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We all know that the only tried and true method of preventing cavities is regular brushing and flossing. However, that doesn’t stop researchers and dental patients alike from seeking other “life hacks” to maintain shiny smiles. Of course, the best way to promote good oral hygiene is to control what we put in our mouths in the first place!
As consumers are becoming more health-conscious, companies are seeking alternative sweeteners to sugar. As a well-known contributor to tooth decay and other health problems, sugar is always facing new competition. For certain products like chewing gum, the American Dental Association will only award its Seal of Acceptance to sugarless varieties.
With this incentive, many chewing gum manufacturers are now using sugar substitutes to satisfy your sweet tooth (without putting holes in it!). One of the most common sugar alternatives in chewing gum is xylitol. Unlike many other sweeteners, xylitol is not artificial and can be found in a variety of plants. Many claim that it effectively prevents the growth of cavity-causing bacteria and it has quickly become a popular ingredient in products on store shelves worldwide.
However, the American Dental Association says that the benefits of xylitol may be exaggerated. In recent studies of the sweetener, there has not been enough evidence to prove that xylitol prevents tooth decay. Despite anecdotal reports of success, we can’t say for sure that this sweetener has special teeth cleaning properties.
Don’t let this leave a bad taste in your mouth—there’s still good news! All forms of sugar-free gum, including xylitol-flavored gum, are still much better for your teeth than gum with sugar. The advantages are twofold: First, oral bacteria have a harder time surviving without sugar to feed them. The other benefit of chewing sugarless gum is that it increases the flow of saliva. Saliva is essential to preventing tooth decay because it washes away food particles and remineralizes your teeth to keep them strong.
While we can’t say xylitol is a dental care savior, feel free to pick up some sugar-free gum the next time you’re out shopping—your teeth will thank you! Just remember that a sugar substitute is never a substitute for thorough brushing and flossing.
As dental professionals, we feel like broken records telling people to reduce the amount of sugar in their diets to reduce tooth decay. We know we’ve gotten through to some of you and you have made important changes, such as cutting back your sugary latte or soda pop consumption to just one per day followed by a thorough tooth brushing. But some of you who have made these positive changes are still shocked when we tell you that you we’re still finding new cavities.
We assure you, the dentist isn’t making it up when new cavities appear. What we’ve realized is there’s a gap in the information we’re giving you about sugary treats. Here’s the missing piece: it’s not always how much sugar you consume, but how you consume it that leads to tooth decay!
This is what the dentist knows that all patients should know too: sustained sugar consumption, even in moderation, over a long period of time can damage your oral health.
For example, you stop by the coffee shop on the way to work and pick up your favorite caramel latte and sip on it gradually from 8am until 11am, at which point you brush your teeth. Sure, your teeth are nice and clean now, but for the previous 3 hours you’ve been continuously bathing your teeth in sugar, providing a feast for the bacteria in your mouth. And those bacteria aren’t going to politely wait until you brush your teeth at 11am to start making holes in your tooth enamel or get under your gums and become gingivitis.
This same concept holds true for soda pop or a baggie of fruit-flavored candies. If you’re going to enjoy any sugary treats, make sure you consume it fairly quickly to avoid exposing your teeth to sugar for a long period of time. Of course, brushing right afterward is still a good habit. But if you don’t have access to a toothbrush right away, drinking plain non-carbonated water can help flush away at least some of the sugar.
So remember, moderation is important both in terms of quantity of sugary treats and how long it takes you to eat or drink them!
While they may seem like a small detailed compared to extravagant period-piece gowns or ornate whole-head alien makeup, teeth can make a huge impact in a Hollywood costume. To prove it, here are some famous silver screen chompers and the stories behind them.
One of the most memorable qualities of Mike Myer’s groovy super spy are his unsightly teeth. Myers and his makeup artist worked with dental lab technician Gary Archer to create the look, which consisted of a temporary denture-like device made of acrylic. Austin Powers’s big yellow crooked smile seems to play into the stereotype that British people have terrible teeth, but they’re actually more of a commentary on how dental care has evolved since the 1960s, and not just in Britain: as Powers’ companion Mrs. Kensington says, “Since you’ve been frozen, there have been fabulous advances in the field of dentistry.”
