Welcome to the Blog of Berger Family Dental!

Whether you are an existing patient or searching for a dentist in the Reynoldsburg area, we're excited you are here. With the dental industry advancing, we recognize the importance of keeping our patients and visitors up to date with all of the new and exciting things taking place in our practice.

As we move forward with our blog, we hope to promote dental awareness as a vital part of your healthy lifestyle. Here you will find a variety of articles and topics including dental news, advancements in dental technology and treatment, practical dental health advice and updates from Dr. Berger and his staff.

We hope you find our blog to be helpful, engaging and informational to ensure your best dental health.

As always, feel free to contact us with any dental questions or concerns.

--The Berger Family Dental Team

If you have gum disease, you're not alone.  About 80 percent of U.S. adults currently have some form of the disease.  It ranges from simple gum inflammation, called gingivitis, to serious disease that results in damage to the bone.

In gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen.  They can bleed easily.  Most people can reverse this with daily brushing and flossing and seeing their dentist regularly.  Untreated gingivitis can lead to periodontitis.  The gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets that are infected.  If not treated, the bones, gums and connective tissue that support the teeth are destroyed.

Please feel free to contact us or browse our website for more information.

Answer: Dental sealants are tooth colored or clear shaded resin (plastic) material that gets applied and bonds to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth in order to fill in the pits and groves of the teeth making them easier to clean (by making the grooves more shallow and smooth) and creates a barrier that makes them less likely to develop tooth decay.  Many adults and children have such deep groves, that the bristles of the toothbrush can't reach into them and clean out the food and plaque.  As this debris sits there, the acids and bacteria in the mouth continue to break down this food and make the enamel more porous and more likely to develop a cavity.  Sealants fill in these pits and grooves so the brush can do its job more easily.

This week I am focusing on energy drinks - especially when consumed by children, adolescents and college-age adults. My attention was drawn to this issue by a recent review published in the journal Pediatrics (Seifert et al, Pediatrics, 127: 511-528, 2011).

Energy drinks are the fastest growing segment of the US beverage market, and half of all the energy drinks sold in the United States are consumed by children, adolescents and young adults (19-25 years old).

"What's the problem with energy drinks?" you might ask.

To begin with they are sweetened beverages and, as such, contribute to the obesity epidemic in this country.

However, a more pressing concern is the caffeine content of these beverages which can range from 70 mg to over 160 mg per serving - that's 3 to 5 times greater than the caffeine content of a typical cola drink.

And natural ingredients such as guarana, kola nut and yerbe mate are no better. For example, each gram of guarana supplies 40 to 80 mg of caffeine, and the biological potency of caffeine from guarana may be greater than the same amount of caffeine in a cola drink because it has a much longer half-life in the blood.

The large amount of caffeine in energy drinks is allowed only because of a loophole in our regulatory system.

The FDA limits the amount of caffeine that can be added to soft drinks because they are regulated as foods. Energy drink manufacturers get around those restrictions by classifying their drinks as dietary supplements.

And, of course, the problem isn't just the amount of caffeine in a single energy drink, it is that many children, adolescents and young adults drink more than one energy drink a day - in addition to soft drinks, coffee and other caffeine containing foods and beverages.

Adolescents in the US consume an average of 70-80 mg/day of caffeine, and some consume up to 800 mg/day.

That much caffeine can be a problem!

For adults 12.5 - 100 mg/day has mostly beneficial effects such as improved exercise endurance, alertness, reaction time and mood - especially if the individual is sleep deprived.

However, caffeine intakes of 135 - 400 mg/day can lead to anxiety, jitteriness and insomnia. And daily intakes above that can cause tremors, irregular heart beat, palpitations and nausea.

But that's just the average adult. Some adults and many children experience the adverse effects of caffeine at much lower doses.

That's a real concern because 28% of 12-14 year olds, 31% of 12-17 year olds, 34% of 18-21 year olds and 51% of college students report consuming one or more energy drinks on a daily basis. And to make matters even worse 54% of the college students regularly mix energy drinks with alcoholic beverages.

The health risks of high caffeine intake are not trivial. Poison control centers in the US and several other countries are reporting an upswing of children, adolescents and young adults admitted with seizures, agitation, psychotic conditions, tachycardia, cardiac dysrhythmias, high blood pressure, heart failure and even death due to overconsumption of energy drinks.

The message is simple:

Energy drinks have all of the disadvantages of soft drinks AND they have a much higher caffeine content.

While caffeine can serve as a simple pick-me-up if consumed in moderation, it can have serious health consequences if consumed in excess.

A word to the wise would be to add up the total amount of caffeine you - and especially your children - are consuming on a daily basis. If your total caffeine consumption exceeds 100 mg/day (50-70 mg/day for children depending on their age), you might want  to consider reducing your intake of energy drinks.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. This information is not
intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.

The above information is from Dr. Stephen Chaney
www.chaneyhealth.com

The American Heart Association’s latest recommendations include:

·         Diet rich in vegetables and fruits (7-9 servings -more veggies than fruit)

·         Choose whole grain, high fiber foods

·         Cut down on beverages and foods containing added sugars(corn syrup, sugars,            honey)

·         Limit intake of foods high in sodium (1500 mg, if over age of 50)

·         Eat fish at least twice per week

·         Limit saturated fat.  Choose lean meats and vegetable alternatives (i.e. soy), low fat           dairy

·         If you drink  alcohol, do so in moderation

The general recommendations of the 2007 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Diet and Cancer Report are:

·         Body Fatness– Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weights

·         Physical Activity– Be physically active as part of everyday life (at least 30                           minutes/day)

·         Food and drinks that promote weight gain – Limit consumption of energy-dense           foods.  Avoid sugary drinks.

·         Plant Foods – Eat mostly foods of plant origin

·         Animal Foods – Limit intake of red meat and avoid processed meat

·         Alcoholic Drinks – Limit alcoholic drinks

·         Preservation, Processing, Preparation – Limit consumption of salt.  Avoid moldy               cereals (grains) or pulses (legumes)

·         Dietary Supplements – Aim to meet nutritional needs through diet

·         Breastfeeding – Mothers to breastfeed, children to be breastfed

·         Cancer Survivors – Follow the recommendations for cancer prevention

Pick up that fork and start using it with the ‘right foods’ and get more active, whether it’s outside or on equipment and I’m sure you and your family will appreciate the HEALTHY benefits in the long run!

Teeth whitening is the most common cosmetic service provided by dentists.  Teeth Whitening is a way to reverse the signs of age in teeth, and remove the years of cumulative stain from coffee, wine, soda, teriyaki sauce, tomato sauce, etc. These unsightly stains can be removed quickly, safely, and with minimal discomfort. 

See our HOLIDAY COUPON on our Facebook page!

Question: Is whitening safe? Does Whitening harm your tooth’s enamel?

Answer:Teeth bleaching has proven to be a safe and effective way of achieving a more youthful and healthy-looking smile. In fact, the American Dental Association (ADA) has lent its support and approval for enhancing the esthetics of one's smile via in-office and home bleaching, and has given its Seal of Approval to a number of whitening systems. The safety and effectiveness of this procedure is directly related to the dosage given, the frequency and duration of treatment, the concentration and type of the material used, and the type of tray or system utilized. Like anything, it can be abused, and cause adverse results. During the time that you whiten, the fluoride-rich layer of the enamel is broken down and the teeth become more porous, making them more susceptible to the acids and sugars in your mouth. Within 24-48 hours your tooths enamel will re-mineralize and build up that protective fluoride-rich layer again. If you become a whitening junkie, and never give your enamel the chance to re-mineralize, then you can cause long term adverse effects to your teeth.

Question: Is it better to wear my home whitening trays during the day or when I sleep at night?

Answer:There are two basic options for home bleaching: daytime and nighttime intervals. Both forms of whitening involve wearing a customized, soft tray, which functions as a reservoir for the whitening gel. Patient compliance is usually better at night, although some people may not be able to tolerate going to sleep with these trays in their mouth. Night use affords the individual maximum benefit from each application because of the longer exposure time and diminished salivary flow. However, occasionally people may need to reduce the duration of their treatment as a result of sensitivity or personal preference. For these individuals, daytime wear is recommended for 1-2 hour intervals of treatment. It is imperative that your dentist professionally supervises this procedure, and that the whitening tray be custom made to ensure a perfect fit.

Take advantage of our HOLIDAY COUPON on our Facebook page!

Question: What is the difference between an over-the-counter whitening strip and pre-formed trays versus a custom tray made in the dental office?

Answer:The importance of a custom-fitted tray cannot be over-emphasized; it allows for maximum patient comfort, reduces side effects, and maximizes efficacy. The over-the-counter versions may be ill-fitting and clumsy, or just may not cover all the desired tooth surfaces that you would want to whiten.

Question: How long does whitening last before I have to do it again?

Answer:With good oral care the procedure's results may last over two years, and recent studies have shown that most patients experience only a one-shade regression after 6 months. Of course, those patients who smoke, drink dark teas and coffee, indulge in red wine and other readily staining foods and beverages are more likely to relapse sooner and require additional whitening sessions. Custom home-tray whitening usually tends to revert less than in-office techniques, but it takes longer to achieve desired results.

Don’t forget to check out our HOLIDAY COUPON on our Facebook  page!

An email has been circulating for years about WATER vs COKE.  I was unable to find proof of some of the facts about COKE, but most of them are confirmed.

FACTS ABOUT WATER...

