Recently the Dr. Oz show came out with a segment entitled “Are Your Silver Fillings Making You Sick?” Within that segment they discussed the toxicity of amalgam, a.k.a “silver fillings” and the dangers they pose to the public. The safety concern raised by Dr. Oz surrounds one of the components of an amalgam filling: Mercury.

Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin, and at certain levels can cause neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases and mental disorders. In an amalgam filling, mercury, silver, tin, copper and other metals are combined to form a hard, stable substance that fills in an area of tooth where a cavity has been removed. Mercury is used to make the filling more pliable when being fitted to the tooth, and once it is hardened, is a perfect surface to withstand the daily forces of chewing and grinding. Once the mercury is mixed with the other metals and molded to fit the tooth it is hardened and inert, meaning the mercury is no longer active and is therefore considered safe.

The concerns the Dr. Oz show raised were concerning vapor issuing from the mercury within amalgam fillings. They were attempting to say that the amount of vapor that leaks from an amalgam filling due to everyday forces is unsafe. Dr. Oz used a model of teeth with amalgam fillings and simulated brushing those amalgams to measure how much vapor is released. They concluded that the amount of vapor produced was 3%-68% of workplace air quality standards that are allowable by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). At this level, side effects to the mercury would be noted.

Fortunately, in dentistry we rely on scientific fact and reproducible results to come to our own conclusions on ethics and practices regarding the safety of our patients. Soon after the March 28, 2013 airing of the Dr. Oz show, the American Dental Association (ADA) contacted their producers to provide credible scientific experts to back up their on-air “study”, and have received no response.

There is no conclusive study that has found a direct link between amalgam fillings and adverse side effects, except in the rare form of an allergy. Unfortunately the Dr. Oz show failed in their on-air demonstration to create true “in-mouth” conditions, which would yield significantly different results. In a real mouth, saliva creates a water/protein barrier that significantly reduces the amount of vapor created. The amount of vapor actually released is measured in the billionths of an ounce. An ADA researcher has noted that it would take at least 300 amalgam fillings before a person would notice any adverse side effects.

As for the concerns that amalgam fillings have caused neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases and chronic illnesses, there has been no reputable link between them. The Dr. Oz segment ignored that major U.S. and international scientific organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the ADA all agree that dental amalgam is a safe and effective treatment for patients. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Alzheimer’s Association and the National Mutiple Sclerosis Society have all also supported the safety of amalgam fillings.

The bottom line is this: Don’t let sensational TV determine your health status. See a dentist, get informed and make decisions based on sound medical fact. Like any other dental problem, if it’s broke, fix it! Amalgam fillings, just like tooth-colored (composite resin) fillings, break down and need replacing, so get them done while the work is minimal and cost-effective. If you still have concerns, talk with your dentist and he/she will be happy to explain the pros and cons of keeping vs. replacing your fillings. Your dentist is here to make you comfortable with every dental decision you make.

- P. Tscherpel, RDH

If you would like to schedule an hygiene appointment with Paige Tscherpel, please visit our Westminster Dental Health page.

The post Amalgam Fillings: The Truth About the Metal in Your Mouth appeared first on Dental Health Colorado.

Both of my parents suffer from heart disease so February’s Heart Healthy class meant something really special to me. I choose the recipes carefully, with my parents in mind. I asked my self what would they want to eat and what could they make that was easy enough and tasty enough to integrate easily into their diet.

Many times people think healthy food can’t possibly taste good. Some even refer to it as rabbit food. They think that you can’t possibly have all of the health benefits of eating raw and have tasty food at the same time. I am here to show you how to have both flavor and health!

I teach these classes out of our Coda Health Kitchen, sponsored by and located in Dental Health Colorado, to educate people on how delicious and easy eating healthy really is. Our dentists have made it a point to support preventive oral health through healthy food alternatives and supporting these classes out of their dental offices.  Personally, I believe everyone should be eating raw foods at least 60% of the time. We know that an alkaline environment in your body and mouth do not support the overgrowth of bacteria associated with dental disease.  We also know that eating lots of fresh, raw, whole foods balances out your pH and makes you more alkaline. But more on pH another time. Or better yet, check out our pH page for more information.

