Posted by drgracesun on December 22, 2009 under Current News Events | 
Wow – 2009 really flew by! As this year draws to a close and another prepares to bloom, take time to reflect on your life and plan for a better future. Did you do well taking care of yourself this year? Could you do better? What is your new year’s resolution? Being happy with our dental health should be one of our top priorities for 2010. It’s up to us to control our future! Have fun and be safe this new year!
Holidays are a joyful time for friends and family, filled with good food and great memories. During this happy time you must remember to take care of your oral health, not only during the feast but beforehand as well! Since most dental offices close for the winter holidays (some for up to two weeks!), it is a good idea to get a checkup before the holiday – especially if you have any pain or sensitivity.
With regards to holiday staining of your teeth, as I have previously mentioned in a wine blog, white wine has an acid content that tends to increase the risk of stain or darkening of your teeth, if combined with other habits of drinking tea, or similar dark beverages. Do not be fooled by the crystal clear appearance of a white wine – they are certainly capable of dulling your teeth. Both whites and reds are equally capable of staining teeth. Certain acidic properties present in wine (white, red or rose) create micro-porosity etching which rough the surface of your teeth, making your teeth much more susceptible to stains from other foods.
If you were to drink a glass of white wine with a red meat sauce, the acidic properties in the white wine could make your teeth more prone to staining from the red sauce in your meal, or the cup of tea after the dinner! Red wine is still more “dangerous” to the pearly opalescence of your teeth than white, however, as it contains pigment molecules known as chromagen, which will stain your teeth. All wines contain tannins, which act as a binding protein, aiding chromogen to saturate upon the surface of the tooth. Just remember to brush and floss after every meal, especially during the holidays!
When you do drink acidic liquids or eat sugary foods, be sure to rinse your mouth with water. Brush and floss twice daily, and after meals – oral hygiene should be routine to avoid problems. Prevention is the most powerful form of self defense from oral health problems!
Apart from keeping your teeth beautiful and pearly-white, remember not to over-do the quantity of the foods you eat during over the holidays. Lean proteins (like turkey and chicken), veggies (like green beans and yams), fruits (like pumpkin and cranberries) are all delicious in moderation – the Christmas ham could be a bit much (taste everything)! Don’t forget the pumpkin or pecan pie for desert! Holiday meals don’t have to be boring and bland to be healthy; sample everything in moderation. Have a happy and safe new year!
Posted by drgracesun on July 1, 2009 under General Dental Knowledge, Healthy Smile, Information |
Antibiotics help us fight infections, however certain antibiotic medication could dim your smile! When taking antibiotic medications, it is important to realize that these types of medications not only eliminate harmful bacteria, but also affect the body by disturbing the balance of our gastrointestinal system. Sometimes the chemical components of antibiotic meds can leave deposits in the hard tissues of the oral cavity 
, like in the tooth and bone, affecting the color of the teeth.
Staining from the antibiotic tetracycline.
It has been well established that commonly prescribed antibiotics like tetracyline, if taken during the second half of the pregnancy can affect the future teeth of the fetus. Children younger than eight years old with prescription tetracycline (for treating ear infections) can have seriously discolored teeth as well from chemical deposits on the inner layer of the tooth structure (dentin), causing grayish brown bands that are not so easy to correct. Discoloration is usually a consequence of the chemicals affecting the developing stage of the teeth. If any discoloration is noticed in a child with primary teeth, promptly speak with your doctor or dental professional! Review the child’s history to determine whether the discoloration could possibly be associated with any medications, diet or even drinking water. Discoloration of erupted permanent teeth has also been proven to result from antibiotic use, as discussed in an earlier edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association. Although this is fairly rare, discoloration can happen to nearly anyone taking tetracycline, erythromycin, minocycline, or rinses containing chlorhexidine antiseptic solution. Keep your dental professional informed as to your antibiotic regiment.
In Kentucky, a 25-year-old woman whose teeth were gray-streaked from use of antibiotics was highlighted in a study completed by Frederick M. Parkins, D.D.S., of the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. The patient took two years of tetracycline therapy for teenage acne. She had been taking minocycline (brand name Minocin), a synthetic form of tetracycline and now has very discolored teeth (see above picture). Thankfully, only about 3-6% of adult antibiotic users will experience tooth-staining. Discoloration can develop as early as one month after the antibiotic regiment begins, but the staining could take years to appear!
Prevention is always the best solution – avoid teeth staining medications. If staining does occur, speak with your dental professional about options to whiten affected teeth. Procedures such as in-office or take-home whitening and bleaching will be the first conservative treatment option available to you before porcelain veneers or bonding procedures, which work well at masking over discolored areas of teeth.
Tags: antibiotic, antibiotics, band, banding, bands, brown, chlorhexidine, damage, dark, discoloration, Erythromycin, health, minocycline, mouth, oral, stain, staining, teeth, tetracycline, tooth, white, whitening
Posted by drgracesun on June 12, 2009 under Children, Dental Products, General Dental Knowledge, Information, Nutrition and Diet, Smart Smile |
The American Dental Association (ADA) has given its golden seal to brand name fluoridated toothpastes for their cavity fighting features. It’s no surprise really – topical use of fluoride has been proven to be effective at inhibiting tooth demineralization, promoting remineralization and inhibiting the growth of bacteria associated with tooth decay. Fluoride is marketed in the US as a bone fortifier and is administered at the dentist’s office for nearly all pre-adolescent teeth cleanings. Finally, the idea of fluoridated water may seem like a great thing to add to your new child’s water, because it fortifies teeth – but beware! What isn’t so well known is that the potential toxicity of fluoride is dangerous, and if swallowed in concentrated form or ingested over a longer period of time, it may have potentially damaging side effects.
In 1977, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) specified adequate intakes of fluoride of 0.01 mg/day for infants through 6 months, 0.05 mg/kg/day for children beyond 6 months of age, and 3 – 4 mg/day for adults, to prevent dental caries. Upper limits (UL) of 0.10 mg/kg/day in children less than 8 years old and 10 mg/day for those older than 8 are recommended for prevention of dental fluorosis. Similar levels have been endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA, 1994) and the American Dietetic Association (ADA, 2000). What does this all mean? Fluoride has an affinity for calcified tissues. The trace amount of daily intake of fluoride is beneficial, but too much of it can result in patchy or mottled looking teeth, known as dental fluorosis (or brittle bones, known as skeletal fluorosis). Studies are needed for health researchers to investigate the relationship between intake levels and human health. 75% of our daily fluoride intake is from water or beverages, like tea and juices.
The fluoride content of a water supply is often described by the term ‘parts per million’ (ppm). 1 ppm = 0.1 milligrams of fluoride per 100 milliliters of water. About 1 ppm seems to be the optimal level of fluoride for a drinkable water supply; a litre of such water would provide 1 milligrams of fluoride. At 2 ppm, mottling of tooth enamel may occur. The actual condition of ‘fluorosis’ or excessive deposition of fluoride in bones is only present after prolonged consumption of 20 to 80 milligrams of fluoride per day.
Repeated exposure to fluorine in naturally-occurring forms (such as in fruits and other produce) is one thing, but overexposing your child to fluoridated baby formula (identifiable by needing to add water to the formula) could put your child’s appearance – and bodily health – at risk. The key take-home message for parents is to avoid added fluoridated liquids or even foods of any kind. No level of fluoride is perfectly safe, and ideally, we wouldn’t need to use it at all – however, fluoride’s teeth strengthening properties, when used in proper doses, can be a beneficial additive.
If your child does develop dark-spotted or mottled teeth after getting his or her primary teeth, pay close attention to their diet! Nutrition should be strictly monitored for fluoride ingestion (including toothpaste!) – if so, he or she should have perfectly clear, spotless permanent teeth erupting around age 5. Experts also agree that it is a good idea to test the water from your home water lines, to see if it is overly fluoridated. Simple take-home tests are available from your local water or health bureau, or can often give past and current fluoride level readings. Do your research to protect your child’s and your health.
