The culprit for this offensive reaction is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, the foaming agent found in almost all toothpastes. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate suppresses your sweet taste receptors on your tongue. Since sweetness blocks bitter and sour flavors, its absence enhances the bitterness and sourness of orange juice.
Additionally, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate destroys Phospholipids. These fatty compounds act as inhibitors on your bitter taste receptors.
By inhibiting sweet receptors and destroying Phospholipids, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate dulls the sweetness and promotes the bitter taste in orange juice.
Now that you know the science behind this offensive taste, comment on the the strategies you use to avoid this.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Best Pill for Dental Pain
Q. Dr Hand, what is the best drug for pain relief?
A. One Motrin and one extra strength Tylenol is the optimal combination for best pain relief after minor surgery and for tooth aches.
For a variety of reasons, a combination of products is generally more effective then only one medication by itself.
Many dentists have recently been suggesting this Motrin & Tylenol combination for our patients instead narcotics as it is safer, works better and has less side effects.
An analysis by researchers at Oxford University appeared in the September issue of The Cochrane Library and reported in the New York Times Health Section investigated the effectiveness of oral pain medications after surgery.
These researchers found the optimal combination was 200 milligrams of ibuprofen and 500 of Tylenol because 74 % of the time this combination lessened the pain at least by 50%. This was better then a low dosage of Tylenol or even Codeine alone.
A. One Motrin and one extra strength Tylenol is the optimal combination for best pain relief after minor surgery and for tooth aches.
For a variety of reasons, a combination of products is generally more effective then only one medication by itself.
Many dentists have recently been suggesting this Motrin & Tylenol combination for our patients instead narcotics as it is safer, works better and has less side effects.
An analysis by researchers at Oxford University appeared in the September issue of The Cochrane Library and reported in the New York Times Health Section investigated the effectiveness of oral pain medications after surgery.
These researchers found the optimal combination was 200 milligrams of ibuprofen and 500 of Tylenol because 74 % of the time this combination lessened the pain at least by 50%. This was better then a low dosage of Tylenol or even Codeine alone.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Wisdom Teeth, to extract or not extract NY Times
It has been the general consensus that people should preemptively pull their wisdom teeth to avoid any potential problems in the future. A recent article in The New York Times Health section brings to light a different perspective concerning whether extracting wisdom teeth is always necessary and if people should be so hasty with this decision.
The article sites a general lack of research about the topic while showing how the figures and estimations that are available often contradict themselves. For example, it was estimated that roughly 75% of people should get their wisdom teeth pulled but the number of people that actual do is much lower. Furthermore, if people first waited until they experienced any pain from their wisdom teeth, then half as many extractions would actually be necessary. And of the people who don’t get their wisdom teeth pulled, one study found that 80% develop complications within seven years. Yet another study found that same percentage to be in the low teens.
The decision to pull one’s wisdom teeth should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Contrary to popular belief, wisdom teeth do not lead to crooked front teeth and should not be pulled for that reason. The “article correctly states “The general consensus among critics of routine extraction is that recurrent gum infection, or pericoronitis; irreparable tooth decay; an abscess; cysts; tumors; damage to nearby teeth and bone; or other pathological conditions justify the procedure." To this list I would add foreseeable and potential damage to near by teeth and bone along with an obvious and sever lack of space for the wisdom tooth to erupt into. An orthodontist may also suggest wisdom tooth extraction to gain addition space.
If, after consulting your dentist and getting a second opinion you conclude that you will need to get your wisdom teeth pulled, here are some recommendations:
- Plan to take off two to three days to allow yourself to heal properly
- Take papaya pills or supplements in the days leading up to and after the surgery
Extracting wisdom teeth is like any procedure, there is always a small chance of complications. So if such a procedure isn’t truly necessary, it would be preferable to avoid getting it done. Extracting one’s wisdom teeth should not be looked at as an inevitable inconvenience that everybody must go through, but instead as a procedure that should only be performed only if necessary.
The article sites a general lack of research about the topic while showing how the figures and estimations that are available often contradict themselves. For example, it was estimated that roughly 75% of people should get their wisdom teeth pulled but the number of people that actual do is much lower. Furthermore, if people first waited until they experienced any pain from their wisdom teeth, then half as many extractions would actually be necessary. And of the people who don’t get their wisdom teeth pulled, one study found that 80% develop complications within seven years. Yet another study found that same percentage to be in the low teens.
The decision to pull one’s wisdom teeth should be determined on a case-by-case basis. Contrary to popular belief, wisdom teeth do not lead to crooked front teeth and should not be pulled for that reason. The “article correctly states “The general consensus among critics of routine extraction is that recurrent gum infection, or pericoronitis; irreparable tooth decay; an abscess; cysts; tumors; damage to nearby teeth and bone; or other pathological conditions justify the procedure." To this list I would add foreseeable and potential damage to near by teeth and bone along with an obvious and sever lack of space for the wisdom tooth to erupt into. An orthodontist may also suggest wisdom tooth extraction to gain addition space.
If, after consulting your dentist and getting a second opinion you conclude that you will need to get your wisdom teeth pulled, here are some recommendations:
- Plan to take off two to three days to allow yourself to heal properly
- Take papaya pills or supplements in the days leading up to and after the surgery
Extracting wisdom teeth is like any procedure, there is always a small chance of complications. So if such a procedure isn’t truly necessary, it would be preferable to avoid getting it done. Extracting one’s wisdom teeth should not be looked at as an inevitable inconvenience that everybody must go through, but instead as a procedure that should only be performed only if necessary.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
what comes first the floss or the brush?
