Diluted is the key.

In fact, a study in Brazil showed essential oils of lemon to be beneficial in inhibiting oral microorganisms.

If you like lemon water, drink up. If you are concerned about possible effects of demineralization – talk to your dental hygienist.

 

Reference: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php pid=S180683242014000100217&script=sci_arttext&tlng=pt

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=dailytip&dbid=40

Parents flip the lip

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atlas_ecc

I drafted this post some time ago but held back. I didn’t want parents to think I am criticizing them. I understand how many times throughout a child’s life that parenting can be difficult. I don’t want to add to any external pressure, but reading an article yesterday that “the federal government is spending a million dollars to send five chartered plane loads of Nunavut children to the hospital in Churchill, Man., for dental surgery”  pushed me into sharing this. That coupled with the fact that after discussing this with a patient of mine she stated “I wish you would tell all parents this”. This is my attempt to reach more parents.

Dental decay is preventable

Granted there is an access to care issue for these Nunavut children in this media report, but that wouldn’t explain the situation in other areas of Canada. There is no shortage of tooth decay and dental treatment being carried out in Calgary by pediatric dentists.

Parents – please flip the top lip up and have a look at your baby’s teeth. Do this often, and realize that brown spots are not normal. Flip the lip when you brush. Their tight little lips prevent thorough plaque removal. Often it is far easier to brush the side of their teeth that the tongue touches when they open wide for this task, than to brush the surface covered by their lips.

Take your child to a dental health care provider by age 1 year (6 months after 1st tooth erupts). Yes, it is a short apt if nothing is wrong, but a very important appointment. Don’t wait until there is a problem, or until age 3 years old. Do they have the appropriate number of teeth for their age? Are they tongue tied? Is their lip tied? Are you struggling to clean their teeth? Are you confused about toothpaste that is age appropriate?  This is only a fraction of what could be reviewed and discussed at this first visit. Regulated dental healthcare workers are required to attend continuing education. That phrase “when we know better, we do better” applies. Therefore, what was reviewed at your older child’s exam 9 years ago maybe be quite different than what is reviewed today with a much younger child.

Wipe off baby teeth with a washcloth or baby toothbrush

Don’t lay a baby down with any liquid other than water

Don’t let a child sip for extended times from a sippy cup – think if it this way – every time they take a sip of apple juice (even diluted) a 20 minute acid attack takes place in their mouth (approximately). If they are sipping from their sippy cup intermittently for 1.5 hours (length of a kids movie) that is almost 2 hours of acid attack

Why fruit juice?….  Why not water?

When the time is right – Have Dental Sealants Placed

I am a parent and trust me there was a period of time that it took myself and my husband to hold our son down so that we could brush his teeth –  he was about 2.5 years old when he began to hate having his teeth brushed. I mean hate it. Of course, we hated doing it just as much.   Me: ” It’s your turn”;  my husband: “No, it’s your turn”  – and usually it would take 2 of us to do it. I would put my thumb in my son’s mouth toward the back baby molars- where when he bit down it wasn’t with any amount of force. Then while my thumb was there, we could get his teeth brushed. He couldn’t close completely so I could maneuver a toothbrush around. The thumb technique sometimes allowed me to do it without help from a second adult. This nightly battle went on for about 6 months- then he was over it. He began to want to “do it himself” of course, but the deal was – he had a turn then an adult had a turn. This event takes minutes, not hours – get it done – get it over with.

Children DO NOT have the dexterity to brush and floss well enough until age 10. If you don’t believe me, have them “do it themselves”, then put disclosing liquid on their teeth. The liquid that turns plaque bacteria purple or red. You will then understand how a child who “brushes everyday” still gets cavities. They aren’t brushing well enough to remove the majority of plaque. It’s not their fault, it’s not that they aren’t trying. They don’t have the co-ordination. Sometimes once “disclosed” – it is quite evident that they are right or left handed and they have missed an entire quadrant of their mouth. Not just one or two teeth, but 5 or 6 teeth. They have spent the time in the bathroom and they report the deed is done, but an adult really needs to assist.

