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The “gold standard” in treating tooth decay by dental professionals for the past 50 plus years has been fluoride.  However, years of research discrediting the beneficial claims the American Dental Assoication has placed on fluoride is now coming to light.  Some of you may have heard about some possible harmful side effects of fluoride.  Or you may be struggling with cavities in your own mouth even though you are using a fluoride toothpaste and rinse.  There is increasing evidence that fluoride may not be the best tool in fighting cavities and it may actually be harmful to you.  If you read your toothpaste label, most will tell you to call a poison control center if you ingest too much.  Why is that?  If fluoride was harmless, that label would not be necessary.  There are plenty of controversial and debatable topics on the safety of fluoride and any quick internet search will expose you to both pros and cons on the safety of this substance.  Some dentists are still recommending fluoride pills for children to ingest.  I highly disagree with this practice because of the risks of fluorosis (a permanent staining of the teeth) and the possible health risks associated with fluoride poisoning.

There is also an increasing amount of research that shows that fluoride is not very effective at fighting decay.  With more money being spent on cavity research, findings indicate that focusing on acid reduction in the mouth is more effective at reducing cavities than just regular brushing and rinsing with fluoride products.  Carifree makes a product which is university tested and studied that helps reduce cavities by fighting the acid levels in our saliva.  One of the main ingredients is xylitol which is used as a sugar substitute due to it’s sweetness.  There is an increasing amount of research which shows that xylitol is a far superior product than fluoride in fighting decay.  Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that has no known toxic side effects.  When reviewing chewing gum, candies, or dental products look for the ingredient xylitol, which used after each meal can lower your risk of tooth decay.  Xylitol also stimulates a healthier flow of saliva.  We can now fight decay more effectively and without the potential harmful effects of fluoride.  Our dental team will assist you in making the right preventative choices when it comes to choosing safe and effective dental products for you and your family.  If you have any questions please contact our Inland Empire Preventative and Dental Wellness office at 951-686-3666.

Oral cancer is one of the deadliest cancers out there.  It has an 80% survival rate if detected early but unfortunately, only 1/3rd of the cases are found at this early stage.  The 2/3rds rather the majority of oral cancer found late only has a 50% survival rate.  Those who are lucky enough to survive oral cancer are often disfigured by removal of significant portions of facial tissue and bone structure.  There are a few technologies out there to help detect cancerous and precancerous lesions but they are still rare.  Our Riverside Cosmetic and Implant Dental Office has invested in the VELscope oral cancer screening system.  All new patients get a complementary screening at our Riverside high tech office along with their comprehensive examination.  Here’s a video which shows a little about the procedure and talks about oral cancer:

Call our Riverside Implant and Cosmetic Office at 951-686-3666 if you’d like to get the VELscope screening for oral cancer.

Protecting children is part of our job or more like an instinct as a parent.  We strive to always be aware of their surroundings to prevent bumps and bruises, prevent illnesses, provide a well-balanced diet etc.  Unfortunately, studies indicate that dental care and prevention are lacking among children in a big way.  Did you know that a report by the U.S. surgeon general revealed that over 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dental-related illnesses?  As a parent and dental professional this is extremely alarming.  Here are some tips on how to protect the window to your child’s soul….their smile.

1. Visit the dentist regularly.  At 1 year of age children should be seen for their first dental visit.  It is highly recommended that children be seen twice a year for dental exams/cleanings.  Building a cavity prevention plan for your child with his/her dental hygienist or dentist will keep both you and your child smiling.

2. Proper oral hygiene.  Brushing for 1-2 minutes twice daily is essential.   Brushing with water is acceptable or add a pea-size drop of toothpaste to the toothbrush.  Flossing can be a more difficult task however if the teeth are close together/crowded you must help your child by flossing these areas.

3. Proper diet/vitamins.  Follow the FDA’s guideline on nutrients for your child.  Stocking your shelves with fruits and vegetables to allow your child to receive vitamin C, vitamin B-12, and calcium is important for tooth and gum health.

4. Limit juices and sodas.  The citric acid in these drinks can quickly erode the enamel of baby and adult teeth.  We recommend diluting juice 50/50 with water and avoiding soda.  If your child does not take to the watered down version of juice then have them swish with water after they are finished drinking their juice.

5. Limit snacking.  Frequent snacking can cause an acid overload which can lead to tooth decay.

6. Avoid sippy cups and bottles to put your child to sleep.  Breast milk, infant formula, and milk all contain lactose which is a milk sugar.  Over time, this habit can also lead to tooth decay.

Our Riverside cosmetic dental office is child-friendly and provides dental care for children of all ages.  Our dental team is a family and we consider each patient a part of our extended family.  We would be honored to treat you and your children with your dental needs.  Please contact our Riverside cosmetic  and family dental office at (951)686-3666.

I’ve just added a special dental library on my main website iedental.com. Some common topics can be found by clicking on the Dental Libary tab on the top right of my website. You can also lookup information on other topics using the search feature located 2/3rds on the bottom of each page on the left hand side. If there’s information you’d like to see, feel free to call my high tech dental office in Riverside at 951-686-3666.

As most of you know, the silver amalgam fillings contain mercury.  However, most of you may not know they typically have a 50% or greater mercury by weight content. The American Dental Association and the FDA have research that suggests the mercury content in the fillings is not enough to harm most humans. However, there is also plenty of research that suggests that the mercury release into our bodies is much higher than the studies the ADA and the FDA use as their defense of the mercury content in the mercury/silver fillings.  It’s a very controversial topic as you can imagine.  I’ve included a link to some FAQs regarding mercury:

https://www.iaomt.org/patients/index.asp

Many dentists have had their own suspicions on the safety of mercury in dental fillings and have stopped placing the mercury fillings in their own patients.  However, most of these dentists probably do not realize that there is a tremendous release of mercury vapor when these fillings are removed.  Without proper precautions, much of the vapor can be inhaled by both the patient and the dental staff.  There are safer ways to remove dental amalgam and if you’re concerned about mercury release, you should find a dentist trained in the safer removal of amalgam.  The IAOMT (International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology) is a group where you can find a dentist trained in safer amalgam removal techniques.

Here’s an interesting video which shows how much mercury vapor can be released from a dental amalgam:

After learning about the potential toxicity of mercury from an IAOMT conference, I’ve started the removal of my own dental amalgams and have invested in equipment to help safely remove the amalgams in my own clients’ teeth.  Some dentists feel that some practitioners are just trying to rip off their patients by recommending the removal of their mercury fills but when is it a bad idea to remove a toxic material from somebody’s body?  If you have any questions regarding mercury or it’s removal, feel free to contact us at our Inland Empire Dental Office at 951-686-3666.