Antioxidant Effects on the State of Oral Health

There are many factors to good oral health that we often don’t think of, and one of them is the influential presence of simple antioxidants. Consumed with our regular diet, the effects of antioxidants are vast—extending beyond the oral cavity and into the realm of systemic health. DentistryIQ discusses how factors like pollutants, alcohol, nicotine, and more can disturb the oxidative balance of oral tissues…[READ ARTICLE]

New ADA Survey on Kids, Candy, and Halloween

A survey was recently conducted by the ADA and PopCap Games to gauge the perception of Halloween among kids ages 5 to 13 throughout the U.S. Overall, they found some very interesting results, which are as follows:

• 94% participate in trick-or-treating

• 65% think Halloween is the best holiday of the year

• 66% agree that they eat too much candy during Halloween

• 89% said they would still like the holiday if it was not “candy-focused”

• 93% would prefer a video game instead of candy while trick-or-treating

• 71% think dressing up is one of the best parts about Halloween

• 66% also think “getting lots of candy” is another great part about Halloween

• 78% agree with the statement that “too much candy is bad for me”

• 67% report that they eat too much candy throughout the Halloween season

• 42% worry they’ll get cavities from eating too much candy on Halloween

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To view the article on this survey, visit: http://medicalnewstoday.com/articles/252019.php

U.S. Sugar Statistics: A Not-So-Sweet Reality

Feel like getting spooked for Halloween? Check out this infographic on the consumption of sugar throughout the U.S….from how much we ingest each year (which is growing at an alarming rate), to the many diseases that stem from excessive consumption, this infographic is a great way to increase awareness about the dangers of this deceivingly sweet ingredient. To view and/or share, [CLICK HERE]

Top 3 Most Acidic Soft Drinks in the U.S.

Do you know what the top three most ACIDIC sodas in today’s market are? Surely there are many that come close behind, but according to a study published in American General Dentistry (AGD) by the Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Dental Medicine, the top three most acidic soft drinks available today are as follows:

1. RC Cola (pH of 2.387)

2. Cherry Coke (pH of 2.522)

3. Coke (pH of 2.525)

Despite their lack of sugar, diet sodas are also bad for your oral health, though their pH values tend to be a bit higher than regular sodas. Moreover, non-cola beverages are less acidic than cola drinks, but were found to be more erosive overall due to a higher mean percent weight loss after a 48 hours of immersion. For example, a drink called ‘Surge’ had the highest overall weight loss at 7.85%, followed by 7-Up at 6.17%. This is thought to be because non-cola drinks contain citric acid  which chelates calcium at higher pH levels, leading it to be particularly erosive. Cola drinks, on the other hand, usually contain phosphoric acid. 

See the table below for comprehensive results of this study:

To view the original study, please visit: http://www.agd.org/support/articles/?ArtID=923

Environment Plays a Bigger Role than Genetics in Oral Microbiology

A new study in Genome Research discusses the difference between genetics and environment in determining oral microbiota. Over the average lifetime, an individual experiences an abundance of bacteria in the mouth from childhood to adulthood, but little has been studied on whether genetics or environment plays a bigger role in this occurrence. Therefore, researchers conducted a study by sequencing the microbial DNA of saliva from several sets of twins, and paired those sequences in a database to determine which type of bacteria existed in each individual.

Overall, scientists found that the salivary microbiomes of identical twins were no more indicative than those found in fraternal twins, meaning the influence of genetics is not as strong as the impact of environment.[1]

“We were also intrigued to see that the microbiota of twin pairs becomes less similar once they moved apart from each other…” stated Simone Stahringer, author of the study.

It was also discovered that salivary microbiota changes the most during adolescence, indicating that behavioral changes may have a significant influence. In general, this study hopes to provide more clarity on how aspects like oral hygiene, environment, and even diet can influence oral microbes.

