Oct 11, 2016
We all know how packed candies are with sugars, but during Halloween the temptation for sweet treats is too great to resist. A few pieces here and there are fine to eat in moderation, but too many candies will load devilish sugars on our teeth and eat away at our enamel if we don’t follow a proper brushing and flossing routine. How can we enjoy Halloween’s customary perks of eating candy while maintaining good oral health? There are several ways you can do both during this year’s festive night.
- Limit time eating candy. The amount of time your teeth are exposed to sugary candies plays a big role in maintaining proper oral health. If you eat a meal and treat yourself to a piece or two of candy immediately after, your teeth are better off. This is because saliva production increases when you eat meals and cancels out the acid bacteria produces in your mouth. By eating candy directly after a meal, your saliva will help rinse away food particles and candy sugars quickly.
- Choose candies sensibly. Hard candies are the absolute worst. The amount of time they linger in your mouth, spreading sugars along your teeth, can contribute to tooth decay. Similarly, if you bite down on a hard sucker you may risk cracking a molar. To be safe, choose candies like chocolates that disappear quickly. Your teeth will be exposed to sugars much shorter this way.
- Avoid sticky candies. Candy like taffy, caramel, and gummies stick to your teeth relentlessly. Long after you’ve finished chewing, particles of these sticky treats may remain stuck to your molars, eating away at your enamel. You want to be sure you avoid these dental threats as best you can to reduce the chances of getting tooth decay.
- Brush, floss, and drink water. Of course, if you can’t avoid sneaking in a few candies during October’s customary holiday, remember to take care of your teeth after snacking. Brush well, floss, and drink water. Following this routine after consuming sugary snacks (or any meal) is good practice to maintain optimal oral health.
This Halloween, try out some of our tips to enjoy a tooth-friendly holiday. Don’t forget to schedule your next cleaning, if it’s not on the calendar already. Call us at (207) 781-5900 to book an appointment.
Aug 17, 2016
People from afar may be surprised to hear that summer days in New England can reach temperatures in the 90s. Though our summer is short, the occasional intensely hot day in August should be respected. One of the dangers associated with being outside on a hot day is dehydration, which can cause mild to severe symptoms throughout the body, including low blood pressure, fever, and delirium. Oral health is not immune to the dangers of dehydration, which is why we want to keep you informed about what you can do to stay hydrated while you enjoy the summer.
Cavities and Dehydration
Since dehydration is a lack of water in the body, and since saliva is comprised mostly of water, it follows that dehydration leads to dry mouth. Besides being uncomfortable, a perpetually dry mouth can contribute to the formation of cavities. Studies have shown that saliva is important for oral health because of its antibacterial properties. Less saliva means more bacteria. When combined with a mouth full of sugary summer food, like trail mix or sweet bbq sauce, the risk of developing caries, the precursor to cavities, rises.
Staying hydrated will help keep our oral health intact. You may be thinking, “That’s easy, right? Drink water.” Well, maintaining hydration is dependent on what activity you’re doing – it could be as simple as drinking water, but it could involve some research. Below are some tips on how to stay hydrated whether you’re lounging by the pool or running a marathon.
Simply Enjoying the Sunshine
You may think you are not at risk for dehydration if you’re outside on a hot day, but not engaged in physical activity. However, a hot enough day can cause you to lose significant amounts of water even when your body is at rest. If you are lounging by the pool or hanging out at an outdoor gathering, there is probably a water source nearby – be sure to drink frequently.
Hiking
Staying hydrated while hiking can be a bit complicated. You will have to drink more water than you would if your body was at rest. Additionally, you will have to carry all of your drinkable water with you; or, if backpacking, find it during the hike. Nothing can be more stressful than running out of water during a hike, but a little planning can help you avoid this situation.
Before you leave, find out how long the hike will be in terms of miles and hours. On average, you should drink one cup for every half hour you are hiking. You will sweat more if you’re hiking steep terrain rather than level ground, so plan to bring extra water if you’re conquering Mt. Washington. It also helps to drink a significant amount of water before you start hiking. Last, if you’re hiking in the back country or backpacking, find out ahead of time what and where your available water sources will be and plan accordingly.
Long Distance Running
Long distance runners are particularly susceptible to dehydration on a hot day due to an excessive loss of salt. When we sweat, we lose water and salt. Most activities don’t cause enough salt loss to become worrisome, but long distance running and other high exertion exercises are exceptions. Though we may think of salt as having a dehydrating quality to it, salt helps the body retain water. Too much or too little salt can be dangerous: balance is the goal. You can replenish lost salts by consuming drinks that contain electrolytes, rather than plain water.
If you have concerns about cavities, mouth pain, or any other oral health issues, we encourage you to call us at (207) 781-5900 for care.
