Beware of Hard Candies

We have seen a few patients recently who have developed an alarming number of cavities from sucking on hard candies all day. These are adults who generally have a lower decay rate than adolescents.

Many people find themselves with dry mouth, often due to medications such as antihistamines, medication for high blood pressure, anti-depressants, etc. Unfortunately, many people try to alleviate this problem with hard candy or cough drops, which can have a very high sugar content. Since they sit in your mouth for a prolonged period of time the bacteria that naturally live in your mouth feed on the sugar, turning it into acid. This acid then eats away at the hard enamel on your teeth causing decay in a short period of time. The longer this acid bath lasts the longer the greater the chances for tooth decay.

If you find yourself suffering from dry mouth a special toothpaste or rinse can be prescribed.

If you eat hard, sticky, or gummy candy – anything that sticks to teeth or stays in the mouth for a long period of time – you are asking for big trouble. Make sure you use a sugar-free candy and avoid prolonged periods of time with anything that contains sugar (i.e. sipping sport drinks, power drinks, sodas, chewing gum, candies, or mints). A constant diet of sugar feeds the bacteria all day long and they continually excrete acid onto your teeth. After any sugar ingestion rinse well to dilute the sugars and the acids and brush your teeth as soon as you can with a fluoride toothpaste. Be sure to brush at least twice a day, paying special attention to the gum line.

Stress Free Dental Visits

 

Visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be a stress-filled experience.  We are just as eager for you to have a good experience as you are.  The best advise we can give is to not put off your visit.  The longer you delay dental treatment  the more extensive the care will become.  So if you have been putting off seeing the dentist for months or years pick up the phone and schedule an appointment. 

Here are some tips to make you next visit as comfortable as possible:

• Schedule your visit for the time of day when you are most relaxed. 
• Get a good night’s sleep the night before your appointment, eat lightly before your appointment, and wear comfortable clothing.
• Talk to the dentist and the hygienist about what makes you nervous and what concerns you.  Often, voicing your fears can help reduce them and make you more comfortable.  And when we know what your fears are we can help alleviate them.
• If the dentist tells you that you need further treatment, ask questions.  The more you know about the treatment plan, the more confident and relaxed you will be. Those of us who work in dentistry do not fear treatment when we need it.  This seems to indicate that knowing what is being done makes for less stress.
• Schedule short appointments where possible, don’t try and have everything done at one time.
• If you feel any discomfort raise your hand to let the dentist or hygienist know.  They can always take a break if you need one.
• Establish a positive relationship with your dental team.  You should feel at ease and comfortable with your dentist.  Take an active role in your dental care.

Try these pointers and we think your next appointment will show you that dental appointments can be good experiences.