To read the original article, please visit: http://medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251417.php

Xylitol: The Sugar that Dentists Approve Of

With an exceedingly vast consumption of sugar in the U.S. every year, it is becoming more apparent than ever that significant changes need to be made to the overall diet/lifestyle of the general American public. What most people outside the dental industry don’t realize is that another sweetener exists outside the traditional substitutes, that not only tastes as good as sugar, but actually benefits your teeth and fights against the presence of oral disease!

If you’re in dentistry, you’re probably already familiar with this sweetener known as Xylitol. Today, we are seeing it being added to many brands of fluoride, prophy paste, toothpaste, and more as research continues to show just how effective this sweetener can be. Studies have already reported tremendous results, and everyday more is being done to learn its potential in the fight against oral disease.

Here are some of the most staggering statistics and interesting key facts related to xylitol and oral health:[1]

• Xylitol was first discovered in 1891 by chemists from both Germany and France.

• Five exposures to xylitol per day can drastically improve oral health by reducing the accumulation of plaque biofilm, and decelerate the transmission of Streptococcus mutans from mother to child.

• It encompasses anti-inflammatory properties that prevent infection, and accelerate the healing process for open wounds, ear/sinus infections, and aspiration pneumonia.

• The human body makes 5-10 grams of xylitol each day during the metabolism of carbohydrates.

• Overall, it looks and tastes just like regular sugar, but only contains 2.4 calories per gram, which is 40% lower than other carbohydrates.

• Xylitol does not incorporate insulin for metabolism, making it ideal for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes.

• It encompasses a higher pH level in both saliva and plaque fluid, vs. the acidic pH associated with sucrose ingestion.

• Xylitol-sweetened candy consumed several times a day has proven to be more effective in reducing the incidence of caries than fluoridated toothpaste or fluoridated milk.

*Reference: DentalTown, “Xylitol: The Good Sugar”, August 2012.

The Nutritional Values of Good Oral Health

The connection between oral and general health is being explored more than ever these days, and one of the most evident parallels between the two is the link between oral-systemic health and diet/nutrition. In 2011, an article by the Oral Sciences Department of Surgical and Oncological Disciplines in Palermo, Italy referenced the two as having a bi-unique relationship, and confirming the following statement:

“a balanced diet is correlated to a state of oral health (periodontal disease, dental elements, quality, and quantity of saliva), and vice versa.”[1]

As oral health professionals know, tooth decay becomes a definite concern when patients have a high intake of sugar in their diets, but studies have also shown there are significant correlations between the times that patients consume sugar and the overall prevalence or incidence of caries. Research shows that if sugar is consumed only during meals (even if in large quantities), it has little effect on accelerating the incidence rate of caries for that individual.

On the other hand, frequent ingestion of sugar in between meals produced a notable increase in the occurrence of decay. Moreover, the type of sugar also has a direct effect; for instance, lactose produces less acidity than other sugars, while xylitol (instead of sucrose) can yield an 85% decrease in decay within a two-year period.[2]

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The following are additional facts related to Oral Health & Diet/Nutrition:

Lack of Vitamin D and Vitamin A can result in hypoplasia of the enamel and atrophy of the salivary glands (especially teeth in a pre-eruptive stage).

Extrinsic and intrinsic acids (citric, phosphoric, ascorbic, malic, tartaric, and carbonic) found in fruit juices, vinegar, and other beverages can produce irreversible loss of dental tissue, a.k.a. erosion.

Calcium and Vitamin C have a profound effect on the onset of periodontal disease since calcium plays a role in the density of the alveolar bone that supports the teeth, while vitamin C has an active effect in stimulating reparative mechanisms.

Vitamins A, E, C, and Beta Carotene have antioxidant properties that fight against and/or interfere with the activation of pro-carcinogens and potentially inhibit the growth of malignant lesions (a.k.a. leukoplakia).

Regular intake of fruits, vegetables, and vegetable fats has shown to counteract the risk for developing oral and pharyngeal cancers.