Hi, I’m Doctor Ted Floor of Floor Dental Group. Today’s post focuses on an article that appeared recently on ScienceDaily.com. The article describes a study of Brazilian ICU patients that compared infection rates of those who received enhanced oral care instead of routine oral care. The patients who received the more intense dental care were 56 percent less likely to develop a respiratory infection during their stay.

“Enhanced dental care included teeth brushing, tongue scraping, removal of calculus, atraumatic restorative treatment of caries, tooth extraction, and topical application of chlorhexidine corresponding to each patients’ needs four to five times a week. Comparatively, regular treatment consisted of mechanical cleansing using gauze followed by topical application of chlorhexidine three times a day.”¹

“Bacteria causing healthcare-associated infections often start in the oral cavity,” said Fernando Bellissimo-Rodrigues, MD, lead author of the study. “This study suggests that having a dentist provide weekly care as part the ICU team may improve outcomes for vulnerable patients in this setting.”¹

If a member of your family has serious health matters, you may want to talk to their doctor about the oral health implications of their condition. In unfortunate cases where one of my patients experiences severe health issues, I am happy to work with their medical team to ensure that their dental health is not compromised. Even some manageable chronic conditions can require more frequent exams and cleanings.

Though this study pertains to ICU patients, it is also a reminder to all of us. Receiving consistent quality dental care and practicing proper daily oral hygiene is critical for everyone. Some patients have an inaccurate view of oral health – they seem to have the notion that it exists autonomously. It is actually interdependent with general physical health.

At Floor Dental Group, we see ourselves as key members of your healthcare team and are dedicated to your physical, mental, and emotional health. If you are looking for a comfortable dental practice in Cupertino, we invite you to schedule a consultation by calling 408-255-4500. You can meet me, doctor Floor, and my team of dental professionals. Thanks for visiting our dental blog.

¹Wanessa T. Bellissimo-Rodrigues, Mayra G. Menegueti, Gilberto G. Gaspar, Edson A. Nicolini, Maria Auxiliadora-Martins, Anibal Basile-Filho, Roberto Martinez, Fernando Bellissimo-Rodrigues. Effectiveness of a Dental Care Intervention in the Prevention of Lower Respiratory Tract Nosocomial Infections among Intensive Care Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 2014; 35 (11): 1342 DOI: 10.1086/678427

Contact Floor Dental Group

408-255-4500

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10055 N Portal Ave # 100
Cupertino, CA
95014

Do you have a sweet tooth? Join the club! No one confuses dessert with healthy food, but for many of our patients at Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, it’s just not realistic to recommend avoiding sugary treats.

If you fit that category, here is something useful to know: eating sweets at certain times is better for your teeth than others. For instance, when you eat a full meal, your saliva production increases. Saliva is necessary to neutralize acids and rinse bits of food off of teeth.

That means that sweets consumed after meals present a lower risk to your teeth, because your mouth is already in optimum cleansing mode. Sweets after meals are preferable to sweets eaten between meals as snacks.

Additionally, remember that the type of treat is as important as when you eat it. We constantly remind our patients that sticky candies stay on your teeth for a long time, even when your saliva is flowing. And hard candies that you suck for an extended time give bacteria a perfect environment to create dangerous enamel-weakening acids.

A good choice? Chocolate! A lot of our patients are happy to hear that. Plain old chocolate (no nuts, no chewy inside) melts away quickly and won’t stick to your teeth. Just be sure to brush before bed!

At Floor Dental Group in Cupertino CA, our services include cosmetic dentistry. People from Saratoga, Campbell, and Sunnyvale come to our practice for restorative and family dentistry. Call to schedule your next checkup today!

Contact Floor Dental Group:

408-255-4500

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

10055 N Portal Ave #100
Cupertino, California
95014