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (likely applies to half the world population).
2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
3. Even mild dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters, a U-Washington study showed.
5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of suffers.
7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or a printed page.
8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
9. Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day? As a rule of thumb - drink half your weight in ounces of water a day. If you workout 3+ times a week and live in a humid climate add another 24+ ounces to that number. Additionally, caffeine and alcohol dehydrate the body; drink twice the water as you did coffee or alcohol to replace water loss.

FACTS ABOUT COKE...

1. In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk of their cruisers to remove blood from the highway after an accident.
2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone within 3 days.
3. To clean a toilet bowl; pour a can of Coke into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers; rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coke.
5. The corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coke over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coke to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
7. To remove grease from cloths: Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy cloths, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION...

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in Osteoporosis.
2. To carry Coke syrup the commercial truck must use the Hazardous Material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.
3. The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean their truck engines for about 20 years!

Now the question: would you like a glass of Water or a glass of Coke?

A healthy mouth and healthy body go hand in hand. Good oral hygiene and oral health can improve your overall health, reducing the risk of serious disease and perhaps even preserving your memory in your golden years. The phrase "healthy mouth, healthy you" really is true -- and backed by growing scientific evidence.

It's never too early to start teaching your children to take care of teeth and gums -- healthy habits learned in childhood can pay off in adulthood. And, if you're tempted to shrug off your good oral hygiene habits -- brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist regularly -- remember that you're a role model for your kids. Keep in mind these six ways having healthy teeth and gums helps boost overall health.

Boosts Your Self-esteem and Confidence

Decayed teeth and gum disease are often associated not only with an unsightly mouth but very bad breath -- so bad it can affect your confidence, self-image, and self-esteem. With a healthy mouth that's free of gum disease and cavities, your quality of life is also bound to be better -- you can eat properly, sleep better, and concentrate with no aching teeth or mouth infections to distract you.

May Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Chronic inflammation from gum disease has been associated with the development of cardiovascular problems such as heart disease, blockages of blood vessels, and strokes.

Experts stop short of saying there is a cause-and-effect between gum disease and these other serious health problems, but the link has shown up in numerous studies. The findings of these studies may suggest that maintaining oral health can help protect overall health.

Preserves Your Memory

Adults with gingivitis (swollen, bleeding gums) performed worse on tests of memory and other cognitive skills than did those with healthier gums and mouths, according to a report in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

Those with gingivitis were more likely to perform poorly on two tests: delayed verbal recall and subtraction -- both skills used in everyday life.

Reduces Risks of Infection and Inflammation in Your Body

Poor oral health has been linked with the development of infection in other parts of the body. 

Research has found an association between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints. Experts say the mechanism of destruction of connective tissues in both gum disease and RA is similar.   Eating a balanced diet, seeing your dentist regularly, and good oral hygiene helps reduce your risks of tooth decay and gum disease. Make sure you brush twice a day and floss once a day. Using an antibacterial mouthwash or toothpaste can help reduce bacteria in the mouth that can cause gingivitis.

Helps Keep Blood Sugar Stable if You Have Diabetes

People with uncontrolled diabetes often have gum disease. Having diabetes can make you less able to fight off infection, including gum infections that can lead to serious gum disease. 

And some experts have found that if you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop more severe gum problems than someone without diabetes.

That, in turn, may make it more difficult to control blood sugar levels.

Reducing your risk of gingivitis by protecting your oral health may help with blood sugar control if you have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Helps Pregnant Women Carry a Baby to Term

Women may experience increased gingivitis during pregnancy. Some research suggests a relationship between gum disease and preterm, low-birth-weight infants. 

Not all studies have found a solid link, but maintaining good oral health is still the best goal.  If you're pregnant, visit your dentist or periodontist  as part of your prenatal care. Consider it good practice for the role modeling that lies ahead for all new parents.

WebMD Medical Reference

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving and Happy Holiday Season!

Dental x-rays are essential, preventative, diagnostic tools that provide valuable information not visible during a regular dental exam.  Dentists and dental hygienists use this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and complete an accurate treatment plan.  Without x-rays, problem areas may go undetected.

Dental x-rays may reveal:

• Abscesses or cysts.
• Bone loss.
• Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
• Decay between the teeth.
• Developmental abnormalities.
• Poor tooth and root positions.
• Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line.

And my help plan treatment for:

• Large or extensive cavities
• Root Canal therapy
• Placement of dental implants
• Teeth that are not properly aligned (orthodontic treatment)
• And difficult tooth removals.

Detecting and treating dental problems at an early stage may save you time, money, unnecessary discomfort, and your teeth!

Are dental x-rays safe?

We are all exposed to natural radiation in our environment.  Digital x-rays produce a significantly lower level of radiation compared to traditional dental x-rays.  Not only are digital x-rays better for the health and safety of the patient, they are faster and more comfortable to take, which reduces your time in the dental office.  Also, since the digital image is captured electronically, there is no need to develop the x-rays, thus eliminating the disposal of harmful waste and chemicals into the environment.

Even though digital x-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered very safe, dentists still take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation.  These precautions include only taking those x-rays that are necessary, and using lead apron shields to protect the body.

How often should dental x-rays be taken?

The need for dental x-rays depends on each patient’s individual dental health needs.  Your dentist and dental hygienist will recommend necessary x-rays based upon the review of your medical and dental history, a dental exam, signs and symptoms, your age, and risk of disease.

A full mouth series of dental x-rays is recommended for new patients.  A full series is usually good for three to five years.  Bite-wing x-rays (x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recall (check-up) visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems.

Statistics show most midlife weight gain comes from overeating at the holidays. Making healthy food choices throughout the holidays doesn’t have to be hard, but it does mean remaining aware of triggers that can lead to overeating.

Eat something before you go to a holiday party

One of the first things to fight holiday weight gain is eat before you get where you’re going. Otherwise, you’re likely to eat anything in sight when you arrive.

Go to the party a little late

Being ‘fashionably’ late for a holiday gathering means more of the indulgent food will be gone.

Pay attention to visual cues

Eating less at the holidays is harder when you’re handed or choose a bigger plate. Studies have shown weight loss efforts are more successful when we make small changes to our environment. A big plate is simply a visual cue to eat more. Place just two or three foods on your plate and try to serve yourself.

Put more fruits and vegetables on your plate. Dr. Ornish suggests if you add 20 percent more low calorie foods than high calorie you probably won’t notice the difference.  Then, eat the healthier foods first so you won’t overindulge in high calorie foods.

Choose food that leaves evidence on your plate. Examples include shrimp tails and chicken wing bones.

Don’t drink too much alcohol

Too many mixed drinks, beer or wine can slow metabolism and impair judgment. Try to go easy on the alcohol so you can maintain control of your food intake – drinking too much impairs judgment.

Skip the high calorie toppings

If possible, Ornish advises skipping the gravy and substitute for cranberry sauce that’s lower in calories and high in antioxidants. For potato toppings choose low-fat yogurt and non-fat sour cream in lieu of butter, cheese, bacon or sour cream.

Eat slowly and savor each bite

Eat slowly and savor your holiday meals. According to Dr. Ornish, “The faster we eat, the more we eat. Sip water between bites. Holiday meals last longer than typical meals. If you wolf down your food, your plate may be clean while others are still eating, which will lead to seconds.”

Eating slowly leads to more satisfaction with food. Savoring each bite can help us eat less to avoid holiday weight gain.

What about dessert?

There’s no need to avoid holiday desserts altogether, but instead of eating an entire serving, just take one or two bites. Dr. Ornish reminds us “the first and last bites are always the best, anyway.”

Stay active
Avoid holiday weight gain by staying active. Even a stroll around the block helps burn calories, aids digestion and prevents bloating.

We, at Berger Family Dental, wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  May you have a Safe, Happy, and Healthy Holiday season!

Let’s get the bad out of the way first.  Some insurance policies limit the procedures that they will pay for.  If the dentist treats the patients by their insurance limits they don’t always offer the patient the best service for their particular needs.  In our office we have always recommended the most appropriate care for our patient’s needs, not their insurance policy’s benefits.  If the patient chooses not to have that procedure done, alternate care is offered whenever possible.

Now for the good news!  Dental Insurance has made dental care a lot more affordable and attainable for many people that could never go to the dentist in the past!  Our office accepts most traditional insurance plans.

Until recently, we have also been in Network for a few dental insurance plans.  That is about to change.  As of January 1^st 2012 we will be In-Network providers for over 50 different dental insurance companies.  This is something we have been working on for several months and are very excited to extent our services to a larger segment of the Central Ohio area. 

Most dental insurance policies do have annual maximums and only pay a portion of the total treatment charge. We are well aware of this.  If our patients’ needs extend beyond their policy’s maximum we do offer several payment options and financial arrangements which are outlined on the OFFICE page of our website.  We will do everything possible to help our patients attain the dental health that they need!

If you are looking for a new dentist or are in need of quality dental care please contact our office to verify acceptance of your plan.  You can find out more about our office by visiting our website at www.bergerfamilydental.com, or feel free to contact our office at (614) 866-3368.

Research also shows that people with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to have heart disease than those with healthy gums. What’s more, oral infections also raise risk for stroke, says Amy Doneen, ARNP, medical director of the Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention Center in Spokane, Washington. “We’ve started checking patients for periodontal disease because it can sometimes lead to a heart attack or stroke, while treating infected gums reduces risk.”

What’s the link between oral health and the heart? “The bacteria that cause gums to become swollen and inflamed can also spark systematic inflammation that silently damages blood vessels,” explains Doneen. “Heart attack and stroke are opportunistic problems that are driven by inflammation of plaque in the arteries, which can rupture, causing a blood clot to form.” That clot can trigger a heart attack (if the clot travels to vessels that supply the heart) or stroke (if it goes to the brain).

