Football Season Can Be A Penalty For Your Teeth!

Nothing says football season like a big tub of Gatorade being dumped on the winning coach at the end of a game.  But for you and your kids it could be offsides and holding on your dental health.

Originally developed at the University of Florida in 1965 (and named after their sports teams-"The Gators"), Gatorade was intended for athletes such as football players who endured rigorous workouts in the hot sun.  But somehow this potent drink has become a staple of our popular culture, and its combination of sugars, salt and electrolytes can be anything but healthy for all but the most strenuous exercisers.  The fact is, for just about all of us, including children, water remains the healthiest drink either with meals or during and after exercise.

"For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best," said Holly J. Benjamin, M.D., a member of the executive committee of the AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness.  "Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don't need, and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay.  It's better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals.  Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals."

Even worse are "energy drinks" -which contain huge amounts of stimulants including caffeine, guarana and taurine.  Some of these drinks contain more than 500 mg of caffeine-the equivalent of 14 cans of soda!!  Combine that with huge amounts of tooth rotting and obesity causing sugar, and you've got a formula for health disaster.  To make things worse, some schools actually have "pouring contracts' where they are paid to promote and serve unhealthy sodas and sports drinks.

Good old fashioned tap water, fortified with fluoride , not only remains the healthiest drink but it's the least expensive as well.

So please enjoy football season, but remember not to let energy drinks and sports drinks blitz the dental and overall health of you and your children.

HUGE OFFICE MEETING AT KIRKWOOD DENTAL!!

We are all so excited for our meeting today! So many new ideas regarding our customer service, reaching out to the community and offering new products and services for the upcoming year! Our new Social Media sites are so fabulous! Our patients can connect with us and we with them via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Kirkwood Dental Corner (..our totally awesome Blog!) and of course our new and improved Kirkwood Dental Web site at http://www.kirkwooddental.com! We LOVE our patients and are busy! busy! busy! thinking of new ways to make our patients proud and happy to be a part of our Kirkwood Dental family!
At Kirkwood our patients come first and we welcome any and all comments and suggestions regarding improving our service. Your dental health as well as your experience at Kirkwood Dental is our #1 priority.

Sensitivity

We’ve all noticed it from time to time – have some ice cream followed by good hot coffee and OUCH! – your tooth is telling you not to do that! But how do you know if your tooth sensitivity is a sign of (pardon the pun) a deep rooted problem?

Let’s start with a little quiz. What is the hardest substance in the human body?

a)    Fingernails

b)   The thigh bone, also known as the femur

c)    Your hard-headed uncle’s skull

d)   Tooth enamel

If you guessed tooth enamel, you’re not only on your way to a winning appearance on Jeopardy but you’re ready to understand tooth sensitivity.

The enamel that covers your teeth is an extremely hard substance and acts as a great protectant. Inside the enamel is something called dentin, which is a bit softer and actually has small hollow tubes leading right into the nerve chamber. Irritate that layer and your tooth will let you know! So if the enamel on your teeth is worn away, sensitivity can set in. The roots of your teeth are in a similar situation, and receding gums which cause the roots to be uncovered can cause sensitivity as well. So what can you do?

First of all, be gentle when you brush and always use a soft toothbrush. Lots of pressure and stiff bristles don’t clean your teeth any better and actually can wear away enamel and gums.

Some people find that acidic foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes can cause sensitivity, so avoid those if you are in that category.

Also, there are over-the-counter products, such as special toothpastes and rinses, that can help. Let us know and we’ll be glad to recommend the right one for you.

Unfortunately, many of the causes of tooth sensitivity are also signs of much larger dental problems. Things such as cavities, defective fillings or crowns, receding gums due to gum disease, grinding, and many other conditions can cause sensitivity and all of these things definitely need attention from a dental professional.

At Belmont Dental Care we want you to be comfortable and have healthy teeth and gums! If tooth sensitivity or any other dental issues are causing you concern, please give us a call at 443-867-5309 and we will be glad to see how we can help. We want to get you comfortable again!

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Dental Hygiene ..a myth or reality?

Ask the folks at the Madow seminar :-)