Times Are Tough...Even for the Tooth Fairy

Even the untouchable Tooth Fairy is feeling the pinch. According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll (sponsored by Delta Dental Plans Association), the average gift from the Tooth Fairy dropped to $2.10 last year. This is down 42 cents from $2.52 in 2010. “But the good news,” their PR folks hasten to add, “is she’s still visiting nearly 90 percent of homes throughout the United States.”

Some other data points:

• The most common amount left under the pillow by the Tooth Fairy is $1.
• Most children find more money under the pillow for their first lost baby tooth.
• Thirty-five percent of those surveyed allow their children three to four sugary drinks a day. Dentists say that’s too many.

For the original WSJ article, click here. If you want to see the what teeth are going for around the world, check this out.

Sweet dreams,
Dr. Lynda Tran

Dark Beer - It Does a Body Good

It's happy hour...time to take your medicine!

I came across a short article in "Shape" magazine about the awesome benefits of dark beer. It reports that switching from light ale to a heartier stout could help prevent clots and heart attacks. According to a recent analysis published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, dark beers contain significantly more iron - 121 parts per billion (ppb), comared with 92 ppb for pale brews and 63 ppb for nonalcoholic beers. Iron, of course, is an important building block for red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. As always, drink responsibly!

Here's to the dark side,
Dr. Lynda Tran

Oral Hygiene for Fido

Got Floss? Harlan showing off his pearly whites.

I apologize for the small hiatus, but I'm back! First is a topic that is dear to my heart, PETS! As you may recall, I have a big hunk-of-love named Harlan (he'll be turning 4 in January). I was inspired to write this article when Harlan came up and blind sighted me with kisses! While I welcome them most of the time, this time his breath was not so hot. Down right putrid! Yuck.

It is important to perform regular cleanings for our pets. A few of minutes of brushing a few days a week can help eliminate bad breath and give pets a longer, healthier life. According to our vet (Napa Valley Small Animal Hospital), most dogs and cats develop dental disease by 3 years of age. The sooner the disease is treated, the easier it is for you and your pet. Bad breath isn't the only sign of dental disease however. Check out the other signs/symptoms that you should keep an eye out for:

• Bad Breath
• Sensitivity Around the Mouth
• Loss of Appetite or Difficulty Chewing
• Yellow/Brown Deposits on Teeth
• Bleeding, Inflamed Gums
• Loose or Missing Teeth
• Pawing at the Mouth or Face

And just like us, prevention is key! Here are a few ways to keep your pet's oral health in tip top shape:

• Bring your pet in for regular check-ups
• Brush your pet's teeth a few times a week (your vet can show you!)
• Choose a pet food formulated to remove tartar and plaque 
• Use plaque-reducing treats and toys

Here's another picture of Harlan showing off his tartar-free choppers...

Here's to the ruff life,
Dr. Lynda Tran

High-Speed Blood Drive at Infineon

While most are already stoked about saving lives when donating blood, Infineon Raceway will certainly get your blood pumpin'. Before donating, you'll be able to sit in a "hot lap" with a professional driving instructor. I've driven around this awesome course a dozen times and with its elevation changes and turns...I'm always ready for more. Come out and donate!

• When: Friday, September 9th   1pm - 6pm
• Where: Infineon Raceway (29355 Arnold Dr., Sonoma)
• More Info: Click Here

Race you there,
Dr. Lynda Tran

3 Million Teeth Knocked Out This Year By Sport

According to The National Youth Sports Safety Foundation, 3 million teeth will be lost due to sporting activities this year. For the full article, click here. In the event that a tooth is knocked out, here are the suggestions on how to increase your chance of saving the tooth!

1. Time is of the Essence! You want that tooth to be placed back in the mouth by a dentist within 30 minutes of being dislodged. 
2. Fingers Off the Root! There are key cells on the root that help a dislodged tooth return to its socket. Hold the tooth by the crown instead.
3. Milk Does a Tooth Good! Don't rinse with water or saline or any other liquids. Again, there are important factors on the tooth that you do not want to wipe away. Simply hold the tooth in a cup of milk until the dentist can place it back.

Prevention is key though! Always make sure you wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports!

Until next time,
Dr. Lynda Tran

AirFloss - New Way to Floss

Here's a nice, concise video demonstrating the new Philips Sonicare AirFloss. I am excited to try this product out!

It'll be great for those of us who have trouble or dislike flossing, which there are many (myself included). Even better, patients who have trouble with dexterity can use this product very easily! Now everyone knows what I'll be getting them for Christmas...just kidding. Not really.

Here's to flossing,
Dr. Lynda Tran

The 7 Best and Worst Food for Teeth

I recently came across this great article by Dr. John Moore of San Antonio listing the 7 Best and Worst Foods for Teeth. Part of the article is reproduced below. Please visit this link for the full article. I'm happy that tea made the "best" list but very bummed that wine made the "worst" list. Can't have it all I guess...