Warning signs of periodontal disease include red, swollen, tender or receding gums, bleeding when brushing or flossing, persistent bad breath, mouth sores, and pockets of pus between gums and teeth. One in three adults over 30 has periodontal disease—and millions of them don’t know it.  Ask your dentist to check your gums, which typically involves taking painless measurements with a periodontal probe to check for pockets of disease.

The good news is that once diagnosed, gum disease can be treated, adds Doneen. “Repairing the problem has huge benefits for your blood vessels.” One study found that after six months of intensive treatment, patients with periodontal disease not only had healthier gums, but also improved endothelial function, indicating that the inner lining of their blood vessels also benefited.

Good oral health—including brushing and flossing two to three times a day, and seeing your dentist at least once a year—can give you a lot to smile about.

CONNECT THE DOTS

Wondering if you might have gum disease? The American Academy of Periodontology has a risk assessment test and oral health tips.  University of Maryland has a detailed report on prevention and daily dental care.

As we age, our smiles show signs of aging just like the rest of our body. But barring injury, there’s simply no reason why most of us should lose teeth as we age. Once we know our teeth are healthy and our gums are sound, we can add a little cosmetic magic to take a smile to a higher level. You can use bonding to close gaps, or invisible veneers for front teeth, or even use bleaching for a truly dazzling smile. Looking inside the mouth provides a unique opportunity to detect other potential health problems, such as liver, kidney, diabetes, and lung diseases. That’s why regular hygiene appointments are so important.

The mouth is a busy place with millions of bacteria constantly on the move. While some bacteria are harmless, others can attack the teeth and gums. Harmful bacteria are contained in a colorless sticky film called plaque, the cause of gum disease. If plaque is not removed, it will build up on teeth and ultimately leads to gingivitis, causing the gums to become swollen, red, and bleed easily. Untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, where the gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets that become infected. If untreated, the bones, gums and connective tissue that support the teeth can be destroyed. Gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss. If you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your gums.

Your teeth are great for chewing, but you also need them to talk. While healthy-looking teeth and gums are essential to having a beautiful smile, people often don't spend the time to take proper care of them. Most people see brushing as a chore and don't brush for the recommended two minutes.

Follow these tips to keep your teeth and mouth clean:

• Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste to help protect your teeth from decay.
• Brush your teeth after eating or at least two times a day. It’s especially important to brush before bedtime.
• Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled brush. The size and shape of your brush should fit your mouth, allowing you to reach all areas easily.
• Brush your teeth in little circles. Go around and around until you have covered every surface of every tooth. Brush up and down, rather than side to side.
• Clean between your teeth with dental floss at least once a day to remove food and plaque.
• Brush your tongue to help keep your breath fresh! Don't forget to clean all the way in the back.
• Clean your upper and lower mouth pockets between the teeth and the lips. - Brush all surfaces of the teeth, tongue-side and cheek-side. Pay special attention to the front teeth and all surfaces of the back teeth.
• A battery-powered toothbrush, such as a Rota-Dent, cleans up to 49 per cent better than an ordinary manual toothbrush. Your tooth brush should be changed every three months.

By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile your entire life.

Remember, your teeth are more precious that diamonds!

I don’t want to get into the background right now, but Dr. Hyman does give some ideas to help overcome your sugar addiction.  He states:

Despite being stuck with the sugar addiction low pleasure gene, you may be able to modify its activity by modulating your brain chemistry and receptor function with the use of specific nutrients that either improve gene expression, or modify the activity, the enzymes, or the receptors, even if they are somewhat impaired.

I have used some of these in my practice, such as glutamine and other amino acids, with success. Regulation of hormones and neurotransmitters that affect appetite and cravings is complex and involves many factors including how quickly food spikes our blood sugar, stress, getting enough sleep, nutritional deficiencies, chemicals such as artificial sweeteners, food sensitivities which drive inflammation, and more.

For those with personal struggles with food addiction, remember it is not a moral failing or lack of willpower. Here are a five suggestions I offer my patients to help them break their food addictions.

1. Balance your blood sugar: Research studies say that low blood sugar levels are associated with LOWER overall blood flow to the brain, which means more BAD decisions. To keep your blood sugar stable:

• Eat a nutritious breakfast with some protein like eggs, protein shakes, or nut butters. Studies repeatedly show that eating a healthy breakfast helps people maintain weight loss.
• Also, have smaller meals throughout the day. Eat every 3-4 hours and have some protein with each snack or meal (lean animal protein, nuts, seeds, beans).
• Avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime.

2. Eliminate sugar and artificial sweeteners and your cravings will go away: Go cold turkey. If you are addicted to narcotics or alcohol you can’t simply just cut down. You have to stop for you brain to reset. Eliminate refined sugars, sodas, fruit juices, and artificial sweeteners from your diet. These are all drugs that will fuel cravings.

3. Determine if hidden food allergies are triggering your cravings. We often crave the very foods that we have a hidden allergy to. For a simple allergy elimination program, consider trying The UltraSimple Diet, or The UltraSimple Diet Challenge Home Study Coaching Program.

4. Get 7-8 hours of sleep. Research shows that lack of sleep increases cravings.

5. Optimize your nutrient status with craving cutting supplements

• Optimize your vitamin D level: According to one study, when Vitamin D levels are low, the hormone that helps turn off your appetite doesn’t work and people feel hungry all the time, no matter how much they eat.
• Optimize omega 3s: Low levels of omega three fatty acids are involved in normal brain cell function, insulin control and inflammation.
• Consider taking natural supplements for cravings control. Glutamine, tyrosine, 5-HTP are amino acids that help reduce cravings. Stress reducing herbs such as Rhodiola can help. Chromium balances blood sugar and can help take the edge off cravings. Glucomannan fiber is very helpful to reduce the spikes in sugar and insulin that drive cravings and hunger.

Now I’d like to hear from you.

Have you ever been addicted top sugar? What was it like?

Do you think the food industry is feeding us products we become addicted to so they can increase profits?

Have you tried overcoming food addiction using any of these steps? How did they work for you?

Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

To your good health,

Robert G. Berger D.D.S.

With our busy schedules, sometimes it's difficult to architect a meal that is to provide our bodies with all the essential nutrients. Keep in mind that most children and many adolescents are picky eaters. Therefore, they may not finish the whole meal. Also, young children have small stomachs, so they may not eat enough to satisfy their nutrient needs, making healthy snacks important!

A healthy snack that is filling and satisfying should include carbohydrates, protein, and fat. For example, you may serve cut up fresh vegetables with peanut butter, cheese, or cottage cheese. Add crackers to get carbohydrates. Another option would be fresh fruits served with yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese; or cereals topped with milk or yogurt.

Did you know that one teaspoon of sugar equals four grams? Have you looked at the nutritional information on the box of your favorite cereal? The healthiest cereals are those containing 3 or less grams of sugar per serving. My latest trip to the local supermarket was a brutal awakening when in an aisle of maybe 50 different varieties I found only a handful of low sugar cereals. Excessive sugar consumption leads to cavities and empty calories that result in unwanted weight, so beware! When selecting cereals be an educated consumer: read labels!

Super snacks do not have to be fancy. All they need to accomplish is to help you achieve the goal of getting three servings of dairy products and five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Consider these healthy ideas for powerful snacks:

- Cottage cheese with fruits (peaches or strawberries)

- Crackers with cheese sticks

- Pretzels and cheese cubes

- Fruit/Veggie/Lunch meat Skewer

- Bagel with peanut butter

- A toast with butter and slices of hard-boiled egg

- A muffin and a glass of milk

- Bugs on a log (go to http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/bugs-on-a-log-675737/)

Keep healthy snack foods on hand to help your family meat the daily requirements of nutrients.

HAPPY SNACKING!

This is the first in a 7-part series where Dr. Mark Hyman M.D. gives detailed explanations about each of the 7 Keys to UltraWellness. Key #1 is Optimize Nutrition, and in this blog he explains what constitutes a healthy diet, gives you some tips to help you optimize your nutrition, and clarify whether or not supplements are truly a waste of money.

CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT “good nutrition” is? You shouldn’t be — we know what works and what doesn’t. In a moment, I will share 5 simple tips to help you optimize your nutrition and achieve vibrant health, but first let me clear up a few misconceptions.

Despite the “conflicting” scientific studies and media reports designed to confound rather than enlighten, there is no confusion about what constitutes good nutrition. If we were to gather the world’s top nutrition scientists and experts — free from food industry influence — there would be very little debate about the essential properties of good nutrition.

Unfortunately, most doctors are nutritionally illiterate. Worse, they don’t know how to use the most powerful medicine available to them: food.

Common sense and scientific research both lead us to the conclusion that if we want healthy bodies, we must put the right raw materials into our bodies: real, whole, local, fresh, unadulterated, unprocessed, and chemical, hormone, and antibiotic-free food.

There is NO role in our diets for foreign molecules such as trans fats and high-fructose corn syrup, which interfere with our biology at every level.

If you want junk out, put junk in. Enough said.

If you want a whole, healthy body, put in whole real food.

I want to explain how you can do that …

This is the first in a 7-part series where I will give detailed explanations about each of the 7 Keys to UltraWellness. Key #1 is Optimize Nutrition, and in this blog I will explain what constitutes a healthy diet, give you some tips to help you optimize your nutrition, and clarify whether or not supplements are truly a waste of money.

The Basics of a Healthy Diet

What I am about to share might be shocking …

Carbohydrates are the single most important food for long-term health and well-being.

