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Modern Dentistry for All Ages 866-612-2733 |
Early Detection of Oral Cancer in One Easy Step
Last night, Michael Douglas announced to America that he had stage 4 throat cancer, diagnosed only 3 weeks ago. Symptoms? Yes-- pain, dry throat, hoarse voice, ear pain--all which he told to many doctors, many months ago. Only after a biopsy did they determine it was stage 4 throat cancer, attributing it to previous cigarette & alcohol use. He is now undergoing radiation & chemo treatments 5 days per week for the walnut-sized tumor located under his tongue.
Pathologies in the mouth & throat tend to grow & spread fairly quickly due to the constant reproduction of cells in the oral cavity. Most aren't even visible until they are already a stage 3 or stage 4 (the worst). Even worse, the 5 year survival rate for oral cancer is only 50%.
So why is this important? Every hour of every day in America, someone dies of oral cancer. As dental providers, we now have ways to screen for early detection of oral cancer--early enough to catch at a stage 1 (the earliest) or 2. One of these screening tools is called Velscope. It is "a technology platform based on the direct visualization of human tissue fluorescence and the changes in fluorescence that occur when abnormal tissue is present"--meaning it uses a special light filter that enables us to see beneath the tissue inside your mouth, allowing us to see any abnormalities beneath the surface (see below). Being able to see beneath the suface provides us the ability to diagnose pathologies earlier, which means a greater success rate & survival rate for the patient. If an abnormality is found via Velscope, the dentist should recommend a follow-up evaluation of the area 2 weeks later. If the area is still diagnosed abnormal via Velscope, a biopsy of the area should be recommended to determine or rule out the pathology.
No apparent lesion Irregular, dark area visible with Velscope
Biopsy-confirmed: Carcinoma in Situ (CIS)
Velscope uses a special light only--no bad tasting rinses, no brushing away of gum tissue--just a light. The dentist should be trained to diagnose abnormalities through the special filter & the entire oral cavity examination with the Velscope should take less than 2 minutes.
Did Michael Douglas see his dentist on a regular basis? I don't know. Did he have an oral cancer screening regularly? I don't know. What we do know is this...Early diagnosis is key to preventing & saving lives. So ask your dentist for a Velscope oral cancer screening at least once a year.
Unbelievable Item on Craiglist
Roger Miller’s King of the Road came to mind after I read an article about a Pennsylvania woman who put an ad on Craigslist for some used dentures. “Trailers for sale or rent, rooms to let..fifty cent”…but dentures? Really?
The story detailed how the elderly woman was on a fixed income, had medical issues & had patched her old set to the point of no repair. The ad was placed in hopes of using the used pair until a new set could be purchased. This story may sound unconventional, but unrealistic?—no.
The power of the internet is at our fingertips daily. From simple research, to purchases of all sizes, the internet seems to put everything “at arms length”….even dentistry. There are searches for providers, searches for education of dental services, even sites to bid on treatment! But remember…even though the power is at our fingertips, we must first be good stewards of the power.
Searching for a dental provider that fits you is almost like shopping for clothes. They have to fit your personality, make you feel comfortable and have the ability to create a final product you would wear. This can sometimes be a long & tedious search, so I’ve created an article titled, 10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Dentist. Answering these questions will help guide you in the direction of the dental provider that best fits you and your goals.
Unfortunately, the elderly lady did not have my article. No one responded to the Craigslist denture ad & the woman continues her search. The power of the internet reminds us that commodities can be purchased online by anyone. But a well-educated consumer knows that dentistry is not a commodity, but a value-driven service that is personally customized to each individual….so click here & do your research!
I Kid You Not!
Parity (the # of children a woman gives birth to) in 21st century America is encouraged by two things...biology & a committed relationship. As soon as a woman is in a stable relationship, or reaches a certain age, friends and family begin to push the "baby" issue. For those born in the 1920s - 1930's (the silent generation), parity was pretty much left up to biology. Those in the silent generation had numerous siblings--so much so that many had to help their parents rear them. It was not uncommon to have 10+ siblings, especially if certain religious beliefs were at play. Who knows what the population of the earth would be if contraception hadn't come along!