After each Coda class, I go home with a huge smile on my face, thinking that perhaps I am making a difference in helping people become healthier.  It works like a domino effect; you will then go on and educate your friends and family with tips on eating healthy.

That simple fact makes my life worthwhile. I have always wanted to help people become healthier and happier. And teaching these classes helps achieve my goals

More on the raw foods heart healthy class…

I choose to make a kale salad, avocado soup and for dessert, a raw chocolate pudding. My dad is crazy about chocolate pudding and well, desserts in general. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree in that aspect and it’s a good thing that I work in the dental industry with my high desires for sweets!

Kale salads are so much fun to make with an audience.  Kale is a strong, bitter green that can brave its way through winter. It

holds up well to being sautéed, baked and as a green in hearty stews. But its culinary properties don’t end there. Kale works great in lighter recipes too – it just needs to be treated properly. And that special treatment comes in the form of a massage.

While it might seem weird to massage your food, you’d be amazed at what a quick five-minute rubdown can do to transform this green from being bitter and tough to turning silky and sweet. After a little massage, kale becomes a great option for light green salads — the type you’ll want to be eating all summer long.

Massaging kale is easy to do. Take bunches of kale in both hands, rub them together and repeat. You’ll notice a visible change as you do this; the leaves will darken, shrink in size and become silky in texture.

If you want to know when your massaging hands have done their trick, take a bite. If it’s still bitter, it could use a little more. Another tenderizing option is to add olive oil and salt while massaging – you’ll have taken care of preparing and dressing the salad all at once. In our class, I massaged the homemade dressing into the salad.

The raw avocado soup was next. Did you know that the fat content of an avocado provides protection against heart diseases? Studies have shown that oleic acid improves cardiovascular health. Oleic acid is the primary fatty acid in avocados. Many people now take supplement in order to consume more omega-3 fatty acids to lower their risk of heart disease. Avocados are rich on omega-3, delivering 16- milligrams per cup of alpha-linoleic acid. So next time, make this delicious and light soup and skip the supplement.

Saving the best for last was my delicious, raw avocado pudding. We actually conducted a tasting with the staff prior to the class. I had everyone try my ‘homemade chocolate pudding’, leaving out that it was raw or that it was made with avocados. Not one person made a comment like “What is this made with?!” or “This doesn’t taste like pudding at all”. Instead I received the consensus that everyone loved it. I myself was amazed at how much it tasted like pudding.  Try it for your next friends gathering and see for yourself!

Enjoy these recipes!  Until the next class….Happy Spring!

Compliments of Bridget Hobart, Coda Health Representative

Recipes:

 Zesty Alkaline Kale Salad:

Salad:

8 cups (3 bunches) of either dino, Tuscan or Italian kale

2 cups (4 medium) finely diced chopped tomatoes (flesh scooped out)

2 tbsp finely chopped fresh mint

2 tbsp raw hemp seeds

2 tbsp raw pumpkin seeds

2 tbsp raw sunflower seeds

½ tsp finely minced garlic (about 2 cloves)

¼ tsp finely grated lemon zest

½ tsp red cayenne pepper (optional)

Dressing:

¼ cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil

3 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 ½ tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar

¼ tsp fresh ginger juice (minced ginger and squeeze it)

½ tsp celtic sea salt

Remove the kale leaves from their stems, then wash and dry thoroughly.

Finely chop kale, and place in salad bowl.

Mix salad dressing ingredients together, pour over kale and massage in with your hands.

Add in the chopped tomatoes, mint, seeds, garlic and lemon zest, and toss.

Taste, and then season with salt to taste. Tweak other flavors too – you might want more lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, mint, etc.

Add in cayenne pepper if desired. May also serve with chopped avocado.

  Watercress and Baby Spinach Soup

4 avocados, halved

2 cups watercress

2 cups baby spinach

4 tbsp chopped parsley

2 tbsp olive oil

2 teaspoon white miso

4 tbsp lemon juice

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

6 cups water or nut milk

Salt and pepper

Blend all ingredients except 1 avocado in a high-speed blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Dice 1 reserved avocado to garnish soup.

