While You Bathe In The Sun, What Do Your Teeth Bathe In?

WHEN IT’S WARM OUTSIDE we all enjoy our favorite warm weather foods and beverages! Have you ever considered how some of these affect your smile? You may be surprised. Here’s a short list of foods that can do some damage to your teeth if you’re not thoughtful about it.

Warm Weather Foods To Be Aware Of:

Iced Coffee

Many people not only start the day drinking iced coffee, but continue to sip on it throughout the day. Because your teeth are very porous, coffee can leave significant stains on your teeth. Lightening up your coffee with cream or milk helps a little.

Pickles & Pickled Vegetables

Pickles are typically made with lots of vinegar and sugar—two things that can be harmful to your teeth. The vegetables are healthy but the brine is what can do some real damage.

Sports Drinks

People are a lot more active during warm weather months. Do you turn to sports drinks to stay hydrated? Just be careful. Many are full of sugars and acids.

Diet Soda

These drinks may seem harmless because they don’t have sugar, but they still have a lot of acidity and other harmful substances that can affect your tooth enamel.

Barbecue Sauce

Most barbecue sauces contain lots of sugar, vinegar, tomato paste, and (in some cases) dye which can contribute to damage or stains.

Helpful Tips:

Don’t swish around sport or fruit drinks, or hold them in your mouth.
After drinking sports drinks, wait an hour before brushing your teeth so you don’t harm the softened enamel.
Eat more fresh vegetables such as cucumbers and celery.
After eating barbecued foods or foods that stick between teeth, chew sugar free gum and/or rinse your mouth with water.

And Just For Fun…

Check out these summer hacks (especially the ones that encourage all of us to drink more water and eat more fruit)!

Enjoy the warm weather! And, if you have questions about this information, please let us know and let’s visit!

April Is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

THIS YEAR ALONE, 400,000 people throughout the world will be diagnosed with oral cancer. 40% of those diagnosed won’t live another five years. Oral cancer has such a dismal survival rate because it’s usually not detected until very late in its progression. Because April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we’re encouraging everyone to get screened this year during their regularly scheduled checkups.

The Risk Factors Of Oral Cancer:

Most cases of mouth cancer are linked to tobacco and alcohol. However, the traditional ethnic habits of chewing tobacco, betel quid, gutkha and paan are particularly dangerous.

Alcohol increases the risk of mouth cancer, and if tobacco and alcohol are consumed together the risk is even greater. Over-exposure to sunlight can also increase the risk of cancer of the lips.

Many recent reports have linked mouth cancer to the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer and affects the skin that lines the moist areas of the body. HPV can be spread through oral sex, and research now suggests that it could soon rival smoking and drinking as one of the main causes of mouth cancer.

Early Detection Is SO Important

Early oral cancer detection can boost survival rates to 80–90%! One of the reasons oral cancer goes undetected is because many of the symptoms are not painful. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please let us know right away:

A lump or thickening of your cheek
A white or red patch on any part of your inner mouth or throat
A sore inside your mouth that doesn’t heal within two weeks
Difficulty moving your tongue or jaw
Numbness inside your mouth
Chronic difficulty swallowing or chewing
Jaw swelling

The Best Offense Is A Good Defense

Keep regularly scheduled cleaning appointments and screenings. Doing so GREATLY increases the likelihood that any problems will be detected early. It’s worth it.

Dr. Sadineni Dublin Ohio Dentist performs oral cancer screenings and examinations during your routine checkups. She uses ViziLite TBlue to identify, evaluate, monitor and mark abnormal oral cell lesions suspicious for pathology including precancerous and cancerous cells that may be difficult to see during a regular visual exam. This procedure only takes 2 minutes to complete.

Blythe Danner on Oral Cancer:

As your trusted, lifelong oral health partner, we want to keep you and your loved ones as healthy as possible. When brushing your teeth, look out for any changes in your mouth, and report any red or white patches, or ulcers, that have not cleared up within three weeks.

A good diet, rich in vitamins A, C and E, provides protection against the development of mouth cancer. Plenty of fruit and vegetables help the body to protect itself, in general, from most cancers. Call today at (614) 766-5600 to schedule an Oral Cancer screening.

Let us know if you have questions about oral cancer or any of the symptoms mentioned above. And share this information with someone you love!

Other Resources:

MouthCancer.org
OralCancerFoundation.org

Your Tooth Enamel Is Super Cool Stuff

WHAT IS AS BRITTLE AS GLASS and at the same time, the hardest substance in your body? Your tooth enamel! Each time you bite down it handles the equivalent of 160 pounds of pressure, time after time after time. Think about how often you bite down during your lifetime. It’s crazy!

Enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth, built to protect the softer dentine layer, and your super-sensitive pulp.

It’s Amazing How Such A Brittle Substance Handles The Pressure

It’s an engineering marvel. Enamel is actually made up of a dense forest of long rods. These rods start crisscrossing each other as they go deeper into the tooth, diffusing the pressure. It’s like sprawling your body out flat to crawl over an ice-covered pond, spreading the pressure over a wider area.

Mother Nature’s Pattern For Strength

This same concept actually inspired a group of scientists to create glass that is 200 times stronger than normal! Read about it in the article, How to Toughen Glass by Cracking It: A Lesson From Teeth and Shells.

Enamel Is Built To Deal With Pressure… But Not Erosion

As strong as your enamel is, it doesn’t deal as well with acid and bacteria. It needs our help for that.

4 ways your enamel CAN get worn down:

Acidic breakdown (usually from acidic drinks like soda, fruit juices, and sports drinks).
Abrasion from rough brushing and tooth-whitening toothpastes.
Bad habits like tooth-grinding.
High sugar-and-starch diets, which create acid byproducts.

Your Enamel Is Finite So Treat It Well

As amazing as your enamel is, it’s one of the only parts of your body unable to regenerate itself because it’s one of the only parts of your body not comprised of living cells. So protect your enamel by brushing regularly, flossing, and keeping your regularly scheduled checkups.

Thanks for the trust you place in our practice. We appreciate having you as our valued patient!

Your Smile May Be Your Greatest Job-Hunting Asset

YES, REAL RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOP over time. We all know that. But there are certain situations where an incredible first impression goes a long, long way. One of those times is when you’re advancing your career and interviewing for jobs.

50% Of Interviewers Will Remember Your Smile… 9% Will Remember What You Wore

A recent study by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry suggests that half of adults absolutely remember other people’s smiles after having been introduced to them. That’s far more than the 9% who will remember a new acquaintance’s clothing. Cool, lime green shirt (above)… But your smile will impress even more!

Brighter Smile = Higher Starting Salary?

Your smile can have a direct impact on your career opportunities. A 2007 study simulating job interviews showed that people were more likely to be offered jobs—and offered higher starting salaries—after they had whitened their teeth. Subjects were also perceived to be more professional and more confident after teeth whitening.

What Will People Remember About YOUR Smile?

It may not always seem fair, but people make assumptions based on one’s smile. The beauty is that, armed with knowledge (and an awesome dentist), YOU can take charge of the way people perceive you in professional situations such as interviews.

Make A Good Impression So They’ll Get To Know You On The Inside

Sometimes getting past first impressions with flying colors gives you the chance to let the “real” you come through. After all, that’s the most important part. Here’s some additional job hunting advice:

It’s Not About Perfection. It’s About Confidence.

The most important aspect of a great smile isn’t whether or not you have perfectly straight teeth or a perfect smile. It’s all about the confidence your smile brings. If there’s anything causing you to be self-conscious about your smile, talk with us. We can walk you through some ideas, and create a plan to fix the situation if you’d like.

Thank you so much for trusting us with your dental health. Good luck in your pursuit of that new job opportunity!

Dental Anxiety? We Understand And We Can Help

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF US experience SOME level of dental anxiety? As much as 80%, in fact. Despite our best efforts we know that there’s something that feels inherently vulnerable about lying back in a chair while we examine your mouth. We’ve been patients too.

Communication Can Make You More Comfortable

We want you to feel confident during your visits with us. We believe that one key is open communication between our team and you—our valued patient! Whether you’re extremely nervous during dental appointments, or just slightly uncomfortable, communication helps. However, it’s hard to know exactly how, or what, to communicate sometimes.

If you’d really like to explore the reasons you feel nervous about dental visits, here’s a handy questionnaire developed by J.H. Clarke and S. Rustvold at the Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry. If you’d like, look over the first four questions and let us know where you fall on the scale. It’s a simple way to tell us how you’re feeling.

We Offer Nitrous Oxide For Anxious Patients

For patients who wish to remain awake during their procedure, but want a soothing, relaxed dental experience, nitrous oxide may be the answer. Commonly known as laughing gas, nitrous oxide induces a warm, slightly light-headed feeling and an overall sense of relaxation.

Your level of sedation is monitored during your treatment and the gas wears off within a few minutes after the procedure. Patients are generally able to safely drive home after their appointment.

