Teeth Archives - Dentist Blog

June 9, 2022

Uses, Dangers, and Side effects of Fluoride – Are Your Teeth Safe?

You might have heard about fluoride being present in your toothpaste or tap water. Well, who hasn’t heard about it? But what is fluoride? Fluoride comes from the element fluorine, the first halogen of the periodic table. Fluoride is relatively unstable in itself. Therefore, it is usually present as a salt combined with soft metals. In this dental blog, we will be overviewing the advantages and disadvantages of fluoride in water and toothpaste and its possible adverse effects on the body.

Where is fluoride found?
Fluoride is present in almost all dental products, varying from toothpaste to mouthwashes or fluoride gels. In most countries, fluoride is also present in your tap water naturally or due to water fluoridation. Fluoridation of water refers to a process that involves adding fluoride to the public water supply. The most common form of fluoride found in these sources is the salt Sodium Fluoride (NaF).

Uses of Fluoride
Now that we know that fluoride is surrounding our teeth from all sides, we can dive into its uses. Since you are concerned for your teeth, we will focus on the mechanisms regarding fluoride’s role in tooth and enamel protection. Fluoride does it in a couple of ways:

Anti-bacterial action – the bacteria present in the mouth are culprits for many diseases, including cavities and dental caries. Fluoride inhibits the excess bacteria growth. First, it enters the bacterial cells and inhibits or stops their enzymes, restricting their growth. Moreover, It maintains an acidic environment in the mouth which is not favorable for bacterial growth. The bacteria, thus, have to use way more energy to fight the low pH and lose their ability to flourish.
Enhanced remineralization and reduced de-mineralization – mineralization of teeth simply means adding calcium, collagen, and phosphorus to the teeth’ enamel. Fluoride aids in the new mineralization of teeth and promotes retention of previous teeth minerals. This is also partly due to its antimicrobial properties. Decreased bacterial attachment to the teeth leads to stronger teeth.

Summing up, fluoride keeps you from getting dental caries and enamel loss. You might want to thank fluoride in your toothpaste for your strong and shiny teeth.

Side Effects of Fluoride
While most of us are only aware of the pros of fluoride, there are some cons too. The truth is that water fluoridation is a growing concern among health authorities as it poses health risks. The topical use of fluoride, i.e., via toothpaste and mouthwashes is deemed protective. Conversely, the ingestion of fluoride through fluoridated water brings about conditions such as fluorosis.

What is Fluorosis?
Fluorosis is a condition characterized by excess fluoride in your blood. This excess fluoride, unfortunately, attacks the enamel of your teeth from the inside. Fluorosis is concerning during a child’s development, the time teeth are forming and growing. This condition may appear as white spots or blotches on your teeth.

Apart from the teeth, ingestion of fluoride may cause problems with the gastrointestinal system like nausea, bloating, and diarrhea. Ingestions of excess fluoride salts are also linked with hypertension in some people.

Verdict
Generally speaking, fluoride is an essential element that has documented teeth-health benefits. In most developed countries, the amount of fluoride in water is controlled so it doesn’t cause any adverse effects. However, it is better to use fluoride via topical formulations like toothpaste and mouthwashes.

*If you or your loved ones are experiencing caries, tooth pain, or irritation in your teeth, contact us today (your las vegas smile dentist today). A shiny, healthy smile is enough for making someone’s day better. *

References:

Aoun A, Darwiche F, Al Hayek S, Doumit J. The Fluoride Debate: The Pros and Cons of Fluoridation. Prev Nutr Food Sci. 2018;23(3):171-180. doi:10.3746/pnf.2018.23.3.171
Fluoride and healthy teeth. Paediatr Child Health. 2002;7(8):575-584. doi:10.1093/pch/7.8.575

March 7, 2022

How Eating can Affect the Mouth and Teeth?

A fresh and glowing smile could be your biggest strength. Where ever we go or whoever we meet, a bright smile seals a good impression. On the contrary, if you experience conditions like pale teeth, broken or chipped teeth, or chapped lips it might be hard for you to make an astonishing appearance. Moreover, you could develop some gross diseases like gingivitis, tooth decay, caries, etc. that might cause you pain and discomfort.

Keeping regular mouth hygiene, along with dental visits and healthy food, is usually the most important factor determining your mouth and teeth health. On the flip side, certain eating habits can harm your mouth and teeth health badly. For instance, eating too much or too little potentially leads to various teeth problems and agony. However, you can read through the following article and know what eating habits can be detrimental to your oral health and how you can avoid them to look crisp and confident.

Not drinking enough water
If you hear someone stressing out about staying hydrated you should take note of that. Staying hydrated helps your lips look plump and fresh, your immune system gets stronger, and drinking water also helps wash the excess buildup around your gums and teeth. Keeping a bottle of water in your backpack will do you wonders.

