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Previous blog posts have discussed the correlation between gum disease and other systemic diseases (i.e. heart disease, stroke, diabetes, stillbirth), to name a few. But how is influenza or H1N1 related to all of this? New information has indicated that people who have heart disease may be at higher risk for heart complications, such as heart attack and/or stroke after exposure to the flu virus. In 2004, a study was published in the Texas Heart Institute Journal titled, Influenza and Cardiovascular Disease--Is There a Causal Relationship? The study found influenza closely associated with many changes in the cardiovascular system like inflammation of the arteries, stress, dehydration leading to low blood pressure, thicker plasma, etc. This new information shows that these changes, caused by influenza exposure, may lead to clots dislodging from the artery walls, thus leading to a rise in heart attacks and/or stroke occurrence. We know from previous studies that bacteria from the oral cavity (mouth, throat) will enter the blood stream whenever an opportunity arises--anytime there is a break in the tissues. This occurs during surgical procedures and even during brushing and flossing gums that aren't healthy. [Remember: healthy teeth and gums do not bleed!] The conclusion of an 8yr study of autopsies in almost 35,000 subjects revealed that it takes less than one minute for the bacteria from the mouth to reach the heart and lungs. Yes--LESS THAN A MINUTE! For those who are healthy, the body is able to fight the bacteria without any complications. For those who have heart disease, the bacteria from the mouth enter the blood stream, irritate the arteries causing them to swell, then attach themselves to the existing plaque already formed in the arteries, causing clots to form -- all leading to heart attacks and/or stroke. Researchers have found that people with gum disease (a disease that has excessive amounts of bacteria living in/around/under the gum tissues) are almost twice as likely to suffer from heart disease as those without gum disease... And that peple with better heart health typically experience fewer complications when exposed to the influenza virus. So what is our 1st defense? Good oral health! It is imperative that all oral infections be resolved in order to redeem overall health. Bleeding when brushing or flossing is indicative of an underlying problem or disease. If you are experiencing these problems or have outstanding dental treatment, schedule an appointment with your dentist today! We can't eliminate contact with an airborne virus, such as influenza, but we can see the dentist regularly to help ensure our body remains resilient in our times of need. Who knew that regular visits to the dentist could save your life!!! Oral Cancer Screening Mandate for Olympic Athletes The International Olympic Committee mandated that 20% of athletes receive a comprehensive examination to include a screening for oral cancer at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Only four years ago, the mandate was set @ 10%! The device chosen to conduct the screenings? Velscope. Velscope is a device that emits a special blue light inside the mouth to help detect suspicious tissue(s). You cannot feel it or taste it. It has a special filter that allows the doctor to see beneath your tissues into cells not seen by the naked eye. This allows any cancerous or precancerous cells to be seen at an early enough stage to save your life. The average cost per screening is $25 - 40. So why is there such a concern for winter Olympic athletes? Dr. Jack Taunton, co-chief medical officer of the Olympic Games gives us some insight..."Year-round, the alpine athletes follow winter around the world to train, and they are at higher risk of lip and mouth cancers because of the altitiude and sun exposure." He goes on to say, "The skin on the lips is thin and poorly protected. The damage is cumulative and you have to consider they are exposed to these intense ultraviolet rays for up to 30 years, through their training and post-competitive coashing years in many cases." The problem is compounded by the additional reflection of ultraviolet radiation off the snow and ice. So if you're headed to a cold climate for some skiing this winter, or have friends or loved ones living in a high altitude, one of your best defenses is sunscreen on the ouside...and an annual visit a dentist that offers Velscope exams...to protect you on the inside. Be your own Olympian and score a Velscope screening today! Gum Disease Linked to Stillbirth (February 15, 2010) A recent study of oral bacteria & preterm/stillbirths was conducted by Yiping Han, from the Department of Periodontics at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, and appeared in the February 2010 edition of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Han worked in a research lab -- A research lab, among a few in the world trying to understand the role of the oral bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, on preterm labor & stillbirths. In 2008, Han was approached by a friend of a 35 year old mother (who we will call, Mother X) who had just given birth to a stillborn baby @ 39wks & 5d. Han was informed that during the mothers pregnancy, she experienced alot of bleeding in her gums--a symptom of pregnancy related gingivitis, common to ~75% of pregnant women. We all know that there are many bacteria in our mouth. Anytime there is bleeding in the gums, the bacteria that live in the mouth are able to enter the bloodstream. In a perfectly healthy person, this doesn't cause major problems for the fetus because the mother's immune