Signs of stress These are some of the signs of stress: Depression Anxiety Memory lapses Difficulty sleeping and taking sleep medications Feeling isolated—withdrawing from friends and family On-going exhaustion Loss of productivity at work and/or at home Denial of being stressed Feeling irritable most or all of the time Gingivitis* Aches and pains Smoking or increased smoking

Good Guys in White Hats

White (Composite) versus Black (Silver Amalgam) fillings

In the early days of television, it was easy to see who the good guys and bad guys were. The Good Guys always wore white hats. The villainous Bad Guys in black hats were always caught and sent to jail. Today, dental patients are faced with a “Bad Guy” black hat versus a Good Guy white hat dilemma: whether or not to replace dark metal fillings with white fillings or to have a new metal filling.

“Bad Guys” in black hats

If you have fillings in your teeth, you likely have what are called “amalgam” fillings, those silver-colored fillings that eventually turn a dark grayish-black color. Because amalgam is a combination of several metals, including silver, mercury, zinc and tin, the filling darkens over time. When those dark fillings are in the back teeth, they are not so noticeable.

But, when teeth near the front of the mouth have dark amalgam fillings, a person may feel self-conscious about talking or smiling.

There is, however, a more serious concern when considering replacing (or having new) amalgam fillings. The amalgam is 50 percent mercury. Because mercury is a toxic metal, some believe an amalgam filling is hazardous to a person’s health. However, according to the American Dental Association, amalgam has been used in dentistry for a very long time without evidence that the mercury in a filling is dangerous to a person. There is a small amount of mercury vapor that leaks into the body when chewing. So far, it has not been proven that that small amount of vapor has harmed anyone.

Good Guys in white hats

White fillings, on the other hand, do not contain any metal. They are made from a combination of glass and acrylic and thus, are called a “composite” filling. A composite filling does not turn dark grayish-black; so you can let that smile shine through! The dentist can place a clear plastic coating over the composite to help to prevent any color change.

Composite fillings are not a new technology. They have been used since the early 1960s, but typically, only on front teeth because the composite was not strong enough to withstand heavy chewing pressure from the back teeth. In the 1980s a better bonding method was developed, and more recent technologies improved a composite’s strength.

A balancing act

When your dentist discusses filling options with you, you will need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the amalgam filling versus the composite filling. The chart below shows a comparison of the two filling types.

	Amalgam filling	Composite filling
Description	Composed of silver, mercury, zinc, tin, etc.	Composed of glass particles (quartz resin) and acrylic.
Color	Silver color that darkens over time.	White color: closely matches your natural tooth color and translucence. Can stain from heavy coffee, tea or tobacco usage.
Safety	Leaks a small amount of mercury vapor.	No leakage.
Durability	Withstands forceful chewing.	Moderate tolerance to forceful chewing.
Tooth preparation	Tooth needs to have extensive drilling.	Minimal tooth structure removal is done.
Placement time		Takes about 10-20 minutes longer to place a composite filling than an amalgam filling.
Post-op	Takes 2 weeks to completely harden.	Special light hardens filling in 40 seconds.
Wear	Resistant to wear but is very brittle. Chips on filling edge.	Moderately resistant to wear and is not brittle.
Breakage	Brittleness causes filling to chip under forceful chewing pressure. Silver weakens the teeth, resulting in more tooth breakage.	Moderately resistant to breakage under forceful chewing pressure. New techniques rival amalgam’s strength.* Drinking beverages high in alcohol content can seriously weaken a composite filling.
Tooth sensitivity	Hot and cold foods cause sensitivity for as long as six weeks.	If the filling is adequately bonded to the tooth, sensitivity should be minimal—up to 2 weeks.
Cost	Generally less than composite, depending on size of filling.	Generally higher than amalgam, but depends on size of filling.
Office visits	Completed in one office visit.	Completed in one office visit.
Availability	Today, not all dentists do amalgam. Dentist needs no extra training to use amalgam.	Not all dentists offer composite. Must have special training in composite fillings. Dental schools do not teach composite fillings as part of the general curriculum because composite fillings are not tested during board examinations.
Insurance coverage	Typically covered by most insurance companies.	Usually not covered by insurance because composites cost more than amalgam, and the insurance pays the lesser cost.

*Composite filling strength is embroiled in controversy as well. According to some in the dental profession, an amalgam filling is stronger than a composite filling. However, that must be balanced against the fact that the composite is directly bonded to the tooth. The composite is actually stronger than the amalgam because it is bonded to the tooth, making the tooth less likely to fracture.

Whether you choose the Good Guys in the white hats or the “Bad Guys” in the black hats, your dentist is a reliable source of information about filling options.

