You don’t need to be the best dentist in Edmond to know that keeping your teeth looking and feeling their best means needing to brush and floss daily. Of course, while we’ve all been told since childhood that brushing and flossing play an important role in determining how healthy our smiles, a little more confusion surrounds whether we should brush or floss first. Fortunately, researchers have come to our rescue to finally answer this age old question. The results of a recent study found that flossing before brushing may actually be the ideal sequencing for removing the most buildup of dental plaque. The results of this latest study was recently published in the Journal of Periodontology. Flossing Before You Brush In the study, titled “The Effect of Toothbrushing and Flossing Sequence on Interdental Plaque Reduction and Fluoride Retention,” researchers examined 25 participants who were instructed to brush before using floss to clean between their teeth. In a second stage of the study, the same group was asked to us floss before brushing. Researchers discovered that the amount of plaque between the teeth and in the mouth overall was significantly decreased when participants used the floss/brush sequence. To explain the results, researchers concluded that since flossing helps to loosen bacteria and food debris from between the teeth, brushing after flossing helps to further remove these types of substances from the mouth. Plaque and other harmful oral bacteria are the primary cause behind the development of gum disease, a chronic infection that develops when bacteria are allowed to buildup below the gum line. Gum disease can cause swelling, inflammation and the irritation of gum tissue. When gum disease goes untreated and is allowed to progress, it can cause permanent tooth loss. Researchers also discovered that fluoride, a natural occurring mineral that’s commonly added to toothpaste and even the public water supply of many communities throughout the U.S. that helps to prevent tooth decay, remained in the mouth for an extended period of time when patients flossed prior to brushing. Participants in the study brushed with a fluoridated toothpaste during both stages. Practicing Quality Oral Hygiene So now that we know flossing better helps to protect the health of our teeth when done before brushing, let’s take a look at what oral hygiene practices even the best dentist in Edmond would recommend: Brush twice a day. The American Dental Association recommends brushing at least twice a day – once in the morning after breakfast and again at night before bed. However, depending the current state of your oral health, you may need to brush more frequently to maintain your oral health. Brush for at least two minutes. The ADA also recommends brushing for at least two minutes each time you brush. Our mouths feature a lot of hard to reach areas that require time and attention to properly clean. Two minutes provide enough time for you to properly clean all areas of the mouth, including both the front and back of your teeth. Unfortunately, studies have found that the average adult only brushes for about one minute a day. That’s just a quarter of the amount of time recommended by the ADA. Floss at least once a day. Finally, the ADA recommends flossing at least once a day, ideally at night before bed. While flossing may seem unnecessary, the habit enables you to remove food and bacteria from areas of the mouth a toothbrush cannot reach – between your teeth and below the gum line. (Bonus) Rinse with mouthwash. While not part of the ADA’s guidelines for quality oral hygiene, you could add a non-alcoholic mouthwash as part of your daily routine. If you decide to use an oral rinse, make sure to use a brand that doesn’t contain alcohol, as that could lead to drying out your mouth. Also, make sure to only use the mouthwash as directed as overusing the product could have unintended consequences. If you have any questions about the best ways to brush or floss, make sure to ask any member of our team during your next visit to Santa Fe Dental.

While a world without sugar may seem unimaginable to some, such a reality might offer more to smile about than you’d initially think. At our cosmetic dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma, our team at Santa Fe Dental see the effects sugar consumption has on the appearance of our patient’s smile on a daily basis. Cutting out added sugar – the type of sugar found in sodas, deserts, and various other favorite foods and drinks – offers a variety of health benefits. In addition to improved weight loss, better looking skin, and fewer daily calories, cutting back on the amount of sugar you consume provides a number of benefits to the health of your teeth. To give you a better idea of what your smile could be like in a world without sugar, here are a few ways your oral health would improve. Fewer Cavities While the old adage that sugar rots your teeth isn’t entirely true, cutting out sugar would help you avoid cavities and tooth decay. Even though sugar doesn’t cause cavities, it does provide cavity causing bacteria known as plaque with the fuel needed to produce the harmful acids that do contribute to tooth decay. It’s not always about the amount of sugar you consume either but rather the speed at which you ingest sugar that has a bigger impact on the state of your smile. Sipping a 20-ounce bottle of soda for an hour will do far more damage to your teeth than chugging a 2 liter in just one minute. The more time your teeth are exposed to sugar, the more time plaque has to produce the acids that destroy tooth enamel and your smile. Better Overall Health A lot of recent research has been dedicated to examining the impact tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss have on our health overall. Studies have found that individuals suffering from these types of oral health issues have a significantly higher risk for developing a range of chronic health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and cancer. By cutting out sugar we naturally improve our oral health by lowering our risk for the decay and disease that leads to tooth loss. We also gain the added benefit of improving our overall health through maintaining our oral health at a higher level than before. Brighter Looking Smile When sugar feeds plaque to create the harmful acids that cause cavities and decay it helps to start the process of demineralization where vital components of tooth enamel become stripped away. As the layers of our enamel becomes weaker they also become thinner, which allows the darker sublayers of our teeth to begin to show through. Unlike the discoloration caused by eating and drinking enamel staining items like coffee, red wine, berries, and soy sauce – just to name a few – smiles affected by enamel thinning cannot be lightened using teeth whitening products. These products are designed to strip stains away from tooth enamel but cannot do anything to hide the discoloration caused by demineralization. Fresher Breath The less sugar you consume the fresher your breath will become. Sugar feeds the bacteria responsible for bad breath, so the more sugar you consume the worse the smell of your breath becomes. At our cosmetic dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma, we recommend that our patients chew sugar-free gums and mints to improve their breath. Mints high in sugar may temporarily mask the smell of your breath, but the sugar they contain will just cause your breath to smell worse later on as bacteria feeds on it. Improved Oral Health When you consume less sugar you provide oral bacteria like plaque with less fuel to produce the harmful substances that can damage your smile. That’s very much a positive. And that applies to all types of sugars, whether from a candy bar, pineapple, or plate of pasta – carbs are just another type of sugar. So, what can you do if cutting back on sugar seems like a really big ask? Well, start by making a renewed commitment to your oral health. By brushing twice a day and flossing daily, you can significantly reduce plaque buildup on your teeth and lessen the damage done from eating sugar. You also need to schedule regular exams and cleanings with the team at our cosmetic dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma to help maintain the long-term health of your teeth and gums. A world without sugar may seem like a depressing place. But you can still enjoy your favorite sweet treats if you continue to maintain and improve your oral health.

