Grape seed extract is amazing for your skin, hair, nails, and blood vessels according to research. But, new research also shows that when grape seed extract is added to your diet, with calcium, there is improvement in bone strength (Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions). It has a “beneficial effect on bone formation and bone strength for the treatment of bone debility caused by a low level of calcium”.

Please note that not all grape seed extract is of the same quality. Numerous research articles suggest that quality grape seed extract could be very beneficial for many people. Grape seed extracts have become a clinical interest because of the small molecular size polyphenols, called oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), present.

Pharmaden’s main goal is to help improve customer health so our dental vitamins use the smallest OPCs for the best absorption. Black pepper is also added to each of our 3 non-synthetic products (PerioTherapy, PerioCare, OsteoTherapy) to enhances absorption by up to another 40%.

Westmont dentist and Pharmaden LLC president, Dr. Ron Schefdore, uses these products in his dental office. Please visit https://pharmaden.net/ for more information, to see our double blind study, and listen to testimonials.

Dentistry is changing with the times. Nowadays, a dentist can find out if you have high cholesterol or high C-Reactive Protein, 2 major heart markers. A dentist can also find out if you have colon cancer, diabetes, gout, or a variety of other health issues.

Westmont dentist and Pharmaden President, Dr. Ron Schefdore, will refer his patients to their physician when they have gum disease in order to rule out any underlying health issues.

One patient in particular stands out. Dr. Schefdore treated a patient for gum disease and his inflammatory blood test, called high sensitivity C-Reactive protein (HS-CRP), was still high after clearing up his periodontal disease. This led to Dr. Schefdore refering this patient to their physician to find the source of inflammation. What they found was indeed a second source of the high inflammation…colon cancer!! 2 months after surgery the patients HS-CRP were very low. The patient was very grateful that his colon cancer was caught early…all because of his dentist!

All in all, a good dentist will care about more than just their patients smile. What our oral health tells a dentist could save your life too. Go to a good and caring dentist, make sure they do more than just see you for a few minutes when you go in for a routine cleaning. Dr. Schefdore will see all of his patients at least 20 minutes during a cleaning and perform a thorough 15 point exam.

Are you taking antidepressants and want to get dental implants? Here is why you need to make sure your dentist knows what medications you are taking.

A study done by the University of Buffalo connects the use of antidepressants with a 4 times increase in the odds of failure in dental implants AND that each year of antidepressant use doubles the odds of failure.

Did you know antidepressants are the 2^nd most prescribed medications in the US?

Antidepressants reduce the regulation of bone metabolism which is necessary for healing after an implant procedure. Antidepressants are also know to have other side effects that may hinder the implant healing process such as osteoporosis, akathisia, bruxism, and dry mouth.

Kevin RPh (registered pharmacist) says, “In this particular scenario concerning bone health, we should be investigating the value of supporting our patients with Vitamin D3 and minerals, especially magnesium.”

Research strongly suggests that a deficiency of Vitamin D is a causative factor when it comes to failed dental implants.

Calcium and magnesium are important for general health, growth, and to repair cells and tissues. When taken with Vitamin D this may aid in skeletal bone density and periodontal health which could help increase your chances at successfully getting dental implants.

Researchers have also found that being deficient in magnesium is associated with increased symptoms of depression and a magnesium supplement has been shown to improve depression. There are other smaller studies that suggest a correlation between low Vitamin D and showing symptoms of depression.

OsteoTherapy by Pharmaden is a supplement that contains each of these nutrients: Vitamin D, magnesium, and calcium. Please see the x-rays below of a patient who took OsteoTherapy over several months.

http://www.perioimplantadvisory.com/articles/2016/04/antidepressant-medications-and-nutraceuticals-effects-on-the-success-of-dental-implants.html

Hear Pharmaden President, Dr. Ron Schefdore, discuss the absorption of nutrients. Learn why you should opt for a high absorbing nutrient instead of “off the shelf” vitamins you would find at your grocery store. When it comes to your body you should be putting the best quality ingredients in it.

Pharmaden supplements do not cure, treat, or prevent disease. Always see a physician before taking any supplement.

We all tell “little white lies” from time to time…

For example: Apple thinks I actually read their Terms and Conditions before clicking ‘agree’, and most of my friends are under the impression that I have never seen an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. And yet here I sit, uncertain if my iPhone is spying on me, but absolutely convinced that Khloe K and I would be BFF’s if she would only respond to my letters.

We all tell these small untruths in order to protect the few shards of our dignity that survived into adulthood. It starts to get ridiculous however, when we issue a bold-faced lie to the very people who can easily find out the truth. In this case, I am speaking about every check-up I’ve ever had with my dentist.

Does this sound familiar? “Of course I floss, doctor; once a day and twice on Sundays.” [You then pause for your dentist’s judgmental glare as a cloud of skepticism fills the room]

Let’s get real: I don’t floss … According to recent statistics, YOU don’t floss … Your dentist’s wife? Yeah, I doubt even she does it. NO ONE FLOSSES! In fact, the only one I know who does scrub between her teeth regularly is my 8 year old golden retriever. AND that’s just because she’s usually within a “paws length” of her doggy dental treats; and because they taste like bacon.

We lie to our doctor’s about flossing because we’ve all been told that flossing is an essential element of our oral health regimen, and we feel bad for not doing it. Well, it’s looking like my fellow liars and I have one less thing to fib about because it seems like flossing may NOT be as big of a deal as we previously thought.

Firstly, why do our doctors tell us to floss? As explained by Dr. Elizabeth Palermo of livescience.com , “Cavities [and gum disease] … form when bacteria living in the mouth digest carbohydrate debris left on the teeth [and under the gums] after you eat.” Flossing can clear the spaces in your mouth where food debris accumulates, thereby depriving the (cavity and gum disease causing) bacteria of anything to digest. Pretty sound reasoning, right?

