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While you don’t have to wait to start eating right, March is the month the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics asks everyone to pay special attention to what goes into our bodies. The Academy has designated the month of March for focusing the public’s awareness on what they eat.

What Not to Eat

The academy points out that the foods you eat have a direct effect on the health of your teeth and specifically on tooth decay. Bacteria rely on carbohydrates to thrive. That is why Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Melito, and Dr. Sharma and our team at Malden Endodontics tell our patients to cut back on both candy and sweets. They consist of simple sugars that feed the bacteria in your mouth and enhance tooth decay.

It’s the hidden sugars that will cost you, though. Get in the habit of reading labels on food and looking for products with added sugar. This includes ingredients that end with the suffix “ose.” When it comes to nutrition, these foods offer little value beyond satisfying that sweet tooth.

What You Should Eat

Turn to foods that not only taste good but are good for your teeth too. Dairy products, for example, provide the body with nutritional items that support tooth enamel. Foods high in protein feature phosphorus, a nutrient critical to oral health.

You can’t really go wrong by adding color to your diet, either. Fruits and vegetables make for a colorful plate and a healthy meal. Use some caution with acidic fruits like oranges or even tomatoes, because the acid can erode tooth enamel. It is better to include these foods in a meal instead of eating them by themselves.

Remember, good nutrition is something you should worry about all year long, not just when celebrating National Nutrition Month. March just serves as a fun reminder that eating right is a proactive step in managing your dental health.

We encourage you to give us a call at our Malden office to learn more!

Many adults wonder if they should continue to receive fluoride treatments. Our team at Malden Endodontics wants to set the record straight about the usefulness of fluoride treatment for adults.

There are several reasons fluoride treatments could be beneficial to you as a grownup. If you have a high risk for cavities, topical fluoride applications can cut down on that risk.

If you’re experiencing gum recession that’s softening your enamel, fluoride treatments can slow down that process. Fluoride treatments may also protect expensive restorative work on crowns or bridges that may be adversely affected by plaque.

In addition, fluoride can also protect teeth in adults who have orthodontic braces or who sometimes neglect to keep up with daily oral hygiene regimens such as flossing and using mouthwash.

Do you have sensitive teeth? Consuming foods that are highly acidic or using teeth-whitening products can lead to irritated gums. Fluoride treatments remineralize your enamel and reduce sensitivity.

If you’ve undergone radiation treatment for cancer, fluoride can help restore any dry-mouth damage that may have developed during that time. Saliva acts as a buffer against the foods we eat, and without enough of it you may be more likely to get cavities.

In general, fluoride treatments are not always necessary for adults, but they can be beneficial to your overall oral hygiene depending on your situation. If you fall into one of the general areas listed above, ask about a fluoride treatment during your next visit at our Malden office.

We can also go over your options to treat other issues you may experience in terms of your oral health. Until then, make sure to take care of your teeth properly and use toothpaste or mouthwash that contains fluoride on a regular basis.

An endodontist is a dentist who specializes in the pulp, or inside of the tooth. Endodontic treatment, also known as root canals, addresses any inflammation or infection that occurs in the root of your tooth. Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Melito, and Dr. Sharma can perform a root canal in order to remove any of the deep tissue that may be causing you pain. Endodontists also perform procedures such as an apicoectomy, and treatment of abscessed teeth.

Root Canals

You may require a root canal if you have been experiencing swelling of the gums, general tenderness, discomfort when chewing, tooth discoloration, or sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Other side effects of an infected root may include pain and swelling around the gums, jawbone, and lymph nodes, or other parts of the face.

There are different reasons why the root of a tooth can become infected. If it is cracked or chipped, has developed excessive decay, or has experienced trauma, you may notice these symptoms.

A root canal may be intimidating, but it’s a fairly straightforward procedure that can relieve you of the pain you’ve been suffering. When the treatment begins, Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Melito, and Dr. Sharma will numb the area and drill a small hole in the tooth to get access to the infected pulp. The dead pulp tissue is removed and treated with antibacterial solution. Then the open canal is filled with dental cement and closed off with a permanent crown to finish.

Apicoectomy

Although root canals are the most common treatment endodontists perform, apicoectomy procedures are also common. If this form of treatment is recommended by Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Melito, and Dr. Sharma, it usually means a conventional root canal did not solve the issue.

During this procedure, the gums are cut away from the tooth and the infected tissue removed along the root. The very end of the root is removed as well. Then the tooth root is cleaned and sealed.

Abscessed Teeth

Endodontists also commonly treat abscessed teeth. An abscessed tooth contains pus that needs to be drained. Pus can form when the inflamed pulp isn’t fixed properly or quickly enough. Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Melito, and Dr. Sharma may need to drain the pus with a small incision in the gum tissue, or perform a process similar to a root canal to remove the diseased tissue from the area.

We hope this information answers some of the questions you may have had about endodontic procedures. If you’ve noticed any symptoms that may involve inflammation or infection of a tooth, please give our Malden office a call and schedule an appointment. Treating the problem early is essential if you wish to avoid more extensive endodontic procedures.

When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of cards, flowers, and chocolates. We think of girlfriends celebrating being single together and couples celebrating their relationship. We think of all things pink and red taking over every pharmacy and grocery store imaginable. But what Dr. Fernandes, Dr. Melito, and Dr. Sharma and our team would like to think of is when and how this joyous, love-filled day began.

Several martyrs’ stories are associated with the origins of Valentine’s Day. One of the most widely known suggests that Valentine was a Roman priest who went against the law at a time when marriage had been banned for young men. He continued to perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in secret and when he was discovered, he was sentenced to death.

Another tale claims that Valentine was killed for helping Christians escape from Roman prisons. Yet another says that Valentine himself sent the first valentine when he fell in love with a girl and sent her a letter and signed it, “From your Valentine.”

Other claims suggest that it all began when Geoffrey Chaucer, an Englishman often referred to as the father of English literature, wrote a poem that was the first to connect St. Valentine to romance. From there, it evolved into a day when lovers would express their feelings for each other. Cue the flowers, sweets, and cards!

Regardless of where the holiday came from, these stories all have one thing in common: They celebrate the love we are capable of as human beings. And though that’s largely in a romantic spirit these days, it doesn’t have to be. You could celebrate love for a sister, a friend, a parent, even a pet.

We hope all our patients know how much we love them! Wishing you all a very happy Valentine’s Day from the team at Malden Endodontics!