CLEAN YOUR TEETH WHILE YOU EAT!

Did you know that there are certain foods you can eat which help to clean your teeth? In dentistry we look at the impact of food in three ways: the kind of food, how often it is eaten, and when it is eaten. There are some cleansing foods that should be the last piece of food you consume during a meal for best results. Think of them as the closest you can get to brushing your teeth.

A healthy diet is important for oral health as well as overall health, but here are some foods that can help clean your teeth and mouth:

Carrots

Apples

Celery sticks

Popcorn

Cucumbers

Pears

Lettuce

Cheese

As you can see, good cleaning foods are usually foods that are firm and crisp. They act like scrubbers on and around your teeth and gums and bring your mouth's ph back to 7.0, which is optimal.

Which foods are the worst for your teeth?

You guessed it, cookies, cakes, breads, chips, crackers, soft drinks, dried fruit, and candies (what many people’s diets are full of) provide carbohydrates (sugar) to the bacteria in your mouth causing an acidic environment and increasing the chance of cavities and decay. These foods are sticky and don't rinse easily from your mouth. Avoid letting these foods sit on your teeth after eating them.

It also depends on how often you consume these foods throughout the day. For example, if you drink soft drinks, it's best to have it all in one sitting instead of sipping it all throughout the day. Doing so causes the perfect environment in your mouth for bacteria to flourish and your saliva never gets the chance to neutralize its ph.

This is where eating cleansing foods can come into play. When you're about to finish your meal, have an apple, celery stick, or carrot. It will act like a "natural toothbrush." Also, try to make these foods the basis for snacks you have throughout the day.

Always remember, these foods are not a replacement for brushing and flossing. You still need good dental hygiene regardless of what you're eating! For more tips and tricks for ideal oral health, ask Dr. Alina Bergan the next time you visit our Cedarhurst, NY office!

If you have questions about your oral health call us today at 800-223-0801 to schedule an appointment. You can also schedule online at http://www.alinabergandds.com/appointments/

HOW SMOKING INCREASES THE RISK OF ORAL CANCER

The facts about smoking are everywhere, yet many people continue to smoke. Cigarette smoke contains more than 6,000 chemicals, and at least 200 of those chemicals are known to be harmful to your health. When smoke is inhaled, moist oral tissues are saturated with excessive amounts of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and a host of other known carcinogens. Most oral cancers originate in abnormal squamous cell activity, which are cells found on the lips, inside the mouth, and in the throat.

How Oral Cancer Begins

Cells exposed to consistently high levels of cigarette smoke may eventually suffer abnormal mutations within their DNA. Since deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is responsible for providing cells with instructions about growth, reproduction, and death, these instructions become distorted, which causes the cells to reproduce uncontrollably.

Essentially, that is what cancer is: rapid, unchecked growth of genetically mutated cells that encourages the development of malignant tumors. Unfortunately, the chemicals in cigarette smoke are strongly associated with oral cancer.

Signs of Oral Cancer

Early-stage oral cancer is often asymptomatic, which means symptoms appear only after the cancer intensifies and spreads. Possible signs of oral cancer include:

·         Ulcers inside the mouth or on the lips that do not heal

·         White or dark red patches inside the mouth

·         Lumps inside or around the mouth (a lump could appear on your neck)

·         Bleeding, numbness, and soreness in the mouth

·         Chronic halitosis

·         Loose teeth in the absence of tooth decay

Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Cancer

Squamous cell oral cancer is the most common type diagnosed in smokers. Dr. AlinaBergan and our staff often discover squamous cell carcinoma lesions during dental examinations or cancer screenings. Depending on the stage of the oral cancer, treatment may begin with a biopsy or an exfoliative cytology procedure that involves collecting cells from the oral cavity using a scraper.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer patients may need surgery, radiation therapy, a combination of surgery and radiation therapy, or chemotherapy to eradicate oral cancer.

Smoking, Cancer, and Tooth Decay

Not only is smoking the number-one cause of cancer but it is also detrimental to the overall health of your teeth and gums. Yellow teeth, bad breath, dry mouth, and expedited tooth decay are all caused by smoking, not to mention the damage smoke does to the heart, lungs, and kidneys. In other words, don’t smoke!

If you have questions about your oral health call us today at 800-223-0801 to schedule an appointment. You can also schedule online at http://www.alinabergandds.com/appointments/