Always Wear A Mouthguard For Contact Sports

When playing contact sports good quality mouth guard.  Ask me how I know.

Newest State Of The Art Sterilization

We realize the importance of having state of the art technology when it comes to sterilization.  With that in mind we have upgraded our sterilization station to reflect that.  Feel confident, as always, that we are on the cutting edge with our technology at the office of Dr. Jordan Pettigrew.

http://www.midmark.com/products/medical/instrument-processing/product/ritter-m11-ultraclave-automatic-sterilizer

Kids Are Consuming 5 Times More Sugar Than They Should: An Interesting Article From The Globe And Mail

Last week, I gave my kids each a can of Coke and two sugar cubes for breakfast. I’ve been serving this to them regularly, although in my defence I didn’t know it.

The meal I’ve been putting on the kitchen table looks like a tableau straight out of a breakfast commercial: Nutella on toast, a bowl of Frosted Flakes, a glass of orange juice. But the combined amount of sugar is a revolting, parental-guilt-inducing 47 grams, the same amount you’d get from washing down a pair of sugar cubes with a Coke.

Of course, you might say, a sugary cereal and chocolate smeared on bread, what was I thinking? But the juice was the worst offender, by a wide margin – and it was 100-per-cent O.J., not from concentrate.

Opinion: Our kids should be protected from junk-food ads

You may have thought, given the marketing, that juice is an “all-natural” part of a healthy breakfast, that it is just as good as, or not much worse than, actual fruit. You would be wrong. Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines that all but ordered parents to swat juice boxes out of their kids’ hands, stat.

We all want to feed our kids good foods, and to keep their sugar intake under control. But what hope does a parent have when juice jacks your kids up on nearly as much sugar as pop?

Dangerously sweet

The American Heart Association, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Diabetes Canada and the Childhood Obesity Foundation, among others, have all joined the World Health Organization in calling on parents to reduce their children’s sugar consumption.

“The evidence is extremely clear that excess sugar is harmful to you,” says Dr. Tom Warshawski, chair of the Vancouver-based Childhood Obesity Foundation. “Bottom line, almost everyone is eating unhealthy levels of sugar.”

According to data from the most recent Canadian Community Health Survey, kids consume 33 teaspoons of sugar a day, far above the World Health Organization’s recommendation that sugars ideally make up 5 per cent but no more than 10 per cent of a person’s daily calories.

The health consequences are troubling, to say the least, including an increased likelihood of everything from high blood pressure or heart disease to type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea and depression, as well as bone and joint problems. Obesity rates for children in Canada between the ages of 2 and 17 have tripled in the last 30 years, according to Statistics Canada.

Gulping down 33 teaspoons of sugar a day isn’t a direct route to any one of these conditions, but certainly gets kids pointed in the wrong direction.

The lure of liquid sugars

Keep in mind that a single glass of apple juice contains the same amount of sugar as four or five apples do, without any of the fibre. “Have an orange for breakfast, don’t drink orange juice,” Warshawski advises.

The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees. In its strongest language yet on the subject, the organization declared that fruit juice has absolutely no essential role in healthy diets. “Essential means something you need to have. You simply don’t need fruit juice in your diet,” says Dr. Steven Abrams, chair of the AAP’s committee on nutrition.

And while fruit juice is most easy for parents to mistake for a smart choice, other drinkable sugars are also big problems: Don’t be fooled into thinking that “vitamin-enhanced” energy drinks, sports drinks, flavoured waters or drinkable yogurts are ever a better choice than water or milk.

What else to watch out for

Sugar is in almost every part of a child’s diet, even in foods marketed as healthy choices, not just juice. “It’s not as simple as having kids avoid candy. Most of our kids’ sugar comes from places that we don’t necessarily associate it with,” says Dr. David Hammond, an associate professor in the school of public health and health systems at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

In a study published earlier this year, Hammond found that 66 per cent of packaged food contains added sugars. It turns up almost everywhere: in baby food, granola bars, yogurt and so on. Given this ubiquity, it can be difficult for parents to navigate sugar in such a way that they keep their kids’ diet below recommended levels.

