Archive for January, 2012

Eating Well for Healthier Teeth and a Healthier You

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

Eating Well for Healthier Teeth and a Healthier YouAssure A Smile knows that good oral and over-all health starts with balanced nutrition.  Overall wellness of the body is reflected through the health of the oral tissues and health of the teeth and gums can dramatically impact the health of the body as a whole.

 

The majority of Americans do not eat enough fruits and vegetables.  The multi-million dollar health-supplement industry exists due to Americans’ desire for pre-packaged, easy-to-swallow supplements.  But good supplements can be expensive. Less expensive supplements that use cheaper fillers and compressed pills that make them easier to swallow can inhibit the body’s ability to break them down or absorb them completely.  Consequently a large amount supplements are flushed from the body and down the toilet.

 

Even “well balanced” diets may lack adequate amounts of specific nutrients to overcome health issues because today’s genetically enhanced and over processed food chain just does not provide Americans with everything they really need to sustain good health.  So simply learning about which foods are healthy and which one are not can help improve your health dramatically

 

Miami dentist Dr. Theodore Herrmann endorses the use of supplements to provide the body with what it needs to balance your nutrition.  “Nutraceuticals” or pharmaceutical grade supplements are available for purchase at Assure A Smile to help our patients achieve that nutritional balance and or to aide in therapeutic healing.

 

Miami’s Home of Holistic Dentistry has a certified nutritional counselor to help our patients and South Florida’s residents choose healthy foods that promote healthy teeth and gums for life. Here are 3 tips for improving overall health through better nutrition:

 

But first, it is important to note the difference between food items and supplements.  Food items include all of the all-natural and consumable things needed to sustain health:  Water, fruits, vegetables, proteins, and others.  Supplements are the encapsulated nutrients meant to “supplement” food items.  These include the familiar lettered vitamins, and minerals as well as amino acids, omegas, and oils that are now becoming more popular.

 

1. Find a dressing or dip. For many, the biggest drawback of a healthy diet is taste.  Processed and “flavor enhanced” foods usually contain a high amount of chemical additives and sugars.  The abundance of sugary foods makes all-natural foods seem bland in taste.  To help overcome this, try using a dressing or dip that adds zesty flavor to vegetables and fruits.  Things like a healthy organic dressing, natural honey, and cottage cheese are fine examples of healthy “add-ons” that will make it easier to consume more healthy foods.

 

2. Salads ARE for everyone! Most get the impression that salads are only for people on a diet.  Yes, eating salads are a great way to help shed a few pounds.  Tossing a salad with a myriad of fresh fruits, nuts and vegetables is a great way to get a huge amount of essential nutrients.  Here’s a tip:  Get colorful!  The different coloring of fruits and vegetables often indicates their unique nutritional content.  Mixing a variety of different colors can give a well-rounded selection of vitamins, minerals.

 

3. Smoothies. Smoothies are a great choice for the many reasons mentioned above and more.  They can contain a diverse mix of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, and they taste downright delicious.  You can even put your supplements in a smoothie to make them easier to take. Smoothie store chains have become very popular and are convenient for that “on the run” for lunch or breakfast.

 

Assure A Smile, South Florida’s Home of Holistic Dentistry, is committed to helping patients increase overall health through applied holistic dentistry and ongoing education. So watch for more tips to come!

 

We invite South Florida residents to schedule an appointment with Assure A Smile to experience the alternative to the traditional dentistry.  Readers can call our front desk directly at 305-274-0047 or request an appointment online at www.assureasmile.com.

The Evils of Fluoride

Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

The Evils of FluorideDr. Herrmann spoke about “The Evils of Fluoride” at a PATH (Positive Alternative Therapies in Healthcare) meeting at the Miami Science Museum on October 24th. He brought to the audience’s attention that there is a large amount of misinformation regarding fluoride, and the increased use of fluoride has resulted in it being added to our public water, toothpaste and our food (readers may visit our list of the 5 most common fluoride sources to learn more).

