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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Halloween Costumes: Dental Edition

Halloween is almost here if you’re looking for some interesting Halloween costumes check out some of our top (tooth related) picks:

 

Its hard to turn down a classic! And, if you want to get creative you can cut a little chunk out and color the edges brown, carry a bag of candy and be a tooth with a cavity.

       

If you’re looking for something a little creepy then maybe this costumes for you. Nothing says scary like this bloody dentist!

         

If you’re looking for a couples costume Life sized toothbrush and floss make a great pair. Just don’t try and give toothbrushes out as a treat, trust me I know from experience, it doesn’t go over well…..

               

If you’re feeling a little silly try this costume on for size. One look at this costume and the kids will be hiding their baby teeth.

           

And finally, For the little ones.

       

Have a great day and a safe and Happy Halloween!

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Stem Cells In Dentistry

Fotolia_45158534_XS-300x200Stem cell research has been a hot topic for the past few years. It seems as if every aspect of health care has been exploring the potential for stem cells, and dentistry itself has not been left untouched. So what is the potential for stem cells in dentistry? Stem cells are cells in the body that have the potential to generate into a variety of different types of cells. They can be found in a variety of areas of the body, you may not have  known this, but they are also located in the  dental pulp tissues. The dental pulp or area in the center of the tooth where nerve tissue and blood supply for the tooth is located. Although research up to this point has been limited, it is known, as stated by researcher Pamela Robey, Ph.D., that ” the cells from dental pulp in baby or wisdom teeth have the ability to make dentin and pulp and they might have the ability to make bone but right now that’s all we really know for sure.” Continued research and clinical trials are being completed to learn more about the potential for regeneration of bone as well as to evaluate any regenerative endodontic techniques. There are many companies that have begun capitalizing on stem cell storage which at this stage may be premature due to the lack of research for practical and/or possible applications of these cells. There is definitely a lot of room for research and if you are planning on storing stem cells keep that in mind. In my opinion, it is a topic that is incredibly exciting and worth keeping an eye on.

Human Mandible Bone Defect Repair By the Grafting of Dental Pulp Stem/Progenitor Cells and Collagen Sponge Biocomplexes. RICCARDO D’AQUINO, ALFREDO DE ROSA, VLADIMIRO LANZA, VIRGINIA TIRINO, LUIGI LAINO, ANTONIO GRAZIANO, VINCENZO DESIDERIO, GROGORIO LAINO AND GIANPAOLO PAPACCIO Clinical Study: Development of a Model to Evaluate Regenerative Endodontic Techniques Using Extract Human Teeth Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells: From Biology to Clinical Applications. RICCARDO D’AQUINO1, ALFREDO DE ROSA2, GREGORIO LAINO2, FILIPPO CARUSO2, LUIGI GUIDA2, ROSARIO RULLO2, VITTORIO CHECCHI3, LUIGI LAINO1, VIRGINIA TIRINO1, AND GIANPAOLO PAPACCIO1
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Trick Them With These Treats: Dentist Recommended Halloween Treats

fotolia_17582018_xs-resized-600better options for treats for the holiday. If you are looking to give away sugar-free treats but aren’t too keen on being known as the worst house on the block, there are some great sugarless or sugar-free options out there.  Here are some of our favorite  ideas for Halloween treats that are dentist recommended!

  • One way to avoid the sugar-free candy conundrum completely is by stopping in your local supermarket or party store and picking up some party toys or favors. Our favorite picks are Sticky Hands and Halloween themed blow up balls. If you go the toy route just be sure to pick something that does not have small parts or could be a choking hazard.
  • Another great idea is packaged popcorn or pretzels.
  • Stickers are always a great non-candy related treat as well.
  • Trail-mix or almonds are another healthy choice. However, it may be a good idea to keep a nut-free option as well for children with nut allergies.
  • If you are to the crafty side, you can create apple ghosts. Buy small apples from your local grocery store, cover with a white dinner sized paper napkin and twist tie the opening. Using a black magic marker and make a spooky face. What you will have are adorable and healthy treats!
There are very few sugar free candies that kids go crazy for, but if you know of any that your kid loves, please let us know! If you do  give out candy for Halloween try and avoid sticky caramels and taffy’s. These types of candy are difficult to clean from the teeth. If you are going to enjoy some Halloween candy yourself a good way to help avoid cavities is to try and limit the number of times you expose your teeth to candy in a day. It is better to eat multiple pieces at once, rather than one piece at time, multiple times during the day. Happy Halloween Everyone!! If you are a dentist looking for great treats to give away the ADA and PopCap games have teamed up with a campaign called “Stop Zombie Mouth” The campaign offers trading cards with links to free game downloads.  ]]>

