How Can Dental Fluoride Help Protect Teeth From Decay?/b>

Dental fluoride combines with the minerals in your teeth to form a stronger, more acid resistant enamel. When the acids produced by plaque on your teeth start to break down the minerals in your tooth enamel, a process called demineralization begins. Demineralization starts by weakening the enamel and leads to small cavities at first but can progress into large areas of decay and eventual tooth loss. The very early stage of demineralization can be reversed by re-mineralizing the enamel. This can occur by introducing dental fluoride into the enamel.

There are two ways that fluoride works to protect tooth enamel – systemically and topically.

Systemically, fluoride works when teeth are developing in babies and children – replacing some of the crystals in developing enamel with more decay resistant crystals containing fluoride. Systemic fluoride is ingested in fluoridated water, foods or supplements prescribed by a dentist or pediatrician. These systemic sources of fluoride help to assure that a child’s teeth come in strong and decay resistant.

Topical fluoride is contained in fluoride toothpaste and fluoride mouthwash and work from the outside of the tooth when you brush and rinse. Topical fluoride treatments can also be administered at your dental office, less frequently and in higher concentrations. When you use topical fluoride daily at home, in low concentrations, you can re-mineralize weakened enamel and strengthen the structure of your enamel. It’s important to brush thoroughly twice a day and rinse daily with fluoride containing products that have been clinically proven to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride toothpastes and mouthwashes should be used throughout your life. Talk to your child’s dentist about how to help them brush with very small amounts of fluoride toothpaste until they are old enough to spit rather than ingest the toothpaste.

Other Ways That Dental Fluoride Can Help Prevent Cavities

Saliva contains a very low level of fluoride as a result of drinking fluoridated water and using products with fluoride and can therefore help with remineralization as it bathes the teeth – in addition to acting as a natural method for cleansing the teeth.

Besides re-mineralizing teeth systemically and topically, fluoride also helps prevent cavities by affecting the bacteria in plaque, making it less able to produce the acids that cause decay.

We now know that fluoride is effective for adults also.  Fluoride varnish helps re-mineralize the enamel and especially when you have enamel erosion from acid relux, recession, decalcification and defective enamel. Fluoride varnish applied at your examination and cleaning appointment is greatly effective in preventing decay.  

If you have any questions please contact Dr Scott Chanin at Diamond Dental Associates.  908-838-0004. We will help your beautiful smile stay beautiful.

908-838-0004 | Diamonddentalassociates.com

Benefits of an Electric Toothbrush

Brushing in the right way, with the right tools is essential. While it is important to visit the dentist regularly, you also want to make sure that you’re choosing the right tools for the home, as well. An electric toothbrush actually comes with many benefits that you may not have realized before. With their help, many people are seeing healthier, cleaner teeth overall. Find out all of the benefits you can get with an electric toothbrush.

Electric Toothbrush Benefits

Keep these benefits in mind when it comes to choosing the right toothbrush for the job. You want to feel more confident being able to brush with ease, while also removing the plaque and other build up you might have missed with a regular manual toothbrush.

• Keep your teeth, tongue and gums healthier
• It circulates the blood flow with ease
• Clean in those hard to reach places you would normally miss
• Get longer, more thorough teeth brushing with the use of an electric brush
• The toothbrush does all of the work for you
• It makes brushing easier for kids
• It helps to fight gum disease, gingivitis and a wide assortment of other oral problems
• It helps to get rid of bad breath

Purchase an electric toothbrush in almost any store and find one that works well for you. Both adult and children electric toothbrushes can be purchased to ensure that everyone has cleaner, healthier teeth and gums, while also making brushing more fun.

Contact Us Today. Call our office here at Diamond Dental Associates to obtain the best solution for the dental issues you’re having, or just to schedule your next cleaning with one of our awesome dentists!. We can recommend the best electric toothbrush for your dental needs.