 

Miami dentists and other health professionals have routinely promoted fluoride as a way to prevent tooth decay, but there is no clinical evidence to support this claim. Based on this claim, fluoride has been added to our public water supply, but there are two different types of fluoride. Sodium Fluoride is what is in toothpaste, and it is a pharmaceutical grade fluoride that allegedly reduces tooth decay. Hydrofluorosalicylic acid is what is added to our water, and it is actually an unregulated waste product of the fertilizer industry. Hydrofluorosalicylic acid carries a warning label that reads “Avoid contact with skin, eyes, mouth and clothing. Avoid breathing fumes or vapor. Do not take internally.”  Because it is unregulated, it can be contaminated with lead, arsenic, cadmium and radon.

 

Fluoride is the active ingredient in pesticides. It kills bugs! As a pesticide, fluoride is found in large amounts in the foods we eat. For example, conventionally grown cabbage contains 45 ppm of fluoride, romaine lettuce contains 40 ppm of fluoride and iceberg lettuce contains 180 ppm of fluoride.

 

Fluoride is Bad for Babies and Children

Another issue with fluoride is dosage. According to the American Dental Association (ADA) the recommended dose is .8 to 1.4 ppm (parts per million), but because fluoride is in most toothpastes and our public water supply, most people, including children and babies, are ingesting much more fluoride than recommended. For example, a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste has .5 mg of fluoride, which is the same as 1-2 glasses of fluoridated water. Babies who drink powdered formula are at an increased risk of consuming more than the recommended amount of fluoride. Dr. Herrmann noted research that states:

“Infants receiving substantial quantities of infant formula generally should not use powder or liquid concentrate if water fluoride levels are near optimal or above, since the water fluoride alone might exceed total, recommended daily levels,”  (1).

The ADA recommends that “For infants who get most of their nutrition from formula during their first 12 months, ready-to-feed formula is preferred to help ensure that they do not exceed the optimal amount of fluoride intake.”

Side Effects of Fluoride

With this increased exposure to and consumption of fluoride, there are many side effects.  Dental fluorosis is a health condition caused by receiving too much fluoride during tooth development. In fact, the U.S. government recommended less fluoride for children just last spring. When fluoride is damaging a baby’s growing tooth cells, causing dental fluorosis, what is it doing to its other developing tissues like the bone, brain and endocrine system?

 

A March 2006 report from the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (NAS/NRC) identified fluoride as a potent hormone disruptor that may affect normal thyroid function. Fluoride’s potential to impair thyroid function is most clearly illustrated by the fact that until the 1970s, European doctors used fluoride as a thyroid-suppressing medication for patients with hyperthyroidism. Today, many people living in communities with fluoridated tap water are ingesting doses of fluoride that fall within the range of doses once used by doctors to reduce thyroid activity in hyperthyroid patients (NRC 2006).

 

The NAS/NRC report also cited concerns about the potential of fluoride to lower IQ, noting that the “consistency of study results appears significant enough to warrant additional research on the effects of fluoride on intelligence.”  That finding was echoed by a December 2006 study published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal The Lancet that identified fluoride as an “emerging” neurotoxin (Grandjean & Landrigan 2006). As of 2011, there are now 24 published studies from China, Iran, India and Mexico indicating that moderate to high fluoride exposure is associated with lowered IQ in children.

 

A 2006 peer-reviewed study by four Harvard scientists and doctors strongly supports concerns that fluoridated water is linked to osteosarcoma, an often fatal form of bone cancer, in boys. The Harvard study found a five-fold increase in bone cancer among teenage boys who drank fluoridated water from ages 6 through 8, compared to those drinking non-fluoridated water (Bassin et al 2006).

 

Many studies show a correlation between fluoride and hip fractures, including a 1991 study that found significantly higher fracture rates in counties with fluoride and a 1995 study that found that hip fractures are 86% more likely in fluoridated areas.

 

Research shows that the side effects and dangers don’t outweigh the supposed benefits of fluoride. You can take action to limit your ingestion of fluoride by using a water filter in your home to remove fluoride, not drinking tap water that is treated with fluoride (boiling fluoridated tap water increases the concentration of fluoride), using a fluoride-free toothpaste,  not mixing baby formula with tap water or fluoridated bottle water—instead use spring or distilled water, and choosing organic produce that is grown without fluoridated water. For more information, please visit the Fluoride Action Network’s website http://www.fluoridealert.org/.

