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Soft drinks and dental decay… liquid candy Highlands Ranch Dentist, Denver Dentist

Soft drinks have become a large part of daily life for many of our Highlands Ranch dental patients. While delicious and invigorating, they can have adverse health problems associated with overuse. Large consumption can produce decay on your teeth as well as dental erosion from the acids found in soda.  Denver dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp, are Highlands Ranch dentists who provide general dental services for dental patients from Parker, Douglas County, Ken Caryl Castle Pines and Lone Tree Colorado area. Both Denver dentist recommend limiting the use of sodas.

Cavities are caused by sugar… plain a simple.  The bacteria in plaque use the sugar for metabolism and the by-product is acid.  This acid is what causes the demineralization of the tooth (cavity).  The average can of soda contains from 9-12 teaspoon of sugar.

Erosion caused by soft drinks

Soft drinks that do not contain sugar can, in time, can also affect your dental health.  Most of these diet sodas contain phosphoric acid and citric acid.  These diet soda when used in sufficient quantity can dissolve the enamel on your tooth and cause your tooth to erode away.

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Regular denta exams… Highlands Ranch Dentist… Denver Dentist

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Because our Highlands Ranch dentists are committed to your best care, we recommend an examination and dental prophylaxis (cleaning) at least every six months. For many, we recommend seeing you every 3-4 months to promote a healthy mouth. Most dental problems start small, but then go through a rapidly worsening stage i.e. small problems can get worse fast!. Have you ever experienced coming in for an exam after just a year and found something had worsened quickly? Regular dental checkups enable us to catch these small (hopefully) dental  problems before they become significant.

Serious dental conditions begin as small treatable problems. Plaque (a sticky film of food and bacteria form constantly on your teeth) can harden in as little as 24 hours to become calculus (tartar). Even with proper brushing and flossing, most dental patients are unable to remove all the plaque every day. This results in tartar (calculus) buildup.

The bacteria in plaque and tartar (calculus) are the main causes of gingivitis (an inflammation that makes your gums enlarge and bleed and causes bad breath). Gingivitis is reversible, but if left untreated can lead to periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is an infection, which causes:

•  Receding gums
•  Bone loss-bone supports your tooth
• Tooth loss. (nothing left to hold your teeth in)
• Periodontal disease requires much  more complex treatment than gingivitis.

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Bacteria causes tooth decay

Bacteria in your mouth contain several different species of bacteria with many being beneficial for the mouth.  Dentists call this the bacterial flora of the mouth.  If the mouth becomes free from bacteria, yeasts and fungi can overtake your mouth and can cause dental discomfort and dental problems. Streptococcus mutans  (a species of bacteria) causes the most of the damage. It produces acid after it attaches to your teeth in the form of plaque. It is these acids that cause the demineralization that eventually leads to decay (cavities).

Our dental practice video (click here)

Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp are Highlands Ranch, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines and the Greater Denver area dentists who strive to improve your dental health through education seen in this Blog. We want you to appreciate the significance of bacteria to the dental decay process.

Your mouth contains many different kinds of bacteria with some being beneficial for the mouth. These helpful bacteria help control destructive bacteria, fungi and yeasts.

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www.cottonwooddentalgroup.com/html/contactus.html

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Cottonwood Dental Group’s High Risk Dental Decay Protocol.

This protocol was taken in part from the California Dental Associations November 2007 report on caries risk assessment. Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp, Highlands Ranch Dentists, have seen rampant decay that has occured over a few months and has been most frustrating for the dentist and the dental patients. Most of the literature in the past has not had such a good protocols as this. Certainly, home fluoride and diet control have been the mainstay in the past but now we are turning up the heat and adding significantly more therapies Until rampant decay can be shown to be under control “complex” dental treatment is not recommended. Once the environment shows a low caries (decay) risk then complex dental treatment can proceed. Ultimately if not controlled you can lose you teeth!

Our dental practice video (click here)

Cottonwood Dental Group P.C. has begun using the assessment tools listed below and are working with our patients to reduce their caries risk. Our example is listed below:

Our assessment reveals you are at Extreme risk of having new dental decay (cavities) in the near future because you have several significant risks factors listed below:

1. Medical history
2. Low salivary flow
3. Age related
4. Prescription related
5. Visible decay/root decay
6. Radiographic decay/restorations
7. Periodontal disease
8. Diet (simple sugars etc)
9. Sodas
10. Brushing
11. Flossing
12. Other

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“Dry Mouth” Destruction- Xerostomia Dental Patients in Highlands Ranch

Over the past several years our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists  have noticed an increase in the number of dental patients who have a “complaint of dry mouth” and we are seeing the devastating effects on their oral health. Dentists term this “xerostomia”, which literally means dry mouth. Its causes are many and its consequences can include rampant decay and gum disease.

Our dental practice video (click here) 

What are Denver dentists are seeing that concerns us

What we are seeing that concerns us is in the last few months, several of our dental patients have come into the office with rampant decay and gum disease. In one of our Dental Patients, the decay had become so significant that extracting many teeth was our only option. In a new Dental  Patient, decay had worked its way down the root surface and under a crown that had been done only a few years ago. In another Denture Patient who wears dentures, sore spots and lack of fit had become very bothersome. This problem is not new, it is a problem that every dentist understands but patients may or may not be aware of the devastating effects on oral health. Dentists see it as a problem that is worsening as patients in general are keeping their natural teeth for a much longer period of time and also are living longer. As we will discuss later, age and prescriptions can be the two main culprits for causing xerostomia.

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