Posts Tagged ‘oral hygiene’
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
Miami dentist Ted Herrmann often asks patients: Are your gums putting your heart at risk? Not surprisingly, this question is often answered with confused looks and shoulder shrugs. Not many Miami dental professionals are asking their patients this question, despite growing research that points to a serious connection between gum disease and heart disease.
Comments by Dr. Ted Herrmann:
Holistic dentistry focuses on the ways in which the pieces of our body are connected. From large organ systems to microscopic cells, holistic dentistry uses knowledge of these connections to develop a more complete understanding of both dentistry and overall health. The idea is simple: the better our understanding of the human body, the better we can take care of ourselves and prevent future problems. This leads to a greater degree of patient education, an area where Assure a Smile differs from other Miami dental practices. Our staff is comprised of holistic health professionals who identify patient problems along with their causal factors.
One of the most prevalent conditions among adults is gum disease, or gingivitis. This condition affects an estimated 1 in 2 American adults, often going unnoticed and undiagnosed for many years. This is alarming, as the American Association for the Advancement of Science has recently linked gum disease with heart disease. University of Minnesota Professor Mark Herzberg presented these findings at the 150th meeting of the AAAS as a follow up to several studies conducted throughout the 1990s that suggested a link between the two diseases. “Now we show a potential biological reason,” Professor Helzberg told the Association, referencing a common denominator for the two conditions: bacteria.
In recent studies involving laboratory rabbits, the same bacteria that causes gum disease was shown to also cause inflammation in the arteries of test subjects. In other words, the same bacteria that infects the gums and leads to gingivitis may in time travel the bloodstream and cause swelling in the heart and arteries. This leads to the build up of plaque, swelling, and eventually coronary heart disease.
The question for dentists in Miami, then, is how can this be prevented? Holistic dental professionals know to look at the cause of the problem: bacteria. Children and adults alike must brush and floss regularly to remove plaque and bacteria from the teeth and gum line to prevent infection. Preventing infection is the primary way to promote sound oral hygiene, as well as significantly decrease the chances of developing heart disease in the future.
Tags: American Association for the Advancement of Science, Assure a Smile, coral gables dentist, dentists in miami, dr. ted herrmann, family dentist coral gables, family dentist miami, gingivitis, gum disease, gum infection, heart disease, holistic dentist, holistic dentist miami, holistic dentistry, holistic health, holistic wellness, kendall dentist, Mark Herzberg, miami dental, miami dentist, miami holistic dentist, oral hygiene
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 15th, 2010
It’s that time of year! Jingle bells, gingerbread cookies, and the turning of another calendar year are on the horizon. As we reflect on the passing year, let us look towards the next with enthusiasm, hope, and dedication to better health. When it comes to pursuing better oral health, Assure a Smile would like to take a moment and urge patients to think Holistic.
Comments by Dr. Ted Herrmann:
What better time to reflect on personal health and well being than right before the start of a new year? Whether you have a dozen cavities or zero, it is important to consistently reevaluate the way you think of your teeth, gums, and local dentist. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with holistic dentistry, a proactive approach to creating healthy smiles that last a lifetime.
Diet and Holistic Dentistry
Holistic dentistry seeks out the causal factors that contribute to dental conditions. One of the most common contributing factors to poor oral hygiene is a corresponding poor diet. Holistic dentistry differs from traditional dentistry in the belief that simple dietary changes can help create healthy teeth and gums for life. For example, traditional dentistry’s answer to fighting cavities and gum disease is to brush and floss regularly. This approach is reactive, focusing on plaque removal instead of the plaque itself. Holistic dentists, by contrast, want to help patients prevent tooth decay not only through proper hygiene, but also through proper diet.
When armed with the proper knowledge, patients can make minor adjustments to their diet to help prevent plaque accumulation before it starts. Limiting sugar intake, for example, is one of the best ways to prevent plaque from accumulating on your teeth.
Proactive Teeth and Gum Care
Of course, proactive teeth and gum care is an essential part of long lasting oral health. Making dietary changes will help to limit the damage caused by eating food, however regular brushing and flossing is still required to remove the food particles that cause disease.