Besides beaded braids, eyeliner and a grimy tricorn hat, Captain Jack Sparrow’s most iconic quality may be his multicolored smile. A grin from the pirate franchise’s hero, played by Johnny Depp, is full of gold teeth. This costume detail is actually a fairly accurate portrayal of what a pirate may have looked like in the 1700s. Gold has been used to repair teeth for centuries because it is stable and won’t corrode in the warm, moist environment of the mouth. It’s also true that pirates probably didn’t have great teeth, and not just because dentists didn’t exist yet. Scurvy, a disease caused malnutrition, particularly a deficiency of Vitamin C, can cause tooth decay and tooth loss.
As for achieving the look for his costume, Johnny Depp went to a real dentist and had actual gold teeth created. What’s more, the actor surprised the public by keeping the gold teeth after the first few movies were already in theaters. It turns out he knew that more sequels were in the works and would rather keep the gold teeth than go back to the dentist to have them removed.
The modern wave of cinematic television and movies has turned vampires from black-cloaked specters with unfortunate hairdos into genuine heartthrobs, and the vampires on the HBO series True Blood were no exception. For the most part, besides their fangs, very little set the vampires of the series apart from their mortal companions.
But special effects artist Dan Repert and series creator Alan Ball decided to do things a little differently. Instead of being visible all the time, True Blood‘s fangs appeared whenever the vampire’s mood warranted it, folding down from the roof of the mouth with a telltale sound. This design was based on snake fangs, which only fold down when a snake attacks or feeds. This effect was created by having each vampire actor do “fang” scene twice, once without false fangs on, and again with the false fangs on. The two takes were then blended together digitally at the moment the fangs appeared. Watch carefully and you’ll also notice that the fangs appear on the second incisors, rather than on the canines as in most traditional portrayals of vampires.
While Hollywood effects artists jobs may be to make mouths weird and ugly, we’re very grateful that a dentist’s job is to make smiles beautiful and healthy!
Teeth whitening is a fantastic investment in the appearance of your smile. White teeth are associated with youth and health, and can make a big difference in your self-esteem. If you’re going to put time and money into getting whiter teeth, make sure you make the most of it with these tips!
If you’ve noticed your teeth starting to get yellow, chances are you know the culprits: the food you eat. (You should know by now that tobacco also stains your teeth, but if you’re a tobacco-user, we’ve got other things to talk about before we talk about whitening your teeth!) The most obvious tooth-staining foods are coffee, tea and red wine, but berries, soda and chocolate can also cause stains. Pretty much, if it would stain your favorite white shirt, it can stain your teeth. So don’t go right back to eating these foods after your teeth whitening treatment! Teeth can actually be slightly more vulnerable to staining right after whitening than they were before. That’s why many recommend eating only “white” foods afterward (think white bread, pasta, cauliflower, potatoes, etc.).
The biggest concern that most people have when getting their teeth whitened is sensitivity. Indeed, tooth sensitivity is the main side effect of whitening, but this sensation is temporary and usually goes away in a few hours or days. A bigger source of disappointment may be how white your teeth end up. Outside of bad habits, the biggest factor in tooth color is actually genetics. If your mom, dad, grandmother, and uncle all have bright white teeth, chances are you can too. But if the rest of your family has yellowish teeth despite never touching tobacco or coffee, the affects you can expect will certainly be whiter, but maybe not as white as a more genetically fortunate friend.
You should also know that there are certain types of tooth discoloration that whitening can’t really fix, such as fluorosis spots or internal staining that can happen as a result of taking certain antibiotics. That’s one of the reasons it’s a good idea to have a professional teeth whitening at the dentist. The dentist will be able to tell you what to expect and whether you’re a good candidate for the treatment.