Is Your Appointment Coming Up?

Check out the video below outlining a routine check-up. It could help get you in the right mindset:

Simple Understanding Can Make A Huge Difference

Once we understand a little bit about your triggers and your reaction to dental-related situations, we can do a lot to make you feel comfortable. Some techniques we use include:

Taking adequate time so you don’t feel rushed or harried.
Carefully explaining everything before we do it.
Establishing signals so that you can let us know if you need a break.

Dr. Sadineni sedation dentist Dublin Ohio and her staff have years of experience administering nitrous oxide, and patients insist it eliminates stress or discomfort.

Do you know someone else who suffers from severe dental anxiety? Is it compromising their health? Have them give us a call. We can help.

Thanks for your trust in our practice!

Help Us Help Kids! Whiten Your Smile For Charity

BEGINNING IN MARCH, we are participating in Smiles For Life, and we’d like to invite you to join us!

Why Have Your Teeth Professionally Whitened?

Beautifully whitened teeth make you look younger, boost your personal and professional life, and create an immediate, dramatic difference in your smile.
Professional whitening ensures the safest, most effective and longest-lasting results.
When you whiten through our Smiles For Life campaign, you’re not just whitening your smile… you’re helping children in need!

How Smiles For Life Works:

Smiles For Life is the charity arm of the Crown Council, a coalition of leading-edge dental teams passionately devoted to promoting oral health, and serving their communities through charitable work.

50% of proceeds are set aside for a LOCAL children’s organization of our choice. The rest is distributed to approved children’s charities around the world—organizations like St. Jude’s Hospital, Smiles For Hope, and the Children’s Miracle Network.

Help Us Spread The Word So We Can Help MORE Kids!

This spring is your chance to make a difference while sprucing up your smile for the upcoming season of weddings, graduations, and vacations. Give us a call to set up an appointment!

And once you have your beautifully whitened teeth, spread the word! This is a perfect opportunity to encourage a great cause. Let your friends and family members know about our campaign.

Thanks for helping us make a difference in children’s lives!

Protect Your Smile From Acid Reflux Disease

LOOKING INSIDE SOMEONE’S MOUTH, members of a dental team can learn a lot! We can get clues about your diet, how sound you sleep, and perhaps whether or not you struggle with acid reflux.

Acid Reflux Disease Is Very Common Today

Acid reflux disease is quite common in adults over the age of 20. This is a condition where stomach acid leaks up into the esophagus creating heartburn or regurgitation. Often, the symptoms are not severe so it can go unnoticed or ignored.

Most People Don’t Realize The Potential Effects On Teeth

If you suffer from acid reflux it’s possible that there’s more damage going on than you realize. Frequent and/or severe reflux can cause those powerful acids to reach your mouth—and your teeth, which can lead to enamel erosion. Although the following symptoms can be caused by a number of conditions, acid reflux is certainly one of them. Are you experiencing…

sensitivity to certain foods?
unexplained pain or irritation in your mouth?
noticeable thinning or shortening of teeth?
darkening of your teeth?

5 Things You Can Do To Help Protect Your Smile

If you struggle with acid reflux, here are five things you can do to protect your smile:

1. Treat your acid reflux disease!

Take this condition seriously. If you’re not yet being treated, see your doctor for recommendations and/or medications that help keep your acid reflux under control.

2. Make simple dietary changes.

Limit acidic foods and drinks like sodas, citrus fruits and juices, tomato products, milk, caffeine, chocolate, spicy & fried foods, fatty meats or anything acidic in nature.

3. Rinse your mouth with water after reflux episodes.

Don’t let the acids sit on your teeth. Rinsing will wash away acids and help prevent further damage.

4. Wait an hour after reflux episodes to brush your teeth.

Exposure to acid can temporarily weaken enamel. Brushing immediately after reflux episodes can be harsh on your teeth and may hurt your enamel more.

5. Keep your mouth moist and fresh.

Chew sugarless gums, lozenges, or candies. If you use antacids, look for sugar-free ones and rinse after consuming.

On The Lighter Side…

Life’s too short, right? Sometimes we have to lighten things up—even when talking about serious subjects!

Talk With Us About Your Acid Reflux

We understand how frustrating it can be to live with chronic acid reflux disease. Give us a call if you have concerns. We always enjoy and appreciate visiting with you about your oral health and whole-body health.

As always… Thanks for being our valued patient and friend.

Learning From Ancient People About Our Oral Health

WE’RE BOMBARDED today by food choices and differing opinions about those choices. Trans-fats? Gluten? Vegan? What can we learn from our ancestors?

