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Wonders of Whitening

There are so many different types of teeth whitening out on the market now-a-days, ever wonder if they all work? Which ones are the best for you? Do they last long? Are they good for your teeth and gums? Do they damage your tooth structure? Often, people whiten their teeth with different products without really knowing what it is, the effectiveness, and do they have that long-term effect that everyone wants. If you’re anything like me, you strive for whiter teeth every day. I have been obsessed with whitening my teeth ever since I got my braces off 6 years ago. I have tried every method under the sun and have found positives and negatives about each one.

The first method I started out with were the whitening strips. I found these to be most convenient and affordable at a young age. I purchased the 60 pack of Crest White Strips at Costco for around 100 dollars. I started using them as soon as I got home! I found they were a little odd at first. Teeth whitening strips are clear, flimsy plastic that you place on your teeth and hope that they don’t slide or fall off so you won’t have to taste the yucky bleach. They are coated on one side with a film of hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent. You open a bottom strip, and a top strip and place them on your teeth. I found them to be a bit awkward because I felt like I had to keep my mouth open, and smiling the whole time so I wouldn’t swallow the bleach, or get it on anything but my teeth. The strips definitely made a difference, it just took a while. If you’re an impatient person like I am, this is not the route to go.

Another option I tried was ordering trays online that you boil and then shape them to your teeth. Let me tell you one thing before I continue, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS. They do not work, and are the most frustrating things on the planet. Trying to boil something, and put it into your mouth right after, HURTS! They didn’t mold correctly, and they were uncomfortable. I had a hard time having them in my mouth for an hour each day. I just couldn’t do it anymore. After about 2 weeks of no difference in my teeth what-so-ever. Definitely recommend steering clear of an online order for bleach trays.

I am an aspiring Dental Hygienist. I have a passion for teeth, and have had that passion ever since I would beg my friends to allow me pull their teeth out when I was 5 years old. Teeth are a big deal in my life. I started working in a dental office about 7 months ago while I go to school for Dental Hygiene. While working there, I have been introduced to a whole new world of whitening. I have learned more about whitening then I have ever hoped. The first week of working, I purchased the custom trays. Let me just say this before I continue, this has been the best decision I have ever made (next to some other life altering choices). The trays are affordable and range depending on the office, mine were obviously at a discounted price being an employee of the practice. These trays are custom, like I said. Getting set up does take the most time by far, but the results are more than worth the time invested. First you come in for impressions, usually later that day we have the trays ready for you. The material we use comes in a prefilled syringe like tube which makes it easier to apply in the bleach trays. The syringes contain 16% hydrogen peroxide which is more than enough to remove those stubborn stains, or even effects of tetracycline use (see previous blog). I have a bonded tooth that can sometimes get a little discolored, and what I love most about this bleach is that it makes a huge difference even on my bonded tooth. The best thing about custom trays is that they are comfortable, and you only have to use a little bit of gel, so when you put the trays in, they aren’t over flowing with bleach making it awkward to close your mouth. I wore my trays consistently for one hour every night for 7 days and saw a huge difference. The trays are a good choice if you’re the type of person that wants results fast and loves convenience at a reasonable cost. The only downside to this method of whitening is that when you put too much bleach in your trays and it makes contact with your gums, it may cause a little bit of discomfort or a little bit of pain. But other than that, this is my go to whitening!

My office, as well as many other dentist offices offer in office whitening. It is a one day office visit, pain-free, short chair time procedure, with lasting results. This is by far the most popular procedure. It is popular because of the long-lasting effects. You have one visit, and your teeth are up to 7 shades lighter. A lot of people are very hesitant of in office whitening due to the fact that they are afraid their teeth may become sensitive. With the in office procedure, 4 separate tubes of whitening are applied to your teeth over an hour period in 15 minutes intervals there is little to no sensitivity.

