By Annette R. Karnash, R.N., M.N.
Wouldn’t it be nice if a trip to the dentist would be as pleasant as a trip to the hair dresser? Preventive dentistry means flossing, brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, getting regular professional cleanings twice a year and using a bacteria killing mouthwash. Modern technology has found additional preventive techniques that may even prove to be more beneficial – eating one ounce of certain types of cheeses such as Swiss, aged Cheddar or Monterrey Jack, eliminates the acid production of plaque.
Plaque is a soft film of bacteria, saliva and minute food particles that stick to the teeth and places you at higher risk for developing cavities. Of course what is good for your mouth does not necessarily hold true for your waistline or arteries – so not 4-5 ounces – only one ounce. Research has shown that chewing gum containing sorbitol for 10 minutes after meals or snacks helps to neutralize the acids that form on dental plaque which leads to cavities. It stimulates the flow of saliva and squirts it between the teeth into crevices where decay breeds. Even a gelatin-like Gummi Bear may produce a cavity reducing ability similar to that of sorbitol after 10 minutes of chewing. With the rubbery consistency and citric acid, which combine to produce the same effect as the gum, the candy acts as an inexpensive Water Pick, stimulating the flow of saliva and squirting it between the teeth.
Gummi Bears do contain sugars and corn syrup, two proven cavity producers, so it is best to brush and flush afterward. Whether the positives outweigh the negatives is a matter of debate.
Periodontal disease, or pyorrhea, is a painless disease of the supporting tissues of the gums, teeth and bones of the mouth. This condition is very difficult to eradicate. In assessing the oral cavity of a diabetic patient, check for bad breath, loose teeth, swollen, red or tender gums, bleeding gums, tartar formation and dryness of the mouth. Ask the patient if they feel pain on chewing, if teeth are sensitive to the temperature or a change in the way the teeth fit together when they bite. Dryness can be the result of either a high blood sugar, or defective salivary glands. Numbness of the mouth due to neuropathy can cause a burning sensation. The dentist should be made aware that the patient has diabetes and of the medications that they are taking.