  Raw Chocolate Avocado Pudding

4 medium ripe avocados

2 cup (no pits) dates

9 tablespoons cocoa powder

1 cup water + 2/4 cup water

5 tablespoons honey or agave

2/4 teaspoon salt (or less)

Throw these raw chocolate avocado pudding ingredients into a high-speed blender. Start blending on slow and then crank up the blending speed to high.

Blend until “puddingy”. You may need to start and stop a few times to get in blended properly because of the dates.

You may need to add a tiny bit of extra water to facilitate blending. But only a TINY bit at a time or it’ll end up watering it down and changing the consistency.

Garnish with raspberries

The post Raw Foods Heart Healthy “Cooking” Class appeared first on Dental Health Colorado.

What to Expect at Your Dental Visit When You’re Expecting

Pregnancy is not an isolated bodily experience, as any pregnant woman can attest to. From morning sickness to mood swings to leg cramps, pregnancy affects your body as a whole and your teeth and gums are no exception. Questions like “In what trimester should I have dental work done?” and “Is it safe to get my teeth cleaned while I’m pregnant?” may not be crossing your mind as you pray for the constant waves of nausea to pass. Rest assured, giving your mouth the attention it needs during these 9 months will be worth it, not only for you but for that beautiful bundle of joy as well.

1st Trimester

This can be the trickiest time in pregnancy to have dental work done. Due to the massive amounts of hormones coursing through their bodies, most women are dealing with morning sickness, not to mention food and smell aversions. Another common issue is bleeding gums. If you have any or all of these symptoms, don’t fret. Here are some great tips to get you, and your sensitive mouth, through this phase:

1. Drink as much water as you can tolerate. Water by itself, or with a mild flavor, is a
great way to help with the nausea by keeping you hydrated. If you are actually getting
sick, rinse your mouth with water afterward instead of brushing immediately. Wait 20
minutes to brush to allow time for your mouth to rebalance its acidity level and avoid
damage to your enamel.

2. Avoid the nausea triggers, whatever they may be. Whether you can’t stand the sight of
avocado, or the mint in your toothpaste is making you gag, there is always an alternative.
If the flavoring of your dental products is making your stomach turn, head to your local
grocery store and spend a little time in the dental aisle. Many product lines make flavors
from cinnamon to orange to bubblegum. You can also replace your mouthwash with a
solution of 1 part Hydrogen Peroxide/1 part Water, swish for 30 seconds. It’s flavorless
and easy for some women to handle as opposed to the strong mouthwashes they were
using prior to pregnancy.

3. Bleeding gums are usually a sign to get in for a dental checkup. In some cases, the
excessive amounts of hormones cause an increased sensitivity to the bacteria in plaque
and slight bleeding can occur. In others, it could be a sign of a more serious underlying
problem, such as severe gingivitis or periodontal disease (which can be harmful to your
baby- with links to low birth weight and pre-term births). Either way, get scheduled for
a cleaning and checkup with your dental office. Make sure you aren’t sick when you
go in for your cleaning, it can introduce bad bacteria to the baby. Also, disclose your
pregnancy to your dentist so they can avoid taking X-rays as much as possible (barring a
dental emergency).

2nd Trimester

According to the American Pregnancy Association this is the safest time in pregnancy to have any dental work done or necessary X-rays taken, since it is after fetal organs have developed. While there may be certain situations where your dentist may recommend having more major work completed to avoid further problems, there is also the case for having minor work wait until after you deliver to be completed. Be sure to discuss all these options with your dentist. After delivery, get any necessary fillings, etc. done in a timely manner. The bad bacteria that causes cavities is also extremely contagious, and you don’t want to pass that along to your newborn.

This is also a time where the nausea and morning sickness of pregnancy should hopefully be subsiding, making regular home care easier. Follow your hygienist’s advice, making sure to brush twice daily and floss in the evenings. If you see any bleeding, gently re-clean the area and monitor daily for continued bleeding. Any infection should generally heal in approximately 7-10 days, report any continued bleeding, swollen or painful areas to your dentist.

