FOODS THAT CAN WHITEN YOUR TEETH AND KEEP YOUR MOUTH HEALTHY!

 

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Excerpted from the Nutrition and You! blog on boston.com.
As the saying goes, “you are what you eat.” But when it comes to healthy teeth, “you are what you chew.” According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, certain foods naturally cleanse, brighten, and defend against bacteria that can harm your teeth and gums.
In contrast, some foods and lifestyle habits such as drinking coffee and tea as well as smoking can cause discoloration of your teeth.
To deliciously achieve a healthier, whiter smile, try these 10 foods suggested by the cosmetic dentistry group:
Pineapples can help whiten teeth. Research shows that the enzyme bromelain in pineapples acts as a natural stain remover, according to Dr. Shawn Frawley, a Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist. Bromelain also helps break up plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that accumulates on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque produce acids that can erode the enamel of your teeth and lead to dental caries
Ginger can protect against periodontal disease, an inflammatory process that causes the loss of bone and supportive connective tissue in your mouth. Ginger can spice up your foods while also acting as an anti-inflammatory.
Carrots contain vitamin A, which is needed for healthy tooth enamel. Eating them raw stimulates saliva, your mouth’s natural cleanser. In fact, chewing any crunchy vegetable will naturally cleanse your teeth.
Basil is a natural antibiotic that reduces bacteria in the mouth. According to Frawley, basil’s essential oils, rosmarinic acid, linalool, and oleanolic acid, inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Cheese is rich in protein, calcium, and phosphorus, all of which can help buffer the acids in your mouth. Calcium and phosphorus also assist in the remineralization or repairing of your teeth. Enjoy reduced fat cheese to minimize heart-unhealthy saturated fat in your diet.
Sesame seeds help “scrub” away the plaque on your teeth. Chewing nuts can also provide this coarse, scrubbing action. Sesame seeds also contain bone and teeth-strengthening calcium.
Shiitake mushrooms contain a compound called lentinan, which inhibits bacteria from growing in your mouth.
Onions contain the sulfur compounds, thiosulfinates and thiosulfonates, which reduce bacteria that cause tooth decay. Eating them raw is a must as cooking will destroy these tooth-friendly compounds. Don’t like onions? Garlic also contains these sulfur compounds.
Salmon not only provides calcium but also vitamin D, another nutrient needed for healthy bones and teeth.
Broccoli contains iron, which helps form an acid-resistant film or barrier that can protect the enamel of your teeth, according to Frawley.
Joan Salge Blake is a clinical associate professor and registered dietician in Boston University’s Nutrition Program. Read more from her blog at www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blog/nutrition.

Tips For a Longer Life!!

1. Floss: Periodontal disease might be directly related to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk, according to an article in The Lancet. The strength of association between tooth-brushing, flossing and heart disease has not been 100 percent clinically proven, but according to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with gum disease are twice as likely to have heart disease. What’s the connection? There are a few theories, including that inflammation of the gums can cause the arteries to accumulate plaque.

 

2. Eat Indian food: Curcuminoids are the active ingredient compounds in the yellow spice called turmeric, which is found in Indian curry. For more than a few thousand years, curcumin has been used as a healing agent in Eastern medicine. Western medicine has recently caught on, with a plethora of scientific studies backing curcumin’s anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and liver-cleansing properties. Dr. Johnny Bowden, author of the anti-aging book, “The Most Effective Ways to Live Longer,” and a speaker at the first annual anti-aging conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2010, advises, “Put turmeric on as much food as you can, but because it’s not super-absorbable in food, you should buy a curcumin supplement as well.”

 

A study in Clinical Cancer Research advocated for curcumin being evaluated for the prevention or treatment of cancers. Another study in Phytotherapy Research magazine presented the first evidence for the “safety and superiority of curcumin treatment in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).”

 

3. Take an aspirin: If you’ve previously had a heart attack or stroke, popping an aspirin a day may extend your life. Though daily aspirin consumption remains controversial — some doctors recommend it across the board, while others prescribe aspirin only for those with a heart condition — one study published in The Lancet concluded that taking an aspirin a day could significantly reduce the risk of dying prematurely from cancer. After five years, the group taking aspirin had developed almost a 40 percent lower chance of developing cancer than the control group, which did not take any aspirin. Take caution with aspirin, though, as it may promote gastro-intestinal bleeding, and always speak with your doctor before starting a new regimen.

 

4. Eat omega-9 fatty acids: Almost everybody has heard about the heart-healthy and other myriad benefits derived from eating essential omega-3 fatty acids. Lesser known are the omega-9’s. Though they are not essential because our bodies make them naturally, eating foods, specifically monounsaturated oils like olive oil may extend your life. A study in Neurology suggests that high olive oil consumption plays a protective role by reducing the risk of stroke in older subjects. “Inflammation is the root cause of every degenerative disease and omega-9 oils are extremely anti-inflammatory. They do a great job penetrating the cells and getting cells and neurotransmitters to communicate with the brain faster,” says Bowden.