Although parity has decreased since the 1930's, there are still many women today who desire large families, or end up with more children than intended. They say the joy of motherhood is unparallelled, but accorrding to a recent study in the Journal of Dental Research, too much of anything can be unhealthy.
2635 US women participated in an 8yr study by the Third National Health & Nutriton Examination Survey. According to the study, women who have 4+ children have more than 3 times as many untreated dental cavities as women with fewer children. Women with 4+ children had an average of 21.7% untreated cavities, compared to 6.1% among women with fewer children. When relating the cavities to other factors (such as insurance, age, race, etc), Stefanie Russell, DDS, PhD, MPH, the lead investigator states, "Parity was related to untreated caries (cavities) regardless of socioeconomic status, although this is a particular problem among those of lower socioeconomic levels."
Another recent study in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that three-quarters of women in the analysis didn't receive routine dental care during pregnancy. They also found that higher parity was an important predictor of higher levels of cavity-causing bacteria, in addition to the # of cavities not being filled. When compared to being single, single people also had cavities that weren't filled, but had lower levels of cavity-causing bacteria.
At this point, there still isn't evidence to support associations between certain variables, but we do know that parity does increase the risk for cavities. Many women are told, or believe, that dental care during pregnancy is unsafe. This is untrue. There are many changes that happen to a woman's body during pregnancy, including her mouth--sore & inflamed gums are not uncommon. If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, visit your dentist. He/she will instruct you on how to care for your mouth during your pregnancy and conduct a complete examination of your mouth to help ensure a healthy mouth for both you and your baby.
Our parents told us more children bring more joy, yet we now know they also bring more cavities. So enjoy the children you have, but see your dentist regularly to ensure a healthy mouth & a healthy family.
The Skinny on Mini's
As new technological advancements grow bigger & bigger, the results tend to be thinner & thinner. Microwaves, iPods, TVs & even hamburges have all maintained their original functions, but have shrunk quite a bit in size.
Electronics & food aren't the only advancements making waves. The dental industry has also changed with the advancement of implants--and now mini implants. Although mini dental implants (MDI's) have been around for a couple of decades, it is only in recent years they have made their mark mainstream.
Dental implants are used to replace a missing tooth/teeth or to secure a loose denture. Mini dental implants are basically a smaller version of a traditional implant, having the same components for function (screw & abutment), just in smaller form. The screw is what anchors to the bone (replacing the original tooth root) & the abutment is attached to the screw connecting it to a crown, in the case of replacing a missing tooth. If a mini dental implant is used to secure a loose denture, chances are, there will be at least 2-4 mini implants recommended. The implant screw is still anchored into the bone, but in a denture case, a special attachment is used to connect the screw to the denture. This special attachment allows the denture to snap into place for security.
Becasue mini implants are smaller and take less time to place, they are approximately half the cost of a traditional implant. And best of all, most patients have the crown & implant, or the implants & denture placed in the same day with little to no discomfort.
In addition to providing replacement for missing teeth or security for loose dentures, both mini dental mplants & traditional dental implants provide a way to help keep your bone. Over time, if a tooth is lost & no implant has been placed, the bone shrinks and begins to cause other problems.
So if you have a missing tooth/teeth or have loose or ill-fitting dentures, contact your dentist to see if you are a candidate for mini dental implants. Your frustrations from missing teeth or loose dentures aren't shrinking, but your bone is... so call today!
Dentistry - Key Identifier in Cancer Treatment Success
Picture any visit to the doctor resulting in a converstation about the need for cancer treatment. A myriad of questions begin to form, with the primary one asking, "what do I do now?" If this ever happens to you in the future, there are two key healthcare professionals that must immediately become your best friends...your oncologist & your dentist. Your oncologist, for obvious reasons, and your dentist to help prevent serious problems.
Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are used to kill cancer cells. But these treatments also harm and/or kill normal cells as well. Some of the side effects cause serious problems in the mouth--some serious enough to delay or stop treatment. Some of these side effects include: Dry mouth, Increase in cavities, Loss of taste, Sore gums, Increased infections, Jaw stiffness & bone changes. Because the side effects often happen when a person's mouth is not healthy, it is recommended that you see a dental professional at least 2 weeks prior to undergoing any form of radiation or chemotherapy treatment.
