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Sometimes food that’s good for your body isn’t necessarily the best for your teeth. Drs. Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants and our team want you to know which healthy foods can harm your teeth and gums, and what steps you can take to continue enjoying these foods, even when you’re dieting.

When you begin to substitute empty calories with whole foods, make sure you also remember to focus on your dental health. The majority of people tend to switch out sugary foods in favor of fruits and vegetables when they diet.

It’s worth knowing that most fruits are highly acidic and composed of natural sugars. Some of the highly acidic fruits to watch out for include apples, grapes, strawberries, pineapples, blueberries, oranges, and grapefruit. Moderation is key here, as with all other things. Fruits can be a great source of energy to help you through your day, but try not to overdo them.

Often, people also incorporate more leafy greens into their diets, which mean plenty of salads. Salad dressing is another item you’ll want to watch out for. Many dressings are filled with vinegars and sweeteners that include harmful acids, which change the pH of your mouth. When your mouth shifts from alkaline to acidic, your smile also turns to a higher risk for erosion and decay.

Rather than get rid of these foods altogether, simply change what you do after you eat them. Rinse your mouth out with water, brush your teeth, or eat alkalizing foods after consuming these acidic foods. Healthy alkalizing foods include dairy products such as eggs and yogurt, or any type of vegetable.

If you have questions regarding your current diet and its effect on your oral health, please contact our Worcester office and speak with a member of our staff. If you’ve begun to make changes in your diet toward a healthier lifestyle, we hope these tips can help your make positive changes to your oral health. Our team at Central New England Endodontics and Implantology wants a healthy lifestyle to be a top priority in your life.

If there’s one meal that can claim the title of “Sweetest Meal of the Day,” it’s almost certainly breakfast. Sugary cereals, syrup-covered waffles, oatmeal with honey, cinnamon toast (which is literally sugar poured on toast)—it’s hard to imagine another menu even coming close. But you’re trying to keep your diet as healthy as possible. What to do?

First, no need to deprive yourself of the occasional pastry or stack of pancakes. The real problem with breakfast isn’t so much sugar as it is added sugar.

• Just a Spoonful of Sugar? What’s So Bad About That?

Nothing! Many healthy foods have natural sugars. Milk contains lactose sugar, and it also contains calcium and is enriched with vitamin D—both of which are essential for strong bones and teeth. Fruits get their sweetness from a sugar called fructose, and deliciously provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber to our diets.

Even processed sugar is surprisingly low in calories. In fact, a teaspoon of white sugar has only about 15 calories. But this teaspoon is also rich in nutrients for cavity-causing bacteria. The oral bacteria in plaque use sugars and carbohydrates from food particles as a fuel source to produce acids. These acids erode enamel and lead to cavities.

Choosing breakfast foods without additional sugars, then, is an easy way to reduce the number of empty calories in your diet while safeguarding the health of your teeth. We have a few suggestions.

• Be Selective with Cereals

If the word “sugar” or “honey” or appears on the box, that’s a hint that your favorite cereal is heavy on the sugar. But there’s a more scientific way to tell just how much sugar is in that spoonful.

While the colorful packaging and playful mascots are eye-catching, check the black-and-white panel with nutritional facts found on every box. If one serving equals 27 grams, and the sugar in that serving equals 15 grams, you know you have a problem. And cereals marketed to children are especially “rich” in added sugar.

But luckily, you don’t need to give up your morning bowl. Many cold cereals are available that offer whole grains, protein, and fiber without a lot of added sugar. Spend some time in the cereal aisle comparing, or, to make life easier, there are many online sites which recommend the best (and worst) cereals in terms of sugar content.

• Use Your Judgment with Juices

Fruits are packed with important nutrients. Not only do they provide essential vitamins and minerals, they’re a great source of water and fiber. If you drink 100% fruit juice, you are getting the benefit of most of the vitamins and minerals found in fruit. (You’re also getting less of the fruit’s natural fiber, and more of the fruit’s natural sugar, so consider fresh fruit as an option occasionally.)

But when fruit juice comes with “cocktail,” or “punch,” or “ade” attached to the end of it, there’s often something else attached—added sugar. For natural fruit flavor and the least amount of sugar, stay with 100% unsweetened fruit juice.

• Search Out “Surprise” Sugars

Remember the childhood excitement of searching through your cereal box for the prize inside? Fun! What’s not so much fun? The surprises you might find when you search through the labels on your favorite breakfast items—because added sugars make their stealthy way into many of our morning favorites.

When you compare plain, Greek, and low-fat yogurts, for example, the low-fat options are often higher in added sugar. A container of low-fat yogurt can provide 19 grams of sugar—that’s a tablespoon and a half!

And while you’re at it, be sure to compare the sugar content in granola bars. Some are full of nuts and grains, and some are full of added sugar.

Going out for a breakfast smoothie? Those can contain 70 grams of sugar and more. Making your own at home might be a little more time-consuming, but if you use fresh fruit as your sweetener, you can make sure that what you’re not consuming is added sugar. If you’re on the go, check out all-fruit options at your favorite smoothie shop.