It is important to consider flossing a major component of oral hygiene. Though tedious, flossing removes the food particles that become lodged deep between teeth and near the gums. If not removed regularly, these food particles can infect the gums in as little as 48 hours. Once infection occurs, gums may become swollen, painful, and bleeding, eventually leading to gum disease.
Miami Dental Checkups and Cleanings
Regular dental checkups and cleanings round out the holistic approach to dentistry. Even the most educated and proactive patients develop occasional problem areas, and it is nothing to be ashamed of. However, minor problems become major problems when left undiagnosed and treated. Scheduling an appointment with a local Miami dentist will ensure your oral health plan gets off on the right foot for 2011.
Tags: Assure a Smile, coral gables dentist, dentist 33176, holistic dental practice, holistic dentistry, Holistic Dentistry 305, kendall dentist, miami dentist, miami dentistry, miami holistic dentistry, nutrition, oral hygiene, proactive dentistry, ted herrmann
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Friday, November 5th, 2010
Holistic dentistry seems to be just another part the go green fad that’s been building momentum over the last decade. Many mistakenly categorize the idea of holistic health with the likes of organic veggies, overpriced antioxidant super drinks, and trendy yoga studios. However, holistic dentistry is not a mere fad. Holistic ideals predate the advent of modern medicine, illustrating a timeless concern for the interconnected nature of the human body.
Comments by Dr. Ted Herrmann:
Assure a Smile Miami Dentistry was built upon the idea that information is power. The more a patient knows, the more he or she can take proactive steps towards keeping their teeth and gums healthy for life. Much of this ideology stems from the principles of holistic medicine. Holistic medicine, and in our case holistic dentistry, views the body as a complex but unified system. If there is a problem with one piece, that problem may manifest itself through another piece.
To illustrate, consider a patient who has very good oral hygiene but a few minor fillings. Despite their regular brushing and flossing, the patient continues to develop minor cavities that need correcting. There are two ways dentistry may approach this problem:
Traditional Dentistry
Traditional dentistry tends to be reactive. When a patient has a cavity, the plaque is drilled away from the enamel of the tooth and the cavity is filled. The patient is given brief instruction on proper brushing and flossing techniques, but much of this is already known. Further, the patient leaves with little additional knowledge to help protect themselves from future cavities.
Holistic Dentistry
Holistic dentistry looks at the very same patient and asks why. What is the big picture? Why does this person—who takes relatively good care of their teeth—continuing to develop cavities? Assure a Smile thinks of this approach as people dentistry, and we help patients identify the causal factors that contribute to their oral health problems. The patient described above may habitually grind their teeth, slowly weakening their tooth enamel over time. The pH balance in their mouth may be naturally acidic, and they may benefit from avoiding drinks like orange and grapefruit juices. There may be several underlying factors that contribute to a patient’s oral problems—and holistic dentistry aims to identify, explain, and diffuse each one individually.
Much like holistic dentistry, Assure a Smile gives each patient the undivided attention necessary to uncover the causes of their dental ailments. Once the root of the problem is identified, the patient can learn how to prevent future problems and avoid long hours in the dental chair.
Tags: Assure a Smile, cavities, dentist 305, dentist 33176, dentist miami, Family Dentistry 305, Family Dentistry 33176, holistic dentistry, miami dentist, Miami Dentist Holistic Dentistry, miami dentistry, oral hygiene, oral pH level, proactive care, ted herrmann, teeth grinding
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010
Whether new to Miami or simply in search of a new health care professional, you may notice an increasing number of doctors, dentists, and other specialists who claim to be holistic. Like many, you may be confused as to how holistic health professionals differ from traditional ones, and you may be wondering if a holistic professional is right for you.
Comments by Dr. Ted Herrmann:
To understand holistic medicine, and holistic dentistry in particular, we must first look at the origin of the word itself. Holistic comes from the Greek word holism, a term that means total, whole, and entire.
Holistic dentistry, like other holistic practices, looks at an individual as if they were a puzzle. Like a puzzle, patients are an intricate system of different pieces that are interconnected, each one affecting the next.
