Expert Panel Recommends Primary Care Physicians Play a Role in Kids' Dental Health

At Hamlin Dental Group we like to use our blog to have fun at times - I suppose we wouldn't be the dentist in Northridge that is most trusted for our warmth and friendliness if we didn't enjoy a chuckle and a smile every so often! However, there are some issues that we can't help but be serious about, and one is the dental health of our children.

Like almost everyone, we too can get lost in internet browsing from now and then. On occasion, though, we'll come across some truly useful information, which is precisely what happened when we found a recent article on medicalxpress.com. The title of the article, "Primary care docs should play role in kids' dental health, experts say", pretty much says it all.

According to the article, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent expert panel, advises that primary care physicians use fluoride varnish and oral fluoride supplements to help prevent early tooth decay in children. "Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease in American children, but only about one out of four children under 6 years old visit a dentist," says Dr. Virginia Moyer, the task force chair.

However, there is some good news. Says Dr. Moyer, "Fortunately, evidence shows that primary care clinicians can play an important role in helping to reduce tooth decay, substantially improving children's health." As the most trusted dentist in Van Nuys and throughout the San Fernando Valley, that has certainly been our experience as well.

In the fight against tooth decay, raising awareness is always commendable, so we appreciate the work of Dr. Moyers and her team! Remember to combat tooth decay by making regular appointments at Hamlin Dental!

Alcohol's Effects on Dental Health

As a local neighborhood dentist in Northridge, Van Nuys, and North Hollywood, the Hamlin Dental Group staff fields a lot of questions about candy and sugary food's effect on the health of our patients' teeth. However, we don't frequently hear about the role alcohol has to play on our teeth.

One of alcohol's biggest detrimental effects on our teeth is the fact that it decreases the amount of saliva present in our mouth. Saliva helps fight bacteria in the mouth, keeping bad bacteria at bay. Chewing gum and drinking/rinsing your mouth out with water between and after drinks can improve saliva flow in your mouth, minimizing the effects of alcohol.

There are other issues at play when it comes to alcohol and teeth. Mixers, beer, and wine that are high in acidity can wear down enamel, of course. Many also tend to betray their nightly brushing and flossing when coming home after a night out. We, as your dentist in North Hollywood and around Los Angeles, want to make a plea to remember to brush your teeth even after a night of fun!

As with most of life's indulgences, amazing dental health can still be maintained through a bit of moderation and regular dental check-ups. Come visit Hamlin Dental Group for a dentist in Van Nuys, North Hollywood, or Northridge that can help guarantee pristine dental hygiene.

Irreplaceable?

You should definitely continue to believe your dentist when he or she warns you that your teeth, once lost, are never coming back. Even here at Hamlin Dental Group a lost natural tooth will remain forever lost and replaceable only with implants or dentures. However, in the future, at least, that may not always be the case thanks to some very interesting potential new technology.

It's not like the possibility of growing new teeth later in life is necessarily completely brand new. It's a bit creepy and we can't be sure of the veracity of the news story. However, a couple of very old men in Vietnam have allegedly grown what sounds like late-life baby teeth. While that's not the kind of story a dentist in Van Nuys hears every day, it's also by its nature the flukiest of flukes.

On the other hand, a study that was published in the Journal of Dental Research and was then was then picked up earlier this spring in Science World Daily indicates that new teeth, biologically engineered from stem cells in the gums, might someday be able to regrow teeth, with far better results than modern day dental implants. This might also sound a bit creepy, the still very preliminary advances we have come from combining human and mouse cells together to create hybrid teeth that could be prototypes for the ability of a dentist in Northridge or anywhere else being able to simply grow a new tooth in your mouth when the old one is lost.

Pretty interesting but, like we said, it's a little bit of a ways off -- and even then, you'll still want to take good care of  your teeth. This procedure is likely to be time consuming and expensive. Possibly also a bit controversial. So, if you haven't visited our offices yet, it's a great time to schedule a consultation and remember to brush, floss, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash regularly. Losing even a single tooth is never going to be a good thing.

Iodine Mouthwash May Clean the Arteries as Well as the Mouth

 At Hamlin Dental Group, we have garnered a reputation throughout Southern California for being the most gentle and also the most knowledgeable dentists on all subjects relating to oral health. However, every so often, even we are surprised by new findings related to dentistry. That's why we were delighted to learn of the results of a study reported on in a recent Medical News Today article which found that cleaning your mouth and cleaning your arteries could be as simple as a once-a-day rinse with mouthwash.

On April 23rd, Biomedical Development Corporation presented data to the American Academy of Oral Medicine showing that its oral rinse was safe and effective at fighting gingivitis in a clinical trial. However, the researchers were surprised to find that users of the oral rinse showed lower LDL cholesterol levels than the placebo group.

