Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Archives for April 2016

Which toothpaste is the right for you?

Not all tooth pastes were created equal. Since the 1960’s when the first toothpaste received a seal of approval in the United States, more than 400 toothpastes have shown up on retail store shelves.  There is a multitude of sizes, flavors and textures that are meant to cater for every need and taste. Every manufacturer claims that his toothpaste is the best in fighting decay, stopping gum disease and refreshing your breath.

Toothpaste is an essential item, in every household and should be used at least twice daily. It improves the cleaning power of your toothbrush by helping to remove plaque or dental biofilm, the film of bacteria coating teeth and gums that causes tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.

Most toothpaste contain:

  • Detergents, that cause a foaming action to remove food particles.
  • Abrasives to help remove stains.
  • Flavoring to improve taste.
  • Fluoride to create an acid resistant enamel which helps prevent tooth decay.
  • Humectants to prevent water loss in the toothpaste.
  • Thickening agents or binders to stabilize the toothpaste formula.
  • Detergents to create foaming action. They include sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium N-Lauryl sarcosinate.

But many manufacturers have specialty products are claimed to treat specific conditions:

  • For sensitive teeth, these toothpastes have an ingredient or ingredients that will reduce the sensitivity to cold and hot, usually caused by exposed dentin.
  • For bleeding gums, these tooth pastes have an antibacterial agent or herbal extracts that reduce bleeding caused by gum infection.
  • For tooth whitening, these toothpastes contain abrasives or chemicals to remove tooth stains.  But they do not whiten the teeth, only a tooth whitening treatment can.
  • For tartar control toothpaste, these product help prevent the build up of calculus. But  existing tartar is strongly bound to the tooth and is not removed only a dentist can remove it.

In addition to the aforementioned varieties, there are tooth pastes who exclude certain ingredients:

  • Without fluoride, for individuals who fear ingesting fluoride.
  • SLS, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, free tooth pastes.
  • Without chemical for those looking for a natural toothpaste.

Given the large variety of general and specialized toothpastes, it is easy to get lost. For those who have a healthy mouth, any tooth paste with fluoride will do. But if you are plagued by cavities, you may need more than just the average fluoride concentration, which may be found in a fluoride enriched toothpaste. For those suffering from bleeding gums a tooth paste with tartar control can help reduce the buildup of new calculus, but only a professional clean will remove the deposits which are already in the mouth.  Dr. Kaufman at Tooronga Family dentistry can provide you with individualized recommendations based on the results of your dental exam to match the right toothpaste for you. If you would like to know more about the right tooth paste for you, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006.

 

 

 

Water Fluoridation

In the United States the Surgeon General praised the efforts of community leaders who have introduced fluoride into their water systems 70 years ago, and named it one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century, along with immunizations and tobacco control.

I’m aware that there is an ongoing debate about the importance of water fluoridation and it’s possible effects on our health. Evidence has shown that “Water fluoridation is the best method for delivering fluoride to all members of the community regardless of age, education, income level, or access to routine dental care,”. This was said by the United States Surgeon General in a video posted on his office’s website.

In my daily work it is very easy to distinguish between the adults, who grew up in homes where they drank fluoridated tap water  and those who grew without it. Those who had fluoridated tap water have few cavities or none at all compared to those who drank filtered, bottled or tank water.

If you have questions about water fluoridation, please contact us. We are open 6 days a week and will always be happy to help you, call Tooronga Family Dentistry phone number 98227006.

 

Poor sleep, Sleep aphnea, depression and bad memory.

You may have experienced lack of sleep which led to a grumpy and irritable feeling. The effects of poor sleep can deteriorate your memory, health, looks, relationship with your partner and even the ability to lose weight. But it does not stop there, here are other ten possible effects of poor sleep.

1. Sleepiness can cause accidents

Sleep deprivation has been a contributing factor in some of the biggest disasters in recent history, but sleep loss is also a big hazard on our roads. Drowsiness can lead to irrational decisions and slow reaction time while driving, increasing the risk for an accident. Studies show that sleep loss or a poor quality of sleep can also lead to accidents and injuries, while working.

2. Sleep loss can make you take wrong decisions.

Poor sleep can hinder your thinking and decrease your ability to learn. Lack of sleep hurts these cognitive processes in many ways. It can impair attention, concentration, reasoning, alertness and problem solving. On top of that during the sleep, a memory “consolidating” process takes place and if you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t be able to remember what you learned and experienced during the day.

3. Sleep loss can lead to health problems

Research shows that sleep disorders increase your risk to have:

4. Lack of Sleep interferes with you relationship.

Sleep specialists say that sleep-deprived men and women report that they have depleted energy, sleepiness, and increased tension in their relationship.

5. Sleeplessness is depressing

Over time, lack of sleep and sleep disorders can lead to depression. In a 2007 study of 10,000 people, it has been found that those with lack of sleep were five times more likely to develop depression compared to those without it. Many times lack of sleep is one of the first symptoms of depression and treating it can help decrease its symptoms.

6. Lack of sleep can age your skin.

Most people experience puffy eyes after a night out and little sleep. But chronic sleep loss can lead to the development of fine skin lines and dark circles under the eyes. When we don’t get enough sleep, our body releases more cortison, a stress hormone which in excess amounts, can break down skin proteins. Sleep loss also causes the body to release too little human growth hormone. This hormone helps increase muscle mass, thicken skin, and strengthen bones, reduced amounts of it, can reverse these processes.

7. Lack of sleep will affect your memory

In 2009, researchers determined that brain events called “sharp wave ripples” are responsible for consolidating memory. The ripples also transfer learned information from the area where our memories are stored for a short while to, where long-term memories are stored. Sharp wave ripples occur mostly during the deepest levels of sleep.

8. Losing sleep can lead to weight gain

Lack of sleep seems to be related to an increase in hunger and appetite, which can lead to obesity. A study conducted in 2004 found that people who sleep less than six hours a day were almost 30 percent more likely to become obese than those who slept seven to nine hours. But not only does sleep loss appear to stimulate appetite, it also stimulates the cravings for high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods and beverage.

9. Lack of sleep may increase the risk of death

In the “Whitehall II Study,” British researchers looked at how sleep patterns affected the mortality of more than 10,000 British civil servants over two decades. The results, published in 2007, showed that those who had cut their sleep from seven to five hours or fewer a night nearly doubled their risk of death over time.

10. Lack of sleep impairs judgment

Lack of sleep diminishes our ability to make sound judgments, because we may not understand what the conditions are or act in an erroneous way. Especially, sleep-deprived people seem to be prone to poor judgment about the effects, lack of sleep has on them. In our increasingly fast-paced world, functioning on less sleep has become a kind of necessity. But sleep specialists say that if you think you’re doing fine on less sleep, you’re probably wrong. Studies show that over time, people who are getting six hours of sleep, instead of seven or eight, begin to feel that they’ve adapted to that sleep deprivation. But when these individuals take tests of mental alertness and performance, they demonstrate decreasing performance. So there’s a point in sleep deprivation when we lose touch with how impaired we are.

A good night sleep is very important for your health and well being. If you feel tired during the day, fall asleep during the day or your partner tells you that you stop breathing at night you may suffer from sleep aphnea. At Tooronga Family Dentistry we can guide you and provide you with an appliance that will improve your condition. Please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006 to make an appointment.