In previous blogs, we discussed how cavities form when bacteria in our mouths convert carbohydrates from our diet into corrosive acids.
Bacteria + Carbohydrates from diet and snacking = acids which melt the teeth and cause cavities
It makes sense to address the bacteria in our mouths if we want to develop a plan to reduce future cavities. There are numerous acid-producing bacteria in our mouths; some contribute more than others.
There are two steps to deal with them:
1: Test how many of the key acid-producing bacteria are present in our mouth (bacterial load)
2: Reduce those bacteria using prescription strength antibacterial mouth wash
As you can see in the picture attached to this blog the bacterial test reveals the bacterial load. We use that to decide if you should use the anti-bacterial mouth wash.
Who gets the test: in general the test is recommended anytime we find a high number of cavities within a 3 years period.
At Making You Smile NYC, everyone gets a Caries Risk Assessment to evaluate the risk of future cavities. If your Caries Risk Assessment is high then a bacterial test is recommend. Anti-bacterial mouth wash is then recommended to reduce the high bacterial load and help fight future cavities.
Many people opt for sugar-free drinks in order to spare their teeth from decay and damage. However, a new study by researchers from Melbourne University found that sugar-free drinks are equally as harmful to teeth.
The researchers, led by professor Eric Reynolds from the Oral Health Cooperative Research Center, investigated how 23 sugar-free drinks affected oral health and found that most caused the tooth's enamel (the outer layer) to soften by a whopping 30 to 50 percent. These drinks included soda, flavored juices and flavored mineral waters.
Just how do they cause this damage?
Plaque on teeth forms from the sugar people eat. Bacteria feed on this plaque and as they do, an acid is produced that destroys teeth and causes decay. In the same way, sugar-free drinks containing acid cause damage to teeth by stripping the enamel.
Continued consumption of these beverages can cause dental erosion to further progress, sometimes to the point of exposing a tooth's inner soft pulp. Reynolds blamed the citric acid or phosphoric acid content of such drinks for the dental erosion.
"Many people believe soft drinks labeled sugar-free are completely safe for teeth, but unfortunately we're finding these aren't much better than the sugar-filled versions because of their potential to cause erosion of dental enamel," said Reynolds.
Reynolds also said one in three children suffer from dental erosion.
"We've seen bad erosion in the teeth of children aged 2 to 3 years old, and signs of erosion in permanent teeth of older children," he noted, adding that if children will keep drinking these beverages, they "are likely to need extensive dental treatment by the time they reach their teens."
Sugar-free candies, particularly orange or lemon flavored ones, likewise contain acids from the flavoring and destroy the teeth in the same way.
Sports drinks are not off the hook, either. After investigating eight sports drinks, the researchers found that six of them "caused significant enamel surface loss and enamel surface softening," according to a briefing paper about the study.
Reynolds recommends a very simple way to avoid dental erosion: "To give your teeth, or your children's teeth, the best chance, water is always a better choice."
The study was published in the Australian Dental Journal.
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Cross-training is all the rage in the fitness world. It makes sense for a healthy, toned body. It also makes sense when it comes to healthy teeth and gums.
It is important to disrupt or remove the sticky bacterial film which forms on our teeth on a daily basis. Just as we use different exercises to tone different parts of the body, we need a multitude of tools to reach all the nooks and crannies found around our teeth and gums.
In my experience, flossing 7 days a week is the most difficult habit to add to your daily routine. If 7 day flossing is too overwhelming, how about committing to 2 or 3 days?
And, on the days when you don’t floss, use one of the other available plaque removal tools like Soft Picks or a Rubber Tip Stimulator by GUM?
Dental floss is the only tool which disrupts the plaque where the teeth touch each other (where cavities start). Soft picks are user friendly, feather-like toothpicks which remove food particles and plaque between teeth. A rubber tip is a metal handle with a rubber point on the end which is used to trace the gumline where plaque accumulates due to the normal anatomy of the tooth which is widest in the middle. This deflects the bristles of your toothbrush and leaves plaque at the gumline where the tooth is more narrow.
Undisturbed plaque cranks out acids and toxins which cause cavities and gum disease.
Why not give oral care cross-training a try? Get in there and shake things up with a few different oral care tools (not all in one day but varying them during the week).
Switch up the routine and you’ll see the results for yourself.
Questions about oral care? Contact us or book an appointment for a check up & cleaning to remove plaque to help prevent cavities.
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Dental cavities, also known as caries or tooth decay, are by far the most common oral disease affecting the hard structure of the tooth. Cavities are also the most preventable dental disease.
