Lost Teeth = Lost Memory

Standing in my basement I shout to my kids, "I'm in the laundry room.  Why am I here?"  Sometimes, just musing aloud jogs my memory so I can bring back what I came for.  While this sort of memory stumble is common and not concerning, larger memory lapses can be incredibly unsettling.

Studies performed in the last 10 years have shown a link to good oral health and good memory.

"Infections in the gums that can lead to tooth loss may release inflammatory substances, which in turn will enhance the brain inflammation that cause neuronal death and hasten memory loss," said Dr. Nozomi Okamoto in a news release from the journal, Behavioral and Brain Functions, publisher. "The loss of sensory receptors around the teeth is linked to some of the dying neurons."

This may lead to a vicious cycle, Okamoto explained. The loss of these brain connections can cause more teeth to fall out, further contributing to cognitive decline.

Photo credit: Rodale.com

Another study performed at Colombia came to the same conclusion: Taking care of your teeth does a lot more than preserve your smile and your ability to chew. "Good oral health and prevention," said Dr. Sally Cram, "are your best investments in preventing pain, suffering, big dental expenses and, possibly, other systemic health issues as you get older.

If you're up for an even bigger mental challenge, try brushing with your non-dominant hand.  That gives your brain and your mouth a workout. 

Ice, Ice Baby

by Andrea Harris

Photo Credit: WebMD.com

I love ice.  It’s so... munchy. It was one of the the things I missed the most when I spent a whole summer in Europe with barely an ice cube in sight.  

“Pleeeeease,” we’d beg the wait staff, “just bring our drinks with some ice!!”  

We got some weird looks, but it was a million degrees outside and all we wanted were cold drinks!  The night we found a place that brought us pitchers of ice with our water was the most magical night of the trip.  Who knew something I’d taken for granted all my life would be such a luxury elsewhere!

Luckily, most of us can just push a button right on the front of the fridge and get as much ice as we want. And right now, at the height of swimsuit season, it’s cold, refreshing, and calorie-free.  The perfect summer crunch, right?  

Not so fast!  

According to WebMD, “munching on hard, frozen cubes can chip or even crack your teeth. And if your mindless chomping irritates the soft tissue inside a tooth, regular toothaches may follow. Hot foods and cold foods may trigger quick, sharp jabs of pain or a lingering toothache.”

Interestingly (and contrary to popular belief), “it's not the fact that ice is cold that's the problem,” said Dr. Thomas Kilgore, a professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine. “It's that ice cubes, like nuts, are so hard they can chip or crack teeth, especially teeth already weakened by large, old fillings.”

"Nine times out of 10, you can chew ice and it won't have any effect," Kilgore said. But teeth can be structurally weakened by fillings, which makes them more susceptible to fracture from biting hard substances.  If the filling has weakened the enamel, the tooth might crack."

And once you have a cracked tooth, whether because of chewing ice or something else, you may have to have a root canal or even need a crown or lose the tooth, said Dr. Jamie Wong, an assistant clinical professor of prosthodontics and operative dentistry at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.

Think about it, cracked or broken teeth can be expensive and uncomfortable.  Trust me, I’ve had a few... and yes (true confessions!), I’m a former ice chewer!  So, if you HAVE to nosh some ice from the bottom of your summertime sip-- save your smile and just suck, don’t chew!

It’s Electric...

by Andrea Harris

Remember when you were a kid and your parents would ask, “Did you brush your teeth?”  Of course, you said you did... a quick NOM NOM NOM on your toothbrush counts, right?  Not really... 

According to Michael Sesemann, DDS, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, two minute is the ideal brushing time.  He often recommends people divide the mouth into quadrants and spend 30 seconds a quadrant.

Ok, so you’ve got two minutes to get your teeth sparkly clean.  How are you going to get the most bang for your buck?  The good, old-fashioned way, or is it time to go electric?       

Many patients are now asking their dentists about these mechanical tools so much that the American Dental Association (ADA) has issued several news releases on the matter.

"If you are a wonderful brusher and a wonderful flosser (are you??) ... then the manual toothbrushes are just great," says Kimberly Harms, DDS, an ADA consumer advisor who is also a dentist in Farmington, Minn. However, she says powered devices can help people who have trouble physically moving their brushes around their mouth to clean all teeth surfaces. These may include anyone with a motor disability or arthritis.