Drs. Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants and our team aren’t asking you to eliminate sugar from your breakfast diet altogether. (Everyone loves a doughnut now and again.) But substituting some alternatives for your regular menu choices can reduce the amount of added sugars by tablespoons every meal. That’s another great reason to greet the morning with a smile!

We’re all friends here, so if you feel a bit nervous before your endodontic appointment, no judging! Ask us about any worries you might have. We are happy to explain procedures, equipment, and sedation options so you know just how safe and comfortable your experience can be. And if X-rays are a concern, we can put your mind at ease here as well.

What Exactly Are X-rays?

Sometimes patients feel reluctant about the process of imaging because X-rays are a kind of radiation. But the fact is, radiation is all around us. We are exposed to radiation naturally from our soil and water, sun and air, as well as from modern inventions such as cell phones, WiFi, and air travel.

Why is radiation so common? Because matter throughout the universe constantly gives off energy, and the energy that is emitted is called radiation. This radiation takes two forms—as particles (which we don’t need to consider!) and as traveling rays. This second type is known as electromagnetic radiation, created by photons traveling in regular waves at the speed of light.

We are exposed to electromagnetic radiation every day, because, whether we can see them or not, these different wavelengths and frequencies create various forms of light. Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma rays are all part of the electromagnetic light spectrum.

Different types of radiation on this spectrum have different wavelengths and different frequencies, and produce different amounts of energy. Longer wavelengths mean lower frequencies and less energy. Because X-rays have shorter wavelengths and higher frequencies than, for example, radio waves and visible light, they have more energy.

How Do Dental X-rays Work?

An X-ray machine produces a very narrow beam of X-ray photons. This beam passes through the body and captures images of our teeth and jaws on special film or digital sensors inside the mouth (intraoral X-rays), or on film or sensors located outside the mouth (extraoral X-rays). These X-ray images are also known as radiographs.

Why are X-rays able to take pictures inside our bodies? Remember that higher energy we talked about earlier? This energy enables X-rays to pass through the softer, less dense parts of our bodies, which are seen as gray background in a radiograph. But some substances in our bodies absorb X-rays, such as the calcium found in our bones and teeth. This is why they show up as sharp white images in radiographs. 

There are several different types of dental X-rays used in endodontics, including:

• Bitewing X-rays, which are used to examine the roots and surrounding bone in the back teeth.
• Periapical X-rays, which allow us to look at one or two specific teeth from crown to root.
• Panoramic X-rays, which use a special machine to rotate around the head to create a complete two-dimensional picture of teeth and jaws.
• Cone Beam Computed Tomography, an external device which uses digital images to create a three-dimensional picture of the teeth and jaws.

Why Do We Need X-rays?

If all of our dental conditions were visible on the surface, there would be no need for X-rays. But there are many conditions that can only be discovered with the use of imaging—infection, decay, a decrease in bone density, or injuries, for example, can show up as darker areas in the teeth or jaws.

Endodontists specialize in treating the pulp chamber and root canals within each tooth that hold tissue, nerves, and blood vessels and the supporting tissues around them. “Endodontic” literally means “inside the tooth,” so it’s clear why X-rays can be essential for both diagnosis and treatment!

Some of the procedures which might require X-rays include:

• Root canal treatment or retreatment
• Apicoectomies (removing the tip of a root to treat recurring infection)
• Treating abscesses and infections in the tooth and surrounding bone
• Repairing fractures or other injuries to a tooth
• Treating an avulsed, or knocked out, tooth

How Do Endodontists Make Sure Your X-rays Are As Safe As They Can Be?

First of all, the amount of radiation you are exposed to with a dental X-ray is very small. In fact, a set of bitewing X-rays exposes us to slightly less than the amount of radiation we are exposed to through our natural surroundings in just one day. Even so, Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants and our team are committed to making sure patients are exposed to as little radiation as possible.

Radiologists, the physicians who specialize in imaging procedures and diagnoses, recommend that all dentists and doctors follow the safety principal known as ALARA: “As Low As Reasonably Achievable.” This means using the lowest X-ray exposure necessary to achieve precise diagnostic results for all dental and medical patients.

The guidelines recommended for X-rays and other imaging have been designed to make sure all patients have the safest experience possible whenever they visit the dentist or the doctor. We ensure that imaging is safe and effective in a number of ways:

• We take X-rays only when they are necessary.
• We provide protective gear, such as apron shields and thyroid collars, whenever needed.
• We make use of modern X-ray equipment, for both traditional X-rays and digital X-rays, which exposes patients to a lower amount of radiation than ever before.
• When treating children, we set exposure times based on each child’s size and age.

And now that we’ve talked about some things you might like to know,

Please Let Us Know If . . .