If you don't have a dentist, ask your oncologist for a recommendation. If you do have a dentist, contact the office to schedule a quick exam and consultation. At this visit, the dentist will check your teeth, take any necessary xrays, and show you how to care for your mouth during your treatment. Make sure the dentist can contact your oncologist for questions regarding your cancer treatment. They may also want to confer regarding any dental treatments you may need prior to starting any cancer treatment.
One of the keys to cancer treatment success is looking at your mouth on a daily basis, keeping it moist with lots of water, saliva substitutes, or sugarless candies/gum, brushing & flossing daily and contacting your dentist about any mouth problems that may occur during or after cancer treatment.
Regardless of where the cancer is located in the body, your dentist is a key part of your cancer treatment success team.
A Dish Best Served Cold
Fortunately, I'm not talking about revenge...but I am referencing the coveted all-american treat of ice cream, in honor of National Ice Cream Month! This crazy commemoration was created for us by Ronald Reagan back in 1984--(you just can't beat a president with a great sense of humor....and sweet tooth!) Like many others, I assume he probably topped his favorite flavor with, you guessed it, jelly beans. Apparently jelly beans brought him much intuition & wisdom, for he once said, "You can tell a lot about a fellow's characher by the way he eats jelly beans." (He noticed some would eat only one color, while others would eat many flavors at once.) Well, I am here to tell you that you can also tell a lot about a person's teeth by the way he/she eats jelly beans (and other candy as well).
Ever experience a burning sensation in your gums or in between teeth when eating something sweet like candy? Ever experience pain or sensitivity when eating something cold like ice cream? These symptoms are indicative that there is something unhealthy about the tooth/teeth. Depending upon the severity of the pain or sensitivity, the treatment is usually something small, common & routine, such as a filling. Recognizing these symptoms early and seeing a dental professional for treatment will eliminate the pain/sensitivity, restore the teeth back to health & help ensure you don't have any suddent toothache-style interruptions to your summer. Just remember...teeth that need treatment get worse over time, which means the treatments become bigger..as does the price.
Enjoy the hot summer days with a cold beverage, a popsicle or a cold bowl of ice cream. And if you experience any pain or sensitivity when you do, contact a dental professional. The summer's long from over, so ensure you can enjoy the rest of it with a pain-free healthy mouth.
It's Hurricane Season...For Your Mouth, too!
We're one month into hurricane season and we already have Alex, our first hurricane. We are bombarded with emergency preparedness reminders for our homes, our cars, and even our pets. We are instructed to have an emergency kit for the house and car containing essential items for survival, in case of power outages or home destruction.
But what about our mouth in times of emergency? There is nothing inside the standard emergency preparedness kit for your mouth--one of the first stops in aiding survival. So here are a few suggestions to add to your emergency preparedness kit...
1) Dental Floss: Floss cleans the bacteria from between your teeth to prevent cavities from forming. During emergency situations, saliva flow will help to wash away other bacteria and food particles in your mouth until you can brush again. Dental floss is also strong ... you never know when you need to become "MacGyver."
2) DenTemp: DenTemp is a product you can find in the oral healthcare aisle of any drugstore. This product is a temporary material that will help to secure a broken restoration (crown or filling) back in place until you can seek professional dental help. It will also help to provide relief if a broken tooth occurs.
3) Mouthwash & toothbrush: Mouthwash tends to have a longer shelf-life than toothpaste & has multiple uses. Use the toothbrush to brush your teeth & use the mouthwash in lieu of toothpaste. Mouthwash is antibacterial & can be used as an antiseptic, should there be any wounds.
All three of these products will help your mouth (among other things) during emergency situations. Remember -- your mouth is the key to proper nutrition during times of survival, so make sure to add these items to your emergency kit so your house, your car AND your mouth will be perpared.
Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
Summer is finally here & we sure can feel it! Record temperatures depleting our energy, air conditioners struggling to keep up...oh, the summers of Florida. So maybe the heat isn't so bad when you consider the beauty of the nearby beaches & afternoon showers to cool things down. But let's talk teeth for a minute...is heat bad for your teeth?