908-838-0004 | Diamonddentalassociates.com

Acid reflux?
Your dentist may notice before you do
Dr. Scott Chanin, DMD, FAGD

If you’ve been diagnosed with gastroesophageal acid reflux disease, or GERD, your dental health might be at risk  Most people recognize heartburn: that painful burning sensation radiating from inside the chest. Persistent symptoms, more than twice weekly, may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. But not everyone with GERD has the symptoms of heartburn. In fact, you may have GERD and not even know it

GERD causes stomach acids to back up into the esophagus and sometimes into the mouth. Individuals who have the disease are at risk for serious damage to the esophagus, including developing esophageal cancer. But they may not realize they are also at greater risk for tooth erosion and periodontal problems.

Patients who have been diagnosed with GERD should follow their physician’s instructions to control their reflux. Treatment strategies can include taking prescription medications; eating smaller meals and avoiding trigger foods like tomato, citrus foods, raw onions, spicy foods, chocolate, alcohol and coffee; and other coping techniques.

Dentists are often the first health care professionals who notice a potential acid reflux problem in a patient. Your dentist may notice tooth erosion or other oral signs. Other symptoms of GERD can include sinus infections, heartburn, difficult swallowing, cough, hoarseness and bad breath.

What can you do?
Loss of enamel is permanent and can increase your risk of tooth decay. Enamel is a protective layer on the outside of your teeth. GERD can cause other long-term damage, such as irritation and inflammation of your esophagus, which makes you more susceptible to esophageal cancer.

That’s why getting a regular oral exam from a dentist is so important — your dentist may find early symptoms of a potentially serious problem before it progresses. In fact, more than 90% of systemic diseases have oral manifestations that may be detected during an oral exam by a dentist.

Prevent GERD
You can lower your risk of acid reflux by eating smaller meals, staying upright after eating and cutting out smoking and alcohol. Changing your diet can also help. Trigger foods and drinks include tomatoes, citric fruits, chocolate, coffee, garlic, onions and meals that are spicy, acidic or high in fat. Losing weight, especially in the abdominal area, can also go a long way in 

reducing GERD.

If you think you might have GERD or acid reflux call Dr. Chanin at Diamond Dental Associates, and we can help you prevent the destruction to your teeth that GERD causes.  We can help you control the effects of acid reflux and protect your dental health.so you can keep your beautiful smile.

908-838-0004 | Diamonddentalassociates.com

Sports and Energy Drinks Destroy Teeth!

Sports and Energy Drinks Destroy Teeth!
Sport, energy and soft drinks are leading to unprecedented levels of decay and loss of tooth enamel (dental erosion) in a new generation of youth and young adults.

The over-consumption of sugary, acidic drinks, such as boxed juices, sports drinks, energy drinks and soft drinks, is reversing more than 50 years of public health gains realized though preventative measures such as fluoridated water and dental sealants.

ACID
Soft Drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and boxed juices have a double dose of acid and sugar that may destroy teeth. Acid softens enamel and chemically dissolves the outer layer. This is dental erosion. Softer enamel is more susceptible to decay.

SUGAR
Sugar feeds the bacteria which cause tooth decay. Drinks are liquid candy, which easily pools between and around the teeth. This promotes bacterial growth and decay.

QUANTITY
Super sizing a drink increases the contact time and causes more damage. Sipping small amounts over time leads to cumulative destruction. The longer it takes to drink a sugar laden, acidic drink … the greater the damage.

TIMING
Sports and energy drinks have more acid than soft drinks. When one is dehydrated with no saliva, the acid in the sport and energy drinks dissolves enamel more quickly. Sipping a sugary, acidic drink all day while driving, studying or working dissolves enamel and promotes cavities.

PREVENTION

• Drink in moderation.
• Use a straw.
• Drink at one sitting or with food.
• Drink water to rehydrate.
• Use fluoride and re-mineralizing products.
• Drink milk. Its neutral pH of 6.7 and 1 tsp of lactose (sugar) per 12 ounces are healthy for teeth.
• Professional fluoride treatments done twice yearly for adults and children suggested.

Acid & Sugar Content of Common Drinks
The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution with pure water in the middle of neutral pH7. As the chart below indicates, the lower the pH, the stronger the acid.

For more information about sports drinks or drinking beverages that have an acid pH, please call:

Diamond Dental Associates at 908-838-0004

908-838-0004 | Diamonddentalassociates.com