What are the best foods to help you lead a longer, healthier (periodontal) life?

Improving your diet: the secret to longevity

One of the things you should do to maintain your health is to eat well. The difficulty is, nobody really knows what eating well means because each of us has different nutritional needs and eating well to one person could mean eating poorly to another. However, I believe eating well should mean eating in moderation, both in the quantity and quality of the foods we eat. It means reading the nutritional labels describing the contents of what’s in the food you purchase.

I tell my patients that if it’s something that you don’t know or recognize, then don’t buy it. Many prepackaged foods have fillers and dyes to make them feel good or look good. The food and drug administration doesn’t do long term testing of these products. Instead, they only ask the manufacturers to prove that the products are digestible. A good example of a filler in foods is propylene glycol. It’s a major ingredient of antifreeze- now you tell me what nutritional value this has for our long term health. Does it mean that if I eat a lot of diet ice cream (often contains propylene glycol as an ingredient) and I happen to fall asleep in the artic circle, I won’t freeze beacause I’ve got antifreeze in my body? No, I’ll still freeze, but nutritionally I didn’t help myself at all either.

One of the real misleading misconceptions is that if a food is labeled as “diet” or “light” that it means it good for me. The marketers (the people who make up the ads that entice us to buy products) have done a superb job of convincing the public that the word “diet” on a food label implies health for you, the consumer. Wrong, wrong, wrong! It just means less calories, but not necessarily better for you nutritionally. Just eat less of the good stuff. If you like real ice cream (with none of the preservatives and fillers) just eat half a scoop instead of the whole scoop and you’ve just cut 50% of your calorie intake. Another example is diet colas versus regular colas. They both contain food coloring, acid, and secret ingredients- now what part of this can be good for you? The manufacturers purposely make the ingredient labels very small so they are much less noticeable and hopefully you won’t even read them.

 

Foods that are good for you and your body

When you have infection, pus, and or bleeding in your gums, your body is trying to heal, and the healing comes from within our bodies. The treatment that we perform, as health care providers, only provides one avenue for the body to  heal from within. Exercise and a healthy diet play crucial roles in your body’s daily functions, including infection control and self repair. Your diet can certainly play a role in your overall dental health, and according to Dana Ellis Hunnes, a dietitian with the UCLA Health System, the top 10 foods to live a longer, healthier life are:

1. Almonds 
• packed with nutrients such as fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron, and calcium.
• one serving provides half of your body’s Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin E
2. Apples
• great source of pectin, a soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol and glucose levels
• lots of vitamin C- acts as antioxidant to protect your body’s cells from damage
• helps form the connective tissue collagen
• keeps capillaries and blood vessels healthy
• aids in iron absorption
3. Bananas
• great source of potassium, phytonutrients
• full of resistance starch, which helps you feel full, aids digestion, and promotes GI health
4. Blueberries
• source of phytonutrients which may prevent urinary tract infections
• may improve short-term memory and promote healthy aging
• low calorie source of fiber and vitamin C
5. Broccoli
• source of calcium, potassium, folate, and fiber
• vitamins A and C
• may prevent heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers
6. Beans
• good source of iron magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, and thiamin
• excellent low-fat, low calorie fiber source
7. Beets
• betacyanin gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color and is a powerful cancer fighting agent
• source of B vitamin folate, maganese, dietary fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, copper, and potassium
8. Spinach
• great source of vitamins A & C, folate, riboflavin, calcium, iron, and magnesium
• may help boost immune system and keep hair and skin healthy
9. Sweet potatoes
• orange-yellow color due to antioxidant beta carotene
• source of fiber, vitamins B6, C, and E, folate, potassium
• fat-free, low cal
10. Wheat Germ
• part of the seed responsible for development and growth of new plant sprouts
• highly concentrated source of nutrients including niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, iron, and zinc

It is recommended to look for fresh, and if possible, organic versions of these foods to avoid problems with pesticides and additives. However, if something is out of season, frozen fruits and vegetables are a great way to eat healthy all year long. So the take home message here: read the labels (before you buy), eat the good stuff (but only half as much- share the rest with a loved one), and drink lots of good water.

Things That Can Ruin Your Smile: Beware of Sports Drinks

Sports drinks might a good source of hydration and electrolytes for athletes on the field, but they also damage your teeth. According to a study published in the journal General Dentistry, the acidity in most sports drinks erodes the tooth’s enamel and

So should you choose water or a sport drink on your next bike ride? The answer is… it depends. Sports drinks provide electrolytes, carbohydrates and water – all of which are important if you are going to be doing intense exercise, for an extended period of time. A simple guideline that most people can use is, if you plan on exercising for less than 60 minutes, drink water. If you’re going to be exercising for longer than that you should consider a sports drink.

Do you have a mouth as dry as a desert?

Sometimes patients ask us why their mouths are dry and lacking in saliva production. Many times dry mouth can be a side effect of certain medications patients take. It is important for patients to know and understand all the possible side effects that the medications they are taking have, even those that are available over the counter. Sometimes, if you are taking multiple medications they can potentially act synergistically, resulting in more potent effects when taken together rather than separately. If left untreated, dry mouth can cause serious dental problems, the most common being tooth decay (cavities) and bad breath. Don’t forget, the purpose of saliva is not only lubrication but also the neutralization of acids and aiding in the fight against bacteria.

