It's never too early to start good habits

Parents Should Brush Infants’ Teeth Between Bottle Feeding And Bedtime.

Citing the American Dental Association, the Kane County (IL) Chronicle(11/22, Kohl) reported on the issue of tooth decay caused by infants’ baby bottles, which “is often called baby bottle tooth decay” and “most often occurs in the upper front teeth, but can occur in other teeth as well.” The article advised parents not to put their child to bed with a bottle, instead reporting that dentists advise parents give their child a bottle, brush their teeth, and then put them to bed or down for a nap. Moreover, “the American Dental Association advises that tooth decay can also be caused when cavity-causing bacteria are passed from the primary caregiver to the infant through saliva,” and advises parents not put a child’s pacifier in their own mouth.

Patients Advised To Brush Teeth Later In The Morning.

In a 1,500-word article on how people can “have the healthiest day of your life,” Good Housekeeping (11/24, Heyman) reports that people should wait until later in the morning, around 9 a.m. when they arrive at work, to brush their teeth. “You’ve worked out, had a protein-packed meal, and made it to the office. Now, attend to your teeth,” the article advises. “The American Dental Association recommends waiting 30 minutes after consuming something acidic before taking out your toothbrush,” as it may weaken the tooth’s enamel otherwise. Later in the evening, the article advises patients brush their teeth again, adding that doing so a little earlier can help curb late-night snacking.

Health and Safety Bites

Chronic Dental Irritation May Play Role In Development Of Oral Cancers.

Medscape (11/8, Nelson) reported that research published online in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery suggests that “chronic dental irritation might play a role in the development of oral cancers, especially in nonsmokers.” The researchers “note that oral cavity cancers occur predominantly at sites of potential dental and denture trauma; this is particularly true for nonsmokers who lack other established risk factors.” However, “more significant was the difference in the location of the cancers they observed in their retrospective analysis of 724 patients.”

Improper Toothbrush Storage May Spread Bacteria.

In a patient-directed article reporting on 10 grooming activities that, if done improperly, may spread bacteria, the Prevention Magazine(11/7, Moorhouse) website reports that first among those activities is improper storage of the toothbrush. The toothbrush might be “laden with bacteria, saliva, and, if you’re a particularly aggressive brusher, blood,” Prevention Magazine reports, adding that “even after rinsing a toothbrush with water, it can still” harbor bacteria, according to the CDC. The article reports that the American Dental Association “suggests replacing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months (sooner if you’ve been sick), keeping it in a closed space like a medicine cabinet, and if you share a bathroom and have multiple toothbrushes in there, store them separately to avoid cross-contamination of any lingering germs.”

Chewing Sugar Free Gum “May Be A Good Place To Start” In Tooth Decay Prevention.

US News & World Report (11/7, Kohnle) carried a brief HealthDay News report on how chewing sugar-free gum “may be a good place to start” in the effort to prevent tooth decay. The article reports that people should “look for a sugarless gum with the American Dental Association Seal,” and shouldn’t let chewing gum replace regular dental hygiene like flossing daily and brushing twice daily.

Blog Notes The Importance Of Flossing For People In Their 30s.

A Pop Sugar (11/10) “Lifestyle” blog article lists “33 Things To Quit Doing When You Hit Your 30s,” which include a number of health related items. The article reports that people generally have a “‘get out of jail free’ card” during their 20s, and that as people age into their 30s many of the things they could get away with sans health effects dwindle. Among those, the article advises people stop “flossing only once a year before your trip to the dentist, and then right after, when the dentist guilt-trips you in to it.”

We want your candy!!

ADA Advises Parents To Limit Children’s Consumption Of Hard, Sticky Candies During Halloween Season.

A small handful of newspapers consider the potential health effects of binge eating sugary sweets, which many people are expected to do during the upcoming Halloween holiday. For instance, the Guardian Liberty Voice (NV)(10/28) reports that excessive sugar consumption “may lead to unpleasant physical symptoms that resemble an alcoholic hangover.” Additionally, the article notes the potentially negative effects of indulgent sugar intake on dental health. Still, “in one national example of a proactive partnership, the American Dental Association teamed up with PopCap Games in 2012 to create the Stop Zombie Mouth campaign to help prevent the tooth decay and gum disease that can be exacerbated by too much sugar and Halloween candy,” the Guardian Liberty Voice reports.

        Meanwhile, the Bangor (ME) Daily News (10/28, Feulner) reports that the American Dental Association advises hard candies and sticky candies are most dangerous for oral hygiene, as they remain in the mouth for longer periods of time, and “can increase the risk of tooth decay.” However, the Daily News points out that sugar-free gum “may reduce tooth decay,” according to recent studies. The article goes on to suggest that parents should set aside Halloween candy for later; introduce the “Halloween Fairy,” which “exchanges leftover Halloween candy for a toy, art supplies or cash”; or give it away, as many dentists now participate in “Halloween candy buyback” programs.

        The Denver Post (10/28, Draper) also reports on methods parents can adopt for limiting the risk Halloween candy poses to kid’s dental health. The Post reminds parents to always have children brush their teeth before bed, and notes that the ADA recommends kids to avoid sticky or hard candies.

Dripping with Acid

That's beautiful, right?!  Think about it next time you drink something.  How much do you really like soda, even diet soda?  

"But I don't drink soda" or "My kids don't drink soda" you say. Well….

Juice is another cause to dental decay.  

It is NOT sugar that causes decay.  Let me repeat this: It is NOT sugar that causes decay. Eat all the candy, fruits, gum, cookies, and cake you want.  ACID creates decay.  ACID erodes teeth.  ACID decomposes enamel to black mush.

ACID?!  Yes.  We've all heard about acid rain, acid burns, acid reflux, and even acid drugs.  What do these have in common?…. EROSION.  

Your enamel is very strong but under a constant onslaught of acid, it will erode away creating a cavity.  It's bad enough that the bacteria in your mouth create plenty of acid to cause a cavity.  However, if soda, juice, sport drinks,lemons, tomatoes, pickled vegetables, or vinaigrettes (to name a few) are consumed in frequent amounts, then their acidness will erode your teeth too.  

Here's how it works:  You drink all natural 100% orange juice, watered down.  The orange juice acid sits on your teeth and softens it.  Then the bacteria eat the fructose naturally found in the juice, and they deposit more acid on your teeth.  With that double dose of acid, the enamel decomposes and erodes.  If it takes you all day to consume your juice, then you have covered your teeth with a double whammy of acid all day long.  It won't take long for a cavity to form.  

As for children: they shouldn't be drinking soda, juice, or sport drinks anyways.  Their teeth are smaller and the enamel is thinner.  It does not take anytime before cavities develop on their teeth, especially with children's brushing habits.  

So next time you reach for that diet soda or apple juice or sports drink, think about whether or not you want your teeth DRIPPING IN ACID.