• You are being treated after previous endodontic work. We’ll let you know if your earlier X-rays might be useful, and how to transfer them. (With digital X-ray technology, this transfer can be accomplished electronically!)
• You’re pregnant, or think you might be pregnant. Even though radiation exposure is very low with dental radiographs, unless there is a dental emergency, dentists and doctors recommend against X-rays for pregnant patients.

X-rays play a vital part in helping us diagnose and treat endodontic issues. If you have any concerns, contact our Worcester office. When it comes to making sure you’re comfortable with all of our procedures, including any X-rays that might be necessary, we’re happy to give you all the inside information!

It’s not that we’re superficial. It’s just that most of our daily dental activities deal with surface issues. Are we brushing too hard? Flossing enough? Is there visible plaque? Or invisible plaque? Are our teeth gleaming white?

And these are all good questions—for another day. Today, we’re going to go below the surface, under the enamel, beneath the dentin, and talk about the substance that fills the inside of each tooth—our pulp.

The outer surface of the tooth crown is covered with enamel. This protective, mineralized coating is the hardest substance in the body. Cementum, a hard connective tissue, covers the roots of the tooth. Underneath the enamel and cementum surfaces, we find dentin, a layer slightly softer than enamel, which makes up most of the tooth. And inside the dentin lies the pulp chamber.

This chamber holds the tooth’s pulp, which is living tissue made of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Nerves and blood vessels travel from the chamber through our root canals, where they enter and exit through a small opening in the root tip, connecting to our nervous and circulatory systems. Healthy pulp performs several important functions, which help protect healthy smiles:

• Sensation

The nerves in the pulp allow us to feel temperature and pressure. They also alert us when a tooth is decayed, damaged, or infected. Sensitivity and pain are warnings that a visit to your dentist is in order.

• Nourishment

Tiny blood vessels provide oxygen and nutrients to the pulp cells. The pulp, in turn, nourishes the dentin and keeps the tooth from becoming brittle.

• Creating new dentin

Unlike enamel, which can’t be replaced or regenerated, dentin production is ongoing, and it begins with cells called odontoblasts, which are found in the pulp.

Even though this tiny organic system is well protected by the tooth’s outer layers, tooth pulp is still vulnerable to damage:

• Decay

When a cavity isn’t treated quickly, decay can progress from the enamel through the dentin layer and reach the tooth’s pulp.

• Trauma

Accidents happen. And sometimes, an accident will expose the pulp of the tooth. Or the pulp can be affected by repeated dental treatments or tooth grinding. Or a fracture can extend into the pulp chamber.

• Inflammation

Inflammation of the pulp is known as pulpitis. Sometimes pulpitis is mild and reversible, when the source of pulp irritation (a small cavity, for example) is treated. But sometimes it is not.

Irreversible pulpitis occurs when bacterial infection or pulp trauma is severe, and prompt treatment is necessary. When inflammation and swelling lead to the death of pulp tissue, acute pain, spreading infection, and tooth loss can result. Whenever the health of your tooth pulp is in question, it’s always a good idea to see an endodontist.

The word endodontic means “inside the tooth,” and endodontists, like Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants, are the expert in pulp-related issues, saving teeth, which could otherwise be lost. While all dentists receive some endodontic training in dental school, endodontists receive two or three years of additional advanced training, concentrating on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries that affect the inner tooth and its supporting tissue.

One of the most common treatments for irreversible pulpitis is a root canal. In this procedure, done at our Worcester office, the infected or dead pulp tissue is removed (a procedure called a pulpectomy), and the pulp chamber is cleaned, filled, and sealed. After treatment, a crown is usually placed to protect and restore the appearance of the tooth. Your tooth can still function without its pulp, and, even when the pulp can’t be saved, a timely root canal or endodontic surgical procedure can often save your tooth from extraction.

In perfect conditions, the strong mineralized layers of our teeth would be enough to protect our pulp. But since conditions aren’t always perfect, there are some simple steps you can take to reinforce the protection your enamel, cementum, and dentin provide:

• Keep up with regular dental hygiene and checkups

Decay won’t reach your pulp if you prevent it from ever developing in the first place. And if, despite your careful brushing and flossing, a cavity does form, regular checkups make sure your dentist catches decay early before it can affect your pulp.

• Protect your teeth

Avoid incidents which can expose pulp to trauma by wearing a mouthguard when you’re active, a night guard if you’re a tooth grinder, and a seat belt whenever you’re in the car. And don’t forget a helmet if your sport offers one!

• Be proactive

Never ignore severe or continuing tooth pain. Whatever the cause of injury or inflammation, once the pulp has been compromised, treatment needs to take place to prevent further infection, pain, and even tooth loss. Call Central New England Endodontics and Implantology, especially if extraction is recommended. Drs. Manzoli, Russo, Pauk, Desrosiers, Sahakyants and our team work to save injured teeth with a variety of procedures, including root canals, treatment of injuries caused by trauma, and endodontic surgeries.

This is just a bit of the inside story on pulp. If you have questions or concerns about your pulp, your teeth, or any facets of your dental health, talk to our Worcester team. We are experts in treating your teeth—inside and out!