Dental Health Benefits of Xylitol Sweetened Chewing Gum

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring carbohydrate. It is found in fibrous vegetables and fruit, like raspberries and cauliflower. It also occurs naturally in our bodies; an average size adult manufactures up to 15 grams of xylitol daily during normal metabolism. Pure xylitol is a white crystalline substance that looks, pours and tastes like sugar.

It is an excellent alternative to sugar as a sweetener. Xylitol is slowly absorbed and partially utilized by our bodies, so the functional calories are 2.4 calories per gram;  about 40% less than other carbohydrates. In addition, the body does not require insulin to metabolize xylitol, which makes it an excellent sweetener for diabetic diets. But one of the best benefits of xylitol is that it is a cavity fighter, and it's widely available in several different sugar free chewing gum brands.

Over 25 years of clinical trials confirm that xylitol use reduces tooth decay rates both in high-risk groups (high caries, or tooth decay prevalence, poor nutrition, and poor oral hygiene) and in low-risk groups (low caries incidence using all current prevention recommendations). Sugar free chewing gums and candies made with xylitol as the principal sweetener have already received official endorsements from six national dental associations. 

Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consume the sugars we eat. When you eat food containing ordinary sugar (sucrose), it gives bacteria on your teeth energy, allowing them to multiply and start making acids that can eat away the enamel on the teeth. This "acid attack" causes tooth decay and cavities to begin to form.

Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from plants. It does not break down like sugar and can help keep a neutral pH level in the mouth. Xylitol also prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth. This is how it protects the teeth from tooth decay. With xylitol, the acid attack that would otherwise last for over half an hour is stopped. Most people are not aware of this benefit because such a claim makes xylitol into a drug, crossing a boundary not allowed by the Food and Drug Administration.

Because the bacteria in the mouth that are causing cavities are unable to digest xylitol, their growth is greatly reduced. The number of acid-producing bacteria may fall as much as 90%. No acid is formed because the pH of saliva and plaque does not fall. After taking xylitol, the bacteria do not stick well on the surface of the teeth and as a result, the amount of plaque decreases.

Research has also shown that the use of xylitol helps repair damage to the enamel. Saliva in itself protects the mouth and teeth. Stimulated saliva in particular contains all the components needed to repair early cavities. If sugar is only eaten a couple of times a day, the saliva can do the job alone. But most people take sugar so often that the mouth's own defensive tools are not enough.

Saliva that has xylitol is more alkaline than saliva stimulated by other sugar products. After taking xylitol products, the concentration of basic amino acids and ammonia in saliva and plaque may rise, and plaque pH rises as well. When pH is above 7, calcium and phosphate salts in saliva start to move into those parts of enamel that are weak. Therefore, soft, calcium-deficient enamel sites begin to harden again.

Have a look at the sugar free gum products on the market. With the exception of Trident Layers, all of Trident's gums contain xylitol, including Trident Extra Care, regular Trident and Trident Splash. There are several other varieties available. For children ages four and up, and all adults, chewing gum with xylitol is a great thing to do to maintain dental health.

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com

Dental Implants: A Treatment Option for Missing Teeth

 

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Dental implants are a specialized area of restorative dentistry. They are substitutes for the roots of missing teeth, and act as an anchor for a replacement tooth or crown or a set of replacement teeth. Ideally, teeth would last a lifetime, but sometimes they don't. Replacing missing teeth is important to your general health and the health of your other teeth. Not only do you lose chewing ability when a tooth is lost, but unreplaced teeth can cause other teeth to be lost, tipped or crowded.

Replacement of lost teeth with dental implants has been used for treating missing teeth for more than 50 years and is recognized as an effective treatment choice. Implants are considered more predictable than bridgework, resin bonded bridges and endodontic treatment. They are appropriate for patients of all ages and may be the right choice if you are missing one or more teeth due to injury, disease or decay. Implants are especially practical for patients who can no longer wear removable dentures. A qualified dentist with specialized training in dental implants can determine if you are a candidate for this treatment after an evaluation of your dental and medical history. 