As far as flossing on their own? seriously? there are many adults who don’t even feel the need of this 1-2 minute activity warrants doing. A child left to their own devices may use a floss pick or floss and get a percentage of the spaces. If you actually watch them, they get one spot, skip 2 spots and so on. If this part of home care is a nightmare- consider a child’s waterpik flosser or GumChucks (much easier for a parent to use on a child).  Those tight spaces are where many cavities form.

Give some thought to yourself – did you ever have cavities? if so at what age did you have the most dental treatment? If you have never had decay – fantastic. Congratulations. You won’t have to spend time and money over your life having the dental fillings placed when you were a child drilled out and replaced several times over. Once a tooth has been cut with a dental drill and a filling placed, it is destined for future dental treatment. Fillings don’t last forever, especially the white resin fillings. All of this can be PREVENTED.

As a dental hygienist, my children are not immune to tooth decay, so I knew it had to be done, and I considered it a chore. It is important to me that I prevent what I know can be prevented. Why was I then cursed with a child who hated having his teeth brushed?

I know why. I was a dental assistant before I became a dental hygienist. I assisted a dentist with operating room privileges. We treated children under general anesthesia in a hospital. It was difficult to see such small, young children laying on an operating table – their feet going nowhere near the foot of the bed, and their eyelids taped shut during the procedure.This was not a children’s hospital – so these were adult hospital beds.  Usually, treatment involved several injections of anesthetic, pulpotomies (this is basically the equivalent to a root canal treatment but on a baby tooth), stainless steel crowns cemented to hold intact what was left of the decayed teeth, several fillings, and some extractions if the teeth were so badly decayed. As I suctioned and watched eyelids try to flutter I cast judgment on these children’s parents. In my mind I questioned to myself – “who would let their children’s teeth become decayed like this, and why don’t parents brush their kids teeth?”   This is why my son gave me grief – and of course, that is when I realized just how difficult it is to carry out dental home care at times. Often it’s not that brushing isn’t happening, it’s that it isn’t happening well. Today’s typical diet is inducive to dental decay. Let your children, or your grandchildren or any children you know be the exception.

So I sympathize with new parents, parents of multiple kids, tired and overworked parents – but please, as tired as you are, please get through this chore at night before bed – at least, and monitor what it is in contact with their teeth throughout the day. Do what you feel is in the best interest of your child.

Early Childhood Cavities – why be concerned?

Feds spend $1M to fly Inuit children south for dental surgery

Cavities on the increase for kids

Sedatives Cited in Toddler’s Dental Office Death 

Anesthesia in young kids may carry developmental risks

If you live in Calgary or Claresholm, bring your kiddies in for a no charge first visit.

If you have young children at home, or children who you feel would do better in their home environment – a mobile dental hygienist is a great option – they bring their equipment to you.

Thumb-sucking Therapy

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Thumb sucking habits can leave parents at their wits end. After trying everything at home including nasty tasting coatings painted on the thumb and reward systems, parents are often told that a habit breaking appliance needs to be cemented into their child’s mouth. These dental “habit breakers” are torturous looking. This is suggested because dental professionals know the detrimental impact prolonged thumb-sucking or finger sucking can have on the developing mouth and speech.

When a thumb or finger is in the way – tongue placement is not optimal. The intensity of habits like these can shape bone (roof of the mouth often reflects this), and prevent eruption of adult teeth into the optimal position – or move teeth dramatically. When there is an open bite, as there is in this pre-treatment photo – the tongue can often be seen thrusting into the open space.

Sally Lloyd BScDH, RDH has been trained in orofacial therapy and can assist in eliminating thumb and finger sucking habits – without the need for a dental appliance cemented. Give us a call or email us with your questions. We can discuss the length of time therapy typically takes and your child’s unique needs. We are here to set your child up for success !!

before and after thumbsucking