This may be surprising given the low-carb movement, and “carbophobia” in our country, but it’s true.

Of course, I don’t mean the over-processed, refined, sugary, white foods we commonly think of as carbohydrates, such as donuts, bread, bagels, muffins, colas, juices, and most junk food.

And I don’t mean the cheap, super-sweet, government-subsidized high-fructose corn syrup that is driving our epidemic of obesity and chronic disease.

The carbohydrates I am talking about are the real, whole, nourishing plant foods that the human species has thrived on since from the dawn of evolution.

Food can heal or harm. You make that choice every day by what you put on your fork.

Most of the food consumed by humans since the beginning of time has been carbohydrates. In fact, plant foods are comprised mostly of carbohydrates: vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices.

These foods contain slowly released sources of sugar that prevent surges of blood sugar and insulin. Too much insulin causes heart disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, and even dementia.

Carbohydrates contain almost all the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to operate normally and optimally.

They also contain fiber, which helps normalize our digestive function and slows the absorption of sugar and fats into the body, keeping us balanced.

The bonuses in plant foods are phytonutrients — colorful healing compounds made by plants to protect themselves, but that also protect us against aging, obesity, brain damage, and more.

For example, broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale, Brussels sprouts, and other vegetables from the cruciferous family contain powerful detoxifying compounds that protect us against environmental toxins.

Green tea contains anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and detoxifying properties.

Resveratrol from red grapes boosts our energy production and protects our cells.

These are just a few examples of the thousands of phytonutrients in the plant foods that should be the foundation of our diet.

Michael Pollan, the author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, summed up all nutritional research in 3 simple principles:

“Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

In fact, you need know nothing else to be vibrantly healthy.

That’s it. Eat real whole food as it comes from the earth: fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, eggs, and lean animal protein like fish and chicken.

Imagine what your great-grandmother would recognize as food, or what might have been on her dinner table. Just food. There is really no such thing as junk food — there is just food, and then there is junk.

Whole foods that contain phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fats, and fiber all directly, immediately, and specifically interact with our genes, controlling moment-to-moment changes in our physiology and biochemistry.

Food literally talks to our genes. Food is not just a source of calories, it is also a source of INFORMATION.

The key is to send the right information to your genes by eating whole, real, food — mostly plants. Specific nutrients or plant compounds bind to receptors in cells, translating messages from the foods we eat or vitamins we take in into instructions that are carried out by our cells through their effect on our DNA.

That is why food can heal or harm. You make that choice every day by what you put on your fork.

That means if you eat whole, real, fresh food, you don’t need vitamins. Right?

Well, maybe …

Do We Need Vitamins or Not?

I agree that you don’t need vitamins and that they are a waste of money.

But that is true ONLY if you eat wild, fresh, whole, organic, local, non-genetically modified food grown in virgin mineral and nutrient rich soils, and not transported across vast distances and stored for months before eaten.

It is true ONLY if you work and live outside, breathe only fresh unpolluted air, drink only pure, clean water, sleep nine hours a night, move your body every day, and are free from chronic stressors and exposures to environmental toxins.

Then you don’t need vitamins.

But, of course, this describes absolutely no one on the planet! Therefore, in reality, we ALL need vitamins.

Most people don’t understand the role of vitamins and minerals in our bodies. I certainly didn’t when I finished my medical training.

I thought if we just got enough of a nutrient to prevent some horrible deficiency state like scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), then we didn’t have to worry about getting more than that.

I also believed that if you ate “enriched food” like white flour with a few vitamins added back in, or milk with vitamin D added in, additional vitamin supplementation was a waste.

In today’s world, everyone needs a basic multivitamin and mineral supplement. The research is overwhelming on this point.

What most people don’t realize is the same thing that I didn’t realize when I first started practicing medicine: The real reason our food supply must be “enriched” is because it has been so processed that it is “impoverished” to start with.

So why can’t you just eat “nutrient-rich” food, instead of eating “nutrient-poor” food?

Today, even with our “enriched food,” more than 92 percent of Americans are deficient in one or more vitamins. That doesn’t mean they are receiving less than the amount they need to get for optimal health. That means they receive less than the MINIMUM amount necessary to prevent deficiency diseases.

In a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers found that 6 percent of those tested had serious vitamin C deficiency and 30 percent were borderline low.

A report in the journal Pediatrics found that obesity and malnutrition can coexist. Obese, overfed, and undernourished children with cognitive disorders were found to have scurvy and severe vitamin D deficiency or rickets. These deficiencies damaged their brains. You never think of an overweight person as malnourished, but they are!

A USDA survey showed that 37 percent of Americans don’t get enough vitamin C, 70 percent not enough vitamin E, almost 75 percent don’t get enough zinc, and 40 percent don’t get enough iron.

I would say that 100 percent of us don’t have enough of the basic nutrients to create optimal health or give ourselves a metabolic tune up.

There are many reasons why the foods we eat no longer contain the nutrient levels we require for optimal health. Crops are raised in soil where nutrients have been depleted. Plants are treated with pesticides and other chemicals so they no longer have to fight to live, which further diminishes their nutrient levels and their phytonutrient content — not to mention the toxic exposure we receive from such chemicals.

Animals are cooped up in pens or giant feedlots instead of roaming free and eating the nutrient-rich wild grains and grasses they once consumed. Since cows’ stomachs are adapted to grass instead of corn, they must take antibiotics to prevent them from exploding.

To complicate this further, all of us are exposed to hazardous toxins and chemicals that poison our bodies; we live with too much stress; we don’t sleep enough; we don’t exercise enough; and we are inflamed — making the nutritional demands on our bodies even greater.

The question is not how much of a certain nutrient or vitamin we need to not get sick, but how much we need to be optimally healthy! In fact, lower amounts recommended by the government may NOT be enough.

Most people can get what they need by taking the following essential supplements every day:

• A high-quality multivitamin
• Calcium-magnesium supplement
• Fish oil
• Special B vitamins (folate and vitamins B6 and B12).

I have tested thousands of patients for vitamin and nutrient deficiencies and found that by correcting them, people feel better, their mood, mental sharpness, memory, and ability to focus improve, they have more energy, and they even lose weight. It also helps prevent disease.

In my 20+ years of practicing medicine with thousands of patients, I have seen depression, anxiety, bipolar disease, autism, ADHD, mood swings, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia go away or dramatically improve when people get the right nutrients.

In today’s world, everyone needs a basic multivitamin and mineral supplement. The research is overwhelming on this point.

So what are the takeaways here? What do you need to do to optimize your nutrition?

Here are some simple steps you can begin taking immediately:

1. Eat whole, real, fresh, organic, unprocessed food. If it comes in a box, a package, or a can, avoid it. If you do choose to buy prepackaged foods, read the labels carefully and avoid foods that contain long lists of ingredients you don’t understand.
2. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables full of colorful phytonutrients. That means eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Choose a wide variety and you will do much to support your health.
3. Eat foods with plenty of fiber. Think whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, and millet and vegetables like celery, asparagus, and leeks. Fiber is essential for balancing blood sugar and maintaining a healthy bowel. (Scan my Recipes archive for some delicious suggestions using these ingredients).
4. Eat foods containing omega-3 fats. I recommend eating protein at every meal, and some of the best sources of protein have an abundance of these healthy fats, which are essential for building every cell membrane in your body. Try cold-water river fish like salmon, sardines, and halibut; eat omega-3 eggs; and eat plenty of nuts like almonds, macadamias, and walnuts.
5. Take the essential supplements outlined above every day. They are the basic workhorse team needed to support every biochemical reaction in your body.

            Mark Hyman, MD

Now I’d like to hear from you …

What do you think about the quality of our food supply?

Do you think supplements are effective?

Do you have any tips for others on how to more easily eat real, whole foods?

Please let me know your thoughts by posting a comment below.

To your good health,

Robert G. Berger D.D.S.

Researchers in Australia called for health warnings on caffeine-loaded energy drinks following a spike in the number of people reporting medical problems after drinking them.

Health professionals from the University of Sydney's Medical School and the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre said reports of adverse reactions to drinks like Red Bull and V jumped from just 12 in 2004 to 65 in 2010.

Over the seven years to 2010, 297 calls for assistance were recorded with at least 128 people hospitalized with symptoms including heart palpitations, agitation and stomach upsets.

Of these, 20 people had more serious issues, such as seizures and hallucinations.

The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday, said the average person affected was 17 years old and that they often mixed energy drinks with alcohol.

"Our study demonstrates the extent of the growing problem in Australia with energy drink consumption and toxicity, particularly among adolescents," the study's authors wrote.

"Given the clear evidence of toxicity and the growing number of hospitalizations associated with consumption of energy drinks... health authorities should increase awareness of the problem, improve package labeling and regulate caffeine content."

They recommended that "labeling and any marketing of these products should include appropriate health warnings and the national poisons hotline number". A can of energy drink may contain up to 300 milligrams of caffeine -- compared to an average 65-120mg for a cup of drip coffee -- and Poisons Centre medical director Naren Gunja called for more thorough regulation.

"Things to look at would be... how much caffeine do these drinks contain, how many can you buy at once, what age should you be when you buy them, should there be an age limit to being sold the drinks," he said.

In papyrus scrolls dating back from 1550 BC, Hippocrates, the Greek physician famed as the father of medicine, offered a formula for sweet-smelling breath: rinsing with a mouthwash made of red wine, anise and dill.  Toothpaste is even older than that, with an ancient Egyptian medical text called the Ebers Papyrus containing recipes dating back some 6,000 years, while toothbrushes to apply it were only invented about 500 years ago, most likely by the Chinese, reports Dr. Harold Katz, director of the California Breath Clinics and author of The Bad Breath Bible.

