Trouble With Soy Milk

Soy milk may be worse for your teeth than cow's milk, a new study suggests. The results show bacteria commonly found in the mouth produce five to six times more acid when they feed on soy milk compared to cow's milk. Acids in the mouth contribute to the formation of plaque on teeth, which in turn cause tooth decay and the formation of cavities. The findings suggest soy beverages have a higher potential to cause cavities, compared with cow's milk, the researchers say. However, the study was conducted in laboratory dishes, and so more work is needed before researchers know whether soy milk actually damages teeth, said William Bowen, professor emeritus of microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester's Center for Oral Biology, who was not involved in the study. The cavity risk of most substances depends on how you use them, Bowen said. For instance, drinking one glass of soy milk is unlikely to harm teeth, but allowing a baby to sip from a bottle containing soy milk all day might be cause for concern, Bowen said. In contrast, cow's milk is known not to promote cavities, regardless of how much is consumed, Bowen said. "It's suspicious, but more work is certainly needed to support the contention," Bowen said of the study's main conclusion. Eric Reynolds, of the University of Melbourne's Dental School in Australia, and colleagues chose four Australian-brand soy beverages, and two brands of cow's milk for their experiments. The milks were each mixed with bacteria called Streptococcus mutans, which are found in the human mouth and commonly associated with cavities. They found that the soy beverages, after the addition of the bacteria, became more acidic within 10 minutes. In contrast, the acidity of the cow's milk was not changed significantly after the bacteria were added. The researchers did not include saliva in their experiments, which could produce an effect to counteract the high acid production of soy milk, Bowen noted.

Coffee and Cancer

Women drinking more than 3 cups of coffee a day were 21% less likely to develop basal cell cancer than those drinking less than 1 cup per day , according to a study published in the Cancer Research Journal. The study which analyzed health , diet and cancer risk during a 20 year span , found that the incidence of basal cell cancer was decreased in participants who consumed more than 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day , at 21% fir women and 10% for men . This was also noted for other caffeinated beverages , including tea , chocolate and soda . However , 78.5% of the recorded caffeine intake for participants was from coffee. The study did not find the cancer reducing benefits in those who consumed decaffeinated coffee. Also no link was found between caffeine and decrease in melanoma or squamous cell cancers. According to the Cancer Foundation , basal cell cancer is the most frequently occurring skin cancer , with approximately 2.8 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. every year.

