Great Aid for Those Wearing Braces

Braces are a substantial investment, so the last thing people want after wearing braces is for their teeth to be covered with white spots. These spots are the beginning of dental decay caused by bacteria.

There's help in avoiding white spots, the beginning of decay  during braces.

A Swedish study from Malmo University suggested that a high fluoride toothpaste may help those wearing braces not to develop the spots.  Since 85 percent of people wearing braces develop these lesions, a high fluoride toothpaste was studied.  

Five dental practices with over 400 people participated.  Half  were given a 4 times the amount of fluoride in a toothpaste, while the others used a regular fluoride toothpaste.  After the 20 months, it was determined that the high fluoride is effective in stopping one third of white lesions in age group 11 to 16.  Forty five percent with regular toothpaste showed signs of white spots while 34.6 that used the high fluoride showed the spots.

Verde Pointe Dental Associates offers prescription strength high fluoridated toothpastes at the dental office.  Marietta dentists can determine if a high fluoride toothpaste is right for you. Whether you have braces or are cavity prone,  Kirk Kimmeling DDS, Suzanna Aguilera DMD and Garrick McGrath can offer advice on your specific situation. Teeth need to last a lifetime, so high fluoride may be right for you.  

Verde Pointe Dental T-Shirt Winner Announced

The staff at +Verde Pointe Dental Associates know how to have a good time.  Four teams were created to develop a "Fun Friday T-shirt" with patients voting for the one they liked the most.

Team +Suzanna Aguilera won by five votes, although team +Kirk Kimmerling was a close second.

We Win says two Dental Assistants!

The winning slogan was, "Don't be Dirty, Come to Verde!"  Getting a dental cleaning, at least twice a year is important, not only to your mouth, but your overall health.  Bacteria resides in the mouth that can enter the bloodstream to create havoc on the body.  The dentists at the Marietta dental office want patients to understand the importance of keeping your mouth healthy.

The contest was to raise awareness to the importance of keeping a mouth healthy, cavity free, and periodontal healthy.  The staff will wear the t-shirts to help the effort.  

The Marietta cosmetic dentists are accepting new patients to the practice by offering a New Patient $100 coupon to cover deductibles, and out of pocket co-pays.  Insurance accepted and filed on behalf of the patient.  

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.

Tooth Decay, Sealants and Your Children

Marietta dentist, Kirk Kimmerling believes a healthy mouth means a healthier life, and every child needs to be healthy. A simple procedure done at the dentist called a sealant can make a significant difference in preventing decay.  Sealants are applied to the chewing surfaces of teeth.  They are applied to fill pits and fissures that occur naturally in teeth.  These defects offer bacteria a perfect place for plaque and pieces of food to hide.  Sealants fill and cover the pits and fissures, preventing the process of decay.

Prevention is always better than treating a tooth with decay, and since sealants are a highly effective way to prevent decay, it's excellent for your child.

Dr Kirk Kimmerling, Marietta Denitst On Eating, Drinking and Child Decay

Dr Kirk Kimmerling informs a patient

Dr. Kirk Kimmerling, a cosmetic dentist in Marietta, GA has his perspective on what young people need to change in their drinking and eating habits for better oral health.  With the ever-changing lifestyles of families in America, young people partake in sports more than ever before.  Many families are on the go.   School sporting teams, as well as community teams for the young have become a way of life.  Although it has been excellent for their overall physical health, their mouths and teeth have paid the price.  It is these very children eating on the run, and consuming sugary/acidic drinks that may be a recipe for oral disaster.   Although, the sporting lifestyle is excellent, eating and drinking habits need to change.

Cavities are caused by bacteria that live in the mouth.  Certain bacterias when fed sugar/carbohydrates produce acids that demineralize tooth structure.  Your saliva helps to prevent this demineralization by neutralizing the acids produced by the bacteria.  A tooth actually has the ability to repair itself, however when the acid overwhelms the tooth and it loses more minerals than it can produce, the decay process takes place.  The tooth loses the battle against the over-whelming bacteria and acid attack.
Continual drinking of sugary or acidic drinks during sporting events also is continual feeding of the cavity causing bacteria.  This allows an environment for the bacteria to thrive and accelerate demineralization of your child's teeth.  Sipping sugary sports drink is not good for your child's teeth.  The same holds true for eating on the run without brushing or flossing.  The trapped food between the teeth feeds the bacteria. Since, molars tend to trap food, this is why so many cavities happen between back teeth.  Once an acid is produced, it can stay in the mouth for up to a half hour, and possibly many hours during a sporting event if your child sips it slowly. 

 The idea is to limit the food fed to the bacteria.  If possible, change the hydration of choice to water or unsweet tea.  If you are not willing to compromise on giving up the sports drink, then drink it all at once before the event so you are not dousing your teeth for hours.   Then, have your child rinse their mouth with water to help rinse any residual drink away. Your child may object to the change at first, but realize the benefits when he has a better check-up at the dentist later.

As your child eats on the go, give them a piece of unsweet gum to help dislodge any food trapped between their teeth.  If possible, buy the gum with xylitol sugar.  This sugar actually helps kill the sugar that produces the acid. The bacteria can not metabolize it, and inhibits its growth. Since, bacteria can not do its destruction unless it is fed, give it less to eat.

In conclusion, protect the oral health of your children by changing small habits now.  These recommendations can possibly make all the difference to your child's dental health.  Looking for more information on Dr. Kirk Kimmerling, see his website www.drkirkkimmerling.com