A common question

What Are Cavities?

When it comes to oral health, we hear the word “cavity” all the time. In general, the word cavity means a pit or hole. While that definition somewhat holds for tooth health, there’s a little more to dental cavities than a simple hole.

According to the American Dental Association, dental cavities (or caries, as they are called by dental professionals) are synonymous with tooth decay. A cavity can be anything from a small decay-containing pit in a tooth to a tooth that needs serious work.

Tooth decay is a destruction of the tooth enamel – the covering of the tooth. Once bacteria has penetrated this outer layer, the inner layers of the tooth, including the dentin, pulp and sometimes even the root. Decay is generally caused by the way we treat our teeth  (whether we have excellent oral care habits, brushing for 2-3 minutes twice daily, and flossing once daily) and the foods we eat. Eating carbohydrates leaves a feast on the teeth for the microscopic bacteria that live on our teeth. When the harmful bacteria munch on the bacteria, they produce acids that destroy the enamel, exposing the tooth to decay.

Minor cavities are simply cleaned out and filled with either an amalgam filling or a composite filling. Amalgam fillings are the traditional silver fillings that many of us have lingering from childhood. Composite fillings are more popular these days, as dental professionals are able to match the color of the filling to the teeth around it.

Tooth decay left untreated can lead to a destruction of so much of the tooth that a root canal is required.

Tooth Decay? Isn’t That Just Kid Stuff?

Actually, the majority of adults find that at sometime in their adulthood, they’ll be sitting through a routine dental cleaning and hear the dreaded words, you have a cavity.

If that’s you, don’t worry too much. Cavities in adults are common for those who didn’t have regular dental cleanings throughout childhood, and those whose water was not fluoridated.

Also, according to the American Dental Association, many adults experience mild decay around the perimeters of cavities filled during childhood. Over the years, amalgam fillings can weaken and fracture, or even leak around the edges. When fillings leak around the edges, decay-causing bacteria can slip between the teeth and fillings, causing further decay to a tooth that was treated long ago. Many dentists recommend getting fillings from childhood replaced when patients are in their late 30s to early 40s, depending on the quality of the original filling.

Preventing Adult Tooth Decay

There are many things that can be done to help prevent tooth decay – in both children and adults. Brushing and flossing are key. Most people don’t take flossing seriously, but it is key to removing bacteria and debris between teeth.

In addition to good routine oral care, addressing the balance of oral bacteria is a great way to support tooth health. Oral care probiotics can support the colonies of beneficial bacteria that naturally thrive in the mouth, which can help crowd out the harmful bacteria.

While tooth decay is common in both children and adults, good oral care is the best form of prevention. A few minutes of brushing at least twice daily and flossing daily can go a long way toward keeping your teeth cavity-free.

No More Halitosis!

9 Reasons Your Breath May Smell

You’re on your way to an important meeting and you realize – your breath is horrible, and you have no time to do anything about it. You have no breath mints, no gum … and no chance of keeping the smell to yourself.

Bad breath can make a really bad impression, but once you understand what’s behind it, you can easily control your halitosis.

The Main Culprits Behind Halitosis:

1. Food. Yes, what you eat can cause your breath to smell. Of course, when you think of food and bad breath, you’re most likely to think of the common breath killers, like onions and garlic. These particular vegetables actually metabolize in a way that not only causes their smell to linger in your mouth, their odor is also secreted through your sweat. But onions and garlic aren’t the only causes of bad breath. Many other vegetables cause bad breath, as do dairy products, which create much more mucus in the mouth and throat. Snacking on a little cheese during happy hour may not be the best idea. Even chocolate can cause halitosis.

2. The breakdown of food in your mouth. As you eat, tiny particles of food become lodged between your teeth and below your gums. These bits of food cause a foul smell as they break down.

3. Beverages. As earlier discussed, dairy causes excess mucus, so dairy drinks can easily cause bad breath that doesn’t quickly dissipate. Sugary drinks cause the bacteria known to cause bad breath to flood the mouth. Bad-breath causing bacteria love to snack on sugar.