This also reflects the idea that a single system, like a human being, is more than the sum of several individual parts. Holistic medicine uses this concept when treating patients. For holistic dentists this idea means looking at much more than simply the teeth and gums. At Assure a Smile, we like to think of holistic dentistry as being people dentistry; an examination of the entire patient.
Dental cleanings for example, begin with a full TMJ scan to better understand the entire head, neck, and jaw area of a new patient. This is important because a patient may experience pain or discomfort in their mouth that is actually caused by a problem located outside of their mouth. These problems are often overlooked by traditional dental cleanings that do not inspect the head, neck, and jaw. Patients are often referred to other specialists as a result, prolonging diagnoses of the problem.
Holistic dentistry also seeks to preserve teeth in the most natural state possible. Excessive drilling, grinding, and tooth removal are avoided and typically reserved as a measure of last resort. Instead, non-invasive procedures are used to straighten, strengthen, and enhance oral health.
Perio protect is one such system Assure a Smile recommends to patients with gum disease. Invisalign clear braces are another non-invasive treatment Assure a Smile offers, specifically to patients who wish to realign their teeth for both aesthetic and hygienic reasons. These treatments are safe relative to other traditional chemical and invasive treatments, respectively, helping to preserve long term oral health.
Tags: clear braces, dental cleaning, Family Dentistry 305, holistic, holistic dentistry, holistic dentistry Miami, holistic dentists, holistic health, holistic health professional, holistic medicine, Invisalign, miami dentist, Miami Dentist Family Dentistry, miami invisalign, oral hygiene, perio protect, traditional dental cleaning, traditional dentistry
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
Could you be inhaling poisonous vapor? If you have amalgam (silver) fillings, you most likely are.
COMMENTS BY DR. TED HERRMANN:
We know that mercury is the most toxic non-radioactive chemical on Earth (i). We know that this chemical vaporizes under pressure and heat. We also know that, when vaporized, this chemical is tasteless, odorless, and easily inhaled without notice. Why, then, does it make sense to have such a chemical in your mouth?
The human mouth is naturally one of the warmest regions of the body. Used for chewing and breaking down food, the mouth also has the ability to clench and exert pressure on its teeth. The natural warmth of the mouth, combined with the pressure its jaws can force onto teeth, make teeth one of the worst places to put a toxic chemical like mercury. Chewing, unconscious jaw clentching, and nighttime teeth grinding all contribute to the health hazards of amalgam (silver) fillings.
Cavities and Mercury Fillings
To better understand the dangers of silver fillings, let’s examine how fillings work. When you have a cavity, your dentist will remove the plaque and bacteria from your tooth. Depending on the amount of plaque and the extent to which it has damaged your tooth, this process will leave a hole in the enamel of the tooth. A solution of metal is then prepared, consisting of 50-60% mercury and varying levels of silver and tin. This solution is called amalgam. The mercury rich amalgam is then shoved into the hole in your tooth.
Contrary to popular belief, this filling is not bound directly to the tooth. Instead, it is forcefully stuffed into the cavity until the entire space is filled. The cavity is sealed as the filling corrodes naturally over time. This corrosion process, however, creates problems down the road.
Mercury Toxicity and the Mouth
The corrosion process that seals a silver filling into a tooth never stops. The continual corrosion of the filling eventually creates micro fractures along the surfaces of the tooth. Over time, these fractures accumulate and eventually crack the tooth. In some cases these fractures may lead to the tooth being broken altogether. As this happens, amalgam fillings are exposed to two very bad forces: pressure from natural chewing, and heat from the mouth. The combination of pressure and heat vaporizes the mercury content of the filling, creating an odorless, tasteless, highly toxic gas. Since the gas emits from a filling in a tooth, it is easily inhaled at levels 10-50 times the level considered safe by the U.S. Public Health Service (ii).
As a Miami dentist and holistic wellness professional, I cannot understate the harmful effects that mercury can induce. Simply put, no amount of mercury is safe. A proposition in California, enacted in 1994, requires dental professionals that the use of silver fillings “causes birth defects and other problems”(iii). Assure a Smile Miami Dentistry offers safe mercury removal to help patients replace silver fillings with much safer composite, or white, fillings. Contact our holistic dentists to learn more about safely removing and replacing silver fillings.