All of this talk about whitening leads me to my most exciting discovery. In talking about my pursuit for excellence in whitening around the office, I discovered that my office participates in an annual Zoom Whitening campaign called Smiles for Life. Smiles for Life is a whitening campaign partnered with the Crown Council that whitens teeth on a donation basis. During March – June of every year my office joined with Philips Oral Health makers of ZOOM whiten teeth and all the proceeds go directly to charity, 50% of proceeds benefit national children’s charities, 50% benefit a charity of our choice – Hope Arising, visit http://www.smilesforlife.org for more details. Hope Arising is a sustainable organization that helps people of Ethiopia, we work very closely with Hope Arising , even traveling to Africa twice a year to aid in their stabilization efforts. While in Ethiopia we provide dental services to those in need as well as aid in other efforts to stabilize agriculture and water delivery systems to local villages, visit http://www.hopearising.org for more details or information on how you can help. In the 2012 Smiles for Life campaign we raised over $10,000 and donated approximately $5,000 to Hope Arising, were hoping for an even more successful 2013.

Different whitening methods apply to different people. You may love the strips, and hate the trays. You may love the in office whitening and hate everything else. These are just some of Cassie’s (me) tips to whiter teeth! And for a good cause, too  If you need any more information on whitening, please feel free to email me at appt@shalimarfamilydentistry.com or call me at (480)838-3355. I am very reachable by both.teeth-whiteningpress_release_distribution_0301198_57938

Bad Breath? No Problem!

Do you suffer from bad breath? Does it linger with you throughout the day and you just can’t get rid of it? Don’t be embarrassed, you and the 40 million Americans are not alone.

Halitosis, also more commonly known as bad breath occurs when unpleasant odors are exhaled through the mouth. In most cases, bad breath originates from the mouth. One of the most common causes of bad breath is the build-up of plaque. When people don’t floss, or brush as much as they should, the plaque then begins to harbor bacteria resulting in bad breath, even if you just brushed your teeth! Some symptoms to be on the look out for bad breath are; smell, bad taste or taste changes in your mouth, dry mouth, and a coating on your tongue.

 Most causes of bad breath are due to inadequate oral hygiene. If good oral hygiene practices, or a dentist do no eliminate bad breath, you should consult your physician. Very few causes of bad breath may need medical attention from a physician. When to seek that type of medical attention is when you have a persistent dry mouth, sores in the mouth, pain with chewing or swallowing, white spots on the tonsils, fever,  or just started a new medication. New parents need to watch their babies or young children because bad breath may be a sign of infection or undiagnosed medical problem.

If your bad breath is a result of poor oral hygiene, here are a few tips to help your teeth stay healthy, and smelling clean!

  • brush twice a day with toothpaste containing fluoride
  • brush teeth after meals, especially meals that contain foods high in acid
  • replace your toothbrush every 2 months, this helps your overall health as well. This way you won’t keep putting the same bad bacteria in your mouth over and over again.
  • make sure you are seeing a dentist twice a year for your regular cleanings and check-ups to avoid any problems that might be brewing in your mouth
  • brush your tongue regularly, it really makes a huge difference
  • make sure you are flossing regularly so those food particles that get stuck in between your teeth don’t harbor bacteria
  • keep your mouth moist and wet by drinking lots of water! It’s not a bad idea to make it a habit to drink more water throughout the day because your overall health also benefits from it! Who doesn’t love a 2 for 1 special?

Don’t be embarrassed if you have bad breath, just remember you aren’t alone. Try the tips suggested above, and if they don’t work, come in and see a dentist. We want you to be comfortable, and our number one goal is to see you walk out the door with happy smiles!

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What Even Causes a Gag Reflex Anyways?

Do you have a sensitive gag reflex? Do you hate coming to the dentist because of the dreaded x-rays that make you gag? Don’t worry, you aren’t the only one!

When you go to the dentist, and they take x-rays, do you ever get that awful feeling of throwing up whenever they stick the x-ray into your mouth? That is called your gag reflex. This happens when something is in your mouth that goes far towards the back of your throat and touches the soft palate. This causes irritation to the pharynx, and evoke that feeling that you may or may not throw up!

