More and more of recent competent scientific studies and researches have been demonstrating that common assumption about negative effects of sweet foods on our dental health is actually not always true. In particular, it is believed that such sweet and sticky food as raisins can cause plague formation and damage our dental health to a great extent. However, it turned out that regular consumption of raisins can not be linked to any serious dental problems.

A group of scientists at University of Illinois at Chicago, USA, and a specialist at Kristianstad University and Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Sweden, conducted a series of the experiments to investigate the consequences of regular consumption of raisins and cornflakes with raisins on dental health of young children. The trials involved 20 children 7-11 year old, and it was proven that eating raisins and products containing raisins does not result in any plague formation or even dental health worsening.

The scientists say that the sweetness of raisins is linked to a high content of fructose, not sucrose. It is true that usually the foods similar to the taste and consistency of raisins is associated with dental plaque and other problems. However, the remainings of raisins can be removed or washed away from our tooth enamel very effectively. That is why there should be no limits imposed on consuming raisins from the point of dental health protection. It is a known fact that eating raisins is connected to a variety of valuable health benefits, such as stronger immunity, lower chances of suffering from insomnia and lower risks of having heart disease.

Tags: dental health, raisins

Posted: January 4th, 2010 under Dental Care for Every Day.
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1. Remember that our tooth enamel, being the hardest tissue in the body, is still easily breakable. Therefore, it is essential to avoid eating lots of hard foods (such as popcorn and others), chewing on hard foods and breaking them with the teeth (such as ice cubes, sugar candies, nut shells, chicken bones, and so on). Also, dentists point on damaging effects of having any tongue or other oral piercings made of hard materials. According to the statistics, in 2007 up to 40% of the people with various metal rings and other types of oral piercings had to face the problem of tooth fractures.

2. Remember that not only extra-sweet, but also extra-sore and extra-acidic foods are extremely harmful to your dental health. Sugar and acids are two most dangerous dental villains, and excessive consumption of soft drinks, commercial fruit juices, sore fruit or sore candies, and even gummy vitamins is strictly linked to enamel softening and dental health worsening. It is absolutely necessary to pay attention on your children’s consumption of acidic and low pH foods as the teeth of young children are especially vulnerable to all these negative effects of acids and sugars. In order to lower these effects, use a sugar-free xylitol chewing gum after meal, or just rinse your mouth with a high quality dental mouthwash.

3. Braces create favorable environment for developing tooth decay and cavities. About 4 million of American children and about a million of adults are getting this orthodontic treatments, and all of them are in the risk group of having dental problems. If you are using braces, it is harder to brush your teeth and keep your mouth clean, however, it is essential to do so regularly and thoroughly. Plague can be easily formed around the brackets of the braces causing demineralization, dental spots, cavities and other even more serious problems.

4. Remember that excessive intake of fluoride can harm your teeth. Being a very important element for our dental health, fluoride and its levels in your body should be kept under control. Increased amounts of fluoride can cause pores and other types of tooth enamel abnormalities. Usually, young children like swallowing pieces of their toothpaste, causing extra fluoride ingestion. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to supervise your children when they are brushing their teeth, make them use only small amounts of toothpaste for brushing, or use a special fluoride-free tooth paste until the children learn to spit the paste out and not swallow it.

5. Remember that it is possible to get a missing tooth at any age. Some people never have some teeth developed, and this situation is quite frequent with the wisdom teeth, which in many cases do not appear or have to be removed. Other causes of tooth removal are cavities and gum disease. Also, some people have a genetic inclination to this problem. Getting a missing tooth is not strictly linked to old age, that is why it is essential to take a proper care about your teeth and oral heath all the time, regardless of your age, occupation or eating habits.

Tags: dental health, hard foods

Posted: December 8th, 2009 under Dental Care for Every Day.
Comments: 1

After several years of studies and researches, the specialists at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy announced that their experiments are completed and everything is ready for production and marketing of a new revolutionary dental care technology. It is a cavity-fighting chewing gum which is capable of dental plague dissolving and can replace so well familiar toothpaste and toothbrush. The study was sponsored by the U.S. Army Dental Research Detachment.

The researches and trials started years ago as a response on increasing number of gingivitis, bleeding gums, dental infections and other dental problem incidents that take place in modern Army. In the mid-2000’s, about 15% of all calls for medical help from the military departments were connected with dental diseases and disorders. Very often soldiers do not have an opportunity to brush or floss their teeth, and this problem has been progressing on a global level, attracting attention of thousands of dental care specialists throughout the world.

The new dental product contains KSL, an antimicrobial with certain abrasive and anti-adhesive properties. KSL agent is able to dissolve plagues, prevent dental decay and this way to lower the probability of developing other dental problems. Specialists are convinced that this cavity-fighting chewing gum will be completely effective and can serve as a replacement for toothpaste and toothbrush, though not for a long-term period of time.

Currently, the U.S. Department of Defense is looking for a reputable world-known producer for this new promising dental technology. At that, it is planned to use this chewing gum not only as a panacea for dental problems of soldiers and military personnel. In particular, this product can be sent to the children in poor contries to protect them from dental infections. “Children born with AIDS in Africa have serious and painful dental problems and I see the gum as a way to enhance the quality of their life,” one of the scientists saus. “While the focus of the research is on the troops, so many other possibilities exist.”

Tags: cavity-fighting chewing gum, KSL

Posted: November 18th, 2009 under Dental Care for Every Day.
Comments: 1