Tags: adolescent, baby, child, cleaning, damage, discoloration, fluoride, fluorosis, food, formula, milk, stain, staining, stains, teeth, tooth, toxic, water
Posted by drgracesun on May 7, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Smart Smile |
What do Olympic divers, your local swim instructor and you – if you’re a swimmer – all have in common? Apart from a love for the water, exercise and the sport, there is a common risk of developing dark yellow or brown stains on the teeth of all avid swimmers who spend at least six hours a week in the pool!
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) has recently concluded a study on athletic swimmers who swim laps more than six hours a week, which has shown that exposure to chemically treated pool water can cause organic deposits to form on the teeth of these swimmers. Pool water is routinely treated with chemicals to keep the water clean for swimming, but these chemicals inadvertently raise a pool’s pH level to a level more basic than saliva (higher pH). By opening the mouth and exposing your teeth to pool water which contains antimicrobial chemicals, the water causes salivary proteins to break down and form deposits on teeth.
Why does this matter? Unfortunately, as deposits are formed on swimmer teeth, calculus buildup – hard, brown tartar deposits – appear predominantly on the front teeth and can be difficult to remove. Apart from keeping the mouth closed while swimming, avid swimmers should have their teeth professionally cleaned up to twice as often as non-swimmers (approximately four times a year). In addition to calculus deposits, the pool area can be a dangerous place for the mouth. When coming to the surface of a pool, rise gracefully! Many people hit their front teeth on a pool ledge, which can cause serious damage to the teeth and supporting jaw. Slippery pool decking can also cause falls which often chip , break or severly damage your teeth or mouth. Take precaution, be safe and healthy, but enjoy and have fun with swimming – it’s a great exercise and a lifetime sport that benefits the body and the whole person !
Tags: alkaline, antimicrobial, ca, calcium, calculus, california, dds, dental, dentist, deposits, diving, doctor, LA, los angeles, Michael Phelps, stain, staining, stains, sun, swim, swimming, tartar, weho, west hollywood
Posted by drgracesun on April 23, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information |
Have you ever felt sick, taken some Pepto Bismol and then a while later, had a black tongue? You may be thinking you’ve eaten something strange, or that you are having an allergic reaction! This is actually not a rare side effect of Pepto Bismol however – read on to find out why your tongue is black!
Black Tongue is harmless.
Numerous brands of nausea medication, including Pepto Bismol, have an active ingredient called Bismuth subsalicylate, a multi compound drug useful in treating nausea, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. In a tablet form, Bismuth subsalicylate is meant to be swallowed with water – however, when exposed to the surface of your tongue (from chewing), the drug will often turn the tongue black after several hours, and can last several days. A black tongue and black stools in some users of the drug is not harmful, but the color is produced as a side effect of the drug interacting with saliva and the gastrointestinal tract.
The good news is this discoloration has no adverse affect on your health; there is nothing to worry about if your tongue has gone black or if it is staining your teeth with black strips after taking Pepto Bismol. The stain can be removed easily by thorough brushing or seek help from your dental professional. If a thorough brushing was followed after taking the Pepto Bismo, the staining issue would be eliminated. You must be aware of your body if you have a upset stomach in the first place; getting a good assessment and managing the root of the problem rather than just masking the symptoms should be the overall, long-term goal. Maintain a healthy diet, full of fruit, vegetables and lean proteins to control the PH of your body (which should be neutral or mild alkaline). Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night will ease and equip your body to deal with the stress. If you do have an upset stomach, have a cup of peppermint or chamomile tea with honey on me, which will help with your upset stomach. We can all work on respecting our body and mind to take better care of ourselves.
Staining due to Pepto Bismol
Tags: bismal, black stain, black tongue, ca, california, change, color, cosmetic, dds, dental, dentist, discoloration, doctor, LA, los angeles, pepto bismo, pepto bismol, physician, sick, side effect, stain, staining, stains, strange, sun, tongue, weho, west hollywood