Summer heat--no; Body heat--yes. There is a term called "hot tooth" used to describe a tooth causing severe pain. The pain is caused from the inflammation inside the tooth, outside the tooth, or both. The inflammation is caused by an infection within the tooth from excessive amounts of bacteria eating away at it & agitating the surrounding tissues. A "hot tooth" is generally sensitive to hot temperatures, if the nerve of the tooth has not been completely consumed by bacteria/infection, and means the tooth is getting ready to abscess. If bacteria have already consumed the nerve of the tooth, the tooth won't be sensitive to hot temperatuers, but the tooth & surrounding tissues will be very tender & "hot" (or warm) to touch. In either case, the treatment to save the tooth would be root canal therapy.
A root canal, in times past, was a long, painful procedure. Thanks to the advances in technology, a root canal is very quick & simple. How simple can it be? A root canal is just the removal of the damaged nerve from the tooth & cleaning away the infection. The hard part is getting numb. Anesthetic is delivered close to the tooth, so it gets numb quickly; however, if there is a lot of infection surrounding the tooth, the anesthetic has to travel through the infection to get to the tooth--meaning it takes longer before the tooth is numb & more anesthetic is used. For this reason, an antibiotic is often prescribed a couple of days prior to a root canal, if there is active infection. The antibiotic will help the body fight off some of the numerous amounts of bacteria causing the infection. This allows swelling & pain to decrease, helping the anesthetic to travel better.
Even though root canals are less scary then they used to be, there are ways to prevent them from occurring. Regular visits to your dentist are key. The dentist will be able to see how close bacteria is to the nerves of your teeth and can detect cavities early--before they eat away enough tooth & cause an infection, warranting root canal therapy. Remember...putting off dental treatment doesn't make the problem go away...bacteria continue to multiply and cause more problems. Catching a problem, or cavity, at its early stage means less pain & less money in the future.
So don't let a "hot tooth" spoil your already hot summer. Ensure you are free to enjoy your summer acitvities & vacations without pain by scheduling a quick check-up with your dentist.
To BP or not BP?
As the oil continues to wash closer & closer, encroaching upon the livelihood of surrounding towns, the anticipation of devastation has Gulf Coast cities low on both tourism & optimism. Military response efforts have helped defray some time & expense, helping to streamline the claims process on land & stave off the oil at sea. So how does this relate to dentistry?
Bacteria, like gushing oil, continues to multiply until something stops it or removes it. Small amounts of bacteria can be removed by a toothbrush and can die with the use of a Fluoride mouthrinse; however, small amounts of bacteria quickly multiply into large amounts of bacteria if not stopped or removed on a daily basis. The only way for bacteria to survive is to eat something nutritious—and in the mouth, nutrition comes from healthy teeth & gums.
The livelihood of a tooth is its nerve and bone. The nerve is in the middle of the tooth and it is joined to the bone at the base of the tooth. Bacteria begins eating on the outside of the tooth and migrates toward the most delicious part—the nerve. It has a great blood supply with many nutrients that keep bacteria strong & multiplying. At this point, the bacteria have eaten a hole in the tooth, are sucking the life out of the tooth by eating the nerve, and are working their way to the bone. Like the Gulf Coast communities feel the affects of the oil spill via a decrease in tourism & trade, a person’s livelihood will be affected by pain & swelling.
Dentists to the rescue! Although there is still no cure for the BP gusher, there is a cure for a person in such a condition. A dentist has the skills and tools to remove and kill the bacteria causing the acute problem so your mouth doesn’t become a “BP Situation.” The key is to see your dentist regularly so that gushers don’t continue to erupt all over your mouth.
I don’t know if BP had any foresight into the effects of their actions, but as responsible adults, we know the consequences of our own actions. If a dental professional informs you about a cavity-- in relation to BP, it means the oil is bubbling and if you don’t have it treated, it will become a gusher. If he/she suggests anything larger, (ie crown, root canal, etc), it means you already have a “BP Situation” and there is a system in place to resolve the problem. If you are told there are multiple issues throughout your mouth that need to be addressed…it means you definitely have a “BP Situation” –and in order to resolve the problem, we, as engineers will devise a plan for treatment & You, the patient, will have to join the clean-up crew.