Should you brush before you floss or floss before you brush?
what do you think?
what do you think?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Apple unseats Google as world's most valuable brand
Google’s four-year reign as the world’s most valuable brand has ended as Apple nudged its way into the top spot in a new study by global brands agency Millward Brown.
Apple’s line of coveted gadgets and rule-busting pricing model helped propel Steve Jobs and co. passed the internet search behemoth.
Peter Walshe, global brands director of Millward Brown, says Apple's meticulous attention to detail, along with an increasing presence of its gadgets in corporate environments, have allowed it to behave differently from other consumer-electronics makers.
The full (tech-heavy) top ten:
1. Apple
2. Google
3. IBM
4. McDonald’s
5. Microsoft
6. Coca-Cola
7. AT&T
8. Marlboro
9. China Mobile
10. General Electric
Full story at Yahoo Finance.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Serotonin the magic Hormone-from Wasp Bites to Euphoria to Osteoporosis
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/science/03angier.html?src=me&ref=science
I found this in the NY Times Science section by Natalie Angier, one of my favorite columnist (just behind Apple enthusiast David Poque). Natalie has a wonderful understanding of the science, history and culture of her topics and there is poetry in her prose. She is both a humorous and educational read.
New research suggests that our bones take advantage of both serotonin circuits[brain & gut], to manage the delicate dance between its two cellular castes: the constructive osteoblasts that build up the skeleton, patch the holes and repair cracks, and the destructive osteoclasts devoted to chipping rickety old bone tissue down.
Serotonin is also involved in helping people cope with adversity.
The embryo’s silent, headless genetic “twin,” the placenta…synthesizes serotonin and ships it straight to the forebrain to help Brain development in fetuses.
...To synthesize serotonin, humans and other species must start with tryptophan,an essential amino acid found in many dietary items, including turkey, cheese, tofu, nuts, seeds and bananas.
To read more detail, click on the top leak, it's worth spending your time on this.
I found this in the NY Times Science section by Natalie Angier, one of my favorite columnist (just behind Apple enthusiast David Poque). Natalie has a wonderful understanding of the science, history and culture of her topics and there is poetry in her prose. She is both a humorous and educational read.
New research suggests that our bones take advantage of both serotonin circuits[brain & gut], to manage the delicate dance between its two cellular castes: the constructive osteoblasts that build up the skeleton, patch the holes and repair cracks, and the destructive osteoclasts devoted to chipping rickety old bone tissue down.
Serotonin is also involved in helping people cope with adversity.
The embryo’s silent, headless genetic “twin,” the placenta…synthesizes serotonin and ships it straight to the forebrain to help Brain development in fetuses.
...To synthesize serotonin, humans and other species must start with tryptophan,an essential amino acid found in many dietary items, including turkey, cheese, tofu, nuts, seeds and bananas.
To read more detail, click on the top leak, it's worth spending your time on this.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
decay itself is a hotter topic then preventing it
Google AdSense statistics indicate there are an average of 368,000 searches each month looking for the term tooth decay but only 260 searches on tooth decay prevention.http://www.drcharleshand.com/
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Use Pure Baking Soda To Help Prevent Cavities
Instead of pure toothpaste, substitute brushing with baking soda and a little toothpaste at night. The baking soda will neutralize all but the hardiest acidic saliva. Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that initiates decay in teeth, absolutely needs acidic saliva to live, thrive and cause their decay. They have a very difficult time starting decay in a neutral or alkaline environment.
Dip a wet toothbrush into powered baking soda, add a pearl-size bit of toothpaste for flavor and thoroughly brush every tooth for at least 1 1/2 minutes. Continue dipping as needed.
--Important --we need fluoride in our toothpaste. in order to get sufficient fluoride be sure to brush each morning with a fluoride containing toothpaste.
http://www.drcharleshand.com/
Dip a wet toothbrush into powered baking soda, add a pearl-size bit of toothpaste for flavor and thoroughly brush every tooth for at least 1 1/2 minutes. Continue dipping as needed.
--Important --we need fluoride in our toothpaste. in order to get sufficient fluoride be sure to brush each morning with a fluoride containing toothpaste.
http://www.drcharleshand.com/
How Xylitol chewing gum works and why I like it
Xylitol gum chewed three time a day-gets saliva flowing, chemically helps calcium stay inside of enamel, and kills Streptococcus mutans -the germ that seems to be causing most cavities.
To purchase Xylitol gum, Google "Xylitol gum" and"Spry" in the search line. I like the taste of the Spry company's Xylitol gum . This is one site that comes up:
http://www.xlear.com/spry.aspx
The normal dose is about 6 gms/day for cavity protection ( about 2 pieces chewed 3 to 4 times each day)
Here is a link to a great explanation of how Xylitol works to prevent decay:
http://foreverhealthyandyoung.com/index.php?post=157
To purchase Xylitol gum, Google "Xylitol gum" and"Spry" in the search line. I like the taste of the Spry company's Xylitol gum . This is one site that comes up:
http://www.xlear.com/spry.aspx
The normal dose is about 6 gms/day for cavity protection ( about 2 pieces chewed 3 to 4 times each day)
Here is a link to a great explanation of how Xylitol works to prevent decay:
http://foreverhealthyandyoung.com/index.php?post=157
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