No one wants to have yellow teeth but the methods that we often use to whiten them can be invasive to some patients. The most common ingredient in dental office bleaching sessions is hydrogen peroxide and the most common ingredient in at-home whitening treatment kits is carbamide peroxide. Some who undergo whitening treatments with these chemicals have reported increased sensitivity, so we are suggesting some alternative ways to keep your pearly whites white. Here are six suggestions that may surprise you:

1. Coconut Oil

Yes, along with being extraordinary delicious and healthy as a food, coconut oil can also help whiten your teeth. This can be accomplished through a process called oil pulling, which has been used for thousands of years.

To oil pull with coconut oil, use extra virgin coconut oil and swish the oil around your mouth in the morning for 5-10 minutes, then spit it out (preferably not into the sink, as it can lead to clogs), and brush as you normally do.

If you oil pull on a regular basis, you may soon notice that your teeth are whiter. Oil pulling also has a number of health benefits for your entire body.

2. Baking soda

If your teeth are seriously stained, and you’re looking for a whitening solution, it’s baking soda to the rescue. The process is simple: mix baking soda and water to make a thick paste, and use this paste to brush your teeth for one week. Make sure to rinse thoroughly after you brush. You’ll soon notice that your teeth look significantly whiter.

Note: Don’t brush with baking soda for longer than a week, as this may damage tooth enamel. Stick to a week and then wait a few months before doing it again.

3. Lemons

Lemons contain citric acid and just eating them can help to remove some staining from your teeth. However, when mixed with baking soda, it can be even more effective. For a super-powered whitening treatment, mix equal parts lemon juice and baking soda, and use the mixture to brush your teeth.

As this mixture is very strong, don’t do this more than once a week — and give your teeth a break after a couple of weeks. Too much lemon juice and baking soda can have a negative effect on tooth enamel.

4. Crunchy fruits and veggies

That’s right: simply eating crunchy, fresh fruits and vegetables can help remove stains from your teeth. This is because the act of chewing helps to remove scraps of food and bacteria from your mouth. Their crispy texture also helps to gently remove surface stains.

There are many great crunchy fruits and veggies out there — like carrots and apples — so load up your plate with fresh produce!

5. Strawberries

Another fruit to add to your tooth-whitening diet is the delicious strawberry. Strawberries may be one of the best fruits to munch on to whiten your teeth, thanks to their combination of vitamin C (citric acid, which helps to remove stains) and malic acid. The malic acid found in these summer fruits aids in removing surface stains from your teeth.

6. Banana peel

The inside of a banana peel is rich in potassium, magnesium, manganese and other minerals, to whiten teeth. The minerals in a banana are absorbed into your enamel and have a healthy, whitening effect. Rubbing a piece of ripe banana peel on your teeth for two minutes after brushing and flossing, before rinsing your mouth, can yield benefits.

News out of Melbourne, Australia this month that a team of scientists at the University of Melbourne’s Oral Health CRC has been working on a vaccine treatment for chronic periodontitis could herald a breakthrough in the gum disease, with clinical trials beginning in 2018.
Periodontitis is associated with diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and certain cancers. It is a chronic disease that destroys gum tissue and bone supporting teeth, leading to tooth loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A CDC report from 2015 estimates that 47.2 percent of adults aged 30 years and older have some form of periodontal disease and that its prevalence increased with age; 70.1 percent of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease.
The vaccine researchers have been working on targets enzymes produced by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, to trigger an immune response. The bacterium is known as a “keystone pathogen,” which means it has the potential to distort the balance of microorganisms in dental plaque, causing disease. The anticipated response from the vaccine, researches say, will produce antibodies that neutralize the pathogen’s destructive toxins.
The findings, published in the journal NPJ Vaccines (part of the Nature series), represent analysis of the vaccine’s effectiveness by collaborating groups in Melbourne and Cambridge, Ma. CEO of the Oral Health CRC, Eric Reynolds, said in the study’s extract that he was hopeful the vaccine would substantially reduce tissue destruction in patients harbouring P. gingivalis.
“We currently treat periodontitis with professional cleaning sometimes involving surgery and antibiotic regimes,” Reynolds said, adding that the cleanings are helpful but often only temporary in halting the spread of disease. “Periodontitis is widespread and destructive,” he added. “We hold high hopes for this vaccine to improve quality of life for millions of people.”

We tell our children not to eat too much sugar, because sugary snacks and drinks can cause cavities.  This information is true, of course, but we should be reminding ourselves as adults that the relationship between overdoing our sugar intake and our oral health is even more complex than we might admit.  It turns out that the relationship between periodontitis (“inflammation around the tooth,” a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and bone that supports the tooth) and diabetes is a strong one indeed.

Inflammation that starts in the mouth seems to weaken the body’s ability to control blood sugar.  People with diabetes have trouble processing sugar because of a lack of insulin, the hormone that converts sugar into energy.  Those suffering from Periodontal disease have an additional burden in the fight against diabetes, as the inflammation from periodontitis can decrease the body’s ability to utilize insulin.

