Dental Care for Expectant Mothers

Posted November 14, 2011

The month of November is Prematurity Awareness Month sponsored by the March of Dimes.

What is Prematurity Awareness Month?

This campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about the serious problem of premature birth. In the past 25 years, the United States’ premature birth rate has risen by 36 percent, and more than half a million babies are born too soon every year. The rate is much higher in other countries around the world.

Why is premature birth such a problem?

In short, prematurity is the leading cause of death among American newborns. Being born too soon is a serious problem because, often, premature babies are not able to survive independently as a result of underdevelopment. If the baby does survive, his or her chance of developing lifelong health problems such as cerebral palsy, mental challenges, chronic lung disease, blindness, and hearing loss is much greater.

What is the length of a healthy pregnancy?

A full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, but a baby can usually be born healthy at 36 weeks. The March of Dimes strives to educate women on the importance of waiting until at least 39 weeks to give birth whenever possible. After all, a healthy baby is worth the wait. (more…)

Sealants: Preventative Measure For Kids

Posted November 11, 2011

Tooth Sealants for Kids

Tooth decay, or cavities, is the leading childhood disease across our planet. Even in the US, with access to dental care and education about oral home care, kids get cavities. Brushing teeth daily, flossing, and avoiding sugary foods and beverages help prevent cavities.

Because they’re hard for kids to clean, molars (teeth found in the back of the mouth) have the highest risk of decay. When permanent teeth replace primary teeth, clear plastic sealants placed on molars can protect against tooth decay. The sealants fill in dents and grooves, or fissures, on the top of the big, back teeth, to protect areas that brushing and flossing miss. (more…)

Have a Happy and Healthy Halloween

Posted October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween from the Brighton Family Dental team!

We hope that you and your family have big trick-or-treating plans for tonight, but, as your dental caregiver, we have to warn you against the dangers of Halloween candy. There is a reason, of course, why Halloween has earned a spot on dentists’ list of least favorite holidays!

A Few Tips to Help You Indulge in a Treat Without Any Tricks on Your Teeth

Candy corn is the oldest popular Halloween candy. People have been enjoying it for over 100 years! Unfortunately, candy corn isn’t one of the better Halloween treats for you. 5 of the 14 ingredients found in candy corn are some type of sugar, and most of the rest are artificial coloring and flavoring. If you choose to indulge in candy corn, keep the portion size to a handful and remember to brush to remove the sugar from your teeth.

3 Musketeers are better for your diet and your smile compared to other popular kinds of candy. This is because a fun-sized bar contains less fat, sugar, and calories than many other candy bars of the same size. 3 Musketeers, on the other hand, do contain trans fat hydrogenated palm kernel oil, which isn’t good for your teeth or body, so keep portion size in mind.

Dots, Laffy Taffy, and other sticky and gummy candies are a dentist’s worst nightmare. Not only are they sugar-loaded (which means they contribute to plaque build-up and tooth decay), they’re extremely sticky so you risk damaging your teeth, braces, and dental work, such as fillings and crowns. To steer clear of a dental disaster, avoid these candies (plus others, like caramels, salt water taffy, etc.) at all costs.

The smartest candy you can eat is- you guessed it- Smarties! Compared to other candies, Smarties are much lower in calories and sugar. Also, they’re a good choice for children with allergies because they’re free of common allergens, like nuts and gluten.

If you want to schedule post-candy craze dental appointments for you and your family, call our Brighton, MA dental office at (617) 562-5210 to reserve an appointment with Dr. Villani or Dr. Kondrat.

Adult Braces: Not Always Bad

Posted October 26, 2011

Many people are embarrassed by their crooked teeth, but adults may be more embarrassed by braces. There are many options to straighten your teeth to get your beautiful smile without drawing attention to your treatment.

What can braces do? Braces can fix many dental problems at any age. They can adjust teeth to fix crowding, crookedness, spacing, overbite, underbite, and jaw positioning.

Why are straight teeth important? Straighter teeth are easier to clean. If your teeth are crooked, crowded, or gapped, decay can form in between crevices and be difficult to remove. This can increase your risk of decay, cavities, and gum disease. In addition, some tooth alignment issues can cause chewing and speech problems.

What kinds of braces are available? Some options let you avoid having a mouth full of metal.

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Healthy Snacks for Healthy Teeth

Posted October 17, 2011

Your child may rush home from school and run to the cookies, candy, or another sugar-filled snack. Tooth decay is the most common childhood disease. When children snack on sugar throughout the day, the bacteria in their mouth produce an acid that can harm their teeth and cause cavities. Try preparing these alternatives to make snack time healthy and fun.

Cups: Applesauce, milk, pudding, cereal, and yogurt can be put into a small cup or bowl. This will help limit the amount of the food your child is eating.

Stackers: You can combine healthy ingredients to make a full snack. Crackers and fruits serve as good baselines to top with cheese, cream cheese, or peanut butter. You can create a fun face on the base food, and children may enjoy stacking the foods themselves.

Fruits and Vegetables: Slice up fresh fruits and vegetables to make easy-to-grab finger foods. You can also arrange the slices into a fun, colorful display.

Snack bags: Use snack-sized Ziploc bags to create a healthy snack pack. Fill the bag with nuts, fruit, and crackers. It’s easy to grab on the go, and it helps limit the amount of food they are snacking on. You can decorate the bag with stickers to make it more appealing and fun. Instead of bags, you can also use reusable plastic containers.

Making snack time healthy and fun will teach your child the importance of healthy eating habits. To further protect your child’s teeth from decay and other dangers, visit Dr. Villani every six months, starting at the age of two. Contact Brighton Family Dental in Brighton, MA at (617) 562-5210 to schedule an appointment.