Snacking too often
According to various surveys most people have a habit of brushing their teeth twice a day i.e., around their main meals. However, most people don’t brush or clean their teeth after having snacks around in the day. If you like to snack a lot for example eating chips, candies, and chocolates i.e., sticky food, you are likely to have a higher DMFT index (decayed, missing due to caries, and filled teeth).

Sticky components of the food like sugar or fats tend to stay around the gums and teeth eventually getting acted upon by bacteria. Inadequate removal of these bacteria and residual matter on the teeth leads to unhealthy mouth and teeth.

Eating at irregular times
Many people face a hectic routine in today’s competitive world making it difficult to meal regularly. Irregular meal times are associated with irregular mouth hygiene practices. Putting it simply, staying up late at night will likely force you to eat something and you are likely to forget brushing or mouth washing. Eventually, your teeth and mouth become unhealthy leading to various problems.

Eating processed food
The fast-food market is one of the ever-growing industries in the United States. Cheap and ready-to-eat meals are available apparently for people’s convenience, however, most of this food is processed and unhealthy. Processed food contains unhealthy carbs, fats, and inadequate amounts of protein. These foods frequently cause a build-up of plaque and debris in your mouth leading to a needed dental cleaning.

Healthy Mouth and Teeth
You can avoid eating processed food by doing meal-preps that include healthy, whole food which supports a healthy oral cavity. Replacing snacks with fruits or dry fruits can improve your oral and overall health. Lastly, meal-prepping instead of eating processed food is life-saving. Having a healthy physical, including oral, and mental body is the key to enjoying moments in life.

December 6, 2021

Vitamins and Minerals That Help Strengthen Teeth

There are many ways that you can help strengthen your teeth with proper oral care and regular dental office visits topping the list. However, you can also use vitamins and minerals that will keep your teeth healthier than brushing and flossing alone. After all, nutrition affects every cell, tissue, and system in your body. It stands to reason that vitamins and minerals can help strengthen teeth and minimize the risk of periodontal disease, cavities, chips, cracks, and losing teeth over time.

There are many factors that can lead to tooth decay, but we can maintain a healthy oral hygiene by following a few guidelines and take the right vitamins and minerals. Some people consider supplementation unnecessary if they eat a varied diet, but it is difficult to know if you get all dental health-boosting nutrients or not. Add these vitamins and minerals to your daily regimen and reap the benefits of long-term tooth health.

Calcium
Do you remember a parent or grandparent always telling you to drink your milk so you would have strong teeth and bones? The calcium found in dairy products, leafy greens, and legumes is an important element in building and maintaining strong teeth. After all, this mineral forms the foundation of all tooth parts including the ultra-strong enamel that protects the softer inner portion from infection and damage.

Phosphorus
A popular nutrient in meat, fish, and eggs, phosphorus is a key factor in building or rebuilding strong tooth enamel. While this can help prevent cavities and cracks to begin with, may also be instrumental in protecting teeth that have already been drilled, filled, or otherwise repaired by your dentist.

Vitamin D
Not only is vitamin D important for all body systems, tissue growth and repair, and anti-inflammatory properties, but it is also essential for the proper absorption of calcium. In other words, if you do not take this vitamin with your calcium, the mineral will not be able to do its job effectively. Besides, vitamin D deficiency has been closely linked to gum disease, which is closely associated with weak and cavity prone teeth.

Vitamin C
One of the most common antioxidants helps fight oral bacteria and inflammation. It also promotes collagen production, which positively affects both the softer dentin below the enamel of your teeth and gum tissue. Although you can take vitamin C supplements, it is also commonly found in citrus fruit and dark leafy greens like kale.

Vitamin A
While not closely associated with strong teeth, vitamin A plays a very important role in overall oral health. It provides many benefits for the mucous membranes inside your mouth, helps with healthy saliva production, and encourages healing. All of these things make it much easier for your gums and therefore teeth to stay healthy. It can also play an important role in the healing process after anything from a vigorous dental cleaning to oral surgery.

To maximize the strength of your teeth and promote lifelong oral health, be sure to get sufficient levels of these essential vitamins and minerals. Combined with effective tooth brushing, flossing, and regular visits to your dentist, they offer the perfect recipe for a healthy, attractive, and long-lasting smile.

September 7, 2021

Oral Health and Drinks

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A beautiful smile starts with beautiful teeth. However, beautiful teeth have many adversaries found in foods & drinks. Likewise, there are things that are good for teeth that come from food and beverages as well. The difference between stain and decay or white and shiny can all come down to a single sip.