4. Dry Mouth. Some people have chronic dry mouth for no known reason. Others suffer from dry mouth as a side-effect of medications they take. Still others may suffer dry mouth from consuming alcohol, or consistently using alcohol-based mouth rinses.

5. Poor oral health. Teeth and gums that are not healthy can emit foul odors. For instance, those with periodontal disease often have strong-smelling breath, and cavities can also cause breath to smell.

6. Health issues. Many health problems can cause bad breath. Those with diabetes may have fruity smelling breath, or breath that smells like markers, if their diabetes is not under control. Those with kidney problems may have fishy smelling breath. And those with acid reflux often have halitosis as well.

7. Illnesses involving the sinus or throat. Whether it’s post-nasal drip caused by the common cold or by nasal allergies, those with upper respiratory illnesses often have bad breath. In fact, doctors can often recognize sinus infections or strep throat based solely on the patient’s breath.

8. Use of tobacco. Smokers and those who chew tobacco have distinctive-smelling bad breath. The more one smokes or chews, the worse the breath can smell.

9. Poor oral care. Some people are prone to skipping the step of brushing their teeth twice daily, and the American Dental Association estimates that up to 80% of individuals don’t floss daily. Brushing teeth properly helps remove unhealthy bacteria from the teeth and gums, which significantly reduces the incidence of bad breath. But even if you brush twice daily like clockwork but skip flossing, you could be leaving your mouth wide open to the effects of halitosis. Flossing teeth significantly helps remove both food and bacteria lodged between teeth in places a toothbrush cannot. It also releases bacteria from below the gum line, not only reducing the likelihood of bad breath, but also significantly reducing the risk of periodontal disease.

Curbing Bad Breath At the Source

Sometimes it’s overwhelming to think of all the ways we can create halitosis. Thankfully, there is one simple way to help reduce halitosis – even morning breath! By altering the bacterial composition of your mouth, you can help crowd out bad-breath causing bacteria. A simple probiotic mint, filled with the beneficial bacteria known to reduce the colonies of harmful, bad-breath causing bacteria, can help control halitosis, regardless of its cause.

Remember, first impressions are lasting impressions. Leave your halitosis fears behind.

Something in the Air

Good Oral Care Helps Promote Healthier Lungs

If you are among the many who have chronic – or even occasional – respiratory illness, new research suggests the issue may start in your mouth.

According to research recorded in the Journal of Periodontology, those with respiratory diseases tend to have worse periodontal health than those with healthier lungs. Research showed that periodontal disease may increase the risk for respiratory infections, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. These infections, which are caused when bacteria from the upper throat are inhaled into the lower respiratory tract, can be severely debilitating and are one of the leading causes of death.

Researchers found that bacterial respiratory infections could, in fact, be acquired through aspiration (inhaling) of fine droplets from the mouth and throat into the lungs. These droplets contain germs that can breed and multiply within the lungs to cause damage. Recent research suggests that bacteria found in the throat, as well as bacteria found in the mouth, can be drawn into the lower respiratory tract, causing infections or worsen existing lung conditions. People with respiratory diseases, such as COPD, typically suffer from lowered immunity, making it difficult to eliminate bacteria from the lungs.

The study included 200 participants between the ages of 20 and 60 with at least 20 natural teeth. Half of the participants were hospitalized patients with a respiratory disease such as pneumonia, COPD, or acute bronchitis, and the other half were healthy control subjects with no history of respiratory disease. Each participant underwent a comprehensive oral evaluation to measure periodontal health status.

The journal says researchers believe oral pathogens associated with periodontal disease can increase the risk of developing or exacerbating respiratory disease.

COPD causes persistent obstruction of the airways. The main cause of this disease is thought to be long-term smoking or long-term exposure to certain toxins and pollutants. The chemicals from the cigarette smoke or air pollution irritate the airways to cause chronic inflammation, which eventually leads to obstruction. Tissue damaged by COPD cannot be rejuvenated.

