Linda – The Probiotics Tooth Fairy

Obviously the invention of hundreds of different kind of toothbrushes, mouthwashes that claim to wipe out 99.9% of bacteria, whitening tooth flosses, and toothpastes that claim to do everything from protect teeth for hours after brushing to reducing tooth sensitivity, Americans’ teeth are just not getting any healthier.

Unfortunately, the common cause of cavities isn’t visible to the human eye. Tooth decay (or cavities) takes place in a tooth when the tooth’s enamel has been compromised, resulting in a hole or tooth cavity. The primary cause of tooth decay is bacteria that eat the same foods we do and thrive on sugars in foods and drinks. These harmful bacteria release acids, responsible for the breakdown of minerals in children’s teeth.

“It has been long speculated that green tea possesses a host of health benefits,” said study author Dr. Yoshihiro Shimazaki of Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan, as published on Science Daily . “And since many of us enjoy green tea on a regular basis, my colleagues and I were eager to investigate the impact of green tea consumption on periodontal health, especially considering the escalating emphasis on the connection between periodontal health and overall health.”

Tooth decay is generally defined as the destruction of tooth enamel. While consumption of sugar and other carbohydrates is usually blamed for tooth decay, it’s not the sugar itself that destroys tooth enamel. A common, harmful bacteria that resides in the mouth is actually to blame, with sugar and carbs as its accomplices.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best possible choice for snacking between meals. Not only are fresh fruits and veggies the healthiest food choices possible, they also prompt the mouth to make a little more saliva, which helps naturally wash food particles from tooth surfaces. Snack Smart!

The main oral-health concern for pregnant women is periodontal disease. The presence of periodontal disease, an infection of the gums and bones in the mouth, can lead to premature birth. According to a five-year study conducted by the University of North Carolina, pregnant women with moderate to severe periodontal disease are up to seven times more likely to deliver a premature baby with a low birth weight.

If your pets routinely have bad breath, it may be because the bad bacteria in their mouths. When the harmful bacteria in your pets’ mouths take over, they cause an infection in the gums, causing smelly breath. Both good and bad bacteria naturally live in the plaque on your pets’ teeth. When the plaque hardens, it turns into tartar. Plaque and tartar are harmful to the teeth and gums, causing the gums to become inflamed.

No matter how often or how well you brush or floss, this bacteria can still wreak havoc on otherwise healthy teeth. S. mutans can fully repopulate to its pre-brushing levels within hours. In that time, its growth is fueled by not only sugary foods, but also those high in carbohydrates. Most kids nosh not only on sugary snacks, but also on carb-rich foods, like chips, fries, pastas and crackers.

Probiotics are commonly called “friendly flora” or “beneficial bacteria.” The benefit to using probiotics is that natural, resident bacteria can help preserve the health of the environment in which they naturally thrive. Sound complicated? Think of yogurt. The beneficial bacteria – or probiotics – in yogurt are very helpful in keeping your gut in check when you take antibiotics – the drugs used to fight bacterial infections.

According to the September 2002 edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association, when diabetes is not properly controlled, high glucose levels in diabetics’ saliva feeds the sugar-loving, tooth-decay causing bacteria in the mouth. Because the high glucose levels are in the saliva and not on surfaces of teeth, the problem is much harder to control with tradition oral care methods, such as brushing and flossing.