Keeping your teeth white by voiding these foods and habits

Did you just recently whitening your teeth? Are you determined to keep those pearly whites? Or are you interested in professional teeth whitening? It can be normal for teeth to become stained or discolored, even with proper oral hygiene and care. If you have stains on your teeth that are getting in the way of your beautiful smile, then fight back

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Here are some foods that stain your teeth:

1.   Red Wine- it’s an acidic beverage that contains tannins, known for staining teeth.
2.    Tea – just like wine, it contains tannins. You should stick with herbal green and white teas          instead of black teas.
3.    Coffee –although, it’s low in tannins, it contains chromogens, also known for staining teeth.
4.  Cola Drinks – it’s an acidic beverage that contains chromogens. Even light colored colas can stain your teeth. Most carbonated beverages have similar acidity to battery acid and it promotes staining. 
5. Sport Drinks – it’s a high acidic beverage that softens up your enamel and it sets the stage for staining.
6.  Berries – strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and cranberries are all intensely colored fruits that cause stains.
7.  Sauces – tomato sauce, curry sauce, soy sauce also contain dark colors that cause stains.
8. Candies – if your tongue turns a funny color then chances are your teeth will too.  Besides, eating candies allows you more prone to dental cavities.

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Here are some habits that can help keep your teeth bright:
1.       Brush, Floss and Rinse
2.       Drink with a straw
3.       Swish with water after drinking or eating high-staining foods
4.       Don’t smoke
5.       Whitening your teeth professionally
6.       Use take-home professional whitening kits

Professional teeth whitening are generally safer than those bought online or in a store because not everything is approved by the American Dental Association (there’s usually a good reason for that). However, professional teeth whitening kits aren’t for everyone and should always be consulted with your dentist first. If you have sensitive teeth, gum disease, dental cavities, or excessive white spots on your teeth then those need to be addressed prior to any whitening.

 Our Marietta Dentist, Kirk Kimmerling DDS, Suzanna Aguilera DMD, and Garrick McGrath DMD invite you to learn more about teeth whitening and how to get the smile you always dreamed of. Please contact our office at 770-423-4900 or schedule an appointment for a consultation. 

Why Everyone Needs Fluoride

Fluoride makes my teeth happy and healthy :)

Fluoride is the most important reason why there has been a decrease in dental cavities. Fluoride works by stopping or even reversing the tooth decay process. During tooth decay, bacteria are present because of sugars or carbohydrates which transforms into an acid.  During the demineralization process, a biofilm called “plaque” creates acid in the mouth which causes calcium to be removed from the tooth.  Fluoride has the ability to re-mineralize a tooth if it’s caught early enough because decay does not start off as a cavity but only has a white lesion. Fluoride is most ideal for patients with high caries risk, patients who have crown and bridge work and orthodontic decalcification.

However, there are many debates and concerns with using fluoride. Many people think that fluoride doesn’t belong in drinking water, but it actually occurs naturally in water and it’s rarely at the level needed to protect your teeth. Fluoride is not a medication but more so a mineral and when it’s presented at the right level, fluoride works to prevent tooth decay and contributes to healthy bones. Also, fluoride is not unsafe for small children; in fact, it is highly recommended and plays a critical part to promote strengthening of the teeth. Fluoride toothpaste is only not recommended for children under 2 because they swallow the most when brushing their teeth.

Fluoride gel or toothpaste at higher concentrations can only be purchased with a prescription or from a licensed dentist. Our Marietta Dentists, Kirk Kimmerling DDS, Suzanna Aguilera DMD, and Garrick McGrath DMD invite you to our office to learn more about the importance of fluoride toothpastes, please contact our office at 770-423-4900.

Bad News for Your Teeth if You Exercise Heavy

Could it be bad for your teeth if you exercise too much? 

Researchers led by Dr. Cornelia Frese, a dentist from the dental school at the University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany and other institutions recruited 35 triathlon athletes and 35 non-athletes to examine their mouths for cavities, decay, enamel erosion, and overall oral health.  The study concluded the following.

