Category Archives: Missing Teeth

Why You Should DEFINITELY and IMMEDIATELY Stop Eating Wheat

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bagelsIt’s all over the internet and in our bookstores.  The harmful effects of gluten.  But do you buy into it?

Well, you probably should. One of the biggest advocates of eliminating wheat from our diets is Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist who wrote the book Wheat Belly. In his book, Davis outlines the many harmful effects of wheat; including its’ addictive-like qualities, high glycemic index, and ability to cause an inflammatory response.  You may be thinking, ‘But people have been eating bread for centuries, why is it only now considered a problem?’  Answer: Hybridization.

The Hybridization of Wheat
In the 1950’s an effort was made to produce wheat is mass quantities.  Scientists began cross-breeding wheat to make it hardier, shorter, and faster-growing. This work won Norman Borlaug, a US Plant scientist a Nobel Prize; but also introduced compounds to wheat that aren’t human friendly. Today’s wheat contains sodium azide, a known toxin; and also goes go through gamma irradiation during manufacturing. In addition, hybridized wheat contains proteins that aren’t found in either the parent or the plant. This new hybridized wheat was never tested before being released to the population, and thus many of the harmful effects are only now being discovered and investigated.

Gluten
So what are the proteins that we can’t as humans digest? Gluten and gliadin. Gluten is a protein composite of gliadin and glutenin that appears in wheat and other grains. It’s what helps dough rise, keep it’s shape, and gives it a chewy texture. The problem is we don’t have enzymes to break it down. This can create an immunogenic response, triggering widespread inflammation throughout the body by the immune system; possibly leading to various autoimmune diseases including celiac, rheumatoid arthritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. And this holds true for people who don’t have celiac disease.

High Glycemic Index
wheat-belly-artWheat also raises blood sugar. In fact, two slices of bread increases blood sugar more than a single candy bar! As Davis states, overdoing wheat can result in “deep visceral fat”, resulting in a big belly, or, as Davis has coined, a “wheat belly”. What’s the real problem with an increase in blood sugar? Foods with a high glycemic index raise blood sugar the quickest, causing a “sugar spike” (a surge then fall in blood-glucose). When you get a fast rush of sugar (glucose) in the blood, you get a huge release of insulin secreted from the pancreas. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscles and fat to take up glucose from the blood and convert it to glycogen for storage. What happens after a rush of sugar followed by a rush of insulin? Your blood sugar drops even faster after the insulin has picked it up, resulting in lethargy and a feeling of “hunger” triggered by your body’s low blood sugar. So when eating foods with a high glycemic index, you actually feel more hungry, more often.

Addicted to Wheatwheat addiction
Even with all this knowledge some people can’t seem to stop eating bread. Well, it appears there may be a physiologic reason for this. As Davis states and devotes a whole chapter to in his book, wheat can actually have addictive effects. Gliadin is believed to degrade into a morphine-like compound after eating.  It crosses the blood brain barrier and attaches to opiate receptors. This actually creates an appetite for more wheat, giving it an addictive quality.

So, do you what to be addicted to a substance that causes weight gain, wide-spread inflammation throughout your body, sugar highs and lows creating periods of extreme fatigue, and possible intestinal irritability? As nutrition expert Mark Sisson noted, “Apart from maintaining social conventions in certain situations and obtaining cheap sugar calories, there is absolutely no reason to eat grains.”

Thank you to my many sources.  Click below to see where I got my information, and to learn more.wheat-belly
Why You Should Probably Stop Eating Wheat by George Dvorsky

Wheat Belly Blog

Harvard’s Glycemic Index Ranking

Mark Sisson

NY Times Blog – Gluten-Free, Whether You Need It or Not 

John Lennon’s Molar – Priceless?

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According to the December 2011 issue of Dentistry Today, one of John Lennon’s rotten teeth was sold at an auction last month for $31,000 to a dentist out of Alberta, Canada.   The dentist, a reported collector of animal teeth and celebrity memorabilia, claims that he just knew he needed to have it.  When did Lennon lose the tooth?  According to Karen Fair-weather, an Omega Auctions representative who sold the tooth, Mr. Lennon gave the tooth to his housekeeper Dorothy Jarlett sometime between 1964 and 1968 when she lived in Weybridge, Surrey.  It seems Mr. Lennon came back from the dentist one day with his tooth and gave it Dorothy telling her to dispose of it “or better still, give it to your daughter as a souvenir.”  Ms. Jarlett later moved to Canada, where she’s kept it with her ever since, until just recently selling it.

Does fluoride prevent cavities?

