Redheads feel more pain! New research published in the July 09 Journal of The American Dental Association found that painful experiences at the dentist might cause more anxiety for men and women with red hair, who were twice as likely to avoid dental care than people with dark hair. Red-headed children or adults might avoid dental visits and might be at a higher risk of affecting their dental health!
A child that has an unfounded fear of the dentist (or even a founded one, instilled by parents who aren’t very fond of their dentist or past experiences in the dental chair) are common, however due to a scientific quirk (thanks to mother nature), redheaded individuals do feel pain more intensely than non-red-headed persons. These extra sensitivities to pain might lead to negative experiences with dental visits, which as being parental health care providers, we should be aware of these phenomena.
There are two studies that exist. In 2004, research showed that people withred hair need twenty percent more general anesthesia than blonds or brunettes. A 2005 study indicated that redheads are more sensitive to thermal pain and are more resistant to the effects of local anesthesia. Researchers believe variants of the melanocortin-1 receptor gene play a role. This MC1R gene produces melanin, which gives skin, hair and eyes their color.
While blond, brown and black-haired people produce melanin, those with red hair have a mutation of this receptor. It produces a different coloring called pheomelanin, which results in freckles, fair skin and ginger hair. About 5 percent of whites are estimated to have these characteristics. The relationship between MC1R and pain sensitivity is still under study, researchers have found MC1R receptors in the brain and some of them are known to influence pain sensitivity. Non-redheads can also carry a variant of the MC1R gene. In this dental study that had 144 participants, about a quarter of the non-redheads had variants of the MC1R gene. These people also experienced heightened anxiety and avoided dental care compared with others who did not have the variant. There is no commercial test available for variations of the MC1R gene.
The best tips for redheads are to work on the prevention of dental problems, inform your health provider that you are highly sensitive, use TLC and be patient, wait a bit longer to let the anesthesia start to work and finally inform your doctor that you might require additional amounts of local anesthesia – because you are a special redhead!
As we’ve learned time in and time out, the oral cavity is integrally and systematically linked to the health of various other bodily systems – here we are focusing on kidneys. The kidneys serve for the production of urine as their primary function, excreting unnecessary bodily fluids and compounds. Kidneys also have several secondary functions concerned with homeostatic functions. These include the regulation of electrolytes, acid-base balance, and blood pressure. If you have kidney problems, apart from the well-advertised urinary and homeostatic problems, your oral health could deteriorate as well!
Halitosis in Japan, 12th century
People with long-lasting (or even recently discovered) kidney problems often times have a bad taste in their mouths. Also related, they often have bad breath (halitosis). These problems – both of which are indicators of a serious problem in your system – occur because the kidneys fail to remove the organic compound urea from the blood. Urea breaks down to form ammonia, which has a pungent odor that is quickly noticeable; bone changes may also occur because the body cannot absorb calcium properly. Imbalanced calcium levels will weaken your bones, loosing bone from your jaw. Teeth may become loose or eventually fall out because of the calcium deficiency often resulting from kidney disease. The best way to help prevent bone loss is to make sure calcium and phosphorus levels stay within the goal range.
Anorexia, anemia, xerostomia, high blood pressure and heart disease, inflammation of the mouth, salivary glands and gum disease can all be symptoms and complications when dealing with kidney disease, apart from the influence of medication. When you have these symptoms, not only should a dental professional be contacted to provide dental examinations and treatment, but also a physical examination is needed. If you have kidney disease or are on dialysis, you should plan to receive any dental treatments on non-dialysis days for those on hemodialysis. Heperin, administered during hemodialysis, may cause some people to have prolonged bleeding. Kidney disease can also weaken the immune system and make us more susceptible to infection, so prophylactic antibiotics maybe needed before invasive dental treatment.
During the work up for a kidney transplant, a person will need to have a thorough oral examination. Any infection or disease of the gum or tooth can prevent someone from being eligible, or delay the transplant until the patient is free of gum and dental infection .
Keep up your home care program, brush and floss after every meal and follow a properly designed diet by your dietitian. Special dietary needs must be met if you have a compromised kidney condition. Regular visits to the dentist can also reduce the risk of oral infection and dental disease.
How much water do you use in a day? A gallon? Five gallons? Sadly, few people at all know how much they use, but the amount is estimated to be as high as 60 gallons per person per day, including showers and toilet flushes. This figure has tripled since 1900! What also may seriously surprise you to learn is that the average American (who leaves their tap water on while brushing their teeth) wastes an average of 3.75 gallons of water every time they brush his or her teeth! If you brush your teeth with the tap running, you waste an average of 4 gallons. With tap off you only use 0.25 gallons.
Turn the water off!
With water shortages becoming more and more of a serious problem for more and more Americans in drought areas, conservation efforts must be stepped up if we expect our water supply to last. One of the easiest and simplest ways to do this is to turn off the tap while you brush your teeth! A person doesn’t actually need all of the water flowing out of a faucet head while brushing his or her teeth – a full cup of water will suffice just fine for an entire brushing session, including rinsing.
Whether you are concerned about ever-rising utility bills, the environment or even if you aren’t concerned with either, turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth is a simple, easy step everyone can take to make his or her lifestyle more sustainable. Just wet your toothbrush, brush thoroughly for two minutes and then rinse your mouth with water from a cup. Clean your toothbrush in the cup with the remaining water and then rinse off again with a short spurt of running tap water. Shake off the excess water on the toothbrush, rest your toothbrush in an upright position and let it air dry until next time.
Any homeowner or apartment-dweller can take a multitude of steps to save both water and money in their homes by installing a low-flow shower head in your bathrooms, replacing leaky faucets and placing a brick or a gallon-sized milk jug in his or her toilet reservoir. Newer washing machines (both clothing and dishes) also have “high efficiency” water ratings which guarantee that a specific amount of water will be used when running the appliance. