Posted by drgracesun on August 29, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, General Dental Knowledge, Healthy Smile, Information | 
The economy has not yet recovered, and although we are out of the darkest corners of the recession 
, uncertainty still looms! Where should we put our money, where should we invest – what about investing in your smile? Believe it or not, taking care of problems you may have thought of as cosmetic (like a missing tooth) can actually prevent facial sagging and other signs of aging, while improving your quality of life.
It shouldn’t be news to hear that polls done over the last few decades have proven that a person’s smile is one of the biggest factors that make a first impression. A survey done by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 74% of American adults believe an unattractive smile can harm a person’s chances of career success. Does your smile show your true colors? If it doesn’t, speak with your dental professional about what options you might be eligible for in terms of cosmetic dentistry.
As we get older, our teeth shift around (and our smiles often degrade). This is primarily due to improper care of the oral cavity , including poor brushing and flossing habits (as well as not visiting your dental hygienist twice annually) or habits of drinking and smoking or clenching , grinding teeth at sleep. What you may not realize is that many of the most common aging symptoms – wrinkled skin, a slacked jaw, sagging lips – are partially caused by an unhealthy facial muscular system that did not provide proper support to the facial structure! As we clench and grind, our teeth shift and our bite falls out of alignment, contributing to many of the problems listed above. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry can help prevent or repair some of these problems and restore our facial muscular system to its proper health and harmony, freshening up our appearance and providing a healthier oral system.
A bright and beautiful smile can take five to ten years off of your appearance, boosting your self esteem and empowering you to have a go-get-it attitude: a good thing in today’s economic environment! Speak with your dental professional today about your smile to find out what treatment options are available to you. Remember, prevention is always the best medicine. It’s always cheaper and easier to take care of problems before they exist!
Posted by drgracesun on under Information, Nutrition and Diet, Smart Smile |
When our lives our simple, we are generally happier: less stress, more fun! Leading a relatively simple lifestyle (which means eating right, exercising, not overworking, getting to bed on time and all that jazz) will leave you feeling better rested and more alive. As if that wasn’t enough of an incentive, a healthy lifestyle will also result in a fatter wallet.
It’s a sad fact that we consume far more food than our parents (and grandparents!). The average American drinks more soda than water, and considering how big those drinks have grown over the years – a 64oz Big Gulp being a standard drink size at gas station convenience stores – it’s no wonder we’re the second fattest nation in the world (Australia takes the cake)! Many young people would rather drink a Diet Coke than eat a meal, and because carbonated colas are mostly sugar and empty calories, our bodies struggle every day to get the nutrients they need from natural, raw foods. Not only do they provide functional stimulation to your teeth and gums, but natural foods also nourish our body and keep our physiological systems running smoothly.
Studies have shown that a person’s consumption of carbohydrates (be it sugar, corn syrup or grain) are directly tied to a person’s ability to maintain their weight and overall health. According to a study by Dr. Mercola, if you eat out on a regular basis (because most restaurant foods are both fatty and preservative-laden), you are “slashing decades off your lifespan and increasing the likelihood of having to rely on expensive and potentially toxic drugs to treat the symptoms that will result from not eating healthy.”
The key message here is to live a healthy lifestyle by eating right, exercising, leading a positive attitude and maintain good habits and hygiene. Brush and floss after every meal. Keeping your oral cavity clean will help to keep the rest of your body running smoothly, as oral health is systemically linked to your other bodily systems (as we have learned, a dirty and plaque-ridden mouth can lead to heart disease, amongst other ailments). Live healthy and you will be one step closer to living wealthy!
Tags: diet, health, healthy, life, lives, nutrition, obesity, oral, peace, simple, well being, wellness
Posted by drgracesun on August 9, 2009 under Gum Disease and Treatment, Healthy Smile, Hygiene |
Did you know that dental diseases like periodontitis and even cavities are the most common diseases – apart from the common cold? It may surprise you, but enough people neglect their oral hygiene enough to make this an extremely common ailment, even though it’s an easily-preventable situation! These numbers are so high because most people who have some form of gum or tooth disease have no knowledge of it – and with 75% of the population having some form of periodontal disease, you must take careful attention when cleaning your mouth.
Dental decay is not much of an issue in modern society (thanks to fluoridated water and toothpaste), but a proper hygiene routine is still necessary to prevent gum disease and/or cavities. Brushing and flossing is essential, as this both cleans the smooth surfaces of the teeth, and also helps break up food particles and plaque in between the teeth and gum line. Gum disease starts in between the teeth, and some toothbrushes can’t reach critical areas necessary to be cleaned to prevent bacteria from growing.
