Fruit Drinks, Like Energy Drinks, May be Problematic

Written by Dentistry Today Wednesday, 23 May 2012 20:23

Parents need to rethink giving their children fruit drinks.

Dentists are warning that some fruit drinks can have the acidity levels of vinegar. So some parents with good intentions may actually be putting their children's oral health at risk.

Fruits drinks and smoothies were thought to have some nutritional value as a healthy option other than drinks like soda. But, in actuality, these drinks contain sugar, in addition to having high acidity levels.

When consuming these fruit drinks, bacteria in the mouth produce dangerous plaque acids that attack the enamel. With weakened enamel, it's possible for the tooth to become compromised.

According to some studies, there are certain fruit drinks that are considered more acidic than vinegar.

Based on this information, whether or not a drink contain fruits is irrelevant. What's more important is whether or not it contains sugar. Water is beneficial because it doesn't have any sugar and lowers the risk of obesity, something that is rising among young children. Drinks filled with sugar are one of the main reasons for this rise.

Dental X-Rays May Project Bone Fractures

X-rays are not a bone density scan, but they are a useful tool for diagnosing a number of things such as tooth decay, bone loss from periodontal disease, and tooth pathology/infection in the form of an abscess. It would not be possible to predict bone fractures with dental x-rays but studies indicate we may be able to identify those at risk.

Dr. Bob

Article Written by Dentistry Today Friday, 09 December 2011 13:14

Dentistry may aid in predicting who’s at risk of fractures.

By using dental x-rays, it’s now possible to tell who may be more susceptible to fractures, according to the journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology. The information was developed by researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy in Sweden.

After earlier research by this group, it was determined that there’s a correlation between sparse bone structure in the trabecular bone in the lower jaw and a higher likelihood of having had some bone fracture at some point in the past.

The researchers wanted to find out even more information, however. That’s why they wanted to use this information as a method to make educated guess as to who will suffer fractures in the future. These results appeared in the journal Bone, as well the Wall Street Journal.

The study includes information from the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, which began in 1968. This study included 731 women who have been analyzed many times since 1968. Their jawbones were closely studied in 1968, 1980 and any time the suffered a fracture. There were 222 total fractures reported.

The bone structure in the jaw would be considered sparse in roughly 20 percent of the women. These women were in the age group of women from age 38 to 54. The older the person was, the sparser the bone structure was in the jaw and the more vulnerable the person was to fractures.

This information also applies to men even though they weren’t analyzed in the same way as women for this study.

GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA!

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Happy Thanksgiving

We want to wish all of our patients a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend! We are thankful that you are part of our "dental family" and hope you have a great holiday.

Dr. Bob and Staff

Great American Smokeout is Nov. 17 - American Dental Association - ADA.org

Great American Smokeout is Nov. 17 - American Dental Association - ADA.org

Kids- Enjoy your Halloween candy and still protect your teeth

Your children can enjoy some treats for Halloween and still avoid sugar-related decay. A good rule of thumb regarding Halloween candy comsumption would be:

• Limit the amount you let your kids eat, or "take inventory" of their Halloween candy.
• Limit the frequency you allow your children to comsume sweets. Exposure time to the teeth, not necessarily amount, is more important.
• Brush as soon as possible after snacking

Of course sugar free snacks are less likely to cause cavities. Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Dr. Bob

Enter our Duck Drawing!

Enter our raffle for a basket of Oregon Duck goodies including tickets to the game on October 29, Ducks vs. Washington State Cougars. The drawing will be on Thursday, October 27.

Who is eligible to enter:

• Patients with scheduled appointments
• Facebook Friends
• Anyone who takes a referral card for friends or family

GO DUCKS!