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Ah the internet. It can be a fantastic resource to access an infinite amount of knowledge and data, or it can be used to spread baseless rumors that confuse otherwise intelligent people. Unfortunately, the internet has made it much easier for people to share healthcare myths that can mislead people into making unhealthy decisions. Below are a few dental myths, and the facts behind them.

Myth 1 - Sugar Causes Tooth Decay

This one is somewhat true, but sugar doesn’t actually cause tooth decay, rather, it plays an important role in the process. Cavities are actually caused by acid bad oral bacteria. Acid breaks down tooth enamel, which leaves teeth more susceptible to cavities. While sugar provides bad bacteria with the energy it needs to cause tooth decay.

Myth 2 - Placing Aspirin on a Toothache will Alleviate the Pain

This is an interesting one that is actually an old wives tale. However, we should dispel this outright: pain relievers do not work like that. Instead, it works by entering the blood stream through the intestines and blocking the production of certain chemicals in the body that cause pain. Aspirin and other pain relievers can only work once they’ve entered the blood stream, which is why placing an Aspirin next to a sore tooth won’t work.

Myth 3 - Baby Teeth aren’t as Important as Adult Teeth

This is a strange one, but some people view baby teeth as less important than adult teeth because they are impermanent. While they won’t be in your mouth through adulthood, baby teeth play an integral role in the development of a young smile. Baby teeth serve as place holders for incoming adult teeth. If baby teeth are lost too early, incoming permanent teeth could drift into the vacant space and make it difficult for new adult teeth to find space. This can lead to crowded teeth, a crooked smile, and a misaligned bite, all of which can be quite costly to fix, which is why it is very important that you take care of your children’s baby teeth.

Myth 4 - You can’t get a Cavity under a Crown

Here's one that has been circulating lately, but let’s put it to rest: you absolutely can get a cavity beneath a crown. Dental crowns (or caps) are placed on teeth that have suffered damage above the gumline. Because of this, most of the tooth that is visible is covered. This leads people to believe that, because the tooth is mostly covered, that it is immune to cavities. This is patently false. Tooth decay can – and will – accumulate at the base of the crown if it is not properly cleaned – brushing twice per day for two minutes at a time and flossing once per day.

Visit Our Office

Please visit our office if you have any questions about oral healthcare. We have years of dental training which has equipped us with the knowledge needed to answer any question you may have.

In our history of odd oral cleaning techniques and tools, humans have used animal hair to make toothbrushes; we’ve crushed shells to use as toothpaste; and we’ve re-purposed tortoise blood as mouthwash. Yes, humanity has had its ups and downs when discovering and designing medical technologies. One of the oldest methods used to maintain our mouth-health is still widely popular today: gum.

Prehistoric Gum

Did you know that chewing gum has existed in some form or another since the Neolithic period? In fact, 6,000 year old chewing gum has been found with teeth marks in it, made from birch bark tar. Tree bark is a very popular source of gum, and many cultures derived gum from trees.

[caption id="attachment_1522219" align="aligncenter" width="643"] Mastic tree gum.[/caption]

Ancient Greeks

The ancient Greeks didn’t invent gum, nor were they the first to chew it. However, they are one of the most well known historical cultures to be documented first chewing gum en masse. The ancient Greeks chewed the resin contained in the bark of the mastic tree. Grecian women would chew the bark to clean their teeth and freshen their breath. Mastic gum actually has antiseptic properties, and was believed by the Greeks to contribute to better oral health.

[caption id="attachment_1522217" align="aligncenter" width="643"] The sapodilla tree.[/caption]

Ancient Mayans

The Ancient Mayans of Central America are credited with creating an intricate calendar, developing basic astronomy, and writing in their own hieroglyphs. The Mayans were way ahead of their time in terms of trade, technology and architecture, but they were also very studious farmers, which led them to the sapodilla tree. The Mayans would boil the sap of the sapodilla tree and use it for glue, and in religious ceremonies. Sometimes, the boiled sap was given to children to chew and called “cha.”

Modern Gum

Gum had a major advancement in the 1848, when American businessman John B. Curtis saw a market opportunity for chewing gum. Curtis began making gum out of the resin of the spruce tree – a popular form of gum among Native Americans of the time. Curtis called his gum “State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum.” For the first few years of his new business, selling gum was hard. However, Curtis saw a major uptick in sales when he started rolling his gum sugar, and he began expanding his operations. In fact, Curtis’ business – Curtis & Son – is credited with inventing the machinery responsible for mass-producing gum.

Try Xylitol!

Today, gum comes in all shapes, sizes and flavors, but some gum actually cleans your teeth as you chew it. Gum sweetened with Xylitol – a natural sugar replacement – cleans teeth by stimulating the production of saliva, which naturally cleans teeth by washing away food debris. Chewing Xylitol gum is not a substitute for regular brushing and flossing, but it is a good tool for cleaning your teeth on the go!