system is able to fight off the bacteria in her bloodstream before it crosses the placenta & enters the fetus' bloodstream. But this wasn't the case for Mother X. A few days before Mother X had her stillborn child, she experienced an upper respiratory infection (like a cold) and a low-grade fever. Han stated, "The time is important here because it fits the time frame of hematogenous (through the blood) spreading we observed in animals." Studies of the stillborn child revealed the presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum (the oral bacteria we talked about earlier) in the lungs & stomach. Medical examination revealed the death occurred due to a septic infection and inflammation caused from the bacteria. So Han sent Mother X to a Periodontist (gum specialist) who collected a sample of plaque from her teeth. Mother X also had samples of her vaginal & rectal areas collected (not by the periodontist, of course!). Han tested each sample for the oral bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, which, as we stated earlier, was the cause of death for the fetus. Not to Han's surprise, Han had found a match in the bacteria in Mother X's mouth with the bacteria in the stillborn's infected lungs & stomach! The bacteria from the vaginal & rectal areas did not show the presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum! So Han made the connection & concluded that, due to timing of the respiratory cold & the bacteria being localized only to the mouth, that the bacteria was delivered to the fetus through the blood. In essence, Mother X was full term w/ bleeding gums. Her bleeding gums allowed bacteria from her mouth to enter her bloodstream. Her body was continuously fighting the bacteria in her bloodstream until she caught a cold, at which time, there was an overload of bacteria for her body to fight off. This overload caused her body to not be able to fight off 100% of the bacteria, which led to some bacteria crossing over into her placenta. The amniotic fluid is immune-free & the only immune system of the fetus is from the mother, so if the mother cannot fight off some bacteria, neither can the fetus...so infection occured in the fetus, leading to stillbirth. So can a stillbirth be prevented with good oral care and regular visits to the dentist? Yes. Some pregnant women will have to be seen by their dentist more regularly due to their symptoms of pregnancy-related gingivitis. If you are, or are thinking of becoming pregnant, speak to your dentist about your gum health to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. Han adds, "women, who are considering giving birth, should maintain good dental health and take care of any oral health problems before getting pregnant." On a positive note, after receiving gum treatment and preventive oral health care, Mother X has since delivered a healthy baby. Grammy's Inspire Dental Record (February 1, 2010) A friend of mine was at the Grammy's last night having a great time. Musicians of all genres and all ages coming together in one place, inspiring one another to sing louder, perform better, and most of all, just have fun. So this week, I thought I'd have a little fun and, with a little Grammy's inspiration, challenge myself to create a Dental Record of song parodies. The results are the following tracks: 1) Red, Red Gums 2) Baby Got Plaque 3) Shiny, Happy Enamel 4) Turn the Brush Around 5) You've Lost That Yucky Feelin' 6) Sweet Flossin' Line 7) Blinded Me With Whiteness 8) Black Calculus 9) It's Still Brush & Floss To Me 10) Girls Just Want You To Brush 11) You Can't Brush This 12) You're Teeth Are So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades Since I'm pretty much exiled to my shower if the power of performance ever decides to consume me, I'm pretty sure this record will never be made. But it does make me ponder inspiration. A person can choose to inspire or be inspired...and we, as dental professionals, are fortunate to experience both daily. We inspire our patients to achieve a level of health they desire and so deserve, and most often, are truly inspired by our patients and their stories of the lives they have lived. So was I inspired enough to make a record? No, but I was inspired enough to take action & complete my challenge. It doesn't matter where you start, but where you finish. So when inspiration hits, take action...Because, as Wayne Gretsky once said, "We miss 100% of the shots we don't take." Tooth Fairy Brings Human Organs (January 25, 2010) The tooth fairy has changed her approach to giving...instead of the quarters of old, she can now deliver organs! OK, I'm sure she'd first deliver a monetary gift, but if you ever needed to treat disease, build or repair body parts, she and 3 or more dental stem cell banks may have the answer. So, what am I talking about? For years, researchers have studied the effects of regrowing bone & treating many other ailments within the animal population with cells from the teeth of animals; however, recently, the research moved from animal to successful human trials! The approach is pretty simple. A tooth is professionally removed, then sent to a dental stem cell bank, such as StemSave, where they replicate the cells & cryogenically preserve them. Later, when needed, the stem cells can be transformed into a host of different specialized cells, such as heart, brain, nerve, cartilage, bone or liver cells to repair body parts, make new ones, treat disease or treat the damage of disease. According to Gregory Chotkowski, StemSave's President, "The best stem cells for use in stem cell therapy are your own. By doing so, the risks of non-biocompatibility and tissue rejection are negated." Dental stem cells can be harvested successfully from the nerve space in a baby tooth, permanent tooth or wisdom tooth. There are a few caveats, however. 