Last week when talking with a patient I was remarking on how the condition of his mouth had improved. He stated that he had been chewing gum with xylitol.

This reminded me that studies have proven the effectiveness of chewing sugar free gum. Chewing gum is known to stimulate saliva flow. This helps to remove food particles and neutralize dental plaque acids and helps reduce dental decay.

A simple way to decrease the risk of cavities is to chew a piece of sugar free gum after meals.

Happy New Year

It is hard to believe another year has flown by and now we begin 2010!

January is the 20th Anniversary of Dr. Luttrell practicing in Randolph and I have been working with him since that day January 15,1990. So many years of memories we have experienced!

January 2006 was another milestone year. We (the entire office) went as a team to Portland, Oregon and attended the case presentations of the OBI Level IV graduates. These dentists were so passionate about what they had learned and the results they had achieved for their patients.
Their patients were people that were experiencing chronic pain, broken or badly worn teeth, muscles so tight that it was impossible to smile naturally and that left them looking tired and older than their actual age. The pain was visible on their faces.

The results of the treatment transformed their lives. Pain was eliminated and smiles were restored. Their faces were relaxed and looked younger!

I’m looking forward to the New Year and working with Dr. Luttrell and seeing the transformation of our patient's health.

Happy New Year,
Colleen

decay and the maturing patient

A trend I have been seeing lately is more decay in our older patients. I think this is a result of a few factors. One is that people are keeping their teeth longer. We see many older patients who still have a majority of their teeth. If the patient's daily care is not adequate, this leaves bacterial plaque on the teeth for long periods of time.

Most older patients have had some form of bone loss over the years. This exposes the roots of the teeth which are more prone to decay. With the plaque laying on the roots decay is much more likely to begin and then more rapidly progress.

My advice is to be meticulous with one's daily care. This means brushing and flossing adequately every day. We have a scoring system for plaque removal. This will allow you to see how you are doing. Talk to you hygienist about how you are doing.

Check out my video on the website on how to brush and floss properly.