3rd Trimester

Dental work during the third trimester is safe, but may not be very comfortable for mom-to-be. Due to the size of your growing belly, laying on your back for extended periods of time can be stressful on you, and subsequently stressful on baby. Your dentist should have pillows and blankets available to help you to lay on your side, but feel free to bring anything you think may help to you get through your appointment. Taking care of your mouth and body during pregnancy will have you reaping the benefits of living cavity and disease free. Getting regular check-ups combined with good home care will give you and your little one a great head start, so get your appointment scheduled today!

P. Tscherpel, RDH

Paige is our hygienist at Westminster Dental Health in Westminster, CO.

The post Ask Your Hygienist – Pregnancy and Prevention appeared first on Dental Health Colorado.

Dr. Howell answers this round in our “Ask a Dentist” blog.  Increase your dental IQ and improve your dental health by staying up to date on health information from a trusted dentist.  You can read more about Dr. Howell at Longmont Dental Health.

What is the definition or description of: Dental filling?

A filling is a dental material to replace a portion of the tooth lost due to fracture or decay. It can be composite (white), silver or gold.

Does it hurt when using a dental ultrasonic scaler?

Normally no.  An ultrasonic scaler is normally not painful to use. If the gums are inflamed or covered with calculus it may be painful to use but hand scaling would also be uncomfortable.

What is the definition or description of: Dental bridge?

Replaces teeth.  A dental bridge is a dental appliance to replace a missing or lost permanent tooth. Normally it is attached to adjacent teeth to help support the missing tooth.

What is the definition or description of: Deciduous tooth?

Two sets of teeth.  We normally have two sets of teeth, primary, milk or deciduous teeth and permanent or secondary teeth. Normally there are 20 primary and 32 secondary teeth.

What causes one to produce excessive saliva?

Saliva is an important part of our oral health. It is a natural lubricant, cleaner and contains beneficial bacteria to start the digestion process. It also helps us taste food and swallow. Excess saliva may be cause by certain medications, foods or toxins that may be exposed to. Please consult with your dentist.

Is it safe to drink alcohol the day after getting your wisdom teeth pulled?

No it is not advised.  There are many factors to consider after a tooth is removed. Alcohol can affect the blood flow and clotting in the area. Also, most of the time your dentist will prescribe pain medications which should not be taken with alcohol.

Do dentists use versed to sedate patients?

There are many options to sedate from nitrous oxide, anti-anxiety medications, light sedation, deep sedation to being fully unconscious. Please consult with your dentist for what would be best for you. Read more about our dental fear management options.

What will I be able to eat warm foods again after getting my wisdom teeth extracted?

After proper healing you will be able to eat any food you would normally eat. During the healing process, soft, more bland foods may be indicated.

Can rinsing with salt water too much cause a tooth abscess?

No.  Warm salt water has a cleaning and healing effect on the gums. It will not cause a tooth abscess.

You can check out Dr. Howell’s profile on Health Tap for more information.

The post Ask a Dentist – Dental Bridge, Filling, Excess Saliva and Tooth Abscess appeared first on Dental Health Colorado.

One of my favorite parts of teaching here at Coda Health Kitchen is seeing and feeling so much excitement from the attendees. Being part of their experience and knowing I taught them something new. It’s also rewarding to see them have so much fun. And teaching is fun for me too! Another part I love is making people feel both special and beautiful.  This class was all about making your own face mask with all natural ingredients!

Having worked in the skin care industry for the past decade has taught me so much.  One thing it has taught me is that every woman wants to feel beautiful. And we all should. When we nourish our body with good foods and products, we feel and look  so vibrant and healthy. Because let’s face it, you truly are what you eat.