Today, 93 million Americans suffer from chronically bad breath (halitosis), which can sometimes signal other health problems. If you or someone you smooch with regularly is one of them, these tactics can help restore fresh breath, according dental experts.

Get the latest information about proper oral care for a healthy smile and a strong body.

1. Clean your tongue. Along with brushing and flossing twice a day, also use a tongue scraper, available at most drugstores, or brush your tongue. Your tongue, especially the top back, is a serious source of halitosis.  That’s because your tongue has millions of filaments that can trap food particles and bacteria, leading to oral odor. 

2. Chew sugarless gum.  Surprising as it sounds, saliva is the best defense against bad breath. A common cause of halitosis is dry mouth, which can be triggered by certain medications and health problems. If you’re wondering why morning breath can be smelly, that’s because saliva flow is lower during sleep. Chewing gum counteracts these problems by stimulating salivation. What’s more, gum containing the sugar substitute xylitol may help reduce cavity-causing bacteria, a recent study suggests. 

3. Scent your breath with cinnamon. Unlike other flavorings, such as mint, which only mask bad breath, cinnamon appears to have odor-combating compounds, with a study presented at the annual meeting of International Association for Dental Research reporting that the cinnamon-flavored gum, Big Red, seems to reduce odor-causing bacteria. In the study, people who chewed the gum had a more than 50 percent drop in bacteria levels.

Check out eight other foods like cinnamon that help your body heal.

4. Keep your mouth moist. Drinking more water also helps wash away bad-smelling bacteria. There’s also research indicating that drinking tea may be helpful, since it contains polypehnols, a plant chemical that may help curb bacterial growth. 

5. Pay attention to your diet. An unfortunate side effect of a low-carb diet, such as the Atkins plan, can be “dragon breath” due to ketosis (the fat-burning state that is one of the goals of this type of diet).  The only cure is increasing carbs, though chewing mint leaves or parsley can temporarily mask the problem. Also watch out for other foods that can trigger mouth odor, such as coffee, alcohol, and such obvious culprits as onions and garlic. 

6. Choose the right mouthwash. Antibacterial mouthwashes help combat oral infections, thus improving breath.An analysis of five studies involving 293 participants by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews found that such ingredients as chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorine dioxide and zinc are all helpful for reducing mouth odor. However, chlorhexidine mouthwash, available by prescription from dentists, can temporarily stain teeth and your tongue. If your dentist advises it to clear up an oral infection, you may be told to dip a Q-tip into the mouthwash and apply it to the backs of your teeth and gums, or only to the infected area. 

7. Rule out medical problems.  90 percent of the time, halitosis is triggered by microbes in the mouth. Common dental causes include cavities, gum disease (which may not cause any obvious symptoms other than bad breath), and faulty tooth restorations that have become a breeding ground for bacteria. However, if you have good oral health—and persistent halitosis—check with your doctor, since such illnesses as respiratory tract infections, diabetes, acid reflux disease, liver disease and even cancer, in rare cases, can also cause mouth odor, cautions Dr. Mitchell. One of the best ways to protect your oral health—and keep your breath fresh—is to avoid tobacco use, which greatly increases risk for gum disease and oral cancer.

Dr. Mark Hyman has given us 10 “goof proof rules” for getting healthy, losing weight and feeling great!  Please read this and feel free to leave comments to let me know what you think.

Everyday you have to navigate a toxic nutritional landscape. You have to hunt and gather in a food desert.  You have to survive the American supermarket and dodge the dangers of industrial food.   The good news is that if you follow ten simple rules you can eat safely for life.

Think of them as shortcuts or tricks to use when shopping or eating. If you just do these things and nothing else, you will automatically be eating real, fresh food that will prevent, treat and even reverse most of the chronic diseases that drain our energy, stress our families and deplete our economy.   You don’t even have to understand anything about nutrition.  Just follow these goof proof rules for getting healthy, losing weight and feeling great.

1. Ideally have only food without labels in your kitchen or foods that don’t come in a box, a package, or a can. There are labeled foods that are great, like sardines, artichoke hearts, or roasted red peppers, but you have to be very smart in reading the labels.   There are two things to look for: the ingredient list and the nutrition facts.  Check out my special report on “How to Read Labels” for more information.
   Where is the primary ingredient on the list? If the real food is at the end of the list and the sugar or salt is at the beginning, beware. The most abundant ingredient is listed first and the others are listed in descending order by weight. Be conscious, too, of ingredients that may not be on the list; some ingredients may be exempt from labels. This is often true if the food is in a very small package, if it has been prepared in the store, or if it has been made by a small manufacturer. Beware of these foods.
2. If a food has a label it should have fewer than five ingredients. If it has more than five ingredients, throw it out. Also beware of food with health claims on the label. They are usually bad for you – think ”sports beverages.”  I recently saw a bag of deep-fried potato chips with the health claims “gluten-free, organic, no artificial ingredients, no sugar” and with fewer than 5 ingredients listed.  Sounds great, right?  But remember, cola is 100 percent fat-free and that doesn’t make it a health food.
3.  If sugar (by any name, including organic cane juice, honey, agave, maple syrup, cane syrup, or molasses) is on the label, throw it out. There may be up to 33 teaspoons of sugar in the average bottle of ketchup. Same goes for white rice and white flour, which act just like sugar in the body.  If you have diabesity – the spectrum of metabolic imbalances starting with just a little belly fat, leading all the way to diabetes— you can’t easily handle any flour, even whole-grain. Throw it out.
4. Throw out any food with high-fructose corn syrup on the label. It is a super sweet liquid sugar that takes no energy for the body to process. Some high-fructose corn syrup also contains mercury as a by-product of the manufacturing process. Many liquid calories, such as sodas, juices, and “sports” drinks, contain this metabolic poison. It always signals low quality or processed food.
5. Throw out any food with the word hydrogenated on the label. This is an indicator of trans fats, vegetable oils converted through a chemical process into margarine or shortening. They are good for keeping cookies on the shelf for long periods of time without going stale, but these fats have been proven to cause heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. New York City and most European counties have banned trans fats, and you should, too.
6. Throw out any highly refined cooking oils such as corn, soy, etc. (I will explain which oils to buy in Week 1 of the program in my book The Blood Sugar Solution). Also avoid toxic fats and fried foods.
7. Throw out any food with ingredients you can’t recognize, pronounce, or that are in Latin.
8. Throw out any foods with preservatives, additives, coloring or dyes, “natural flavorings,” or flavor enhancers such as MSG (monosodium glutamate).
9. Throw out food with artificial sweeteners of all kinds  (aspartame, Splenda, sucralose, and sugar alcohols—any word that ends with “ol” like xylitol, sorbitol). They make you hungrier, slow your metabolism, give you bad gas, and make you store belly fat.
10. If it came from the earth or a farmer’s field, not a food chemist’s lab, it’s safe to eat. As Michael Pollan says, if it was grown on a plant, not made in a plant, then you can keep it in your kitchen. If it is something your great grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food, throw it out (like a “lunchable” or go-gurt”).  Stay away from “food-like substances.”

That’s it – just ten simple goof proof rules for staying healthy for life. It is a simple recipe for staying out of trouble and automatically leads you to a real, whole foods diet.  And the side effect will be weight loss, energy, reduction in the need for medication and saving our nation from the tsunami of chronic disease and Pharmageddon!

When you make these simple choices you will not only improve your health, and your family’s health, but you will create a “wellness spring” that will shift the demand in the marketplace.  You will not only take back your health, but also help America take back its health.  You vote three times a day with your fork and it impacts our health, how we grow food, energy consumption, climate change and environmental degradation.   You have more power than you think.  Use it!

My personal hope is that together we can create a national conversation about a real, practical solution for the prevention, treatment, and reversal of our obesity, diabetes and chronic diseaseepidemic.

To learn more and to get a free sneak preview of The Blood Sugar Solution go to www.drhyman.com.

Now I’d like to hear from you …

What are your rules for eating heathy for life?

How have you transformed your health with food?

Please leave your thoughts by adding a comment below.

To your good health,

Robert G. Berger D.D.S.

Why are additives put in food?

They have a variety of functions. Additives are used to replace nutrients lost in processing (for example, all white flour must have thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and folate put in to replace what is lost when the wheat germ is removed), or to add nutrients (i.e., vitamins in breakfast cereals). Some additives are used as preservatives to retard spoilage, such as BHA and BHT, or antioxidants that keep fat from turning rancid. Others are used to improve the texture or consistency by making the product thicker, smoother, or more free-flowing, or to keep ingredients from separating. Flavorings and colorings are considered additives, whether they are the relatively benign spices, salt and pepper, or the ominous-sounding "artificial flavors", dyes and bleaches.

Should you try to avoid additives?

Not unless you have identified a specific allergy or sensitivity. Many people believe they are sensitive to MSG, and you can avoid it if you wish. Most additives are used in such small amounts that they have no significance in your diet unless you consume huge quantities of a single food.

You should be more concerned about what's taken out of your food than what's added in. "Enriched" means vitamins, minerals, other nutrients and fiber were  removed during processing, and what is added back may be only a small part of what was taken away. When fiber is removed, you are the loser. Extracted oils give you lots of calories and little of the nutrients that were in the original plants.

If your diet consists primarily of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans, you don't give food processors the chance to remove the good parts that nature provides and you won't need to worry about what's added behind your back.