Bad Breath Causes and Cures

You know you're slightly pungent after a hard Spinning class or garlicky dinner. But it turns out that some less expected factors--like how quickly you get dressed in the morning, the amount of carbs you eat, or whether you snore--can also affect your breath, gassiness, and more. Here's how to fix it, fast 1) Foods with pungent ingredients, such as curry, garlic, and other spices, can not only cause bad breath, but also a bit of a body odor. When digested, these foods produce several stinky sulfur-containing gases. Most of these byproducts are metabolized in the intestines and liver, but some, such as allyl methyl sulfide, are absorbed into the bloodstream and released through your lungs and pores, an effect that can last for a few hours or more, says Debra Jaliman, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Fix it: You can temporarily mask bad breath with mouthwash or by chewing a bit of fresh parsley, mint, or fennel seeds, but you'll have to wait until your body is done digesting before all the odor is completely gone. Sit down to a spicy meal in good company; it's tough to smell it on others if you all eat the same thing, says Richard Price, DMD, spokesperson for the American Dental Association. Avoid garlic-rich chow in the hours before an important meeting or date. 2) Neglect your tongue, and your breath may not be as fresh as you'd like. Your tongue is covered with thousands of small hairlike projections called papillae, which can trap and harbor tiny scraps of food. So even if you brush and floss regularly, small remains from your meals can hang behind, collecting bacteria and emitting hydrogen sulfide vapors--aka bad breath. Fix it: Mouthwashes may help, but the best way to remove bacteria, dead cells, and food debris from the crevices of your tongue is with an inexpensive tongue scraper. Brushing your tongue with a soft-bristled toothbrush works well too. Gently clean as far back as you can without gagging. Also, switch to a toothpaste that contains chlorine dioxide or tea tree oil, a powerful disinfectant with a pleasant, eucalyptus-like smell. 3) Fiber-packed foods are great for your health, but they may leave you feeling a little gassy. Unfortunately, the reason some fiber-rich foods--such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans--keep you feeling full longer is the same reason that they can cause gas, according to the Mayo Clinic. This type of fiber, called soluble fiber, doesn't get digested until it reaches the large intestine (other foods typically get digested in the small intestine, earlier in the digestive process). Here, healthy bacteria in your gut break down the fiber, which produces hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and even methane. Eventually, these smelly gases have to go somewhere--and they often exit in the form of flatulence. Fix it: Add these foods to your diet over a few weeks so your body can adjust. If you use a fiber supplement, be sure to take it with at least 8 ounces of water and drink plenty of liquids throughout the day--fiber won't move easily through the digestive system without it. 4) Blame those nighttime noises for cover-your-mouth morning breath. Sleeping with your mouth open dries out your oral cavity, enabling dead cells to accumulate and decompose on your tongue, gums, and cheeks. This is what causes morning breath. Fix it: Skip the nightcap. Alcohol before bed can make snoring worse. Placing an adhesive snoring strip across the bridge of your nose can help by enhancing breathing. In the morning, in addition to brushing your teeth and tongue and flossing, gargle with a small cup of acidic lemon juice to kill odor-causing bacteria. Then eat plain unsweetened yogurt, which contains healthy lactobacillus bacteria, a probiotic that competes with and replaces the reeking bacteria in your mouth. The lemon-yogurt combo instantly neutralizes odor and lasts 12 to 24 hours, says Mark Moyad, MD, MPH, Jenkens/Pokempner director of preventive and alternative medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center. 5) If you wolf down lunch in mere minutes because of work deadlines, you may have a burpy afternoon ahead of you. Chewing too fast and drinking through a straw can cause you to swallow too much air. You release most of this air, which contains nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, from the stomach by burping. What's left makes its way through the digestive tract until it is eventually expelled through the other end--as gas. Fix it: An hour lunch break may be unheard of these days, but do give yourself enough time to chew properly, without gigantic bites. Put down your fork while you munch to slow down, if necessary. Also, don't eat when you're anxious, upset, or stressed--it can interfere with digestion. On hectic days where you know you'll eat quickly, take two enteric-coated peppermint capsules (500 mg each) three times daily, recommends Ronald Hoffman, MD, author of Alternative Cures that Really Work (Rodale, 2007). Peppermint kills bacteria that cause bloating and relaxes gastrointestinal muscles for smoother digestion. 6) Check your medicine cabinet--it could be the source of your not-so-fresh breath. Hundreds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs--for everything fromallergies to high blood pressure to depression--can cause dry mouth, one of the most common triggers of bad breath. They may block the action of acetylcholine, a brain chemical that tells nerves to switch on the salivary glands. Fix it: Ask your doctor to adjust your dosage or suggest an alternative medication that doesn't list dry mouth as a side effect. In the meantime, frequently sip water to stimulate the production of saliva, which keeps the mouth moist and clean. Limit coffee consumption and try to breathe through your nose, not your mouth, to avoid drying it out further. OTC saliva substitutes can also help keep your mouth moist, according to the Mayo Clinic. Look for ones containing carboxymethylcellulose or hydroxyethylcellulose to help thicken saliva. 7) Followers of protein-packed diets may find their breath surprisingly stinky. Ditching bread to slip into your skinny jeans may take a toll on your breath--and your overall health. Some of these high-protein plans have you consuming between 30 and 50% of total calories from protein. Because carbs are your body's normal energy source, when you consume too few, you start burning your own fat stores for energy, which releases substances called ketones into your bloodstream, according to the American Heart Association. These can make your breath smell funky--some describe it as a combination of nail polish and overripe pineapples. In addition, diets high in animal sources of protein may also have too much saturated fat, increasing your risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Fix it: Cut out overall calories--not just those from carbs--to lose weight. You should consume at least 130 g of carbohydrates daily--ideally whole grains, beans, and fruits and veggies--to stay healthy. 8) Sugar-free kinds are better for your teeth, but they can make your tummy rumbly, causing flatulence. Our bodies don't completely digest the low-cal sweeteners, such as sorbitol, found in sugar-free gum. When bacteria in the large intestine break them down, it can cause gas and even diarrhea. Fix it: Soothe your sweet tooth with a cup of peppermint tea instead. Peppermint oil contains menthol, which appears to have a soothing effect on the muscles of your digestive tract, providing relief from gas and gas pain. Or drink a half-cup of cranberry juice a day. It contains phytochemicals that suppress the odor-causing bacteria in your gut. 9) A drippy nose can make your breath smell sour. When nasal fluid drips from the sinuses to the back of your throat, it can stink up your breath. So can breathing mainly from your mouth when nasal passages are blocked because this dries out your mouth. A dry mouth prevents saliva from keeping your mouth moist and clean, making dead cells more likely to accumulate on your tongue, gums, and cheeks. When these cells decompose, they produce an odor. Fix it: Drink plenty of water--not coffee, soda, or alcohol, which can dehydrate you. Decades worth of clinical tests have also found that nasal irrigation, in which the sinus cavities are rinsed with lukewarm salt water, is a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to flush out the mucous that causes halitosis. Rubber syringes, ceramic Neti pots, a plastic squeeze bottle such as SinuCleanse, or sprays like ENTsol all work well. Use warm, distilled water and 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt per 1 cup for the Neti pot. 10) Controlling acid reflux can help halt halitosis. Your risk of foul breath rises with the severity of your reflux symptoms. That's because the same stomach acids and bile that back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn, can also send a malodor that escapes through the mouth. Your prescription might even be making the problem worse: One study found that halitosis is more likely to occur in GERD patients who take proton pump inhibitors. The researchers believe the meds encourage bacterial overgrowth.