As babies turn into walking and talking toddlers, there are important oral health concerns to remember to keep your little one’s teeth healthy and happy. The experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry both recommend that children should see the dentist by the time they are one year old, and to continue on with regular dental check ups as they grow. Making sure to make time to visit the dentist during your child’s first few years can also end up saving you money and hassle. The Center for Disease Control came out with a report saying that average dental care costs were 40% lower over a five year period for children who received dental checkups by age one versus those who did not. Edmond, Oklahoma dentists Drs. Mark Allen and Michael Hansen have the following oral health tips in for you to keep in mind for young children. Eliminating Drinks Full Of Sugar Taking care to not allow toddlers to constantly drink sugary drinks, like juice and soda, is key to avoiding early teeth problems. The slow sucking of sweet and acidic drinks through bottles or sippy cups is terrible for the teeth enamel and can encourage bacterial growth. Though you may have heard of “baby bottle decay” before, many parents are unaware that putting a child to sleep with a bottle of milk, juice, or formula can allow sugars to adhere to the teeth and the resulting bacteria can cause decay and cavities. Untreated cavities and decay can even lead to more serious dental diseases that could even affect growth, and learning capabilities. Get Rid Of The Pacifiers By Age 3 Binkies or pacifiers are often great tools to help babies and toddlers fall asleep or deal with stress. Pacifiers have even been suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics to help prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) during the first year. But most health care professionals are in agreement that long term pacifier use can be bad for kids’ oral and dental health. It can detrimentally affect how the bites and teeth line up, and can lead to under bites, over bites. or cross bites. It’s best to limit the use of pacifiers to prevent it affecting the mouth shape, perhaps removing it after a child goes to sleep. Go See A Dentist Early Exposing your child to the dentist at an early age not only allows them to check your toddlers’ oral health, but also helps the child become more confortable and confident with the dentist office experience. As for parents, visits can also raise their oral health knowledge and let them know more about fluoride, oral hygiene, and correct teeth development. By creating early positive understanding and familiarly with a dentist, it can help set your child up for dental success for their entire life. The Habit Of Brushing Twice A Day Starting your young children on brushing early is one of the best ways to ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth. As soon as your baby has one tooth you should begin to brush it. Using fluoridate toothpaste is also recommended to help strengthen teeth, along with making sure to use soft bristled toothbrush for their little teeth. Your dentist will be happy to show your children the proper way to brush their teeth on your next visit. Many parents are not aware that their kids actually need their help until age six with teeth brushing, as a child’s manual dexterity simply is not refined enough to get all the teeth brushed properly. If you have any questions about dental care of kids and toddlers, the staff and dentists in Edmond, Oklahoma at Santa Fe Dental are happy to answer them.

