Smoking Causes More Than Bad Breath

Quitting smoking isn't easy, but there is another reason why you should make the effort to quite. Smoking causes more than just bad breath, it can lead to oral cancer - which includes the mouth, throat, salivary glands, tongue, and lips.

Early signs of oral cancer include lumps, red or white patches inside the mouth, difficulty chewing, swallowing numbness in the mouth, thickening of the cheeks, and voice changes.

Oral cancer's top risk factor is tobacco whether its from smoking or chewing.

To help prevent oral cancer you should visit your dentist regularly for check-ups, and keep up on your oral routine at home by brushing and flossing daily.

Your Dental Visit - An Exercise in Patience

We've all heard (and are tired of hearing) the term "new normal".  It is an unfortunate but inevitable circumstance of the COVID-19 pandemic. Doctors and dentists have had to rearrange their scheduling, their staff and their sanitation practices to be in compliance with the FDA, ADA & others.  Here are some things you might expect when you visit the dentist for the first time since the pandemic began:

• Longer wait times for appointments, especially routine appointments
• You will probably need to wear a mask until you are in the chair
• Dr.'s and staff will be wearing extra protection
• You may not be able to have another person present for your visit
• Expect to have your temperature checked 
• Expect to be asked to wait in your car until your appointment time.

While many of you will just be expecting a routine exam and cleaning, many others have waited for months for root canals, crowns and fillings. It is likely that they will hold priority, so for routine care, you may have to wait for a couple of months.  

Of course, your patience is appreciated!  Try to be understanding of the delays and remember that this is not the fault of the dentist or his/her staff.  

Keep Smiling!

Natural Ways To Heal Canker Sores

We all know how uncomfortable and painful canker sores can be.  I'm sure you have tried Orajel and Canker-X to help heal the pain but have you tried any natural remedies? 

Listed below are some natural remedies to help heal those painful sores:

• Alum Powder (kitchen spice) - Place a small amount of alum directly on the sore, allow it to sit for 1 minute then spit out. *Do not swallow*
• Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) - Soak a cotton ball in ACV and apply it to the sore.
• Vitamin E - Open a vitamin E casual and apply directly to the sore.
• Aloe Vera - Put some fresh aloe Vera juice on the sore 3-4 times a day.

Hopefully, with the help of these, you will get some relief from the pain and discomfort.

To help prevent canker sores you should brush your teeth after every meal and floss twice a day to keep your mouth free of food particles that trigger these painful sores.

If you still end up with a canker sore, use a soft toothbrush such as a perio-toothbrush to prevent irritation while brushing and avoid toothpaste and mouth rinses that contain sodium lauryl sulfate. 

The Great Toothbrush Dilemma - Soft or Medium

When you go to store to buy a new toothbrush, the dilemma begins. What kind of brush do you buy? Soft bristle, Medium Bristle, Extra Soft? So many choices!! Well, the answer is quite simple. First of all, just know that a hard bristle brush (you know, the kind that could almost double as a BBQ grill cleaner) are few and far between and hard to find anymore. For most people, the soft brush is a good fit, but let's compare them so you can decide for yourself.

Soft Bristle: This is what the majority of people will use. The bristles are firm enough to effectively clean your teeth and loosen anything that is stuck in your teeth as well. The soft bristles are designed to be easy on your gum line and will reduce the chance of getting cuts.

Medium Bristle: The need for a medium brush is rare. First, if you have sensitivity in your gums you will want to stay away from it so you can avoid irritation. This is a good fit for someone who is a "soft brusher". Which means if the pressure you put on your brush is really light, then the medium bristles will counteract that.

Extra-Soft: This brush is key for people that have sensitive teeth and gums. The bristles are soft enough to avoid irritation.

Make sure that you consult with your dentist about which brush is recommended for you!

As always, keep smiling!

Dental Problems Linked To Breast Cancer

Attention Women: Studies have shown that periodontal disease has been liked to breast cancer in women. This study was done in October of 2010 in Huddinge, Sweden. This study consisted of 3,000 women between the ages of 30-40 years. For more details on this study click here.

Bacteria that are found in periodontal disease, can affect the entire body's blood supply. This infection then sets off co-infections that an already weakened immune system has to fight, leaving it to suppressed (weak) to fight off cancer cells.

Periodontal Disease is also liked to heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and many others.

It is very important that everyone takes care of their oral health. Brushing and flossing on a regular bases, also combined with regular dental cleanings.

Here are some signs of periodontal disease:

1. Bad Breath
2. Painful Chewing
3. Sensitive Teeth
4. Bleeding Gums

Stem Cell Dental Implants?

Could traditional implants and dentures be a thing of the past?

Imagine going to the dentist, having a tooth extracted and finding out that you can simply grow another in it's place; with a little help from science, that is.  It may be the way of the near future....it may even be cheaper than implants (and we all know that the full process for an implant can take up to 6 months, right?)  Apparently this new process of growing a new tooth can be done in only 9 weeks.  Unbelievable!

Here is a link to an article that explains the science behind it, and the process.  Amazing.

Now if they could only come up with a way to do an extraction that is non-invasive...well, one can dream, right?

Keep Smiling!  

Benefits Of Straight Teeth!

Many people think that having straight teeth means you have a perfect smile, but did you know that there are many different benefits of having straight teeth? Below is a list of reasons why you may want to look into getting braces!

1. Better Brushing - Overlapping teeth can trap food and straight teeth allow easier brushing/flossing.
2. Clear Speech - Crooked teeth can cause many speech impediments.
3. Easier Eating - Crooked, crowded teeth compromise chewing.
4. Less accident-prone teeth - Protruding teeth are more prone to breaking also mouthguards may not fit correctly.
5. Fewer headaches - Uneven wear puts pressure on the jaw resulting in chronic headaches.
6. Improved gum health - Lower risk of gum disease.
7. Better overall health - Tooth decay and gum disease is linked to heart disease and high blood sugar.
8. Affordable dental care - Few issues mean few expensive treatments.
9. Lower risk of soft tissue injury's - Cuts sores and infections can result from crooked teeth pushing against soft tissues in the mouth.
10. Self-Esteem - Confidence in any situation!

If you are interested in getting straight teeth, contact an orthodontist!!

The Many Benefits of Digital X-Rays

Technology is such a wonderful thing!  We've definitely come a long way in the advancement of diagnostics and diagnostic tools in both the medical field and the dental field.  Some may ask what the benefit is of digital x-rays vs. traditional x-rays.  Well, in terms of preventive care,  the difference is huge!  The following are some points of interest regarding digital x-ray machines.

     ~ The images produced by a digital machine are a much higher quality.
     ~ The images can be adjusted so that the doctor can see imperfections in the teeth early in            the diagnostic process.
     ~ There is significantly less radiation with a digital x-ray, which limits your exposure.
     ~ There is no chemical developer involved .
     ~  The images can be transferred from one office to another via email, saving time for the                doctor and the patient.

On the flip side,  the only real negative aspect to this is the cost of the machine, which falls on the dentist. A digital x-ray machine is very expensive.  Consequently, many practitioners do not have them available as yet.  More and more, however,  it is becoming a regular fixture in dental offices throughout the US.  Ask your dentist if digital x-rays are part of their routine.  It's a better option all the way around!

Keep Smiling!!!