Sugar Free Soda

We all know that soda is very hard on your teeth. The sugars in these bubbly beverages create a feeding frenzy for your oral bacteria, which can make quick work of your tooth enamel and delicate gum tissues. Knowing this, it can be tempting to switch to sugar-free sodas as a more tooth-friendly alternative. But is this really the solution you’re looking for?

What many people fail to understand is that the sugar content of sodas is only the tip of the iceberg. Sodas, just like all other carbonated beverages, are highly acidic substances. Just like the acid that is produced by your oral bacteria, this acid compromises your thin tooth enamel and leaves you vulnerable to dental caries. Since sugar-free sodas have just as much carbonation as conventional sodas, they have much of the same tooth-rotting power.

Tips After Drinking Soda

When you drink soda, consider following it up with a glass of water to rinse out your mouth, or a glass of milk to neutralize the acid. If you remain mindful of your habits, and always keep your appointments with our Bellevue dentist, Dr. Yu, you should be able to decrease your chances of tooth decay and gum disease.

Bulimia is an unfortunate eating disorder. Though it is unhealthy in many of the same ways that anorexia is, it is different in the sense that a bulimic person is perfectly willing to eat food so long as he or she regurgitates it shortly thereafter before it has a chance to be absorbed by the body. This not only serves to mask the eating disorder, as a bulimic individual frequently looks perfectly healthy, but it also has an additional effect on the oral health of the individual.

If you’ve ever known bulimic people, you may have noticed that they have a tendency to lose their teeth. This is a direct result of their habitual regurgitation of their meals. Every time they vomit, the harsh acids of their stomachs are washing over their throats, teeth, and gums. In exactly the same way that the acid produced by your oral bacteria breaks down your enamel and delicate tissues, your stomach acid is also capable of inviting tooth decay and gum disease upon yourself.

Should you or someone you know struggle with bulimia, our Bellevue dentist strongly advises that you seek help. There is nothing worthwhile about starving yourself and destroying your teeth in the process.

Hypersensitive Teeth Causes

Have you been noticing that your teeth has been sensitive? For example, when you drink hot or cold beverages.

Most of the time, the sensitivity passes by quickly. If you can feel an increased sensitivity, you should get it checked by your dentist.

It is possible that you may have hypersensitive teeth. The most common causes are the exposure of the roots. Caused by receding gums. Another cause can be the exposure of dentin, which is the layer underneath the enamel. If there has been erosion on your enamel, it can cause sensitivity. Harsh brushing, strong toothpaste or chronic gum inflammation can also cause hypersensitivity.

For enamel erosion, high acidic foods, teeth whitening or bleaching or smoking can be the causing factors. It softens the enamel exposing your dentin. There are nerves connected to your teeth and can be sensitive to outside elements. Other common causes of hypersensitivity are cavities, a cracked or chipped tooth, or a recent filling.

Care and Attention to Sensitivity

Here at Overlake Dental, your Bellevue dentist, Dr. Monica Yu must can determine the cause of the sensitivity so that appropriate treatment is provided. Dr. Yu has seen many cases of highly sensitive teeth. He will say that your teeth are trying to tell you what’s wrong and that you shouldn’t ignore the symptoms.

If you are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, be sure to communicate this to our Bellevue dentist. Pregnancy has a lot of serious implications regarding your dental care, and you will want to involve your dentist to assure the best health for not only your teeth but also your new baby.

• Avoid X-Rays During Pregnancy: As much as recent developments have made dental radiography safer than it’s ever been before, there’s no sense in exposing your fragile new baby to unnecessary radiation. Try to schedule any important x-rays before your pregnancy, if you can.
• Plan Your Dental Appointments Around your Trimesters: Dental treatment should be avoided during the first and third trimesters, as these are important times in the baby’s development. Routine dental procedures should be safe during the second trimester.
• Alert Your Dentist of Any Medication You Are Taking: It may be necessary to alter your dental treatment to accommodate new medications.
• Take Particular Care of Your Teeth: Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy put you at greater risk of periodontal disease. Maintain proper oral hygiene, and pay close attention to your gums for signs of bleeding, swelling, or tenderness.
• Switch to a Bland-Tasting Toothpaste: Strong, minty flavors can aggravate your morning sickness. Look for a toothpaste with a more neutral taste for the duration of your pregnancy.
• Rinse After Vomiting: Frequent vomiting exposes your mouth to harsh acids that can break down your teeth and gums. Rinse out with water or mouthwash after vomiting, but don’t brush; the acids in your mouth have temporarily weakened the enamel of your teeth, and brushing too quickly can strip this enamel away.

Part of our job at our Bellevue dental clinic is to protect you from oral cancer. This cancer accounts for less than five percent of cancers in the United States, but has a surprisingly higher death rate than most of the more common cancers. You can work to avoid such cancer by living a healthy lifestyle, and being mindful of the following risk factors:

• Men make up 70% of oral cancer cases, with men over fifty being at the greatest risk.
• Users of tobacco have a considerably higher risk factor for oral cancer. This includes tobacco smoked as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, as well as smokeless snuff or chewing tobacco.
• Alcohol consumption contributes greatly to oral cancer risk, particularly if the drinker also smokes.
• Excessive exposure to the sun can contribute to oral cancer developing on exposed regions of the lips.
• A poor diet, particularly one deficient in vitamin A, can increase your oral cancer risk.
• A family history of cancer can always be indicative of a higher cancer risk.

Most deaths caused by oral cancer could have been avoided if the condition was discovered earlier. If you’re a high risk for oral cancer, talk to your dentist and be sure to get your regular screenings.