For more information, you may find the following Web sites useful:

Academy of General Dentistry http://www.agd.org/

Ask Doctor Spiller at http://www.doctorspiller.com

Canadian Dental Association http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/index.asp

December 2006

Leonardo Da Vinci, David Duchovny, Chelsea Clinton, Jerry Seinfeld All Did It -- They are Vegatarians

You may have something unique in common with numerous famous people including Paul McCartney, Hank Aaron, Mr. Rogers and Candice Bergen. No, it’s not that you are all left-handed or snore or share a birthday. Actually, all of you chose a vegetarian lifestyle.

You might think that vegetarians are only a minority of people; however, studies show that there are over six million adults who consider themselves vegetarians.

The Myth: Vegetarians are sickly and unhealthy

Some might think that vegetarians are poorly nourished and unhealthy. That couldn’t be further from the truth. As with any diet, it is a matter of choosing foods that adequately nourish your body and keep you healthy and strong. That being said, however, vegetarians need to be more cautious about the foods they eat. They need to make sure they eat foods high in iron, vitamins B12 and D, calcium, protein, iron and zinc.

For example, studies indicate that teens today drink twice as much soda—no calcium—than milk—good calcium source. Girls who consume large quantities of soda are getting maybe 800mg calcium each day. The U.S Department of Agriculture recommends teen girls get 1300mg calcium each day. Boys who drink soda face the same health risks as girls. In fact, boys 12-29 years old drink more soda than anyone according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Growing bones need a diet rich in calcium, otherwise osteoporosis, broken bones and tooth decay could be eminent.

According to the Center for Disease Control,

The American Dietetic Association states that a vegetarian’s diet can provide adequate nutrients to have a healthy body and teeth. It is extremely important for vegetarian children to eat enough of the essential ingredients such as zinc, iron, vitamins D and B12, and calcium.

Good sources of calcium include—

Teeth are victims of inadequate diet

One of the foremost victims of inadequate nourishment are your teeth. Teeth fall prey to the sugar in soda and other foods when the sugar converts to acid. The acid dissolves the calcium out of the tooth enamel; then bacteria can cause serious tooth decay.

Vegetarians can be particularly vulnerable to tooth decay if they are not including foods high in calcium in their diet. They need to carefully read food labels and count the percentage of calcium they eat each day.

To prevent periodontal disease, the Academy of General Dentistry recommends that vegetarians monitor their intake of vitamin D and calcium and consult a dentist about their diets and oral health.

Counting calcium, counting iron, counting, counting, counting…

I remember the days when I counted each cereal box top to know when I had enough to send away for a Captain Midnight Secret Decoder Ring. Now I have to count nutrients! All these years later I wish I still had that ring to help me understand exactly what is I am buying at the grocery store. If you are like me, you ponder over each nutrition label to determine whether a product is healthy for you based on your dietary needs. How much is serving of fruit? A slice of bread? One potato? It boggles the mind.

Consider how much more complex this head scratching gets if you have decided to embrace a vegetarian lifestyle. Not only do you need to monitor the animal products that may be lurking in that food, but you also have to be more careful to eat foods that are higher in certain nutrients such as calcium.

Food labels unmasked and exposed

Even though a food label may seem like hieroglyphics or some ancient unknown language, it is easy to read once you understand what each element of the label is.

1. Label, top section: tells the serving size, the number of calories and nutrient information.

 

2. Label, left middle section: lists the nutrients in the food

3. Label, right middle section: lists the Daily Values (DV) for either a 2, 000 - or 2,500-calorie daily diet. This number is always written as a percentage.

 

 

 

4. Label, footnote in bottom section: lists the Daily Values (DV) for either a 2, 000 - or 2,500-calorie daily diet. This section tells consumers what the recommended nutrients are.*

First, from the top of the label, determine what portion of one serving you actually eat. If one serving is equal to one cup, and you eat only half that amount, then the nutritional value (DV) of the food decreases by half. Thus, if the label states that one cup of the food provides 20% of the daily requirement of calcium (DV from the bottom of the label), your half serving gives you only 10% of the daily calcium requirement.

Second, go to the middle of the label where vitamins and elements are listed, and see what the DV percentages are. Based on what the usual serving size is that you eat, recalculate that percentage as referenced above: one-half a serving is equal to one-half of the DV.

If you take a multi-vitamin or other supplements each day, add those milligrams or percentages into your total daily intake.

Understanding the DV will help you compare nutrient claims on similar products such as those that advertise as “reduced fat,” “low fat,” and “light.”

*This footnote is printed only on larger food packages.

Caveat emptor—let the buyer beware

Be careful of making assumptions about nutrient values. For example, the calcium value for whole milk or skim milk is typically the same per serving. However, for 8-ounce containers of regular, light or fat-free yogurt, the amount of calcium can vary from 20–45%DV.