(i) http://www.dreddyclinic.com/dangers_of_toxic_metals.htm
(ii) http://www.yourhealthbase.com/amalgams.html
(iii) http://www.dreddyclinic.com/detox_tips_10.htm
Tags: 305 dentist, 305 dentistry, amalgam, amalgam filling, Assure a Smile, cavity, filling, holistic dentist, holistic dentistry, holistic health, kendall dentist, mercury, mercury poisoning, miami dentist, miami dentistry, miami holistic dentistry, oral hygiene, poisonous filling, silver fillings, south florida dentist, south miami dentist, ted herrmann, toxic, wellness
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
What’s more toxic than lead, cadmium and arsenic? I’ll give you a hint: it might just be in your mouth…
Comments by Dr. Ted Herrmann:
Mercury is more toxic than lead, cadmium, and arsenic. What many people are unaware of, however, is just how close they come to it each day. In truth, if you have a traditional silver filling in any of your teeth, you have a little bit of mercury there too.
Amalgam fillings, common before the use of white fillings, are 50% mercury. Larger fillings may even contain as much mercury as a thermometer. This chemical vaporizes easily at room temperature, turning into a odorless, tasteless, and colorless gas. As a result, those with traditional amalgam fillings may continuously inhale mercury vapor, without even knowing it. This is extremely alarming, as research from around the world indicates that mercury inhalation poses severe health risks.
Scientists at the University of Milan assert that many studies have confirmed that mercury from amalgam fillings does enter human tissue after being used to fill a cavity (i). They go on to say that the amount of mercury that enters the brain, thyroid, kidney, and pituitary gland is proportional to the number of silver fillings a person has. In other words, the more amalgam fillings you have, the more odorless mercury vapor you inhale.
Not just Italians worry about the mercury content of fillings, either. The World Health Organization has concluded that traditional amalgam dental fillings contribute more mercury to a person’s body than all other sources combined. But is there a health risk?
In fact, mercury is a poison. This poison can adversely affect many bodily processes including the urinary, cardiac, respiratory, immune, and digestive systems. Dr. Gary Null and Dr. Martin Feldman of New York published a report that offers irrefutable evidence that mercury from traditional silver fillings is absorbed by the human body at a rate of 10-50 times the safe limit set by the U.S. Public Health Service (ii). The evidence paints a very clear picture:
Mercury is poisonous, abundant in amalgam fillings, and absorbed by the human body at a tremendously high rate.
As a holistic dentistry practice, Assure a Smile offers safe mercury filling removal. Mercury-free, white composite fillings are used to treat cavities and conduct general procedures. Contact Assure a Smile to speak with a Miami dentist about safely removing your mercury fillings.
(i) http://www.yourhealthbase.com/amalgams.html
(ii) see above.
Tags: 305 dentist, 305 dentistry, amalgam fillings, arsenic, Assure a Smile, bacteria, cadmium, cavity, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, dental appointment, dental education, digestive system health, holistic dentist, holistic dentistry, holistic health, kendall dentist, mercury, mercury inhalation, mercury poison, miami dentist, miami holistic dentist, nervous system, oral hygiene, plaque, safe mercury filling removal, silver fillings, south florida dentist, south miami dentist, ted herrmann, wellness, white fillings
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Do you have bleeding, puffy, or otherwise agitated gums? If so, you may be one of 85% of adults who have gum disease. Gum disease can lead to receding gums, loss of teeth, chronic bad breath, and has recently been linked with heart disease. Treating gum disease, however, can reverse the process and help both teeth and gums to become healthy again!
Comments by Dr. Ted Herrmann
Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, afflicts about 85% of adults. This condition is not to be taken lightly; when untreated, gum disease may cause recession of the gums, loss of teeth, and even heart disease. Gum disease effects one or more of the following periodontal tissues:
-Alveolar Bone, the bone that holds the teeth and gums in place
-Periodontal Ligaments, connects the teeth with the Alveolar Bone
-Cementum, a protective layer at the root of the bone
-Gingiva, the gums
Once one or more of the above tissues are affected, serious and proactive measures must be taken to remove the bacteria from your gums and prevent it from developing again. Assure a Smile offers the PERIO PROTECT system for doing just that.
