SALIVA: THE UNSUNG HERO OF ORAL HEALTH

EVER THINK ABOUT HOW GREAT your saliva is? Probably not. We’d love to enlighten you! Saliva has an all-important role in your oral and digestive health.
 

Saliva Has Many Important Functions

Our bodies make two to four pints of saliva a day. That means that over a lifetime, a person will create enough saliva to fill two swimming pools! So, why is saliva important? Well, there’s more than one answer to that. Besides allowing us to give wet willies or make spit wads when we were kids, our saliva has many important functions.

First, saliva aids in digestion. It begins the process of breaking down food and helps us chew, taste and swallow. In fact, without our spit, we wouldn’t be able to taste at all!

Additionally, saliva is essential to maintaining our oral health. Our spit contains antimicrobial agents that protect teeth and defend against bacteria. It also contains minerals such as calcium and phosphate that remineralize our teeth, strengthening the enamel.

Your saliva plays an especially important role after eating and drinking. It washes away that extra food and debris left in your mouth that contributes to decay. It also helps neutralize the acids created by bacteria that break down enamel and cause cavities. Thank you, saliva!
 

 

Some People Do Not Create Enough Saliva

Some people have a condition called dry mouth, where they aren’t producing enough saliva. Certain illnesses and medications can cause dry mouth, and those who have it are more prone to tooth decay and gum disease as a result. For those with and without dry mouth, here are some tips to increase saliva production and protect your teeth:

• Chew sugar-free gum, especially after meals

• Suck on sugarless candy

• Drink plenty of water

 

 

Saliva Works Around the Clock to Protect Our Smiles

Saliva may just be the unsung hero of our oral health. It is constantly strengthening and defending our teeth against bacteria, decay and dental disease. At the end of the day, all we can say is that our bodies are amazing and our spit is awesome!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WHY SUGAR-FREE GUM IS GOOD FOR YOU

GUM ISN’T ALL ABOUT FRESHENING BREATH.  While it definitely helps after that garlic pasta you had for lunch, did you know chewing sugarless gum can also prevent cavities and improve your oral health?

Chewing Gum Increases Saliva Flow and Prevents Cavities

According to the American Dental Association, studies show that chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after a meal can prevent tooth decay. The act of chewing increases saliva flow in your mouth. The saliva then washes away food and neutralizes acids, cleaning and protecting your teeth from cavity-causing bacteria.

You’ll want to make sure your gum is sugar-free.  While gum that contains sugar also increases saliva flow, the sugar actually feeds the bacteria in your mouth, putting you at greater risk of decay. We definitely don’t want that!

Quick tip: Sugarless gum sweetened with xylitol even reduces the amount of bacteria that stick to your teeth!

Chewing Gum Helps Strengthen Tooth Enamel

Saliva contains necessary calcium and phosphate that strengthens tooth enamel. After a meal, reinforcing your enamel can be especially beneficial in fighting off bacteria and decay.

Look for Sugarless Gum with the ADA Seal

The ADA seal indicates that the gum has been tested and proven to do at least one or all of these three things: reduce plaque acids and cavities, promote remineralization of tooth enamel, and reduce gingivitis. If you want a sugarless gum you can trust to boost your oral health, look for the ADA seal.

Some examples of ADA approved sugar-free gum that will improve your oral health.  What's your favorite flavor?

Even though chewing sugar-free gum can aid in keeping your mouth healthy, it should never serve as a substitute for regular brushing and flossing, as well as professional cleanings!

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

FOR OUR MOTHERS

Felicia and Audrey sharing a tearful goodbye before Audrey moved to Spain for two years.

WE ARE THRILLED TO celebrate all of the wonderful mothers out there today! They fed us, clothed us, read books to us and raised us. But most importantly, they LOVE us!  

Mother’s Day has a particularly special meaning for our office because we have a mother-daughter duo working here. Felicia has been a hygienist at our office for more than 20 years and her daughter Audrey recently joined our team. Audrey says what she loves most about her mom is her kind heart. “She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. She never has anything bad to say about anyone. She would give her everything just to make my siblings and I happy. I love her to pieces.”

See what other members of our team had to say about their moms. 

Suparna and her mom, Sudesh, on a trip to Arkansas.

Suparna : "I thank God every day for blessing me with a mother like her. She’s not just my mom but one of my best friends and I love how she understands me."

Ashley with her mom Loretta at a family wedding in California.

Ashley: "I love my mom because she brought me into this world and taught me respect, selflessness, and bravery!"

 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day, All!

DETECTING ORAL CANCER

One of the most troubling statistics about oral cancer is that it often goes unnoticed in its early stages. This makes the cancer particularly dangerous because it’s likely to spread to other areas, like the lymph nodes, before it’s been detected.

Oral cancer is most common in people over the age of 40 who use tobacco. But heavy consumption of alcohol is also a contributor. In fact, studies show that people who smoke and drink are 15 times more likely to develop it. Other risk factors include excessive sun exposure as well as the human papillomavirus (HPV).  These causes aside, there are still a large number of people diagnosed every day that DO NOT use tobacco and have obtained the cancer through means not identified above. And these numbers among those aged 30 and under continue to rise. Researchers are still trying to find out why.

Regular visits to the dentist help to catch signs that may otherwise slip by undetected. Through routine exams, your dentist scans your gums, tongue, lips and face to check for any abnormalities.  Some of the signs to watch out for at home are:

• Sores, swellings, lumps or thick patches anywhere in or around your mouth or throat

• Areas of red or white lesions in your mouth or lips

• The feeling of a lump or object stuck in your throat

• Swellings that make wearing dentures uncomfortable

• Numbness, pain or tenderness anywhere in your mouth, including your tongue

• Pain in one of your ears but without any loss of hearing

• Trouble moving your jaw or tongue, or problems with chewing, swallowing or speaking

• Loose teeth with no apparent dental cause

• Lingering sore throat or hoarseness 

April is Oral Cancer Awareness month.  All information provided by The Oral Cancer Foundation and Colgate.

HEALTHY FOODS THAT HELP YOUR TEETH

We often forget that what we eat not only affects our physical health, but also our oral health.  A balanced diet that includes all five food groups is key for good oral hygiene. It provides the necessary nutrients your body needs and helps your mouth to resist infection.  In honor of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' National Nutrition Month this month, below is a list of seven nutritious foods that will help keep your smile top notch!

Cheese raises the pH of your mouth, thus lowering the risk of dental decay. It also contains calcium and protein, which help strengthen your teeth and improve tooth enamel.

Yogurt is high in both calcium and protein, and it also contains probiotics, the good bacteria that work against cavity-causing bacteria.

Leafy Greens are a great source of calcium that will help strengthen your teeth.

Apples produce saliva which helps to rinse away bacteria present in the mouth.  Sometimes called “nature’s toothbrush,” they also help to stimulate your gums.

Celery is an excellent source of Vitamin A and C, both of which help your gums.

Like apples, carrots also produce saliva to help wash away bacteria. They also are a good source of fiber and Vitamin A.

Almonds are another source of calcium and protein.

Next time you want a snack, opt for one of the seven healthy foods listed above. Your teeth will thank you.

Check out more information on National Nutrition Month here.

All information courtesy of Colgate and Delta Dental.