Understanding a food label can help you to not only limit “bad” nutrients (perhaps sodium or fats), but most importantly, to help you increase the nutrients you need to eat in a vegetarian lifestyle. You can maintain a healthy body and healthy teeth!

Eat healthily all year long

Once you know what foods are high in calcium, it is easy to build a menu that will have variety and be tasty.

For example, try these suggestions to add calcium to your diet; eat:

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

A healthy diet, healthy teeth, a healthy you!

For more information, you might find these Web sites useful:

Academy of General Dentistry http://www.agd.org/

American Academy of Periodontology http://www.perio.org/

Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov

U.S. Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome or MyPyramid.gov

Newswise http://www.newswise.com

December 2006

XX vs. XY or She Said vs. He Said

You might giggle—or groan—at the old song lyrics “Anything you can do, I can do better. No, you can’t. Yes, I can.” We often come across certain aspects of our daily lives that a person of one persuasion truly does something better than a person of the opposite persuasion. No sexual discrimination involved or intended, merely a serious fact.

She Said vs. He Said

As a woman, brushing and flossing your teeth may be so common to your daily routine that you really don’t even have to remind yourself to do it. On the other hand, as a man, brushing or flossing your teeth may be something you do only when someone threatens you with bodily harm if you don’t do it.

For example, surveys done by the American Dental Hygenists Association (ADHA) show that more women than men brush their teeth—

A scant 22 percent of men reported that they brush their teeth one time a day—or less!

More women than men could correctly identify the way to brush teeth: use a circular motion close to the gumline, and hold the brush at a 45º angle to the teeth.

Flossing ranks even lower with men. Surveys show that 20 percent of men never floss; only 10 percent of women fall into that category.

The major reason for not brushing or flossing regularly typically fell into either the “I don’t have time” or “I forgot/didn’t think about it” categories. Interestingly, the number two reason stated by men was because there were “lazy!”

Equality at Last: There is Light at the End of the Tunnel

Both women and men said they knew they should brush their teeth for a longer period of time—about one minute longer—than they actually brush. You should brush for 2–3 minutes. Some state that if you sing the “Happy Birthday” song, you will brush the recommended length of time.

In their favor, woman and men also regularly replace their toothbrushes. The survey reported that they replaced their toothbrushes every 2–6 months, but sales indicate that it is more like every 9 months. But you need to keep in mind that many dentists give toothbrushes to patients when they have their teeth cleaned, which would dramatically affect sales figures.

Here We Go Again: Sounding Like a Broken Record

You have heard it over and over as you sit in the dentist chair: You must brush and floss to maintain healthy teeth.

Maria Perno, former president of the ADHA, claims that men have a higher rate of gum disease.

That fact does not excuse the reported 16 percent of women who do not brush or floss regularly from establishing a regular dental care routine. The statistics about gum disease* in the U.S. are shocking:

• 50 percent of youth 17 years old and under have gum disease (according to the ADHA).
• 80 percent of the entire population has gum disease (according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research organization). Many people do not know they have gum disease because it is in the early stages.
• The number one reason that adults lose their teeth is gum disease that advances to periodontal disease, a serious, non-reversible condition.

Red and swollen tissue caused by gum disease *Periodontal gum disease refers to gingivitis, which is the red and swollen soft tissue (gums) surrounding your teeth. Gingivitis is caused by plaque that clings to the teeth when they are not regularly or properly brushed and flossed. If left untreated, gum disease progresses to periodontal disease that destroys healthy bone (teeth and jawbone) as well as the gums and connective tissue that support your teeth.

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Periodontal disease is a serious condition that should not be ignored. It is the underlying cause of several deadly diseases, including—

• heart disease—thenumber one killer of men and women—affects over 60 million people and kills nearly one million people each year;
• diabetes—affects nearly 16 million people and causes nearly 200,000 deaths each year; and
• oral cancer—more common than other lethal cancers, including skin cancer, leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease, brain cancer, stomach cancer and ovarian cancer, to name a few.

Periodontal disease is also linked to low birthweight, premature babies who come into the world already facing a life-and-death struggle.

Dentists and dental hygenists know that some of life’s most serious diseases show up first in the patient’s mouth. They are on the front line of preventative health and can guide you when they see a potential problem.

You can help to protect your health and your teeth by brushing regularly and correctly, flossing, and getting dental check-ups twice each year. If you have soreness or tenderness around your teeth, immediately contact your dentist.

If you are going to be a statistic—be a GOOD statistic!

For more information, you may find the following Web sites useful:

Academy of General Dentistry http://www.agd.org/

American Academy of Periodontology http://www.perio.org/

American Dental Hygienists' Association http://www.adha.org

December 2006