If only BP could make it so easy…
Bad Breath & Beyond
I recently watched a segment on NBC's, The Today Show, featuring a new pet trend in China. Pet owners in China have begun masking the appearance of their domestic friends to appear like exotic animals by simply dying the pets hair. A golden retreiver was dyed to appear as a tiger; a chow was dyed to appear as a panda, etc. These cute pets appear exotic from afar, but nothing can change their "true colors" -- Underneath it all they are still domestic family pets.
So, are you thinking that's crazy? When you think about it, people try to mask things all the time. Take bad breath & chewing gum, mints, or mouthwash, for instance. How many times has someone popped a mint before speaking to someone at an event?...Or swished with mouthwash before a date? But instead of these quick fixes, what if we asked ourselves why we need these products in the first place?
Bad breath can be caused by numerous things...the food we eat, not brushing, not flossing, dry mouth, etc...but most importantly, bad breath is caused by excessive amounts of bacteria in the mouth that lead to gum disease. The bacteria that live in the mouth live on left-over food particles around the teeth and gums & in the crevices of the tongue. Like any other food left untouched for a period of time, the food particles left in the mouth begin to petrify (rot) and give off a foul odor. If you are in doubt, simply smell your floss! If your floss smells minty fresh, you probably brush & floss regularly; however, if your floss smells foul, you probably have some form of gum disease. Bacteria like to hide between your gums & teeth. The longer the bacteria stay there (due to not brushing and/or flossing), the deeper it goes--eventually deep enough so that a toothbrush or floss cannot even reach them! At this point, gum disease is active and symptoms include bleeding gums and bad breath. Left untreated, the bacteria eat away the bones and teeth...leading to tooth loss, cavities, bone loss and many other issues throughout the body, such as stroke, heart disease & pneumonia, to name a few.
Can bad breath be overcome? Absolutely!-- only with the help of a dental professional. Over-the-counter products have mint that eventually fades, but Dentists have special cleaning tools that can access areas a toothbrush can't to remove the bad bacteria & debris. They can also guide you how to prevent the gum disease from worsening. Inevitably, bad breath can be resolved with proper home care and regular visits to your dentist.
So the choice is up to you...bad breath mask or bad breath cure? The choice is yours.
Gum Disease Linked to Prostate Inflammation
A recent study from Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine & University Hospitals Case Medical Center recently reported in the Journal of Periodontology that prostate problems may be linked to the inflammation caused by gum disease. Now, we've discussed in past blogs that gum disease is basically an insurmountable amount of uncontrolled bacteria found in the mouth that continually multiplies, causing your gums to bleed, and eats away your gums, teeth & bone. We've discussed how the same bacteria that cause gum disease are also linked to heart disease, strokes, pneumonia, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, etc...and now it is linked to prostatitis.
Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate. The symptoms are painful urination, groin discomfort, abdominal pain, lower back pain, and many other "private part" pains. When a man experiences these symptoms, the medical doctor administers a PSA )prostate-specific antigen) test to measure the amount of prostate inflammation. Patients with a healthy prostate have <4.0ng/ml levels. Anything higher can be a sign of inflammatino or cancer.
In the study, 35 out of 150 patients were tested. These patients recently had biopsies performed on their prostates due to elevated PSA levels or due to the finding of cancer. The same men were also checked for gum disease. Upon review, the researchers found those with elevated PSA levels also showed signs of gum disease, concluding that when a man has gum disease, his prostatis can worsen.
The good news is that gum disease is preventable and can get better with the help of a dental professional. So according to the study, if a man's gum disease improves, so will his prostate health. The answer here is pretty simple...To help prevent prostate disease, and other diseases, just see your dentist!
Are Your Teeth On Acid?
Every morning, children across America hear the words, "Finish your orange juice...Now go brush your teeth!" Orange juice is good for the body, and brushing is good for the teeth, but orange juice (and other acidic beverages) immediately followed by brushing is catestrophic to teeth. Could mom be wrong after all these years?
Enamel Erosion- A number of studies have shown that beverages with a low pH (acidic) have an influence on the softening and erosion of tooth enamel. One of the studies exposed a cow tooth to an acidic soft drink for 5 minutes and reported that the tooth surface--after only 5 minutes--was 31% less hard. The study also reported that the tooth regained only 86% of its strength back after a 24hr period of time.
