A Pure, Ancient, Simple Pleasure of Life

What comes to mind when you think of “comfort food”—popcorn, chocolate, fresh strawberries or apple pie, perhaps? If you were the Emperor of ancient Rome, you might think of ice cream. Story has it that Nero (A.D. 37-68) sent runners to the mountains to bring back snow to which he added nectar, honey and fruit pulp. Some historians believe this was the origin of ice cream.

There are also stories that Marco Polo brought ice cream from China to Europe with him. The Chinese, circa A.D. 618-97, developed ice and milk mixtures that may be the true ancestor of our ice cream.
Ice cream was a favorite treat in the early White House. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson served ice cream to White House guests. Dolly Madison served an ice cream dessert at the second inaugural ball in 1812. During the eighteenth century, ingredients that are synonymous with today’s ice cream—cream, milk and egg yolks—first appeared in a cookbook. Today, in the U.S., we eat an average of 23 quarts of ice cream each year!

Thanks to a New England housewife who invented a hand-cranked ice cream machine in the mid-1800s, we have the convenience of being able to eat ice cream any time of the year. Yet, there are many who have never eaten snow ice cream, not because of their age or modern conveniences, but because of their geographic location. There are areas of the United States where snow never falls.

Simple pleasurable times
If you were a child living in an area before electricity made it to your home or there was no ice vendor driving through your city’s streets, one of your favorite treats might have been snow ice cream. Many cherish fond memories of gathering fresh, clean snow, adding their favorite flavorings and feeling the smooth, icy tingle of a treat that unfortunately was unavailable in heat of summer.
Making snow ice cream doesn’t take a master’s degree in food preparation; in fact, if you have a youngster in your home, it is a fun activity for a child.

I can see the calories piling on
We have food choices today that weren’t available even 5 years ago. If you want to try this luxurious concoction, let your imagination and your dietary needs be your guide. Snow ice cream can be low-cal, non-fat and non-dairy, cooked and uncooked.

Main ingredient	Ingredient alternatives	Ingredient function
Milk	4% (whole), 2%, 1%, skim, flavored (chocolate, malt, etc), evaporated, sweetened condensed, half and half, cream, powdered (regular, low-fat, non-fat)	Fat gives ice cream a smooth texture and flavor. Skim milk gives ice cream more body and adds protein.
Non-dairy milk substitutes	Soy, rice, almond, hazelnut, oat, liquid coffee creamer* (flavored and non-flavored)
Sugar	Several sugar substitutes are currently available	Adds sweetness, increases body and improves texture.
Gelatin		Absorbs some of the moisture and prevents large crystals from forming.
Eggs	Several egg substitute products are available	Helps fat and water combine and prevents ice cream from melting so quickly.
Vanilla	Flavored syrups, any flavoring extract, flavored coffee creamer*	Flavor of your choice! Is today a hazelnut mocha or a peppermint day?
Toppings	Nuts, fruit, berries, sprinkles, freezer jam, preserves, commercial ice cream syrup toppings, etc

The following basic, uncooked snow ice cream recipes can be modified to your personal taste. Recipes containing uncooked eggs were not included because of the risk of salmonella poisoning. Experiment with a variety of milk, non-dairy products, flavorings and toppings. Snow ice cream will quickly melt in a warm room, so eat it as soon as it is made.

Snow Ice Cream Southern Style
Large bowl or pan of fresh, clean snow 1 2/3 cups evaporated milk or 1 pint of half and half or 1 pint of cream 1 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla
Chill the bowl or pan before scooping in snow. Add sugar to the snow. Fold together snow and sugar. Add vanilla. Gradually stir in some or all of the evaporated milk (or alternate milk choice) until the mixture becomes thick. Spoon into chilled bowls and enjoy! (Some people prefer the taste of sweetened condensed milk in this recipe.)

Non-dairy Snow Ice Cream
1 soup bowl of snow Non-dairy milk substitute (refer to chart) Vanilla Maple syrup
Chill the bowl before scooping up fresh, clean snow. Pour some non-dairy milk substitute over the snow. Add vanilla and maple syrup. Stir and sample. Add more milk if you need to thin it down, more vanilla or more syrup to taste.

Spumoni Snow
4 cups of clean snow 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk 1 cup canned cherry pie filling 1/2 teaspoon rum flavoring 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Chill the bowl or pan before scooping up snow. Add the sweetened condensed milk and rum flavoring; stir well. Fold in cherry pie filling and mini chips. Serve in chilled bowls.

Don't forget to brush!
As delicious as these cool treats are, remember your dental hygiene: brush and floss regularly. Brushing and flossing removes the sugary film from your teeth and helps to prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay can lead to serious dental problems which can also affect your general health.

