Beware of Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and you may be getting ready for some big fat kisses to come your way.

So even though at the office of Drs. Todd and Ronald Powell at Barrington Dental Care, we’re concerned about cavities, gum disease, bad breath and lots of saliva, we won’t use this month’s blog entry to gross you out about kissing. But we will tell you some interesting facts that you can tell your kissing partner right after they smack one on you!!

Anthropologists have argued for years about the origin of kissing. Many now believe that it has evolved from the time when mothers chewed food for their babies and then went mouth to mouth at feeding time. (Well, okay – we might gross you out a little bit!) This action became so comforting to babies that the habit continued even after they could chew for themselves, and then developed into a sign of affection.

Nowadays kisses aren’t just about romantic love. Of course parents kiss their children. Worshippers often kiss religious artifacts. Some people kiss the ground when exiting an airplane. And who doesn’t want to have a “boo boo” kissed when they get a bruise?

But February 14th is a day for the romantic kind of kiss, and if you are craving one, there may be a scientific reason. While this action can promote a psychological response of warmth and affection, it also causes your brain to secrete some important and productive chemicals, such as:

• Oxytocin, which helps people develop feelings of attachment, devotion and affection for one another
• Dopamine, which plays a role in the brain’s processing of emotions, pleasure and pain
• Serotonin, which affects a person’s mood and feelings
• Adrenaline, which increases heart rate and plays a role in your body’s fight-or-flight response

But along with that, when you kiss, hundreds or even millions of bacterial colonies are transported from one mouth to the other. And let’s face it – no one wants to kiss a person who has poor oral hygiene, bad breath, or just a generally yucky mouth. So let’s start with the basics:

• Make sure you brush at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.
• Floss once per day – if you have trouble flossing or are not sure how, please ask! We’ll be glad to show you the ropes.
• Avoid sugary and acid-laden foods such as soft drinks, sports drinks, and candy. (Okay - we won’t tell anyone if you have a tiny bit of candy on Valentine’s Day!)
• Eat a well balanced diet including lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, nuts and fiber.
• If you need to slip in a piece of gum or breath mint, make sure it contains Xylitol, which has been proven to reduce tooth decay.
• Drink plenty of water! This helps to rinse away food particles, and staying hydrated is good for fresh clean breath.
• See you dentist on a regular basis and call immediately if you suspect there are any problems with your oral condition.

Here at the office of Drs. Todd and Ronald Powell, we want you to have a kissable February 14th and a lifetime of excellent dental health. If you have any questions or need to set up an appointment, please give us a call at 847-381-2676. We are here for you!

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 it’s combination of sugars, salt and electrolytes can be anything but healthy for all but the most strenuous exercisers. Teh 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.

The dentists at Barrington Dental Care have some advice for you maintain optimal dental health. 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 your energy drinks and sports drinks blits the dental and overall health of you and your children.

Sometimes tooth damage can be caused by the most unlikely of sources.  Recently one of our patients complained that his teeth were extremely sensitive, were rapidly picking up stain and were actually losing enamel.  After much research, we discovered the culprit to be his swimming pool!

It seemed that he had a daily swimming routine in his backyard pool but didn’t take the time to monitor the pool chemicals properly.  This led to the pool water having a higher than normal acid content, resulting in severe dental damage.

According to Dr. Leila Jahangiri, chairwoman of NYU College of Dentistry Department of Prosthodontics, “Improperly maintained pool chlorination can cause rapid and excessive erosion of dental enamel.  It is a difficult balance to maintain home pools properly.  Proper pool chlorine and pH levels need to be monitored and maintained on a weekly basis.”

The fact is, we always need to be careful about things that can negatively affect our dental health.  Many foods, including healthy fruits and vegetables, are high in acid content.  And of course candies, sweets, sodas and sports drinks are loaded with sugar.  These foods are all waiting to do a full out assault on your teeth!

Medications and other factors which can cause dry mouth are also playing peril with your dental health.  And now it seems even a swimming pool can do your teeth harm!

At Barrington Dental Care, we care about you, your teeth and your gums as well as your overall health.  Please make sure to brush twice a day, especially after exposing your teeth to potentially harmful substances.  And don’t forget to floss!  If you are not sure how to use dental floss or find it uncomfortable when using it, feel free to ask any of our staff members for instructions.

Most importantly, don’t forget that your regular dental visit is not “just a check-up” - it is a crucial part of your overall health care.

If you have any questions about this or any other dental issue, we are here for you!  Please give us a call at 847-381-2676.  And enjoy what’s left of the summer and hopefully we will have a pleasant fall.

The suitcases are packed, the car is loaded, the dog is in the kennel and it is time for the summer vacation! There is no better time for relaxing at the beach, exploring a fascinating city or just enjoying the outdoors.  Being miles away from home always makes it less stressful and more fun.

But being miles away from home means that you are far from us-your favorite dental office!  And while there is no way to prevent a dental emergency from happening while you are away from home, there are a few items you can bring on vacation to make things more pleasant should an emergency situation arise.  You can even throw several items into a cosmetics bag and make your own “Dental Emergency Kit!”

Pain relief: Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil or generic is usually safe and effective to use for minor dental discomfort.

Lost filling or crown: “Dentemp One Step Filling Material” is a good temporary solution for replcing a crown (cap) or protecting an area exposed by a lost filling.  This is available at most drug stores.

Broken denture: “The D.O.C. Denture Repair Kit” works as a short term measure to adhere a lost denture tooth or repair a cracked denture.  Also available at most drugstores.

Lost tooth: Carry an empty prescription medical vial.  Should an accident occur and an adult tooth is lost with the root intact-DO NOT clean or handle the root.  Place it in the medicine vial along with some liquid, preferably milk and seek dental attention immeditely. The longer the tooth is out of the socket the less chance there is for the tooth to reattach to the bone.

Food or other item stuck between the teeth: This can be a very uncomfortable situation, be sure to have dental floss on hand to remove any item stuck between the teeth. You should be carrying dental floss with you anyway.

Cute on the gums, lip or tongue: As with bleeding anywhere in the body, pressure with a clean gauze or cloth is the first line of treatment.  If the bleeding doesn’t stop seek medical help immediately.

For many minor dental irritations of the teeth, gums and mouth, a good old-fashioned salt water rinse can give temporary relief.  We are not big fans of Ambesol Gel as there are many side effects and over usage can harm the mouth tissues.

So there you have it-your very own travel dental emergency kit!  The most important thing to remember that all solutions presented here are temporary in nature.  Should an emergency arise, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible.

At Barrington Dental Care, we are always here for you, even if you are away from home.  If you have any questions about a dental emergency or anything else dentally related give us a call at 847-381-2676.  Have a safe, healthy vacation and don’t forget to brush and floss.

Do you ever feel like your mouth and The Sahara Desert have something in common?

If so, you are not alone. Over 25 million Americans suffer from dry mouth.  And it’s not just the discomfort of dry mouth ( known as “xerostomia’ by dentists) that is the problem; it is often accompanied by trouble chewing and swallowing, difficulty in speaking, a rise in dental decay and gum disease and often, there is bad breadth.  If people act like there is a fire drill taking place every time you open your mouth, this could be the culprit!

So why do so many of us have what is often referred to as “cotton mouth?”

According to the FDA, over 400 medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can lead to dry mouth. It is caused by mouth breathing, dehydration (drink your water) and lack of salivary flow due to aging. In rare instances, dry mouth may be caused by an underlying disease-so it is not something to take lightly.

There are several things you can do to help the symptoms of dry mouth, including:

1. Chewing a sugar free gum containing Xylitol

2. Drinking plenty of water

3. Breathing through your nose instead of your mouth (easier said than done)

4. Frequent brushing and flossing with a fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse

5. Using a room vaporizer to humidify the room your sleep in

6. Using an over-the-counter saliva substitute

Since dry mouth can also be a sign of a serious illness with an increase in cavities and gum disease, excellent oral hygiene and regular  dental visits are a must. If you are experiencing dry mouth problems, please call us now at 847-381-2676  for an appointment to discuss the problem. Your health is important to us and we want you to smile for a lifetime.

The band, Steely Dan once sang about “Gold Teeth”-but more of us probably have silver in our teeth than gold.

Recently, many patients have been asking about the difference between traditional “silver” fillings and the more modern, tooth colored or “white” fillings. Here is a little history (I will try to make it fun) and then some answers to the many questions people seem to be having.

Ancient dentists used materials as diverse as cork,  gum, lead and stone chips to restore decayed teeth.  Then in China in 659 AD, dentists began experimenting with using silver as a material to plug unwanted dental holes.

After experimenting with many formulations over the years, in the early 1800s a French dentist named Louis Regart added mercury to the mix, creating the first version of the modern day silver filling, known as dental amalgam.  The formula was so controversial that when it was first announced in the United States by two Frenchmen known as the Crawcour Brothers, they were run out of the country!

Eventually, the formula was perfected and it became the material still in use today which we typically call “silver fillings.”  Most Americans who visit the dentist on a regular basis (especially those of us that are over thirty years old) have a few of these gems in our mouths.