 

5. Eat dark chocolate: According to a study of more than 2,000 people published in the British Medical Journal, the blood-pressure lowering effects of dark chocolate consumption are beneficial in the prevention of cardiovascular problems in a population with metabolic syndrome. Another study in Nutrition concluded that flavonoid-rich cocoa consumption significantly improves blood pressure, insulin resistance and lipid profiles. Flavonoids are the antioxidants found in chocolate.

 

6. Check your hormone levels: Dr. Gary London, who practices the relatively new Western medicine concept of anti-aging in Hollywood, Calif., suggests that those over 40 who want to live out the second half of their lives with vigor should consider getting their hormone levels tested. “If your energy levels and sex-drive are low, if your muscle tone is deteriorating, bio-identical hormones may help,” says London. “Hormones are chemical messengers that are critical for making healthy cells. Our peak hormone level occurs at ages 25-30; afterwards, our hormone levels drop,” adds London.

 

7. Don’t have low cholesterol: A study published in the Journal of Korean Medical Science concludes that low cholesterol is associated with mortality from cardiovascular diseases. UCLA researchers concluded in a study published in 2009 in the American Heart Journal, that more than 75 percent of 136,905 heart attack patients had healthy cholesterol levels, suggesting that cholesterol levels do not have a direct correlation with developing heart disease; don’t worry yourself sick about cholesterol.

TOOTH WHITENING

Tooth whitening, or tooth bleaching, has been a popular service of dental offices for over a decade.  The actual process of whitening is most often done at home but it can be done in the dental office as well.  The bleach that is used in either case is the same.  The concentrations differ.  Tooth bleach  has been shown to be very benign in the mouth and harmless to teeth. It is called carbamide peroxide, which is a stabilized form of hydrogen peroxide

The in-office concentrations are higher and thus can achieve the whitening faster, usually in one appointment.

Whitening done at home is slower and gentler.  Centercare uses a 3-minute bleach that no longer needs overnight application.  The material is placed in a custom tray that fits tightly over the teeth and left in place.  Because the concentration is lower, the process takes longer, typically a couple of weeks.  Check out our websit http://www.centercare.net/ for more information! 





VIRAL INFECTIONS OF THE MOUTH IMAGES

Introduction to Viral Infections in the Mouth

One of the challenges in managing dental health is controlling viral infections of the lips and other soft tissues.  Viruses are contagious and, once an infection has occurred, the virus remains present in tissue cells, even though the symptoms are gone, and can recur in the future.  There are two broad forms of viral infections in the mouth.

·         Herpes, type I, is the common cold sore.  It can occur on the lips, in the nose, on the palate and inside the cheeks.  When a flare-up occurs, it takes over a week to go away.  In severe cases, multiple sores occur and systemic anti-viral medications are used.  The single sores are more common and can be treated with ointments.

Newer technology now offers quicker relief for these uncomfortable occurrences.  According to Gary Steen, DDS, principal dentist at Centercare Dental Group in Phoenix, application of laser energy to these infected areas is now offering more choices than ever.  Patients are experiencing relief in hours or days instead of a week or more.

·         Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, is the second viral infection that shows up regularly in the mouth.  This virus, which is transmitted orally or sexually, shows up in small bumps on the gums or in the throat and is in fact a wart.  These areas are typically less inflamed than the Herpes sores and can be very silent.  The medications used with the Herpes virus are not effective against HPV.

 Dr. Steen reports that Centercare Dental Group now offers a DNA test for the presence of HPV in saliva.  He says that as more research is done we know now that many oral cancers start from these warts and for that reason, and for contagion reasons, he recommends removing them.  This allows the wart to be biopsied to confirm the diagnosis and hopefully avoid future occurrences.  In this case, lasers would not be used.  Instead the biopsy is performed with electro surgery or with a scalpel to preserve the specimen.

Viral sores can range from simple discomfort to actual risk of dangerous conditions over time.  Quick treatment is good treatment, and in both cases it is simple and inexpensive and can dramatically change the outcome of the infection.

Dr. Steen can be reached at 602-252-2800 and e-mailed at smile@centercare.net .  The website is www.centercare.net .  You are welcome to call with questions.

Laser Bacterial Reduction Update

One of the challenges in managing dental health is controlling viral infections of the lips and other soft tissues.  Viruses are contagious and, once an infection has occurred, the virus remains present in tissue cells, even though the symptoms are gone, and can recur in the future.  There are two broad forms of viral infections in the mouth.

·         Herpes, type I, is the common cold sore.  It can occur on the lips, in the nose, on the palate and inside the cheeks.  When a flare-up occurs, it takes over a week to go away.  In severe cases, multiple sores occur and systemic anti-viral medications are used.  The single sores are more common and can be treated with ointments.

Newer technology now offers quicker relief for these uncomfortable occurrences.  According to Gary Steen, DDS, principal dentist at Centercare Dental Group in Phoenix, application of laser energy to these infected areas is now offering more choices than ever.  Patients are experiencing relief in hours or days instead of a week or more.

