Here is our current mailer with two offers for New Patients.  Call for a dental appointment or book online through our webpage.  Mention this offer when booking your visit or print out and bring to first visit.  We look forward to seeing you at our office and providing you with excellent dental care.

Teeth Whitening – How Does it Work

Teeth whitening isn’t exactly bleaching, but teeth whitening gels do typically contain bleaching agents (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide).  The term bleaching is only used when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural color.   On the other hand, teeth whitening can be used for any product that removes debris and plaque helping to restore teeth to their natural color.  So, any product that cleans can be considered a teeth whitener – a clever marketing trick.

Teeth start out sparkling white and over time small cracks develop and the enamel wears down.  The very small cracks that form fill with debris and stains discoloring the teeth.  Another source of discoloration is enamel break down, which causes the enamel to become more transparent and exposes the yellow dentin.

Staining of the teeth has several sources, but some of the worst culprits are red wine, coffee, tea, cola, carrots, oranges and other deeply-colored beverages and foods. In addition, acidic foods  or drinks such as citrus fruits and vinegar contribute to enamel erosion and transparency allowing the yellow-colored dentin to show through.

As you can imagine, the more stains the more difficult it is to restore teeth to their natural color.  Consequently, younger people will experience more dramatic results quickly whereas older individuals may require more treatments.   It may not be possible to achieve desired results if significant enamel loss has occurred and the teeth have become more translucent.  Your dentist will advise you on what you can realistically expect.

Teeth Whitening – Your Options

There are basically three options: in-office whitening, professional in-home whitening kits (provided by your dentist), and over the counter whitening kits.

In-office teeth whitening is the most effective option, but is also the most extreme and expensive.  In-office whitening uses high concentration peroxide, which requires gum protection and is performed by a dentist or a trained technician.  There are several different options available and some whitening procedure are more comfortable than others, but most can give excellent results.  Patients may experience more sensitivity with in-office whitening than with at-home products.  This procedure typically  takes 1-2 hours.

Professional whitening kits are an effective approach to whitening that can be used for many years.  Kits usually include custom trays that are molded from impressions of your teeth and whitening gel.  Gel droplets are specifically placed in the tray and the tray are then worn for the directed amount of time (approx. 20 minutes).  Dramatic results can be seen within one to two weeks of use.  In-office whitening and home whitening kits used in combination can be very effective. One advantage of professional kits is that the trays can last for years and all that is needed after the initial investment is the gel, which is relatively inexpensive.

The third option is over the counter whitening.  Thee are several options like whitening strips.  These products are effective but can take more time than the other options.  The advantage of over the counter products is that they do not require a visit to the dentist (which isn’t a reason to go with this option)  and are less expensive.  Whitestrips can take several weeks to complete treatment and achieve the desired results.

These are the basics of teeth whitening. We encourage you to explore options and different products on the web to see what is best for you.  Also, talk to your dentist to learn about teeth whitening risks and to better understand what you can and can’t expect.

Don’t think you have time to floss? Good flossing does take some time, but even flossing for 60 seconds can have enormous benefits. Make it easy, have floss in plain view next to your toothbrush and even pre-cut strips of floss if you think this will help.  Another alternative is to use floss picks.  This might be a good way to go if you have a hard time getting your fingers into your mouth or don’t like wrapping floss around your fingers.

If it hurts when you floss or your gum’s bleed, you might already have gingivitis or a more progressed condition.  At this point, it is time to see a dentist.  There are many options to treat gingivitis and periodontal disease.  However, it is important not to put this off. Remember, gums are the foundation for your teeth, so gum problems can turn into teeth problems and even heart problems.

Remember – no matter what problems are making it difficult to floss, there are solutions, so consult your dentist to learn more.

What else can you do?  The food you eat will also affect your gum health.  Sugary or starchy foods lead to bacteria accumulation, which produce dental decay-causing acid, so avoid food high in simple sugars and starch. It has been shown that both calcium and vitamin C can help maintain gum health.  Vitamin D and cranberry are also purported to help remedy gum disease.

Regardless of your diet, the best way to keep your gums healthy is good dental hygiene and regular visits to the dentist.

7. The next stage in fighting tooth decay? Jeffrey Hillman, professor emeritus of oral biology at the University of Florida, has begun human trials of a genetically engineered version of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which he modified to produce less acid.

8. This strain also creates an antibiotic that kills other S. mutans strains, allowing it to take over inside the mouth.

9. A study be researchers and Yale and New York University has confirmed a bit of folk wisdom: The more children a woman has, the more likely she is to have missing teeth.

10. Possible explanation: Pregnant women tend to develop gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) as hormonal shifts make the tissues more sensitive to irritation.

Source: DISCOVER Magazine

Omega-3

There has been a lot of talk the last few years about Omega-3 fatty acids and it seems like more and more foods are being fortified.  Now, there is some evidence that Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the risk of gum disease and have been claimed to prevent tooth decay and toothaches.