Although gingivitis – the bacterial infection that invades your gums – is reversible, periodontitis is gum and bone disease, and is not irreversible! Because periodontal disease is so serious, and can only be managed under the strict supervision of a dental professional, it is important to understand just how periodontal disease can affect you. This disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other degenerative diseases that can be life threatening! I’ve blogged about periodontitis before, and I can’t stress enough how important and serious it can be to have regular cleanings and check-ups from a dental professional twice yearly. Periodontal disease can disfigure even the most beautiful of smiles. Your gums can be so swollen, receded and bloody that your teeth will look longer, will become loose and eventually will need removal. If you detect gum disease early, you will need a management program that includes regular treatment with your dentist and/or hygienist and solid home care to manage the disease.
Root planing and scaling is the common form of soft tissue management treatment, when a hygienist or dentist uses a precise tool to detoxify the tooth surfaces below the gum line and in between each tooth, and then rinses with antiseptic . With advanced technology, laser energy can also be utilized to remove diseased tissues and eliminate bacteria to allow healing to take place. Your dental professional will discuss the best treatment plan for you – a routine cleaning is not enough by itself to treat periodontal disease! You may need to visit your dental hygienist more often, up to four times per year in order to properly manage the disease. On a daily basis, a solid home care program (which should be designed by you and your dentist) will help you maintain your oral health. Besides brushing and flossing after every meal, other tools like prescription tooth brushes (like Rotadent) and water irrigators (like Hydrofloss) could be helpful for your hygiene routine. Antiseptic rinses like Tooth and Gum Tonic Herbal Rinse, a healthy diet and/or supplements and antioxidants like vitamin C and B can also help to fight and manage gum disease. Healthy gum supports a healthy smile, which supports a healthy body!
Tags: brush, cavities, cavity, clean, disease, diseases, floss, gum, hygiene, perio, periodontis, periodontitis, routine, tooth
Posted by drgracesun on under Gum Disease and Treatment, Healthy Smile, Hygiene |
Healthy gum appears pink and firm. Brushing and flossing in the healthy stages of gum tissue will be a pleasant experience and there will be no bleeding. This is the phase that all gum tissue should be in if it is healthy and clean. Once gingivitis sets in (the beginning stages of gum disease), gums will take on a red and puffy look, and bleed easily upon brushing and flossing. Once gum disease progresses, the chances of returning to a healthy condition deceases drastically – once gum tissue has reached the advanced level, it is likely past of the point of no return and will result in tooth loss. Periodontal disease is the #1 reason of tooth loss.
Healthy gums and teeth
Gingivitis, which is the early stage of gum disease, if treated professionally (with an implemented solid home care program), gum can return to be healthy again without further consequences. So how do we categorize the stages of gum disease (besides the clinical characteristics)? A bleeding index and dental radiographs help, along with periodontal probing depths, which are universally used as guide to diagnose and monitor the progress of the treatment and condition of gum disease. The periodontal probing depths are obtained with a read-out, by lightly inserting a needle (thin and finely marked instrument) sliding between the space between the gum and tooth.
The stage of gingivitis.
Gingivitis, could have a normal pocket reading of 0 to 3 mm. Gum will be red, puffy, and tender, it will bleed easily and possibly exhibit bad breath and bad taste.
Early (mild) periodontitis will show a pocket reading range from 3 t o 5 mm. At this stage, gum gets more tender, bleeds more easily, and there is always looming bad breath and bad taste. At this stage of gum disease, immediate attention and treatment is required if there is any chance of reversing the condition to an easily-manageable and healthy state.
Mild Periodontitis
Moderate Periodontitis is characterized by a periodontal pocket depth of 5-7mm. Gum tissue may become even redder and puffier, it will bleed easily, and bad breath and bad mouth taste are constant.Often times teeth may begin to look longer as gum tissue recedes, and gum boils or abscesses may develop. Front teeth may begin to drift apart showing space or becoming loose.
Moderate Periodontitis
Advanced Periodotitis gets a pocket measurement of more than 7 millimeters, and may progress to 11 or 12 mm, indicating that bone and connective tissues have been continuously destroyed. This is the terminal stage of gum disease. If a patient has just been diagnosed with advanced periodontitis and the teeth are still firm (pockets are less than 9mm, with longer roots, and more localized condition), then there is possibility that with gum surgery and graft, bone regeneration still is possible. Keep in mind however, that the prognosis is guarded. In most situations, advanced periodontitis will result in tooth loss. Replacement implant therapy or other restorative options will be advised.
Advanced Periodontitis
Remember that prevention is the best treatment, especially for gum disease. You are the person who can best take care of yourself, be disciplined with your home care program (including hygiene) and schedule regular check-ups with both your dentist and dental hygienist who can help you stay away of big problems.
