Mini Meals, Cancer, Health & Your Teeth
Thursday October 14, 2010
For those that read me regularly, you know I have been going to UCLA dental school to have my teeth worked on. Lots already done & lots more to go....
I wanted to share some learning from my visits there because as much as we know, I think there is always more to learn & stuff we may be surprised to learn as well.
I had been planning this post for a while now & then a Dr. Oz show popped up that discussed teeth health & how it effects our health. I thought this was the perfect time to share what I had to say along with what Dr. Oz had to say too.
Dr. Oz had a whole portion of his show on how dental health effects our heart, brain(dementia) & cancer. Gum disease can lead to all of this. In fact, he said that people with gingivitis have 4x the chance of getting head, neck & oral cancers!!!!! You can read more HERE. The program also suggested brushing first thing when you get up in the morn to rid your mouth of all that stuff that has settled on your teeth & also if you only have time for either floss or mouthwash, floss to get rid of that stuff between your teeth.. me, I find time for both! Especially now!!!
So, what do mini meals, food, cancer, even coffee/tea have to do with your teeth? Let me share some things that I have learned from the very smart doctors & dental students at UCLA:
1. Each time we put food in our mouth, it deposits on our teeth & starts the "corrosion" process. DUH, right.. we are all saying, heck of course it does.... BUT, for those of us that eat mini meals, that process happens many more times than those that may just eat 3 main meals & a snack.
Now, I know mini meals work for me so I am NOT going to stop that BUT what I did learn makes so much sense. Each time we eat, if you are not brushing after that meal, at least swish warm water around in your mouth to rinse off some of the left over food particles .. or maybe water down some mouthwash with warm water & swish. I know I will not be brushing 6-7 times a day but I can swish! There are also teeth "gadgets" that get in between teeth OR bring some floss with you to work or wherever & use that GENTLY in the bathroom.
2. Brush with a soft toothbrush OR on the soft setting of your electric toothbrush. I was told in the past that I brushed too vigorously & too hard. So, now it is all about the soft setting.
3. I think most of us have heard we should brush for 2 minutes & in fact, many of the power toothbrushes now have a timer for 2 minutes. I asked the dental school about this as sometimes I don't feel I get everywhere & clean enough in that time (you know, that suggestion that each 30 seconds you do one quandrant of the mouth - upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left). I was told that studies are now being done on a 3 minute brush time. I was told to, of course, brush with a soft setting or brush & if I feel necessary, go an extra minute around the whole mouth again. AGAIN, this is still being studied!
4. Pay attention to whether you are gritting or grinding your teeth. I really had not thought about this but once I put a concerted effort into checking for it, I found myself gritting my teeth often.. not only at night! Pay attention to that!
5. Use a rubber tip gum stimulator. I had just been given one by UCLA & this showed up on Dr. Oz too!
6. If you are like me, you might think that after you drink coffee or tea or soda, you want to brush your teeth.... well, THINK AGAIN! Do NOT brush right after drinking these liquids or others with acidic nature. If you brush right after drinking them, you actually can damage your teeth & the enamel. You should either wait at least 30 minutes OR just swish with some warm water or mouthwash.
Anything here surprise you? Anything you want to add. I did not write everything but just some major points.
For those that read me regularly, you know I have been going to UCLA dental school to have my teeth worked on. Lots already done & lots more to go....
I wanted to share some learning from my visits there because as much as we know, I think there is always more to learn & stuff we may be surprised to learn as well.
I had been planning this post for a while now & then a Dr. Oz show popped up that discussed teeth health & how it effects our health. I thought this was the perfect time to share what I had to say along with what Dr. Oz had to say too.
Dr. Oz had a whole portion of his show on how dental health effects our heart, brain(dementia) & cancer. Gum disease can lead to all of this. In fact, he said that people with gingivitis have 4x the chance of getting head, neck & oral cancers!!!!! You can read more HERE. The program also suggested brushing first thing when you get up in the morn to rid your mouth of all that stuff that has settled on your teeth & also if you only have time for either floss or mouthwash, floss to get rid of that stuff between your teeth.. me, I find time for both! Especially now!!!
So, what do mini meals, food, cancer, even coffee/tea have to do with your teeth? Let me share some things that I have learned from the very smart doctors & dental students at UCLA:
1. Each time we put food in our mouth, it deposits on our teeth & starts the "corrosion" process. DUH, right.. we are all saying, heck of course it does.... BUT, for those of us that eat mini meals, that process happens many more times than those that may just eat 3 main meals & a snack.
Now, I know mini meals work for me so I am NOT going to stop that BUT what I did learn makes so much sense. Each time we eat, if you are not brushing after that meal, at least swish warm water around in your mouth to rinse off some of the left over food particles .. or maybe water down some mouthwash with warm water & swish. I know I will not be brushing 6-7 times a day but I can swish! There are also teeth "gadgets" that get in between teeth OR bring some floss with you to work or wherever & use that GENTLY in the bathroom.