To further complicate matters, diabetes and periodontitis have a two-way relationship.  High blood sugar provides ideal conditions for infection to grow, including gum infections. Fortunately you can use the gum disease-diabetes relationship to your favor: managing one can help bring the other under control.

Other problems diabetes can cause are dry mouth and a fungal infection called thrush. Dry mouth happens when you do not have enough saliva—the fluid that keeps your mouth wet.

A dry mouth may occur when blood sugar levels are high. A dry mouth can increase the risk of cavities, because there’s less saliva to wash away germs and take care of the acids they create. Dry mouth can sometimes lead to other problems, such as salivary gland infections. If dry mouth is a problem, try drinking more fluids. Other ideas to try are chewing sugar-free gum or eating sugar-free candy to help keep the saliva flowing. Some people use saliva substitutes, available at drug stores.

Diabetes may also cause the glucose level in your saliva to increase. Together, these problems may lead to thrush, which can cause painful white patches in your mouth. Thrush thrives in moist spots that may be chafed or sore, for example, under poorly fitting dentures. Smoking and wearing dentures all day and night can increase the risk of thrush. Quitting smoking and limiting the time dentures are worn can reduce the risk of getting thrush. If you think you have a fungal infection, talk to your dentist or doctor.

Additionally, if your diabetes is poorly controlled, you may heal more slowly and you increase your chance of infection after dental surgery. To give yourself the best shot at healing well, keep your blood sugar under control before, during, and after surgery. It is very important to tell your oral health care provider about your diabetes before any surgery.

 Maintaining Control

 If your diabetes in not under control, the potential for developing problems in your mouth are greater.  Follow your doctor’s instructions regarding medication, diet and exercise in order to manage your blood glucose levels.

If you have diabetes, here are some things that you can do to protect your oral health:

• Control your blood glucose
• Brush and floss every day
• Visit your dentist regularly, and be sure to tell your dentist that you have diabetes.
• Tell your dentist if your dentures do not fit properly, or if your gums are sore.
• Quit smoking, as smoking makes gum disease worse, especially for diabetics.

If you have diabetes and would like to discuss oral health concerns or treatment options, Dr. Meyers would be happy to consult with you.  Please contact us HERE or by calling the office at 248.646.2450

Gum recession is a common dental problem that causes concern among many people, but because of its gradual occurrence, most people don’t realize they have recession until the first signs appear. Two telltale signs of gum recession include tooth sensitivity or noticing a tooth that looks longer than normal. (Typically, a notch or “pocket” can be felt near the gum line.)

Healthy gums are critical to both oral and overall health, as we’ve discussed previously so it’s not something you want to ignore. Regular check-ups with your dentist can help mitigate ongoing recession since it will likely be caught in its early stages. There are also treatments that can repair the gum and prevent further damage.

Clinically, gum recession is the process where the borders of gum tissue surrounding the teeth pull back, exposing more of the tooth or even the tooth’s root. (This is where the “sensitivity” factor comes into play.) When gum recession occurs, “pockets,” or gaps, form between the teeth and gum line, making it easy for disease-causing bacteria to build up. Left untreated, the supporting tissue and bone structures of the teeth risk damage, eventually resulting in tooth loss.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to gums receding, including:

• Periodontal Disease: Bacterial gum infections can destroy both gum tissue and the supporting bone holding teeth in place; periodontal disease is the primary cause of gum recession.
• Genetics: Some people may be more susceptible to gum disease. In fact, studies show that 30% of the population may be predisposed to gum disease, regardless of how well they care for their teeth.
• Forceful or Aggressive Tooth Brushing: If you brush your teeth too hard or the wrong way, it can cause the enamel on your teeth to wear away and your gums to recede.
• Poor Dental Care: Conversely, inadequate brushing and flossing allows plaque to turn into tartar, which can lead to gum recession.

Our Six Tips to Improve Gum Recession Include:

1. Good oral maintenance, including proper brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antiseptic mouthwash, twice daily.
2. Maintaining a balanced diet with adequate amounts of protein, Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.
3. Try using probiotics for two-three months to improve your digestive health.
4. Keep juices, teas and acidic drinks to meal times only
5. Ensure lunch is nutritious – include green leafy vegetables to boost body alkalinity and improve the quality of after-lunch saliva
6. Try not to eat or drink anything for a couple of hours after lunch each day — this gives your teeth time to interact with undiluted, natural saliva, which helps protect your teeth’s enamel.

The best way to help prevent gum recession is to regularly visit your dentist to monitor your oral health. If you have questions about gum recession or are concerned that you are looking “long in the tooth,” ask Dr. Meyers during your next visit.

Thanks to technological advances, dental patients today have several choices when it comes to selecting materials to fill cavities. They can choose between amalgam and composite fillings, which are often referred to as “silver” and “white,” respectively, or tooth-colored porcelain fillings.