Before Dental Implants

After Dental Implants

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com

Dental Amalgams: What they are, and when to consider replacing them

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Amalgams are the metal, silver-colored fillings for cavities in your teeth. In the United States, amalgams began to be used in the mid 1800s. Dental amalgam is a mixture of metals like silver, copper, and tin, which are combined with mercury. The mercury makes up about half of the mixture and acts as a “glue” to bind the components into a hard, stable, safe substance. This substance is malleable, and is placed into the tooth where it hardens. Amalgam is the least costly, quickest way to restore teeth, although it is not as widely used as it once was, thanks to other options. Dental amalgam has been used for more than 150 years, and can last in a patient’s mouth for more than 12 years.

Patients today are concerned about whether amalgam is safe, and are also concerned with the aesthetics of these more noticeable metal fillings.  No scientific studies have demonstrated that the mercury contained in dental amalgam is harmful. For example, studies show that the mercury found in fillings is less than a person’s normal exposure to the mercury found in food, water and air. Therefore, dentists continue to place amalgams to preserve a tooth. The United States Public Health Service and the FDA’s Dental Products Panel are some of the many organizations that have determined amalgam is safe for preserving a tooth’s structure. However, a few people have been found to have an allergic reaction to mercury. Approximately one half of one percent of the population has a reaction to amalgam and mercury. If you think you have sensitivity to amalgam, please request a blood test from your physician or dentist.

Once your dentist determines that you have tooth decay, it is important to eliminate it. When the decay is removed, the amalgam is mixed and placed in your tooth. The filling is then carved and shaped, and your bite is adjusted. After the amalgam is placed, it can take up to two weeks for your filling to harden completely. 

Lots of people are looking in to having their “silver fillings” replaced. Removal of any filling can cause structural damage to your teeth. So, unless you have recurrent decay under a filling or wish to change to white fillings for cosmetic reasons, there is no immediate reason to remove your amalgam fillings. Of course when amalgam fillings become loose, cracked, or broken, it is important to replace them.  White fillings of porcelain or composite resin are now available, and have eclipsed amalgams in popularity. 

At Glenwood Meadows Dental, we have chosen to use the tooth-colored composite filling material for three reasons.  First, the fillings are more aesthetically pleasing to today's patients.  Second, the composite fillings actually bond to the tooth, eliminating the very small gap that can occur between a tooth and an amalgam filling, which can sometimes lead to decay-- the exact opposite desired outcome for getting a filling to begin with.  Finally, composite fillings have no "setting time", and the restoration is set by the time a patient leaves our office.

The decision to replace amalgams with other restoration materials should be decided by you and your dentist, and evaluated on several factors including aesthetic concerns, cost, tooth location, longevity of the restoration, and your preferences.

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com

Soft Drinks Are Hard on Your Child’s Teeth

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

With the increasing popularity of “extreme sports” among today’s youth, many soft drink advertisers have begun to target children, sending misleading messages to the young, naïve consumer. Soft drink and energy drink companies have sought out the world’s top athletes in events like snowboarding, skateboarding, BMX, and motocross to endorse their products. Adolescents everywhere have fallen prey to this persuasive and compelling influence, passing up healthier calcium-rich milk and water in hopes of enhancing energy and improving performance by consuming beverages saturated with sugar. In the past 10 years, soft drink consumption among children has almost doubled in the United States. Today’s average teenage boy consumes three or more cans of soda per day, and 10 percent drink seven or more cans a day. The average for teenage girl drinks more than two cans a day, and 10 percent drink more than five cans a day. What our youngsters may not understand is how these poor nutritional choices are affecting their health, in particular their dentition. As a result, soft drinks have become a major concern among dentists everywhere.

