Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums. This is the initial stage of gum disease, and the earliest to treat.

Gingivitis is due to a long term effects of plaque deposits. Plaque is a sticky material made up of bacteria, mucus, and food debris that develops on the exposed parts of the tooth.'

Ways to reduce Gingivitis is to have your teeth cleaned on a regular bases. Brush and floss everyday, along with using a mouth rinse.

If you start noticing any of these symptoms consult with your dentist....

• bleeding of the gums
• bright red or red-purple appearance to gums
• mouth sores
• swollen gums
• gums that are tender to touch
  

Black Hairy Tongue

What Is It?

The surface of your tongue has hundreds of tiny, fingerlike bumps called papillae. Your taste buds are scattered among these bumps. The papillae grow constantly, and the top layer of cells normally wears away. In some people, these cells do not wear away. The papillae grow unusually long.
When this occurs, the papillae easily trap normal debris and bacteria. The bacteria multiply, producing a dark or "black" area on the tongue. It's called black hairy tongue because the overgrown papillae look hairy or furry.
This condition is not cancer. It's also not an infection. It's something like moss growing on a rock.
The cause of black hairy tongue is not known. It's not common in healthy people. When it does occur in healthy people, it's very mild.
However, some people have a higher risk of developing the condition. Not taking good care of your teeth and gums is by far the most common factor that can lead to black hairy tongue. You also have a higher risk if you:
* Smoke
* Take some types of antibiotics (which can upset the balance of bacteria in your mouth)
* Receive chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy for head and neck cancer
* Have uncontrolled diabetes or other conditions that affect the entire body

Find out more about it here such as;

Symptoms
Diagnosis
Expected Duration
Prevention
Treatment When To Call a Professional
Prognosis

Start your Monday off with a little humor...

Jokes Pertaining to Dentistry;


~ A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald's. He noticed that they had ordered one meal, and an extra drink cup. As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them. Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife. The old man then began to eat, and his wife sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap. The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn't have to split theirs. The old gentleman said, "Oh no. We've been married 50 years, and everything has always been and will always be shared, 50/50."The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied... "Not yet...It's his turn with the teeth!"


~ A patient sits in the dental chair with severely fractured front teeth. After discussing how they will be restored and what the fee would be the patient says," Before we begin, Doc, I gotta know: Will I be able to play the trumpet when you are finished? "The dentist replies " Sure you will! "The patient replies " Great, I couldn't play a note before!"


~ Patient: Doctor, I am very nervous. You know, this is my first extraction. Young dentist: Don’t worry, it's my first extraction too.


Find more here!

Sunburn Relief

According to medbroadcast.com there are 17 items you can use to cool that burn. Most of us are all too familiar with the basics, aloe vera and ibuprofen. Corn starch and talcum powder, are well known to prevent chaffing and cool those sunburned areas, where the sun hardly shines. Bathing your sunburn in cool water with baking soda, vinegar or oatmeal also works well to zap the heat of your sunburn.
For those of you that appreciate the herbal remedies, witch hazel, lavender and eucalyptus are among some favorites.

Article found here.

Financing Your Dental Treatment Plan

Ok, so you've just been to the dentist and found out that you need thousands of dollars of restorative work. You have what we commonly refer to as "sticker shock". You know that you don't have that kind of money just laying around......Whether you are in need of restorative work or cosmetic dentistry, there are a variety of creative financing plans available to help. Dentistry is among the most expensive in healthcare, with costs rising even as the economy is failing. Here are some suggestions for those who are in need of major restorative work, but who cannot afford the out of pocket expense.
First of all, make sure you have good dental coverage (a good dental plan used in conjunction with your credit plan will go a long way toward lowering the costs, thereby making your money go farther.)
Here are some credit organizations to consider:

• Care Credit Healthcare Plan is a financing company that is offered by GE Money Company. It offers financing for personal healthcare, i.e. dental, (cosmetic or restorative) vision care, surgical procedures, (and just FYI) there is financing available for pet care as well! This option does require that you qualify for a loan. Click here to read more....
  
• Capital One Healthcare Finance offers financing for Dental, Vision, Cosmetic Surgery, Fertility and more. Again, this option requires that you qualify for financing. Read more....
  
• All Care Financing is a program that offers dental financing with a variety of payment options. According to their website, they have high approval rates! If you think you may have a problem qualifying for a loan, this one may be the one to try. Here's the link....

Unfortunately, there are many who may not qualify for financing. Don't be discouraged. The options may be limited, but they are available if you are resourceful! There are still dentists out there who will arrange payment plans with a patient. Additionally, dental school clinics are a consideration, as they can perform most procedures at discounted fees and all work is done under supervised conditions.
Believe it or not, there is something out there for everyone in the way of affordable dental care!

Tooth Discoloration ~ Prevention

Brushing your teeth after every meal will help to prevent some stains. Dentists recommend that you rinse your mouth with water after having wine, coffee or other drinks or foods that can stain your teeth. Regular cleanings by a dental hygienist also will help to prevent surface stains.
Intrinsic stains that are caused by damage to a nerve or blood vessel in a tooth sometimes can be prevented. You may need to have root canal treatment to remove the inner part of the tooth (the pulp) before it has a chance to decay and darken. However, teeth that undergo root canal treatment may darken anyway. To prevent intrinsic stains in children, avoid overexposure to fluorides.

Read more about it here such as;

What Is It?
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Expected Duration
Treatment
When To Call a Professional
Prognosis
Additional Info

Vitamin D Deficiency-Can It Affect Your Teeth?

Vitamin D controls almost every cell in the human body, and is a very potent stimulator of the immune system as a whole. It is the only vitamin that is also a hormone! Vitamin D is essential to the absorption of Calcium, as well as many other nutrients. When the body cannot absorb these nutrients, it can impact your overall health and, just as importantly, the health of your teeth and gums. Many people are not aware that they have a deficiency...Vitamin D deficiency is easily detected, but rarely tested for on a routine basis.

Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency can include bone loss, (which can lead to periodontal disease), also fatigue, depression, stroke, heart disease (which has also been linked to periodontal disease) and even weight loss!

Good sources of Vitamin D are: Fish (Salmon and Tuna) Milk (fortified) Eggs, (yolk contains the vitamin) and Sunlight! 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight per day is recommended.

If you are over the age of 50, discuss the possibility of routine testing for Vitamin D deficiency with your doctor. It is estimated that 10,000,000 Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis.

Clean Teeth, Healthy Heart?

INTELIHEALTH - There may be yet another reason to brush your teeth: protecting your heart.
British researchers used information from a Scottish national survey. It involved 11,869 adults. People were asked how often they brushed their teeth. During the next 8 years, 555 of the people had a heart attack, stroke or other heart or blood vessel problem.
People who said they "never" or "rarely" brushed their teeth had a 70% higher risk of a heart problem than people who brushed more often.
The research also looked to see if brushing was linked with inflammation. A protein in the blood can be measured to see if inflammation is present. This blood protein is C-reactive protein, or CRP. High levels of CRP have been linked with an increased risk of heart attack.
In the study, people who brushed their teeth less often had higher levels of CRP.
The research does not mean that poor oral hygiene causes heart problems, however. It may be that people who neglect their teeth tend to have a higher risk of heart problems for other reasons. These could include poor diet, lack of exercise or excess weight. The study did not look at these factors.
Other studies have found links between periodontal disease and heart problems. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. It causes inflammation. The body's response to the periodontal infection may contribute to heart disease. People with this condition have been shown to have a 19% higher overall risk of heart disease. In people under 65, the risk increase is 44%.
The study appears in the May 27 issue of the British Medical Journal.



Article found here.