If the increased amount of space taken up on store shelves is any indication, the electric brushes are growing in popularity. Some of them are kid-friendly: The toothbrush handle may take on the shape of a racing car or a mermaid or a cell phone, and its color may resemble army camouflage.

So is there a real difference?  The two main types of power toothbrushes are electric and sonic -- the difference between the two really comes down to numbers.  

Electric Toothbrushes: With 3,000 to 7,500 rotating motions a minute, electric toothbrushes are powered to replicate the motion of your hand -- doing the muscle work for you. The bristles on these toothbrushes either rotate or move back and forth to help remove plaque and reduce gingivitis.

Photo Credit: Kookl.com

Sonic Toothbrushes: Offering 30,000 to 40,000 strokes per minute, sonic toothbrushes rotate in a back and forth vibrating motion. The rapid motion is the sonic toothbrushes' claim to fame. But ultimately, it also aims to remove plaque and keep teeth and gums healthy and clean.

Now, for the real difference: the old-fashioned way of brushing your teeth rings in about 300 strokes per minute -- if you brush properly.  So over the two-minute recommended brushing time, your teeth are hit with 600 strokes … a far cry from the thousands you might get with the high-tech variety!  

So, should you switch?  

Well, you really can’t argue with the hard numbers and, according to one patient who has been using an electric toothbrush for more than seven years, she has been impressed with the results -- cleaner teeth and minimal plaque build-up, which translates into less scraping at her regular dental check-ups.

She hasn’t had a cavity since she made the switch from a hand-powered toothbrush, and her gums are in good shape. Although she can’t say for sure her pristine oral health is the result of her electric toothbrush, she’s not messing with success.

Smiles Giveaway Winner | Susan Woods

And the winner is...

Susan Woods!

To pick up your $25 Texas Roadhouse gift card come by the office in the next week.

Dr. Matthews office located at 3610 N. University Ave Suite 200 in Provo.

Smiles Giveaway Winner | Nancy Cadjan

And the winner is...

Nancy Cadjan!

Congratulations! 

To pick up your $25 Fandango gift card come by the office in the next week.

Dr. Matthews office located at 3610 N. University Ave Suite 200 in Provo.

4 Ways to Improve Your Breath

In each of our mouths is a village of micro-organisms and bacteria.  It's weird to think about, but keeping the balance of "good" and "bad" bacteria are part of the process that improves dental health and tackles bad breath.

Most adults have bad breath some of the time.  Particularly when the mouth is dried out like first thing in the morning or after a long flight. But 25% of people the world over, have serious, constant cases of halitosis. For those who don't fall in the "lucky" 75% (and even for the rest of us and our occasional problems), what is to be done about the bad breath?

1. Proper oral hygiene.  It is critical to brush teeth twice a day and floss daily.  But there is too much of a good thing.  Too perfect of care (brushing 5+ times per day, etc) tends to wipe out the good bacteria along with the bad. When the mouth is sterilized it actually leaves it a breeding ground for bacteria--a situation in which the bad bacteria often dominates.

2. Scrape your tongue.  We know all about brushing in tiny circles as hygienists every where have instructed for years.  We likely know about the importance of brushing our gums--lightly--and regular flossing.  But we don't often hear about the benefits of scraping out tongues--an act that sounds kinda violent and invasive. An article on the topic from the Scientific American said, "Lightly scraping away any coating on the tongue can greatly improve the fragrance of one's breath for at least a few hours."

Photo Credit: NY Times.com

3. Watch your mouth rinse.  While mouth rinses can be helpful, check the ingredients.  Rinses that contain alcohol will wipe out your good bacteria along with the bad.  And even mouth rinses geared to eliminate bad bacteria only and ruin your taste buds or leave your with a constant oral tingle. (Stay tuned.  Rinses are in the works to help maintain a better bacteria balance.)

