The Worst Foods To Eat… From a Dental Perspective

Thanksgiving is here and along with celebrating all that we are thankful for this day also Fotolia_46102108_XS1-200x300heralds the holiday season to come.  So, being in the  being in the holiday spirit this post is dedicated to The Worst Foods to Eat… From a Dental Perspective. I’ve compiled a list of the top 5 worst holiday foods for dental restorations and overall dental health.

  1. Popcorn balls: This sticky-popcorn and caramel concoction although delightful to eat will leave you with every nook and cranny of your dentition filled with sugary caramel and popcorn kernel-y goodness. Definitely one to avoid if possible, if not then just make sure you have your toothbrush and floss handy for afterwards.
  2. Un-shelled Nuts: The nuts are not exactly the bad part of this holiday treat… its the shells. If you are going to partake of shelled nuts, take the safe route and use nutcrackers and not your teeth. I can’t count how many fractured crowns and chipped teeth I see from chomping on a shelled nut. And who wants a big gaping hole staring back at you in your holiday photos!
  3. Hard Nougat or Torrone: Some may not be familiar with this type of candy, but growing up in my family around Christmas time we would get an enormous block of almond hard nougat. This candy is a dangerous treat, It’s dental danger is two fold. First its incredibly hard and chewy exterior can be dangerous to your teeth if you decide to attempt bit a hunk off. And secondly, as you begin to chew it and it starts to soften and melt this tasty candy become a big sticky chewy mess that clings relentlessly to every surface of your teeth. So eat with care! And, on that note I’d like to give a faithful nod to all types of caramels, toffee’s and a holiday favorite Candy Canes.
  4. Pecan Pie: This pie isn’t notorious for breaking teeth, however it is literally a caramel and nut pie. So, if you plan on indulging this Thanksgiving and Holiday season remember to brush afterwards. The sticky texture and corn syrup and sugar filling are bona fide cavity creators.
  5. Cranberry Sauce: This seemingly innocent concoction is a sweet, sugary and teeth staining mess. Although it can top off a fantastic Thanksgiving meal I would probably avoid it if you’ve just whitened your teeth.

Thank you every one for reading today and We at Frangella Dental wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season!!!!

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Can I Use a Waterpik instead of Floss?

If you are a follower of our blog or if you’ve had your teeth cleaned any time within the past ten years you’ve been Fotolia_194988_XS-300x200told that flossing is incredibly important for dental and periodontal health. A common question about flossing that I receive is: Are there alternatives to traditional floss? And, can I use a Waterpik instead of floss?

  • Waterpik falls under the category of a water flosser. This device uses a stream of air and water to clear debris from between the teeth and around the gingival area. Another popular brand of water flosser is the Sonicare AirFloss.
  • Some studies show that there is little difference between effectiveness of water flossers vs. traditional floss
  • My professional opinion is that mechanical flossing when done correctly is more effective than using a water flosser. My first recommendation to the majority of patients is to use traditional floss.
  • However, effectiveness is contingent on flossing correctly. Many people do not floss correctly either because they were never taught how to, or lack the manual dexterity to do so. Flossing incorrectly although still helps to keep the teeth clean, can cause you to be less effective while flossing. And, may cause minor irritation to the gums.
  • Some patients who have had an injury or have a disability such as arthritis simply may not capable of flossing. Patients who can not floss at all or are causing more damage than good with traditional floss will show better results with a water flosser.
  • In general, if you are curious if a water flosser is appropriate for your home care we recommend  asking  your dentist or hygienist if a water flosser is a good option for you. They will evaluate you as well as teach you the best method to clean your teeth and gums.
Comparison of Irrigation to Floss as an Adjunct to Tooth Brushing: Effect on Bleeding, Gingivitis, and Supragingival Plaque; Barnes RDH; Russell DMD, PhD; Reinhardt DDS, PhD; Payne DDS, MDS; and,  Lyle RDS, MS Interdental Cleansing; Jacquelyn L. Fried, RDH, MS
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Children's Oral Health

So by now your children are hopefully coming down from their Halloween sugar high and revving up for the long holiday season and kidssmile-207x300all the great treats that come with it. To keep up with all the newest information regarding children’s oral health I’ve come across some great resources that can help keep your child’s smile healthy while instilling great oral health habits.

  • Check out this great website for great videos, information about your child’s mouth as well as ideas about how to get your child into great health habits
  • Keep an eye on nutrition this is incredibly important not only for oral health but also for overall health. This website is ADA recommended as well and can help learn important information on nutrition as well as how to live an active and healthy lifestyle.
  • I thought this P.S.A. was not only hilarious  but educational as well.
  • And Finally, most parents are curious as to what teeth are permanent which are baby teeth and when exactly are they supposed to come in. Here are a couple of great charts that I found along the way that explains the sequence of eruption for primary and permanent teeth
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