The New Year is a time to reset and start fresh, and many people proclaim their resolutions at 12:01 am, on January 1. Resolutions are a fun tradition that can be rewarding for the whole family. This year, we suggest getting your children involved by giving them some mouth-healthy resolutions that will improve their oral health, and are easy to accomplish!

Eat Less Sugar

The average American consumes 82 grams of sugar every day, yet the recommended daily serving for men is 38 grams, and 25 grams for women, and children should consume under 25 grams per day, according to the American Heart Association. Sugar is unhealthy on just about every level, but it can also significantly damage teeth. Bad bacteria in the mouth get energy from sugar, and produces acid as a byproduct. That acid erodes enamel, which can lead to tooth decay and tooth loss. A good way to cut down on sugar is by drinking more water, and less sodas and fruit drinks, both of which are notoriously high in sugar content. If you chew gum, make sure that it is sweetened with Xylitol – a sugar substitute which can actually help clean teeth as you chew!

Schedule Regular Dentist Appointments

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests that children see their dentist twice every year for dental checkups. Regular checkups help your child stay cavity-free, and gives their dentist a chance to evaluate the state of their mouth for any potential issues. It also allows your dentist to perform a deep clean that fights plaque buildup, and keeps your child up-to-date on the best oral care techniques. Additionally, it helps their dentist monitor any potential orthodontic problems that would require early treatment.

Practice Proper Oral Care Daily

Tooth decay is the most chronic disease that children face, and it is largely preventable. The best way to keep your kids cavity-free is by having them practice a healthy oral care routine every day. The AAPD advises children to brush their teeth twice per day for two minutes at a time, and to floss once per day. By doing so, your children will keep their mouths clean and help them prevent cavities and tooth decay.

Use a Mouthguard

Did you know that your child is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to their teeth when they aren’t wearing a mouth guard, and that dental injuries account for nearly 20% of all sports injuries? If your child plays sports, then get them a mouth guard. You can help protect their teeth, and avoid an emergency trip to the dentist!

Happy Holidays!

We hope that your family has a happy and healthy holiday season. Since a lot of children are on winter break between Christmas and New Year’s, it’s a great time to schedule a dental checkup for your children.

As your baby begins eating solid food, it can be tough to plan a diet that’s convenient and healthy for their teeth. The market is oversaturated with choices, and just about every baby food producer can make a compelling argument for their product. However, there are certain foods that are markedly better than others, and most share one important trait: they’re whole fruits and vegetables. Below are a few of the best foods for babies just beginning to eat solids.

Bananas

Bananas are often one of the first foods that parents introduce to their children as they incorporate solids into their diet. Bananas are sweet, and full of vitamins and nutrients that make it a mouth-healthy power food. They contain Vitamin C, which helps promote healthy gums. Bananas are also high in fiber, and low in sodium, cholesterol and saturated fat. Bananas do contain sugar, though, so be sure to wipe your baby’s mouth clean and give them plenty of water after they eat one.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are dental super foods that can be easily added to a baby’s diet. This fantastic root vegetable contains a high amount of Vitamin A, which promotes healthy teeth and gums. Vitamin A helps maintain the mucous membrane and soft tissue in gums, and also promotes the formation of tooth enamel by helping the body produce keratin – a protein vital to producing tooth enamel. We suggest peeling and boiling sweet potatoes and making them into a soft mash for your child to easily eat.

Avocados

Did you know that Avocados are technically a single-seed berry? Avocados are nutrient-dense fruits that provide a lot of mouth-healthy benefits. They’re packed with B Vitamins, which helps prevent gum disease. They contain Vitamin C, which boosts overall gum health, and they contain folate, which helps repair mouths damaged by gum disease. Because of their soft consistency, Avocados are easy for babies to eat. We suggest spooning out the flesh of the avocado, and mashing it up to make it easy for your child to eat. Avocados are a great healthy snack for hungry babies!

Winter Squash

Winter Squash refers to a family of squash which includes Butternut, Acorn, Spaghetti, and Calabaza Squash. The Winter Squash family contains a lot of vitamins and minerals that promote oral health. Each type of squash is high in calcium, which strengthens teeth and helps fight gum disease. Winter Squash also contains Vitamin C, which boosts overall gum health. To serve Winter Squash, we suggest cutting into half, removing the seeds, and baking until soft. Then, blend the squash so that your bay can easily eat it.

Visit our Office

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises parents to establish a dental home for their children before their first birthday. Usually, a child’s first tooth will appear between 6 and 10 months of age, which makes it the perfect time to establish a dental home. As pediatric dentists, we specialize in caring for children and making them feel comfortable in our office. This helps them create a positive association with the dentist, which can ward off future anxiety when visiting our office. Schedule an appointment today, and take the first step to earning your child a healthy smile that grows with them.