Casein

They say milk does a body good – well, it may actually do teeth good as well.  Casein, a protein found in milk and cheese has been shown to prevent decay-causing bacteria from attaching to teeth.  In addition, it is rich in bio-available phosphates and calcium, which support the re-mineralization of tooth surfaces. Another study has shown that casein solution is as effective as 500ppm fluoride in aiding the prevention of cavities.  (source:  Kalbe Farma)

Wasabi

If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, will a California roll a day keep the dentist at bay? Probably not. But there is a claim that certain compounds found in wasabi, the piquant green horseradish that accompanies sushi and sashimi, can kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay.  (read the rest of the article at the NY Times)

Cocoa

Teeth begin to rot when the common bacteria Streptococcus mutans secretes a sticky molecule called glucan, which helps them anchor themselves to teeth and form a layer of plaque. In that plaque, the bacteria convert sucrose molecules into acid which attacks the enamel (mechanism of teeth decay).  A  Japanese research team found that an extract from the husk of cocoa beans blocked production of glucan.  Who knows,  husk extracts may be a component of your favorite Hershey sometime in the future. (source: www.independent.co.uk)

Coffee/tea

Like the some of the other foods, coffee and tea prevent tooth decay primarily  through their anti-microbial action.  For coffee, the compounds that are most active in terms of dental health are trigonelline, caffeine and chlorogenic acid. For tea, the active chemicals are polyphenols.  While cocoa and coffee are mostly effective against the adhesion of bacteria on the surface of teeth, tea in addition actually inhibits the growth of several strains of Streptococcus. The polyphenols in tea also reduce the formation of plaque, the production of acidic compounds and the synthesis of glucan from sucrose.

Dental Insurance Basics:  In general, your dental plan is a form of compensation provided by your employer, but you can also purchase insurance individually. You can expect the carrier (insurance company) to reimburse you for a portion of you dental fee. That portion is determined by the contract between your employer and the insurance company. The higher the premium paid by your company, the more generous the reimbursement.

There are several things to consider when choosing an insurance plan: yearly and lifetime maximums, in/out of network dentists, usual, customary, and reasonable fee guide, dental insurance waiting period, missing tooth clause and waiting period, coverage of cosmetic procedures.

Dental Insurance is different than Medical Insurance in relation to Comprehensive Care:  Before deciding to purchase dental insurance, talk with your dentist regarding the extent of your treatment plan. This way you can decide if you would be better off with or without dental insurance. A very important factor to remember regarding any dental insurance plan is that dental insurance is not at all similar to medical insurance. The majority of dental insurance plans are designed with the purpose of only covering the basic dental care around $1,000 to $1,500 (about the same amount that they covered 30 years ago) per year and is not intended to provide comprehensive coverage like that of medical insurance. (source: About.com)

In addition to primary coverage, you may want to consider supplemental dental insurance.  The following article may help you decide if supplemental dental insurance is something you want to consider: Benefits of Supplemental Dental Insurance.

2. Enamel also develops tiny cracks that diffuse the stress of chewing and help prevent breaks. Aerospace engineers are studying this feature with an eye toward creating stronger spacecraft.

3. Yet your teeth cannot always stand up to your mouth’s bacteria, which produce acids that leach calcium and phosphate from enamel – the process leads to cavities.

4. Nothing personal: Those acids are an accidental by-product created when the bacteria digest sugars in the food you’ve eaten. (before the invention of refined sugar cavities were rare)

5. Flouride counters tooth decay by preventing the loss of minerals from enamel and promoting the readsorption of calcium and phosphate from saliva into the enamel.

Source: DISCOVER Magazine

Fluoridation of community water supplies is simply the adjustment of the existing, naturally occurring fluoride levels in drinking water to an optimal fluoride level recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service (0.7 – 1.2 milligrams per liter) [the standard since 1962] for the prevention of tooth decay. (Source: ADA)

Too much fluoride? Government lowers levels . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the splotchy tooth condition, fluorosis, is unexpectedly common in kids ages 12 through 15. And it appears to have grown much more common since the 1980s…..  But there are other concerns, too…. In March, 2006, the National Academy of Sciences released a report recommending that the EPA lower its maximum standard for fluoride in drinking water to below 4 milligrams per liter. The report warned severe fluorosis could occur at 2 milligrams per liter. Also, a majority of the report’s authors said a lifetime of drinking water with fluoride at 4 milligrams per liter or higher could raise the risk of broken bones.  The department of Health and Human Services and EPA are currently assessing whether to lower the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water.  Secretary Kathleen Sebelius could make a final decision on details of the changes within a few months, the administration official said. (Source: DOCS Education)

The city of Sunnyvale fluoridates 45% of of its water to a level of 1.0 milligrams per liter (1 part per million), but other surrounding cities may not.  Talk to your dentist to determine if  you are getting the correct level of fluoride.

It was the ancient Greeks who first noticed that sweet foods had a bad effect on teeth. One Greek book called Problems asks “Why do figs, which are soft and sweet, destroy the teeth?”

Today we know that the real problem isn’t so much sugar, but the streptococcus bacteria in our mouths that like to feed on it. When they feed on the sweet treats lodged in your teeth, they excrete acids that eat away at your tooth enamel.

As it happens, the amount of sugar you eat doesn’t matter as much as the amount of time it is allowed to remain in contact with the plaque on your teeth (that’s where the bacteria hang out.) So go ahead and eat that pound of caramels—just brush your teeth afterward.

Source: © The Exploratorium, www.exploratorium.edu