Posts Tagged ‘prevention’

Osteoporosis: The Calcium Connection

Posted on: January 15th, 2013 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Osteoporosis—porous bones—is a fragile, frightening reality for at least 15 million North Americans.

What begins as a slow and initially painless decrease in bone mass eventually leaves bones weakened and susceptible to fracture. It turns strong backs into weak; healthy strides into shuffles.

From a dental viewpoint, the disease is evident in loss of tooth strength and jaw erosion. Osteoporosis, most common in middle-aged women and the elderly, is particularly insidious in that it is rarely diagnosed until the damage is done.

Evidence suggests that adequate calcium intake early on in our lives may reduce the risk of osteoporosis as we age. Lucky that children often show a natural fancy for calcium-rich dairy products—it’s a happy addiction, as youngsters need calcium for building strong bones as they grow.

Less understood is the importance of calcium for adults. Though we use the mineral throughout life, our ability to absorb it decreases with age, suggesting a need for increased intake. How can we minimize our personal risk for osteoporosis? Calcium is a possibility.

Calcium for “grown ups”

In the North American diet, milk and milk products are still the best source of calcium. But many adults gave up milk years ago. How do you add more calcium to your diet when you can’t stomach milk?

There are scads of non-dairy sources of calcium, some quite grown-up: oysters, salmon, beans, leafy greens and even molasses. And that fancy French mineral water you’re drinking is calorie-free and calcium-rich. Voila.

In general, food is the preferred source of calcium for both young and old. But supplements are widely available in many forms (the University of California Cooperative Extension stresses non-food calcium as a supplement, not a replacement for other sources). It may be combined with vitamin D, a nutrient that enhances the retention of calcium.

Calcium, of course, won’t “fix” our bones—it’s not the whole preventive picture of osteoporosis.
A healthy lifestyle always enriches our resistance to disease. It’s not surprising that limiting caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol seems to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. And exercise has been shown to reduce bone loss, maybe even increase bone mass.

Do strive to improve your overall health—your bones and teeth will be much obliged.

Sealants for Kids

Posted on: July 24th, 2012 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Simply Good Parenting

Of course we want the best for our children, and most of us work at good parenting every day: quality schools, solid values, a sense of family. Time and money may put limits on what we can do for our kids’ health and happiness, but not when it comes to sealants. Sealants are, well, a bargain.

Sealants are a risk-free, wear-resistant, and painless resin coating that actually bonds to the surface of teeth, sealing out decay.

A child’s dental development is pretty much predictable. As molars appear—about six years of age—the enamel is the last to form. Between the ages of six and nine, precious enamel may be missing from the surface of teeth. Since youngsters are not always the best brushers, cavities are waiting in the wings.

The good news: sealants prevent about 80% of the cavities a typical child might otherwise have if left untreated. A bargain now with lifetime benefits.

Custom Made Prevention

Posted on: June 12th, 2012 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Above average? Me?

You may be five-foot-four, a C student, never starred at sports. And yet you may be ABOVE average—in your need for dental check-ups.

While two visits a year is average, more appointments should be scheduled when either the mouth builds up tartar fast, cavities multiply like bunnies, or teeth or gums experience growing pains.

Fluoride has helped to improve the dental health of its users for generations, and we can now apply sealants to children’s back teeth to fend off decay. X-rays are safer; modern anesthetics more effective. All in the name of prevention.

Recent research has discovered that it’s not just your mouth in the balance—it could be your life.

The American Heart Association reports that the BEST indicator of your chance of having a stroke is your number of teeth. Not cholesterol, blood pressure or bad diet. The more teeth you lose, the higher the risk of stroke.

We can help you keep those teeth where they belong, monitoring your oral health and taking action when problems appear. We’ll recommend how often to come in. So stand tall. You’re above average—and your smile shows it.

Dental Sealants to Block Out Decay!

Posted on: April 10th, 2012 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

A simple, preventative procedure that can save you the trouble of future cavities.

It’s the dreaded news that nobody wants to hear after a routine dental cleaning, you have some cavities that will need to be filled.  And who could blame us for feeling a bit apprehensive?  The dental drill has always carried negative associations, and furthermore, the presence of cavities means your teeth are not getting the protection they need.

One simple, preventative procedure that can save you the trouble of future cavities is the use of a dental sealant.  A dental sealant is nothing more than a thin plastic resin that is painted onto the chewing surface of your teeth (usually only on molars and premolars).  These are the areas which are most prone to developing cavities since the deep grooves tend to trap food particles.  Once the sealant has been applied, the surface is a much smoother, making your regular brushing more effective.

The procedure is performed by first thoroughly cleaning each tooth to be treated.  Then, to aid the bonding process, the teeth are dried and the sealant is applied.  The sealant itself is then dried and you’re done, just like that!

Dental sealants are highly recommended for children who have just gotten their permanent molars in order to quickly prevent any possible decay from forming.  Children typically get their first permanent molars around age six, with the rest coming in around 12.

Although sealants have long been a standard treatment for children, adults can also benefit from the extra protection it provides, so don’t hesitate to contact us for getting sealants for yourself as well!  Sealants can last from 5-10 years, and your dentist will look for any needed reapplications during regular checkups.