Researchers urge those with persistent respiratory illness to choose good oral care habits, like twice daily brushing and flossing.

Understanding Oral Care Probiotics

What ARE Probiotics

Probiotics are a hot topic in the media today. Want to be more “regular”? Try this yogurt with probiotics. Want to boost your immune health? Try a supplement or another yogurt with probiotics known to support the immune system. In fact, yogurt has long been the delivery system for the beneficial bacteria known as probiotics. So, if you’re the average American who spends time on the Internet or watching TV, it’s likely you’ve heard about probiotics

What Exactly ARE Probiotics?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria.

There are billions of bacteria in the human body. Actually, it’s thought that there are more bacteria in the human body than the cells that comprise the human body. Most of these beneficial bacteria are basically inert, causing no harm and offering no benefit.

Some of the bacteria in our bodies is harmful. These are what cause your head-cold, your stomach illness and many lesser known health issues.

When  harmful bacteria launch wage war, the beneficial bacteria in the body are right there waiting to fight back. If the beneficial bacteria in your body aren’t prepared to fight off the bad bacteria, you may end up with an infection and a prescription for antibiotics.

The use of probiotics -  be they food additives, supplements or any of the array of products which now include beneficial bacteria – help maintain a healthy balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria in the body.

Probiotics Benefit Mouth, Too

Research has shown that not only are probiotics beneficial for digestive health, they can also affect your oral health. By blending three beneficial bacteria commonly found in very health mouths, researchers at Oragenics, Inc. have created oral care probiotics for the entire family, focusing on maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in the mouth. EvoraPro is a professional-strength oral-care probiotic meant for use after a professional dental cleaning or scaling. EvoraPlus is an oral care mint, which, when used twice daily, can help support gum and tooth health, freshen breath and naturally and gently whiten teeth. EvoraPlus is blended specifically to address the oral care needs of the those over the age of 10. EvoraKids oral care probiotics are blended to address the oral care needs of children ages 3-10. And even your pets can have fresher breath and whiter, cleaner teeth with Teddy’s Pride oral care probiotics for cats and dogs.

Ah – ah- ah- ACHOO!

Keeping Your Distance From the Common Cold and Flu

It seems everyone in your home or your office is sneezing up a storm. Your daughter’s nose won’t stop running. She has a low-grade fever and is complaining of a sore throat. Or your colleague in the office next door is hacking away with a deep chest cough. You know that with each cough, germs are being spewed into the air. You wish he had called in sick.

When those around you are suffering from the common cold, there is one strong feeling that probably accompanies your sympathy for them – a strong desire to not “catch” whatever ails them, be it a bacterial or viral infection. Whatever it is, you surely don’t want it.

How Can You Arm Your Immune System for Its Fight Against the Cold or Flu?

There are many commonsense approaches to keep in mind when those around you have a contagious illness: Wash your hands often. Avoid direct contact with the person’s belongings (especially any phone the person may have used!). Use ample amounts of hand sanitizer. Don’t grab a tissue from a tissue box in a common area. Don’t eat food off of a platter from which those who are sick may have also eaten.

Think About Your Face

When there’s a nasty “bug” going around, don’t touch your mouth, nose, ears or eyes with unwashed or unsanitized hands. The bacteria or virus that is causing the illness that is tormenting those around you enters your body through your mouth, your nose your ears or your eyes. Think about how often you casually wipe your eyes after you’ve been working at your computer for an extended period, or how you might casually itch near your mouth or nose. Even resting your chin in your hand is dangerous territory when you’re trying not to get sick. Touching your face is the fastest way to introduce illness-causing germs to gain a foothold in your body.

Boost Your Immune System and Stay Healthy!