I taught a “Make Your Own Face Mask” class a few years ago and had so much fun I decided to do it again. Prior to the class, I gathered the attendee’s skin type and got to work. I found recipes for dry, normal and oily skin. Then I took to the grocery store, buying organic, fresh and local ingredients. I set up ‘stations’ for each attendee with the following: a mirror, utensils they would need to make their own mask (i.e. grater, knife, masher, measuring spoons, etc.), makeup remover toilettes, and of course Jess and I’s special “Raw Citrus Water” to sip on while making their mask.

After everyone arrived and greetings were made, they all got to work making a face mask from fresh, whole foods. We used various ingredients such as apples, avocados, pears, watermelon, grapefruit, yogurt, etc.

No artificial colors, phthalates, preservatives or harmful chemicals. Just plain old organic fruits and veggies. Or as our grandparents would call it:  food!

Next came the food on their faces! This was the part where we all broke out into laughter and had fun teasing one another while not-so-carefully applying the face masks.

After the application and timers went off, I passed out hot towels for everyone to use to clean their faces with. We then got to work on making our own body scrubs. This is where they all got to be creative as I had the following ingredients for them to create their own concoctions:

Olive oil, almond oil, organic cane sugar, vitamin E (did you know this works as a natural preservative?), dried mint, coffee grinds (did you know this helps fight cellulite?) and various essential oils to choose from.

We all ended the class by enjoying a delicious healthy fruit salad with yogurt and other healthy toppings! Further proving, you are what you eat!

I can’t wait to see what the next class will bring!  Our innovative class offerings are sponsored by Dental Health Colorado, who’s progressive dentists support oral health and systemic health.

Instructors: Bridget Hobart & Jess Moser

Skin Types and All-Natural Recipes

For Dry Skin:

Apple Facial Mask recipe

Ingredients

 1 teaspoon of olive oil

 1 tablespoon of yogurt

 1 tbsp. of grated apple

How to apply

 Put on the stirred ingredients on your face for 15 minutes, and then wash them with warm water.
Apply this mask only 1-2 times a week to avoid the excessive use of the oil ingredient.

The mask benefits

The apple includes alpha hydroxyl acids that exfoliate the skin and antioxidants that protect your skin from UV damages.

For more vitamin E, you can add wheat germ oil (1/2 spoon) instead of the olive oil. Sunflower oil can also make a nice substitute.

Why so many people suffer from dry skin?

Dry and irritated skin is usually caused by vitamin A deficiency in your nutrition, with the stimulation of the dry weather, often caused by air conditioning.

For the treatment this essential vitamin is found in fruits such as guava, bananas and avocado (as in the picture above). In larger amounts you can find it in orange vegetables such as carrots.

Other reasons for dry skin can be free radicals, which accumulate in our body and weaken our skin. They easily enter our body because of the environmental pollution, bad habits such as excessive alcohol drinking and UV sunlight radiation.

Some safety measures for homemade masks:

While treating the dry skin problem – don’t overuse masks and facial creams that contain oil (coconut oil, herbal oils, etc.): Too much oil for your dry skin – means clogged pores that will damage it on the long run.

If you’ll apply fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin A, altogether with other essential vitamins (C and E) at your skincare routine once or twice a week, that will guarantee you healthy skin and a better feeling.

For Dry Skin:

Avocado Mask Recipe

Ingredients
 2 tablespoons of avocado

 1 slice of orange,

 2 slices of banana

How to apply

Grate the ingredients; stir the mixture until you’ll get dough.  Apply the mask on your face for 20 minutes, and then wash with warm water.

The mask benefits

After using the mask you will feel your face moisturized immediately.
That’s because the avocado contains essential oils, anti-aging amino acids vitamin E and many other antioxidants and minerals.

The orange contains vitamin C, plus the banana includes vitamin B group and rich with minerals like potassium.

Why so many people suffer from dry skin?

Dry and irritated skin is usually caused by vitamin A deficiency in your nutrition, with the stimulation of the dry weather, often caused by air conditioning.

For the treatment this essential vitamin is found in fruits such as guava, bananas and avocado (as in the picture above). In larger amounts you can find it in orange vegetables such as carrots.

