Most Portland people know that vitamin D is important for healthy teeth and bones, but many of us fail to get adequate amounts. Today’s article is a friendly reminder to our patients – especially expectant mothers – about the importance of vitamin D.

Here is a sampling of vitamin D findings from around the web:

“Several recent reports demonstrate a significant association between periodontal health and the intake of vitamin D.” ¹

“Researchers who took a second look at a series of clinical trials conducted on 2,000 children in several countries between the 1920s and 1980s determined vitamin D — which we often garner from sunlight — was associated with around a 50 percent reduction in the incidence of tooth decay.”²

“Inadequate vitamin D levels in pregnant women may be associated with dental caries in their children during the first year of life.”3

“The sun is an excellent source of vitamin D, but it is hard to quantify how much vitamin D you get from time in the sun and the risk of skin cancer may outweigh the benefits. Food first, says Baylor College of Medicine dietitian Keli Hawthorne. “Supplements can fill in the gaps but it is always better to try to meet your nutritional needs with foods that contain fiber, phytonutrients, and so much more,” Unless you enjoy a diet that includes fatty fish or fish liver oils, it may be hard to get enough vitamin D naturally without eating fortified foods or taking a supplement. “The major dietary source of vitamin D comes from fortified diary, along with some yogurts and cereals,” Hawthorne says. Mushrooms, eggs, cheese, and beef liver contain small amounts.” ⁴

I’m Brian Westover DMD and Robert Kowal DDS of Brookside Dental in Clackamas. I encourage all of my patients to practice preventative medicine by eating a healthy diet complete with all vital nutrients. At Brookside Dental, we offer the full complement of dental services in our well-appointed office. Ask us about emergency dentistry, porcelain crowns, or teeth whitening.

We are currently accepting new patients at Brookside Dental. My friendly team of dental professionals would love to serve your family with all of their dental needs. You can schedule an appointment by calling 503-905-3380.

¹ SH Stein, DA Tipton, “Vitamin D and its impact on oral health–an update., Spring 2011, PubMed.gov NIH,” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21748977, accessed on June 23, 2014
² 1University of Washington, “Vitamin D linked to lower rates of tooth decay,” ScienceDaily, November 27, 2012, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127130321.htm, accessed on June 23, 2014
³ “Maternal Vitamin D Levels and Early Childhood Caries May be Linked, Researchers Find,”Journal of the American Dental Association, June 1, 2014, http://jada.info/content/145/6/526.3.full, accessed on June 23, 2014
⁴ “Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D?,” WebMD, 2011, http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/guide/are-you-getting-enough-vitamin-d?page=2, accessed on June 23, 2014

 

Contact Brookside Dental’s Clackamas Office:

503-905-3380

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9225 SE Sunnyside Rd Ste 1
Clackamas, OR 97015
97015

 

Today in the Clackamas family dentist blog we are going to discuss those small irritations in the mouth that have the potential to become big problems.

Injuries, sores, or inflammation in the mouth can be very uncomfortable. These non-specific irritations, called stomatitis, have many different causes. They may be cause by cold sores, gum disease, or biting the inside of your mouth. They may also be cause by the irritation that results from broken teeth or braces.

In fact, any inflammation of the membranes in the mouth can be classified as stomatitis. Stomatitis can affect a person’s ability to speak, eat, and even to fall asleep at night. These pests can really have an impact on the lives of Gresham, Oregon City, and Gladstone residents!

The good news is that most of these irritations clear up on their own in less than two weeks. However, there is a possibility that a viral or bacterial infection can occur, so it’s important to let your Portland dentist know about these sores. Even if there are no complications, your dentist can help you treat the symptoms of stomatitis with pain relievers and at-home remedies such as salt water rinses.

Hi, my name is Dr. Brian Westover DMD and Robert Kowal DDS. I take care of patients in the Portland area at my comfortable and friendly Clackamas dental office. I want my patients to have the best oral health possible. I also want them to look their best, so if you have any questions about a smile makeover, give us a call at 503-905-3380.

Common cosmetic dentistry procedures used in smile makeovers include teeth whitening, gum contouring, veneers, dental bonding, and dental implants.

We hope to see you in our Clackamas office soon!

The following online article was used as source material for this blog:
“Stomatitis”, WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/stomatitis-causes-treatment, accessed on September 11, 2013

 

Contact Brookside Dental:

503-905-3380

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9225 SE Sunnyside Rd Ste 1
Clackamas, Oregon
97015

 

Welcome to the Portland dental blog! Today we are going to explore the secret life of our teeth.

The shape of each tooth gives a clue to what it does. The incisors, or your front teeth, are sharp. They need to be because their job is to cut food and their curvature helps move food inside the mouth.

Behind the incisors, you find the canine teeth. Their roots go far into the jaw bone because they are designed to hold onto food and tear through it.

Premolars, found just behind the canines, are flat on the surface. This allows them to crush your food as you chew. And, finally, in the very back are the molars. They are large and have nice, flat chewing surfaces that help them to grind food down into smaller, more digestible pieces.

I’m Dr. Brian Westover DMD and Robert Kowal DDS, a friendly Clackamas dentist. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about the different teeth in your mouth.

If you are in the Gresham, Oregon City, or Gladstone area and would like to make an appointment at my practice, Brookside Dental, please give us a call at 503-905-3380. We can schedule an appointment and tell you about cosmetic dentistry procedures such as porcelain veneers and teeth whitening.

If you’ve ever been interested in a smile makeover, we would love to discuss the possibilities. I want my Portland dental patients to have healthy mouths and beautiful smiles. At Brookside Dental, we offer comprehensive dental services including: dental implants, Invisalign invisible braces, and emergency dentistry.

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Contact Brookside Dental’s Clackamas Office:

503-905-3380

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

9225 SE Sunnyside Rd Ste 1
Clackamas, OR
97015