Lately, some groups have pointed out that mercury can be a very unhealthy thing to have in our body and have actually called for the removal of all of these fillings!  While it is true that  in large quantities mercury is toxic, after extensive studies the American Dental Association has concluded that there are no significant health risks to using this time tested material.

However, we feel it is important to point out two major differences between these traditional silver amalgam fillings and the more modern tooth colored materials.

A silver filling does not bond to the healthy tooth materials; it is kept in place by placing the material using a wedge effect.  So while it may do a good job of replacing a decayed area in your tooth, it also weakens the tooth and makes it more susceptible to cracks and fractures, often leading to more extensive treatment such as a crown which covers the tooth completely.  For this reason, we are extra careful to check these fillings closely for any signs of breakdown during your examination.

On the other hand, a tooth colored filling also known as a “composite” actually bonds to the healthy tooth and creates one big strong healthy tooth unit.

The other  major difference is obvious-a composite filling is a beautiful almost invisible way to treat a decayed tooth while an amalgam filling looks like metal.  Do you ever see a famous singer on TV open really wide to reveal a mouth full of silver?  We see it all the time.  We are probably more obsessive than you are and are looking for the amalgam fillings.

So, keep brushing and flossing well, eating a healthy diet and going for regular dental visits, and maybe you won’t have to worry about any type of fillings.

However, should you have a “cavity”-we will be glad to discuss all of the options with you and work with you to figure out the best way to treat your individual situation.  Our goal is to provide treatment which is strong and beautiful too!  At Barrington Dental Care, we always want to recommend the absolute best options to suit your needs and keep your mouth healthy for the rest of your life.

Should you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule an appointment at Barrington Dental Care, please call us at 847-381-2676.  We are here to help you smile for a lifetime.

How often do we see people coming in for their dental examination and wondering why they have come because nothing is hurting them.  Well, you do know that high cholesterol doesn’t hurt but it can contribute to a heart problem.  And diabetes doesn’t hurt but it can be the cause of your death.  The reason you see your dentist twice a year is for him/her to check the conditions in your mouth so that a hidden problem doesn’t become a major event.  The technology and techniques available to your dentist have advanced to the point that early signs of disease can be assessed long before they cause you to hurt.  The earlier a problem is found, the easier it is to correct.

We have all seen Steve Martin’s crazy and sadistic dental performance in the movie “Little Shop Of  Horrors” or have heard a friend’s over-inflated version of a bad office visit (usually involving a root canal treatment), but going to the dentist these days really isn’t scary!  With all of the modern technology and advanced techniques available, a dental visit can be not only painless but actually relaxing!  Right? Right!

Like it or not, most of us go to the dentist routinely to keep our teeth and gums healthy because it is what we’re supposed to do, not because it’s a favorite activity.  But, did you know that seventy-five percent of the population experience some sort of dental fear and fifteen percent actually avoid going to the dentist altogether due to severe anxiety?  Infrequent dental visits or total avoidance can cause severe health problems, even heart disease.

Here at Barrington Dental Care, we take this issue very seriously.  We want to make each visit to the dentist as comfortable and stress free as possible.  That’s why we do everything  we can to soothe and relax you from the minute you walk in the door.  We have stero headphones that let you choose your own music and drown out background noise.  Our up-to-date anesthesia techniques make dental treatment incredibly comfortable.  We offer conscious sedation medications to send you off to la-la land. And we can have an anthesiologist come in to provide total anesthesia.

We feel that your dental health is so important that we take these extra steps to help you stay as healthy as possible and to make each visit a stress free visit.  When you leave our office, we are committed to helping you smile now and for a lifetime.

Please call us at 847-381-2676 to schedule your next appointment.  With your comfort in mind, we will make sure that every visit is a great one!

Most people don’t think of their mouth as a source of disease. So what if I have bleeding of the gums or I offend because of bad breath? Both of these conditions are indicators of a disease process and they should be checked by your dentist. In fact, if your dentist or dental hygienist isn’t checking your gums at each of your dental visits;  it’s time to look for a new dentist. The fact is that our mouths contain so many different forms of bacteria that it is literally a launching pad for disease in general. These bacteria will cause bad breadth, sore gums, bleeding when brushing and eventually the loss of teeth.  It is a proven fact that gum disease can provoke heart disease, stroke, diabetes and may worsen osteoporosis. Gum disease is esentially a silent killer. Do not ignore it because more than your teeth may go away because of this disease.

The bacteria that causes cavities and gum disease can be spread from mother to baby through saliva. If you have poor dental health and you taste your baby’s food and then pop the same spoon into his/her mouth, you are putting him/her at risk. This is a good reason for having a dental checkup while you are pregnant so as to be sure you don’t put your baby at risk for dental problems.