Other reasons for dry skin can be free radicals, which accumulate in our body and weaken our skin. They easily enter our body because of the environmental pollution, bad habits such as excessive alcohol drinking and UV sunlight radiation.

For Oily Skin:

Apple & Pear Facial Mask Recipe

Ingredients

 1 green apple, grated

 1 mashed pear

 1 tablespoon of organic and low fat yogurt

How to apply

 Apply the facial mask on your face for about 15 minutes. Afterwards wash your face with warm water and then with cold water.

The mask benefits

The yogurt adds your skin cells essential proteins, the pear gives your skin smoothness and the apple clears up the pores and makes them smaller because of their alpha hydroxy acids  content. The apple also includes ursolic acid, which makes it an excellent oily skincare ingredient.

Oily skin is caused by an excessive production of sebum, which clogs the skin.

This problem can cause acne, which is the result of clogged pores with the bacteria inside.

For the homemade oily skin care, if you want to clear up your clogged pores you should use masks with strong acidic pore clearing ingredients such as lemon and garlic.

Because the intensity of such ingredients you should mix them with other fruits and vegetables that are more subtle but still can make the difference: Apple, tomato, kiwi and pear.

You can also add to the organic skincare mask the ingredients that are good for all types of skin such as orange, cucumber and sweet pepper.

For using juices as facial mask, it is the best to soak them into a clean piece of cloth at first, then apply it on your face for 15 minutes, while you relaxing after a very long day.

Important: Use the facial mask up to once a week, to keep your pH skin level at its optimum state.

The post Make Your Own Face Mask Class appeared first on Dental Health Colorado.

The post Ask Your Dentist – Gum Health appeared first on Dental Health Colorado.

Dental hygiene depends a lot on what we eat (which makes sense, since it goes through the mouth). Coda Health Kitchen and Dental Health Colorado want you to use food as your treatment for bad breath!  Please read below for tips and tricks and ingredients that you can incorporate into your diet to get you on the better breath bandwagon.

First, here’s the problem, halitosis is usually caused by bacteria that live in your mouth that put off waste products called volatile sulfur compounds. When you (or your partner) smell your breath, you are smelling the by-product of hundreds or thousands of VSCs on your tongue produced as bacterial waste. You can tell by looking at your tongue; if it is covered by a thin white substance, bacteria has begun to flourish and you will need to do something about that.  We offer tongue scrapers at Coda Health Kitchen to maintain this film as part of an oral health best practice.

Changing your diet and adjusting the foods you eat can help.

Avoid eating onions, garlic and foods that are high in sugar on an excessive basis. This is because they either contain sulfur compounds (like onion and garlic) or are loaded with substances that cause bacteria to grow.

Coffee, tea, cola, and tobacco can stain your teeth and make your breath smell equally bad.  If you’ve already had a bout with these substances, we offer teeth whitening in our Dental Health Colorado offices.

Now we can discuss the foods that you can use to improve your breath.

Green tea is a marvelous beverage that is antibacterial, meaning it actually inhibits the growth of bacteria in your mouth.

Yogurt is another great choice; eating (non-processed) yogurt daily will not only help with your bad breath, but will give you plenty of vitamin D. Yogurt basically makes your mouth a very unfavorable climate for bacteria – and it tastes good, too.

“Coriander, spearmint, tarragon, eucalyptus, rosemary and cardamom are all good for fighting bad breath,” says Dr. Christine Gerbstadt, who has lectured on oral health. You can chew on fresh herbs or make tonics by steeping them in hot water (as a tea). These herbs make an excellent digestive as well—doubling the benefits of ending a meal this way.

A recent study found that a serving of yogurt each day reduces the level of odor-causing hydrogen sulfide in the mouth. Apparently it also cuts back on bacteria in the mouth—plaque and gum disease were reduced in the study’s yogurt eaters as well. Plus, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends getting enough vitamin D from yogurt, cheese and milk if you’re worried about halitosis because this vitamin creates an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. Be sure to get the kind of yogurt with active cultures—not overly processed or sugar-added varieties.

