"teeth" news and stories

Recently, a friend passed along a tip from a dermatologist: Stop sipping through straws. The doctor said it was the number one cause of wrinkles.

Even more recently, at lunch one day my aunt relayed some info from her husband, an orthodontist. He said that drinking through a straw prevents cavities and tooth decay, since straws allow sugary beverages to bypass your teeth. When my aunt said this, everybody around the table (six women) stuck straws in their drinks. But when I countered with the skincare side of the question, my aunt was the first to pluck her straw right back out again.

The tooth-health argument is supported by copious research. On the other side, Lesley M. M. Blume warns the wrinkle-phobic about the practice in The Huffington Post and adds, "Not to mention that it looks jejune, and not in a charming way."

Blume also mentions smoking, the better-known culprit behind mouth wrinkles. Think about it. Fine lines around the eyes suggest lots of smiles and laughter (hence the term "laugh lines"). A web of creases encircling the lips, on the other hand, cries "nicotine addiction," even if, as my friend's dermatologist claims, a penchant for straws is the more likely cause.

Then again, missing teeth rank even lower on the charm scale. Plus, what about blowing bubbles in chocolate milk?

So, what's it going to be? Would you risk cavities to prevent wrinkles, or vice-versa? Or you could always ire both dentist and derm, and sip everything through a Twizzler.

Ah, the many ways to keep your teeth healthy: Brushing, flossing, and eating gummy bears. That's right. According to an article from this past Sunday's New York Post, a new study from researchers at the University of Washington reveals that the natural sweetener xylitol, which is used in Gummi Bears, may create healthy teeth.

Their suggested prescription?
Eat four gummy bears three times a day for six weeks. This will result in a low count of streptococcus mutans, a contributor to tooth decay. But, do not forget to make sure that they are made with xylitol which is also used in chewing gum (Orbit chewing gum and Trident gum). Interestingly, in China, Japan, and South Korea there's a brand of gum named "Xylitol" which contains the magic ingredient that keeps your teeth healthy.

Just when I thought I'd take a break from eating junk food. Gee, are there any other candies that can prevent tooth decay?

On occasion, I enjoy such toothsome canned fish as Riga Sprats and various other types that I find in Russian markets in my neighborhood. I must admit that I've never seen canned catfish anywhere. Prior to seeing this photo, I would have been more than willing to try some. Now I might think twice.

I'd like to think that this disturbing image from Xigre is a hoax, but it's probably not. I'd be put off canned Russian fish for a good long while, if popped open a tin to find the fish biting back. This is actually the least stomach-churning of the images of this freakish canned fish on the site.

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Over the past several months, we have seen that red wine and grapefruit are both good for your gums (a guy who lost most of his teeth says that peanut milk is good, too, but you'll have to take his word for that one) and can potentially help fight or prevent gum disease. Now, it looks like a diet rich in whole grains could also reduce the risk of developing periodontitis.

In a study done by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, 34,000 men, aged 40-75, had their eating habits followed via survey for fourteen years. None had a history of periodontitis, heart attack, high cholesterol or diabetes at the start of the study. 5.5% of the men developed periodontitis (gum disease), but the men who reported that they ate at least three servings a day of brown rice, popcorn and other whole grains were significantly less likely to get the disease that the men who reported eating one or fewer servings of whole grains.

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Red wine still isn't the best drink for teeth because, like coffee, it can stain the enamel. But new studies show that it may help fight and prevent gum disease, periodontitis. Canadian scientists say that the antioxidant properties of polyphenols in red wine can fight the free radicals released by the bacteria that cause gum disease. This will reduce inflammation and decrease the severity of the disease, though there has not been a conclusive link shown between wine drinkers and a reduced risk of periodontitis yet. For non-drinkers, these same polyphenols have been found in cranberry juice, as well as red wine.

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