4. Chew gum.  All sugar-free gum helps promote stronger teeth and better breath by stimulating saliva, but there are now brands using an ingredient called Xylitol, that, studies show, takes on the stinkiest and worst-for-you bacteria,s. mutens. Turns out, Europe has been using this all-natural sweetener found in fruits and veggies for years. Chewing a couple of slices a day creates positive effects in the mouth that lasts for years, notes a 2012 article in the New York Times.

Smile!

by Andrea Harris

Photo Credit: Neurosciencestuff.tumblr.com

When I was a kid, I remember thinking my dad was sort of a grumpy guy... and also somehow secretly related to BYU coach LaVell Edwards (though he never seemed to show up at any family reunions, much to my disappointment). Partly it’s because my dad has really big, black, furrowy eyebrows, but mostly it’s because half the time he looks EXACTLY like Coach Edwards in the 4th quarter of a game there’s no hope of winning.  You know the frown I’m talking about!

Photo credit: The Sports Bank.net

Over and over my dad would say, “I am happy! I just forgot to tell my face.”  And still, people would mistake him as one orney fella.  (If you know him at all, nothing could be farther from the truth!)

So what’s the big deal about smiling?   Well, as it turns out, smiling is crazy good for you and there’s research to prove it.  Here are  just a few things smiling can do for you:

1. Lower Heart Rate – Smiling slows the heart and relaxes the body. This lets the heart work without overworking. People who smile and laugh often are less likely to develop heart disease. Smiling reduces blood pressure temporarily, too.  My frowny-faced dad?  He just had a heart attack...Might be something to this, right?  

2.  Reduce Stress – Stress is a common problem in the modern world that causes a myriad of health problems. Stress relief may be as simple as smiling a little more throughout the day. Smiling releases endorphins that counteract and diminish the stress hormones.  It also costs less than new shoes and works faster than the speed of chocolate!  Now, that’s a mood booster!

3. Increase Productivity –  So your boss just handed you a whole stack of things to do by the end of the day?  Instead of rolling your eyes before you dig in, try smiling! Smiling has been shown to increase productivity while performing tasks. There’s truth to the “whistle while we work” mentality. This also explains why silly internet memes and pictures of cute animals can actually get people motivated and working harder after a few moments of smiling or laughter.

4. Encourage Trust – Studies show that we are more trustful of others when they smile and smile genuinely. Trust is an important part of social health when dealing with people, whether they be loved ones or just acquaintances. Seems relationships are truly built on smiles.

5. Kill Pain – Smiling and laughter both have been shown to lessen pain. They release endorphins that lift our moods, but many of these act as natural painkillers, too. Now, don’t get crazy and skip the doctor next time you fall off a ladder, you can’t smile your way out of that one!  But smiling lends to our general sense of well-being, which helps us forget our minor aches and pains.

6. Increase Attention – Stress limits our perceptions and narrows our attention. Our body kicks into fight or flight mode where we can focus only on one of those things. Smiling counteracts this and widens our attention again, opening us back up to multitasking and insights that come from the fringes of our perception and our subconscious.

7. Build Attraction – Smiling makes people more attractive. This seems to be especially true for women. Men are more likely to approach a woman who smiles than one who simply makes eye contact while women aren’t necessarily drawn in by a smile alone.  

8. Look Younger – Smiles naturally lift the face and in studies have shown to make people look younger, around 3 years younger on average.  Go ahead, use a little less face cream.  Your face is naturally beautiful when you’re smiling.  The other day, my co-worker guessed that I was 8 years OLDER than I am.  If I wasn’t frowning before, I sure was after he said that!  But I’ll confess, I forget to tell my face I’m happy every once in awhile, too.  

9. Longevity – The effects of a good smile extend past just the exterior good looks. People who smile more often live longer too, around 7 years longer than most according to one study. It releases stress, helps the heart, and much more to keep you healthy longer.  There it is again!  That old smile to heart connection!

10. Contagious – Around 50% of people smile back. This spreads the health benefits throughout those around you and it comes back to you several times as well.  Try it this week.  Smile at every person you encounter.  I’m willing to bet you’ll make at least one person’s day... and your own!

So go ahead and get your smile on!  You’ll look younger, feel better, and gosh-darn-it, people will like you more!  And don’t forget to take good care of your smile! After all, it’s taking good care of you!