It turns out though, that the effectiveness of flossing has never actually been tested! The Dietary Guidelines for American’s, an agency under the federal Department of Health and Human Services, requires all of its recommendations to be “grounded in scientific evidence”. Flossing has failed to meet this standard. The Associated Press even took a look into this issue, and after reviewing 25 different studies, they found no definitive correlation between flossing and the prevention of oral disease.

Despite these revelations coming to light, most dentists are sticking to their guns on the flossing issue. Who know’s? They might even be right in the end. And that’s the point: Although flossing has been a professionally trusted (and highly recommended) health practice for forty years, all of the data STILL isn’t in yet.

So …

To floss or not to floss. That is the question – Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous guilt inflicted by our dentist’s or to take arms against a sea of unverified scientific claims.

The choice is yours.

SOURCES:

http://www.sciencealert.com/flossing-might-have-no-proven-benefits-report-finds

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/still-not-flossing-more-reasons-why-you-should

http://www.livescience.com/44081-does-sugar-cause-cavities-plaque.html

PICTURES:

Copyright: studiograndouest / 123RF Stock Photo

Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Their Effect on Teeth

Ah, autumn … It’s that special time of year when trees become beautiful mosaics of orange and yellow, where we take the time to revel in back yard bonfires and scary movies; and women nation-wide don their yoga-pants and Uggs to hunt down and devour their favorite seasonal treat: The Pumpkin Spice Latte.

I’m not going to argue that this magnificent drink of the Gods is anything other than a lip-smacking, caffeine-packed, sugary cup of delicious liquid bliss; because that would be a lie. However, as I stand in Starbucks, watching a horde of twenty-something girls waiting to have their name called (one of which I am SURE will be “Becky”) with the same quiet-intensity of a lioness stalking a fat and juicy gazelle, I have to wonder … What is this pumpkin-flavored potion doing to our health?

It should come as no surprise to you that it’s not exactly the drink of choice for people minding their waist-line. Nothing that’s healthy for you could possibly taste THAT good (for example: any salad).

Heck, you can probably feel your Lululemons growing tighter with each passing sip; however, Pumpkin Spice Lattes also play havoc on your teeth and gums. In this article, we will highlight the main smile-destroying components of Pumpkin Spice Lattes that should make you hesitate at your local coffee shop this fall … [WARNING: Anyone who wishes to continue their lives in blissful ignorance should stop reading right now. I’m looking at YOU Becky.]

     1)   Caffeine:

According to the Food Research Institute, caffeine alone can cause damage to your smile. It wears down enamel (the protective coating of the teeth) causing cavities, discoloration, foul breath, and painful inflammation. These side-effects are exacerbated by the stimulating nature of caffeine, which can cause you to clench your teeth; leading to an unnecessary amount of stress on the entire jawbone.

     2)   Artificial Food Coloring:

Although it is not often listed in the official list of ingredients, several of the items that are contained in lattes do contain artificial food coloring agents. Not only have many of these dyes shown to be cancer-causing, but they also stain the teeth the color of the dye. In the case of pumpkin drinks, that would be a lovely shade of yellowish-orange. Sexy.

     3)   Acid:

Calm down … When I say “acid” I am referring to neither the kind that the mob uses to make witness’s disappear, nor the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas variety. I mean that Pumpkin Spice Lattes are, by their nature, an acidic drink. Acidic drinks dissolve the enamel of teeth. With the enamel gone, teeth are very porous; so they essentially become sponges for disease-causing bacteria and food-dye.  This means even more decay and discoloration.

     4)   Sugar:

A Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks contains around 50 grams of sugar. Now, before you go Googling, “How much sugar is too much sugar?” thereby causing you to throw out all of your candy in a fit of teary eyed depression and rage; just trust me when I say that 50 grams of it in one drink is too much. This is a problem because sugar is the worst thing you can put in your mouth that doesn’t come with a detonator and a booklet about the safe handling of Uranium-235. Most oral disease (periodontitis, gingivitis, halitosis, etc.) is directly caused by eating too much sugar because it is food for bacteria. It is the digestion of sugar by the mouths bacteria that causes: cavities, bad breath, tooth/bone loss, pain, inflammation, and the panic-inducing text messages your mother sends you at 10pm. Wait, actually, I think it’s Chardonnay that causes that last one … But still!

     5)   “Natural” Flavors:

This last item on the list gets an honorable mention only because it is so damned cryptic. Speaking legally, food companies do not need to go into many details regarding what they consider “natural” … Which leaves A LOT of room for interpretation. For example, I had a college roommate who insisted that magic mushrooms couldn’t possibly be bad for you because it “comes from the earth, man.” As a rule, I generally do not trust health advice from someone who seems to be majoring in hacky sack. I now amend that decree to include food products that won’t tell me what “natural” means. So, use your best judgement.

Of course, moderation is the key. So, if you just can’t fight the urge to slam a delicious pumpkin concoction this autumn, I recommend doing so only every once in a while; and treat Pumpkin Spice Lattes like what they are … A treat. If you are concerned about your Pumpkin Spice in-take, we recommend incorporating a nutritional supplement to combat its effects, and keeping regular appointments with you dentist.

SOURCES:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/327662-the-harmful-effects-of-caffeine-on-teeth/

http://www.jeffersondentalclinics.com/blog.html/2014/06/19/coffee-and-your-teeth/

http://foodbabe.com/2014/08/25/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte/

http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks/espresso/pumpkin-spice-latte

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/reasons-vegans-read-labels-natural-flavorscastoreum.html