The study also found that added sugar was labelled in more than two dozen different ways, making a trip to the grocery store even more confusing. “This is not helping consumers,” Hammond says. “We need to simplify this information.”

Doing so would help parents make informed choices, which would likely mean reducing the amount of sugar children eat.

Why this is happening

It doesn’t help matters that when kids aren’t eating sugary foods they are being bombarded by ads for sweet treats.

Kids in Canada between the ages of 2 and 11 are exposed to more than 25 million food and drink ads each year – most of them for junk food – on the 10 most popular websites for children in that age category, according to a study commissioned by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. It was led by Monique Potvin Kent, an assistant professor in the school of public health at the University of Ottawa.

“We haven’t set things up too easy for parents,” Potvin Kent says. “We’ve kind of let food and beverage companies determine what our food environment is.” She’d like to see restrictions placed on marketing to children and teens online in order to limit their exposure to junk food and other sugary items.

“In my view, it’s essential,” she says.

What should I do?

The recommendation is that kids consume at most six teaspoons or fewer of sugar a day, not 33. “No.1, avoid sugary drinks. That is the simplest way to get unnecessary sugars out of your diet,” Warshawski says. As well, eat fresh, whole foods rather than packaged foods as much as possible, and stay away from added sugar whenever you can.

Be aware, too, that there is little to no difference between fructose, dextrose, honey, maple syrup, agave sugar or any other similar sweeteners. All of them cause a spike in blood sugar that is unhealthy. “There’s no evidence it’s any healthier for you than plain old table sugar,” Warshawski says. Whatever sugar you prefer, prioritize moderation, he says.

And yes, while parents should “minimize the treats,” Warshawski also says focusing on cakes, chips or chocolate bars often means missing the more insidious items that children consume daily, especially what you’re pouring in their cups, because sugary drinks are the single largest source of added sugar in a child’s diet. “Nothing is as bad as sugary drinks, quite frankly,” he says.

So, this morning I gave my kids each a bowl of oatmeal and a banana. My daughter asked for Nutella on toast, but she didn’t balk when I told her that from now on it’s a treat she can only have on the weekend.

Then, I poured her a glass of water. She drank it without complaint.

Keep An Eye On Your Tongue!

What Your Tongue Can Tell You About Your Health

Reasons why you should ‘watch’ your tongue

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For clues about problems in your mouth, stick out your tongue and look in the mirror. A healthy tongue should be pink and covered with small nodules (papillae). Any deviation from your tongue’s normal appearance, or any pain, may be cause for concern.

If your tongue has a white coating or white spots

A white tongue, or white spots on your tongue, could be an indication of:

• Oral thrush: a yeast infection that develops inside the mouth. It appears as white patches that are often the consistency of cottage cheese. Oral thrush is most commonly seen in infants and the elderly, especially denture wearers, or in people with weakened immune systems. People with diabetes and those who are taking inhaled steroids for asthma or lung disease can also get it. Oral thrush is more likely to occur after you’ve taken antibiotics.
• Leukoplakia: a condition in which the cells in the mouth grow excessively, which leads to white patches on the tongue and inside the mouth.  Leukoplakia can develop when the tongue has been irritated.  It’s often seen in people who use tobacco products. Leukoplakia can be a precursor to cancer, but isn’t inherently dangerous by itself. If you see what you think could be leukoplakia, contact your dentist for an evaluation.
• Oral lichen planus: a network of raised white lines on your tongue that look similar to lace.  We don’t always know what causes this condition, but it usually resolves on its own.

If your tongue is red

A red tongue could be a sign of:

• Vitamin deficiency: “Folic acid and vitamin B-12 deficiencies may cause your tongue to take on a reddish appearance,” Dr. Allan says.
• Geographic tongue: This condition causes a map-like pattern of reddish spots to develop on the surface of your tongue. “These patches can have a white border around them, and their location on your tongue may shift over time,” says Dr. Allan. “Geographic tongue is usually harmless.”
• Scarlet fever: an infection that causes the tongue to have a strawberry-like (red and bumpy) appearance. “If you have a high fever and a red tongue, you need to see your family doctor,” Dr. Allan says. “Antibiotics are necessary to treat scarlet fever.”
• Kawasaki disease: a condition that can also cause the tongue to have a strawberry-like appearance. It is seen in children under the age of 5 and is accompanied by a high fever. “Kawasaki syndrome is a serious condition that demands immediate medical evaluation,” says Dr. Allan.