At our family dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma, our team at Santa Fe Dental will always happily inform patients about the need to brush and floss daily. For many patients, their daily oral hygiene routine also includes the use of a mouthwash as just one more step towards enjoying the freshest, healthiest smile possible. While mouthwash may seem like an innocuous part of any oral hygiene routine, a new study is now raising question of whether regularly using mouthwash may increase the risk for the development of type 2 diabetes in individuals already at a high risk for the disease. Published in the journal Nitric Oxide, the study discovered that individuals who use mouthwash at least twice a day had a 55 percent higher risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes over a three-year follow-up period when compared to participants who used mouthwash less frequently. Among the study participants who used mouthwash at least twice a day, 30 percent either developed diabetes or prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet in the range for diabetes. More Harm Than Good? Over-the-counter mouthwash brands – especially those with alcohol – contain compounds that eliminate both good and bad types of oral bacteria from the mouth that contribute to the development of plaque buildup and bad breath. Unfortunately, some of the helpful oral bacteria that mouthwashes eliminate also product a chemical – nitric oxide – that helps to prevent diabetes. Nitric oxide actually plays a vital role in the regulation of insulin levels in the body, which has a large effect on our metabolic rates and energy levels. When this “good” bacteria are repeatedly destroyed by frequent mouthwash use, a change occurs to the oral microbiome that alters how are body is able to metabolize blood sugar in the body, leading to the development of diabetes or prediabetes. As part of the study, researchers examined over 1,200 overweight individuals between the ages of 40 to 65 who did not have diabetes or any known history of coronary artery disease. Researchers had complete data available on nearly 950 of the study participants. This study was part of the larger San Juan Overweight Longitudinal Study that was conducted in Puerto Rico. Researchers discovered that 43 percent of those involved in the study used mouthwash at least once a day, and 22 percent used it at least twice a day. While both of these subgroups within the study were at a higher risk for developing diabetes or prediabetes, there was no association seen when mouthwash was used less than twice a day. Researchers believe that a threshold effect exists, so when the product is used more than twice a day it increases the risk for diabetes. Researchers found this association held even when they adjusted for known risk factors for diabetes, such as income level, education, sleep breathing disorders, oral hygiene habits, diet, and obesity. Researchers cautioned that while the results of their study found an association between frequent mouthwash use and the risk for diabetes, no cause and effect relationship was established. Our Family Dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma Can Help Protect Your Oral Health In a previous blog post, we discussed which types of mouthwash to avoid and which to use. However, based on this latest study, it might be a good idea to limit your mouthwash use to just once a day, especially if overweight or have a family history of diabetes. While rinsing with a mouthwash after brushing certainly adds some benefit when protecting your oral health, you can skip this step if you schedule regular visits to our family dentistry in Edmond, Oklahoma. Regular exams and cleanings provide our staff the chance to spot the signs of dental decay and disease early on before any lasting issues can develop. So while it’s commendable to take your oral hygiene seriously, too much mouthwash could cause more problems than it prevents.

Diet ranks as one of the biggest factors when it comes to enjoying a lifetime of good health. Your Edmund, OK dentist recommends that all our patients at Santa Fe Dental follow the dietary guidelines set by the Food and Drug Administration to help lower their risk of long-term health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. However, recent research has found that the right foods can even contribute to a lower risk of tooth loss. Researchers from a number of universities have banded together to examine reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This information showed the “inflammatory potential” of certain types of diet, which led the team to suspect that a reduction in tooth loss could be linked with diets loaded in anti-inflammatory foods. Lowering the Risk of Tooth Loss The study examined the diets of over 6,500 participants to determine their Dietary Inflammation Index (DII) to find out whether a relationship exists between diet and oral health, specifically, a risk of tooth loss. Researchers found that on average the participants in the highest DII quarter lost .84 more teeth when compared to participants with the lowest DII results. The results of this study were recently published in the Clinical Nutrition Journal. Georgios Kotsakis, an instructor at the University of Washington School of Dentistry’s Department of Periodontics, further discussed the study results. Dr. Kotsakis explained that nutrients in certain types of food have been shown to elicit an inflamed tissue response linked with common inflammatory diseases like diabetes or periodontitis. “Participants were considered to follow a pro-inflammatory diet if their diet was particularly rich in carbohydrates, trans fat, or had overall high caloric intake,” explained Dr. Kotsakis. Kotsakis also detailed the importance of practicing a diet loaded with anti-inflammatory foods – such as vitamin D, fiber, and omega-3s – to prevent developing an inflammatory condition. Even adjusting to an anti-inflammatory diet later in life offers significant benefits for patients looking to avoid tooth during their golden years. It’s vital that patients open a dialogue with their Edmund, OK dentist to learn more about the benefits an anti-inflammatory diet offers their long-term oral health. If you don’t know how to approach the subject with our team at Santa Fe Dental, feel free to simply bring up the topic during your next dental exam. We’re always happy to provide our patients with the best practices for protecting their oral and overall health. “The addition of preventive oral health in the agenda for dietary public health interventions to prevent diabetes, obesity, and other inflammatory conditions has the potential to be a very cost-effective preventive strategy,” reports Dr. Kotsakis. Combined, patients and dentists can develop a quality course of action to help ensure a healthier lifestyle. In most cases, health-based dietary guidelines encourage the same types of behaviors: Eat more veggies, drink more water, and limit the amount of sugar consumed. Following this type of diet can offer even more health benefits than just lowering the risk of tooth loss. Diet and Our Oral Health Obviously, the foods and drinks we consume can have a significant impact on our oral and overall health. By limiting the amount of sugar and carbohydrates we consume and loading up on fresh fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, and brushing regularly, we can successfully lower our risk of not only dental disease but other systemic diseases that can significantly impair quality of life. If you have any questions about the best practices for protecting your long-term oral and overall health, make sure to bring them up with your Edmund, OK dentist during your next appointment at Santa Fe Dental.