Fall Festivals, Winter Parties and Dental Woes

The next three months will be marked by office parties, fun sized candy bars and indulgent meals with your friends and loved ones. For many of us, this can also be a stressful time between end-of-year obligations and hosting family gatherings. Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry wants to take a moment to remind our patients about the risks posed during these fall/winter months, and how to manage them. Remember, it only takes a few easy changes to protect your teeth and save yourself from future dental headaches. 

Firstly, avoid marathon meals and snack sessions. Does that bowl of halloween candy call to you at all hours of the day? Every time we eat or drink anything other than water, our mouths become acidic enough to demineralize enamel for thirty minutes. If you eat one candy bar every half hour, your teeth would spend the whole day in this softened state. Likewise, the classic 4pm to 9pm holiday meals have the exact same effect. Minimize your risks by paying attention to the duration over which you are eating. By limiting yourself to three meals a day with light sugar/carb free snacks in between, you give you saliva a chance to use its natural remineralizing powers. 

Another way to avoid dental troubles this holiday season is to stay hydrated with water. When the thermometer drops, we often gravitate towards teas, coffees and other warm beverages. Unfortunately, these are often acidic, sugary and sipped over a long period of time. This creates a perfect storm for cavities and damaged enamel. Try to swap out some of your favorite fall/winter drinks for an old fashioned glass of water. This small change spares your teeth from demineralization, provides a rinsing effect and (if you are drinking tap water in Southern California) provides a beneficial dose of fluoride. Its a win-win-win!

Finally, make sure to take care of yourself! As the days get shorter and the calendars get more full, it becomes easy to forget the basics. Make sure to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. Additionally, don't ignore your regular dental cleanings and exams! It can make a huge difference in the longevity and comfort of your teeth. If you would like to know more about how to keep your teeth healthy this fall/winter season or schedule an exam, please give our office a call!

Dental Questions: Why do my gums bleed when I floss?

An example of proper flossing technique.

Gums bleeding while flossing is a frequently recorded complaint at every dental office. Many patients are turned off from flossing as it becomes painful, messy and inconvenient. However, it is important to understand that your gums are probably bleeding because you need to floss more often. 

Plaque accumulates in the spaces between teeth because toothbrushes do a poor job of reaching these areas. As plaque settles at/below the gum line, the tissues there become inflamed, thin and ulcerated. As you floss, you are both eliminating the plaque and bacteria from these areas and temporarily aggravating the  gum tissue (hence the bleeding). Over time, the absence of buildup will allow the gums to heal and rethicken, stopping the bleeding. 

A knee-jerk response to bleeding on flossing is to floss less often or less vigorously. While you may be physically cutting the gums with floss, a proper technique will avoid this. Make sure you thread the floss in between the teeth and move it up the side of each tooth at each contact. Try to "cup" the floss around the teeth and allow it to go slightly below the gum line. This will maximize effectiveness and minimize gingival inflammation. If you would like to know more about flossing, oral hygiene or dental cleanings, please contact our office!

Dental Questions: Do sensitivity toothpastes actually work?

Many of our patients complain of "sensitive teeth" and are curious if products like Sensodyne, Crest Sensi-Releif or Colgate Sensitive actually work. With all the brands of toothpaste available on the market, their skepticism is very understandable.

The short answer is yes, these toothpastes will help make your teeth less hypersensitive to hot, cold and other stimulation. They typically contain an active ingredient called potassium nitrate that helps block the nerve endings on exposed dentin. Dentin is the material between enamel and dental pulp, and is often exposed in areas of recession. This is why patients who brush vigorously at their gum lines will frequently develop sensitivity problems. The abrasion of the toothbrush causes the gum tissue to recede, revealing exposed dentin underneath. 