Dental Abrasion- Another study revealed that brushing teeth immediately after consuming acidic products accelerates enamel erosion. Once the enamel is softened by the acid, it becomes more susceptible to abrasions by toothbrush bristles.
Most people tend to sip their beverages, submersing their teeth for a total time of several minutes. So a recent study chose to immerse teeth at times of 5 seconds, 1 minute or 10 minutes in one of the following four beverages: Coca-Cola, Pepsi One, Diet Mountain Dew or Tropicana Pure Premium Low Acid Orange Juice. Micrographs showed that the appearance of the tooth enamel was altered after only 5 seconds. The altered appearance showed the noticeably softer enamel surface. Brushing with toothpaste induced even greater surface changes and caused some enamel to be brushed away.
So how much time should elapse after drinking acidic beverages before brushing can occur? Well, that has yet to be determined. What we do know is that the plaque around teeth becomes acidic within 2 minutes of drinking a beverage containing sugar and that more than 30 minutes must elapse before normal pH is restored. Until a protocol is determined, I tell my patients to swish with water after drinking an acidic beverage and wait 30 minutes before brushing.
All acidic beverages aren't bad for the body, but most are bad for the teeth if not cared for properly...so don't leave your teeth on acid--Swish, Wait, then Brush!
Does Size Really Matter?
I remember feeding my nephew shortly after he began eating solid foods. This child loved to play & loved to eat, which in most cases isn't a big deal; however, the quantity of food eaten was out of the ordinary. Like most active little boys, he enjoyed playing so much that eating became somewhat of a chore. In the excitement of wanting to return to playing, he would eat so quickly that the results, sometimes in whole, would show up later in his diaper.
As children, most of us can remember our parents reminding us to chew our food. I even remember my grandmother advising us to chew each bite 32 times. Well, as a child--and even as an adult, 32 times takes forever--even getting to 10 is a stretch. Most often people reference chewing longer for fear of choking, but there's another reason why we must remember to chew our food well.
Our back teeth are made for chewing. Their design and position in the mouth are all indicators for chewing. We have also known for years that digestion begins in the mouth, and not the stomach. For example, before a bite is taken, saliva is produced, which hydrates & prepares the mouth to begin digesting the food. Saliva begins this process because it contains special enzymes. When eating, back teeth come together and a great force is placed on the food, causing the food to start breaking down. The jaw moves, causing a chewing action, and the food is broken down even further. The food is swallowed and progresses into the stomach and then the small intestines, both of which continue breaking down the food into even smaller particles to aid in digestion.
Food is made up of nutrients, minerals, etc. that provide our bodies with energy and nutrition. Once food leaves the mouth, it has a limited amount of time to go from stomach, to intestine, to well, how should I say it?...porcelain. This means that if food is not chewed enough, the stomach doesn't have enough time to break it down and extract all the nutrients inside. So the stomach does what it can in the limited amount of time it has with the food and then the remaining food is sent to the small intestines to take over. Again, there's a limited amount of time in the small intestines before the food remnants are "out the door". In essence, the larger, and less chewed, pieces of food provide less nutrition for the body than the well-chewed, broken-down, smaller versions.
So the next time you prepare to take a bite of food, ask yourself...Does Size Really Matter? I think men and women would both agree that it does--At least in this case.
Are You King of the World?
98 years ago, this month, the Titanic sank. The largest ship ever built (ok, except Noah's Ark), built to withstand just about any force of nature. The design was intricate, the furnishings extravagant, and the architecture beautiful, yet it still sank. Was it due to poor workmanship? Did someone forget a nail or screw, or maybe some plumbers putty or tape? The Titanic sank the night of April 10, 1912 because it hit an iceberg. There was no major damage to the ship above the water...the decks were still clean & shiny, the equipment was still intact and the celebration continued as if nothing happened. But it was the damage to the ship below the water that quickly caused the ship to "go down" in history.
Icebergs are great visual structures that extend well below the waters surface, expanding much wider than can be seen above the water. The actual mass of ice below the surface well doubles the mass above the water. If you have ever seen a picture of an iceberg above & below the water, you know what I mean. Ships fear icebergs for the mass of ice below the surface that cannot be seen because of the magnitude of damage that can be done, including sinking a ship--even a ship such as the Titanic.