The first step in the Perio Protect treatment system is to have an in-depth cleaning of the teeth and gums. This cleaning focuses on the debridement, or removal, of plaque, tarter, and bacteria from the sulcus, or periodontal pocket. The sulcus is the region between the tooth and surrounding gum area.
Once plaque and bacteria have been removed, a set of custom Perio Protect trays is made. These trays fit tightly around your teeth while also leaving a reservoir for a treatment solution that runs along the gum line. This solution is tailored specifically for your treatment needs, and it consists mainly of oxidizing and oxygenating agents that reduce bacteria populations (i).
After your debridement cleaning, it is recommended you wear the Perio Protect trays and accompanying solution 2 to 3 times daily. When the trays are inserted, the reservoir effectively holds the treatment solution along the gum line and prevents bacteria populations from regenerating in the sulcus. This allows your gums time to heal properly.
Habitual brushing and flossing can prevent gum disease. However, once gum disease develops, brushing and flossing alone are not enough. Treating periodontal disease requires a thorough cleaning of the teeth and gums, followed by continual treatment of the area with a FDA approved, doctor prescribed solution. As a Miami dentist, I recommend the Perio Protect system as a premier and fully customizable approach to treating gum disease. The system works well from a holistic dentistry perspective as it works to restore each of the periodontal tissues through one convenient process.
(i) http://www.perioprotect.com/whatIs.asp
Tags: 305 dentist, 305 dentistry, alveolar bone, Assure a Smile, bacteria, cementum, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, debridement, gingiva, gum disease, gum disease prevention, gum treatment, heart disease, holistic dentist, holistic dentistry, kendall dentist, oral hygiene, perio protect, perio protect solution, perio protect trays, periodontal disease, periodontal ligament, periodontal tissue, south florida dentist, south miami dentist, sulcus, ted herrmann, treating gum disease, wellness
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010
Healthy snacks for kids are a summer must! Fresh fruit, plenty of water, and homemade treats can keep your child full, energetic, and cavity-free. So, treat your children this summer with these delicious and nutritious snack recommendations from Assure a Smile Miami Dentistry.
Comments by Dr. Ted Herrmann
Children, perhaps more so than adults, need snacks. The eating habits of a child typically mirror those of their caregiver, consisting of three daily meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, as most caregivers can attest, getting a child to clean their plate can be a challenge.
Anxiousness, coupled with a proportionately small stomach, make it difficult for children to sit down and eat an entire meal. As a result, children may not receive enough calories each day. This is very unhealthy for both children and adults because fewer calories means less energy and nutrients to fuel the body and protect it from foreign objects, like viruses and bacteria. Preparing small, nutritious snacks will help children consume the calories they need for energy as well as the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Heart Healthy Whole Grains
Whole grains are building blocks for a nutritious and filling snack. Parents must take caution, though. Most “whole grain” foods are made using only a small portion of actual whole grains. In addition, whole grain cereals and snack bars are often over processed and rich in sugar. The best whole grain snacks include oatmeal, topped with fresh blueberries, or a small portion of brown rice and vegetables. While the portions may be small (two children sharing a single bowl of oatmeal, for example), the nutritious advantage is huge. Whole grains are associated with a lessened risk of heart disease, and they are a fundamental source of energy!
Delicious Dairy Products
Dairy products make the perfect mid-day snack for children. Foods like low fat cheese sticks, yogurt, and cottage cheese with fresh fruit offer two main nutritional benefits. First, they are a good source of protein. Second, they have moderate amounts of unsaturated fat. Studies show that replacing ordinary fat with unsaturated fat, like that found in dairy products, reduces the amount of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) in your blood (i). Although cholesterol worries are something we typically associate with adults, children too can benefit from eating foods that keep LDL levels low.
