Would You Prefer Cabernet Or Merlot?

For many years now scientists have linked the beneficial positive effects of moderate amounts of red wine consumption with prevention of heart disease and cancer.  But now they have also discovered that drinking the fruit of the vine could help with the prevention of gum disease!

The heroes here are compounds called polyphenols (found in grape seeds and red wine) which appear to have very strong anti-inflammatory properties. By reducing inflammation, it is theorized that polyphenols may limit the amount of inflammation in the gum tissue, helping to prevent the common disease known as gingivitis.

"Our findings demonstrate that red wine polyphenols have potent antioxidant properties," concluded the study authors from the Université Laval in Quebec City who presented the study at a meeting of the American Association for Dental Research.

Eighty percent of Canadians have some type of gum disease, and it is estimated that 15 percent of Canadians between the age of 21 and 50 suffer from an advanced form of gum disease known as periodontitis. After age 50, 65 percent of Canadians will suffer from this chronic gum disease and the risk is higher in smokers, diabetics and people who take steroids and oral contraceptives.

The author of the study, Dr. Fatiha Chandad, stated that more investigation is needed to determine exactly how effective the beverage will be in fighting gum disease. "Consumption of any fruits or vegetables rich in polyphenols could have beneficial effects on the maintenance of good oral health," she adds.

So should you drink up now and not worry about proper brushing, flossing, and visits with your dental hygienist? We sure don’t think so! But it is nice to know that red wine enjoyed in moderation could have a positive effect on your dental health.

At Retter Dental Care we take your oral health very seriously and want to make sure that gum disease does not rob you of your teeth as it has done to millions of Canadians. We check for this condition every single time we do an examination. If you are due to see us or have any questions about gum disease or any other condition, please give us a call right away at 514-488-9579. We’re here for you!

And remember – along with the possible positive effects of red wine, it can really stain your teeth!! Brush and floss often and don’t forget your professional cleanings!!

What Causes Bad Breath?

A common question we get in our dental office is – “What causes bad breath?” Many times the complaint is not from the offender but from a long suffering spouse or family member. There are many causes of bad breath (which we call “halitosis”) – some serious and some not. And while many people have decided to just hold their nose and live with it, the good news is diagnosing and treating bad breath is something that can easily be done. Here is a list, in no particular order, of the reasons people may be slowly backing up during conversations: · Foods Containing Pungent Oils Yes – garlic and onions are very healthy, but they also contain oils which may cause an unhealthy reaction to those around you. These odors come from the lungs, last up to 72 hours and can be tough to cover up. Mints, gum and rinses are your best bet – or make sure everyone around you has had the same yummy food as well! · Routine Illnesses Colds, sore throats, coughs and sinus infections all cause yucky smelling mucus (or snot, depending on your age), to get trapped in our mouths, throats and noses, which causes foul breath until the illness is taken care of. Of course, if you have one of these highly contagious problems you shouldn’t be that close to someone anyway! If a sinus infection, sore throat, cough or cold doesn’t clear up in a few days to a week, you should probably see your physician to make sure things aren’t of a serious nature. · Dry Mouth A dry mouth lets dead cells accumulate on your gums, tongue and cheeks. And while morning breath is a perfectly normal phenomenon due to lowered salivary activity at night – it shouldn’t last all day. Those who snore, mouth-breath or take certain medications are prone to a dry mouth. · Tonsil Stones Clinically they are called tonsiloliths. They are hardened and mineralized mucus stones and they smell pretty bad. They form and get stuck in the folds of our tonsils. The real problem isn't that they are there but that they are almost impossible to get rid of on your own. You can't brush your tonsils. · Smoking Smoking dries out your mouth (see above) and also, tobacco just plain stinks. If lung cancer and heart disease aren’t reason enough to give up the habit, maybe a constant foul mouth will help you make that life-saving decision. · Chronic Diseases or Conditions Many serious diseases such as lung infections, kidney failure, diabetes, cancer, GERD, anorexia, bulimia and others can cause very specific types of halitosis. The good news is that these are on the rare side, but if anything along these lines is suspected, a referral to the appropriate practitioner is in order. · Poor Dental Hygiene and Gum Disease Ahhh… this is our favorite! Not because we like people to have poor dental hygiene and gum disease, but because these are very common causes of bad breath and we can usually treat them quite easily. But please don’t wait too long! Gum disease, which usually starts with poor brushing and flossing habits as well as a lack of routine dental visits, can do much more than make your mouth stinky.In just a short period of time, gum disease can advance and eat away at the gums and bone which hold your teeth in place. The result? Loose, unstable teeth that will eventually be lost if not treated. Catching gum disease early is great as treatment is typically conservative. Wait too long and it gets much more difficult and extensive. Bad breath is not normal! Seeing your dentist and dental hygienist on a routine basis is your best bet for making sure your teeth and gums stay healthy, your smile stays bright, and your breath doesn’t cause others to run in the opposite direction. If you have any questions about this or any other topic concerning you or someone you care about, please feel free to give us a call at 514-488-9579. Our fantastic team at Retter Dental Care is here to help you! Retter Dental Care Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry Website: www.RetterDentalCare.com Facebook: Retter Dental Care Twitter: @MontrealDental

Hey – Why Are My Teeth So Yellow?

Legend has it that comedian Rodney Dangerfield once asked his dentist for advice. “Doc – my teeth are yellow. What should I do?” To which his dentist replied: “Wear a brown tie!” Fortunately, these days we can give much better advice than that. Most of us begin life with beautiful sparkly white teeth, but just as the years bring wrinkles, sags, bags and more – the age fairy can make our teeth much more yellow or brown than they used to be. Why does nature add this cruelty to her bag of tricks? Here is a brief primer on yellowing teeth. The outer coating of our teeth is made of enamel – a beautifully smooth and sparkling white surface. On the inside is a material called dentin, a darker material which makes up the core of our teeth. Normal activities such as chewing and exposure to acids in foods cause microscopic cracks in our enamel, allowing the yellow dentin to show through. As most of us know, certain foods and drinks can also stain our teeth, contributing to a darker appearance. Smoking makes things much worse! Basically there are two types of tooth stains – extrinsic stains (those that form on the outside of the teeth) and intrinsic stains (those that come from within). Simple extrinsic stains can be removed by a good professional tooth cleaning and polishing. As these become more complex, tooth bleaching – either professional or over-the-counter, will be required. Intrinsic stains, those that come from the inside of your teeth, are more difficult to remove and typically involve treatment from a dental professional. A question that we are often asked at Retter Dental Care is “Do those whitening kits I can buy at the drug store actually work?” The answer is: Maybe! For easy to remove light staining, in some cases they can do the trick. Best of all, it certainly won’t hurt to try them! However, we find that most of our patients achieve much better results with professionally supervised whitening. Not only are the materials stronger, but in many cases we fabricate a custom application tray which fits your teeth perfectly, allowing the whitening materials to work at their maximum. The good news is, you no longer have to put up with yellow unsightly teeth! Modern tooth whitening techniques are one of the greatest, easiest to use, most predictable and economically comfortable advances we have seen in dentistry in a long time! At Retter Dental Care we would be happy to discuss your teeth whitening options with you. Give us a call at 514-488-9579 and we’ll happily bring you in for a free whitening consultation. Our goal is to give the you biggest happiest smile possible!