So what does this have to do with teeth? Much, in fact. Think of your teeth as an iceberg. You can see the iceberg (your tooth) that is above the water (your gums). But you cannot see the iceberg (your tooth) that is below the water (your gums). Like mineral deposits that are found in the ocean and build up on ice, boats, and rocks, we also have minerals in our saliva that build up on teeth. When you have gum disease, the bacteria in your mouth multiply and hide between your gums and teeth. This bacteria eats away at your gums and bone, detaching them from your teeth. The area between your gums and tooth, not only becomes wider, but also deeper-- Deep enough that your toothbrush can't clean out the bacteria. A sticky film begins to form (plaque), which allows the minerals in your saliva to stick to your tooth. In a healthy mouth, this wouldn't be a problem because your toothbrush bristles would brush away the plaque, minerals and bacteria, but in an unhealthy mouth the area is too deep to reach, so hard mineral deposits (like barnicles on a boat) begin to form and push your gums away even further from your tooth, allowing more bacteria to eat away at your bone. Eventually, the tooth becomes loose, an infection forms and it must be removed.
Like the Titanic, everything appears fine on the surface--your teeth don't hurt, they don't have visible cavities and they aren't falling out. But what lies beneach the surface? Are minerals and bacteria collecting beneath your gums in areas that you can no longer keep clean with a toothbrush? Will your teeth eventually fail, as the Titanic did, because of damage below the surface?
Your dentist has the answers. He/she can help you navigate a course that will ensure you never see an iceberg...and if you've already hit an iceberg, with the help of your dentist, your ship doesn't have to sink like the Titanic. If you are experiencing bad breath, receding gums, or bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, contact your dentist and schedule an appointment for an exam. If you have already been told you have gum disease, ensure you keep your teeth by seeing your dentist regularly. This may mean special visits with the hygienist every 3-4 months to decrease the bacterial load in your mouth. Either way, if keeping your teeth is of importance, contact your dental provider, schedule an appointment & let them know your concerns.
With today's dental technology & skill, coupled with patient compliance, there's no doubt you can remain...King of the World!
Have Your Cake & Eat It, Too!
Everyone knows that sugar is bad for your teeth, but now there is a natural sweetener, called Xylitol, that not only tastes great, but is good for your teeth as well.
Xylitol has been used for years as a sweetener for diabetics, but only recently got the recognition it deserves, after debuting as a tooth aide, in chewing gum. Xylitol is a natual substance that your own body produces and can also be found in many fruits and vegetables. It tastes sweet like sugar, but doesn't give you the "low" that sugar does because it is absorbed slowly by your body.
So why is it good for your teeth? Xylitol has been shown to counteract cavity formation, making it a great product in keeping your teeth healthy. Many products now contain this natural sweetener as its primary sweetener. These products include gum, mints, candies and desserts, to name a few. Xylitol can also be purchased as a cooking replacement for sugar.
The process of chewing causes saliva flow to increase, which washes away extra bacteria in your mouth, which is why chewing gum, when you can't brush after a meal, is ideal. But chewing sugarless gum that contains Xylitol is the best option. The chewing motion will increase saliva flow to decrease the bacteria in your mouth, and the Xylitol will help to further fight the effects of cavities and make your teeth stronger.
Some people take medications that cause their mouth to get dry. If you are one of those people, make sure to pop a mint or candy that contains Xylitol to help you fight the effects of decay and moisten your mouth at the same time.
Sweets & desserts have come to have a negative connotation due to their high sugar content. But now that Xylitol is a comparable option, we can all feel somewhat better about having our cake & eating it, too.
Can You Spare a Square?
The long-eared, beloved, Easter candy favorite--The Chocolate Bunny--is a friend of the healthcare industry this year. A recent study reports that small doses of chocolate (~6g), eaten every day, could decrease your risk of heart attack or stroke by ~40%.
Six grams of chocolate equates to ~1 square of a chocolate bar. But who can eat only 1 square? Or can we... as the famous Seinfeld episode put it...Spare a Square?
If one square decreases heart attack or stroke risk by 40%, would the consumption of even more chocolate put us at an even lower risk for these diseases? Brian Buijsse, a nutritional epidemiologist at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Nuthetal, Germany and the study's lead author states, "It's a bit too early to come up with recommendations that people should eat more chocolate, but if people replace sugar or high-fat snacks with a little piece of dark chocolate, that might help."
