Dr. Sarah Po - Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

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School Lunches and Your Children’s Teeth

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (2)
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

A healthy school lunch can help maintain good oral health and establish good nutritional habits in kids and teenagers. The following tips can help you learn how to prepare a lunch that best meets your child’s dental and nutritional needs.

  1. For snacks, send fruits, vegetables or cheese in your child’s lunchbox.
  2. The best fruit choices are those containing more water, such as: apples, grapes, pears, cantaloupes, and other melons.
  3. Any type of aged cheese is a good choice, such as: Swiss, Cheddar or Monterey Jack. You can also use cookie cutters to cut the cheese into fun shapes. Some studies have suggested that aged cheese can actually help to prevent tooth decay.
  4. Raw broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers and celery are excellent vegetable choices.
  5. Try some different healthy foods or low carb snacks that your children may like.

The following foods are sticky and/or chewy and should be avoided because they stick to the teeth and saliva is unable to wash the sugar away.

  • Raisins
  • Honey
  • Dried figs
  • Peanut butter cookies
  • Jelly beans
  • Lollipops
  • Hard candy

We cannot follow our children around all the time to make sure they are eating healthy and brushing their teeth, but we can have some peace of mind knowing that we are helping to promote good oral health by providing them with their nutritional needs while they are at school.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information on my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
August 18, 2010
Source:  http://dentistry.about.com/od/childrensdentistry/a/kidsnutrition.htm

Categories : Healthy Teeth
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Do Mouthwashes Really Work?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, April 15th, 2010

It depends.

Are you using it to mask bad breath?  In that case, yes – mouthwashes like Listerine can mask bad breath temporarily.

Does using mouthwash mean you don’t need to brush and floss?  No.

Some mouthwashes contain anti-bacterial components which help to control bacteria responsible for unpleasant odors and plaque.  However, mouthwashes are not a substitute for mechanical removal of bacteria through brushing and flossing, where is the main way of preventing tooth decay and gum disease.  Also, keep in mind that many mouthwashes contain alcohol.  Mouthwashes that contain alcohol should be kept out of children’s reach.

Some mouth rinses like Act Mouthrinse may contain fluoride to help make teeth more resistant to acids that cause cavities.  Other types like Peridex, which contains Chlorhexidine, can help with gum infections and are recommended for use after a deep cleaning or extraction.  Both of these would be recommended by your dentist as needed.

The bottom line?  Continue to brush, floss and see your dentist regularly for checkups and professional cleanings.  And if you’d like, use mouthwashes to help freshen your breath.

Thank you for reading.  I encourage you to leave comments or questions below.  For more information about my practice, please visit www.elitesacramentodentist.com.

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
April 15, 2010

Categories : Dentistry
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Got Sensitive Teeth?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

If your answer is yes, your teeth may be at risk for acid erosion.  This could feel like a slight twinge when consuming hot, cold, or sweet food and drinks.

Many of the foods we eat everyday contain acid, and most of the time we don’t realize it.  For instance, did you know that honey has a pH of about 3.9?  Drinks such as juice, energy drinks, and soda can also be highly acidic.  As mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, acid weakens the teeth by softening the enamel surface, making the teeth more prone to decay.

Here are some tips to avoid acid erosion and prevent teeth sensitivity:

  • Do not swill acidic drinks around your mouth before swallowing
  • Drink cold acidic drinks through a straw
  • Drink water after meals to help wash away the acids
  • When possible, finish a meal with dairy products as they help neutralize the acids
  • Wait at least one hour after eating or drinking before brushing your teeth.  Why?  Because immediately after eating, your enamel has been softened by the acid and brushing will further strip away the enamel.
  • Brush teeth gently with a soft or extra soft toothbrush
  • Avoid bathing your teeth in acid over long periods of time.  If you’re going to eat an orange or candy, eat it all at once instead of nibbling on it all afternoon.  If you’re going to have juice, drink it in one sitting rather than sipping on it for several hours.

Remember that not all sensitivity is due to acid erosion.  Sensitivity can also be caused by decay, nerve pain, or other factors.  It is important to see your dentist regularly to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy, and that any potential problems are detected early.

Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Feb. 23, 2010

Categories : Dentistry
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Should Your Child Get Dental Sealants?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, February 18th, 2010

In keeping with our theme for National Children’s Dental Health month, let’s discuss another popular topic: dental sealants.  What are sealants and what can they do for your child?