However, it is important to note that sensitivity toothpastes will not address other kinds of dental pain. Inflamed gums, severely cold sensitive teeth and teeth with active decay will not improve with the use of these products. Furthermore, you will need to use these toothpastes twice a day for about two weeks before you start to notice improvements. It is important to keep in mind the capabilities of these products and likewise manage your expectations. If you have any further questions about sensitivity, toothpastes or other over the counter dental products, please give our office a call or email! 

Dental Questions: Why are my Gums Bleeding?

Sometimes gums will bleed for obvious reasons, like cuts from flossing or abrasion from brushing. Other times, the root cause is less clear. The most common reason for gums to bleed randomly is due to calculus or tartar build up beneath the gum surface. Our office often sees patients that haven’t had their teeth professionally cleaned in a number of years. The number one complaint of these patients is that their gums bleed when brushing, when touched, or even while they are sleeping. A professional cleaning from a hygienist or dentist will remove the tartar, allow gums to heal and end the bleeding. 

Another common complaint is that gums bleed upon flossing. Interestingly, this is generally caused by not flossing enough. We recommend flossing or using some sort of hygiene instrument below the tooth contact once a day. This will help keep the gum tissue healthy and free of any plaque or tartar build up.

Bacteria and Tooth Decay

An electron microscope image of S. Mutans, a common oral bacteria. 

As you probably know, nearly every surface of the human body is home to bacteria. In even the cleanest, healthiest individuals, bacteria outnumber human cells by a ratio of 10 to 1! Your mouth is no exception to this, as it contains one of the the highest bacterial counts and organismal diversities in the entire body. With this in mind, microorganisms play an enormous role in dentistry and oral diseases. Today, we want to take a closer look at how bacteria are major contributors to tooth decay and cavities.

Nearly every surface of your teeth are covered in a bacterial structure called a biofilm. This formation is a sticky “home” that the bacteria produce to allow them to adhere to hard surfaces. While the biofilm is still soft and removable, we call it plaque. Proper homecare can remove plaque daily and keep the bacterial count down. However, if the plaque remains undisturbed for about 48 hours, it starts to harden and turn into tartar. Once tartar forms, it creates a strong bond to enamel that needs to be removed by a dental professional.

In the dental biofilm, the most destructive bacteria is known as Streptococcus Mutans. S. Mutans likes to colonize teeth early on in biofilm formation, along with many other species of microorganisms. When we eat sugars, starches and carbohydrates, S. Mutans processes the glucose molecules to make acid. This acid, in turn, is a primary contributing factor to tooth decay. Thus, individuals with a high S. Mutans count typically have an elevated risk for cavities.

Interestingly enough, S. Mutans species are highly correlated between children and their caregivers. Even adopted children and kids who hereditarily lack teeth tend to have the same S. Mutans breeds as their mothers, fathers or nannies. With this in mind, it is important to remember not to share utensils or cups with your children (if possible). Furthermore, cleaning off pacifiers or other teething toys with your own saliva is not recommended. Ideally, you want to lower or prevent your child’s exposure to S. Mutans for as long as possible.

Fortunately, there are a number of products targeted against S. Mutans that you are likely already using. In addition to remineralizing enamel, fluoride has been shown to disable a specific bacterial enzyme and prevent it from making energy. This has a significant impact on how fast and large S. Mutans colonies can grow. Furthermore, the sugar substitute xylitol is known to interfere with how S. Mutans can adhere to tooth structure. Xylitol is a natural compound made by plants that is used in a number of sugar free gums and mints. If you are chewing Trident, Ice Breakers or Spry gum (or others), you are getting a healthy exposure of Xylitol every day!

Our office offers Dr. John's brand candies- a great treat made with xylitol!

S. Mutans represents only one of a number of oral bacteria that cause diseases in the mouth. Gingivitis and other gum problems are mediated by entirely different breeds and colonies of bacteria that survive below the gumline. But have no fear: we will be covering those (and more) in articles to come! If you would like to know more about tooth decay, how bacteria are involved and how to best prevent cavities, please give our office a call.