After teeth whitening treatment, you may be sent home with custom whitening trays and several tubes of whitening gel. This is to provide you with an opportunity to keep your pearly whites just as white over the next few weeks and months. If your teeth whitening treatment didn’t include custom whitening trays from the dentist, you can still maintain your white smile using over-the-counter treatments. However, keep in mind that these are less powerful, require more diligence and patience, and are not as good at getting around the sides of your teeth.
A toothache is your body’s way of telling you something has gone wrong in your mouth. There is no convenient time or place to get a toothache, but we always strive to see our toothache patients as soon as possible. But chances are you won’t be at our office when a toothache strikes, so here are a few things NOT to do between when you notice the discomfort and when you see the dentist.
Spoiler alert: it won’t just get better on its own. It’s possible that if you use home toothache remedies you can reduce your discomfort, but that doesn’t mean that you’ve fixed the underlying problem that caused the toothache in the first place. If there is a singular truth to oral health it is this: nothing ever gets better by putting off seeing the dentist.
Yes, there is a right and wrong way to take painkillers when you have a toothache! The best option is to take ibuprofen (Advil) consistently and don’t stop when the pain starts getting better. Taking the indicated dose regularly until you see the dentist will prevent swelling from coming back and causing more discomfort. We should note that not everyone can take ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) due to health concerns. Chances are you know if you can’t take NSAIDs, but please ask your primary care doctor if you aren’t sure.
There are a few symptoms that may accompany a toothache that are serious and may require a visit to urgent care or the ER. These include a fever, severe swelling, eyes swelling shut, trouble breathing or swallowing. All of these are signs of a serious infection or injury that could be life-threatening in extreme and rare situations. Please don’t take a chance: if you have these symptoms, go to the hospital first and call us after.
Even if it’s a Sunday night or a national holiday, don’t hesitate to call us. If you don’t get someone on the phone right away, you can leave a message about what’s going on and your phone number, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. The sooner we know about your situation, the sooner we can help!
As a patient, you may wonder exactly what qualifications you need in order to poke around other people’s mouths! Many people don’t know exactly how much time and preparation goes into learning dentistry. If you’re someone who wants to work in the dental field or just plain curious, here’s a quick guide on how to become a dentist.
Aspiring dental students must first complete a four-year undergraduate program at a college or university. Usually, this involves studying biology, chemistry, and other sciences. Students are also encouraged to “shadow” a dentist to learn more about the career path. Before applying to dental school, they must pass a Dental Admissions Test (DAT); a comprehensive exam that covers basic academic subjects like math and science. Good grades and letters of recommendation are also required to get into dental school.
Like medical school, dental schools offer four-year programs. The first two years are mostly spent studying the fundamentals of science and dentistry, after which students are tested on what they have learned. In the last two years of dental school, students spend more time practicing on actual patients and less time in the classroom. Finally, there is yet another exam they need to pass before they get their degree. In some areas, students also have to take a postgraduate training course.
Once a graduate has completed the test, he or she becomes either a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (A side note: There isn’t actually any difference between these titles; both degrees have the same requirements!). Many people might consider this the “end of the line” for dental education.
In reality, dentists never stop learning. After graduating, some may choose to become specialists in specific subjects like orthodontics or periodontics, which typically requires two to six more years of education. For those who haven’t been counting, that means that dentists spend eight to fourteen years in school! Even dentists who don’t become specialists are usually required to take continuing education classes to stay licensed. While this might seem like an overwhelming amount of studying, the truth is that dentists love to keep learning so they can give you the best possible treatment with the latest techniques and advances.
Every few years a new dental care fad pops up and we dentists and hygienists start hearing tons of questions about whether the latest dental home remedy or DIY tooth care product really works. One of the most popular ones we’ve seen lately is using activated charcoal paste to whiten teeth. Some video bloggers are claiming amazing teeth whitening effects, but many patients are wondering whether this technique really works, and more importantly, whether it is safe.
The quick answer to both questions is: we don’t know yet. Viable studies have not been completed yet on whether charcoal can remove stains from teeth or whether charcoal can damage teeth.