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What does fluoride do?
 According to the American Dental Association, fluoride benefits both children and adults. Here’s how:
Before teeth break through the gums, the fluoride taken in from foods, beverages and dietary supplements strengthens tooth enamel making it stronger and more resistant to cavities. This provides what is called a “systemic” benefit.
After teeth erupt, fluoride helps rebuild (remineralize) weakened tooth enamel and reverses early signs of tooth decay. When you brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, or use other fluoride dental products, the fluoride is applied to the surface of your teeth. This is provides what is called a “topical” benefit.
In addition, the fluoride you take in from foods and beverages continues to provide a topical benefit because it becomes part of your saliva, constantly bathing the teeth and helping to rebuild weakened tooth enamel.

How and where do we get fluoride?
Fluoride is naturally present in variable concentrations in ground water, ie water from a faucet or water generally used to cook with. A certain amount of fluoride does occur naturally in rivers etc. Bottled water, distilled, or deionized water generally does not contain fluoride.
In addition, fluoride is provided in most toothpastes, as well as some mouth rinses. This is a very important part of cavity prevention, so be sure fluoride is in the toothpaste that you use.

What is community water fluoridation?
Water fluoridation is the process of adding additional fluoride supplements to a community’s water source. Years ago, the government decided to add some fluoride to certain communities with naturally occurring low fluoride levels due to the high prevalence of cavities throughout the population. About 72% of the US is served by fluoridated water systems. Once fluoride was added to community’s water source, the cavities rate was significantly decreased. Simply by drinking tap water, people can decrease they risk of decay.

Not drinking tap water? If you’re an individual who only drinks bottled water, you may be at risk for not receiving an adequate amount of fluoride to decrease your risk of decay. Talk to your dentist about this. They may suggest fluoride supplements, or a change in toothpaste with an increased percent of fluoride concentration.

What puts you at risk for decay?
There are many things that can increase your rate of decay, or number of cavities.
1. Poor oral hygiene.
The number one cause for cavities is poor oral hygiene. This means those that don’t take good care of their teeth, ie proper brushing twice and day and flossing once a day.
2. Diet.
Such as high intake of sugar or certain foods that lend itself to a better environment for bacteria to thrive within the mouth such as fruit, crackers, breads, potato chips. Also, eating many meals throughout the day increases your risk due to a change in the acid level of the mouth, which takes 30 minutes to stabilize after eating.
3. Beverages.
Soda, even diet soda, when consumed throughout the day can be very detrimental to teeth. As can any other beverages with high acidity or large quantities sugar. This includes fruit juices.
4. Medications that cause dry-mouth.
Bacteria tend to thrive in mouths with very little saliva.
5. Uncontrolled diabetes.

There are many factors that play into one’s risk for decay. For a thorough evaluation to be sure you’re not at high risk, visit your dentist.

Ways to receive additional fluoride.
Again, as noted from above, fluoride supplements are available. In addition, your dentist may want to occasionally treat your teeth with fluoride. This usually done with a fluoride gel, placed in trays that you sit with for under 5 minutes. In addition, there is also a fluoride varnish that can be placed onto your teeth which is meant to be brushed off the next day.
If you are at a higher risk for decay, your dentist may want to change your toothpaste to a higher concentration of fluoride such as Prevident 5000 or have you use additional products like MI Paste.

The ADA provides answers for your fluoride questions:
American Dental Associations Take on Fluoride

Wisdom Teeth: why and when to have them removed

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Wisdom teeth will start to erupt anywhere from the age of 12-26. The average age of their removal is 16-18 years old. The wisdom teeth, or “third molars”, usually do not have enough room to fully erupt.  When they do erupt they could cause a number of issues.  First, they could cause crowding of your other teeth.  Another problem, is when the wisdom teeth grow halfway in causing inflammation and an infection of the gum behind the second molars. Third molars also have a high predilection to become decayed and cause decay behind the second molars.

Wisdom Tooth Causing Crowding

Infection Caused by Wisdom Tooth Eruption

Decay Caused by Erupted Wisdom Tooth

X-ray of Wisdom Tooth and 2nd Molar Decay

Decayed Wisdom Tooth

There are two good reasons for leaving wisdom teeth. Number one: if it appears they’re going to fully erupt and be cleansable, as determined by you and your dentist. If you have fastidious oral hygiene, perhaps your third molars can be left in place. The second reason for leaving wisdom teeth is if they remain under the tissue within the bone with no expectation of eruption (let sleeping dogs lie).