Think first…then eat SMART!

Now I'd like to hear from you . . .

Please leave your thoughts by adding a comment below.

To your good health,

Robert G. Berger D.D.S.

What are cold sores?

Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth. The skin around the blisters is often red, swollen, and sore. The blisters may break open, leak a clear fluid, and then scab over after a few days. They usually heal in several days to 2 weeks.

What causes cold sores?

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both virus types can cause sores around the mouth (herpes labialis) and on the genitals (genital herpes).

The herpes simplex virus usually enters the body through a break in the skin around or inside the mouth. It is usually spread when a person touches a cold sore or touches infected fluid-such as from sharing eating utensils or razors, kissing an infected person, or touching that person's saliva. A parent who has a cold sore often spreads the infection to his or her child in this way. Cold sores can also be spread to other areas of the body.

What are the symptoms?

The first symptoms of cold sores may include pain around your mouth and on your lips, a fever, a sore throat, or swollen glands in your neck or other parts of the body. Small children sometimes drool before cold sores appear. After the blisters appear, the cold sores usually break open, leak a clear fluid, and then crust over and disappear after several days to 2 weeks. For some people, cold sores can be very painful.

Some people have the virus but don't get cold sores. They have no symptoms.

How are cold sores diagnosed?

Your doctor can tell if you have cold sores by asking you questions to find out whether you have come into contact with the virus and by examining you. You probably won't need any tests.

How are cold sores treated?

Cold sores will usually start to heal on their own within a few days. But if they cause pain or make you feel embarrassed, they can be treated. Treatment may include skin creams, ointments, or sometimes pills. Treatment may get rid of the cold sores only 1 to 2 days faster, but it can also help ease painful blisters or other uncomfortable symptoms.

The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores cannot be cured. After you get infected, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. If you get cold sores often, treatment can reduce the number of cold sores you get and how severe they are.

How can you prevent cold sores?

There are some things you can do to keep from getting the herpes simplex virus.

• Avoid coming into contact with infected body fluids, such as kissing an infected person.
• Avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or other items that a person with a cold sore may have used.

After you have been infected with the virus, there is no sure way to prevent more cold sores. But there are some things you can do to reduce your number of outbreaks and prevent spreading the virus.

• Avoid the things that trigger your cold sores, such as stress and colds or the flu.
• Always use lip balm and sunscreen on your face. Too much sunlight can cause cold sores to flare.
• Avoid sharing towels, razors, silverware, toothbrushes, or other objects that a person with a cold sore may have used.
• When you have a cold sore, make sure to wash your hands often, and try not to touch your sore. This can help keep you from spreading the virus to your eyes or genital area or to other people.

Now I'd like to hear from you . . .

If you have Cold Sores and have found a treatment that helps please leave your thoughts by adding a comment below.

To your good health,

Robert G. Berger D.D.S.

Well Dr. Stephen G Chaney shows us how this can relate to what we eat.  The title of this week's Tip is "We Grow What We Eat".  I think you will enjoy it!

No, this is not about each of us starting a backyard garden and literally growing what we eat - although that would probably be a good idea for most of us.

I'm actually talking about the bacteria that we "grow" in our intestine.

Most of you probably already know about the concept of "good" and "bad" intestinal bacteria.

Evidence suggests that the "bad" intestinal bacteria and yeast can compromise our immune system.

There is also evidence that they can create a "leaky gut" (you can think of this as knocking holes in our intestinal wall that allow partially digested foods to enter the circulation where they can trigger inflammation and auto-immune responses).

And they appear to convert the foods that we eat into cancer causing chemicals which can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

The list goes on and on...

The "good bacteria" are thought to crowd out the "bad" bacteria and prevent many of the problems they cause.

For years we have thought of "bad" bacteria and yeast as originating from undercooked or poorly washed foods that we eat and the "good" bacteria as originating from foods like yogurt and probiotic supplements.

But most of us have not thought that the kinds of foods we choose to eat on a daily basis can affect the kinds of bacteria we "grow" in our intestine - until now.

You've heard for years that "We are what we eat". Well it now appears that we also "grow what we eat".

I'm referring to a recent study by G. D. Wu et al (Science, 334: 105-108, 2011).

Previous studies have shown that people from all over the world tend to have one of two distinct populations in their intestines - Bacteroides or Prevotella. [Don't let the specialized scientific terminology scare you.  These are just the names given to two distinctive populations of intestinal bacteria].

What this study showed was that people who habitually consumed high-fat/low-fiber diets (diets containing predominantly animal protein and saturated fats) tended to have the Bacteroides bacteria in their intestine, while people who habitually consumed low-fat/high-fiber diets (diets that are primarily plant based and are high in carbohydrate and low in meat and dairy) tended to have the Prevotella bacteria in their intestine.

And surprisingly this appears to be independent of sex, weight and nationality.

At this point in time we don't know the health benefits and risks associated with a Bacteroides versus a Prevotella grouping of intestinal bacteria.

However, now that do we know that we "grow what we eat" there are numerous studies ongoing to define the benefits and risks associated with each type of bacterial population.

Stay tuned! I'll keep you updated as more information becomes available.

To Your Health! 

Dr. Stephen G Chaney

Old Rule: Drink eight glasses of water a day.
New Rule: Eat your water.

The recommendation to chug all that H2O was likely based on guidelines published in 1945. However, says Howard Murad, MD, author of The Water Secret, much of your daily requirement is contained in foods: Fruits, vegetables, beans, and cooked whole grains like oatmeal and quinoa (which soak up moisture in the pot) all deliver servings of water. And, as Murad points out, they offer the added bonus of nutrients: "Watermelon and cucumber are more than 90 percent water, but they also contain antioxidants. With a glass of water, all you get is water." You'll know you're hydrated when your urine is colorless or pale yellow and you're rarely thirsty.


Old Rule: Eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables.
New Rule: Fill half your plate with produce.

A serving of broccoli is about five florets. A serving of raw spinach, one cup. A serving of mango, roughly the size of a fist. "It's not surprising that people get confused over what, exactly, a serving is," says Washington, D.C., dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield. Her advice: Stop counting and instead make half of every meal produce. "You don't need a big mound on your plate. Six asparagus spears at dinner, a spinach salad at lunch, and a sliced banana and some berries at breakfast should do it." And quality counts: Even two or three daily servings of deeply hued fruits and veggies (like blueberries, bok choy, or red peppers) may help reduce your risk of cancer and heart disease, Scritchfield says. "It's like darts. The goal is to hit the bull's-eye. But hitting nearby is good, too."


Old Rule: Avoid red meat.
New Rule: Beef in moderation can be healthy.

Red meat was long considered a heart attack on a plate because it's high in saturated fat. But a 2010 study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that the cardiovascular risk comes from processed varieties, such as sausage, hot dogs, and cold cuts--not from steak, hamburgers, and other nonprocessed cuts. (The real culprits may be salt and preservatives). Red meat is a good source of iron and immunity-boosting zinc-two nutrients some women don't get enough of. Beef (especially grass-fed) also contains high concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid, a type of fat that may decrease cancer risk and help reduce body fat.

"But not all red meats are created equal," says Leslie J. Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Sports Medicine. She recommends choosing very lean cuts and avoiding anything labeled "prime," as it will have more fat marbling. And try not to eat more than three 4- to 5-ounce servings (about the size of an iPhone) per week.


Old Rule: Keep your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.
New Rule: Eat healthy, exercise, and let your weight settle naturally.

Physicians use BMI (body mass index)--a ratio of your weight to your height--as a tool to diagnose obesity. But critics say BMI ignores muscle mass, and a 2011 Obesity study notes that it also ignores a person's hip circumference. "People come in different sizes and shapes," says Joanne Ikeda, nutritionist emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. "The idea that everyone should fall under 25 is ludicrous." A person can have a high BMI and still be healthy, Ikeda argues. Research supports the theory: A Journal of the American Medical Association study found that fit women--even if they were overweight according to their BMI--were less likely to suffer a heart attack than those who were out of shape. Ikeda advises her patients to stop obsessing over their BMI, eat a nutritious diet, and log 150 minutes of exercise per week. "A healthy lifestyle results in a healthy weight."

 

Vitamin D and teeth are incredibly important, yet almost completely overlooked in the medical field. When was the last time your dentist suggested that you might want to take Vitamin D for prevention of periodontal disease, gum disease and cavities?

Never, I'm sure.

We all hear about the importance of calcium for healthy bones and teeth, but the relationship of Vitamin D and teeth is seldom talked about, yet it is just as important.

A little over a week ago I visited my doctor for results on a blood test I took.  During our discussion he suggested taking Vitamin D for a problem I was having.  Being a very analytical person, I decided to look up Vitamin D and its benefits.  Much to my surprise, I found several articles discussing the connection between Vitamin D deficiency and teeth and disease of their supporting structures.  I will try to summarize my findings below.

How Vitamin D Deficiency Affects the Health of Your Teeth

Vitamin D is essential in helping your teeth remain anchored into their sockets.  Research has shown that people with Vitamin D deficiency are more likely to develop periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease is the weakening of the supporting tissues that anchor the teeth. This includes gums, bone, and connective tissue. Untreated, gum disease leads to redness, bleeding, and inflammation of the gums and eventually leads to tooth loss.

So what role does Vitamin D play in the prevention of periodontal disease?

Our bodies host genes that are responsible for the expression of periodontal disease. Vitamin D regulates these genes. Vitamin D acts as a controller of genes in almost every cell. When Vitamin D levels are too low, the genes responsible for a number of problems, such as periodontal disease, get switched on and allow the disease to develop.