This is extremely common in a dental office. Some patients have what is called hyperactive gag reflex, which is characterized by high sensitivity levels in the pharyngeal nerves and surround area of certain individuals which than evokes your gag reflex with the slightest instance. This is usually more common in children then adults. But if you are an adult and you suffer from this, it could be caused my sensitivity to certain foods, reactions to some sort of medication, indulging in activities that involve high intensity movements.

We know this process isn’t easy for those of you who have the hyperactive gag reflex. Which is why we have some tips for you!

  • Breathe through your nose. Try getting into the grove of breathing through your nose ahead of time.
  • lift one foot in the air, and concentrate on that during the x-ray process
  • Try telling yourself ahead of time that you aren’t going to gag. It has quite the effect!

Gagging is caused by a number of things, and we completely understand. Don’t ever be afraid to tell us that you have trouble with x-rays. We have many tips to keep your mind else where 🙂

 

 

The Secrets of Soda

Lets be honest here, we all love the sugary, carbonated taste of soda every once in a while. I know I do. There is nothing better than coming home in the summer, crack open that cold can of coke, and savoring the delicious taste 🙂 Little did you know, soda has many secrets that they are  trying to keep hidden from the world so we stay under their delicious spell for forever. I’m sure soda isn’t doing a thing for your waistline either, but it is also rotting your teeth! Eeeeek!

Some of the less obvious staining on your teeth is caused by the sugar and acid consumed as a result of drinking soda. Researchers say drinking soda can be just as corrosive to teeth as drinking battery acid. Who would knowingly drink battery acid but willingly chug a soda?

The sugar and the acid in soda help eachother. The acid brings bacteria to your mouth, and the bacteria sits on top of your teeth. The bacteria sitting on your teeth feeds off of sugar. So when you drink soda with a high amount of sugar in it, you are feeding the bacteria in your mouth caused by acid. The acid alone begins to erode your tooth enamel around the bacterial colony that is caused by the sugar when it enters your moth. It allows the bacteria to move into the eroded areas and eventually leading to cavaties. It’s a big vicious circle that needs to be stopped dead in its tracks.

A coke contains more than 9tsp. of sugar (WHAT!). That much sugar adds layers of sugars to your teeth, and when those layers are on your teeth, they cause plaque to build up. Over time, this layer can produce a yellowed effect on your teeth. Soda has a Carmel dye added into it to create that signature deep brown color. It doesn’t even add any flavor to the drink, it just does more damage to your teeth. The carmel coloring contributes to yellowing of your teeth, and weakedn enamel makes it easer for teeth to become stained.

By cutting out soda you are doing a favor to your body in general. It prevents tooth decy, plaque build up, cavaties, staining, and many other things.

I understand if you’re hooked on soda, and you can’t cut it out COMPLETELY, which is why I have a few suggestions to help the process. First, try cutting down your soda intake by half per day. So if you drink 4 sodas a day, try to only drink 2. If you tend to sip on soda throughout the day, try to eliminate that completely. It is better for you to try and drink it at once when you are sitting down for a meal. Try drinking soda with a straw, it limits the contact with your teeth. Once you are finished drinking soda, immediatly rinse your mouth out water, and floss. These are all suggestions if you can’t  cut soda out completely. But next time you pick up that can full of acid and sugra, think twice about how much you love your teeth 🙂

Managing your oral health is important. Teeth is one of the few things in the body which cannot regenerate. Take care of them now, and avoid the work later in life.

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The Wonders of Vitamin D

 Have you ever wondered what Vitamin D can do to help your body? More over your oral health? Is milk really only for my bones?

Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins. It prevents periodontal disease, gingivitis, and cavities in addition to building bones and aids in absorption of calcium. Vitamin D regulates calcium and allows us to use it more efficiently in our bodies, which is vital to bone health. Recently this vitamin has been linked to the healthiness of your teeth! Studies have shown that addition of Vitamin D to the diet of children reduced evidence of tooth decay by up to 50% in the 3,000 children who were part of the study. In humans, Vitamin D is unique because if can be synthesized and can be absorbed naturally when exposed to the sun. Sadly, if you have a calcium and/or vitamin D deficiency it is likely that your bones and teeth will be affected. Therefore increasing and maintaining your calcium and vitamin D intake can help reduce the effects of premature bone loss.

