“Tooth decay is five times more prevalent than asthma and results in more than 51 million hours of missed school each year,” said Dr. William Calnon, president of the ADA.

        Tips and Tricks for Avoiding

           Scary Halloween Treats

1. Offer healthy alternatives to candy.

Eating sweets causes damaging acids to form in the mouth. These acids continue to affect the teeth for at least 20 minutes before they are neutralized. Sugar-free gum containing the artificial sweetener xylitol is effective in combating the bacteria in plaque and fighting the acid that eats away at enamel. The chewing motion also stimulates the flow of saliva, which helps cleanse the teeth. That makes sugar-free gum a smart choice to drop into Halloween bags.

2. Limit the amount of time that sugar is in contact with your child’s teeth.

When buying candy for Halloween, look for treats that can be eaten quickly, like miniature candy bars. When you get home from trick-or-treating, discard hard or sticky candies like sugared fruit snacks, caramels or lollipops, as they increase the period of time in which teeth are exposed to sugar. Encourage your child to eat a small amount of candy in one sitting followed by a glass of water and thorough tooth brushing. It is not a good idea to allow your child to graze on candy as this will increase the amount of time sugar comes in contact with teeth.

3. Teach your child to eat all foods in moderation.

Although sweets are blamed for much tooth decay, all foods — even healthy alternatives to candy, such as fruit and nuts — can promote tooth decay if eaten in excess. Children (like adults) should eat all foods in moderation. Read nutrition labels to avoid foods and drinks loaded with sugar, fructose and other sweeteners.

4. Set up a candy bank.

Allow your child to make daily withdrawals from the bank and monitor the progress. This way, you can control how much candy your child consumes.

5. Take time during Halloween to brush up on your child’s oral health habits.

What better time than Halloween to treat your kids to a little reminder about the importance of healthy teeth and gums? Just a quick reminder of the importance of brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist is all that’s needed to help your child understand the importance of oral health. Treat your child to a special, new toothbrush and some flavored floss to reinforce the habit of proper dental care.

6. Use fluoride to fight cavities.

The use of fluoride has been demonstrated to dramatically reduce the damage caused by tooth decay. The most common ways to use fluoride for cavity prevention are by using fluoridated toothpaste and other products and by drinking fluoridated water.

Children should brush at least twice a day for two minutes with a small (pea-sized) amount of fluoridated toothpaste and rinse with a fluoridated mouth rinse. Fluoride treatments, applied directly onto teeth, are also available in any dentist’s office. Fluoridated water generally is delivered through a community’s water supply. If your area does not have fluoridated water, consider buying fluoridated bottled water or asking your dentist for fluoride supplements for your children.

Information courtesy of the Academy of General Dentistry

Last updated: October 2011

The post October is here! first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

Time to go back to school!!!

The day has finally arrived for all parents to rejoice with the kids going back to school. Yet, back to school also means back to schedules, early mornings rushing out the door, and having to think about lunch and snack options.

We do see an increase in gingivitis and cavities during the summer months. This is often due to floss going on vacation when you and the kids are sipping sweet tea and lemonade on those lazy hazy days of summer. The school season brings it’s own challenges for your oral health. So how do you keep your teeth and gums healthy during hectic school and after school activities?

First lets talk about how quickly plaque forms and why it is so important to have a twice a day oral health routine for the whole family. The name of the game here is “Defeat Plaque”. This sounds corny but this is your motivation. Plaque begins to form within minutes after you brush. It starts out as a positive reservoir for fluoride, calcium and phosphate deposits. These strengthen the teeth and protect the teeth from cavities. The down side of plaque is within a few hours the good bacteria turns into bad bacteria collecting carbohydrates that turn into acid.

What is a parent to do? Encouraging brushing in the morning is challenging but important. Listerine swishing for your teenager before school is better than doing nothing, but not a substitute for the toothbrush. Check out Listerine Zero for a non-alcohol solution. (Stop by our office for $1 off coupons.) Listerine has the best research with evidence to prove Listerine does what is claims to do.