"We didn't expect to see any difference in LDL cholesterol", says Dr. Charles Gauntt, the study's principal investigator. "We expected to see improvements in oral health, and we did. But we also monitored a number of biological markers for inflammation. The results showed the oral rinse had no adverse effects and users exhibited lower levels of LDL, or what many people know as bad cholesterol.

 As the premiere location for those seeking a dentist in Van Nuys, studies like these are always fascinating, and important to keep apprised of. Remaining on the cutting edge of dental discoveries is important in assuring our team maintains an expert skill level, allowing us to focus on the warm, patient-focused dentistry we're known for today.  Whether you're looking for a dentist in Northridge, Van Nuys, or any number of placed throughout the west, contact us today for truly top notch dentistry.

To schedule a consultation, contact us today, and remember to brush, floss, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash regularly!

Smiling is Also Good for Your Mental Health

While we don't profess to be psychologists—we're happy enough being a community dentist in Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and Northridge—the team here at Hamlin Dental Group believes that our work can boost the spirits of our patients.

For one, we know that low self-esteem coming from unhappiness with a person's smile can have a serious negative impact on a patient. Many who come into Hamlin Dental Group for a dentist in North Hollywood, Northridge, or Van Nuys don't feel fully confident in revealing their full smile. This can affect their feelings of self-worth and the way they interact with others. However, after a smile makeover from Hamlin Dental Group, these patients can leave happy, confident, and full of smiles.

Once our patients are out there and smiling more, their mental and physical health is bound to improve. One study published in Psychological Science showed that smiling (even faking it) reduces a person's stress level. We're confident that our patients who have a new-found pride in their smiles will begin leading a life with a little less stress.

So, please contact the Hamlin Dental team to schedule a meeting with a dentist in Northridge, North Hollywood, or Van Nuys.

Less is Less

We're only human here at Hamlin Dental Group and we're not immune to the latest 'net memes. Even so, it kind of goes without saying that you don't have to be a dentist in Northridge to be simultaneously sort of amused and horrified by the "Actresses Without Teeth" meme that's been going around. We'd feature an image but we don't want to scare any small children.

If you haven't seen it, it's not hard to imagine. Basically, the meme consists of pictures of famous and beautiful actresses with their teeth Photoshopped out. Sometimes, the effect is surreal, sometimes the celebrities really look like glammed up versions of the unfortunate toothless people you might see in a developing country or an extremely poor neighborhood here.

On the other hand, that's not the entire story. Although the pictures are chosen for comic effect, sometimes they still look more attractive than you might expect. If you've seen a few Japanese samurai movies, you'll have noticed the ancient fashion in which aristocratic women and some men in Japan once died their teeth black. It's sort of like that. (According to Wikipedia, the lacquer that was used to blacken teeth in pre-20th century Japan was actually beneficial for teeth back in the days long before flouride and a decent dentist in Van Nuys.)

Still, we've got to say the effect is more weird and funny than even remotely flattering. Which is why we're not forced to mention that if you want to avoid that actress-without-teeth look (at least when you remove your dentures at night), it might be a good idea to schedule a consultation and remember to brush, floss, and rinse with fluoride mouthwash regularly. Right?

Is Coconut Water Just Another Disguise for Sugar and Water?

Americans have been increasingly skeptical about the drinks we ingest, especially with the focus on childhood obesity and the news articles about Gatorade removing a chemical (brominated vegetable oil) used in some places as a flame retardant. This has the team here at Hamlin Dental Group thinking about sugar in drinks that we consider healthy. Recently, there has been a spotlight on Pom and Vitamin Water and how overly sweet they are, with many questioning that they have any positive health effects.

This made us think about the very trendy coconut water. Keep in mind that the USDA recommends about 40 grams of sugar per day (based off of a 2000 calorie diet). Here are a few popular coconut waters and the amount of sugar they contain per 1 serving:

• Zico: 14 g of sugar per 11 oz.
• Vita Coco: 20 g of sugar per 11.2 oz.
• C2O: 12 g of sugar per 8 oz.

As a local dentist in North Hollywood, Van Nuys, and Northridge, Hamlin Dental Group is concerned about so-called "healthy drinks" and their effects on the oral health of our patients. Here at Hamlin Dental Group, we stress good oral hygiene, including maintenance at home and making sure your diet is having a detrimental effect on your teeth.

Of course, we can't ask our patients to cut out all sugary food and drinks; it's just not reasonable and everybody should be able to have a treat every now and then. For many, the risk from the added sugar intake is not important because of the health benefits they perceive. However, as your dentist in Northridge, North Hollywood, or Van Nuys, a Hamlin Dental Group doctor can ask you to make smarter decisions and to consider everything you're putting into your body for the sake of your teeth!

A regular cleaning and check-up will also help counterbalance the ingestion of sugary drinks. Call 888.400.8011 to schedule a meeting with a dentist in Van Nuys, North Hollywood, or Northridge today!