One good source of Vitamin D and calcium that we can have every day is Milk! Who doesn’t like a nice cool glass of milk? Milk that is fortified with Vitamin D is beneficial to our oral health is because it packs the two for one punch Calcium and Vitamin D. Having strong teeth and bones is arguably one of the most valuable health benefits we strive towards with age. Generally teeth are very hard and  can withstand all the chewing and crunching of all the food we eat. However, tooth enamel is a complex calcium phosphate mineral called apatite. Because, calcium is continuously gained and lost by this mineral, addition of milk to our diets is a great way to replenish calcium. When we are deficient in calcium and Vitamin D, our teeth aren’t as strong, and we can acquire bone loss and even inflammation of our gums. Oral inflammation is a sign of periodontal disease, which results in bone loss if left untreated, when infection that causes bones loss is left untreated tooth loss is the final result. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues  that effect bone that support your teeth this disease occurs when plaque and other oral bacteria’s reach dangerous levels and are not removed by daily brushing or treated with surgeries.

There are many beneficial reasons to adding Vitamin D to your diet, one of the hidden reasons is for your oral health! Your teeth go through so much stress and strain from all of the yummy, delicious, sticky  foods you eat. Thank them by taking Vitamin D and maintaining your oral health with your family dentist and scheduling annual check-up and cleanings!

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Tetracycline, Pregnancy, and Oral Care.

Have you ever heard of the antibiotic called Tetracycline? It is used to treat conditions including acne and respiratory infections. What a lot of people don’t know is that if you’re taking this and you are pregnant, this antibiotic can cause certain risk factors to your child. If you take tetracycline after the fourth month of pregnancy, you can put your child’s teeth in harm. It can cause discoloration, or graying of the baby’s teeth. Because the staining forms when the baby’s teeth are developing, the discoloration is embedded in the tooth’s enamel and inner layers.  The discoloration is either gray or brown in color. They cover the entire tooth, or appear as a pattern of stripes. tetracycline discoloration develops on the teeth while they are still forming under the gum line. During the development of the baby’s teeth, the drug becomes calcified (hardens) in the tooth, generating the tooth stain. Children are susceptible to tetracycline discoloration from the time they are in utero until age 8.

Which leads me to my next point….You can never start oral care too early. If you’re an expectant mother, you can start taking care of your child’s teeth while they are in utero. Eating a variety of  healthy foods, and taking calcium supplements can help prevent decay from forming. Not only does that help with the prevention of decay, it also decreases the baby’s risk of being born with a cleft lip and palate.  When the baby is born, you can continue to help the prevention of decay. After each feeding, take a soft, damp wash cloth and gently wipe the baby’s gums. This will also decrease the baby’s risk of bacteria build up. When they reach the age of 6 months, when their teeth usually start to come in, you can take a very soft tooth-brush, and gently brush the gum lines, where the teeth form twice a day. As the children get older, parents should be brushing their teeth until they are 6 years old. This helps them develop a pattern, and routine for when they get older, and brush by themselves. You can also prevent sticky, and sweet foods from being a main part of their diet. This will help prevent cavities, and tooth decay.

 

We’ve Got Gas!

Nitrous oxide, otherwise known as “laughing” gas, was introduced to the dental field in 1844.   Nitrous is a useful sedative for the patient who is a little anxious or very anxious about dental treatment.  Nitrous oxide is a gas you inhale through a mask that covers your nose during your procedure.  The gas is quick into your system, and quick out of your system.  The dentist will have you inhale oxygen at the beginning of the appointment and the end to clear your system.  Many people find dental appointments to be much more pleasant and do not fear procedures, if the know the nitrous is available to them.