If your tongue is black and hairy

Much like hair, the papillae on your tongue grow throughout your lifetime. In some people, they become excessively long, which makes them more likely to harbor bacteria.

 When these bacteria grow, they may look dark or black, and the overgrown papillae can appear hair-like.  Fortunately, this condition is not common and is typically not serious. It’s most likely to occur in people who don’t practice good dental hygiene.

He says people with diabetes, taking antibiotics or receiving chemotherapy may also develop a black hairy tongue.

If your tongue is sore or bumpy

Painful bumps on your tongue can be due to:

• Trauma: Accidentally biting your tongue or scalding it on something straight out of the oven can result in a sore tongue until the damage heals.  Grinding or clenching your teeth can also irritate the sides of your tongue and cause it to become painful.
• Smoking: Smoking irritates your tongue, which can cause soreness.
• Canker sores: mouth ulcers. Many people develop canker sores on the tongue at one time or another.  The cause is unknown, but stress is believed to be a factor.  Canker sores normally heal without treatment within a week or two.
• Oral cancer:  A lump or sore on your tongue that doesn’t go away within two weeks could be an indication of oral cancer.  Keep in mind that many oral cancers don’t hurt in the early stages, so don’t assume a lack of pain means nothing is wrong.

Watch your tongue!

 Everyone should check their tongue on a daily basis when they brush their teeth and tongue.  Any discoloration, lumps, sores or pain should be monitored and evaluated by a medical professional if they don’t go away within two weeks

Concerned About Dental Radiation......Check This Chart Out!

Please Read This Article......Routine Dental Checkup Could Save Your Life!

SALT LAKE CITY — Rebecca Ward never dreamed a routine dental cleaning would lead to a life-saving surgery.

Her hygienist noticed a canker sore on her tongue and asked her if it had been there very long. Ward wasn't sure how long the sore had been there and didn't think much of it.

Her dentist sent her to an oral surgeon and although she thought that might have been an exaggerated move, she obliged.

The results were a shock.

"They called me the night before the appointment and said, 'We just wanted to make sure you have someone coming with you,'" Ward recalled.

She had oral cancer.

Dr. Jason Hunt, an otolaryngologist with the Huntsman Cancer Institute, said it's not uncommon for people to miss the signs of oral cancer.

"They start out as white lesions that are slightly raised but they're not painful initially and the patient doesn't think much of it. They think, 'Oh, maybe I bit my tongue or bit my cheek,'" Hunt said.

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Ward didn't have any of the risk factors.

"No smoking, no drinking," she said. "I actually did an internship with the Utah Tobacco Quit Line."

Hunt said that's not unusual. The cancer institute has a lot of patients who go in with really no risk factors and still develop oral cavity cancer. Often times it's in the middle age, female population, he said.

Hunt recommends if you have a change inside your mouth that persists for more than two to three weeks, have it checked and possibly biopsied. When caught early, oral cancer can be removed without chemotherapy or radiation and with little effect on speech and swallowing. A large, later-stage lesion can require removal of parts of the tongue and mouth, and even the jaw.

Doctors removed Ward's tumor and took skin and fat from her arm to reconstruct her tongue.

"You would never know," Ward said. "People think I have a large piece of gum in my mouth."

Ward is grateful she didn't lose her voice, and now she uses it to warn others.

Some dentists routinely do oral cavity searches to look for lesions, but not all. Doctors recommend asking for one at your next cleaning. The best advice is to be your own advocate and push for something to be done if a sore isn't healing.

Dental Blog: History Of The Toothbrush

Dental Blog: History Of The Toothbrush