Sealants are plastic coatings that can either be clear or white.  A very thin layer of sealant material is applied to the biting surfaces of teeth, filling in all the grooves and pits which is where cavities often start.  There is no anesthetic or drilling required.  Once placed, the sealants provide a smooth glassy surface.  In my office we tell the children that we are going to “paint” their teeth to make them like “skating rinks”.

Permanent molars, which start to come into the mouth at around 6 years of age, benefit the most from sealants.  That’s because molars often have deep grooves on the biting surfaces which can retain bacteria and food particles.

Sealants can last many years; however, it is important to have them checked during regular dental checkups to make sure they are still intact.  Otherwise they may need to be redone.

Remember that sealants are only one aspect of a child’s preventive care.  Proper brushing and flossing, wise food choices, and regular dental visits are essential to maintaining the overall oral health of your child.

Thank you for reading. I encourage you to leave comments or questions below. To learn more about my practice, click on the link www.elitesacramentodentist.com

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
Feb. 18, 2010

Categories : Cosmetic Dentistry, Healthy Teeth
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Choosing a Toothbrush: Why Extra Soft is Best

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

The goal of brushing is to remove plaque.  Plaque is a soft yellow or white deposit that contains bacteria and builds up everyday on teeth.  It is found mostly around the gumline and between teeth.  Bacteria in the plaque will feed on the foods you eat and break them down into acid.  This acid attacks teeth and gums, causing decay and gum disease

Plaque buildup that does not get removed within 24 to 48 hours will mineralize and turn into tartar.  Tartar is the yellowish-white or yellowish-brown hard deposit that cannot be removed with brushing.  The only way to remove tartar is with sharp dental scalers that your dentist or hygienist uses when you go in for your dental cleaning.

Since the main purpose of brushing is to remove the soft plaque deposits, a soft toothbrush is all you need.  A medium or hard bristle toothbrush will NOT be more effective at removing plaque.  In fact, scrubbing away with a hard or medium bristle will only strip away enamel, root surface, and gum tissue, causing toothbrush abrasion and sensitivity, and gum recession.  In contrast, an extra soft toothbrush will be gentle on the teeth and gums and remove plaque effectively with the proper brushing technique.

The next time you visit your dentist, ask for a demonstration of proper brushing technique.  I always recommend angling the toothbrush at a 45 degree angle toward the gumline, and using short strokes back and forth.  The best extra-soft toothbrush that I have found on the market is from Nimbus dental, and no, they did not pay me to say that.  You can order directly from the company at www.nimbusdental.com.  However, many other companies make very good extra-soft toothbrushes as well.

It is important to note that no matter how well you brush, there will be certain areas that no toothbrush can reach, and that is why it is important to floss.  And that is a topic that requires a separate discussion of its own, so look out for that blog in the near future…

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
www.elitesacramentodentist.com
January 26, 2010

Categories : Latest News
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Why Chew Sugar-Free Gum?

Posted by: Dr. Sarah Po | Comments (0)
Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Yes it’s true that chewing sugar-free gum can help prevent cavities.  Keep in mind however that it is not meant to replace brushing and flossing.  It is only meant as an adjunct to proper home care which consists of brushing twice and flossing at least once daily.

Most people brush in the morning and at night, and a smaller group will brush a third time, usually after lunch.  No time to brush after lunch?  Chew sugar-free gum instead.  Chewing increases saliva flow which helps to cleanse the teeth.  An increase in saliva also helps to buffer the acidity that occurs after eating, and it is the acidity that weakens the teeth and promotes formation of cavities.  In addition, the gum will help pull out food particles that may be stuck between teeth or in the crevices of the biting surfaces.

Sugar-free gum contains xylitol which is a sugar substitute.  Unlike sugar, Xylitol is non-fermentable and therefore cannot be converted to acids by oral bacteria.  Some brands that contain xylitol include:  Trident, Dentyne, Orbit, Eclipse, Extra

As with anything else, moderation is key.  Chewing gum all day can lead to other problems such as TMJ pain and jaw muscle fatigue.  Likewise people who already have TMJ problems should limit their use of gum, as their condition will worsen with the constant jaw movement of chewing gum.

Interestingly, I just read that xylitol can be toxic to dogs.  So keep your sugar-free gum out of reach of your dogs.  But I digress… for more info on that, please consult your veterinarian.

Your friendly dentist,
Dr. Sarah Po
www.elitesacramentodentist.com
January 21, 2010

Sources:
http://jada.ada.org/cgi/reprint/129/11/1623.pdf
http://xylitolhealth.com/oral_health.html

Categories : Dentistry, Healthy Teeth
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