Valentine's Day is every day; tell your sweetie that chocolate may be just what the doctor ordered. Chocolate, the ultimate feel good snack of chocoholics, has been given a scientific thumbs up. Researchers discovered that dark chocolate containstannin, a bitter-tasting substance that can prevent cavities.

Tannin prevents oral decay-causing bacteria from using sugars and starches to produce acid that pulls minerals out of your tooth enamel.

Tannin is found in many foods, such as—

several varieties of berries (blueberries, cranberries and strawberries),

apple and grape juices,

grapes,

red beans,

red wine,

fish or meats cured or smoked in some woods, and

the spices cinnamon and cumin.

If you have ever bitten into an unripened fruit, puckered and made a squinty face, that pucker is caused by tannin.

Your favorite black tea and raisins also contain tannin.

Raisins have gotten a bad rap over the years. Many people think they are junk food because of their high sugar content, but new research shows that bacteria are unable to stick to your teeth after you eat raisins. However, any food left on your teeth, healthy or not, can cause decay.

It's important to limit the amount of snacks you eat and not graze throughout the day. Remember, even though a snack food may help your teeth, it should not take the place of a balanced, nutritional diet.

Wait 20 minutes to brush your teeth after eating an acidic food because acid weakens tooth enamel, and waiting lets the enamel reharden.

Foods that have beneficial qualities are not a substitute for good oral care. It's important to brush with a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste twice daily, floss at least once each day and have regular check-ups.

Maybe this year you can give your sweetheart a heart-shaped box of chocolate toothpaste. OK, maybe not.

Calcium can help you keep your natural teeth for a lifetime. This finding comes from a recent study of more than 2,500 post-menopausal women, which showed that an adequate calcium intake can play a role in maintaining healthy gums by strengthening the underlying jaw bone. Conversely, women with low bone density (often caused by inadequate calcium intake) were 86 percent more likely to have periodontal or gum disease, the major cause of tooth loss for people over 35 years of age.

Dentists have long been aware of the need for calcium, especially for women, for overall well-being as well as for dental health. "Calcium is a critical ingredient of healthy teeth, which begin developing before birth," said Vicki Grandinetti, D.D.S. "That's why pregnant women need plenty of food high in calcium every day in order to start their babies on a lifetime of good dental health."

"Calcium also fortifies teeth during childhood, and helps to keep them intact throughout life," she added.

This means that calcium, the most abundant mineral in the human body, can help you keep your natural teeth for a lifetime. 

How can you make sure you're getting enough calcium?

Nearly 75 percent of women don't get enough calcium each day, according to studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And over 50 percent don't even get half the recommended amount. Yet, they don't realize their bodies are short on calcium, because there are no immediate, obvious symptoms of calcium deficiency. Unfortunately, the after-effects of inadequate calcium intake can become sadly apparent in later years, in the form of gum disease and osteoporosis. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences, adults over age 25 should get at least 1000 milligrams of calcium each day.

Calcium sources in food

The preferred source of calcium is calcium-rich foods, including dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Other excellent food sources of calcium are green, leafy vegetables, canned sardines, salmon with edible bones, and tofu. 

For those who can't meet their daily calcium needs with conventional foods, calcium-fortified foods and calcium supplements are another method by which optimal calcium intake can be reached. 

Calcium supplements

Over-the-counter calcium supplements are an easy, inexpensive way to ensure you're getting enough calcium each day. However, choosing a calcium supplement can be confusing, as there are a number of different forms of this mineral.

Calcium carbonate: This is the least expensive form of calcium, as well as the most concentrated. 

Calcium citrate: This form is easily dissolved in the stomach, so it's the one most often recommended for older adults or for individuals taking stomach-acid-blocking drugs. It's not as concentrated as calcium carbonate, and it's a bit more expensive.

Calcium lactate: This form is also absorbed well by the body. It's the least concentrated of the three, and it can be a bit pricey.

Vitamin D is added to milk and is often included in calcium supplements because it helps the body absorb calcium. Magnesium is another mineral that enhances calcium's usefulness in the body; the calcium-magnesium ratio in the supplement you choose should be 2-1 (for example, 500 milligrams of calcium to 250 milligrams of magnesium).

Other ways to enhance absorption of calcium from supplements include taking them with meals, taking them at night, when absorption levels increase naturally, and taking them in chewable form. Also, missing a few doses of calcium can also be beneficial, as this appears to maintain a high level of absorption of calcium by the body.

