[LMB] OT: Dentist

[Mark Allums]

Suzette Petty wrote:
>  
>  People, drink water, not soda pop* (not even diet soda), 
and brush and  floss every day! It's not just the law,
it's a good idea!
> -Mark Allums

I typically drink water most of the time anyway.
According to my husband's dentist (he has similar issues,
and yes, he drinks Dr. Pepper), the issue is not that he
drinks it, but that he drinks it over time.  He gets a
cup of coffee (with cream and sugar) and sips it. His
dentist says that it takes the mouth 1/2 hour to get
the mouth's chemistry back in order after you eat or
drink something. So taking sips every 10 minutes or so
(instead of just drinking it down and not drinking anything
for a few hours, which is what I typically do) results in
more cavities.  Drinking soda does tend to result in more
cavities in between teeth.  I once suggested that drinking
a water chaser after the pop might help, but if my husband's
done it, there isn't any evidence.

> Also according to his dentist, flouride is the only 
substance known at this time to help minerals reattach to
teeth. So if you have sensitive spots on your teeth, using
a fluoride rinse can help build up your enamel.

Mark:

My dentist says similar things.  He also says that soft
drinks (e.g., Crystal Light, Kool-Aid are US Brands)
usually contain citric acid, and the carbonated ones,
especially the brown colas, contain a lot of phosphoric
acid.  This, apparently, is bad.  And that is what most
soft drink addicts do, they sip all day.

Tea and coffee are not perfect, they stain, and they contain
some acid, but they are not as bad.  I guess I will be
switching to unsweetened iced tea and d*mn the constant
visits to the restroom.

He has put me on a fluoride gel treatment.  It's nasty.

--Mark Allums