1. Research found no correlation between sports drinks, diets and oral health.
2. The more hours athletes spent working out, the more decay present.
3. Athletes suffered greater erosion of tooth enamel than non-athletes.
4. Saliva of athletes and non-athletes, both at rest tested no differences in chemical makeup.

So why the difference?  The conclusion;

1. When athletes worked out, saliva production decreased, even with the extra consumption of water and other drinks.
2. The chemical composition of an athletes mouth converted to more  alkaline environment as the workouts progressed, contributing to more plaque.

“We had thought sports drinks and nutrition might have the most detrimental influence on dental decay,” said Dr. Frese, “but we saw no direct link. Instead, it was the changes in saliva during exercise that differentiated the athletes’ mouths from those of the control group. Since saliva “has a very protective function”  Dr. Frese said, implying a chemically different version during exercise could be problematic.

What athletes need to do concerning oral health;

Athletes should pay close attention and be aware of the condition of their mouths. Excellent oral hygiene, and extra professional cleaning appointments at the dentist for added fluoride treatments can help ensure ultimate dental health. This gives added opportunity for a dentist to fix pending oral conditions before they become more problematic. (Cavities, gum disease, root canals, dental extractions, toothaches, dental emergency and more.)
  
It's important to put the extra effort in maintaining a healthy mouth, just as you do for a healthy body. 

The Marietta dentists at  +Verde Pointe Dental Associates +Kirk Kimmerling DDS +Suzanna Aguilera DMD and Garrick McGrath DMD welcome athletes to the dental office.  It would be our great pleasure to ensure your mouth is healthy.  

Hops From Beer May fight Cavities and Gum Disease

Hops from beer has just given beer enthusiasts something to talk about.  Most know that hops is what

Part of the Hops discarded in making beer may help prevent tooth decay and gum disease

gives beer its delicious bitter flavor.  Researchers have found a substance in the in the discarded part of hops that contains healthful antioxidants that may be able to battle tooth decay and gum disease. 

A specific laboratory technique known as chromatography identified new and already known compounds in hops.  Yoshihisa Tanaka and colleagues found the antioxidant polyphenols in the leaf extracts.  This extract stopped the bacteria responsible for disease from sticking to surfaces, and prevented the release of some of the bacteria's toxins. 

Since the leaves are not used to make beer, there is a large potential to repurpose it for dental applications.  +Verde Pointe Dental Associates, +Kirk Kimmerling DDS  and +Suzanna Aguilera welcome discussions concerning dentistry and dental applications.

The study was published in the ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2014, Comprehensive Separation and Structural Analyses of Polyphenols and Related Compounds from Bracts of Hops (Humulus IupulusL.) Yoshihisa Tanaka, Akio Yanagida, Satoshi Komeya, Miho Kawana, Daiki Honma, Motoyuki Tagashira, Tomomasa Kanda, Yoichi Shibusawa.

Can a Sugar Be Good For Your Teeth?

Can sugar really be good for teeth? The answer to sugar good for teeth is Xylitol.  It is a sugar that is tooth friendly and beneficial to oral health.  It helps teeth remineralize before cavities form.

Turku University in Finland demonstrated the dental significance of Xylitol in the 1970's with their Turku sugar studies. The studies found that cavity causing bacteria prefers a six-carbon chained sugar as an energy source, not Xylitol, as it interferes with bacteria's cavity causing growth and reproduction.  The bacteria is starved, as it can not use Xylitol as an energy source.

Xylitol has no known toxicity in human beings, although it;'s a life-threatening toxin to dogs, it's safe for humans.

Xylitol is used by companies such as Trident(R) in sugar free chewing gum.  The gum does not allow harmful micro-organisms that damage teeth to flourish, as it creates an unsuitable environment.  Six grams of Xylitol is the recommended amount for efficacy in dental health.

+Kirk Kimmerling DDS would be happy to discuss Xylitol and questions on its use.