FitSugar

Careful Who You Kiss - Cavities Can Be Contagious

Heather Dale — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:15:58 PDT

Researchers have discovered that more than just viruses and germs can be transmitted through the mouth - cavities can be added to this list, yes . . . cavities. According to Dr. Margaret Mitchell, the cavity-causing bacteria is commonly transferred between caregivers and children because a mother will taste her child's food to see if it's too hot, therefore directly exposing her child to the germs in her saliva. Dr. Mitchell also discusses an instance where a woman had started developing cavities and gum disease after starting to date a man who had gum disease and hadn't been to a dentist in over 18 years.

Her remedy? You don't have to go cold turkey on kissing - phew - but what you do have to do is make sure you maintain your oral health by flossing and brushing regularly and chewing sugar-free gum, which helps produce more saliva and wash away bacteria.

And for all the parents out there, I suggest blowing on your child's food rather than tasting it; that way you'll decrease the amount of bacteria transferred.

Chocolate That's Good For Your Teeth? Sweet!

FitSugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:00:00 PST

Chocolate is one of those foods I always save room for. Not only is it the perfect way to end a meal, but it also has health benefits such as the ability to lower blood pressure and soothe coughs. One problem with chocolate, aside from it being high in calories, is that one of its main ingredients is sugar, so it's not good for your teeth. This problem is being eradicated by two European companies, Barry Callebaut and Smet, who have created the first-ever chocolate that won't cause cavities. That's right. It doesn't cause tooth decay because it's made with a different type of sugar called isomaltulose, which doesn't cause an increase in acidity in the mouth, which can lead to tooth decay. This dentist-friendly chocolate has even been approved by Tooth Friendly International, a nonprofit organization which works to improve oral health.

To see what other surprising foods naturally benefit your chompers

read more. More sweet news for your teeth - it turns out that cheese fights cavities. The texture of cheese increases the secretion of saliva, which helps keep cavities at bay. Also, nutrients found in cheese, like calcium, phosphorous, and protein, actually neutralize plaque. Another food that may benefit your teeth is wine. I know what you're thinking, that red wine can cause staining. But in preliminary studies, drinking red or white wine may fight the bacteria that causes cavities. This is great news for your teeth, but these three foods still contain calories, so you should remember to enjoy them in moderation.

Cheese Fights Cavities?

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:00 PDT

Like my claymation pals Wallace and Gromit, I love cheese. With its high concentration of saturated fat, cheese doesn't have a healthy reputation. I just learned a new reason to love cheese - it helps fight cavities.

From its texture to its mineral contents, cheese helps keep your teeth healthy. The texture of cheese actually increases the secretion of saliva, which helps keep cavities at bay. Nutrients found in cheese, like calcium, phosphorous, and protein, actually neutralize plaque. Eating a chunk of cheese after a sugary treat will neutralize the negative effects that sugar has on your teeth. Plus, cheese might also help remineralize tooth enamel, which means stronger teeth. Talk about a winning situation for your mouth, from taste to health.

As a cheese lover, I find this news heartening. What about you?

Source

Are You Getting Enough Fluoride?

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 09:30:00 PST

I went to the dentist the other day for a cleaning, and she asked me if I use mouthwash that contains fluoride. I shook my head and said, "My toothpaste has fluoride in it, isn't that enough?" She didn't think so and clinical studies show that by using both a fluoride mouthwash and a fluoride toothpaste, it can provide extra protection against tooth decay more than if you use fluoride toothpaste on its own. Fluoride can prevent cavities in two ways. It strengthens the protective layer of enamel on your teeth, so it can better resist cavities. It can also reverse low levels of tooth decay and remineralize soft spots on your teeth, which can prevent new cavities from cropping up.

What about fluoride being added to public water? To find out

read more Even though fluoride can be found naturally in many water sources, many cities add fluoride to tap water. Some believe the extra fluoride can be detrimental to your health, and can cause staining, bone cancer, or mental illness. Others believe that it's doing your mouth good, and that there's no evidence that fluoride can lead to serious health problems. Drinking fluoride is a lot different than rinsing with it though, so is my dentist right? Should I be rinsing with fluoride? According to the American Dental Association (ADA), the best way to reduce tooth decay is to get fluoride both topically (as in toothpastes and mouth rinses), and systemically (when you drink it). So they're all for fluoride in water, and they say that it can reduce tooth decay in both children and adults by 20 to 40 percent. So do you need a fluoride rinse? It depends on your dental history (whether or not you're prone to getting cavities), if your town adds fluoride to its water supply, and the recommendation of your dentist. So call your local health department to find out how much fluoride can be found in your public water, and talk to your dentist to see if they think you need to pick up a bottle of fluoride rinse.

Soda Rots Your Teeth

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 03:00:00 PDT

I'm sure you know that your favorite fizzy sugary elixir is not doing a thing for your waistline, but did you also know it's rotting your teeth? You might think it is the sugar, but you would be wrong. Sodas rank high in acidity, and when it comes to your mouth, that acidity can speed up the development of cavities.

Here's the deal. Teeth become susceptible to cavities when the acid level of your saliva falls below a certain point. If the acid level stays below this point for an extended period of time (like if you are drinking soda all day), the outer layers of your teeth begin to lose minerals and a cavity can form.