Happy eating, 

Dr. Lynda Tran

The Top 7 Best Foods and Drinks

1. High-fiber Fruits and Vegetables - High-fiber foods work like a detergent in the mouth, not only physically “scrubbing” the teeth, but also stimulating saliva flow by requiring longer chewing times. Saliva is the mouth’s first line of defense, because it neutralizes tooth-damaging acids, and contains calcium and phosphates that help rebuild minerals leached away by bacterial acids. Crunchy, juicy fruits and vegetables also have high water content that helps offset their sugar content. High-fiber foods are also a key foundation of an overall healthy diet, so they offer a double benefit.
2. Water – When it comes to oral health, water is indispensable. It’s the primary component of saliva, and is important to both tooth and gum health. Water is valuable as the final rinsing agent for foods and sugary drinks, and, if fluoridated, works to prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel.
3. Dairy Products – Dairy products without added sugar help teeth in a number of ways. Cheese helps stimulate saliva, while its calcium helps replace minerals leached from the teeth. Other dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and similar products also provide calcium and phosphates; enriched milk also provides Vitamin D, which helps the body use calcium.
4. Xylitol - Sugarless gums of any kind can help boost dental health, because they stimulate saliva production and can help “scrub” teeth. But those sweetened with xylitol – a type of sugar extracted from a variety of plants – can actually battle tooth decay, because xylitol works against mutans streptococci, the bacteria that causes tooth decay. Xylitol is available as a general sweetener at health stores.
5. Hot Cup of Tea– Green and black teas contain compounds called polyphenols that interact with the bacteria that causes plaque. These polyphenols either kill or suppress bacteria, preventing them from growing or producing tooth-attacking acid. The polyphenols in coffee also have cavity-fighting properties. Studies have also shown cocoa to have strong anti-mutans streptococci properties, although chomping sugary chocolate bars isn’t tooth-friendly.
6. Go Nuts - Many nuts provide vitamins and minerals that help your teeth. These include peanuts (calcium and vitamin D), almonds (high levels of calcium that helps both teeth and gums), cashews (stimulates saliva and helps clean teeth) and walnuts (fiber, folic acid, iron, thiamine, magnesium, iron, niacin, vitamin E, vitamin B6, potassium and zinc).
7. Mining for Minerals – Foods that provide vitamins A, C and D as well as calcium and phosphorus, are especially good for the teeth. These foods can be part of an overall healthy diet, as well. These include beef, eggs, fish, potatoes, spinach, fortified cereals, tofu, leafy green vegetables, beans, whole grains and poultry.

Top 7 Worst Foods and Drinks for Teeth

1. Carbonated Beverages & Other Drinks - Soft drinks are a perennial target of nutrition police, because they add so much sugar to the national diet. The sugar content – as much as a king-sized candy bar - is bad for both body and teeth. But teeth aren’t safe even for those who stick to diet drinks! Like their sugar-loaded versions, artificially sweetened soft drinks contain tooth-eroding acids, such as phosphoric and citric. Even canned iced teas, which normally might be good for teeth, contain flavor-enhancing organic acids that can erode tooth enamel.
2. Not-so-Healthy Vitamins - Even so-called health drinks are brimming with danger for your teeth. Sports drinks are notoriously acidic and full of sugar. And vitamin waters can contain as much sugar as a candy bar. Chewable vitamins – from multivitamins to large chewable vitamin C tablets – are especially bad, because they contain a concentrated acid that tends to cling to and between teeth.
3. Mouth-Drying Consumables – Whether it’s last night’s margaritas that are leaving one cotton-mouthed, or one of the medications that affect salivation, a dry mouth is danger to teeth and gums. Psychiatric medications, Dr. Moore says, are among the worst culprits in causing dry mouth. One must to take extra care to keep the mouth hydrated, from deliberately washing with water or fluoridated rinses, to mouth hydration solutions.
4. Long-Lasting and Sticky Sweets - It’s not news that caramels and other gooey, sugary sweets are bad for teeth. It’s not just the sugar, though; it’s how long the teeth are exposed to sugar. So while those caramels stick and cling tenaciously to tooth surfaces and crevices, hard candies and lollipops are also very bad; they’re designed for a long, leisurely suck. This principle applies to any sweets, from candy to sweet drinks –sugar should stay in the mouth as briefly as possible.
5. Dried Fruits – While fresh grapes and plums are considered “good” foods, if they are dried, they go from hero to villain. Although often touted as healthy snacks, dried fruits like raisins, prunes and apricots, are similar to caramels. Already sweet when fresh, their sugars are highly concentrated as the water is dried away, and their gummy texture can cling to teeth as much as gooey candy. And worse, the fruit is packed with non-soluble cellulose fiber, which can bind and trap sugars on and around the tooth, making it worse than candy.
6. Starchy Foods - Many starchy foods, including white bread, potato chips and French fries and al dente pasta, can easily become lodged between teeth and in crevices. While they may not necessarily taste sweet, the starches can begin converting to sugar almost immediately, not only by the bacteria, but also by the pre-digestive process that begins in the mouth through the enzymes in saliva.
7. High-Acid Foods and Drinks - Citrus fruits and drinks contain powerful citric acid – in fact, such juice is often used as a cleaning agent. While oranges, lemons and grapefruit can be a healthy part of the diet, they should be consumed quickly, preferably as part of a meal, and the teeth should be rinsed afterward. Sucking on citrus fruits should be avoided; this especially applies to the "home remedy" practice sucking lemon wedges for tooth-whitening.