Jun 13, 2016
Though we can’t complain about this past winter we had, there’s no doubt we are all excited for summer and all it has to offer. One of our favorite traditions is being able to eat outdoors with friends and family. Historically, the summer barbeque offers fare that is less than dental friendly. Fear not – we have tips to keep your teeth healthy while you enjoy fun in the sun.
Cheese
Eating cheese as an appetizer can help protect your teeth against the strong acids found in other foods. Cheese is also loaded with calcium, which is always good for teeth and bones.
The Veggie Plate – your friend
Though it is often overlooked, the classic circular veggie plate can be your best friend at a barbeque. We all know vegetables are good for us, and the more you fill up on them, the less you’ll be eating the bad stuff. Despite what some of our young children might say, biting into a fresh red pepper is both delicious and refreshing.
Condiments
We don’t typically think of condiments as being sweet, but trust us, there is a lot of sugar in there, especially in many name-brand products. Focus on flavoring your hamburger with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, and pickles rather than slopping on the ketchup and barbeque sauce.
Avoid starches
Though they can certainly be addictive, chips and other starchy snacks do a great job of getting stuck in our molars. For those long days at the beach with no toothbrush, avoiding starchy foods could save you from a cavity or two down the road.
Bring on the meat! And by meat we mean fish!
Charcoal-grilled fish is not only one of the most delicious foods there is, it is also far healthier for your teeth than red meat. Besides being less likely to get stuck in between your teeth, fish oils have anti-inflammatory properties that help fight against bacteria. Choose a Gulf of Maine Research Institute responsibly harvested fish and you’ll be helping to keep Casco Bay healthy as well – bonus!
Follow these tips this summer and your mouth will thank you, but if you couldn’t resist those ribs and corn on the cob and are starting to feel the repercussions, give us a call to make an appointment.
Jun 13, 2016
Milk. The delicious beverage that makes our lattes foamy, our ice cream creamy, and our milk shakes, well, milky. Milk is everywhere! In fact, milk is so pervasive to us humans we probably forget how unique our relationship with milk is. For example, our species is the only one in existence whose adults consume milk. All other mammalian species only drink milk as babies.
Anthropologists have been pondering this mystery for years and have theorized where our milk-drinking obsession began. Until now, there has been little direct evidence to test these theories besides studying genes in different populations. Researchers think they have found direct evidence that can trace our milk-consuming history back to its roots. They discovered milk proteins in samples of dental plaque from ancient human teeth. That’s right, they discovered 5,000-year-old plaque build-up from early man drinking too much milk and not brushing and flossing enough!
The markers indicating the presence of milk in the ancient plaque were not found in all the specimens studied. As expected, adult human remains tested from areas where dairy animals were not utilized, such as West Africa, had no traces of milk in their dental plaque. Ancient Europeans, who we know have been raising dairy animals for millennia, did test positive. As more specimens are tested and more results come in, a road map will begin to form that will show the journey our milk-drinking genes took around the world.
As we continue to enjoy this subtly sweet beverage, remember that milk lactose is a sugar and can lead to cavities just like other sweets. Always brush after consuming any food, including milk. If it’s been a while since your last checkup, make an appointment to have us remove your ancient plaque!
To read the full article visit Science Daily.
dental plaque
May 17, 2016
Hormones, the tiny chemical messengers that tell our bodies what, how, and when to do something, can have a huge impact on women’s oral health, especially during periods of change. Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause all come with mild to massive hormonal changes in the body. These changes have been discovered to be linked to specific oral maladies. During these life stages, it is important for women to know what signs to look for that indicate oral illness.
Puberty
During puberty, a woman’s body begins producing larger quantities of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is theorized that these hormones cause the microenvironment of your mouth to change into one more accommodating for the harmful bacteria that lead to gingivitis. These bacteria take up residence in the pubescent mouth in huge numbers. Signs of gingivitis to watch out for include bleeding or inflamed gums.
Pregnancy
In addition to gingivitis, pregnant women have another complication to deal with. The saliva of a pregnant woman can change in two ways. Frequently, pregnant women’s saliva loses its anti-microbial efficacy due to a change in the chemical cocktail within the saliva, leading to a build up of harmful bacteria. Dry mouth is another common problem in which saliva production is reduced. Saliva helps fight cavities, so a persistent dry mouth could lead to unwanted problems. Sipping water frequently helps.
Menopause
Women going through menopause are more susceptible to gingivitis, dry mouth, and several other oral health issues. One frequent condition, called Burning Mouth Syndrome, has symptoms of burning sensations that are felt in different parts of the mouth. Osteoporosis during menopause could lead to bone loss in teeth and the jaw bone. Signs of oral osteoporosis are loose teeth and dentures that do not fit properly.
If you or other women close to you are going through any of these life changes and are experiencing oral discomfort, please call or have them call us right away to schedule an appointment.
women’s oral health