Packing lunches is a tough one for those picky eaters. Try to avoid sticky additions to their lunch like fruit snacks. Apples are a great lunch item because they are crunchy and can help with plaque removal. Try to stress the need for a big swish of water after lunch. This will dilute the carbohydrates and give the teeth a little fluoride to combat the acid attack. If snacking after school is unavoidable encourage water swishing and drinking while snacking. Discourage soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, chocolate milk and some flavored water.

Speaking of the drinks our kids consume; I have listed a few examples of some popular drinks and their acid content.

Feel free to contact our office for a larger list of beverages; the pH, teaspoons of sugar, and grams of sugar per serving.

Happy new school year!

“Give me an N, give me an O, give me a C, give me an A, give me a V, give me an I, give me a TIES. What does it spell?

No Cavities!!!!!

The post BACK TO SCHOOL…WITH NO CAVITIES !!! first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

Summer is officially here!  Time for the pool, beach, summer camps and ice cream!  Children, teenagers and college students are ready for a break and parents are planning well deserved summer vacations.

Summer is also a great time to catch up on your dental appointments.  Have you had your 6 month check up?  Is it time to take care of that filling Dr. Anderson recommended?  How about getting started on Invisalign?  Brighten your summer with teeth whitening! The demands of school, extracurricular activities and work absorb much of our time during the year. 

Check your calendars, come and see Dr. Anderson, Gail, Charlotte, Tammy, Kristin and Peggy.  We will be sure to entertain you and provide you with an enjoyable dental experience.

      Come see us today!!!

The post It’s Summertime! Catch Up On Your Dental Appointments first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

The following reasons explain why people should reconsider whitening their teeth:

1. My teeth are too sensitive.
2. It’s too expensive.
3. My teeth are not “that” bad.
4. I don’t have the time to fuss with it.
5. I can’t go through the impression procedure to make the trays.

The reasons why people should reconsider why they should whiten their teeth?

1. The whitening gel contains potassium nitrate which helps decrease sensitivity associated with bleaching. (The ingredient sensitive toothpaste uses.)
2. There are 3 different methods to try each with a reasonable fee. Venus White is almost half the fee from previous whitening systems.
3. Everyone benefits from a brighter smile whether you work with the public or not. A bright smile gives a healthy and “younger” looking appearance. Most people will not even notice your whiter teeth. They will tell you “how rested you look” or “how healthy you look”.
4. The new Venus White system has options starting with 30-45 minutes up to the traditional overnight system. The new in office procedure does not use a “light enhancement” (which has questionable results per the current research) and only takes 1- 1 ½ hours of your time (with a significant fee reduction compared to our previous system).
5. No need for impressions with the Venus White ULTRA.  This system includes prefilled trays with a 7 day treatment. For $55 you can have results in one week.

                        Here at Anderson Family Dentistry we are very excited to be offering this new whitening system with expected great results. Affordable, easy, and with minimal sensitivity. The company supplying the Venus White Teeth Whitening System also donates a percentage of every sale of Venus White to support breast cancer research.

Log onto www.MyVenusSmile.com for more information on each of the bleaching systems or feel free to call or email our office.

Enjoy a brighter smile this spring!

The post Show the World Your Most Beautiful Smile! first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

Now we know most of you are very faithful in keeping up with your oral home care and coming in to see us every 4 or 6 months. We love getting to know you, your families, your likes and dislikes. We become, or at least strive to become, very comfortable in our Dentist/Hygienist/Patient relationship. So you wonder…why on earth do I have to update my health history all the time when we know each other so well?

First misconception; you don’t update your health history every time you come into our office . If it has been a year or more since your last visit or it has been 1 year since you last filled out the form with your health history and insurance information, we ask you to update your records. Dental professionals are compelled by law to produce and maintain adequate patient records. The Virginia Department of Health Professionals also mandates this policy.

Second; we do need to know about medication changes, recent surgeries, new knees or hips, and major illness. Some medications require a change in the type of anesthesia given. Dr. Anderson also does not want over the counter medication to react negatively with a medication he may need to prescribe for you. The daily use of a small 81mg of aspirin can cause bleeding during your treatment with the hygienist. We want to make sure that is the reason, not gingivitis and active periodontal disease.