Dental Trends for 2012

1. Smile makeovers meet BOTOX and injectables. Soon you may be visiting your dentist every few months for more than just routine cleanings and followups, especially if your dentist uses dermal fillers and BOTOX as part of overall smile makeover procedures. Because dentists are experts in smile and facial aesthetics, many are going the extra mile to offer facial injectable fillers in order to provide patients with the most comprehensive antiaging and rejuvenation experience possible. 2. Dentists help patients maximize the treatment experience. Better patient reminders, new mobile apps with helpful dental health information, and more conveniently scheduled and phased treatments to relieve financial burdens are among the patient-centered and technology-driven efforts to help you get the dentistry you need and want. Don’t be surprised if your dentist texts or emails you about your next appointment—or the need to schedule one before your annual dental benefits expire. The days and times available may be more convenient than before to accommodate your lifestyle, and treatments may be offered in multiple steps to help you undergo necessary procedures now, rather than after bothersome conditions become too severe. 3. Convenient, noninvasive sleep apnea interventions. Not getting a good night’s sleep because you or a loved one snores? You might resolve the problem a lot faster and in a medically sound way if you see your dentist. Increasingly, dentists are playing a role in screening, diagnosing and treating snoring and sleep-disordered breathing using various oral appliances that are clinically proven, effective alternatives to expensive and cumbersome CPAP machines. Some may even be prescribed and delivered the same day. 4. Precision and efficiency from digital dentistry. Whether routine or complex, dental treatments will be increasingly convenient and comfortable as more dentists incorporate digital devices and techniques in their procedures. Look for advances such as digital impressions that don’t require traditional “ooey-gooey” impression materials; in-office CAD/CAM equipment that lets dentists make metal-free crowns and other restorations during one same-day office visit; and digital radiography that produces less radiation exposure than traditional dental film x-rays. 5. Improved denture aesthetics, stability, and comfort. Cosmetic smile makeovers are now a reality for both the youthful and young at heart, even if you’re missing several or a mouthful of teeth. Thanks to more affordable and same-day implant procedures, as well as dentures made from materials that are as natural and beautiful looking as real teeth and gum tissue, dentists can offer a better variety of options to make eating, chewing, smiling and feeling comfortable with dentures easier than ever before—no matter what age a patient is.

