Global Dentistry and Implant Center

Filling your stomach full before the root canal treatment is surely a good idea because the process sometimes takes as long as 3 hours.

If the lower wisdom teeth are partially erupted but there is no sign of any decay or gum infection. Adjacent teeth are also healthy and intact. However, the x-rays showed that the roots of her wisdom teeth are tightly pressed against the nerve in the lower jaw. This nerve provides sensation to the lips and surgery to remove her lower wisdom teeth will carry a high risk of injury to the nerve which may, in the worst case scenario, result in a permanent numbness of the lower lips. As such, I recommended that leave the wisdom teeth alone and only remove them if they cause trouble.

The next option is not very commonly done but is a viable option for cases where the wisdom tooth is very close to the nerve and is painful. The crown can be cut off, leaving the root in the bone. This procedure, known as coronectomy, is gaining in popularity as the complication rate was found to be low. A study following 612 wisdom teeth that underwent coronectomy over five years found a complication rate of less than 1%. For patients with wisdom teeth that are pressed against the nerve, coronectomy is a viable option.

Your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing—the first steps in the digestion process.

Your mouth is your body’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. In fact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your mouth. Here are a few helpful things to know about how what you eat can impact your dental health. Your individual nutrition and calorie need depend on your age, gender, level of physical activity and other health factors, but according to MyPlate, a website from the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an agency of U.S. Department of Agriculture, a balanced and healthy diet should include: Fruits and vegetables. Combined, these should cover half your plate at meals. Grains, At least half of the grains you eat should be whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread, and brown rice. Dairy, Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods most often. Protein. Make lean protein choices, such as lean beef, skinless poultry, and fish. Vary your protein choices to also include eggs, beans, peas, and legumes. Eat at least eight ounces of seafood a week. In addition to diet, it’s also important to stay active for good health. Adults should get at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity physical activity every week. The foods you eat and the beverages you drink can have a direct influence on the incidence and progression of tooth decay, depending upon:

1.  The form of the food—whether it’s liquid, solid, sticky or slow to dissolve makes a difference.
2. How often you eat sugary foods and beverages and how often you eat or drink acidic foods and beverages.
3. The nutritional makeup of the food.
4. The combination of the foods you eat and the order in which you eat them.
5. Medical conditions you may have, such as gastrointestinal reflux and eating disorders, which can increase risk of cavities and weaken teeth

For dental health, it’s recommended that people limit eating and drinking between meals. Of course, sometimes eating between meals must happen. Unfortunately, most people choose foods like sweets and chips for snacks; foods that harm teeth by promoting tooth decay. If you do snack, make it a nutritious choice—such as cheese, yogurt, fruits, vegetables or nuts—for your overall health and the health of your teeth. 

• Empty calorie foods such as candy (especially hard or sticky candies like lollipops, mints, taffy and caramel), sweets like cookies, cakes and muffins, and snack foods like chips are a cause for dental concern, not only because they offer no nutritional value, but because the amount and type of sugar that they contain that can adhere to teeth. The bacteria in your mouth feed off these sugars, releasing acids, and that’s what leads to tooth decay.
• Sugar-containing drinks—soda, lemonade, juice and sweetened coffee or tea (iced or hot)—are particularly harmful because sipping them causes a constant sugar bath over teeth, which promotes tooth decay. 
• Nutritious, acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits can have acidic effects on tooth enamel, too, so eat them as part of a meal, not by themselves. Dried fruits, including raisins, are also good choices for a healthy diet, but since they are sticky and adhere to teeth, the plaque acids that they produce continue to harm teeth long after you stop eating them. Opt for a piece of fresh fruit instead.
• Cheese, milk, plain yogurt, calcium-fortified tofu, leafy greens, and almonds, are foods that may benefit tooth health thanks to their high amounts of calcium and other nutrients they provide. Protein-rich foods like meat, poultry, fish, milk, and eggs are the best sources of phosphorus. Both of these minerals play a critical role in dental health, by protecting and rebuilding tooth enamel.
• Fruits and vegetables are good choices for a healthy smile since they are high in water and fiber, which balance the sugars they contain and help to clean the teeth. These foods also help stimulate saliva production, which washes harmful acids and food particles away from teeth and helps neutralize acid, protecting teeth from decay. Plus, many contain vitamin C (important for healthy gums and quick healing of wounds) and vitamin A (another key nutrient in building tooth enamel).
• Hands down, water—particularly fluoridated water—is the most tooth-friendly beverage