Understand The Effects Of Sports And Energy Drinks

May 29, 2012

Filed under: Blog — Tags: Energy Drinks and Dentistry, Energy Drinks and Tooth Enamel, Sports Drinks Effects — @ 11:04 pm

YOU ALREADY SUSPECT THAT ENERGY DRINKS contain a lot of sugar, but at least they’re not as bad as soda pop, right? You wouldn’t be alone if you’ve thought that sports drinks, thanks to their supplement arsenal, are good for growing bodies. But the truth is energy and sports drinks can be even worse for your teeth than soft drinks.

A One-Two Punch

Energy and sports drinks launch a twofold attack on your teeth: sugar and acid. Drinks like Gatorade and Powerade have about half the sugar of sodas, but popular energy drinks like Monster or Fuel often have the same amount of sugar as soda (or more). In addition, both sports and energy drinks are loaded with acid—enough to do ten times more damage to tooth enamel than soda.

Check out this Academy of General Dentistry study on tooth enamel and beverages. Researchers immersed tooth enamel in a variety of popular sports and energy drinks for 15 minutes and then transferred it to artificial saliva to imitate the effects of consuming energy drinks a couple times a day. Significant enamel damage only took five days.

Today, Half Of Teens Drink One (or more) Sports Drinks Or Energy Drinks Daily

The market for energy drinks has almost tripled in the past few years, targeting teens and young adults. Considering their popularity, it’s important to know about the dangers. If you suspect you’ve already experienced damage from sports or energy drinks, contact us to visit about ways we can help.

Four Helpful Tips

Here are some tips & tricks to minimize damage caused by sports and energy drinks:

Rinse out your mouth with water or chew some sugar-free gum after having energy drinks. This rebalances the pH level in your mouth to counteract the acid. Don’t brush for a while after drinking—your enamel is still soft and brushing can damage it even more.
Drink sports drinks before you get dehydrated, not after. That way, you’ll have the saliva you need to protect your teeth.
Drink it all at once (but don’t choke!). Your mouth takes time to recover after each sip, so drinking continuously prevents teeth from regaining their protection.
Stick to healthier options when NOT working out. Sports drinks are meant to rehydrate and replenish when you’re working out hard. So, if you’re just “active”, consider alternatives like water or electrolyte drops in water.

Ask Us More About It The Next Time We See You

Here at our practice we want you to be aware of what you can do to help prevent enamel damage. Do you have a story to share about sports or energy drinks? If so, comment below or visit our Facebook page and tell us about it. Do you have other questions for our team? We’d love to hear from you!

And thanks for the trust you place in us. We appreciate it!

Comments (0)

Smiling Can Improve Life And Your Health

May 21, 2012

Filed under: Blog — @ 5:55 pm

CHANCES ARE YOU DON’T THINK MUCH about smiling. It just “happens” once in a while, right? You hear something funny. You meet someone new. You cuddle your newborn daughter.

Smiling feels good, and studies show that people who frequently smile are perceived to be more in control, at ease, and attractive than those who smile less often.

But did you know that smiling can also improve your health? It’s true.

Awesome TED Talk About Your Smile’s Untapped Power

Although this video runs about 7 minutes, it’s worth the time. Enjoy…

The Health Benefits Of Smiling

Serotonin, Pain Killers, And Endorphins—Oh My!

Studies show that smiling actually releases natural pain killers, endorphins and serotonin (a neurotransmitter believed to help people feel happier) in your body. Yes, a smile may be the simplest, natural, legal drug.

Stress Relief And Reduced Blood Pressure

Chronic stress can do significant damage to both mind and body. According to Columbia University PhD, Mark Stibich, increased smiling may help reduce many symptoms associated with anxiety including improved digestion, lower blood pressure, etc.

And Finally, People Who Smile More May Actually Live Longer

Living longer—now THERE’S a serious health benefit. Could this really be true? A 2010 Wayne State University study examined the relationship between smile intensity and longevity among 230 pro baseball players from a ’52 baseball registry. They found that players with big smiles lived an average of five years longer that those who didn’t (or barely) smiled. Even players with small smiles lived longer than those who didn’t smile.