Eating berries, citrus fruits, melons and other vitamin C-rich foods create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. A diet rich in vitamin C is also is important for preventing gum disease and gingivitis—both major causes of halitosis. Get your C in foods, not supplements, which can cause gastrointestinal upset in some, according to Sass, and exacerbate bad breath.

Finally, any crunchy food that has fiber – such as apples, celery, carrots, pears, or other fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber – is terrific for bad breath because it helps remove plaque that forms on your teeth.

For more information on bad breath, visit the Mayo Clinic’s page on halitosis.

Excerpts taken from Healthy Living at MSN

The post Improve Bad Breath with food! appeared first on Dental Health Colorado.

Gingivitis is a more minor inflammation of the gums as opposed to periodontal disease. A good professional cleaning and good home care will normally resolve it in a week to 10 days.

What causes teeth ache aftering using bleaching trays?

Our teeth have tiny fluid filled micro tubules that are normally naturally plugged up. Bleaching unplugs the opening causing sensitivity. Normally the sensitivity goes away with time but it may depend on the specific bleaching product.

Why would the dentist tell me to rinse my mouth with warm salt water?  Warm salt water can have a healing effect on gum issues for several reasons. Puffy gums can benefit from something called osmosis which causes water to be pulled out of the soft tissue, reducing the puffiness. Also, just the cleaning action of the rinse helps.

The post Increase your Dental IQ with Dr. Bruce Howell – Longmont Dental Health appeared first on Dental Health Colorado.

We at Dental Health Colorado strive to make your visit to our dental offices convenient and pleasurable.  We have recently launched a mobile version of our webpage.  If you are looking for a new dentist or are trying to find your current Dental Health office, simply go to our dental health page at www.DentalHealthColorado.com on your smart phone and you will be able to contact our dental office, find us on google maps, schedule an appointment and click-to-call.

Our mobile site also describes our dental services such as preventive care, teeth whitening, advanced dental technology and more.  Our oral systemic Coda Connect Blog is also easily accessible if you would like to look for our nutritious recipes that we recommend after a dental  procedure.

We keep our social media up to date with new deals on dental services, new oral systemic news and holistic health research.  We even have nutrition-based cooking shows filmed in our Coda Health Kitchen that you can access on our page.  You can easily bookmark our page on your phone to schedule your next visit to the dentist.

If you are looking for a quality dentist, Dental Health Colorado has convenient locations in Longmont, Boulder, Westminster, Downtown Denver,  Denver, DTC and Greeley.

Visit Dental Health of Colorado on your mobile phone!

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Celebrating the Oral Systemic Link

In the Dental Office

By Bridget Hobart

What do you usually take to a holiday party? Cheese platters are something that I often see (and feast on) at parties. I love cheese and it can actually be good for your dental health (more on that in a future blog!). But as we all know, it’s not the healthiest thing in the world to gorge on. People say they’d like to go vegan or raw but can’t because they feel they would miss cheese too much. I have to admit I am one of those people.

Enter a raw foods dish called: Cucumber Roll, Goat Cheese, Mint Jam.

But let’s go back here a minute and start from the beginning.

We are teaching classes at Coda Health Kitchen, our attempt to bring nutrition into the world of health care and dentistry.  Dr. Stephen Perry, a longtime dentist and owner of Dental Health Colorado, has a vision to integrate nutrition as preventive medicine, right into the dental practice, so he built a raw food kitchen!  You can visit our class schedule on our Healthy Living page.  The recognition of the oral-systemic link is increasingly becoming paramount to quality dentistry and health care.  For more information on this link, visit the American Academy of Oral Systemic Health.

With the holiday’s right around the corner, I wanted to teach a class on what to bring to your holiday party.  I wanted to focus on healthy foods though, because the #1 complaint with holiday parties seems to be about gaining weight.  So I thought it was perfect timing for ‘Holiday Entertaining with Raw Foods’. It’s the first class I was going to teach at Coda Health Kitchen so I wanted it to be memorable. Exciting. Fun. Engaging.