Vitamin D has not been tested as a treatment for periodontal disease. However, sustaining proper Vitamin D levels may help prevent periodontal disease. While it does not treat periodontal disease, Vitamin D may reduce gingivitis because of its anti-inflammatory effects.

How does Vitamin D help strengthen your teeth?

People correlate strong bones and teeth with calcium. But what many people fail to realize is that Vitamin D regulates the calcium throughout our bodies.  The calcium in our teeth and bones moves constantly.  Vitamin D determines where the calcium goes.  If your calcium levels are too low, then the calcium goes into your blood stream.  If you have adequate or high levels of calcium, the Vitamin D will tell your body to move the calcium into the teeth and bones.  However, if you have a Vitamin D deficiency, no amount of calcium will go into the bones, thus causing major weakness to your bones and teeth. This result ultimately leads to osteoporosis, periodontal disease, and weak teeth!

Vitamin D and Teeth in Kids

A seriously overlooked reason to have excellent Vitamin D levels is for the Oral Health and Hygiene of children. In This Research Study they related higher levels of Vitamin D in the bloodstream of mothers to decreased cavities in their children!

And more research from 1973 called Enamel hypoplasia of the teeth associated with neonatal tetany: manifestation of maternal vitamin deficiency showed that infants born with vitamin D deficiency were prone to a tooth condition called 'enamel hypoplasia' that predisposes them to bad teeth for the rest of their life!

Also, there is a well established correlation between children Rickets and Dental Enamel Hypoplasia - a condition of faulty development of the dental enamel that allows cavities to be more easily established.

 

What is the best way to obtain proper Vitamin D levels?

Research shows that the best way to obtain Vitamin D is from 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine at least two times a week on the face, arms, hands, or back. People who live in states with minimal sunshine should eat eggs, milk, sardines, and tuna. You can also take Vitamin D supplements, but be sure to consult your physician prior to taking any supplement or medication.

If you are concerned that you have periodontal disease and Vitamin D deficiency may be a factor, call me, Dr. Robert Berger in Reynoldsburg, OH at (614) 866-3368, to schedule a consultation. My team and I want to assist you in maintaining a sunny smile!

If you are like these patients, after reading the following article by  Mark Hyman, MD you just might change your way of thinking!

If you saw the recent 60 Minutes segment by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the dangers of sugar you might be scared off the sweet stuff for good.  It causes heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer and it makes super bad, super dense, super dangerous cholesterol particles.   The data is pretty strong on this.  Scientists even locked kids in a hospital, fed them sugar and measured their blood every 30 minutes.  It didn’t take long for things to turn bad inside.

But if you are thinking that diet soft drinks or artificial or even natural sweeteners are the answer for getting off sugar, think again.  Diet drink consumption has increased 400 percent since 1960.  It may or may not cause cancer, but the evidence is mounting that it leads to weight gain rather than weight loss.  Those who consume diet drinks regularly have a 200 percent increased risk of weight gain, a 36 percent increased risk of pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome, and a 67 percent increased risk of diabetes. A study of 400 people found that those who drank two diet sodas a day or more increased their waist size by five times.

Seems you can’t outsmart Mother Nature.  Tricking your brain into thinking you are getting something sweet plays dirty tricks on your metabolism.  Artificial sweeteners disrupt the normal hormonal and neurological signals that control hunger and satiety (feeling full).  A study of rats that were fed artificially sweetened food found that their metabolism slowed down and they were triggered to consume more calories and gain more weight than rats fed sugar-sweetened food.

In another alarming study, rats offered the choice of cocaine or artificial sweeteners always picked the artificial sweetener, even if the rats were previously programmed to be cocaine addicts.  The author of the study said that, “The absolute preference for taste sweetness may lead to a re-ordering in the hierarchy of potentially addictive stimuli, with sweetened diets . . . taking precedence over cocaine and possibly other drugs of abuse. “

The use of artificial sweeteners, as well as “food porn,” the sexy experience of sweet, fat, and salt in your mouth, alters your food preferences.  Your palate shifts from being able to enjoy fruits and vegetables and whole foods to liking only the sexy stuff.

My advice is to give up stevia, aspartame, sucralose, sugar alcohols like xylitol and malitol, and all of the other heavily used and marketed sweeteners unless you want to slow down your metabolism, gain weight, and become an addict.  Some may be worse than others like aspartame that is what we call an excitotoxin that can cause neurologic symptoms like brain fog, migraines or worse.  And some may just give you bad gas because they ferment in your gut, like the sugar alcohols (anything that ends in “ol” like xylitol).  Others like stevia, which comes from a South American plant, may be slightly better and could be enjoyed from time to time, they all keep us yearning for more and more – so our brains get confused, we eat more food and we get fatter.  There are ways to cut cravings by naturally balancing your blood sugar.

So if you want something sweet, enjoy the real thing from time to time.  But stay away from fake sugars or fake food or factory made science projects of any kind.

Now I’d like to hear from you…

Do you drink diet soda?

How have they affected your health and your weight?

Do you use artificial sweeteners and will you continue to do so?

Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

To your good health,

Robert G. Berger D.D.S.

The type and amount of food you eat can increase your chance of developing high blood pressure. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), a research study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, has been shown to help lower blood pressure by focusing on fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains, fish, poultry and foods low in saturated fats, total fat and cholesterol.

By following DASH, exercising, not using tobacco and limiting alcohol, you can prevent and control high blood pressure. If your blood sugar is uncontrolled, it can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and blindness. DASH can also lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Starting the DASH diet is easy, but make these changes over a few days to give your body time to adjust.

• If you eat one or two vegetable servings a day, add another serving at lunch and dinner. Add a serving of fruit as a snack or at one meal each day.
• Have three low-fat or fat-free milk servings a day.
• Eat whole grains for added nutrients.
• Choose three ounces of lean meat at a meal and limit lean meats to six ounces a day.
• Have a vegetarian or meatless meal for two meals each week.
• Choose foods with less than five percent of the daily value of sodium. Foods with 20 percent or more are considered high-sodium foods.

THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

By preparing food at home, the average person can save money and calories.

The standard American diet (S.A.D.) is high in processed foods, fat (especially saturated and trans fats), refined grains, simple sugars, salt and calories. As I've said before, almost anything would be better.

You probably already know that the S.A.D. leads to obesity and a whole host of diseases - including heart disease, cancer and diabetes - just to name a few.

But did you know that the S.A.D. could make you sad?

That statement is based on a study by Akbaralay et al (British Journal of Psychiatry, 195: 408-413, 2009)  in which they looked at the dietary patterns and mental health outcomes of 3486 participants in the Whitehall II Prospective Study.

In case you didn't know it, Whitehall is the central district in London where most of the British government offices are located.

So the 3486 participants in this study were bureaucrats. They were middle aged (average age 55.6 years old) office staff (74% men, 26% women) who spent most of their day sitting and really didn't like their jobs very much. (I made up the part about not liking their jobs, but you get the picture.)

At the beginning of the study the participants were given a 127 item food frequency quiz to fill out.  Interestingly enough, the food preferences of the participants in this study clustered neatly into two
groups.

The diets of the processed foods groups predominantly consisted of sweetened desserts, chocolates, fried foods, processed meats, refined grains and high fat dairy products.

In contrast, the diets of the whole foods group consisted mostly of vegetables, fruits, fish and whole grains.

Five years later the study participants were analyzed for depression using a 20 item standardized depression scale.

The results were pretty eye-catching. The processed food group was 58% more likely to suffer from
depression than the whole food group! And this was after correction for age, gender, weight, marital
status, education, employment grade, physical activity, smoking and diseases (high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke).

The reasons for this astounding correlation between diet and depression are not clear.

The authors speculated that the diets of the whole food group were likely higher in antioxidants, folic   acid and omega-3 fatty acids than the diets of the processed food group - and studies have suggested that each of these nutrients may protect against depression.

The authors also suggested that it might be an indirect effect. Diets that are high in saturated fats and
refined grains and low in omega-3 fatty acids increase inflammation, and studies have suggested that
inflammation can lead to depression.

The thing for you to remember is that, while we don't know the exact mechanism, it is pretty clear that a
processed food diet can lead to the blues down the road.

And, as the authors pointed out, the processed food diet in this study is pretty close to what most
Americans are eating. So it is safe to say that the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) can make you sad!

So keep your spirits up with a healthy diet.

To Your Health!
Robert G. Berger D.D.S.

 

Once your mouth is healthy, all that is necessary to maintain it is the proper brush, floss, and technique.  There are many different toothpastes, mouthwashes, and dental aids available, but if the proper technique is used most of them are not necessary. 

I usually recommend flossing 1^st with an unwaxed floss.  This disrupts the plaque, which will be removed later during brushing.  Unwaxed floss is thinner than waxed floss, which allows it go farther up the root surface of the tooth.  It also will unravel, allowing the fibers to pick up the plaque better than waxed floss.  I also inform my patients that if you are wrapping the floss properly you will hear it squeak when the teeth are clean.  This won’t occur if using waxed floss.   

Depending on the health of your gums a soft or extra soft toothbrush should be used.  A medium or hard brush can actually do damage to the tooth surface and gums. 

We have taught our patients for years that dry-brushing will allow you to brush longer and you can remove the plaque better.   Plaque is what causes decay and gum disease.  Removing plaque is the most important reason for brushing. 