We do need to know about your medications because many will affect your oral health and encourage cavites. Our goal is to keep you healthy. If we know the reason for changes in your mouth we can individualize your dental care.

Some surgeries require a waiting period of 6-8 weeks before you can have dental care of any kind. Joint replacements require an antibiotic 1 hour prior to your dental care in our office. Some people need special home care instructions for this same health change if they have severe gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Bringing a list of your current medications is a great way to minimize the paperwork for both of us. In fact, you should keep in your wallet or purse a current list (with a date) of your medications, vitamins and aspirin use (including what dosage you take (ie: 81mg, 325mg.). If you were in an accident and couldn’t tell the responders what you take they have no basis to begin proper treatment to help you.

Thirdly, we do not get information from your insurance company about individual changes, nor are we informed you no longer have your primary dental coverage and now will only use your secondary coverage. We are more than happy to verify your insurance and submit it for you.

One last misconception: believe it or not, when you dropped your phone land line and decided to use your cell phone only we didn’t get the message from the phone company and are unable to reach you to confirm your appointments.

OK. Enough excuses from us. But here is the good news. We are working on a new Health History update that should be less painful for all of you, minimal information to update, less paper in the landfills. So the next time Kristen or Peggy greets you with a warm welcome and hands you the new shorter heath history form we hope you will be less inclined to growl at them.

Once again, Happy New Year, Happy Oral Health, Be happy filling out your updated Health History form.

The post Updating Your Health History first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

MAXIMIZE YOUR 2012 DENTAL BENEFITS

                                 Yes, it is that time!  Be aware of your remaining dental benefits for 2012 and take advantage of using them now!  WHY…..

YEARLY MAXIMUM

DEDUCTIBLE

PREMIUMS

FEE INCREASES

DENTAL PROBLEMS CAN BECOME WORSE

Our economy is changing.  Benefits are being reduced and employee

out of pocket costs are increasing…

Ask Anderson Family Dentistry to assess the status of your current dental benefits.

Inquire about available payment options.

We are here to help you obtain optimal dental health!!

The post USE OR LOSE !!!! first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

 For those of you who prefer not to use a fluoride toothpaste you do have options. There are several brands on the market that are fluoride free. You can find several of the toothpastes from the following list at Walmart (is there anything they don’t carry?):

Tom’s ofMaine

The Natural Dentist

Spry Toothpaste

Xliwhite

Jason Powersmile

Therabreath

            Let’s get down to the nitty gritty of what is in our toothpaste! We hope the following article answers some or all of your questions. Feel free to ask us any other questions you may have the next time you are in our office for a visit. Click on the link below for the full article.

                             Until next month…………..Happy Flossing! 

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/weighing-your-toothpaste-options

Toothpaste Basics

Toothpaste is available in paste, gel, or powder form. Despite the many types of toothpaste that exist, there are some ingredients common to most varieties. These include:

• Abrasive agents. Scratchy materials, including calcium carbonate and silicates, help remove food, bacteria, and some stains from your teeth.
• Flavoring. Artificial sweeteners, including saccharin, are often added to toothpaste to make them taste better. While many people equate the flavor of toothpaste with mint, toothpaste is available in a variety of flavors, including cinnamon, lemon-lime, and even bubblegum (for kids — or kids at heart).
• Humectants for moisture retention. Paste and gel formulations often contain substances like glycerol to prevent the toothpaste from drying out.
• Thickeners. Agents that add thickness to the toothpaste, including gums and gooey molecules found in some seaweeds, help achieve and maintain proper toothpaste texture.
• Detergents. Those suds you see when you brush your teeth are from detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate.

Fluoride Toothpaste

The most important ingredient to look for when choosing toothpaste is fluoride.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. Its use has been instrumental in the dramatic drop in tooth decay and cavity occurrence that has taken place over the past 50 years. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and starches that remain on your teeth after eating. Fluoride helps protect your teeth from the acid that is released when this happens. It does this in two ways. First, fluoride makes your tooth enamel stronger and less likely to suffer acid damage. Second, it can reverse the early stages of acid damage by remineralizing areas that have started to decay.