Here are some ways to support your body’s natural germ-fighting defenses:

•    Brush your teeth. Yep – it sounds a little silly, but brushing your teeth can help remove some of the germs that may have entered your mouth in an effort to make you the next victim of that wicked cold or horrid flu. Before you brush your teeth, make sure you thoroughly wash your hands. Also, make sure your toothbrush is clean. If it’s more than six weeks old, get a new one. Toothbrushes should be thrown out after you have used them for about four to six weeks. Beyond that window of time, your toothbrush is simply too worn out to be effective. If your toothbrush is newer than that, pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the bristles between brushings and be sure to let your toothbrush dry out before you brush again. Hydrogen peroxide will wipe out the harmful bacteria hiding in your bristles, and bacteria can’t survive on dry nylon bristles. You could even splurge and buy yourself a second brush. By alternating use between two brushes, you can ensure that your brush is dry and bacteria-free before you brush again.

•    Take some probiotics. Probiotics for digestive health can help boost your immune system, because they fortify the native bacteria in your digestive tract. By supplementing with a digestive probiotic, you‘re giving your digestive bacteria a little extra help as they wrestle with the foreign, illness-causing bacteria. While you have probiotics on your mind, add EvoraPlus and EvoraKids oral care probiotics to your shopping list. Oral care probiotics help support gum and tooth health by crowding out harmful bacteria in the mouth. EvoraKids is formulated specifically to address the oral care needs of children ages 3-10, while EvoraPlus is the proper formulation for those over the age of 11. EvoraPlus not only supports gum and tooth health, it also naturally freshens breath at the source and gently whitens teeth.

•    Boost your vitamin C intake. What your mother and grandmother told you is true: drink your orange juice! Orange juice isn’t the only way to get vitamin C, though. Many vitamin C supplements are now combined with other immune-boosting supplements. These products are so common that you can likely find them at your local pharmacy, or in the supplement section of your favorite grocery store.

Don’t fall victim to the common cold and flu! When those around you are suffering with a cold or the flu, taking precautions can help you from becoming the next person who needs a sick day.

Stop the Nagging Cycle!

Looking for Ways to Help Kids Brush Better?

“Brush your teeth!” You say for the 5th or 10th or 28th time this week. Why do some kids need constant reminders to brush their teeth?

If you’re one of the many frustrated parents who finds yourself wondering that very thing fairly often, one of the major things to consider is whether your messages about the importance of good oral hygiene are geared toward the right audience.

Teaching Preschoolers About the Importance of Good Oral Care

Getting most preschoolers to brush their teeth regularly (and well) is as simple as finding ways to make it fun. Try different things, like putting a mirror low enough for your child to see himself while he brushes (kids love to look at themselves in the mirror!) or make up your own silly “brush your teeth” songs. If those ideas don’t seem like the ticket to getting your kiddo to take up the task of thorough, regular brushing, consider making brushing a fun game, or creating a sticker chart, which, once completed, promises a reward.

How to Discuss Oral Care with Younger Grade-Schoolers

By the time many children have entered grade school, they are much more comfortable with trips to the dentist’s office. This is very handy for teaching kids about the importance of brushing! Ask your dentist to talk about how good home-brushing and flossing habits can mean less time getting their teeth cleaned by the hygienists. Your family dentist is also one of your best allies in explaining how important brushing and flossing are to avoiding cavities.

Oral Care for Older Grade-Schoolers

As our children get a little older, it gets much harder to make sure they are taking good care of their hygiene in general. By approximately the age of 10 (depending on the child), children are far less willing to have their parents checking on their cleanliness. No more peeking in the shower to make sure they’re actually soaping up; way more moaning and complaining when you tell them to smile so you can check for plaque.

By those same ages, however, children DO understand the concept of responsibilities – at least better than younger children. If you are able to teach your older grade-schooler that it is his or her responsibility to keep teeth well brushed and flossed, you’re well on your way to ensuring that child’s good oral health.

If that child isn’t buying the “responsibility talk,” however, perhaps he or she would be more motivated by consequences. When used properly – by not being harsh or threatening things you would not deliver – consequences can be a good motivator for stubborn children. Figure out their currency. Is it video gaming? Watching TV? Going to a friend’s house? Tell him or her that the consequence for not brushing and flossing is losing that privilege they hold so dear. Then follow through – every time. Yes, it’s hard for both of you. But poor oral health is harder – for both of you!

