Acidic Foods and Liquids, linked to Tooth Health

The current typical Western diet is largely composed of acidic foods and liquids (coffee, sodas, energy drinks, some bottled waters and many types of foods). Alkaline foods such as milk, cheese and vegetables are eaten in much smaller quantities. Many foods are alkaline by nature, but many manufactured processed foods are acidic.

Many people will often consume acidic liquids and foods consistently throughout the day while working or going to school.  This process does not allow the body's salivary glands enough time to neutralize the acidity in the mouth which will lead to tooth erosion, damage, and tooth decay over time.  It is important to rinse out the mouth after a meal or eat alkaline type foods at the end of a meal to assist in neutralizing the acidity of the mouth.  Think of eating a piece of cheese after a meal. 

There are some other products that can help reduce the acidity of the mouth as well.  Chewing gums that have Xylitol and Recaldent are excellent sugar free sources that can assist in neutralizing acidity in ones mouth by stimulating the salivary glands to naturally secret saliva that will buffer acidity.  Products like MI Paste can also help to diminsh the effects of acidity on our teeth when applied to the teeth daily.

Brushing and flossing also helps to remove remaining food and bacteria that cause increased levels of acidity to remain while the natural body defense of saliva is trying to counteract the acidity.  It has been noted after eating or drinking very acidic foods and liquids that the teeth may be more susceptible to toothbrush damage.  Allowing the acidity of the mouth to diminsh or be reduced prior to brushing may take about 15 to 30 minutes based on salivary flow, stimulation and other factors.

Todd Snyder, DDS of Aesthetic Dental Designs in Laguna Niguel, CA. states that anyone from children to elderly should try to minimze the acidic attack on their teeth daily by chewing sugarless gum and rinsing with water after meals followed by brushing and flossing.  By doing so the protective enamel coating will last longer and teeth will have their health and pretty white exterior for many more years.

Dental Tourism and Drug Cartels

You might want to avoid both of them. Thousands flock to Mexico and other countries, annually to pay foreign dentists to fix their teeth.
They make the trek because the savings seem enormous. But is it safe?
Dentists in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico all agree no country has a monopoly on good dentists.
However, there are significant differences in the training of dentists in Mexico and other countries compared with Canada and the United States, and much different standards with regard to infection control and materials used for fillings and crowns. There are also differences in licensing and liability.
The key question is what happens when something goes wrong?
You are putting your health at great risk when you have complex dental procedures done in a distant clinic, the obvious concern is that, if there are subsequent problems, you will have logistical difficulties obtaining the followup care. However, it is also very possible that the dental work may appear esthetically acceptable, but still be of poor quality with health-care ramifications, which might not be evident for months, or even years.
While reputable dentists in Mexico offer warranties of their work and/or materials, it's a long and costly trip back to have the dental work repaired and problems corrected.  The rise of drug wars across the border may also have untold effects on ones journey.

If the main motivation of patients is to get the work done as cheaply as possible during this economic down turn, they are taking a risk with their health. Unless you know what the standard of care is, you have no idea what you will be getting.  Price is not the only thing to consider when you think about oral health.  Quality, health risks and longevity should also be weighed heavily.
"I can give you many examples of patients who have permanent damage in some shape or form, and there's no recourse," Dr Todd Snyder, (Orange County, CA). "The amazing thing is the patients know it before they go, but they are willing to take that risk. Patients often dont realize or undertand that some dental treatment is irreversible. Some poorly handled cases would result in legal claims for millions in damages in the United States, but dentists in Mexico may be very difficult to go after if something is done incorrectly. If you have crowns, bridges and implants done and it doesn't work, then what? It's different than getting your hair cut. .If it's not done well, it may not be something anybody can fix afterward.
Not only is there a risk of permanent damage, but if infection control isn't rigidly followed, patients could end up with life-threatening infections. Hepatitis and systemic diseases can be transferred. An infectious disease like hepatitis or potentially AIDS won't happen in North America, but in other countries, who knows?

There are quality dentists in many parts of the world, but impossible for a patient to determine. Be careful and understand the potential life changing risks that saving a few dollars may cause and know that you may have no legal grounds to stand on when you return to the states. 

Great News--No more drilling or filling of cavities!

A new study in ACS Nano uses this first of its kind technology to eliminate or reduce the need for the drilling and filling of cavities. The use of peptides embedded in a soft gel or thin, pliable film can be placed next to a cavity which encourages cells inside teeth to regenerate in about a month, according to the study. The film or gel containing the peptide MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) encourages regeneration, such that a dab on an infected tooth could heal teeth from within.