In case you aren’t familiar with it, charcoal teeth whitening involves adding water to a fine powder of charcoal to make a paste. You then use this paste to brush your teeth with a regular toothbrush for three to five minutes. Supposedly, after you rinse the ghoulish-looking black paste from your mouth, you’re left with an ultra-white, megawatt smile.
The idea behind the trend is reasonable enough. Charcoal has been used for centuries as a purifying agent. Activated charcoal is very porous, and all the tiny little holes on its surface grab on to toxins and particles. That’s why charcoal is used in water filters and by as poison control in emergency rooms. However, whether this purifying effect works on teeth is not known, though in theory the concept does make sense.
Regardless of whether charcoal can be effective for teeth whitening, the more important question is if it is safe. It is possible that charcoal is too abrasive for your teeth, meaning that if the charcoal is too rough, it can damage and strip away the outer layer of your teeth (the enamel). This may not cause a problem after just one use, however, if a patient uses charcoal on their teeth repeatedly over time, they may wear out their teeth, leaving them vulnerable to sensitivity and decay.
Given that we don’t really have any evidence or studies to prove either the effectiveness or safety of charcoal teeth whitening, we can’t say that we recommend it. There are plenty of reasonably priced tooth whitening products at the drugstore that are known to be effective and safe that we’d rather patients use. And remember, the best person to ask for advice about whitening your smile is your dentist, your smile-care professional!
Anyone who has been around babies and toddlers knows that tiny humans use their mouths to learn about their surroundings. For the most part, using our mouths to explore is something that we grow out of, but in some cases oral bad habits and compulsions continue into later childhood or develop in adulthood, which can pose risks to your dental health. Here are a few habits that you should nip in the bud as soon as possible, and some suggestions for how to stop them.
When we provide dentistry for children, thumbsucking is one of the bad habits we watch out for. The biggest risk with sustained thumbsucking is how it affects the bite. Frequently having a thumb in the mouth causes teeth to shift around it. This can lead to problems such as an open bite, where the front teeth protrude and cause a large gap between top and bottom teeth, which can affect the function of the teeth while eating and speaking and affect facial aesthetics. Patients with an unaddressed thumbsucking habit that goes on for years usually end up needing orthodontic treatment (braces) that could have been avoided if the habit had been addressed.
The other risk of thumbsucking is that it can introduce bacteria from the fingers into the mouth, which can cause tooth decay. Thumbsucking is considered normal up until age 3. After that point, you should consult with the dentist or your pediatrician to find a solution to stop the habit, such as oral appliances that block the thumb from entering the mouth or thumb shields that are worn on hands.
Chewing fingernails is a very common bad habit, but many people don’t know it’s just as bad for the health and appearance of your smile as it is for your hands. The protein that makes up your fingernails may be soft enough to bite through, but it’s actually hard enough that it can cause wear to your teeth over time. As a result, the bottom edges of front teeth start to look ragged or uneven and become more vulnerable to cracks or other damage. Ultimately, chewing fingernails is a compulsive behavior related to stress and is often a habit that people inherit. Luckily, because this habit is so common, there are lots of solutions out there. Try putting a bitter tasting solution on your fingers, occupying your hands with a fidget spinner or something else to fiddle with, occupying your mouth with sugar-free gum, or getting a manicure so there are no tempting rough edges or dry cuticles to gnaw on. If your habit has already caused damage to your teeth, the dentist can assess it and repair it with tooth-colored fillings and bonding to return your smile to it’s original appearance.
This may be one of the worst habits for your dental health. While liquid water is great for flushing debris and bacteria away from your teeth, chewing on frozen water is not that far off from chewing on rocks. Ice can wear out your tooth enamel, making teeth more vulnerable to cracking, tooth decay, and sensitivity to hot and cold. If you have fillings, chewing on ice can make them more brittle and prone to failure. Chewing on ice is like asking for a toothache. Like biting your fingernails, you can cope with your urge to chew by substituting ice for sugar-free gum. If you continue to find yourself tempted, consider not including ice in your beverages.
While tooth stains don’t come in all the colors of the rainbow, they come in a few, and they each may mean something different about the condition of your smile and what you can do about it. Here’s your color guide to tooth discoloration.