2. Brush with a soft toothbrush OR on the soft setting of your electric toothbrush. I was told in the past that I brushed too vigorously & too hard. So, now it is all about the soft setting.
3. I think most of us have heard we should brush for 2 minutes & in fact, many of the power toothbrushes now have a timer for 2 minutes. I asked the dental school about this as sometimes I don't feel I get everywhere & clean enough in that time (you know, that suggestion that each 30 seconds you do one quandrant of the mouth - upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left). I was told that studies are now being done on a 3 minute brush time. I was told to, of course, brush with a soft setting or brush & if I feel necessary, go an extra minute around the whole mouth again. AGAIN, this is still being studied!
4. Pay attention to whether you are gritting or grinding your teeth. I really had not thought about this but once I put a concerted effort into checking for it, I found myself gritting my teeth often.. not only at night! Pay attention to that!
5. Use a rubber tip gum stimulator. I had just been given one by UCLA & this showed up on Dr. Oz too!
6. If you are like me, you might think that after you drink coffee or tea or soda, you want to brush your teeth.... well, THINK AGAIN! Do NOT brush right after drinking these liquids or others with acidic nature. If you brush right after drinking them, you actually can damage your teeth & the enamel. You should either wait at least 30 minutes OR just swish with some warm water or mouthwash.
Anything here surprise you? Anything you want to add. I did not write everything but just some major points.
Posted by truth2beingfit at 10/13/2010 9:00 PM 
Categories: Health Issues, Health, Cancer, Tips, cancer signs
Tags: cancer signs coffee Diets smile cancer prevention Health Issues cancer mini meals health teeth Tea
Categories: Health Issues, Health, Cancer, Tips, cancer signs
Tags: cancer signs coffee Diets smile cancer prevention Health Issues cancer mini meals health teeth Tea
Good info!!! I enjoy going to the dentist, maybe because I love my smile but also because my dental hygienist is a trainer! How cool is that?! On my last visit my dentist told me I need to stop using the med bristle brushes and switch to soft as you run the risk of injuring the enamel which can cause tooth sensitivity.
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I am truly fortunate in that I have been blessed with good teeth. My wife, on the other hand, takes care of her mouth meticulously, but still suffers from problems all the time.
Good advice in the points you noted. The one that shocked me was not brushing after coffee (and other drinks) for at least 30 minutes.
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Steve, I am so like your wife.. very very frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I knew about teeth-hear disease connection but cancer surprised me. I also noticed that ever since I have limited grains (a lot) my teeth have improved dramatically. No surprises here, starches = sugar.
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Ewa.. that is so true..... about the starches. I have to be able to live with my eating program so I am just going to have to swish away more often!
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I did not know that you are supposed to wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after drinking coffee or tea. Thanks for that. I often brush right after my coffee, so I'll stop doing that.
I have always gone to the dentist every 6 months for cleanings, I brush often, and use floss daily. Nevertheless, I always have more plaque on my teeth than the average person. My dentist said that like anything physical, there is a bell curve and I fall outside of the average. No matter what I do, I will always have more plaque. But because I'm faithful about my twice-yearly cleanings, I have had no gum disease or other problems.
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Marsial, that coffee/tea/soda thing surprised me too! I heard it on Dr. Oz & from the dental school. And I am so like you with plaque. I think I grow it in there no matter what I do!
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Can't add a thing to this!
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Dr. J with nothing to add.. I feel I have done something right here as you always have great things to add!
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Yikes, not taking care of your teeth can up the cancer anty, not good. I brush well as it is and go to the dentist 2x a year, any chance of that not continuing just flew out the window.
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I am a grinder. I wear a night guard. I wish a dentist had noticed years earlier and told me before I had ground my teeth down so far!
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Karen, I figured out I clench a lot.. not a grinder but a clencher.. need to clench the butt more often to tighten it up!
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Yikess...I never knew all of this. All that I do is brush and floss 2x per day and I tell my kids to do the same...
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Sian, it is amazing what we are not told.. almost 53 years old for me & why was I not told this by my adult dentists!
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First, thanks for that great picture! Second, thanks for the really important information about dental health. I am one of those people who does not go to the dentist because I am too afraid. I try to take good of my teeth, but as I am aging I notice I have a few broken teeth (in the back) and I do not floss regularly. You have now given me even more reason to take care of what I have. It's a total health package, which I sometimes overlook. I didn't know about the swishing with water after eating, if you can't brush, and also after drinking tea/coffee. That is so important to know. Thanks!
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Karma.. so many people are frightened but listen, it is what it is.... try to get up your courage & go in. They have lots of advancements these days.....
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this post just scared the hell outta me. now where's my toothbrush?
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