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My Dentist Makes Me Throw Up… Dentistry and Gag Reflex

Fotolia_39251248_XS-300x200It’s the same scenario, you get to the dentist, sit in the chair and try and remain calm. But, as you look around at the various instruments all you can think is how each of them makes you want to throw up… literally. This brings me to today’s post: Dentistry and Gag Reflex. In dentistry there are various things that can stimulate a gag response. Most severe gagger’s are swarmed with anxiety before and during their appointment. Some is towards the actual dental procedure but, most is due to the fear that they will start to gag and be unable to control it. As a dentist we try and alleviate those fears and manage the response as best as possible. Gagging can be defined as a response ” In which the body attempts to eliminate instruments or agents from the oral cavity by muscle contraction at the base or the tongue and the pharyngeal wall”. Various things can cause this response whether it be from physical stimulation or psychological stimulation. With psychological stimulation certain sounds, smells and even thoughts can induce feelings of fear and stress thereby trigger a gag reflex. When I treat a patient with a sensitive gag reflex there are some methods I use to try and manage the symptoms.

  • Initially, I focus on methods of desensitization combined with  relaxation. To do this a topical anesthetic is placed on the palate and back of the mouth. Then, I have the patient  find a focal point, such as a corner or a tile. Once a focal point is found breathing exercises are employed. We focus on keeping a steady pace of deep slow breaths while the procedure is completed.
  • If this fails we move to a distraction technique. During the procedure the patient is instructed to lift one leg slowly up and then down. They are told to alternate their legs while focusing on breathing slow deep breaths. As silly as this seems,  it tends to work well with a mild gag reflex.
  • If coping mechanisms do not work in conjunction with topical anesthetic then, pharmacological techniques will be offered if the patient is a candidate.  Nitrous oxide is the first pharmacological intervention that is used.  Nitrous is helpful for patients because it tends to distract as well as remove some of the anxiety of the dental procedure and the possibility of gagging. However, If the nitrous oxide is not effective then a different type of pharmacological treatment may be recommended such as Conscious Sedation. Conscious Sedation helps to reduce the anxiety associated with treatment as well as help to eliminate the physical reflex as well.
  • Other therapies that are used by some practitioners are: acupressure and acupuncture
If you find that you have a sensitive gag response and are terrified of your dentist making you sick… literally. Then, speak to your dentist and let them know what it is that makes you gag. They may be able to tailor their treatment to help reduce your gag reflex.  
Gag Reflex: No More A Gag To A Dentist The Behavioral Techniques, Pharmacological Techniques, Acupressure and Acupuncture in Controlling the Gag Reflex – A Review Shriprasad S1, Shilpashree HS2
The use of relative analgesia in the prosthetic treatment of the ‘gagging’ patient.Packer ME, Joarder C, Lall BA.
Management of Exaggerated Gag Reflex Using Intravenous Sedation in Prosthodontic Treatment Harushi Yoshida1), Terumi Ayuse1), Satoru Ishizaka2), Shingo Ishitobi1), Tomoyuki Nogami1), Kumiko Oi1) 2)
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Are My Teeth Too Crooked To Straighten?

Fotolia_40549461_XS-300x232 The other day I was asked a couple of interesting questions. The question was: How crooked is too crooked to straighten? Are my teeth too crooked for Invisalign?  And, it made me realize that one thing that is seldom addressed is what makes treatment for braces an easy as opposed to a difficult case to treat. And, what exactly is too difficult to treat or not treatable at all.

The decision to straighten your teeth can be dependent on many reasons, whether it be for purely aesthetic reasons. Or if you are starting to notice damage to your teeth and periodontal health from crowding. And,  in some cases if you can not function correctly due to a severe malocclusion. In any respect the answer to the above question is: no your teeth are never too crooked to straighten. However, some situations may not have enough of a benefit to straightening them so as to outweigh the risks or what the treatment entails in order to straighten them. For the majority of situations to straighten overly crowded teeth orthodontics is completed using methods of expanding the arch, making small spaces between the teeth or removing teeth in order to align them in a more esthetic and function manner. However, in a small percentage of cases orthognathic surgery or surgery of the jaw is performed in order to remedy the malocclusion by changing how your jaw aligns skeletally. In those situations some times the benefits may not outweigh the risks of performing a surgery to align your teeth properly. And, lastly, orthodontics can not be performed in an unhealthy mouth. If you have existing cavities or periodontal disease these are things that should be resolved prior to straightening your teeth. If you are considering orthodontics be sure you meet with your dentist and discuss all the benefits, alternatives and risks of the procedures in order to make an educated decision about how to proceed.]]>

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