Using fluoride toothpaste is an important way to ensure that your teeth are reaping the benefits of this dental-friendly mineral. Don’t think you can skip fluoride if you live in an area where the water is fluoridated. Studies have shown that using fluoride toothpaste helps increase the concentration of fluoride in the teeth, even in areas with water supplies containing high levels of the mineral.

Tartar Control Toothpaste

There are a variety of ingredients used in toothpaste to help prevent the accumulation of tartar on the teeth. Chemical compounds, including pyrophosphates and zinc citrate, are often added and have been proven effective. Additionally, some tartar control toothpastes contain an antibiotic called triclosan, which kills some of the bacteria in the mouth.

Certain toothpastes containing multiple anti-plaque agents have been demonstrated to be even more effective at tartar control than varieties with only one plaque fighter

Toothpastes for Sensitive Teeth

These toothpastes usually contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. These chemical compounds, which can take up to four weeks to offer relief, reduce tooth sensitivity by blocking pathways through the teeth that attach to nerves.

Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening toothpastes do not typically contain bleaches. Instead, they contain abrasive particles or chemicals that effectively polish the teeth or bind to stains and help pull them off the tooth surface.

**Note from our office: most whitening toothpastes contain a concentration of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

Although you might be concerned that the abrasiveness of whitening toothpaste could damage your teeth, studies suggest that whitening toothpastes are no harder on tooth enamel than other types of toothpaste.

Tips for Choosing a Toothpaste

Here are some tips to help you choose the best toothpaste to meet your family’s dental needs:

• Opt for ADA approval. Whatever your toothpaste needs, be sure to select toothpaste that has earned an American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. Toothpastes that have earned this distinction have been evaluated for safety and effectiveness by an independent review board of scientific experts. All toothpastes earning the ADA seal contain fluoride — the most important ingredient in any toothpaste.
• Be wary of imposters. In 2007, some toothpastes imported from China were found to contain a toxic substance, diethylene glycol. The FDA is currently advising against choosing toothpaste that says it was made in China.
• Consider your needs and the needs of your family members. As long as you select a fluoride-containing toothpaste, the best toothpaste is a matter of personal choice and preference. If you’re committed to an all-natural lifestyle, you may want to opt for ADA-approved toothpastes that contain only natural ingredients. For people trying to instill good oral hygiene habits in your children, why not choose fruit-flavored toothpastes with sparkles to entice them to brush their teeth? Some people are eager to restore whiteness to their teeth with whitening toothpastes. Others like the feeling of brushing their teeth with toothpaste containing hydrogen peroxide or baking soda.

With so many different options and combinations available, you can experiment with different brands, varieties, and flavors to find the best toothpaste for you.

The post What is all that “stuff” in my toothpaste? first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

Well, I hate to spoil your fun, but this kind of summer will deliver you, in the fall, to Dr. Anderson’s dental chair to take care of a few cavities! Hydration is critical during these hot summer days. So school’s out, pools are open, the beach is calling your name, what’s a thirsty person to do?

Let me back up here a little and give you a short background on those sweet drinks we so love to sip on a hot day. The average American drinks 50 gallons of soda and other sweetened beverages each year. This is the equivalent of 34lbs of sugar! For example; a regular 20 oz cola has 68 grams of sugar equaling 17 teaspoons of table sugar. For every 4 grams of sugar on the label of your soda, tea, or lemonade you are consuming 1 teaspoon of sugar. That may not sound like a lot at first, but try this little experiment on your own or with your kids this summer:

1. Find a favorite summer drink.
2. Look at the label and find the grams of sugar per serving. (Note: your drink may be intended for more than one serving!)
3. Now multiply this amount by 4. Measure this number using table sugar. (ie: 20 grams of sugar on label , measure 5 teaspoons of table sugar in a glass or on the table.)

1. Take a realistic look at the amount of sugar you are consuming with your beverage of choice.

Here are a few tips from theADAto reduce your risk of tooth decay and still drink that amazing bottle of sugar:

1. Drink with a meal. (Saliva increases during meals and helps neutralize acid (see our April blog for details on acid content).