1) Cells can be harvested from patients in their early 30's or younger. 2) The number of cells that can be taken from a tooth depend on the age of the patient and the cell's ability to replicate. 3) Teeth must be professionally removed. So can dentists provide life-saving service to their patients? Yes. Should everyone make an appointment to pull out some teeth & preserve their cells for possible future need? No--But do talk with your dentist if you are interested in this new life-saving technology, to make sure you are a candidate. You can also open an individual or family account with StemSave by visiting thier website. They will "bank" your teeth for a monthly or annual investment....An investment that could be priceless in the future. So maybe the tooth fairy doesn't bring human organs in whole; however, I'm sure she would help you "bank" your cells, so that in the end, you would have the gift that keeps on giving...life. Your Mouth & Haiti (January 18, 2010) This past week, many Haitians experienced ultimate devastation, when an earthquake struck 7.0 on the Richter scale. As unfortunate as that is to the population of Haiti, and the world for that matter, being in the dental profession, I immediately drew a correlation between the devastation I see daily and the devastation that happened in Haiti. Can your mouth really have something in common with Haiti? Well, let's look at the things we know about so far that led up to the ultimate devastation. Haiti sits atop a great fault line. A fault line is basically a fracture (or crack) in the rock beneath the earth's surface. Pushing against the faults and fault lines are plates. These Tectonic Plates push against the fault, causing it to move several millimeters each year. The catch? You never know what movement from the plates will cause the fault line to crack further, or in the case of Haiti, move the fault altogether. The movement of the fault is what causes an earthquake. How close the movement is to the surface determines the strength of the quake... The closer the movement, the greater the strength. We also know that Haiti was warned a couple of years ago that an earthquake was going to occur & would be ~7.5 on the Richter scale. Lastly, we know that Haiti was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and that the buildings were not structurally sound--a risk that was taken due to economics. So what does this have to do with teeth? 1) Well, you first need to find out if you have any fault lines, or cracks in your teeth. This can easily be determined by seeing a dental professional. 2) If you have been told you have cracks in your teeth, fix them. The process of chewing alone (just as the Tectonic Plates push against the fault lines) puts you at risk of possible tooth devastations, such as a fractured root, causing the tooth to need a root canal, or worse, an extraction. 3) Risking your health and not fixing your teeth due to economics can lead to complications and overall devestation. Viewing your health as an investment in your future can help ensure a disaster like Haiti won't occur in your mouth. So don't be afraid to see your dentist for an exam. If money is a factor, many offices provide payment arrangements. At any cost, have your dental treatment completed. As dental professionals, we can let you know what we see & warn you as to what is going to happen...unfortunately, as in the case of Haiti, we can tell you what will happen, we just can't tell you when. The Great Lewinski (January 11, 2010) We all remember the Bill Clinton / Monica Lewinski scandal of the 1990s and his whole oral sex-isn't sex defense. That whole scandal is said to have changed the way people view oral sex for years to come. But that view should be changing yet again. Since that whole debaucle, there has been a rise in the number of younger people developing oral cancer. Why? Because the same virus that causes cervical cancer is now linked to oral cancer. Yep, it's the human papillomavirus (HPV) -- and it's transmitted through oral sex, too. In 2007, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that men & women who had 6+ oral sex partners in their lifetime had a "nearly 9-fold increased risk of developing cancer of the tonsils or at the base of the tongue." Here's the kicker...they're finding it's more prevalent in men than in women. So, what about the new Gardasil vaccination, right? Wrong. 40 of the 120 strains of HPV are in the mouth and genital areas. Gardasil only protects against 4 of them (warts & cervical cancer). Even worse, 12,000 to 15,000 new cases of oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed annually and 3000 people die from it, but as of yet, there is no vaccine for oral HPV! The good news? There are still dental dams & condoms & the bi-annual visit to your dentist! Yes, your dentist can detect oral cancer with special screening tools, such as Velscope or Vizilite. The special tools, in conjunction with a visual exam, will allow us to see beneath the surface tissues in your mouth & see any cancerous or pre-cancerous cells. This allows us to detect oral cancer in its earliest stages. Remember, if oral cancer is visible to the naked eye, it is often already at a stage 3 or 4 (the worst stages), so having special tools that enable us to see below the surface can prolong your life by catching things early. So for all of you Clinton fans who think that oral sex doesn't come without risks, think again. The risks are 9-fold for some of you! New Year, New You! (January 4, 2010) As the new year