Impacted Wisdom Teeth Beginning to Erupt

As to the question of when to remove wisdom teeth, it depends on the positioning of the upper third molars. If their eruption is at or near the enamel of the second molars it makes their removal much easier. Therefore all four wisdom teeth could be removed at the same time. If the lower wisdom teeth are causing pain, and the upper wisdom teeth have not adequately erupted, then consideration should be given to removing the lower wisdom teeth only.

Erupting vs. Impacted Wisdom Tooth

Some dentists take out wisdom teeth, while others may refer you to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.  If you’re experiencing pain with your wisdom teeth, upper or lower, it would be wise to seek guidance from your dentist.

Single Tooth Implant or 3-Unit Bridge

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When you lose a tooth, you usually have three choices.
1. Do Nothing
2. Have a 3-unit bridge constructed
3. A dental implant placed

The problem with option one – not replacing the tooth, is your other teeth tend to move and collapse into the space. This can cause malocclusion or periodontal problems, meaning, you may no longer bite together correctly with your teeth moved, and you can have gum and bone problems around the teeth that move.

3-Unit Bridge

Choice number two, getting a 3-unit bridge, entails cutting down the teeth behind and in front of the missing tooth. A 3-unit bridge is then made by a laboratory and the restoration is cemented onto the teeth in front and in back of the missing tooth, with a fake tooth now in-between. The disadvantage to a 3-unit bridge is you have now decreased the strength and integrity of the two teeth holding the bridge. The crown margins, where the crown meets the tooth, is highly susceptible to decay and it may have to be periodically replaced if decay occurs around the margins. The 3-unit bridge is more difficult to keep clean since a floss-threader is required.

Single Tooth Implant

The third choice, a dental implant is usually the best choice, although each case does vary. With implant placement, the adjacent teeth do not need to be cut down, and it is much easier to keep clean than a 3-unit bridge. The success rates for dental implants have improved dramatically over the last decade.

If possible, it is wise to get an implant consult with a specialist prior to the removal of the tooth. The specialist, generally a periodontist or an oral surgeon, may want to extract the tooth himself or herself and place a bone graft. Sometimes the implant can be placed at the same the tooth is extracted. This can save up to four months treatment time. If it is decided a bone graft is needed first without immediate implant placement, then you would wait four months for the bone to integrate, and the implant would be placed later.

With this said, each individual case does vary. Sometimes implants are not possible depending on the amount of bone, positioning of the nerves and the maxillary sinus, or because of various health reasons. In the end all options should be weighed and discussed between the dentist and patient, and the best healthiest choice should be chosen.

Smoking DOES Cause Tooth Loss

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An article written in JADA (The Journal of the American Dental Association) in October 2010 discussed a study done in New South Wales, Australia studying the long-term effects of smoking.  With the data of 103,042 participants they were able to come to interesting conclusions.

The results of the study indicated a significant increase of complete tooth loss (“edentulism”) in smokers compared with nonsmokers.  Their most startling claim: ”Current smokers were at more than twice the risk of experiencing complete tooth loss compared with never smokers.”  In addition, they discovered, that although the risks are much lower with people that have stopped smoking for 30 or more years, they remain at a higher risk than those that had never smoked.

Furthermore, they learned that although people may not be smokers, being in an environment with others that are can be detrimental.  Researchers found individuals that have never smoked but are around ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) for six or more hours a week, are almost one and a half times more likely to lose teeth than nonsmokers not around ETS.

Lesson?  If you want to keep your teeth, I’d stay away from the cigarettes.  And if you’re already a smoker, I’d try quitting.  You don’t want to lose your pretty smile!

Learn more about the study here

Dental Implants

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Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth.  They can also be used to anchor dental appliances that are removable.  Because implants have been around since 1985, there has been ample time to perfect them which has lent itself to their current high success rate.

The implant is essentially placed into the jaw bone with a piece sticking out the top of the bone called an “abutment”.  A crown is then fabricated to place on top of the abutment to replace your missing tooth.

Surgery to place the implant is quite simple and can be done under a local anesthetic just like a filling or extraction.  Multiple implants can in fact be done to replace all missing teeth, or to anchor dentures in place so they don’t slide around in your mouth.  Most dental insurances now cover the payment of dental implants.

There are some dentists with enough training to place dental implants, but usually they are inserted by an oral surgeon or periodontist.  The patient would then return to their general dentist after placement to allow the dentist to place the crown.  During this process, the surgeon and dentist work in close collaboration to achieve an acceptable outcome for the patient.

If you’re interested in utilizing dental implants to replace missing teeth, contact my office and schedule a consultation to learn more!