At Twin Oaks Dental, we are committed to being lifelong learners. We understand that means that sometimes we need to decide if we should change things we are doing in the office. Change can be difficult. As lifelong learners, we do not take change lightly. We research, discuss, and often consult with other professionals.

Recently, our commitment to learning has been focused on fluoride. Fluoride has been a topic of discussion in the news for years. As of late, the fluoride discussions have become more science-based.

Many states throughout the U.S. are evaluating the use of fluoride in water.

At Twin Oaks Dental, we are not worried about fluoride potentially being removed from our city water sources. We are not anti-fluoride by any definition.  For use fluoride as our main cavity prevention measure seems like yesterdays news in terms of health, efficacy and outcome.  We have added many tools in our toolbelt to decrease your risk of cavities! We find many of these tools more effective than fluoride at reversing and reducing dental decay risks. (applause!)

Nano-hydroxyapetite

Lately there has been a growing interest in nano-hydroxyapatiteas we learn that it has the ability to remineralize enamel, reverse decay and strengthen teeth.

Nano-hydroxyapatite is the synthetic version of the mineral hydroxyapatite. It was developed to be biomemetic, meaning compatitble with the tooth’s enamel. It’s design allows it to mimic the natural minerals in our teeth, making it ideal for remineralization. Nano-hydroxyapatite works best when paired with vitamin K2 and D3 which both assist with the cellular uptake of the mineral.

Dry Mouth and Airway Monitoring

Salivary flow is crucial to maintaining the health of your teeth and gut. Reduced salivary flow is associated with a high risk of dental caries. Reduced salivary flow can be from dehydration, medications, medical conditions. Dry mouth from mouth breathing causes the same sticky plaque environment as reduced salivary flow. Any dry mouth condition is cause for alarm as the acid producing plaque becomes more difficult to remove from the teeth. Dry mouth environments are more acid and therefore not in balance. Visit our dental team often for the best outcome. We will help you keep your teeth clean and recommend products and tools to help at home.

Dietary Evaluation

When you eat and drink, the environment in your mouth becomes acidic. This is part of our bodies natural digestion process. Starches, sugars and flours primarily feed the bacteria. The bacteria, then produce more acid. A diet balanced in fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains will maintain a more balanced environment. Foods to avoid: crackers, cookies, foods that get stuck in our teeth. At times, we will eat these. To cleanse our teeth naturally, follow crackers with carrots or apples. Better yet, have cheese and strawberrries for snack time! Eat The Rainbow for optimal nutrition benefits!

Microbiome Balance

All of these tools will aid in balancing your microbiome. Any microbiome has to be in perfect balance to work efficiently. Think of this like a saltwater fish tank. There is beautiful coral and fish living in perfect balance in the saltwater environment. If the saltwater gets contaminated with acidic vinegar, the balance will be lost and the beauty will begin to die. A microbiome acts in a similar way. If we can maintain an environment where the good and bad bacteria live in balance and keep eachother in check, the area will be healthy for the hard and soft surfaces of your teeth, tongue and cheeks. If the environment becomes acidic, there is no longer balance and decay, inflammation and irritation begin to happen.

We will continue to use fluoride  in our office. Know that during your appointment, we are evaluating the best tool for you.

Personalized, Innovative, Compassionate dentistry will always be our goal!