begins, many resolutions are made regarding diets and exercise, but why not include dental health as well? Did you know that one of the best indicators for total body (systemic) health lies in the mouth? Can you see it?...sometimes. Can your dentist?...everytime. -- That's why it's so important that you see your dentist on a regular basis. When you visit your dentist for a cleaning, in addition to a tooth exam, your gums and surrounding tissues should also be examined for disease. Gums tell us a lot about your overall health. Studies continue to show correlations between gum disease and heart disease, stroke, pneumonia, diabetes, and much more. If you have gum disease, your gums harbour thousands of bacteria that eat away at your gums & teeth--leading to the loss of teeth and bone. These bacteria also find their ways to other areas of your body & cause other problems to occur. So how do you know if you have gum disease or are at risk for gum disease? Well, the best answer is always...see your dentist. Symptoms include bleeding gums, sore gums or teeth, receding gums, bad breath, bad taste, loose teeth, and many more. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, see your dentist asap. Gum disease cannot be cured once you have it; however, seeing your dentist for the recommended visits will allow you to keep the disease under control and help prevent further tooth loss. So if you want to resolve to having healthy teeth & gums for life...it's just a phone call away. Here's to a New Year & a New You! Stress Can Lead to Teeth Grinding (December 21, 2009) It's the holiday season...and in most cases the holidays bring good tidings of great joy; however, the holidays can also bring great pain. For those of us who are running around trimming trees, putting up lights and elbowing our way through the holiday crowds to find the perfect gifts, the holidays bring forth additional stress. And for even more stress, sprinkle on some out-of-town guests...or even better...family! By now, you may be picturing scenes from Four Christmases, or even National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, or an even worse holiday adventure of your own, but don't despair...you're not alone. The holidays bring additional stress to most people, and where there is stress, there is teeth grinding because people are directly affected by their external environment. We know that ~10-15% of adult Americans moderately to severely grind their teeth--and that percentage is without any added stressors. Most don't realize they are grinding their teeth because it is a subconscious muscle activity. They only realize it when symptoms occur, such as a broken tooth, headaches and/or facial soreness. Teeth grinding is bad because it places additional forces on your teeth that cause your teeth to wear at a much faster rate. Normally, we exert ~20-30 pounds per square inch on our back teeth when we chew. People who grind their teeth, especially when they are sleeping, can exert up to 200 pounds per square inch! This wear & tear on your teeth grinds the enamel away, causing sensitive teeth, fractures in your teeth, changes in your bite, damage to your jaws & jaw muscles, and can lead to headaches, earaches, etc. So what can a person do to make sure their teeth are taken care of during stressful situations, such as the holiday season? See your dentist...let him/her know you have been feeling stressed out and may have been grinding your teeth. The most common treatment is to have a night guard made. A night guard is a clear, hard plastic device that is custom-made to your mouth by a dentist. Over-the-counter night guards, although less expensive, are made of different materials and can encourage certain muscle activities, so check with your dentist first. Sometimes we can't eliminate stress, but wearing a night guard will help to ensure your teeth stay healthy...at least for all the yummy holiday food! Gum Disease Linked to Head & Neck Cancer (December 15, 2009) For years studies have shown the link between gum disease and heart disease. The most recent studies are now linking gum disease to head & neck cancer as well! A recent 6 year study of 266 patients with head or neck cancer reported the link between gum disease and head & neck cancer. As gum disease progresses, it causes bone loss in the mouth--the bone that surrounds the teeth. Although further studies are still needed, this particular study noted that with each millimeter of bone loss, the risk for head and neck cancer increased 4-fold. As we learn more about oral, head & neck cancer, it is imperative to note that the link between gum disease and head & neck cancer was seen even in people who had never used tobacco & alcohol--two of the riskiest variables to these types of cancers in years past. More and more studies are providing insights into gum disease and its systemic links. So if you want to make sure you minimize the bad bacterias floating throughout your body... Don't let them hide in your mouth--see your dentist! Could Less Humidity Lead to More Cavities? (December 7, 2009) While out west last week for more dental training, we appreciated the drier climate that Arizona had to offer. The days were sunny & pleasant, the nights a bit brisk--great weather compared to the constant humidity of Florida; however, everything comes with a price, right? Every morning, I began to notice waking to dry nasal passages & a drier mouth. TMI you say? Well, it made me want to share with you what we do know about dry mouth (xerostomia) and what we can do about it, regardless of where we live. Dry mouth can be caused from many different things ranging from the medications we take or the climate we live