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4 Things You Do After a Teeth Whitening Treatment that Drives your Dentist to Distraction

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Hello Everyone!

Nothing builds confidence like a sparkling white smile. And teeth whitening treatments have never been more popular.  From ZOOM whitening to custom-fit bleaching trays, modern dentistry offers a number of whitening options that fit any lifestyle.  Regardless of the method chosen, there are a few simple tips that can add longevity to a ‘new’ whiter, brighter smile.  After all, once you receive a whitening treatment, the results are a gift that keeps on giving.   You not only receive a gorgeous smile but a boost in self-confidence; an investment that reaps higher rewards socially and personally.

teeth-whitening

Over the years I’ve performed thousands of whitening treatments, and noticed a pattern in certain cases.  Every once in a while someone will ignore post treatment instructions, whether they’re conscious of it or not, and the result is a smile that doesn’t meet their expectations.  For some reason their smile didn’t stay as white as they expected, or the results just didn’t last as long as they thought it would.  The reality is most of us cannot avoid foods and liquids that stain teeth for a lifetime.  It just isn’t practical or desirable.  But it is a key factor in keeping those teeth as white as long as possible after whitening with carbamide hydroxide or hydrogen peroxide.

So, here’s my quick list of things that can ruin your whitening treatment soon after you flash that beautiful smile. [Read more…]

What do 30 Million people in the US have in common?

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Hi everyone!

According to the website, diabetes.org, 30 million Americans are living with diabetes.   While that may be shocking, estimates show that nearly 8 million of those people may not even know they have it.  Not only are they at risk from serious complications like stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease but they are also at a greater risk for gum disease.

Diabetes and Dental Health

A recent study conducted by NYU’s College of Nursing and Dentistry indicates that using gingival blood for the hemoglobin testing (HbA1c) produced nearly the exact same values as those values obtained from samples using blood from the Finger stick test. (This common test allows health professionals to check for blood glucose levels.)  Given that most people see their dentist more consistently than their doctors; this can be an opportunity to bring increased awareness about the importance of a diabetes screening.  At the very least early detection at a dental visit, and even early treatment, may help with the delay or the prevention of long-term complications caused by undiagnosed diabetes. [Read more…]

Social Anxiety Can Increase Your Risk of Tooth Erosion (Bruxism)

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Hi everyone!

Are you sometimes self-conscious and embarrassed around others?  It’s quite normal to feel anxious before a giving a speech or an interview or any stressful social situation.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 15 million people in the United States suffer from social anxiety disorder.  Sometimes referred to as social phobia, people with this condition may stay away from social events that cause them stress.  They may even worry about a certain social event for days or weeks before it occurs.   Now, a recent study from the Tel Aviv University in Israel reveals that social anxiety, even brief bouts of anxiety may be a precursor to bruxism or teeth grinding.

Children and Bruxism

Bruxism or teeth grinding causes tooth enamel to wear down, and if not corrected, can lead to headaches, tooth fractures and jaw muscle and joint pain.  People with bruxism can experience pain when eating, yawning or even talking.  Clenching, like bruxism, is associated with stress and anxiety; both occur most often at night. People who suffer from bruxism or clenching can wear a custom made protective bite “splint” to prevent headaches, tooth fracture/wear and gum recession, just some of the consequences of these conditions if these habits are not addressed. [Read more…]

What You Can’t See Can Hurt You: New Guidelines on Free Sugar Intake from the World Health Organization (WHO)

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Hi everyone,

The WHO recently announced that people would benefit from a further reduction in their current recommended free sugar intake of 10 percent of their total caloric intake to 5 percent per day. But in our daily routines how many of us go about calculating the amount of sugar we eat.

sugar

Not many of us. As busy as we are, we have difficulty just keeping track of the running total of calories and fat we consume let alone adding sugar to the list. It’s also complicated by the fact that many sugars are what we call “hidden sugars,” the sugars we find in many processed foods like ketchup, juices and pre-packaged foods. So, what we’re learning is that what you can’t see can actually hurt you.

What exactly is free sugar?

By the WHO’s definition, free sugar includes all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by manufacturers, cooks or us, as consumers, plus any sugar that is present in foods naturally like in fruit. Okay, so now that we know what it is, let’s look at what 10 percent and 5 percent of free sugar intake really looks like. [Read more…]