Tags: brush, brushing, disease, floss, flossing, gingivitis, gum, gums, healthy routine, hygiene, oral cavity, perio, periodontis, periodontitis, tissue
Posted by drgracesun on August 2, 2009 under General Dental Knowledge, Healthy Smile, Hygiene, Information, Nutrition and Diet, Smart Smile, Technology |
You are what you eat! Your body can only repair, regenerate and replenish itself from what you put into your body; it’s a continuous cyclic phenomenon. A healthy diet is essential to maintaining a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy smile.
We have learned about the food pyramid and how a balanced diet can keep our body and mind healthy.We need carbohydrates like grains, fruits and vegetables to supply energy to the body and maintaining normal blood glucose level, cellulose fiber will regulate our internal systems to eliminate waste and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease and colon cancer. Protein (with its Greek root meaning “of primary importance”) including meats, fish, dairy and beans are essential to build and repair our body components. Protein builds muscle, normalizes the immune system and body function. Fats are needed to build our cell walls and conduct our neural transmissions. Lipids maintain the structure and support of our organs.Vitamins and minerals will optimize our health and prevent diseases. Finally, we should always keep our body well hydrated, because water is the single most major component of our body and cells.
Oral health is part of bodily health. For healthy oral tissues like gum and bone, we need the same healthy diet to prevent cavities, which also requires hygiene upkeep. The digestive process starts the moment you begin to eat. Bacteria in the mouth convert sugars from the foods you eat to acids, which although are helpful in breaking down your food, also begins to attack the enamel on teeth, starting the decay process. If you snack frequently, you are exposing your teeth to cyclic decay. Obviously, habits like this are detrimental to your oral health. Brush and floss twice daily, and after meals. Any less frequently could mean serious problems for your oral health!
Many of us live in a fast paced life and many young people’s diet are lacking the greens. Fruits and vegetables are important to our health for many reasons – they contain fiber in whole foods, and they contain phytonutrients, which are plant based nutrients (in the numbers of 20,000 or more), all of which work together to ensure our health. Alpha-carotene, lycopene, and a number of the other carotenes give our fruits and vegetables their rich vibrant colors, but they also help make our skin strong, our organs functioning well and they keep our immune system in check. Their antioxidant properties will also help our periodontal tissues to resist breaking down. When combined with fine proteins, they will help to repair and regenerate our soft oral tissues. Eat healthy, and preserve your body, your smile and your life!
Tags: bodily, diet, eat, food, health, healthy, hygiene, meal, nutrient, nutrition, oral, organic, supplement, vitamin
Posted by drgracesun on under Information |
Let me start by saying that – for some of you – this post may seem a bit silly. However, I get questions in my office about enamel , the white coating of our teeth that the outer layer is made of. Some people confuse the definition “enamel.” Is this enamel the same as that enamel? What is enamel, and how can you keep the different types straight?
Tooth enamel is the hardest and most highly mineralized material in a mammal’s body. 92- 96% of enamel consists of minerals (hydroxyapatite, a phosphate and calcium salt) with the remaining part being water and organic material. Enamel makes up the shiny hard outer layer of a tooth for protecting dentin and pulp , while at the same time carrying out the function of chewing and grinding our food. When you brush your teeth in the morning and at night (and after every meal – hint hint!), you are in fact brushing enamel. The normal color of enamel varies from light yellow to grayish white. At the edges of teeth where there is no dentin underlying the enamel, the color sometimes has a slightly blue tone. Since enamel is semitranslucent, the color of dentin and any restorative dental material underneath the enamel strongly affects the appearance of a tooth.
One day I was asked “why can’t we use bathtub enamel to fix tooth decay, since it is a cavity on the enamel?” Well, in an effort to permeate some inquiring minds, here are a few other types of enamel – which should never be confused with tooth enamel! Vitreous enamel is the colorful result of fusing powdered glass to a decorative object (usually metal, glass or ceramic tile) by firing, usually between 750 and 850 degrees Celsius. The powder melts and hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating used in aesthetic applications, such as decorative work. This technique of applying enamel to add color or texture was originally mastered by the ancient Egyptians! Enamel paint is a type of liquid paint that gives a brilliant glossy shine when cured, and is especially useful in attention-grabbing mediums (such as street signs, door painting and road markers). The term “enamel paint” can also mean an object that is covered in an oil-base paint, but recently has come to include latex-and-water based paints.
Yes, it’s true that there are several different uses of the word “enamel,” but don’t confuse the brilliant white enamel of your teeth with enamel paint or decorative enamel!
Tags: color, enamel, glass, layer, metal, mineral, mineralized, paint, semitranslucent, teeth, tooth, translucent, vitreous, white