Nitrous used alone will not create anesthesia that puts you to sleep.  You are able to talk with your dentist and respond to requests from them.  Your teeth will still require the use of local anesthetics for procedures.  Nitrous is not strong enough to provide adequate anesthesia if used alone.  Although, a ride is not required after you have been on nitrous; our offices recommend you have someone give you a ride home following your appointment.  Ask your dentist about nitrous at your next appointment.

We love the Dentist!

Mini Implants Stablize Loose Fitting Dentures

 

Nothing is more frustrating for a dental patient, than a loose fitting denture.  If there was a conservative option to secure your dentures in a day, would that be of interest to you?

Mini implants are a wonderful option to secure your existing denture.  Yes, we can use your existing denture.  Mini implants are smaller in diameter than regular implants.  They do not require surgery or healing time prior to being able to place the denture on the implants.  Usually, a minimum of four implants are placed in the bone.  They denture is modified by the dentist to house specialize attachments.  These attachments tightly fasten the denture to the mini implants.  Patients report little discomfort and a lot of satisfaction with their smile and functionality.

One appointment is all it takes to have a firmly secure denture, in one day!

 

Shopping for Toothbrushes

The first toothbrush with bristles was manufactured in China in 1498.  Bristles from hogs, horses and badgers were used.  The first commercial toothbrush was made in 1938.   When shopping for a toothbrush there are a few things to consider.  Electric toothbrushes are generally more efficient than a manual brush.  Electric toothbrushes can produce more brush strokes per minute and can remove more bacteria in a shorter period of time.

However, not everyone likes the “feel” of an electric toothbrush.  If you are fan of manual toothbrushes, please make sure they are soft or extra soft bristles.  It is much easier to replace your toothbrush than to repair the damage a medium or a hard bristle toothbrush can cause.  Be sure to visit your dentist and hygienist for the latest in toothbrushes.  Luckily, toothbrushes manufactures stopped using bristles from animals for the toothbrushes we use today.  

 

 

The Dangers of Artifical Sweeteners

Recently Dr. Mehmet Oz did a segment on his TV show “Dr. OZ”  highlighting the dangers of artificial sweeteners, which not to our surprise has increasingly become America nemesis to our waistline and oral health. He illustrates Metabolic Syndrome as one of the main effects of artificial sweeteners. Metabolic Syndrome occurs when the taste buds located in lower parts of the digestive track (in the pancreas) release insulin are send a pleasure responses to the addiction center of the brain telling our bodies that it has received something sweet and enjoyable. The addiction center then starts to crave another sugar fix sending those needs for the pleasure producing taste back to the rest of your body. All in all creating a vicious cycle of repetition and sugar addition, which in turn is producing weight gain from the increased production of insulin from the pancreas and eventually can lead to insulin resistance and obesity.

In a large study in the 1970’s “Saccharin” was linked to bladder cancer, this once caused the sweetener to come with a warning label. Now many studies done by the Food and Drug Administration cannot find a substantial link between artificial sweeteners and cancer, but only when consumed in limited amounts. Now that artificial sweeteners have been cleared  by the FDA for consumption,  applications are sky rocketing. Studies link just one diet cola a day to Metabolic Syndrome which comes with its laundry list of health concerns in addition the build up belly fat.

Regardless of health effects and linked controversy of said sweeteners many foods (and drink) that are harmful to your dental and overall health contain artificial sweeteners as a primary ingredient. Modern diets and eating habits  have increased your tooth enamels exposure to  foods high in acid resulting acid erosion of your teeth. Eating everyday foods high in acid, many of which include artificial sweeteners can eventually soften your enamel. This makes wearing away tooth enamel by brushing and eating easier and becomes thinner over time. Thinner enamel can also look visibly dingy and less brilliant that will also leave your teeth susceptible to heat and cold sensations over time.

When it comes to food and drinks there is no comparison between water, natural fruits and vegetables and foods that are highly processed and sweetened. Sticking to a diet consisting of natural unsweetened foods and beverages will most definitely reduce your risks of some cancers and enamel erosion. However, there is no replacement for the “occasional” indulgence to keep the heart happy. Dont deprive yourself of the things you love, simply love them in moderation – And always brush your teeth after life’s simple indulgences.