·         Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, is the second viral infection that shows up regularly in the mouth.  This virus, which is transmitted orally or sexually, shows up in small bumps on the gums or in the throat and is in fact a wart.  These areas are typically less inflamed than the Herpes sores and can be very silent.  The medications used with the Herpes virus are not effective against HPV.

 Dr. Steen reports that Centercare Dental Group now offers a DNA test for the presence of HPV in saliva.  He says that as more research is done we know now that many oral cancers start from these warts and for that reason, and for contagion reasons, he recommends removing them.  This allows the wart to be biopsied to confirm the diagnosis and hopefully avoid future occurrences.  In this case, lasers would not be used.  Instead the biopsy is performed with electro surgery or with a scalpel to preserve the specimen.

Viral sores can range from simple discomfort to actual risk of dangerous conditions over time.  Quick treatment is good treatment, and in both cases it is simple and inexpensive and can dramatically change the outcome of the infection.

Dr. Steen can be reached at 602-252-2800 and e-mailed at smile@centercare.net .  The website is www.centercare.net .  You are welcome to call with questions.

What's In Your Filling?

Composite resins, in various forms, affect us in our daily lives more than we may notice.  To a chemist, a composite resin means a material, man-made, that consists of a resin matrix holding a large amount, by volume, of a particle material.  If, for example, the composite is a resin holding a fine quartz particle, it would likely be used as a kitchen countertop (think brand names like Caesarstone or Stonite).  It is very durable and is a competitor to pure granite.  Other examples would show up in high impact applications like tool tips, hammer heads, golf clubs and highway paint.  The common risk in all of these uses is heavy stress and heavy wear or breakage potential.

For these reasons, these materials work very well in dental applications, where teeth are exposed to daily stress and wear.  The particle that’s used in our composites is zirconium, which is artificial diamond.  The particle size is ultra-fine, measuring less than half a micrometer across.  This allows for a very high polish.  The zirconium component gives the restoration a very high wear resistance and beautiful light refraction.

LASER PROCEDURES

Laser technology has been with us for over half a century.  The optical accuracy of lasers has been widely applied in technology with uses in readers, scanners and measurements.  The energy aspect of lasers has been slower to develop, especially in medicine.

The value of lasers in dentistry has recently begun to emerge.  A form of laser generation known as a diode laser has now been extensively tested for use in periodontal disease, and the results have been promising.  The hygienists at Centercare are now using this technology and have found it to be very effective at reducing bacterial levels in gingivitis and in periodontitis.

Bacteria are the cause of both gingivitis and periodontitis.  Disease prevention always revolves around managing bacterial populations in the mouth.  Our experience has been that laser applications are one of the best tools we have to do this.  Not only can lasers reduce bacterial levels, they are very effective at removing diseased tissue and stimulating new growth.  We are seeing results that weren’t possible with traditional treatments.  Some of these applications can be effective with only a single treatment.  Others respond best to multiple treatments.

Cold sores are another interesting application of laser energy.  These sores are caused by viruses and we are finding that laser application is reducing viral levels and shortening the healing time.  Sensitive teeth are also responding well to laser exposure with a single application.

More good news:  these treatments are surprisingly easy and also inexpensive, which is how technology is supposed to work.

If you have been frustrated with bleeding in your mouth or areas that aren’t responding to other treatment, laser therapy may offer an answer.  Call Jessie at 602-252-2800 or e-mail her at Jessie@centercare.net.  Check out our website http://www.centercare.net/ ! 

Phoenix Dentist

For an excellent Phoenix dentist, look to Centercare, where your dental health is secure and beautiful smiles are created. Centercare is a unique, high-tech dental office, providing meticulous care and excellence in cosmetic, reconstructive and implant dentistry. Using the latest in advanced dental technology, we create dazzling smiles that are both healthy and beautiful for our patients. For oral health and beauty, choose us as a partner in your dental health.  Call us at 602-252-2800.  Visit our website http://www.centercare.net/. Dr. Gary Steen and his team are ready to make your smile shine!

Human Papilloma Virus(HPV) Update

Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV, has made news recently in public discussions about vaccinating preteen girls against infection.  A recent study reviewed in Science News (Dec 31) reported that half of men in North and South America carry the virus.  The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is now recommending that preteen boys also be vaccinated.

High-risk types of HPV are linked to 90% of cervical cancers in women.  Recent studies show that these same high-risk types cause cancer of the mouth, tongue, tonsils and throat.  Oral cancer is the 6^th most common cancer in humans, and over half of these cases appear to originate with an HPV infection in the mouth.  The virus is contagious and can spread within the mouth or to others. 

Cancer screening has always been part of oral exams for Dr. Gary Steen and the hygienists at Centercare.  Visual exams depend on an actual lesion, or papilloma, to be present. We now have another tool for detecting the presence of oral HPV in the form of a simple saliva test.  This test can detect the presence of the virus even no growth is visible.  It simply involves rinsing and spitting with a special rinse which is sent for analysis at Oral DNA Labs (www.oraldna.com).

If you are interested in this test please call 602-252-2800.  The fee is $155.  Ask for Jessie.  Her e-mail is jessie@centercare.net.