What are cavities?
Cavities are the melting of the hard outer layer of the tooth leading to a hole in that tooth.
What causes cavities?
Bacteria in our mouth feed on the carbohydrates in our diet. These bacteria produce acids which attack the tooth’s hard structure and cause it to erode.
Cavities are also the most preventable dental disease.
How can we prevent cavity formation?
There are three strategies we can use:
How do we determine which strategy is best for you?
Depending on each individual "risk profile", we choose the strategy that has the best chance of reducing cavities in the future. We call this process "Caries Management By Risk Assessment". To read more about caries management, see our posts on CAMBRA.
Are cavities transmissible?
Cavities aren't contagious, but bacteria is. Cavities are caused by bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria are most often transferred to our mouths as babies from our caregivers. Studies have shown, however, that if we can delay the process and keep the bacteria from babies in the first two years of life, we can significantly reduce the risk of future cavities. We will post more on early prevention and infant dental care in the future.
At Making You Smile we are committed to cavity prevention and each of our patients is presented with a prevention plan that fits their particular needs. Call and book your appointment today. 1-646 484-0197
Dental cavities, also known as caries or tooth decay, are by far the most common oral disease affecting the hard structure of the tooth. Cavities are also the most preventable dental disease.
What are cavities?
Cavities are the melting of the hard outer layer of the tooth leading to a hole in that tooth.
What causes cavities?
Bacteria in our mouth feed on the carbohydrates in our diet. These bacteria produce acids which attack the tooth’s hard structure and cause it to erode.
Cavities are also the most preventable dental disease.
How can we prevent cavity formation?
There are three strategies we can use:
How do we determine which strategy is best for you?
Depending on each individual "risk profile", we choose the strategy that has the best chance of reducing cavities in the future. We call this process "Caries Management By Risk Assessment". To read more about caries management, see our posts on CAMBRA.
Are cavities transmissible?
Cavities aren't contagious, but bacteria is. Cavities are caused by bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria are most often transferred to our mouths as babies from our caregivers. Studies have shown, however, that if we can delay the process and keep the bacteria from babies in the first two years of life, we can significantly reduce the risk of future cavities. We will post more on early prevention and infant dental care in the future.
At Making You Smile we are committed to cavity prevention and each of our patients is presented with a prevention plan that fits their particular needs. Call and book your appointment today. 1-646 484-0197
Dental cavities, also known as caries or tooth decay, are by far the most common oral disease affecting the hard structure of the tooth. Cavities are also the most preventable dental disease.
What are cavities?
Cavities are the melting of the hard outer layer of the tooth leading to a hole in that tooth.
What causes cavities?
Bacteria in our mouth feed on the carbohydrates in our diet. These bacteria produce acids which attack the tooth’s hard structure and cause it to erode.
Cavities are also the most preventable dental disease.
How can we prevent cavity formation?
There are three strategies we can use:
How do we determine which strategy is best for you?
Depending on each individual "risk profile", we choose the strategy that has the best chance of reducing cavities in the future. We call this process "Caries Management By Risk Assessment". To read more about caries management, see our posts on CAMBRA.
Are cavities transmissible?
Cavities aren't contagious, but bacteria is. Cavities are caused by bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria are most often transferred to our mouths as babies from our caregivers. Studies have shown, however, that if we can delay the process and keep the bacteria from babies in the first two years of life, we can significantly reduce the risk of future cavities. We will post more on early prevention and infant dental care in the future.
At Making You Smile we are committed to cavity prevention and each of our patients is presented with a prevention plan that fits their particular needs. Call and book your appointment today. 1-646 484-0197
In the previous post, we introduced you to CAMBRA, Caries Management by Risk Assessment, which evaluates the possibility of developing certain diseases in the future. Now we'll go into further detail on how it all works.
How is Caries Risk Assessment done?
We meet with patients and collect information about their dental history and current condition and make projections for future risk. Once we establish a risk level, we can develop and appropriate plan to reduce future risk.
Some of the information we collect for cavities includes:
The American Dental Association and the California Dental Association developed extensive lists of items to be evaluated. After we review of all the information, we determine the Risk Level as either Low, Moderate or High.
At Making You Smile, everyone gets a risk assessment for caries and a customized caries management plan for a future free of cavities.
Reduce your chance of developing cavities with a regular checkup at Making You Smile Cosmetic Dental Studio - call 1-646-484-0197 in Manhattan or book an appointment via ZocDoc.