On the contrary, Dr. Robert Eckel, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado and past president of the American Heart Association states, "This is not a prescription to eat more chocolate. If we all had a small amount of chocolate every day for the rest of our lives, we would all gain a few pounds." (And as we have all been cautioned, weight gain increases heart attack and stroke risk, right?)
So what is a chocolate lover to do? The one element I do think these doctors would agree on is, "Everything in Moderation." Not too much sugar and not too much chocolate. As the Easter Holiday approaches and you start reaching for the cadbury eggs or the long-eared chocolate bunny, just ask yourself..."Can I spare a square?"
Brush Away Insomnia
A friend of mine recently brought to my attention a product he had tried...by accident. This product tasted great & brought about a great night's sleep. So what was the product? Move over Tylenol PM, Hello Pearly Dreams, a natural sleep aid & toothpaste in one.
Last year, a New York dentist, in the effort to benefit his jet-lagged & busy clientele, created a toothpaste that not only cleans your teeth, but induces sleep! Pearly Dreams combines Melatonin with 3 organic extracts: Valerian, Passion Flower & Balm Mint.
Melatonin is a hormone produced by your body to help regulate the body's own sleep pattern. As a person ages, the level of Melatonin produced decreases, causing insomnia, amongst other things. Combining Melatonin with Valerian, Balm Mint & Passionflower (herbal remedies known for treating nervous tension & sleep disorders) makes Pearly Dreams one of the most effective sleep aids on the market.
Skeptical? So was my friend. When he first found out about the product, he ordered a tube to see if it really worked. When the tube arrived, he put it away with his other toothpaste, with the intent of using before retiring to bed. That evening, before his evening stroll, he brushed his teeth as usual. It wasn't until mid-stroll...as his eyes became heavy and he started to feel tired, that he realized he had brushed with Pearly Dreams! Needless to say, he has been telling the world ever since!
In 2008, the National Sleep Foundation conducted a poll that showed 65% of American adults reported trouble sleeping at least one night per week and only 7% of these respondents cited the use of over-the-counter sleep aids.
We know that a continuous lack of sleep can cause many diseases, disorders & symptoms such as weight gain, depression, heart disease, stroke & premature aging, to name a few. So why don't more people use over-the-counter sleep aids? Studies liken it to possible side effects of these medications, such as dependency, addiction, drowsiness, etc. Because Pearly Dreams uses a sleep-aid your body already produces (Melatonin) and combines it with herbal remedies, there are virtually no negative effects reported...just the positive ones...like a well needed, good nights sleep.
Pearly Dreams is non-addictive & is absorbed through the oral tissues as you brush and won't hurt if you ingest it. It doesn't contain fluoride and can be combined with other toothpastes and oral rinses. If you are currently taking a prescription sleep-aid, consult your doctor before using Pearly Dreams.
To see if Pearly Dreams is right for you, contact your dentist. Why not brush away insomnia & make brushing an efficient part of your day?
Dental Health: Mission Impossible?
The death of Peter Graves, 84, brings about much sadness. We all know Peter Graves from numerous movies & TV shows he was in for nearly 60yrs. My favorite was Mission Impossible. The opening of each episode would reveal a taped mission that would self-destruct within seconds of being played.
In today's time, we are living longer--60 is the new 40, 70 is the new 50, and as you may have guessed, 84 is the new 64. So the death of Peter Graves at 84 seems relatively young. Could we possibly be self-destructing, just as the tapes in Mission Impossible?
In dentistry, we know of 2 main elements that will drastically reduce your life -- losing teeth and gum disease. Studies have proven that people who lose their teeth will reduce their life by 7-10yrs. And as stated in previous posts, studies have also shown that gum disease leads to heart attacks and/or stroke, which of course, decreases your lifespan as well.
So could Peter Graves have prevented his heart attack & lived to make 100 the new 80? I don't know, but maybe his dentist does. Seeing your dentist regularly can certainly help you achieve the health & longevity you deserve and desire. Sometimes dental health can seem like a Mission Impossible, but with the help of your dentist, 100 can definitely become the new 80.
Flu-Related Complications Linked to Gum Disease
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.