Always talk with your healthcare provider about whether calcium supplementation is appropriate for you. Individuals with kidney disease or a history of kidney stones, or those with an overactive parathyroid gland, should not take calcium supplements. 

More than just a tooth and bone booster

Calcium is vital to virtually every cell in your body, and it's involved in just about every bodily function, including nerve impulses, heartbeat regulation, muscle contraction and blood clotting. Even small changes in calcium levels can have large affects on how well your body functions.

Calcium fights PMS symptoms

Recent research from Columbia University has shown that women who take calcium supplements experience over 50 percent fewer symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

The results of the carefully monitored study of 497 women were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The participants were divided into two random groups. One group was assigned to take four calcium carbonate tablets each day, totaling 1,200 milligrams. The other, a control group, took tablets that contained no calcium. Neither the participants nor the physicians knew which women were in which group. 

The women who had the calcium supplementation experienced significantly fewer or less severe PMS symptoms, particularly pain, mood swings, depression, food cravings, low backache and bloating. 

While researchers have believed a connection existed between PMS and calcium intake, "this is the strongest study published to date," said Dr. Robert Heaney of the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. "It highlights the fact that most women are not getting enough calcium in their diet."

The words "root canal" are usually assoicated with pain and discomfort, and cause most of us to cringe when we hear of someone having one done, or when we are told that we need to have one done. Of course we have been told and inderstand that the procedure is beneficial to our oral health, but the horror stories have already been told, and until we have a first hand experience, it will always be a dreaded procedure. So what exactly do we have to look forward to during a root canal?

Usually when the tooth has a small cavity, a filling may be all that is needed to restore the funtionality of the tooth. However, there are times when the tooth is so badly decayed or infected, that the nerve of the tooth, and the pulp which is in the center of the tooth also becomes infected and/or damaged. This is when a root canal becomes necessary.

During the root canal, the pulp and the nerve are removed, and the inside of the tooth is then sealed and cleaned. Usually a crown is put on to protect the underlying tooth. Having a damaged nerve in the tooth alone doeas not suggest that a root canal is necessary. The nerve's only function is sensory - determining hot or cold. However, when the pulp and the nerve tissue become damaged, it breaks down and this causes bacteria to form in the pupl chamber. This can lead to one getting an abscessed tooth, and can eventually lead to swelling around the face and neck and sever toothache.

Here at Livingstone Dental Excellence we are dedicated to doing everything we can to make this procedure as painless as possible. We know that people have geniune fears and we are here to provide you with as much information as possible to help ease those fears. Please feel free to come in and talk with Dr Livingstone about the best options available for you.

Today, oral cancer is very common among the younger generation, mainly due to HPV. 

Dentures, like natural teeth, mustbe kept free of plaque and tartar. This prevents permanent staining and bad breath. Use a denture brush and one of the many commercial cleaning products to thoroughly clean all the surfaces of your dentures at least once a day.

Tough stains and tartar can be removed by soaking your dentures in white vinegar for several hours. If there are no metal parts in your dentures, you can also soak them in a diluted chlorine bleach solution. Whenever your denture is out of your mouth, it should be stored in water.

To remove plaque from your remaining teeth, brush them, as well as your tongue, palate and gums, with a soft bristle brush each day. This keeps your teeth and tissues healthy, stimulates circulation and freshend your breath. A healthy mouth and increased self-confidence will come with proper denture care.

As children, many of us looked forward to losing those baby teeth, as that was a sign of us getting older and becoming big kids. As adults, the thought of losing a tooth is a dreaded one, and one that most of us hope will not happen for many, many years. However, it does happen, and when it does, it affects a person’s ability to eat, hence affecting their nutrition.  It also affects their appearance, speech, and overall self esteem. Fortunately, there are various options available for us to chose from to help restore those beautiful smiles. Here at Overland Park Smiles, one of the options we focus on is the use of dental implants.

In the past, dentures and fixed bridges were mainly use as the methods of tooth/teeth restoration. However, in the past 20 years, dental implants have quickly become choice for most people for the replacement of missing teeth.

The dental implant is made from a titanium rod which is anchored in the jaw to support restorations that resemble a tooth to replace missing ones. As a result of the the implant being anchored in the jawbone, it helps maintain the integrity of the bone. Another important advantage of the dental implant over a fixed bridge is that the health of the surrounding teeth is not sacrificed.

Here at Livingstone Dental Excellence, we are committed to restoring those healthy beautiful smiles, giving you back your confidence and the ability to smile and eat. Our wonderful staff is here to put you at ease and answer all questions. Please feel free to drop in for a consultation on the best treatment for you.