Is Diet Soda Better for Your Teeth?

Diet soda is not better for your teeth than regular soda.  Diet soda is marketed as healthier than regular soda, but it isn’t better for your body and it definitely isn’t better for your teeth – despite not having sugar or corn syrup.

Let’s start with what makes soda bad for you, then move on to why diet soda isn’t any better.

First of all, soda is basically sugar water with no nutritional value –which in itself is terrible for your teeth and body.  But soda is not just sugar water; it’s acidic sugar water.  Soda is closer to battery acid in acidity, than it is to water.  You know what acid and sugar can do to your teeth, I’ve talked about it in more length here and here.

On to diet soda.  Diet soda is just as acidic as regular soda.  But the real issue is the large amount of diet soda people consume.

Have you ever noticed that diet soda drinkers are some of the most loyal consumers of any product?  I know people who have a soda every so often, but the people I know who drink a diet version of that soda tend to drink several diet sodas each day.  In fact, I know people who claim to drink between a 6-pack to a case of diet soda every day.  Does this shock you?  It did me.  The amount of acidic liquid these people are consuming each day is detrimental to their teeth.

Why are they drinking so much?  I’m not sure.  Maybe they believe diet soda is healthier (not true), and so they can drink more of it, to keep them alert at work throughout the day.  Maybe they have formed a habit or addiction to the caffeine or something else in the drink (though I don’t know of any coffee drinkers who consume the equivalent of a six- to twelve-pack of coffee in one day).  Whatever the reason, people who drink diet soda, drink more of it.  And one regular soda is better than five diet sodas any day.

What’s even better?  Water.  It’s what you should be drinking every day, throughout the day.  Soda should be an occasional treat.

We all need our habits and treats to get us through the workday.  But make healthier habits and trust me, your smile will thank you!

Milton Friends RBM Gala - Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Join us tomorrow night, for an evening of live music, amazing food stations, a silent auction with fabulous items (including a Zoom whitening treatment at Crabapple Dental), special prize opportunities, and the unveiling of the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz models!  This fun gala will benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Show your support and have fun while you're at it!  We hope to see you there.

My dentist told me I have periodontal disease. Now what?

Have you ever gone to the dentist and been told you’ve got gum disease, or periodontal disease?  Perhaps you worried, wondered what caused it, wondered how serious it is, or maybe you thought nothing of it.

Gum disease isn’t uncommon.  In fact, about 80% of Americans have it.  That doesn’t mean it isn’t serious, or that your health could be drastically improved by taking simple steps to prevent it.  Periodontal disease can cause bad breath, swollen and painful gums, painful chewing, tooth sensitivity, and tooth loss.

Why did I get gum disease?

Bacteria causes plaque, which hardens into tarter, which brushing doesn’t remove.  If you brush and floss every day, you remove much of the bacteria before it can ever turn into plaque and then tarter.  If you aren’t brushing properly, you’re going to have tarter.

Other risk factors include:

• smoking
• hormonal changes
• diabetes
• stress
• certain medications (including antidepressants and some heart medication)
• illnesses (including cancer and AIDS)
• simple genetic susceptibility.

How severe is my gum disease?

Gingivitis is one form of gum disease, which is less severe than others, though still bad.  Gingivitis is caused by bacteria, plaque, and tarter which inflame the gums, causing the gums to become red and swollen.  You can reverse gingivitis by brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly.

If you do not reverse gingivitis, it can turn into the more severe periodontitis, or inflammation around the tooth.  Periodontitis can result in the bones, gums, and connective tissue that support the teeth breaking down until the tooth becomes loose and has to be removed.

What can I do to prevent and/or reverse gum disease?

• First of all, you must visit your dentist on a regular basis.  Your dentist can help prevent and detect many problems you wouldn’t be able to prevent or detect on your own.
• Brush your teeth twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth every day.
• Eat a well-balanced diet.  There are many misconceptions about what a well-balanced diet consists of, so do your research.  A well-balanced diet consists primarily of whole plant foods, including brown rice and other whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits.
• Do not use tobacco products.

How can my dentist help treat my gum disease?

The main goal of gum disease treatment is to control the infection.  Steps will vary, depending on the severity of a patient’s individual case.  The first step, for every case, is to take excellent care of your teeth and gums at home.  If you use tobacco products, you should stop using tobacco.

Your dentist, periodontist, or dental hygienist will professionally deep clean your teeth to remove plaque, using methods called scaling and root planning.  Scaling simply means scraping off tarter from above and below the gum line.  Root planning removes bacteria and rough spots on the tooth root.

In some severe cases, you may also need medication or surgical treatment.  If you take the proper steps now, you reverse your gum disease, or never even get it in the first place.

The World's Hoppiest 5K Road Race & After Party

Love to run?  Or maybe you'd like to get in shape, and think a 5K might be a good goal for you?

Crabapple Dental is sponsoring The World's Hoppiest 5K Road Race, on Saturday, October 8, 2011, at 9:00pm, in Milton, Georgia!

The best part about this race?  You and your friends and family get to reward yourselves at the end, by celebrating at the Old Blinde Dog Irish Pub after party.

Registration is open now.  What's better than a run in October, when the weather is cooler?  Even if you've never run a 5K before, you've go just enough time to train for this one.  So go for it!  Sign up now.

Back to School!

It's back to school for people of all ages!  Start your school year off the right way, with a clean, healthy smile!

Call (678) 319-0123 to schedule an appointment at Crabapple Dental, where you and your children receive nothing less than the highest standard of dental care
.
Have a wonderful school year!

Cigarette Packaging to Display New Oral Cancer Warnings

The FDA decided to require cigarette companies to display an extremely graphic image labeled “cancerous lesion on lip” on all cigarette packaging and advertising.  Accompanying the image will be the statement “WARNING: Cigarettes cause cancer.” The changes are to take place on September 22, 2012.

The new warning label is intended to influence a younger audience towards making wise decisions about whether or not to smoke.  The labels will also, of course, further the public’s association between tobacco and oral cancer.

The new labels were chosen based on the results of focus group testing for emotional and cognitive reactions, the most extreme reactions naturally indicating the most effective label.

The ADA supports the FDA’s decision, stating “dentists are the first line of defense in the war against oral cancer and many other tobacco-related diseases.”  You can read the full ADA article here.

Some think the horrible image will reduce the number of smokers. Others don’t.  What do you think?  Are these images invasive, or are they an effective way to prevent smoking and save lives?

Old-fashioned dental ad; you won't see this one today!

Stumbled across this old-fashioned dental ad.  My how times have changed!