Using the “Fear Factor” to Show Your Preteens the Necessity of Brushing and Flossing

If your preteen – or even young teen – is still slacking on his or her brushing and flossing, one of your best weapons is showing them evidence of the consequences of not taking responsibility for their oral health. Yes. That’s right. Google some really ugly pictures of tooth decay, print them out and get ready for a serious discussion about how your teen’s teeth could easily turn out that way if they can’t come to terms with a few minutes of brushing twice a day and once daily flossing.

As harsh as it sounds, this little dose of reality is all it takes for most preteens and young teens – who are highly concerned with their appearances! – to step up to the sink and get the job done right every day.

No matter the age of your child, there are ways to make sure they learn the importance of proper daily oral hygiene.

If you’re looking for other ways to support your children’s oral health, consider adding oral care probiotics to your child’s brushing and flossing routines. EvoraKids Wild Very Berry probiotic chews are specifically formulated to meet the oral health needs of children. For children ages 11 and up, EvoraPlus probiotic mints not only meet those needs – they also freshen breath. If your preteen or teen has that infamous teenager bad breath, they might really need the extra boost!

Animals Share Holiday Wishes

We just love this video, and know that fellow animal lovers will too!

Happy Holidays!

Keeping Pets Safe Through the Busy Holiday Season

‘Tis the Season to Protect Your Pets From Your Favorite Holiday Foods (& Other Potential Hazards)

To many, food is love;  love is food. And because we love our pets so much, we may be tempted to share our favorite foods with our furry best friends. Or… if your pets are among the tricky, they may be swiping your goodies!

The facts are clear and simple: pets are not humans, and not all human foods are safe for pets to consume. In fact, many human foods are downright dangerous for our furry companions. Here are some things to keep in mind – and out of your pets’ reach – as you prepare your holiday treats.

•    Make sure all alcoholic beverages kept well away from pets. Dogs are attracted to sweet alcoholic beverages. Both dogs and cats are attracted to creamy alcoholic beverages, like eggnog and those that feature milk products. Some pets will even drink coffee with added alcohol. And don’t fool yourself into thinking an empty cup is safe! Clean up empty glasses and bottles to be extra safe. This is a very serious concern – dogs can die from consuming as little as one alcoholic beverage!

•    Don’t let your pets near leftovers or table scraps. Extra fatty foods – which are found in abundance at the holiday table! – can inflame the pancreas, causing pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is extremely uncomfortable and can be fatal. In addition, many holiday herbs and spices are not safe for pets, especially sage and nutmeg.

•    Of course, keep the chocolate out of reach! If you’re thinking of setting out a bowl of chocolates for guests to help themselves, please reconsider. Chocolate can irritate your dog’s stomach. Some of the darker chocolates with a higher cacao content are more likely to cause serious harm, such as seizures and possibly even death.

•    Make sure your dog doesn’t have access to uncooked doughs, which can expand in the stomach causing bloat. This can cause serious harm to your dog’s stomach and intestines.

•    Another thing that is commonly left out for guests to nibble on is dried fruits and nuts. But some of the common ingredients in those bowls full of tasty treats – like raisins and macadamia nuts -are toxic to pets, especially dogs, so please keep these where dogs can’t get into them!

•    One more group of things you may not consider problematic – but they can be – are sugar-free candies and gums. Even sugar-free baking items must be kept out of pets’ reach. Many of these items contain the sugar substitute xylitol, which can cause liver failure in dogs.

Decorations to Avoid for Pet Safety

Some holiday decorations are also risky for pets. Things like tinsel shouldn’t be used with pets in the house, as tinsel can perforate the intestines of cats and dogs. Both dogs and cats love to chew on many holiday decorations and gift wrapping items, like wrapping paper, yarn, garlands, artificial wreaths and any artificial plants and flowers. All of these are major choking hazards. Glass ornaments can be unsafe, as well, since either a dog or a cat could easily knock them off the Christmas tree and get hurt on the pieces of broken glass.

