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So far, we’ve talked a lot about the secrets of dental health success. On another note, it turns out the secret to a decent night’s sleep could interplay with your dental health routine.

Do you put a lot of thought into how, or when you brush your teeth? Most of us brush our teeth as we’re winding down before bed. Usually, we’re laying on the couch watching a little television or reading a book, as we feel the ZzZ’s start creeping in.

Most evenings, we slovenly pull ourselves off the couch, and tell ourselves something like, “okay, I guess I’ll get up and brush my teeth now.” We walk into the bathroom, turn the lights on, and get to brushing. Do you see anything wrong with this routine? From an oral health perspective, there’s nothing wrong with this routine. However, from a good night’s sleep perspective, turning the light on to brush your teeth could negatively impact your sleep.

Brushing Your Teeth with the Lights Off

Professor Russel Foster of circadian neuroscience at Oxford University claims that the fluorescent lighting in bathrooms can wake your body, when it should be shutting down for sleep. It makes sense, though. If you’ve ever gotten up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and turned the light on to a blinding feeling, then you understand how disruptive it can feel to turn the light on.

Most of the time, people dim their lights before bed, which helps your body get good and primed for sleep. Foster claims that you can fall to sleep better simply by brushing your teeth in the dark. Another option could be having a special “night time” mirror light, which would be less disruptive.

We don’t realize just how difficult it is for our bodies to regulate their sleep cycles. Over millions of years, the human body has evolved to interact with the light levels to turn genes on and off. During winter, sleep cycles often get confused, because we spend less time outside.

In fact, scientists have found that sitting away from the window at work can disrupt a normal night’s sleep by 46 minutes. This is because our brains are evolved to wake up with the sunlight, which is about 10,000 lux of light. On the other hand, indoor fluorescent lighting in offices only has about 300 to 500 lux.

Most people operate indoors the human body interprets this as a “dimly-lit cave,” and it confuses the body’s in-born clock. The best way to reset your body clock is by getting outside, especially in the morning. Another important restoring quality of sleep comes from dreaming. Dreaming is the way that we process information and make sense out of our day-to-day activities and knowledge.

Since the invention of the light-bulb, our bodies’ internal clocks have become even more confused. The small amount of light that’s radiated from light-bulbs is enough to trick us into thinking it’s daylight, even when we should be getting ready for bed.

The Importance of Sleep

Sleep is a human necessity. We spend about 36% of our life in slumber. Sleep is the key way that your body restores its cells, energy, and metabolic pathways. It’s also important for your body to rid itself of toxins. Sleep deprivation is shown to suppress your cognitive and creative ability. It can also hinder your immune system and increases your risk for obesity, diabetes, cancer, and mental illnesses.

It turns out that sleep deprivation could also be a factor in your oral health problems. We already mentioned that a proper night’s sleep helps our immune system function properly. A healthy immune system is required to fight off canker sores and gum disease. Teeth grinding is another oral health problem that is caused by sleep deprivation. Are you not getting a good night’s sleep? Try brushing with your lights off tonight and see if it makes a difference.

Brushing, flossing, and regularly going to the dentist are just a few of the best ways to keep your oral health in great shape. In the wake of popular “Pinterest hacks” and do-it-yourself treatments, we’ve had many of our patients here in Spokane, WA ask about the effectiveness of oil pulling. This trend has recently gained a lot of attraction for the numerous health benefits associated with it. Although the effectiveness of oil pulling is a topic of debate for many, we’d like to remind our readers that “DIY” treatments won’t have enormous health benefits if you’re already dealing with serious oral health issues like severe tooth decay or tooth loss. In these particular cases, we recommend coming into Chaffin Dental Care to learn more about dental implant treatment. Many patients dealing with the consequences of tooth loss have seen beautiful, long-lasting results from their dental implant treatment.

Now back to the real question we’ve hearing — Is oil pulling effective and what are the health risks of this trend? To explain more on this topic, Dr. Chris Chaffin gives his readers an in-depth look at the effectiveness and dangers of oil pulling.

Oil Pulling Basics

Although oil pulling is a recent trend in the western hemisphere, this practice actually formed thousands of years ago in ancient India. Oil pulling involves using an oil to swish around in your mouth for a specific amount of time. Common oils used include sunflower oil, coconut oil, olive oil, and sesame oil. In ancient India, oil pulling was believed to have multiple health benefits and was particularly great for oral health. It is said that oil pulling can help strengthen the teeth, gums, and jaw. The ancient Indians believed that is was an excellent method for curing problems like TMJ, tooth decay, and gum disease.

There were two primary methods for oil pulling — Gandusha and Kavala. The Gandusha method entailed filling the entire mouth with oil for three to five minutes and then disposing of the oil. With Kavala, a comfortable amount of oil is held for three minutes and then gargled and spit out. Other practitioners of this treatment believed that holding oil for up to 25 minutes would be best for drawing out toxins. After removing the oil from your mouth, you are then supposed to gargle with salt water and continue your normal oral hygiene routine.

Supporters of oil pulling believe that it can address virtually any health issue. It is said to treat migraines, skin care issues, and other overall health problems. There are few studies that can support these claims. However, some studies also show there are some oral health benefits to oil pulling. Unfortunately, these are the same health benefits that you would enjoy from simply swishing around Listerine.