Start the new year off right with a happy mouth and healthy teeth!

For more information, you might find the following Web sites useful:
Academy of General Dentistry http://www.agd.org/
American Dental Association http://www.ada.org/
Dairy Science and Technology, University of Guelph : http://www.foodsci.uoguelph
FamilyFun: http://FamilyFun.com
International Dairy Foods Association: http://www.idfa.org
Learning Haven: http://www.learninghaven.com
Seeds of Knowledge--Old Fashioned Living: http://oldfashionedliving.com
Steve Spangler Science: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com
Cook's Recipes: http://www.cooksrecipes.com

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

It's Natural, So Whats the Harm?

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) may be harmful to your oral health.

Women entering menopause often seek hormone replacements to relieve menopause's undesirable symptoms, but those replacements can cause gingivitis and have been linked to cancer and heart disease.


Think gingivitis is nothing to worry about? Gingivitis is a gum infection that produces swollen, red gums that bleed when you brush and floss. If not treated, gingivitis can progress to a severe, incurable infection that can result in jawbone and tooth loss.

Because something is derived from a plant doesn't mean it's safe. For example, plants like soybeans are chemically altered in order to produce a BHRT.

Studies show that over 70 percent of women believe "natural" hormones have fewer risks, and over 60 percent believe they are more effective than FDA-approved hormone therapies. However, BHRT products cannot demonstrate that they are safer or more effective than traditional hormone replacements.

BHRT falls outside the jurisdiction of the FDA, so there is no reliable, clinically-controlled testing of those products. In fact, BHRT claims to mimic your body’s hormones, so, BHRT likely carries the same risks and adverse effects, including gingivitis, as traditional hormone therapies.

Your healthcare provider can advise you about taking BHRT.

It is vitally important that you tell us if you are taking any hormone replacements so that we can adjust your dental care to keep your teeth and oral tissues healthy.


Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Something's Fishy About Gum Disease

Pack a picnic lunch, gather your fishing gear and head to the nearest fishing hole. Certain types of fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that can potentially protect your teeth.

 An epidemic dental infection, periodontitis (perio, for short), is the advanced stage of gum disease. Your body tries to eliminate the tooth by breaking down the fibers and bone that hold it in the socket. Eventually, the tooth will fall out.

Perio bacteria can also travel through your bloodstream and build plaques in your arteries to cause a heart attack and stroke.


We have known for some time that the heart and arteries benefit from omega-3 oil that is produced by fish including salmon, lake trout, tuna, herring and halibut. Researchers have discovered that omega-3 oils produce a product called Resolvin. Resolvin prevents inflammatory cells from travelling to an infected site.

According to the study, a topical agent containing Resolvin was placed on the oral tissues and effectively prevented more inflammation from developing, which protected the gum tissue from destruction and prevented bone loss.

While we don't yet have a product that we can prescribe to our perio patients, adding at least two servings of a fatty fish to your meals each week could certainly help your arteries and heart to stay healthy, especially because perio bacteria are directly related to their health.

Perio effects can't be reversed; we can only manage the bacteria and bone loss, so anything that can be done to protect your teeth is at the top of our list.

If you are experiencing a dental issue or it is time for your check-up, give us a call.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Hide Denture in Plain View

You can wear a denture that only you and I know is in your mouth: a partial flexible denture. And not only is a partial flexible denture nearly invisible, it adapts to the constant movement in your mouth.


A removable, partial flexible denture may be an excellent choice if you need to replace existing teeth or missing teeth, and the remaining teeth in your dental arch are healthy.

Unlike a conventional partial denture that is made from rigid acrylic material and uses metal clasps to clamp onto neighboring teeth [top photo], this appliance is constructed from a soft nylon-type material that matches the natural color of your gums. The "clasps" are extensions of the base material and curl snugly around the neighboring teeth [bottom photo]. Sometimes, a hole is punched in the material and the appliance is slipped over the top of a natural tooth like a turtleneck sweater.

A partial flexible denture has desirable advantages:

1. It is strong and stays in place when you chew, unlike a conventional denture that loses suction and pops loose, which can be embarrassing.
2. Your natural teeth do not need to be reshaped like they would with a bridge, for example.
3. It maintains the shape of your face and prevents your teeth from shifting.
4. It is thin and lightweight.
5. There is little or no speech adaption necessary.
6. Most patients immediately become accustomed to its fit and feel.

