Fluoride Use in Adolescents

Fluoride is a mineral that plays an essential role in oral health. In fact, the significant reduction in American tooth decay in recent decades can be attributed to a greater availability of fluoride in public water supplies, toothpaste, and other resources. When it comes in contact with the teeth, fluoride helps protect the enamel from acid and plaque bacteria. In some cases, it can even reverse tooth decay in its earliest stages.
Despite the benefits of fluoride, tooth decay is still common, especially among teenagers. The Centers for Disease Control reports that cavities can be found in more than half of young teens and two-thirds of older teens over age 16. Many of those teens are deficient in fluoride, either due to a lack of public water fluoridation or the use of bottled water. So how can parents ensure their teens are getting the fluoride they need to facilitate strong, healthy teeth?


Monitor Fluoride Exposure
Dr. Bander, Dr. Baldwin and our team recommend you start by measuring your teen’s fluoride exposure. Make sure you purchase fluoridated toothpaste for your household, and find out if your tap water is fluoridated. If your teen primarily consumes bottled water, examine the bottle to determine whether fluoride has been added. The majority of bottled waters are not supplemented with fluoride, but those that are will be clearly labeled.


Fluoride Supplementation
Dr. Bander and Dr. Baldwin may recommend topical fluoride treatments at routine dental exams. These treatments are painless for your teen and may help establish stronger enamel that is more resistant to plaque and tooth decay. If you have a public water supply that is non-fluoridated, we may recommend fluoride supplementation between visits. These can be administered as drops, tablets, or vitamins.
Keep in mind that fluoride is critical for children and teens under the age of 16. Be proactive about your teen’s oral health by speaking with us about your family’s fluoride needs at your next dental visit.
For more information about fluoride, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bander or Dr. Baldwin, please give us a call at 616-949-5980!

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The Nutrition Plan That Will Save Your Life

Believe it: Three simple, cost-effective changes can help prevent and reverse heart disease, and reduce the risk and progression of cancer. The facts will have you overhauling your kitchen, your eating habits and your bill of health.

The groundbreaking book, The China Study, authored by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, reveals what can be described as a startling, yet wholly intuitive, relationship between nutrition and disease. Dr. Campbell found that a whole-foods, plant-based diet can not only lower your risk for certain diseases, it can reverse their progression.

The 20-year China Study allowed Campbell to test and compare laboratory findings against a participating human population. Across China, over 100 villages participated – and the findings were consistent: a high consumption of animal-based foods is associated with more chronic disease, while those eating primarily a plant-based diet were the healthiest.

The key of this nutritional dietary overhaul: avoiding meat, dairy and processed foods.

Meatless Protein
Animal protein, including fish, delivers a heavy dose of saturated fat and cholesterol, which can put you at risk for heart disease. Saturated fats raise your cholesterol and, over time, attack arteries leading to strokes and heart attacks. As a source of omega-3 fatty acids, fish has long been touted as one of the staples of a healthy diet, however 15-30% of fish is saturated fat.

Instead, get protein from beans, like pinto beans, black beans and kidney beans. Beans also contain soluble fiber that helps lower cholesterol. Click here for recipe ideas featuring the cholesterol-fighting power of beans.

Whole grains, such as quinoa, amaranth and millet are also good sources of protein. Nuts, including walnuts, pistachios and almonds are all high in protein.

You can also get protein from vegetables. For instance, broccoli is 30% protein in addition to containing highly absorbable calcium.
Dairyless Calcium, Potassium and Vitamin D
It may surprise you, but meat isn’t the highest source of bad fat. That title goes to dairy. Additionally, casein, a protein found in milk, has been linked to the growth rate of cancer. Give up dairy without depleting your supplies of calcium, potassium and vitamin D.

Boost your diet with leafy green vegetables, like collards, Brussels sprouts, kale and broccoli, for calcium, and fruit, like oranges, for potassium.

Sunlight is the natural and best source of vitamin D. The vitamin D found in milk is artificially added – you’ll notice that products will boast of being “vitamin D fortified.” Soy, almond, rice and oat milk can also be fortified with vitamin D, and they are lower in saturated fat than dairy milk.

The Ultimate Diet Don’t: Processed Foods
Processed foods are stripped of nutrients and injected with sugar, salt and trans-fats, three substances that lead to obesity, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Swap out these health saboteurs in favor of whole grains, including bread, pasta and seeds. Ditch processed sweets for fresh fruits – and enjoy as much as you like.

It’s important to remember that added vegetable oils, like olive oil, can be considered processed. Get creative with your cooking and experiment with lemon and lime juices, vinegar and spices. Plant-based foods contain natural oils, so added oils aren’t necessary during cooking.

This type of eating isn’t a diet; it’s a nutritional commitment. While vegans avoid animal and dairy products, they don’t ideologically avoid processed foods like potato chips.
Here’s a sample menu to help you adjust to this lifesaving whole-food, plant-based food plan.

Breakfast
Steel cut oatmeal with apricots

Lunch
Spinach salad with tofu, vegetables and roasted red pepper vinaigrette

Dinner
Whole grain fettuccine with sundried tomato sauce and grilled vegetables
 

This website is for informational and entertainment purposed only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

© 2016 Harpo, Inc., All Rights Reserved

Stress and Your Oral Health

Stress symptoms—which include high blood pressure, severe aches, and insomnia—may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is the culprit when in fact stress may actually be the reason. While stress can be good for us sometimes, Dr. Bander, Dr. Baldwin and our team know stress can be physically harmful. But what is often overlooked is that stress can also take a toll on your mouth. Here’s how:


Teeth Grinding
It’s not uncommon for people dealing with stress to develop teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. People who grind their teeth at night may do so unconsciously, but the condition requires treatment to prevent the development of headaches, TMJ, and tooth damage. If you’re a night-grinder, talk to Dr. Bander or Dr. Baldwin. They may recommend a night guard.


Mouth Sores
Research suggests stress and depression harm your immune system, making it easier for infections to develop and stick around. That can mean canker sores or a cold sore outbreak. If mouth sores are a recurring problem for you, give us a call to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bander or Dr. Baldwin.


Bad Habits
Stress can lead to bad oral health habits such as smoking, drinking, and neglecting your daily brushing and flossing routine. If you’ve been feeling under pressure lately, try to keep up with your oral health routine—it will serve you well when your stress levels return to normal.
Dr. Bander, Dr. Baldwin and our team know there’s not always an easy way to reduce your stress levels, but eating healthy, exercising regularly, and spending time with friends and family are all good places to start.