Health Risks Associated With Oil Pulling

The general consensus with oil pulling is that it may not result with a ton of benefits, but it also doesn’t hurt to try. It is this attitude that can make oil pulling particular dangerous.

The lack of evidence showing the benefits of oil pulling is alarming. Instead of seeking medical treatment for a particular health problem, individuals believe that a do-it-yourself treatment like oil pulling can treat the issue. Despite the huge health claims of oil pulling, we recommend going to an actual doctor to receive treatment.

Other dangers associated with oil pulling include using oils with harmful additives. A study from Harvard Medical School found that one in five Ayurvedic herbal medical products contained harmful levels of lead, mercury or arsenic. Oil pulling can also potentially cause lipoid pneumonia if the oil gets into the lungs. Other health risks reported from oil pulling include diarrhea or upset stomach.

Contact our Office in Spokane

Like we mentioned before, oil pulling should not be used as a replacement treatment for any health conditions. It’s important to continue your oral hygiene routine as normal when oil pulling and to immediately seek treatment if you notice oral health problems. If you’re currently dealing with tooth loss, consider dental implants to restore your smile. Dental implants can give you a natural-looking smile that can last for years to come with the proper maintenance. To get started on your dental implant journey, contact our office today to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Chaffin here in Spokane, WA.

We often hear the phrase “you are what you eat” when patients are trying to stick to a healthy diet. Here at Chaffin Dental Care, we believe that good health and eating properly are the foundation of good overall health. However, although they may understand eating healthfully, many patients fail to understand that some foods can also be damaging for your teeth and gums. Here is some additional information about your diet and how it can affect your oral health.

What Makes That Pesky Plaque?

Plaque is a sticky, sometimes thick, nearly invisible coating that covers teeth and can create an oral health nightmare. In reality, it is easy to keep plaque to a minimum if we can understand what it is made of, how it is formed and how it can impact our teeth. Scientifically speaking, plaque is composed of bacteria and other acidic materials. After consuming food or beverages, sugars and starches contact the plaque making acids that attack teeth for nearly 20 minutes after you eat. And once these acids eat away your tooth enamel, it is gone forever. Over time, this breaks down enamel on the surface of teeth and can lead to tooth decay.

To minimize the damage of foods and promote a healthy mouth, we recommend using the following tips and tricks:

Chew Sugarless Gum.

A moist mouth is a healthy mouth, so keep your saliva at a good level by chewing gum. A good sugar-free product can remove food particles from your mouth and neutralize dangerous acids that could cause decay. Get your chewing done between and after meals to provide the most benefits to your teeth and gums.

Consume Dairy Products.

Eating low-fat dairy products help create healthy moisture in the mouth that can assist in washing away high levels of plaque, bacteria, and food particles. The calcium in dairy products also helps restore minerals your teeth might have been lost due to the consumption of other foods. Milk, cheese, and yogurt are helpful for creating healthy oral tissues.

Try Foods Rich In Fluoride.

Good levels of fluoride-rich products can help keep teeth cavity-free. Powdered juices, dehydrated soups, poultry products, seafood, and powdered cereals give healthy doses of fluoride that are good for teeth. Mouthwash and toothpaste with fluoride are also highly recommended.

Stick To Fiber-Rich Fruits And Vegetables.

Foods rich in fiber help get saliva flowing and allow it to wash away dangerous particles. Try celery and carrots or apple slices to help keep your mouth healthy.

Sip Green And Black Teas.

Green and black teas contain polyphenols that can help reduce plaque and bacteria. These beverages also neutralize acidic pH in the mouth, which strengthens teeth and reduces the chances of cavities. Try a sugar-free green tea or a low calorie black tea beverage for clean and healthy teeth.

Avoid Sweets.

Everyone knows that sweets can be bad for your health. Additionally, things like lollipops, fruits snacks, taffy, candy and cough drops contain large amounts of refined sugar that can easily stick to your teeth. Avoid consumption of these foods to reduce the chances of tooth decay.

Eliminate Soda And Sugary Drinks.

Products like sports and soft drinks are very acidic thanks to tons of added sugar, phosphoric and citric acids. This additives and sweeteners can wear away tooth enamel, increase tooth decay and ultimately cause oral health problems. So cut back on these products for better oral health.

Reduce Substances That Can Dry Out Your Mouth.

Some products can do damage to your mouth by drying out oral tissues. These items include tobacco products, alcohol, vitamins and prescription medications. Reduce or eliminate these things to get better oral health. Talk to your doctor about medicines that can dry out your mouth and how you can switch to alternative ones.

Be Careful With Starchy Products That Can Stick To Teeth.

Baked goods like soft white bread, potato chips, and sticky pastas can get trapped between your teeth and create decay. So avoid these products if you want to have better teeth and avoid extra time in the dental chair!

Come In And See Dr. Chaffin For All Your Dental Care

Patients in Spokane, WA know all about the wonderful benefits of seeing a dentist regularly. But many patients delay treatment because of embarrassment over missing teeth. But here at Chaffin Dental Care we offer an array of smile make-over products that can restore or perfect your teeth in just months with very little pain or cost. Dental implants are just one great product we offer. Call us today for your no-obligation consultation with Dr. Chaffin!