Second Hand Smoke and Teeth

Most of us already understand the many dangers of tobacco smoke and second-hand smoke , but did you know that exposing a child to cigarette smoke could delay development of their permanent teeth? That delay , which averages at least 4 months , significantly slows the dental process when permanent teeth begin to develop , usually between ages 3 and 6 . Dental research shows that the most significant delays in tooth development occur when both parents smoke. Children exposed to smoke from only their fathers also experience a high incidence of tooth formation delays. This could be an indicator that second- hand smoke can be more damaging to the developing teeth than direct exposure from a smoking mother . If you’re a smoker and can’t kick the habit , smoke only in a well-ventilated area separate from your children . Neither parent- especially the mother- should smoke during pregnancy. And all smokers should be considerate of non-smokers , keeping in mind that second-hand smoke can be very dangerous to those around you , especially pregnant mothers and their fetuses.

Color Has Alot To Say

Healthy adult teeth naturally contain a mixture of yellow , red and gray shades . Teeth whitening can work wonders-no matter how your teeth look on the color spectrum . Yellow ? The dentin is revealed when enamel is thinned , usually due to ageing or brushing too hard . Gray ? Its likely that you have experienced tetracycline damage – probably sometime during your youth . Blue ? Some studies show that too much unsupervised whitening can give teeth a blue hue – boo hoo! Beige ? Could be too much coffee , tea or red wine , or due to smoking or chewing tobacco . White ? You probably have a great home-care routine , keep regular check-ups , and accept professional dental advice about tooth whitening

Gum Disease Linked To Oral Cancer

The study found patients with HPV-positive tumors had significantly higher bone loss, a key factor in the development of severe gum disease, compared with patients with HPV-negative tumors. Latest figures suggest more than 6,000 people in the UK suffer from oral cancer, while almost 2,000 lives are lost to the disease. HPV is a growing cause of the disease, with experts suggesting it may rival tobacco use as the main cause of oral cancer within 10 years. Other risk factors for developing the disease include tobacco use, drinking to excess and poor diet. The significance of the research is compounded by the fact more teeth are lost through periodontal (gum) disease than through tooth decay. Although further research is required to determine the exact relationship of the link between severe gum disease and an increased risk of HPV-related oral cancer, it is not the first time poor oral health and cancer have been linked. Recent research carried out at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden suggested failure to brush your teeth properly could increase the chance of premature death resulting from cancer. They found a link between high levels of dental plaque - the cause of gum disease - and dying from cancer up to 13 years earlier than previously expected. The findings of both studies present even greater evidence of the need to ensure good oral health, according to Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE. Dr Carter said: "A greater understanding of how we can tackle this potentially life-threatening disease could lead to many lives being saved. "Most of us suffer from gum disease at some point in our lives, yet it is entirely preventable. By developing and keeping a good oral health routine it lowers the risk of gum disease and any possible links to more serious diseases. We should all take time to reflect on how we can make that a reality. "Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, cleaning in between teeth daily with interdental brushes or floss, cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks and visiting the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend will be a great starting point. "If you have swollen gums that bleed regularly when brushing, bad breath, loose teeth or regular mouth infections appear, it is likely you have gum disease. "It is also vital to check regularly for early warning signs of mouth cancer. These include ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth and unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth. If you are in any doubt, please get checked out." The study, published in the Archives of Otolaryngology, sampled 124 patients suffering from oral cancer, 50 of which were as a result of HPV. Lead author Mine Tezal, D.D.S., Ph.D., of the University at Buffalo commented: "Periodontitis is easy to detect and may represent a clinical high-risk profile for oral HPV infection. "Prevention or treatment of sources of inflammation in the oral cavity may be a simple yet effective way to reduce the acquisition and persistence of oral HPV infection."