Tag Archives: cavities

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body.

20 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by in Adult Dentistry, DentistUSA.com, General Dentistry, oral health

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Did you know there are over 700 species of bacteria present inside the mouth? Scientists even have a fancy name for it – “The Human Oral Microbiome”.

Now before you go freaking out and spraying your mouth with Lysol, you should know, some of these bacteria are good. Like Veillonella, that slows the development of caries. But (and seriously, don’t spray Lysol in your mouth) there are a lot of bad bacteria, like Streptococcus mutans, a significant contributor to tooth decay and Streptococcus gordonii.

Researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons published a study in March showing that Streptococcus gordonii can produce a molecule that helps blood to clot. This molecule can slip into your blood stream and cause blockage of the blood supply to the heart or brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke. In fact, studies show that having gum disease can quadruple your risk of stroke and spike your risk of a heart attack up to a dozen times higher!

Some bacteria can even lead to cancer. A Swedish study found that poor brushing can increase cancer risks by 80%!

Dr Paul Pharoah, reader in cancer epidemiology at the University of Cambridge, said the results of the Swedish study suggested higher levels of plaque (bacteria) are associated with ‘higher all-cause mortality.’ In other words, the worse your teeth are, the worse your overall health is and the more risk you are to serious illness and even death.

So, what can you do to help prevent bacteria growing? Try some of these tips:

– Brush your teeth twice a day for a full two minutes each time.

– Floss your teeth and scrape your tongue daily.

– Wash out your mouth after every meal. An over the counter mouthwash is best but most of us don’t carry around a bottle of Scope everywhere we go. You could use these but water is a good substitute if nothing else is available.

– Cut out the sugar. Sugar promotes bacteria growth. So stay away from high sugar foods and beverages (e.g. candy, soda and fruit juices).  If you are a candy lover like myself, try to find some sugar free alternatives.

– See your dentist twice a year and get your teeth cleaned. “The cleaning done at the dentist is a special ‘deep’ dental cleaning, where all the harmful plaque and tartar is removed professionally.” If you need to find a dentist to help get your smile back in shape, use DentistUSA.com.

Following these tips may not only get you a brighter smile; it might save you from something more deadly!

 

8 Things to Try at Home to Help Prevent Cavities in Children

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in General Dentistry

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Since 1949, the American Dental Association has sponsored National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness for healthier teeth at home.  We spoke with Dr. Scott Goldman of Northwest Chicago to compile a list of best oral hygiene practices at home with your child to ensure their brightest and healthiest smiles!

 

  1. Start early!  Wipe off gums with a damp cloth after your infant has fed.  Milk is sweet and this preventative measure can help your child’s teeth.
  2. Teach them to brush: “Parents should make brushing into a part of the daily routine, morning and night, two times a day,” says Dr. Goldman.
  3. Get creative in the bathroom: Use a timer that makes noise to encourage two minute brushing.
  4. Use a mild flavored, non-fluoride toothpaste until they are old enough to learn to spit it out.
  5. Stand behind them as they brush to help them learn properly.
  6. Never allow your child to sleep with a bottle in their mouth.  If they need as a comfort measure to get to sleep, remove it as soon as they’ve fallen asleep.
  7. Choose nutritious snacks in place of snacks high in sugar.
  8. Do not allow your child to snack throughout the day; children who have scheduled eating times tend to get less cavities.

Follow these tips in addition to early childhood dental visits to prevent tooth decay and painful procedures.  If you’d like to read how to prepare your child for their first dental visit, go here.

Dr. Scott Goldman attended the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign for his undergraduate studies and the University of Illinois at Chicago for dental school.  Following dental school, he completed a two year post-graduate specialty training program at the University of Illinois at Chicago pediatric dental program.  His practice is limited to the treatment of infants, children, teens and those with special needs.  In his spare time, Dr. Goldman is an avid hockey player and enjoys spending time with his wife and son.

5 Tips to Prepare Your Child For Their First Dental Visit

15 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in General Dentistry, oral hygeine, pediatric dentistry

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Would you rather your child’s first dentist visit be to repair tooth decay, or would you rather they visit the dentist on a positive note for a simple, preventative checkup?

More often than not, if a child associates the dentist’s office with scary drills and painful shots, they will be reluctant to visit again.  We spoke with Dr. Scott Goldman who has three practices in Chicago’s Northwest suburbs to understand why it is essential that parents start their child’s dental visits at an early age.  “You don’t want the first time you’re coming in to the dentist to be for that emergency,” explains Dr. Goldman.  “You want to be able to come in when you’re calm and have your questions ready.”

Here are some tips from Dr. Goldman on preparing your child for their first visit so they are calm and relaxed.

  1. Take your child early

The American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends children visit the dentist at age 1 or 6 months after the eruption of their first tooth.  “If a child gets a tooth at 11 months, then I probably recommend [they visit] 6 months after that,” explains Dr. Goldman.  The dentist will show your child proper brushing techniques and educate parents on proper oral care at home.  While most insurance plans cover the cost of dental visits, many pediatric dentists offer free visits for children under the age of two.

  1. Explain what will happen

Be sure to explain what will happen at the first visit, but be careful not to make the dentist office seem like a big ordeal.  Dr. Goldman advises to “let [your child] know that mom and dad [also visit] the dentist and it is part of growing up and being a ‘big girl’ or a ‘big boy.’”  Let your child know that on their first visit the dentist is simply going to count and brush their teeth and that if they do a great job there will be a prize at the end of the visit.

  1. Get them a book

Dr. Goldman recommends buying your child a book to prepare for their dentist visit, like Dora the Explorer’s Show Me Your Smile!: A Visit to the Dentist.  The book chronicles Dora’s dentist visit in a child-friendly way and is available on Amazon for just $3.99.

  1. Avoid mentioning shots

Most children do not know about shots until the parents mention it, so Dr. Goldman advises that the word “shots” is never mentioned or “the only thing the kid is going to hear is ‘shot’ or it ‘hurts.’”

  1. Let them cry, it’s normal (A little tear is OK!)

“I always let the parents know:  a few tears is ok and  normal, don’t [be afraid] to bring your child to the dentist because you’re afraid they are going to cry.  The children who start young learn to enjoy seeing the dentist and by the second or third visit they are running through the door and excited to see the dentist.”  He points out that the child who has their first visit at an older age of 5 or 6 is usually the one with the most cavities, so bring them early!

Aside from the tips Dr. Goldman provided, your child’s dentist is also trained to ensure comfort at the office.  While Pedodontists have gone through a 2-3 year long residency program in pediatric dentistry, many general dentists are qualified to see children and comfortable treating children as well.

If you are looking for a dentist in your area, search for one using DentistUSA.com and select “Childrens Dentist” on the drop-down menu to filter for general dentists and pedodontists who see children.  Many dentists offer printable coupons for free dental visits for children under a certain age to encourage they see a dentist at the age recommended by the AAPD.

Dr. Scott Goldman attended the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign for his undergraduate studies and the Univesity of Illinois at Chicago for dental school.  Following dental school, he completed a two year post-graduate specialty training program at the University of Illinois at Chicago pediatric dental program.  His practice is limited to the treatment of infants, children, teens and those with special needs.  In his spare time, Dr. Goldman is an avid hockey player and enjoys spending time with his wife and son.