1. Limit sugary drinks between meals. This includes sports drinks, juice, and milk shakes.

1. Chew sugarless gum that has the ADA Seal.  “Chewing gum for 20 minutes after meals has been shown to reduce tooth decay.”

1. Drink water. (Yes boring water.)

Since the average adult needs 9 – 13 cups of fluids every day, let’s get back to the question of “what is a thirsty person to do?”. If water is just not your cup of tea (or soda), try brewing one of the wonderful flavors of herbal tea found on the grocery store shelves. Make ice tea out of it or ice cubes to flavor your water. Drink sensibly. A straw helps, but following the steps from the ADAis extremely important.  Soda does not quench your thirst or rehydrate the body. They are addictive and can increase your thirst. Water is the only thing your body is craving in the heat! Diet soda’s are not always the answer either. They are not a healthy drink alternative and artificial sweeteners have yet to be proven 100% safe. Moderation here is very important!

I have listed a few resources below that will give you further details. “Sugar Shockers!” has several wonderful charts with total calories, grams of sugar and teaspoons of sugar. I found this information very useful while researching for this blog.

     Until next month…………..Happy Flossing! 

www.ada.org

“Snack and Sip All Day? Risk Decay! (brochure you can pick up in our office)

www.obesityjournal.org   “Sugar Content of Popular Sweetened Beverages Based on Objective laboratory Analysis: Focus on Fructose Content. [table 2; page 4]

www.cachampionsforchange.net  “Re-think your Drink “Be Sugar Savvy” Activities

The post SUMMERTIME AND SWEET TEA first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

After trying the Sonicare® Air Flosser, personally, I am not “in love” with it. It does work well under my bridge but I find after using the Air Flosser and then follow with traditional floss, I still find debris (this is the best description I can give without giving you a disgusting word picture, sorry :> ). I still think it is a great tool for those of you who hate to floss or can’t floss due to arthritis or other handicaps. The results of this study did report a “significant” reduction in plaque and gingivitis with the Sonicare® Air Flosser; just not as significant as the Water Pik® Water Flosser. I have a few issues with the study itself. A good research study includes a large number of subjects over a long period of time. This study (“Comparison of Two Power Interdental Cleaning Devices on the Reduction of Gingivitis” Sharma, BDS, DDS et al. ) included only 82 subjects over a period of 28 days. It was also supported by a research grant from Water Pik, Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado. Here is a summary of their findings:

Gingivitis reduction: Water Flosser: 41.2%;    Air Flosser: 22.8%

(Whole Mouth)

Plaque Reduction:    Water Flosser: 50.9%;    Air Flosser: 30.0%

(Whole Mouth)

   (Between teeth/       Water Flosser: 76.7% ;    Air Flosser: 48.0%

    Approximal)

Unbiased? Perhaps. Does this type of comparison study require more? Let’s see how the people at Phillips Sonicare® respond and react to these results. The bottom line? Both Water Flosser and Air Flosser make a huge difference in your overall oral health. The Air Flosser is easier to use and less messy. The Water Flosser is less expensive. I have included the links to the study just incase you would like to read the results for yourself.  

                             Until next month…………..Happy Flossing!  

http://professional.waterpik.com/clinical-research/

http://professional.waterpik.com/water-flosser-airfloss-gingivitis-treatment-dental-plaque/

http://professional.waterpik.com/water-flosser-airfloss-dental-plaque-removal/

http://professional.waterpik.com/airflosser1c.html

The post The Results Are In For: Water Pik’s Water Flosser vs Sonicare’s Air Flosser ! first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.

•  The addictive properties of caffeine
• Advertising works on us, even if we don’t think it does
• The daily ritual of drinking soda, that pop, or fizz that happens when you first open a can or bottle

Click on the link below and find a drink you can enjoy this summer. Try sipping with a lower acidic drink to quench your thirst and keep you out of Dr. Anderson’s dental chair!

http://quittingsoda.com/post/the-acidity-ph-of-soda-pop

The post What is in your soda? Are you having a glass of acid with your lunch??? first appeared on Anderson Family Dentistry.