7,500 Years Ago People May Have Had Healthier Teeth

Does that seem odd? Ancient people didn’t have modern dental care or fluoride toothpastes, but they did have a different diet.

Researchers studied DNA from preserved tartar of ancient humans and concluded that these ancient mouths may have been healthier than ours today. The “basic” foods people ate allowed for more diverse bacteria to develop with none monopolizing the others.

The Industrial Revolution Introduced Processed Sugar And Many Flour-Based Foods

Our ancestors’ lifestyles eventually changed from nomadic to agricultural. Farming drastically changed their diets and may have started the decline in oral health. But big changes came about during the Industrial Revolution when processed sugar and flour became commonly consumed. This change allowed for new cavity-causing bacteria to begin dominating modern mouths.

Be Smart, Eat Healthy, & Understand These Relationships

Eating is such a big part of life—physically, emotionally, and socially. In the end, of course, how we eat is an individual choice. We just want you to be healthy, and your oral health is a huge component of your overall health. So remember that consistently eating foods made from processed flour and lots of sugar can absolutely lead to a less healthy and more disease-prone mouth.

No need adopt all of our ancestor’s habits–like eating tons of meat, or drawing on cave walls. But consider the things they were doing RIGHT, like eating more natural foods.

Thanks for reading, and for your wonderful support for our practice. We value you as our patient!

Medications Can Contribute To Dry Mouth Syndrome And Affect Your Oral Health

MEDICATIONS OFTEN HAVE frustrating side effects such as nausea or headaches. But did you know that dry mouth is also a common side effect of prescription drugs?

Saliva Helps Keep Your Mouth Healthy

There are over 400 medications that can affect your salivary glands. These medications include those used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, Parkinson’s disease, and many other conditions.

Our salivary glands are extremely important because they produce saliva. Saliva keeps our mouths moist and breaks down the foods we eat. It also helps keep the bacteria in our mouths under control.

Dry mouth may result in:

A higher risk of gum disease
An increase in cavities
Discomfort and difficulty eating, swallowing and talking

7 Simple Solutions To Help Fight Dry Mouth

If you or someone you know is taking medications that may be causing dry mouth, there are plenty of things you can do to help keep your mouth moist and healthy.

Drink more water! Sip on it throughout the day. Mineral, Carbonated water and Club Soda work really well to stimulate your saliva, too.
Chewing sugar-free gum helps keep your mouth moist and salivary glands active. Just make sure the gum is sugarless. Sucking on Sugarless Mints is also very effective.
Try eating frozen fruits. Frozen fruits may be soothing and satisfying to your dry and uncomfortable mouth.
Consider limiting your caffeine and alcoholic intake. It’s easier for your body to become dehydrated when consuming alcohol or caffeine.
Possibly use a humidifier while sleeping. This can help keep your skin and mouth hydrated.
Keep up with your daily oral care habits. Brushing and flossing help save your teeth from decay and other damaging problems caused by dry mouth.
Keep your regularly scheduled appointments. We’ll help you prevent serious problems that can result from dry mouth.
Use Saliva replacement products, such as the Biotene group of products, are also effective.

Medications Aren’t The Only Cause

Does Your Dry Mouth Problem Seem Severe? Let’s Talk

If you are having a lot of trouble with dry mouth, contact us. You may also want to consult your general physician about trying different medications or adjusting your dosages.

Thanks for reading our post! Please share it with others who could benefit! Our goal is to help your smile stay beautiful and healthy.

The Buy One, Give One Toothbrush… Bogobrush!

WHAT IF YOUR TOOTHBRUSH could be a force for good in the world? Pretty high expectations, right? But that’s exactly what the developers of Bogobrush are trying to do.

It’s Like The Tom’s Shoes Concept

The makers of the Bogobrush re-imagined the toothbrush while adding the philanthropic component. To be clear… We’re not affiliated with Bogobrush. We just like the concept of helping others.

BOGO stands for Buy One, Give One. For each brush you buy, another is given to someone in need! Millions of people lack access to dental care. This project takes a small step toward remedying that problem.
Environmentally friendly, without compromising dental health. The biodegradable design means less plastic toothbrushes in landfills.
Now, brushing is more than just a chore… It’s keeping you AND someone else healthy!

Founded By A Brother/Sister Team

Want To Learn More?

The makers of Bogobrush are working hard to launch the product. You can learn more about Bogobrush from their website. There is also an additional video about their progress that you can watch. And, we’re interested in your opinions about this idea.