Dry-brushing doesn’t mean using a dry toothbrush, but rather it is a method of brushing without toothpaste, not in the bathroom, by feel and not by time.  Next time you get your teeth cleaned at the dentist run your tongue over them and notice how smooth and clean they feel.  This same feeling can be repeated with each brushing.  You really can’t notice this by feel if you have brushed with toothpaste.  You will notice the mint flavor more than the feel! 

If you desire that fresh taste, you can rinse with mouthwash afterwards or place a little toothpaste on a different brush and use it for about 30 seconds. (Use a different brush so the flavor doesn’t stay with the brush that you use for actual cleaning.)

Lastly, if you have difficulty using a manual brush, an electric brush can be used.  We recommend the Rota-dent.  Feel free to call our office to find out why we feel it is best choice.

The method of brushing and flossing that we recommend was developed by a Dr. Charles Bass.  If  you desire more information about the proper way to clean your mouth continue reading to find out about the “Bass Technique!”

During the Second World War, Dr. Charles C Bass (1875-1975), a medical doctor, developed nylon dental floss as a replacement for silk floss.

Dr. Bass also designed the "Right Kind" multi-tufted toothbrush with tufts that are spaced closely to provide a smooth, narrow, compact and flat brushing plane. Similar toothbrushis still offered today.

Around this time, a Mississippi physician named Charles Cassidy Bass began to suggest that people did not just lose their teeth because they were getting old. He pointed up that if one worked hard to keep the area of the tooth at and below the gum clean and free of germs or bacteria, even the elderly could keep their teeth.

Dr. Bass proposed placing your toothbrush partly on the tooth and partly on the gum with the toothbrush bristles angled toward the gums.  As you vibrated the toothbrush back and forth, the tips of the bristles slid below the gums to clean off plaque bacteria or germs below the gum or gingival margin.

Dr. Charles Bass is known as the "Father of Preventive Dentistry" because he made the first move in theory and practice of daily removal of the oral germs or bacteria through correct use of a toothbrush and dental floss.   The “Father of Dental Hygiene,” Dr. Charles C. Bass who said:

• “You must clean your teeth right with the right kind of tooth brushand dental flossevery night before retiring.”
• "A clean tooth does not decay. Periodontoclasia does not occur about a clean tooth."

The Bass Method: Purposes and Indications

·         For all patients for germs or bacterial plaque removal next to and directly below the gum or gingival margin.

• For open between-teeth spaces and exposed root surfaces with gum disease.
• For the patients who has had periodontal (gum) surgery.
• For adaptation to tooth crowns, dental bridges, bracesand dental implants.

The Bass Method: Technique

The Bass Method: Angle the Filaments at Gum-Tooth Margin

• Place thesoft toothbrushor ultra-soft toothbrushwith flat brushing plane and rounded nylon filament tips directed straight into the gingival sulcus or gingival margin.
• The filaments will be directed at approximately 45 degrees to the long axis of the tooth.

The Bass Method: Strokes

• Press lightly without flexing and bending the filaments.
• Nylon filament tips will enter the gingival sulci at gum-tooth border and cover the gum margin.
• Vibrate the toothbrush back and forth with very short strokes without disengaging the nylon tips of the filaments from the gum margin. Count at least 10 vibrations.
• Reposition the toothbrush and apply the brush to the next group of two or three teeth. Take care to overlap placement.
• Repeat the entire stroke at each position around the maxillary (upper jaw) and mandibular (lower jaw) arches, both for facial and lingual surfaces.

Tips and Advice on your Toothbrush

Toothbrush should have as a part of Bass Method:

• Long, wide handle  for a firm grasp

• small head for easy access to all areas of the mouth, teeth and gums
• narrow, compact flat plane at the brushing surface- makes correct brushing gentle on your teeth
• soft nylon bristles with rounded ends so you won't hurt your gums

Toothbrushes should be changed:

• every three to four months before the bristles become splayed and frayed
• sick people - at the beginning of an illness and after they feel better

You should brush your teeth at least 2-3 minutes twice a day - the length of a song on the radio.  Brush outside and inside the teeth, and especially on chewing surfaces and between teeth. 

Tips and Advice on your Dental Floss

  Flossing is easy with the proper technique:

• Wind an 18-inch piece of floss around your middle finger, leaving about 4-inches of floss between them
• Grasp floss firmly between thumb and index finder of each hand. Gently slide floss between teeth, using a slow sawing motion to slip between tight teeth
• Move floss up and down against tooth to clean both above and below the gum-line, curving around the tooth for best results
• Repeat cleaning procedure for each tooth. Every few teeth, move to a clean piece of floss by unwinding floss from one finger and rewinding it onto the other finger

For most patients, flossingshould be used before toothbrushing.  Slide the floss to a new, unused portion for the next tooth surfaces.  Floss may be doubled to provide a wider rubbing surface.  Floss holdercan be helpful for a person with a disability or for a parent or caregiver.

surface.   Floss holdercan be helpful for a person with a disability or for a parent or caregiver.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Robert G. Berger D.D.S.

rgberger50@bergerfamilydental.com

614-866-3368

As the term suggests, smokeless tobacco describes a variety of tobacco products that are not smoked by the consumer. These products, which include snuff, dip and chewing tobacco, are less harmful than smoking, but are still extremely hazardous to your health.

1. Smokeless Tobacco Contains Harmful Chemicals

Smokeless tobacco is known to contain 28 carcinogens, including very high levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs). TSNAs are known to be some of the most potent carcinogens present in chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco smoke.

Other cancer-causing substances in smokeless tobacco include:

• formaldehyde
• arsenic
• cadmium
• radioactive polonium-210

2. Smokeless Tobacco Products Cause Cancer

People who use dip or chewing tobacco increase their risk of oral cancer by 50% as compared to those who do not use these products; this includes cancer of the lip, tongue, cheek, roof and floor of the mouth, as well as cancer of the larynx.

Smokeless tobacco users also face an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

3. Smokeless Tobacco Is Addictive

Dip and chewing tobacco contain more nicotine that commercially manufactured cigarettes. A typical dose of nicotine in snuff is 3.6 milligrams (mg); in chewing tobacco, the amount of nicotine is closer to 4.5 mg. Compared to an average of 1 to 2 mg of nicotine in a commercially produced cigarette, the difference is significant. And, when used according to package directions, the nicotine in smokeless tobacco is easily absorbed through the lining of the mouth in quantities sufficient to cause addiction.

4. Smokeless Tobacco Causes Gum Disease, Bone Loss, Leukoplakia and Tooth Decay

Smokeless tobacco creates an unhealthy environment in the mouth that leads to a variety of nasty problems. In addition to brown-stained teeth and bad breath, users also face:

• Permanent gum recession and bone loss where the tobacco rests
• Leukoplakia, a condition characterized by benign or precancerous lesions on the tongue or inside of the cheeks
• Tooth decay from the sugar used to enhance the flavor of smokeless tobacco

5. Smokeless Tobacco and Other Health Problems

While the results are inconclusive at this time, researchers are reviewing possible links between smokeless tobacco and heart disease, high blood pressure, the risk of stroke and diabetes.

Smokeless Tobacco and Harm Reduction

Smokeless tobacco is less deadly than cigarette smoking -- there is no disputing that. With over 4000 chemical compounds in cigarette smoke, hundreds of which are known to be poisonous, and dozens that are carcinogenic, smoking is by far the most hazardous form of tobacco use on the planet today.

That said, smokeless tobacco poses serious risks to the user that do not make this class of tobacco product a safe alternative to smoking.

Cigarette smoking is part addiction to nicotine and part habit, born out of many years of associating smoking with every activity we have in our daily lives. Smokers who switch to smokeless tobacco are still addicted to nicotine and still link tobacco to the activities in their lives. Because of this, the risk of a smoking relapse is substantial.

Using harm reduction as a fix for smoking can also be dis-empowering. While a person might think of the switch as a proactive move to improve one's health, they are also telling themselves -- usually on a subconscious level -- that they are not strong enough to quit using tobacco altogether. And to make matters worse, this justification can in turn become a pacifier, causing the user to put quitting tobacco on the back burner indefinitely.

As a smoker who successfully quit following 22 years of being entrenched in nicotine addiction, I can tell you that we all have what it takes to beat nicotine addiction successfully. With the right tools at hand to help us change our relationship with nicotine, freedom is within the grasp of every person who desires it.

Smokeless Tobacco As a Quit Aid

All tobacco products carry the risk of disease and addiction, and as such are not good choices as quit aids.

• Quit Aids: Know Your Choices

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), which contain nicotine but none of the other hazardous chemicals present in tobacco products, are a better choice for a nicotine-based quit aid. Even so, NRTs are not without risk. Because these products, which include the nicotine patch, gum, nasal spray, inhaler and nicotine lozenges, do contain nicotine, they all carry the danger of addiction themselves.

• Addicted to Nicotine Gum

That doesn't mean one shouldn't use NRTs, but it does mean that package directions should be followed carefully, and the products weaned off of in the time recommended.

The Bottom Line

Some forms of tobacco are more hazardous than others, but all tobacco products carry risks to the user that include addiction and potentially deadly health issues.

We all deserve freedom from nicotine addiction. Imagine a life that is free of the need to use a drug multiple times a day, day in and day out. If you smoke or use any type of tobacco product, you can quit, and you do have what it takes to do it within you right now.

There are many available resources to help you tap into your own inner strength and resolve to quit smoking. The work it takes to carve out your freedom is small indeed when compared to the benefits you'll enjoy, from improved health to the boost of confidence you'll get from overcoming nicotine addiction.

Dig your feet in and go the distance...you won't regret it.

Yours for Better Dental Health,

Robert G. Berger D.D.S.