The increased consumption of soda starting at a very young age is causing a profound increase in tooth decay nationwide. Tooth decay, or technically "dental caries", is a demineralization of dental hard tissues caused by the acid byproduct of the bacterial fermentation of dietary sugars. While it may be common knowledge among Americans that the consumption of sugar leads to tooth decay, many people, especially kids and teens, do not know that the demineralization to dental structures may occur in the absence of sugar.  Dental erosion is the loss of tooth structure resulting from continuous exposure to acid. Simple pH monitors have shown that all soft drinks, especially colas and one highly caffeinated yellow carbonated soda (which I won't mention here by name but it rhymes with Fountain Clue) are extremely acidic.  The severe acidity of these beverages, even diet sodas and sport drinks, can be extremely detrimental to one’s oral health, often causing irreversible damage to the young, immature enamel of childrens' teeth.

Children ages eight to 17 are at increased risk to dental caries from the consumption of acidic and sugar rich soft drinks.  The enamel of newly erupted teeth in teenagers is immature, and the crystalline structure is porous, chalky and is easily penetrated and dissolved by acids.  Over time, the continuous exposure of the dental structures to the acid causes decay.  If left untreated, tooth decay may result in the unfortunate premature removal of teeth.

Our message is simple: Encourage your kids to cut soft drinks out of their diet.  If they must drink soda, have them use a straw to keep sugars and acid away from the teeth.   Tell them to drink the soda quickly and avoid prolonged sipping.  Promote rinsing with water or brushing after soft drink consumption.  Also, support the use of fluoridated toothpaste and drinking of fluoridated water.  Most importantly, remember to schedule regular dental visits for cleanings and exams.  With these simple precautions, you can greatly improve the overall oral health of your child.

   
Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.
Glenwood Meadows Dental
40 Market Street, Suite A
Glenwood Springs, CO  81601
970-947-1717
www.gmeadowsdental.com

Glenwood Meadows Dental Announces New Laser Technology for Comfortable Surgery, Smile Enhancement and Whitening

Glenwood Meadows Dental, a practice offering general family dentistry, dentistry sub-specialties and dental wellness and hygiene at its convenient Glenwood Meadows shopping center location in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is pleased to announce the availability of new laser technology for its patients.  Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S., recently invested in the Picasso and Picasso Lite lasers.  Patients can benefit from this technology for less invasive soft tissue surgeries and procedures which are more comfortable and heal more quickly than previous traditional surgical methods.  In addition, laser surgery reduces the risk of infection with bacterial reduction, and laser light treatments are a fast and effective method for teeth whitening.

"This laser technology changes the entire experience of surgery for patients," says Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S. "Our practice is dedicated to personalized, comfortable care, and the Picasso tool helps us deliver that in just one more way. Our patients report that laser surgery is quick, precise and virtually painless."  The tool is used for smile enhancements, tooth whitening, frenectomies, periodontal treatment, and more. Lasers can be used around metal crowns, on patients with pacemakers and braces, on teeth with metal amalgams, and in procedures involving bone structure. 

Patients can find out more about the Picasso and Picasso Lite laser procedures and treatments in a consultation with Dr. Coon at Glenwood Meadows Dental.  Appointments can be made by phone at 970-947-1717 or online at http://www.gmeadowsdental.com.

About Glenwood Meadows Dental

Owned and operated by Benjamin Coon, D.D.S., the Glenwood Meadows Dental team specializes in comprehensive family dental health care including cleanings and prevention, cosmetic dentistry, periodontal disease treatment and restorations like implants, fillings, crowns, caps, bridges, root canals and dentures.  With high quality modern equipment  and skilled practitioners, Glenwood Meadows Dental prides itself on personalized, comfortable care.  New patients are always welcome.  The office accepts and processes dental health insurance. Glenwood Meadows Dental is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at its Glenwood Meadows shopping center location at 40 Market Street Suite A, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.  Reach them by phone at 970-947-1717 or online at www.gmeadowsdental.com.