Organic Fruits and Vegetables
Organic fruits and vegetables make the best snacks for children. Fruit is a good early morning snack because it is a good source of carbohydrates, water, and vitamins to sustain energy throughout the day. Apples, peaches, grapes, oranges, and watermelon are all great choices. When it comes to late afternoon snacks, though, vegetables are the way to go. Vegetables contain fewer carbohydrates yet are rich in minerals. Serving snacks like raw broccoli, carrots, sliced tomatoes, and celery can replenish a child’s nutrient levels without overfilling their stomachs before dinner. To make things more fun, serve a low fat side to add some extra flavor to the vegetables. Low fat ranch dip, balsamic vinegar and olive oil, light seasoning, or all natural organic peanut butter complement vegetables in a delicious way. Also, dipping is fun! The more fun a snack or meal is, the more likely a child is to eat the entire portion.
As a Miami dentist and nutritionist, I recommend parents serve two snacks to their children each day. Healthy whole grains, dairy products, fruit, and raw vegetables are hands down the best snacks for kids. They offer a moderate serving of calories, healthy fat, protein, and plenty of vitamins and minerals. Holistic dentistry holds the view that overall health is reflected in the mouth; following these snack guidelines will keep your child’s body healthy, and their mouths cavity-free.
(i) http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fat/NU00262
Tags: 305 dentist, 305 dentistry, Assure a Smile, bacteria, calories, dental appointment, diary products, eating, fun snacks, healthy snacks, heart disease, holistic dentist, holistic dentistry, kendall dentist, miami dentist, miami dentistry, miami holistic dentistry, minerals, oral hygiene, organic fruit, organic vegetables, snacks, snacks for children, snacks for kids, south florida dentist, sugar, ted herrmann, vitamins, wellness, whole grain, whole grains
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Have you had your grains today?
Researchers now link vitality, disease prevention, and healthier teeth with whole grains like brown rice. Substituting bad carbohydrates with good is easy, and it may just help you live longer!
Comments by Dr. Ted Herrmann DMD
Everyone knows that carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy. The popular whole grain cereal Wheaties pushed this idea with their “Breakfast of Champions” slogan in the 1930s, though most of us remember the campaign from the early 90s.
Not all carbohydrates are created equally, however. Some carbohydrates contain only one or two sugar molecules and are appropriately labeled simple sugars. The best known of these simple sugars, table sugar, is most likely in your kitchen pantry. Other carbohydrates are made up of long chains of these simple sugars and, because of their increased molecular complexity, are referred to as complex carbohydrates. Brown rice, barley, and other whole grains are good examples of these robust, nutrient-dense carbohydrates.
Simple or Complex?
On paper, complex carbohydrates beat their simple counterparts by an astonishing margin. Complex carbohydrates contain more nutrients, have greater energy potential, have a smaller affect on blood sugar levels, and do less harm to your teeth and gums over time. Simple sugars, by contrast, have almost no nutritional value, are not a good source of sustainable energy, largely affect blood sugar levels, and can cause plaque buildup on teeth that eventually leads to decay. Though simple sugars win us over because of their sweet taste, a closer look reveals that replacing simple sugars with complex carbohydrates has enough health benefits to silence even the loudest screaming sweet tooth.
First, complex carbohydrates contain large amounts of B vitamins. B vitamins, when combined with adequate amounts of water and protein, work to increase your body’s metabolism. That means more energy! For the curious readers out there, I urge you to take a closer look at any of the dozens of energy drinks that have popped up in the past five years. You will notice a common ingredient in almost all of them: B vitamins. Complex carbohydrate foods, though, are still a much better option for many reasons: They will satiate your hunger, they contain fiber to promote digestive health, and they offer a high caloric content for prolonged energy.
In addition to carrying loads of B vitamins, complex carbohydrates promote overall wellness from the standpoint of disease prevention. Natural News, a website dedicated to the latest in natural living, health, and news, recently reported on a Temple University study that identified a compound in brow rice—a poster child for complex carbohydrates—as having the ability to lower blood pressure, an essential step towards preventing heart disease.[i]
Finally, complex carbohydrates are not as problematic for your teeth and gums. Simple sugars, especially those found in massive quantities in juices and soft drinks, have a knack for gathering on a tooth’s enamel and forming plaque. This plaque provides an ideal place for bacteria to breed and infect both the tooth and gums, leading to a host of adverse dental conditions. Complex carbohydrates, on the other hand, contain fewer grams of sugar per serving and are less corrosive to tooth enamel.