in, to the amount of stress we are under, and many more. Cavities love a dry mouth because there is a decrease in saliva flow--under normal circumstances, saliva is produced regularly and washes away bacteria, debris, etc. Without the regular flow of saliva, the bacteria stay in your mouth and produce acids that begin to eat away at your teeth, causing cavities to form. So how do we prevent dry mouth? Preventing dry mouth may be hard, especially if you are taking medications with dry mouth as a side effect; however, there are products that can help keep your mouth moist enough to decrease your risk of cavities. Biotene makes over-the-counter products, including gum, mouthwash & toothpaste. Orajel now makes a product for dry mouth also. There are also dry mouth lozenges that contain Xylitol (an ingredient that fights against cavities). As stated above, stress is also a contributing factor to dry mouth. Becase stress is linked to our autonomic nervous system, you may not be aware of a dry mouth until it becomes a chronic problem. So, if you notice yourself stressed for a short period or long period of time, remember to drink plenty of water and keep your mouth moist. If you choose to suck on candy, just remember to make it sugarless candy. As far as climate goes, well, for the most part there's not much we can do about it. But if my theory about a less humid environment causing a dry mouth is true, then staying well hydrated (w/ non-sugar beverages) would be one solution, right? Thanksgiving Feasts (November 23, 2009) As many of us gather around the table with friends and/or family this holiday season, we often reminisce about our favorite childhood dishes, and may even try to create/recreate a few. Is it the taste that creates memories in our mind or is it the memories that are first created, then associated with the flavors? Either way, Thanksgiving tends to create a sense of warmth in our hearts...and our stomachs. This year, we thought we would share our favorite dishes with you... Leslie: My cousin's Sweet Potato Casserole Shauna: Aunt Nan's Broccoli Casserole -- 3 ingredients & oh, so good! Darcy: Open-faced turkey sandwich Karen: "Mom's Special Cranberry Sauce"-- real cranberries only!! Dr. Mathias: Pecan Pie To Health & Good eats!...and a final Turkey Thought by Jack Prelutsky: "If turkey's thought, they'd run away, a week before Thanksgiving Day. But turkey's can't anticipate, and so there's turkey on my plate." Hazards of Popular Beverages (November 17, 2009) Common beverages, such as soda, coffee, tea & sports drinks can bathe your teeth in acid, sugar and coloring agents, to name a few. Sugar increases the risks of tooth decay and acid (phosphoric or citric--both found in sodas) erodes tooth enamel. Both begin to demineralize (weaken) the teeth and can cause sensitivity. Coloring agents are found in almost all beverages and stain the teeth over time; however, white wine -- even though it isn't considered a "stainer" by itself, has been known to make teeth more susceptible to staining by other beverages. If you choose to consume any of these beverages containing sugars or acids (pretty much every beverage other than water), have them with a meal, swish your mouth out with water when finished, and ... DON'T brush! As we stated earlier, the acids begin to demineralize (soften) the teeth, making them more susceptible to the abrasives in your toothpaste. It is best to wait at least 30 minutes after consuming these types of beverages before you brush -- and make sure you only use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Inexpensive Teeth Whitening (November 11, 2009) Did you know that teeth whitening can also make you more healthy? By just adding a few simple foods to your diet, you can also whiten your teeth! Apples, Carrots and Strawberries (actually the seeds), to name a few, all remove extrinsic stains from your teeth by cleaning them each time you take a bite. The fibers from celery, pears and cauliflower also help to clean your teeth when you chew. Eating more fruits & vegetables will help to remove stains over time, but for added effect, don't forget to reduce the substances that cause the stain in the first place, such as coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, and tobacco. Learning to eat more fruits & vegetables will make you more healthy, but in no way will they substitute a toothbrush! Make sure to floss once a day, brush twice a day and see your dentist at least twice a year & you will be on the fast track to not only whiter teeth, but to better health as well! Pregnancy & Periodontal Disease (September 28, 2009) Research has produced strong evidence showing that periodontal disease is linked strongly to pre-term delivery and low birth weight babies. For this reason, pregnant women are in need of seeing their dentist more frequently in an effort to increase oral hygiene during the formative 9 months of pregnancy. Pregnant women have multiple hormonal changes that effect their gums, and overall oral health. These hormonal changes effect the way gums react to the bacteria in the mouth, which is why most pregnant women experience sensitive, bleeding gums. The bacteria from periodontal disease that enters the bloodstream during pregnancy, travels to the uterus and triggers a certain type of chemical production that is suspected to cause premature labor. Good nutrition, an increased focus in oral hygiene and more frequent visits to the dentist will help to decrease the risk of further complications. If a pregnant woman feels that she is at risk of periodontal disease, she should visit her dentist to avoid any problems. |
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