The most common cause of yellow teeth are drinking dark beverages such as tea, coffee, or wine. Of course, smoking or chewing tobacco also causes teeth to yellow.
Yellow teeth may also just be dirty. The plaque that builds up on teeth as the result of poor dental hygiene often has a yellowish color. Cleaning your teeth properly by brushing, flossing and seeing the hygienist can remove this plaque, but if you leave it there long-term, it can become a permanent, darker stain.
Just like eyes, hair, and skin, teeth come in many different colors. That is to say, sometimes the color of your teeth has more to do with genetics than your habits or health. If you’re from a family with naturally yellower or darker teeth, it will be harder to achieve perfectly white teeth, no matter how diligent you are about your diet or how often you get whitening treatments.
Yellow teeth can also be caused by aging. Your teeth have two layers: a hard outer layer called enamel that looks white, and a softer inner layer called dentin that’s more yellow. As your teeth age, your enamel gets thinner, and because it’s semi-transparent, the dentin underneath starts to show, making your teeth look yellow.
Brown teeth are often just a more advanced version of yellow stains, especially for smokers. If you smoke or chew tobacco throughout your life, expect your teeth to go from yellow to brown to dark brown. Brown stains can also occur when plaque left behind from inefficient cleaning gets stained by the foods and drinks you consume.
If you see brown spots on your teeth, you may have tooth decay. Cavities (called caries by dentists) often appear as white spots when they’re new but can become brown or black as the decay advances. You should always notify your dentist if you have a brown spot on your teeth.
White stains or spots can be a sign of too much fluoride. Fluoride is case in dentistry where too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. While fluoride in general strengthens your teeth, too much of it can cause discoloration in the form of white spots or streaks.
Some types of antibiotics, specifically those called tetracyclines, can cause teeth to change color. Usually the color is yellow or brown, but sometimes it can be a grayish or gray-blue tinge. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to be done about tetracycline staining, because it occurs inside the tooth, not on the surface where teeth whitening solutions work.
The good news is that most types of stains can be prevented with regular professional dental hygiene cleanings and treated with both at-home or in-office teeth whitening systems (the latter being faster and more effective).
Your mouth has many ways of letting you know that something has changed or may be wrong. Nevertheless, when we ask patients whether anything is bothering them about their smile, we find out they’ve been dealing with symptoms for a while! If you have any of the symptoms described below, please make an appointment to come see us so we can make sure we keep your smile happy and healthy.
Perhaps it should be obvious that pain sometimes your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong, and the same is true of your mouth. You should not ignore tooth pain, especially if it is persistent and lasts for several days. Toothaches could be the sign of decay, a cracked tooth, or an infection. One thing we know is that oral pain isn’t something that usually gets better on its own. It’s worth a trip to the dentist to investigate the problem as soon as possible.
We find that some patients have heard conflicted messages on this topic. Bleeding gums is common, but that does not mean that it is normal. If you notice blood when you brush or floss, that may be an early sign of gingivitis or gum disease. Take it as a sign that you need to have a conversation with the dentist about your oral health habits and what can be done to get your gums back to full health.
Occasional tooth sensitivity is not necessarily a sign of a big problem, but you should discuss your symptoms with your dentist no matter what. Sensitivity to hot, cold or sugary foods can be a sign of tooth decay. However, tooth sensitivity can also come and go naturally over time. If you have persistent trouble with sensitivity, you may be damaging your enamel by brushing too hard. A chat with the dentist about your tooth sensitivity is a good way to come up with a plan to address this issue so you can go back to enjoying all the foods and drinks you love without discomfort.
If you have any question at all about your oral health, don’t wait to have a conversation with us. Dentistry works the same way as most other things in life: if you think something is wrong, it will be easier (and usually cheaper) to fix if you take care of it early, rather than ignoring it and letting it get worse! We won’t chastise you for not taking good care of your mouth or tell you that you did something wrong. Instead, we will do our best to make sure your teeth are healthy and functional.
