miami dentist - Assure a Smile

6 Reasons to Go Gluten Free

Diet and oral health are connected in a number of interesting ways, and focusing on the former has an increasingly positive effect on the latter. Eating well sets the foundation for creating healthy teeth and gums for life, and oral health is promoted exponentially when daily food consumption is limited to the foods that are most healthy. Today, health professionals are compiling evidence that suggests food items like wheat, barley, and bread are causing serious health issues for a growing number of Americans. The evidence suggests that about 1% of the population has an adverse reaction to gluten, a protein found in most whole grains. This has prompted dental professionals to spread awareness for gluten by encouraging patients to consider how the wheat, barley, and other whole grains in their daily diet may be hurting overall health.

By admin| 2012-07-16T03:00:09+00:00 July 16th, 2012|Holistic Dentistry, Miami Dentistry, Nutrition, Strong Teeth|Comments Off

Sugar: The Friendly Enemy

Today, the average person consumes 150 pounds of sugar each year—nearly 20 times the amount consumed by the average person in the 18^th century (i). Only about 60% of those calories are metabolized and converted into immediate energy; the remaining 40% are converted into fat molecules, stored, and reserved for energy production later. With this in mind, it is easy to see how sugar consumption is a key contributor to obesity. New research shows that excessive sugar consumption also leads to a number of other life threatening diseases, including type II Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Miami dentists have begun to spread awareness for this issue, warning patients to be weary of daily sugar intake not only to prevent cavities but to preserve total body health as well.

By admin| 2012-07-10T03:00:47+00:00 July 10th, 2012|Holistic Dentistry, Miami Dentistry, News, Nutrition, Strong Teeth|Comments Off

Can You Be Allergic to Fluoride?

Though there is much debate whether fluoride is helpful or harmful, studies have shown that people have hypersensitive reactions to fluoride. As recognized by the Physicians' Desk Reference (1994, 48th Edition, p. 2335-6), these symptoms include gastric distress, headache, joint pain, lethargy, mouth lesions, skin rashes, visual disturbances and weakness. The book also says, “These hypersensitivity reactions usually disappear promptly after discontinuation of the fluoride." Assure a Smile has prepared this research article to spread awareness for fluoride allergy and to provide patients with alternative methods of preventing tooth decay.

By admin| 2020-07-23T20:56:50+00:00 July 3rd, 2012|Fluoride in Your Water, Holistic Dentistry, Miami Dentistry, News, Oral Health, Water Fluoridation|Comments Off

Can Fluoride Toothpaste Cause Death?

According to the Journal of Dental Research (Whitford 1987, 1990), there is enough fluoride in a tube of children's fluoride toothpaste to kill an average-weighing child under the age of 9. Why else would the FDA require the following warning label on fluoride toothpaste? "WARNING: Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately." The 1984 Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products rates lead’s toxicity at 3-4, while fluoride is rated at 4 (3 = moderately toxic; 4 = very toxic).

By admin| 2012-06-25T01:51:51+00:00 June 25th, 2012|Fluoride in Your Water, Holistic Dentistry, Miami Dentistry, Water Fluoridation|Comments Off

Fluoride's Effect on the Gastrointestinal Tract

Gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting are the most common early symptoms of acute fluoride poisoning. For people who are sensitive to fluoride, ingesting 1 mg tablets of fluoride or drinking 1 parts per million of fluoridated water can cause these gastrointestinal symptoms. A 5-to-10 gram dose of fluoride for an adult or 500 mg dose for a child can cause damage to the body’s major organs and even cause death.

By admin| 2012-06-19T03:00:14+00:00 June 19th, 2012|Holistic Dentistry|Comments Off

Fluoride's Effect on the Brain

Fluoride’s damaging effects on the brain has been documented by both human and animal studies. Eighteen human studies from China, India, Iran and Mexico and more than 40 animal studies show evidence that fluoride toxicity negatively affects the brain. A Chinese study [Wang SX, ZH Wang, XT Cheng, J Li, ZP Sang, XD Zhang, LL Han, SY Qiao, ZM Wu and ZQ Wang. 2007. “Arsenic and fluoride exposure in drinking water: children's IQ and growth in Shanyin County, Shanxi province, China.” Environmental Health Perspectives 115(4):643-7.] examined 524 children, ages 8 to 12, for “fluoride exposures in relation to intellectual functioning and growth.” The children who were exposed to high concentrations of fluoride through well water -- as high as 8.3 (mg/L)—were compared to a control group of children from neighboring villages whose well water contained 0.5 mg/L of fluoride. The high fluoride group had a four-point IQ score reduction compared with the control group, and the high fluoride group’s urine fluoride level was five times higher than the control group.

By admin| 2012-06-12T03:00:41+00:00 June 12th, 2012|Holistic Dentistry, Miami Dentistry|Comments Off

Potassium: Your Key to a Healthier Lifestyle

Potassium is a dietary mineral that is essential for normal body function. It is a nutrient that the body uses to maintain electrolyte and fluid balance, and it is found both inside and outside of cellular fluid. An essential mineral, potassium also plays many vital roles in the human body, and it often works with sodium to keep it operating properly. Potassium, a positively charged ion, is actively pumped into the cell while sodium is pumped out, creating an electrical charge in the cell membrane. Miami dental professionals recommend patients get plenty of potassium to improve many aspects of overall health.

By admin| 2012-05-14T03:00:05+00:00 May 14th, 2012|Holistic Dentistry, Miami Dentistry|Comments Off

Vitamin C: A Holistic Overview

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin—meaning that our bodies do not store it so we need to obtain it from food or supplements. It is an antioxidant, which blocks damage caused by free radicals. Too many free radicals may contribute to the aging process as well as the development of cancer, heart disease and arthritis. We need Vitamin C for the growth and repair of tissue, and it helps the body produce collagen—an important protein that is used to make skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, vertebral discs, joint linings and capillary walls. It is also needed for healing wounds and repairing and maintaining bones and teeth.

By admin| 2012-05-09T10:51:01+00:00 May 9th, 2012|Holistic Dentistry, Miami Dentistry|Comments Off

Gluten Sensitivity and Your Oral Health

Gluten has become a buzzword in the wellness industry as an increasing number of individuals have begun to experience adverse reactions to products containing wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. Such reactions range in severity from mild discomfort in the stomach to long-term malnutrition and even osteoporosis. It is estimated that about 1% of Americans suffer from such reactions to gluten-rich foods, a number that has nearly quadrupled over the past decade. It is critical to understand the threat that gluten sensitivity may pose to overall health, and it is particularly important to understand how ordinary sensitivity is separate and distinct from Celiac Disease. The latter is an autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 in 133 Americans and, when left undiagnosed and untreated, can slowly wreak havoc on the entire body.

By admin| 2012-04-23T03:00:01+00:00 April 23rd, 2012|Holistic Dentistry, Miami Dentistry|Comments Off

New Invisalign Teen Now Available at Assure a Smile

A beautiful smile creates self-confidence that will propel you through some of life’s biggest moments—and no one knows big moments like your teenager. From yearbook photos to graduation ceremonies, teenagers face a whirlwind of events that pass quickly and create memories that will last a lifetime. Assure a Smile now offers Invisalign Teen, the first orthodontic treatment designed just for young adults who want to tackle life’s greatest milestones with confidence and enthusiasm.

By admin| 2012-04-17T03:00:53+00:00 April 17th, 2012|Miami Dentistry, Miami Invisalign|Comments Off