The phosphoric acid in soda (which is no good for your bones as well), which is what keeps it nice and bubbly, dissolves the calcium out of your teeth's enamel, leaving them soft and unprotected. Sugar-free sodas aren't the answer, since they still contain the same amount of damaging phosphoric acid.

Fit's Tips: When it comes to your teeth, the worst thing you can do is to sip soda throughout the day. If you're not ready to give soda up completely, try and drink it at one sitting with a meal, and when you're done, immediately rinse with water.

Source

Wine May Be Good For Your Teeth

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 02:00:00 PDT

One of the reasons I love red wine is it is full of polyphenols, an antioxidant that fights cancer and heart disease. Well, Italian scientists might have discovered a new reason to love both red and white wine, - it may fight bacteria that cause cavities, even with the alcohol removed.

Now before we all start toasting for our teeth, the tests were only performed in test tubes and not on real teeth. The researchers marinated cavity-causing streptococcal bacteria in the wines that had been stripped of their alcoholic content. Both types of wine countered those cavity-causing bacteria as well as other streptococcal bacteria that cause some cases of throat infection.

Preliminary research indicates that red wine may be slightly more effective at fighting the bacteria than white wine. Scientists were also able to isolate the bacterial fighting acids, and the isolated acids were more effective against the bacteria than the wines themselves.

If you are interested in reading more about this study, you can find it online at the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Raisins Good For Cavities? That Can't Be...

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 02:23:45 PST

I know this sounds crazy but "nature's candy" may be good news for your teeth. Researchers have found that certain compounds contained in raisins appear to fight the bacteria in your mouth that causes cavities and gum disease.

Lab tests showed that phytochemicals in raisins suppressed the growth of several species of oral bacteria associated with tooth decay.

Studies also showed that these chemicals prevented cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to the surface of teeth. If plaque can't stick to your teeth - then it can't cause cavities.

It's not known yet how many raisins a person needs to eat in order for their teeth to benefit, but at least we know that just because a food is sticky, doesn't mean it's bad for your teeth.

The Truth About the Health Benefits of Tea

Health — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:13:17 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

Tea - does it really fight cancer? Lower cholesterol? We filter the research to find out which health claims actually hold water.
By Kate Lowenstein

The way scientific studies and health gurus alike have touted the perks of tea over the past few years, you'd think the stuff was some kind of all-powerful magical elixir. Improving heart health, reducing cancer risk, warding off dementia and diabetes - there's barely a health benefit that hasn't been credited to tea. It's true that the brew has disease-fighting antioxidants, and, as far as anyone can tell, should be great for us.

"The science is certainly promising," says David L. Katz, MD, director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. "But the hype goes beyond it and tends to make promises which the science can't yet deliver." (No, tea probably will not cure depression, eliminate allergies, or boost your fertility!) We talked to the experts and weighed the studies to separate the truth from the hype.

Health.com: Drink This Tea to Lose That Belly

Why tea is so hot
First, a definition: When scientists talk about tea, they mean black, green, white, or oolong teas - all of which are made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal brews, like chamomile and peppermint, are not technically considered tea; they're infusions of other plants with different nutritional characteristics. If you're not sure what kind you're drinking, check the ingredients for the word "tea."

Keep reading to learn even more about tea.

How Can I Get Rid of Love Handles?

Shape — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 04:14:40 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar. This week Shape turns to personal trainer and strength coach Joe Dowdell for some help!

Q: How can I get rid of love handles?

A: There isn't just one secret to losing love handles - it's a combination of factors. It's true that the typical answer of total-body strength training, high-intensity cardio intervals, proper nutrition, and sound recovery strategies are the keys to long-term success, but there are more secret strategies for burning belly fat.

You've probably heard that cortisol, the "stress hormone," is responsible for excess abdominal fat, but that's only part of the story. Your body produces cortisol in response to stress—physical, mental, or emotional. This may include extremely low-calorie diets (fasting or starvation), infection, lack of quality sleep, emotional trauma, or intense exercise, as well as daily stressors such as job pressure or relationship trouble.

Top 50 Fall Dit Foods for Weight Loss

Stress and cortisol alone do not make you fat, but research has linked high cortisol levels with storage of body fat, particularly visceral belly fat. Visceral fat is packed deeper in the abdominal cavity and around the internal organs, whereas "regular" fat is stored below the skin (known as subcutaneous fat). Visceral fat is particularly unhealthy because it is a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes. Therefore, the key to avoid storing excess fat around your middle is controlling your cortisol response, or the amount of stress on your body.

Learn the top tips for getting rid of love handles after the break!

The Easiest, Juiciest Way to Roast Chicken - Ever

Nancy Einhart — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:00:45 PDT

Roast chicken makes a ridiculously easy weeknight meal, but in the past, my recipes often resulted in too-dry meat. Then, I discovered the cast-iron method, and I've never looked back.

With this recipe, all you need is a chicken, a cast-iron skillet (a 10-inch skillet works well), and salt and pepper. Getting the chicken super dry before roasting produces a perfectly browned skin, and the cast iron keeps the rendered fat from burning. Follow this method, at this temp, for this amount of time, and the chicken will come out perfectly moist and delicious. Get the best, easiest roast chicken recipe.