Miami residents are invited to schedule an appointment with Assure a Smile online, or call our front desk directly at 305-274-0047 to learn more. New Patients may now take advantage of our Cleaning and Consultation Special to learn more about holistic dentistry and the unparalleled quality of service provided by the Miami dental professionals at Assure a Smile.

 

(1) Levy SM et al, Sources of fluoride intake in children, 1995.

Dental Anxiety, Part II: The Day of Your Appointment

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

dental anxiety pt iiIf you are afraid to see your dentist, you are not alone!  In our last blog article, we shared an eye-opening statistic from the British Medical Journal that shows most individuals fear the dentist.  Specifically, 1 in 5 individuals who were surveyed reported fearing the dentist more than snakes, spiders, or heights.  For Miami dentists, this statistic shows that greater care must be taken in educating patients of the importance of regular dental cleanings to prevent oral health problems.  Additionally, it illustrates a large need for patients to learn to cope with dental fear and anxiety.

 

In our last article, Dental Anxiety Pt. I, we discussed a few ways in which patients can identify and cope with dental anxiety in the months leading up to a scheduled appointment.  Anxiety normally grows, however, in the days leading up to a dental appointment.  That anxiety typically peaks on the day of the appointment, creating a tension that may make the thought of cancelling your appointment seem pretty enticing.

 

Canceling or even prolonging dental visits is always a terrible idea!  Professional dental cleanings are needed to maintain healthy teeth and gums.  Moreover, avoiding the dentist for months or even years usually creates bigger problems.  Patients who do not keep regular appointments typically fall victim to severe accumulations of plaque, decay, and disease.

 

Assure a Smile has prepared this exclusive Miami Dentist Blog article to help patients overcome the fear and anxiety that typically builds on the day of their dental appointment.

Coping with Dental Anxiety:  The Day of Your Appointment

Anxiety may become pronounced on the day of your visit, but do not worry!  This too is a normal reaction.  We must remind ourselves that we cannot allow anxiety to deter our actions.  Patients may find the following tips helpful in diffusing the heightened anxiety one may experience

 

1. Positive Visualization

Positive visualization is a popular exercise among a variety of individuals, ranging from public speakers to professional athletes.  It is simple to perform and effectively reduces anxiety by giving the mind time to acknowledge and counter it.  In the morning before your appointment, take a moment to think about how the appointment ought to go.  Allow your mind’s eye to construct every detail of your visit.  Start with your arrival in the parking lot, then slowly visualize entering the reception area and checking in.  Do not rush!  Allow your imagination to construct your visit, before it happens, with great attention to detail.  You may wish to recall the color of the carpeting, or the smile on the face of the receptionist.  Most importantly, visualize your appointment going well!  Each of us knows how lovely it feels to hear our dental professional say everything is in good shape and we’re “cavity free.”  Run through your ideal “perfect visit” and acknowledge that it can feel good!

 

2. In the Waiting Room

Once you arrive, you may wish to employ tension management techniques to counter the last minute “butterflies.”  Tension management techniques are also very popular among public speakers and professional athletes, as both are prone to last minute nervousness.  Two great techniques include deep breathing and fist clenching.  Deep breathing can be done simply by drawing long inhalations through the nose and slowly releasing through the mouth.  This is very similar to “yoga breathing.”  Fist clenching, as the name implies, involves clenching the fingers of each hand into a fist.  Squeeze for a moment, then slowly release.  This simple action will allow the muscles to dispel the tension the builds in the muscles of the body when we become nervous or anxious.  Combine fist clenching with deep breathing, and tension will slowly dissipate while you wait for your appointment to begin.

 

3. In the chair

Climbing into the dental chair is often the most stressful part of the entire experience.  Combine each of the stress management techniques described above:  visualize everything going well, take long breaths, and clench your fists a few times to rid your body of any last minute tension buildup.  Before long, your appointment will be over and you will be feeling healthy and confident in your oral health!

Stress Free Dentistry at Assure a Smile

Assure a Smile has been a leading Miami holistic dentistry practice for more than 20 years.  Our team of professionals is committed to deliver only the highest quality of service.  At Assure a Smile, we go to great lengths to ensure your visit is a comfortable and pleasant experience!

 

Miami residents are encouraged to schedule an appointment with Assure a Smile online, or call or friendly front desk directly at 305-274-0047!