Depending on the type of filling needed, and in concert with your dentist, making the choice is easier when you understand the differences of each material. Here’s the rundown:

Amalgam

Amalgam fillings, while reliable and time-tested, are being used less frequently due to the fact that composite materials have improved tremendously. These “silver” fillings are really silver amalgams containing a mixture of silver-tin alloy, copper, and mercury. They have been used for 150 years and are inexpensive and not technique-sensitive. They can last for two decades or longer.

The safety of the mercury in amalgam fillings is a question that has often been raised. Mercury is used in amalgam because it helps make the filling material pliable. When it is mixed with an alloy powder, it creates a compound that is soft enough to mix and press into the tooth. But it also hardens quickly and can withstand the forces of biting and chewing.

Many studies on the safety of amalgam fillings have been done. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluated this research and found no reason to limit the use of amalgam. The FDA concluded that amalgam fillings are safe.

“FDA has reviewed the best available scientific evidence to determine whether the low levels of mercury vapor associated with dental amalgam fillings are a cause for concern,” the agency writes. “Based on this evidence, FDA considers dental amalgam fillings safe for adults and children ages 6 and above.”

There are ongoing reviews evaluating the safety and effects of dental amalgams. The FDA does caution that if you are allergic or sensitive to mercury or any of the other components of amalgam, that you should choose another type of filling.

The World Health Organization has recommended that dental amalgam be phased out as part of an effort to reduce human exposure to mercury.

Composite

A composite filling is tooth-colored and therefore more esthetic, but the advantages are more than just cosmetic. Composite fillings are more conservative, meaning they can sometimes be placed with less tooth removal, according to the American Dental Association. They can also be used in smaller areas whereas an amalgam filling has a minimum size requirement. Additionally, composite fillings do not cause tooth staining over time.

The ADA notes, however, that composite fillings tend to have a shorter life span and require a completely dry environment, which can be difficult in some patients with above average saliva output or sensitive gums that bleed. However, when composites are placed correctly, they can last just as long as amalgams.

Composites can also be more expensive than amalgams and some insurance companies may cover composites only up to the price of an amalgam, and then require the patient to pay the difference.

Porcelain

Porcelain is used for larger restorations when much of the tooth is missing. It is used for inlays, onlays (also called “partial crowns”) and full crowns. Porcelain combines beauty and strength, reinforcing teeth when traditional fillings are not an option. The all-porcelain solution requires less tooth removal than traditional porcelain fused to metal crowns and contains no metal. New ceramic materials are durable and less prone to breakage than older ceramic materials, according to the ADA.

Inlays are restorations that are smaller than crowns or onlays, as they do not cover the biting surface of the tooth. Onlays partially cover the tooth and crowns conceal the entire tooth surface above the gum line. Many offices can now make these restorations in one visit, which is more convenient for the patient.

If you are in the market for new fillings, speak with Dr. Meyers to discuss what option best fits your needs.

There’s no denying the cost of a trip to the dentist can sometimes bust the budget, especially when the treatment involves intricate work like extractions, veneers and other cosmetic procedures.  So, when an offer comes along promising “discount” dental treatment, wrapped into an exotic holiday, more and more Americans are considering making it a package deal, but often without thinking about the consequences.

However, while it’s a practice that may definitely be cheaper in the short term, it’s also costing people dearly down the track. Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are all a part of a growing dental tourism industry. Patients Beyond Borders, a company that books travellers’ surgery holidays to Mexico, the Caribbean, Thailand and other exotic locales, said the growing popularity of ‘Dental Tourism’ often comes down to cost. For instance, being fixed with a set of clear braces in Southeast Asia is almost half the price it is here at home.

The company claims that in order to avoid disaster, dental travellers should do their homework, only use internationally accredited practices and consider the hygiene and skill of the dentist. They say they recommend only approved surgeries which they have inspected, however the onus remains on the patient to do the research — despite living half a world away.

It’s a risk, many dental practitioners — including Dr. Meyers — say isn’t worth it. In America, you’re guaranteed to be seen by a qualified professional, not to mention if something goes horribly wrong you’re covered by your insurance or Medicaid. And, dental practitioners in the States must, of course, speak English. If something goes wrong in a foreign country where English is not the first language, what happens next? Certain infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and HIV may be contracted when proper preventive hygiene protocol is not followed. In America, dentists conform to stringent regulations ensuring patients are kept safe and not infected.

The most comprehensive, complex and professionally challenging of procedures are often completed in stages. An initial part of the procedure is performed, allowed to heal, and then followed up with a second or even third stage of the process. During these overseas trips, many times, what would be multi-visit procedures in the US are conflated into single visit procedures. This single sitting instead of multiple treatments may actually be medically dangerous. There are many stories of ‘Dental Tourists” who have had to get botched procedures corrected here at home, with corrective surgery far more expensive than what they went overseas to get done in the first place.

There are so many places in life where one can save money and cut corners. Your health should never be one of them. One could find oneself coming home looking worse that when one left, or potentially ill or physically harmed.

Consider too, that most dentists today have payment plans for more extensive and expensive treatments. We certainly would recommend discussing such a payment plan with your dentist, and taking your vacation separate from the dental work.