The study was performed on cavities in mice, and after about a month the cavities were gone. The MSH peptide gel or film however does not prevent cavities so everyone still has to brush, floss, use MI Paste Plus and eat right. Although the product is not available yet, it does provide hope of a new form of therapy in the future. “The best type of treatment is not needing treatment, so keep them clean”, says Dr. Todd Snyder, DDS, Laguna Niguel, CA.

Keep your wisdom……teeth!

Wisdom teeth often have to be removed due to not growing into the mouth properly, having decay or gum disease. Aesthetic Dental Designs and Todd Snyder, DDS want you to know about a recent study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry reveals that wisdom teeth actually hold valuable tissues inside them that are capable of creating therapeutic stem cells. “In the event that a person needs them, such stem cells could be used to regrow needed tissues and organs or to treat debilitating diseases.” Wisdom teeth are often removed in developed nations, so they are easy to utilize as a source of induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPS).

“In 2006, researchers first discovered that certain genes in adult cells could be reprogrammed to once again express themselves as fresh stem cells. These cells have great therapeutic potential because they can be instructed to develop into virtually any needed adult stem cells, which can be used to promote healing. But obtaining iPS is difficult because they must be extracted from viable sources, most of which are not easily accessible. Bone marrow contains the necessary cells, but extracting from it is a laborious process. And skin cells, which are the easiest to obtain, do not possess a very strong programming capability.”

“Researchers from Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science discovered that wisdom teeth contain considerably viable "starter" cells. And since most people in developed nations get their wisdom teeth removed anyway, the process of obtaining them is simpler than it is from practically any other source. They also found in some cases, the cells proliferated 100 times more efficiently than those derived from skin, and they were capable of forming a variety of different adult cell lines. Wisdom teeth can also be frozen for several years after being extracted, allowing their valuable pulp to be stored for potential future use. This breakthrough research advances the cause of non-controversial iPS treatments, which show incredible promise in helping the body to heal itself.”
Info provided by http://www.naturalnews.com/

TCS Aesthetic Dental Designs: What is your dentist possibly missing?

TCS Aesthetic Dental Designs: What is your dentist possibly missing?: "A new form of dental technology can make finding cavities easier than ever. FDA clearance on the new SoproLIFE was just granted in January,..."

What is your dentist possibly missing?

A new form of dental technology can make finding cavities easier than ever.  FDA clearance on the new SoproLIFE was just granted in January, 2010.  Does your dentist have one?

   

The new SoproLife imaging fluorescence device, is an extremely useful tool in detecting dental caries early and effectively. The SoproLife uses blue LEDs to emit light and excite dentine, sending a fluorescent light signal that helps detect early tooth decay often too small to be detected by traditional X-rays or explorers.
The device allows for more accurate identification and diagnosis, as well as a procedure that is less invasive and aggressive than traditional methods. With the ability to detect cavities early on, dentists can give their patients the treatment they need earlier to prevent further damage and improve their smile.

Dental caries, better known as dental cavities, often do not have any symptoms until the decay has eaten through the enamel, causing pain and sensitivity. Cavities caught too late can cause serious damage and, in some cases, can lead to tooth loss.  Identifying cavities early with SoproLife dental technology allows dentists to treat cavities before they become worse.

The SoproLife is changing the way cavities are diagnosed and treated.  Conventional methods of cavity detection include visual observation, probing with an explorer, and radiographs. These methods can miss early carious lesions and require a more aggressive excavation once the cavity has been identified.

Orange County cosmetic dentist Dr. Todd Snyder at Aesthetic Dental Designs now uses the SoproLIFE.
You can reach us at (949) 643-6733 or on the web at http://www.aestheticdentaldesigns.com/.

Are you unknowingly giving dirty diseased kisses to your loved ones??

Did you know...
Dental cavities and gum disease with their bacterial agents are infectious diseases, and they have a vertical transmission to those around you. The control of bacterial transmission from mother to child has been studied, and its results on their children's dental cavities development, and on their siblings’ bacterial levels and dental cavities are linked. This also applies to the transmission between spouses, boyfriends and girlfriends.
If you or your loved ones have oral health problems the bacteria linked to gum disease and tooth decay can be spread. Make sure you and your loved ones are not infecting each other or your children with oral bacteria that can change the oral health and create a potential life long problem for those around you.
See a dentist and get help before you hurt the ones you love. Over 80% of American Adults have some level of gum disease and as previously mention it is transmissible. This is still one of the most prevalent infectious diseases that is still relatively unknown due to lack of media attention and yet virtually everyone has some form of gum disease and a history of cavities. You can stop this problem with proper oral health and visiting a dentist. Don't harm your children and your loved ones see a dentist.