The benefits of a diet consisting largely of complex carbohydrates are numerous. Moreover, adjusting your diet to contain fewer simple sugars and more complex carbohydrates is easy. To start, here are the three most common “bad” carbohydrates and corresponding “good” carbohydrates to replace them with:
1) White bread: Replace with 100% Whole Wheat, or other similar Multigrain breads
2) White rice: Replace with Brown Rice or 100% Whole Wheat pasta
3) Candy: Replace with sugar free gum, decaffeinated tea, or a small glass of juice
A local Miami dentist can provide you with further information on the benefits of balancing your diet with good carbohydrates. Certified nutritionists can also help you build a nutrition plan rich in varied, healthy foods. At Assure a Smile, you will receive both. Take advantage of our new patient Miami dental cleaning special and learn more about healthy teeth and gum care, holistic wellness, and the importance of a balanced diet.
[i] http://www.naturalnews.com/029143_brown_rice_diabetes.html
Tags: 305 dentist, 305 dentistry, Assure a Smile, b vitamins, brown rice, carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, complex carbs, eat well, fiber, heart disease, holistic dentistry, holistic health, kendall dentist, Miami dental cleaning, miami dentist, miami dentistry, miami holistic dentistry, nutrient, nutrients, oral hygiene, proactive dentistry, simple sugars, south florida dentist, south miami dentist, ted herrmann, wellness, whole grains
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Saturday, July 10th, 2010
When it comes to caring for your smile, are you proactive?
Did you know that bacteria need only 48 hours to begin to infect your gums? Proactively removing plaque from your teeth is hands down the best way to prevent bacteria from accumulating in the first place.
It is recommended children schedule a dental appointment every 6 months, while adults schedule every 4, to maintain a healthy smile.
Comments by Dr. Herrmann:
It is not surprising that most people are not proactive in terms of oral hygiene. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that 73% of Americans would rather go grocery shopping then floss their teeth—and we all know how frustrating checkout lines can be!
From a traditional viewpoint, this is not surprising. Dental education has long rested on the shoulders of parents and educators. The occasional family dentistry practice is too small to award dentists the time to explain to each patient, in detail, why bacteria leads to cavities, gum disease, and other negative conditions. By and large, however, there are simply too many mouths and too little time for professionals to adequately educate each individual who visits their office.
Simple information about cleaning your teeth, avoiding excessive sweets, and scheduling a regular professional cleaning has, for the most part, been conveyed to us on a simplistic level by nonprofessionals. For example, few know that bacteria, when trapped between the teeth, can contact and infect the gums within only 48 hours. Even fewer are aware that several studies conducted at universities the world over have linked heart disease with the very same bacteria that causes gum disease.
When it comes to dental education, parents, educators, and time constrained professionals seem to leave it at brush twice a day, floss at night, and watch the candy intake. If you dig deeper, however, you find such prescriptions are extremely limited.
Holistic dentistry, on the other hand, takes an information rich approach to educate and empower people. Once patients are educated and empowered, they are able to take steps to proactively combat oral decay and gum disease before they become serious health issues.
I have been a Miami dentist for over twenty years. When I first started Assure a Smile in 1988, I had a simple goal in mind: create a dental service where patients and their smiles come first. Putting the patient first means a lot more than just checkups—it means ensuring each patient has a full understanding of why their teeth and gums are in a certain condition. When you take the time to educate people, you empower them. Empowered individuals are proactive individuals, and there is simply no substitute for consistent, thorough oral hygiene.
Tags: 305 dentist, 305 dentistry, Assure a Smile, cosmetic dentist, cosmetic dentistry, dental appointment, dental education, heart disease, holistic dentist, holistic dentistry, kendall dentist, miami dentistry, miami holistic dentistry, oral hygiene, proactive oral hygiene, schedule dental appointment, south florida dentist, south miami dentist, ted herrmann
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
