March 2017 Newsletter
Safe Teething Remedies
The Food and Drug Administration’s recent caution against homeopathic teething tablets and gels has naturally led many parents to wonder which teething remedies are safe. The belladonna extract in the now-discontinued Hyland’s teething tablets was not the first ingredient to be denounced by the FDA; benzocaine has been the target of consumer warnings because in rare cases it can fatally reduce the amount of oxygen in the blood. However, there are still a number of physical remedies which are endorsed by doctors for soothing babies.
Atropa belladonna, also known as deadly nightshade, has long been used as a pain-reliever, but in large doses it also has toxic effects, including hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, and convulsions. Hyland’s manufacturer, the Standard Homeopathic Company, recalled their teething products in 2010 because the FDA found the amount of belladonna extract varied and was often higher than claimed on the label. The company denies this was still the case when they discontinued their products following a second FDA review in 2016, maintains that the amount of extract did not actually exceed what was deemed safe, and continues to sell the remaining stock through their website. But the FDA issued a statement on January 27, 2017, saying their laboratories confirmed levels of belladonna above what was claimed on the products’ labels. Furthermore, the FDA questioned whether any amount of belladonna is safe for children under two, and physicians have expressed skepticism of teething gels in general, as they may constitute a choking hazard. Clove is another homeopathic ingredient often used in teething remedies despite being of questionable safety.
The most common advice for parents with teething babies is to soothe them with chilled objects. Teething rings should be cooled in a refrigerator, not frozen, although frozen washcloths may be safely given to babies provided that they are not cooled to an extreme level. Some doctors also recommend a chilled metal or wooden spoon. Food may be a choking hazard, and parents should monitor babies whenever they are eating, but some mesh products allow babies to suck frozen liquids safely. Parents may also try rubbing their baby’s gums with their fingers.
Teething usually begins when a baby is about six months old. Parents should start bringing their child to a dentist as soon as any tooth surfaces emerge to ensure they know how to clean their baby’s teeth properly. A dentist can also provide information about teething safety.
May 2017 Dental Newsletter
Dental Care for Athletes
What do sports have to do with your oral health? More than you think! Adults and children getting involved in sports should all take the easy precaution of wearing mouth protection. Simply making a smart choice about what to drink after exercise will also have a positive and long-lasting impact on your oral health. Keep these things in mind this season as you and your family get active!
Mouth Guards
Athletes in any contact sport are required to wear some kind of mouth protection, and the average person involved in sports activities should follow this example. A mouth guard helps prevent damage to the teeth, jaw, cheeks, tongue, and lips.
The best protection for your teeth will always be a mouth guard made of thin, hard plastic that was custom fit by a dentist. Most sporting goods stores carry generic mouth guards, but these are often bulky and uncomfortable, leading to child and teenage athletes in particular not wearing the protection at all. Custom mouth guards can be fit over braces and won’t interrupt normal speaking or breathing.
In 2015 the CustMbite MVP mouth guard became the first athletic mouth guard to be awarded the ADA Seal of Acceptance, making it a recommended alternative to a fully custom mouth guard. The CustMbite guard can be heated at home by an adult, making the material moldable before being fitted.
Sports Drinks
We always see sports drinks advertised as a quick, refreshing cool down and instant replenishing of electrolytes. The truth remains that water is the best way to hydrate, and some sports drinks have a high sugar content. Sugar, of course, is the biggest threat in the war on cavities and sugary drinks expose teeth to a lot of it. Even with a regular brushing and flossing routine, what you drink throughout the day contributes to cavities forming. Water cleans your mouth with every sip and even helps freshen breath, making it the clear winner in the game of hydration!
September 2017 Newsletter
Oral Health for Seniors
October 2017 Newsletter
Enamel Erosion
Among the reasons why people suffer from sensitive teeth, one of the most common is enamel erosion. Enamel is the substance that makes up the outermost layer of the teeth. It is the hardest substance in the body and it protects the sensitive dentin layer and pulp. However, once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. Fortunately, there are some simple changes most people can make to prevent further erosion and there are treatments available to strengthen enamel that hasn’t yet been lost.
Most people are aware that when sugar sticks to teeth it becomes food for bacteria, which damage the teeth by producing acid. But the acid produced by bacteria is not special in this regard—acid from other sources can be just as damaging. One of the most common sources of both sugar and acid is soda, which also stains enamel. Other common sources of acid are citrus juice and alcohol. Citrus juice is highly acidic but is not always instantly recognizable; citric fruit-derived sour flavoring is one source which can fly under the radar. Alcohol is corrosive to enamel in its own right and several alcoholic drinks are high in sugar. There is currently a bit of a diplomatic tiff between Britain and Italy over British dentists’ claim that carbonated wines may pose a particular danger to dental health.
It is important to note that a lot of the risk posed by these sources can be mitigated by simply not swishing them around inside the mouth and by drinking (non-carbonated) water in between sips. Saliva is also an important means of neutralizing acid in the mouth, which is why it is wise to chew sugar-free gum and candy to stimulate its production but dangerous to allow the mouth to dry out. Another major oral health problem which impacts enamel is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or acid reflux. When people have this disease, their stomach acid enters their esophagi when they swallow and can get into their mouths. The upper back teeth are typically most affected by this. The risk factors for acid reflux largely consist of the same foods which cause acid damage the first time down, as well as smoking, fatty foods, and practices such as lying down after meals which are bad for digestion.
Tooth sensitivity tends to be worst when the patient eats foods that are especially hot or cold. Other warning signs of enamel erosion to watch out for are teeth taking on a yellow color, since the dentin layer below the enamel is yellow, and cupping, and chipping. Toothpaste with fluoride can be useful for remineralizing enamel that has been weakened, as can milk and other drinks and foods which are high in calcium. It is also possible to shield weakened enamel with a fluoride treatment or veneers.