Dental Health Hazards in Your Kitchen

Posted October 12, 2011

The foods you eat can harm your teeth. Safe cooking and preparation techniques can help protect your teeth. Consider these dental health warnings in your kitchen.

Spices

You probably try to make your meals more delicious by adding seasonings and marinades, but the ingredients you add can damage your teeth. Some seasonings, like turmeric (used in Curry), chili powder, balsamic vinegar, and red wine can all contribute to tooth staining. Citrus juice or marinade can add a little extra kick to your meal, but too much acid can cause your enamel to erode. Adding too much sugar to sweeten the dish can cause tooth decay. In addition, vinegar and garlic flavors can cause bad breath.

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Problems of Sugarfree Gum

Posted September 6, 2011

Chewing gum can help relieve ear popping on flights, quickly freshen your breath, and increase saliva production to help control oral bacteria. Many people chew sugarless gum because gum with sugar increases the risk of cavities. If you excessively chew gum, even if it’s sugarless, it may be more harmful than you may think.

Many types of sugarless candy contain sorbitol, a sweetener that has laxative properties and is difficult for the small intestine to absorb. Each stick of gum has around 1.25g of the ingredient. Consuming five to 20 grams of the sweetener can cause minor stomach problems like cramps and bloating. People who consume more than 20g of sorbitol each day are likely to have bowel trouble and diarrhea. Because of the bowel trouble, excessive sorbitol consumption can lead to severe weight loss. Studies show that some people who chew gum excessively have lost up to 20 percent of their normal body weight.

As an alternative gum with xylitol has been approved by the ADA. Xylitol is a sweetener that reduces the potential for tooth decay. However, there’s another problem to consider. Excessively chewing gum may also cause joint and muscle problems in the jaw. (more…)

Crossing the Bridge of Articulation

Posted August 29, 2011

Your teeth play an important role in chewing, smiling, and your oral health, but they are also crucial to speaking. For many syllables, for example, the tongue pushes against the back of the teeth to form the sounds. The flow of air is controlled by these same movements and can make the difference between making a “th” or a “t” sound, for example.

If you need a “t” sound, the tongue halts the air flow by touching the back of your teeth. If there are any missing teeth, air can escape through the gap and sounds more like a “th” sound. This presents a problem when you ask your friend, “What’s your favorite sports team?” He may answer with his favorite sports theme. Trying to restate your question will only cause more frustration when you discover how impossible it is to stop the air flow without your teeth. If your tongue tries to correct the pronunciation by taking a detour to the roof of your mouth, the resulting noise sounds more like a “d.”

Unfortunately, over time your speech will only get worse because another effect of missing teeth is that the teeth you still have will begin to tilt or shift from the gap. Those teeth need side support, so holes in your smile will allow for movement of the existing teeth trying to compensate. Dr. Villani and Dr. Kondrat can construct a dental bridge to support your speech syllables and, most importantly, your natural teeth.

Dental bridges are non-removable tooth replacements fabricated from high-quality porcelain. To replace one or more missing teeth in a row, Dr. Villani and Dr. Kondrat set this fixed prosthetic between two dental crowns. The crowns are attached to healthy teeth and hold the bridge securely in place.

To find out if dental bridges will work for you, call Brighton Family Dental Group at (617) 562-5210. We provide cosmetic dentistry to residents of Watertown, Cambridge, Brookline, and Newton.

Are you a summertime movie-goer? Don’t let movie snacks get the best of your smile!

Posted August 5, 2011

Summertime means movie time for most of us, and this summer has plenty of blockbusters. Unfortunately, it’s also causing some tooth-busters. Movie food hovers near the top of our list of worst dental offenders.

You’ve probably had popcorn stuck in your teeth. If you were lucky, you got it out on your own; not everyone is so fortunate. Popcorn husks get stuck between gums and teeth, leading to infection and swelling; incautious munchers can break a tooth on an unpopped kernel. Can’t live without your popcorn? Chew cautiously – don’t bite down too hard and fast, and check carefully for whole kernels.

Most people wash down their popcorn with a large soda. Theaters usually offer combo deals to encourage this practice. Soda’s high sugar and acid content contributes to tooth decay, and moviegoers who chew on ice risk cracking or chipping teeth. Stick to water when you can – you’ll end up feeling more refreshed and miss less of the movie for bathroom breaks. If you must have soda, use a straw to reduce contact with your teeth. Chewing ice is never a good idea – satisfy the need to crunch with food, not ice..

Candy fans should watch out for caramel, toffee, taffy, and candies with a similar consistency. All too often, patients come in bringing dental work yanked out by these sticky treats. Frozen candy bars combine the worst elements of ice cubes and caramel, and can lead to a dental nightmare. It’s best to choose ice cream or a regular candy bar.

Got the summer blues from your movie snacks? Call Brighton Family Dental today at (617) 562-5210 to schedule an appointment.

Preventive Dentistry: Cheaper in the Long Run

Posted July 29, 2011

If you consider dental health an “extra,” think again. Although Massachusetts citizens ranked as having some of the healthiest mouths in the United States, studies show a decrease across the country in trips to the dentist. Job loss and the threat of unemployment, in addition to high insurance costs, contribute to a list of reasons people don’t attend regular checkups. Neglecting professional dental care is a mistake, plain and simple. You may save now, but you’ll end up paying more later in life.

Many people don’t know, oral health directly and indirectly impacts bodily health. The ADA and Brighton Dental Group recommend checkups at least twice a year, every six months. During a checkup, our patients undergo an exam, plus a cleaning, if gum disease isn’t present. We will inspect each of your teeth for decay, cracks, chips, and faulty dental work. The dentist will also check for damage caused by bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding), test for oral cancer, and look for signs of gum disease. (more…)

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