So, what do you do if you have dry mouth? First of all, make sure you are practicing a good routine of home oral care and make sure you keep your gums and teeth exceptionally clean three times a day. The proper use of floss, a toothbrush, and a waterpik is a must. Between meals, chew sugar free gum to help stimulate the production of saliva and promote a clean oral environment. Have us prescribe an extra strength fluoride gel or liquid (works much better than over the counter products) to make teeth more resistant to decay. Avoid any acidic foods and drinks if possible (such as citrus, sodas, etc.). 

For on the go comfort, a soothing mouth spray is useful and at night a gel can be applied to your mouth for relief. Have more frequent professional dental cleanings (every one to three months) depending on the severity of your  problem. Also, check with your prescribing physician to see if alternative medications can be used that have less severe side effects. Many times, once the mechanism of saliva formation is shut down, it won’t start up naturally again on its own. Call us if your mouth is excessively dry and we will be happy to discuss recommendations to help remedy your situation.

Is bone grafting the same as sinus lifting?

In dentistry, bone grafting refers to the rebuilding of lost bone. When our adult tooth grows and develops it brings a certain amount of bone with it to support it in the jaw. Technically, we call this bone alveolar bone. The maximum amount of supporting bone is present when the tooth is completely erupted (in its final position) and the root of the tooth is fully formed. As time goes on and if an infection develops around a tooth (typically from periodontal disease, root end abscess, or tooth decay), the tooth is often extracted. 

Once a tooth is lost (for any reason), the bone that developed with that tooth is resorbed (removed) by the body. There is now a void or defect left by the missing tooth. This defect can many times be corrected by rebuilding the lost bone in the jaw with either your own bone taken from another area, or a bone substitute. When bone is grafted in the sinus, the membrane that lines the sinus must first be gently pushed up to make room for the bone graft, thus the name sinus lifting.

When the upper back teeth are lost, the bone that supports those teeth is also lost, allowing the sinus to expand. The expansion of the sinus (now that the sinus is not contained by teeth) also  causes a resorption of bone. The result of this resorption is that a thin shelf of bone remains. In order to regain the bone lost in the upper molar area, an opening must be made in the sinus membrane. The membrane must be lifted (pushed) upward and sideways creating a space where bone can be grafted, thereby regaining the lost alveolar bone. Once the grafted bone matures, usually in around six months, the procedure of placing a dental implant in the newly formed bone can begin.

The Connection Between Oral Health and Overall Wellness

The study looked at almost 350,000 patients with gum disease and discovered after treatment ongoing costs for those with type 2 diabetes, strokes, heart problems and pregnancy decreased by 40.2%, 40.9%, 10.7%, and 73.7%.

Hospital admissions for those with diabetes and heart problems were also significantly reduced after gum disease treatment.

Lead researcher Marjorie Jeffcoat, professor and dean emeritus at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, commented: ‘Although the magnitude of the effect was surprising, the results stress the importance of giving patients dental care as part of total care.’

Those figures give the clearest indication yet that the cost of prevention far outweighs the costs involved with restorative and emergency care.

Reach those hard to get areas of your mouth – use a handy wipe!

Certain areas are hard to clean with floss– the backs of the last tooth in an arch, when there is a wide space between teeth, or when there is a space bordered by two teeth. I’d like to show you how to use the handy wipe in these areas to clean them effectively and prevent problem areas.

You can find handy wipes in grocery stores and they come in a variety of colors and sizes. I recommend tearing many strips at once and saving them for future use to save time. When combined with regular brushing and flossing, they can effectively clean hard to reach areas and to maintain a healthy oral environment to prevent periodontal disease and other problems.

Make Your Teeth Last For A Long, Long Time

In the last decade, dental technology has advance by leaps and bounds. New materials and methods help dental work last longer. However, there is still a chance that many patients will eventually have to have additional procedures to repair crowns, implants, and other dental appliances. But data isn’t destiny. There are some simple methods that can employ that will allow you to maintain your dental work for 2 or 3 decades with no problem.

 

Regular Dental Visits

For most people, dentist recommend a visit to your dentist and hygienist at least every 6 months. However, given that most of our patients see us for periodontitis or receding gums, we urge our patients to visit every 3 or 4 months. That allows Dr. Berdy to identify potential complications in your treatment and our hygienists to make sure your mouth stays clean and free from infection.

Bridges 

Loose bridgework can be caused by periodontal disease or cavities. It can make your bite feel unstable and make your bridge feel sensitive to temperature changes.

Dentures & Partials

As your jaw, gums, and underlying bone structure change, you may notice that your dental appliance may begin to fit differently. To avoid discomfort and further bone loss, denture wearers should schedule more frequent visits to their dentists to monitor and respond to changes.

Crowns & Implants

Because they aren’t made of enamel and dentin like regular teeth, they are not vulnerable to cavities and decay. However, proper oral hygiene is even more important for this group because gum and bone can become infected and weaken support for your implant. Smoking and diabetes also exacerbate implant failure.