My co-chef/partner in crime, Jess and I brainstormed for days on different recipes. Some were quite involved, some seemed too simple so we got a hold of a raw foods book titled: ‘Everyday Raw Express: Recipes in 30 minutes or Less’. It was a perfect resource. We wanted to incorporate 3 recipes and the class was 1 hour long. We decided to improvise; demo 2 recipes and serve the last (a dessert) walking them through each step, while they enjoyed the Lemon Bavarois with raspberry syrup. Bavarois is another term for Bavarian Crème. It is a thick, creamy custard that is usually made with a heavy cream and gelatin. Our raw version was quite different. Our heavy cream was raw, soaked cashews. We chose this dessert because it was the colors or a candy cane (see the picture with the recipes below).

The attendance was perfect. A small, intimate group of 7 people who came eager to learn and enjoy nutritious food. We served red and white wine and had festive, holiday tunes playing in the background. Everyone loved the raw dishes we selected.  Our guests were inquisitive, engaging and most importantly (to me anyway) seeking to be enlightened and caring about the quality of their own health and the oral-systemic link. We can’t wait for the next Coda Health Kitchen class.

Recipes:

Cream Corn Chowder, Jalapeno Parsley Pesto

Chowder

4 cups yellow corn (fresh or frozen)

¼ cup pine nuts

2 cups nut milk

1 tablespoon miso

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

¼ cup agave

Jalapeno Parsley Pesto (see below)

Salt and pepper

Blend all ingredients except Jalapeno Parsley Pesto in a high-speed blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a dollop of Pesto.

Serves 4

Jalapeno Parsley Pesto

1 bunch parsley

¼ cup pine nuts

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon agave

½ jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced

3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

¼ cup olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

Pepper

Process all ingredients except olive oil in a high speed blender until combined and chunky. With blender running, add olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Makes about 1 cup

Cucumber Roll, Goat Cheese, Mint Jam

Cucumbers

2-3 medium to large cucumbers

Goat Cheese

1 cup cashews

1 cup macadamia nuts

1 tablespoon nutritional yeast

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon salt

Chives for garnish

Mint Jam

1 cup mint leaves

1 cup agave

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Pinch salt

Wrap

Peel the cucumbers in alternating strips (you don’t want the entire peel removed). Using a mandolin, cut the cucumber lengthwise into very thin slices.

Goat Cheese

Blend all ingredients except chives in a high-speed blender until smooth. Serve the cheese immediately after blending.

Mint Jam

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth.

Finish

Line a bamboo rolling mat with saran wrap so that it stays clean, and nothing will stick. Line the mat with long cucumber strips, slightly overlapping the strips so that the roll won’t fall apart.

Place about ½ cup of goat cheese across the bottom half of mat (horizontally to the cucumber strips). Roll gently, forming a log. Keep the roll in saran wrap and place in the fridge for a few minutes in order to set before slicing.

When ready to serve, slice the roll into ½-inch-thick medallions and plate. Garnish with a few chives. Serve with mint jam on the side for dipping.

Makes 12

Lemon Bavarois, Raspberry Syrup

Bavarois is another term for Bavarian Crème. It is a thick, creamy custard that is usually made with a heavy cream and gelatin.

Bavarois

2 cups cashews, soaked

½ cup lemon juice

2/3 cup agave

2/3 cup coconut oil, melted

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup lemon zest

1 vanilla bean, scraped

Raspberry Syrup

2 cups raspberries

6-8 tablespoons maple syrup or agave

2 tablespoons lemon zest

Garnish

2 tablespoons orange zest

Blend cashews, lemon juice, and agave in a high-speed blender until smooth. Gradually add coconut oil and remaining ingredients; continue to blend until smooth. Fill serving dishes half full and allow to set in freezer until partially set.

Meanwhile, make raspberry syrup by blending all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth. Pour syrup over partially set Bavarois and top with more Bavarois. Return to freezer until set.

Remove from freezer and garnish with orange zest to serve,

Serves 6-8

Please let us know your favorite holiday raw food treat so we can share with our dental patients! For more on nutrition, dentistry and the importance of oral health, visit the Colorado Department of Health and Environment – Prevention Services.

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