A removable, flexible partial denture can magically restore your beautiful smile. Call and schedule an appointment. We can discuss your smile goals and options.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Twitter Tweets Twist Truth

Social networking sites, such as Twitter, can be beneficial. In one instance, an Oregon police department posted a Twitter alert about a lost Alzheimer patient. Tweeters' lightening fast tweets assisted police in immediately locating the patient.


We have read that Twitter has been used to hawk unused medicines or to find someone who is willing to give up their unused medicine. Tweeters also give medical advice even though they are not healthcare professionals.

Technology can provide faster ways to deliver information; however, it will never replace knowledgeable healthcare professionals.

For example, we might prescribe a medication to help you resolve a dental condition. Even though we instruct you to take all of the medication, you might be tempted to stop the medication as soon as you feel better. What will you do with the leftovers?


Sometimes, well-meaning people will offer their unused medications to others not realizing they might be putting that person in danger. If you are considering giving your unused prescription to someone else, don’t. A medication is not one size fits all. It was prescribed based on your specific condition, other medications, age and weight, for example.

You always need to be on guard against potentially harmful "advice." Please, ask us about dental medication "advice" no matter where you get it—through mobile technology, the Internet or your local coffee shop.
We have many years of education and experience, and we constantly update our knowledge and skills, just to protect you.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

Teeth Might Save a Child’s Life

Your youngster's teeth may one day have the ability to save his or her life.


Everyone's teeth contain pulp, a spongy material made up of tissue, blood vessels and nerves in the center of each tooth. A child's tooth pulp contains special stem cells that can become different types of tissue, such as oral and facial bone, cartilage, muscle and soft tissues.

Many people are already aware that bone marrow (that contains stem cells) is removed from one person and injected into a cancer patient in hopes of conquering the cancer. Imagine your child at an older age being inflicted with a condition such as Parkinson's disease. Your child's own stored dental stem cells could be used to repair the brain tissue damaged by Parkinson's.

Using one's own cells is called "personalized medicine," and it is becoming a popular way to use resources from a person's body to conquer disease or regenerate tissue, which eliminates ethical concerns. Using one's own stem cells also prevents the body from rejecting the cells or from inheriting an unwanted condition from an outside donor.

A dental stem bank has been set up (outside the U.S.) to explore using one’s own stem cells for dental applications. So far, three states have certified the stem cell bank’s processing and quality control procedures.
Even though we can't use this personalized medicine technology today, the prospect of its development is very exciting!

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.

It's Not What You Eat; It's How Often

This is the time of year everyone is giving you advice on eating. And this is no exception. But we aren't as concerned about how living off of hors d'ouevres or having that extra piece of pie will impact your waistline. We're concerned that the constant availability of food, especially during the holiday season, will wear out your teeth.


It can be confusing trying to make sense of the information about eating regular meals and avoiding foods that increase your risk for caries, especially when the trend is to snack throughout the day. Some weight-loss diets recommend eating five or six small meals a day.

Saliva washes harmful bacteria off your teeth and helps neutralize decay-causing acid, but snacking overwhelms your saliva. Consequently, when you constantly snack, your teeth are bathed in bacteria-produced acid all day long, putting you at high risk for tooth decay. Every time you eat, it takes your saliva about 20 minutes to put your mouth back into balance. If you are constantly eating, you don’t give your mouth enough time to recover from the acid attack.


When you snack, snack wisely. We recommend that you choose foods and beverages that have a low caries risk (low sugar and not acidic). And don't forget that beverages can be treacherous. That gingerbread, cocoa, egg nog latte with the chocolate snowflake may look like a harmless holiday indulgence, but those fancy coffee drinks can have as much as 69 grams of sugar. And you know sugar feeds cavity-causing bacteria. Consume foods made with the three natural sugars that prevent caries: tagatose, isomalt and xylitol.

Tagatose is sold under the name Naturlose, which is also a healthy sugar for diabetics. Naturlose foods include candy, cocoa, ice cream, powdered milk, yogurt, cheese, fruit juices and diet soft drinks.
Isomalt is a common ingredient in diabetic foods and candies.

Xylitol, a natural sugar found in some plants, is used in several foods, gum, candy, and lozenges.
The American Diabetes Association states that sugar alcohols such as isomalt, maltitol and xylitol contain fewer calories and carbohydrates than regular sugars. Look for products marketed as "no sugar added."
Of course, your best strategy is to minimize snacking and eat regular meals; brush at least twice each day with fluoride toothpaste, and floss at least once each day. In a pinch, chew a piece of xylitol or other sugar-free gum after the snack.

Enjoy the holidays. Eat, drink, but be wary of constant indulgence. Pace yourself. That's good advice for any time of year.

Houston dentist
Minh Nguyen, D.D.S.