So, what drinks can be labeled an ‘enemy’ of teeth-kind? First on our list are common breakfast drinks – coffee and citrus drinks like orange juice. Both of these drinks are highly acidic which means that they can cause decay of tooth enamel, increase the risk of tooth erosion and increase the quantity of bacteria all in one go. Coffee is also commonly known to stain teeth and citric beverages often have lots of added sugars which can cling to teeth and cause decay, erosion and encourage the growth of harmful bacteria. Another common beverage that is both acidic and sugary is soda. Soda can cause tooth erosion, decay enamel, increase bacteria and even stain teeth in a single sitting.

On the other hand, drinks like milk, tea and water are beneficial to the health of a beautiful smile. Teeth are bones, despite how much people do not want to think about it. Milk and bones have a special relationship where most of the minerals bones need to grow stronger come from milk.

Black and Green Tea naturally has plenty of things good for the body and soul and also teeth! Chemicals in tea are not corrosive and can help reduce the risk of tooth erosion and gum disease. Water as well is a natural mouth rinse can reduce the risk of dry mouth.

Despite how good something is for teeth, basic dental care such as flossing and brushing and visiting the dentist are still pivotal to a bright and beautiful smile.

August 4, 2021

The Benefits of Straight Teeth

Misaligned teeth are not just a cosmetic dental issue. The benefits of having straight teeth far outweigh the potential harmful long term affects of crooked teeth.

Chewing and biting down naturally adds pressure on gums, jaw and teeth. Eating with teeth that are not properly aligned can cause added tooth on tooth pressure which make teeth more susceptible to chips or cracks.

Misaligned teeth can also contribute to dental problems. Straight teeth are easier to clean which means they deteriorate much slower and experience fewer cavities. However, crooked teeth are harder to floss, brush or reach which can lead to plaque & bacteria being neglected. If teeth are not properly cleaned this will start to affect gum and overall oral health.

Straighter teeth aids in better digestion. Properly aligned teeth chews food more thoroughly extracting more of the necessary nutrients are bodies need. Crooked, overcrowded and spaced out teeth can compromise the actual surface area needed for thorough chewing. This may cause strain to the jaw which can lead to problems like sleep apnea or joint disorders of the jaw.

Misaligned jaws can cause headaches, face and neck pain.

In addition to the overall health benefits of straighter teeth, people with straight teeth tend to show them off more by smiling which exudes confidence. Come in for a consultation with a Las Vegas Smile dentist to explore the latest technology and options for achieving straighter teeth.

May 3, 2021

How Do Teeth Change with Age?

As anyone who has reached middle-aged or older knows, everything in your body starts to change as time goes by. The same is true for your teeth. Of course, using the best dental hygiene practices can stave off problems for a very long time. However, physiological changes still affect dental health and appearance. Learn how teeth change with age and what you can do about this natural process.

Shifting and Movement of Teeth
The actual structure of your jaw and mouth change over time. Studies show that the dental arch begins to narrow once you hit around 40 years old. Add in the effects of gravity, constant chewing and pressure, and weakening musculature and bone density, and your teeth may shift out of optimum alignment. In most cases, this does not necessitate a return to braces or a retainer. However, it can cause some issues with bite alignment and additional friction can lead to weakened enamel and an increase in cavities.

Worn and Weakened Enamel
A lifetime of chewing and natural teeth movements wear down the enamel that covers every tooth surface. There is no way to avoid this because you cannot give up chewing your food. People who grind their teeth can help prevent this wear with certain dental protecting tools such as mouth guards. When the enamel thins, the chance of cavities and other problems like this can increase. It is extremely important that you maintain a proper dental care regimen no matter what.

Gums Thin and Recede
Periodontal disease, excessively harsh brushing, and the natural progression of the years all cause the gums to get thinner and drawback from the surfaces of your teeth. Lower production of saliva, which is another common issue as we age, can contribute to this problem as well. Make sure to speak with your dental expert to make sure you do not have gingivitis or other serious infections instead of simple age-related gum issues.

Teeth Discoloration
As the decades pass, food, beverages, smoking, and time can yellow or discolor your teeth. Even with the utmost care and avoidance of staining foods, your teeth do naturally get yellower as you age. This is due to the dentin layer showing through the outermost enamel as it thins.

Dental Nerves Weaken
One of the potentially good changes that happen to teeth as you age involves the dental nerve that goes up into the center of each one. These actually gets smaller as time goes on, which means you feel less pain during dental procedures, when biting wrong on something hard, or when eating hot or cold foods or beverages. On the other hand, weakened nerves can also hide serious dental problems as you cannot feel the usual pain associated with them. This is just one reason why it is important to maintain regularly scheduled dental appointments.

No matter how old you are, regular tooth care and visits to your Las Vegas dentist should remain part of your health and well-being schedule. If time or other issues make more serious problems arise, there are options your dentist can help with including implants, partial or full dentures, and more.