Facial expression and smiles have long been shown to be a good indicator of people’s emotions—and those with positive emotions are even shown to have better interpersonal skills and more stable marriages.

The Moral Of The Story? Smile!

Our team is passionate about doing everything we can to help you and your loved ones feel confident when you smile! Our hunch is that if you feel confident when you smile, you’ll smile more often—and THAT could make your life (and the lives of those around you) healthier and happier.

Do YOU have a great story about the power of a smile? If so, post it on our Facebook page!

Be sure to contact us if you ever have any questions about the services we provide. You can also leave a comment or question below and we’ll respond right away.

Thanks for the confidence you place in our practice. WE APPRECIATE YOU!

Comments (0)

Some Thoughts About Eating Disorders And Your Oral Health

May 9, 2012

Filed under: Blog — Tags: Eating Disorders and Oral Health — @ 9:13 pm

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION as many as 10 million Americans are affected by serious eating disorders such as binge eating, bulimia, and anorexia.

Most of you are probably somewhat familiar with these disorders and their dangerous health consequences. However, what you may not know are the many ways these disorders can harm your teeth and gums.

The Nutritional Component

Most people who are having difficulty with anorexia or bulimia are undernourished to some extent. One of the early oral signs of undernourishment is that gums and other soft tissue inside one’s mouth may bleed easily. Saliva glands may also swell and the person may experience chronic dry mouth. This condition can lead to a lot of oral health problems.

The Acidic Component

As you know, stomach acids are extremely strong. If people having difficulty with anorexia or bulimia force themselves to throw up, that stomach acid repeatedly flows over their teeth which damages the enamel and can change the shape, color, and length of their teeth. The acid also makes teeth more brittle which makes them more prone to chip and break off near the edges.

Learn More From This Short Video

Your Healthy Smile (And Overall Health) Are Worth It

Here at our practice, we deeply care about the well being of every one of you—our valued patients and friends. If you or someone you love is struggling with one or more of these disorders, get help soon.

Eating disorders are complex and arise from a variety of emotional, physical, and social issues. But there’s help out there—and as is the case with most such problems, early diagnosis and intervention can greatly improve opportunities for recovery.

A Temporary Help

While in the process of getting help to overcome these problems, if you suffer from eating disorders be sure to do all you can to minimize the damage to your teeth and gums. Continue to maintain meticulous oral health care related to brushing and flossing. And if you throw up, do NOT brush your teeth immediately after—but instead, rinse your mouth with baking soda to help neutralize the effects of the stomach acid. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, seek help right away.

Questions For Us?

True… We’re not psychologists. But, we DO care about your overall health as much as we do about your teeth. If we can ever help in any way, please contact us. You can ask questions below in the comments section, and you can also send us a private direct message on our Facebook page.

Thanks for the trust you place in us.

Comments (0)

A Warm THANKS For Your Kind Referrals

May 3, 2012

Filed under: Blog — @ 1:56 pm

IT ISN’T VERY OFTEN that we get a chance to extend a big “virtual hug” to you—our valued patents and friends—for the trust and confidence that you demonstrate in us each time you recommend our practice to your extended family members, neighbors, friends, and coworkers.

Thank you. And thank you again.

The new patients who discover our practice through their own trusted relationships (you!), and their circles of influence, tend to become our very best new patients.

Whether you’re fairly new to our practice yourself—or a long time patient—we hope you already know how much we love what we do and how much we appreciate you. We hope you sense that every time you visit us.

If there is ever anything we can do to make your visits even more pleasant and comfortable, please never hesitate to ask.

We Invite You To Share

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below and we will respond quickly. Also, by clicking on the Facebook link to your right, you can send us a direct message on Facebook any time.

We’re listening, and we value your feedback. It helps make us a better practice.

Comments (0)