Dental advice from a Dentist

From RK on Facebook

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Well, we are spending another morning knee deep in molars! So, why the next patient is getting numb, let me take 30 seconds to give you all some advice. If you want to avoid lots of big filling in your future: 1) brush after meals and before bed , 2) floss between your teeth at least once each and ever day , 3) drink fluoridated tap water - not unfluoridated bottled water , 4) stay away from non-diet soda pop , 5) stay away from Gatorade - the number one cause of cavities in this country! , 6) and, of course, don't suck on lots of candy , 7) and have your teeth cleaned and checked at least once each year - with every 6 months being even better!

DENTAL LESSON 3 for today: The American Dental Association worked hard, for many years, to convince this country that fluoridating our drinking water was important. By the mid 1980's the caries rate, in the this country , dropped so low that we dentists would have conversations about what we would do when we were no longer needed! THEN: 1) Americans started drinking more pop than before , 2) Americans started drinking Gatorade , 3) Americans started eating lots of "snack foods" , AND 4) Americans started drinking lots and lots of bottled water! Bottled water does not have fluoride in it!! (and the amount of Arab Oil used to make the plastic and transport the bottles around this country is shockingly high) Which is why our dental conversations are now about the fact that we are working our butts off and still can't get all the dentistry done!!!

DENTAL LESSON 2 for today: If I stood on a city street corner with a clip board and took a survey.............I would hope that 99% of the 1000 people I asked would know the correct answer as to weather or not soda pop is "health food". BUT, I would bet that the vast majority would answer incorrectly as to whether or not Gatorade is health food. Madison avenue has convinced our citizens that if you sweat one drop of sweat you better replace it with Gatorade. The truth is: 1) you would only need to replace electrolytes if you were in full foot ball gear - for hours - on a hot day. Otherwise, water is fine! 2) Gatorade is basically just SALTY POP! Gatorade causes more cavities, in this country, than any other "liquid sugar"! (if you feel that you must drink Gatorade - drink G2 which has less sugar than regular Gatorade!)

DENTAL LESSON 1 for today: I have patients, often, say that they don't understand why they get cavities when they don't drink or eat sugar. Please remember you high school science: Our saliva has enzymes that breaks down starches and proteins into sugars. So, even when you leave potato chips , steak , rice , etc. packed between your teeth - your saliva eventually breaks down the starch and/or protein into sugars!

#health