Concerns about Holiday Plants

Keep in mind that cats love to chew plants, and there are many holiday plants it is best for your cat (and dog!) to avoid, including mistletoe, amaryllis, poinsettias and holly. Since cats can reach basically anything they put their mind to, it’s a good idea to keep your cat out of a room that contains any holiday plants.

Don’t Despair!

The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate with our pets. Check back soon for a list of great tips of how to best spend your time with your pets this holiday season!

Dear Friends,

It’s the time of year when we all give thanks for the good things – and good people – in our lives. At Oragenics, we are profoundly grateful to you, our customers and friends, who have shared in our journey toward better oral care.

We sincerely appreciate your support throughout this past year, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with the highest quality products.

With heartfelt thanks, and warmest wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season,

The Oragenics Team

It Could Be More Than Snoring

Ask Your Dentist About Sleep Apnea!

Do you snore? Have you spoken about it with your dentist? Has your dentist asked you about snoring? Maybe you don’t know if you snore. Do you have reflux? What about morning headaches? All of these seemingly unrelated symptoms could point to a very common health threat – sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is the condition which means, literally, “without breath.”

Just like dentists and hygienists x-ray your teeth to check for decay, check the soft tissues of your mouth for lumps and run a general cancer screening at your regular check ups, they should also examine your head and neck to check your airways during your routine cleaning appointments.

Oh, it’s just snoring, right? Why is sleep apnea such a big deal? Actually, unlike “just snoring,” those with sleep apnea actually periodically stop breathing as they sleep. Those with sleep apnea gasp, choke or cough themselves awake several times a night, whether they know it or not. This disrupted sleep pattern can be very harmful to your health.

Side Effects of Sleep Apnea

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause a whole host of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, weight gain, headaches, impotency, memory lapses, high blood pressure and more. It’s believed that sleep apnea also affects the healthy functioning of the gastrointestinal and lymphatic systems. In addition, sleep apnea is to blame for many motor vehicle accidents.

How Can Sleep Apnea Be Detected?

Physical Examination

When your dentist or hygienist examines you for signs of sleep apnea, he or she is looking for any of the following: Swollen tonsils or adenoids; sinus inflammation; and/or a small or blocked airway.

Pharyngometer

A pharyngometer is a tool that uses acoustic reflection to map your airway. By sending airwaves down the throat, this tool shows areas that are collapsed and other potential problem spots. After your dentist uses this tool to determine the problem, he or she can determine what type of appliance should help correct the situation.

How Dentists are Treating Sleep Apnea

The most common treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP). This treatment uses a machine to help a patient with obstructive sleep apnea breathe more easily while sleeping.

The CPAP machine increases air pressure in the throat, which helps decrease the probability of airway collapse while breathing.

CPAP can be very effective, but many find it very costly (the machines are expensive and may not be covered by insurance). Some also complain of discomfort during the initial phase of treatment. Those who persist with the treatment see the best results, while those who use the machine sporadically report a serious decrease in the quality of their sleep.

Many dentists are treating sleep apnea with the application of oral appliances (which are also often called dental devices or dental appliances). These types of devices are recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for those with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea who are either not good candidates for CPAP, or who have not benefitted from CPAP.

Dental Devices Used for Sleep Apnea

•    Mandibular advancement device (MAD). Similar to the type of mouth guard used for sports, the mandibular advancement device is the most widely used dental device for sleep apnea. The MAD forces the lower jaw down and forward, which helps keep the airway open.

•    Tongue retraining device (TRD). The tongue retraining device is a splint that holds the tongue in place. Keeping the tongue in an ideal position is a good way to keep the airway open.

Orthodontic Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Some dental professionals recommend that, when other treatments fail, patients try the orthodontic treatment called rapid maxillary expansion, which involves a screw device that is temporarily applied to the upper teeth and tightened regularly. This treatment may help patients who have both with sleep apnea and a narrow upper jaw. This nonsurgical procedure helps to reduce nasal pressure and improve breathing.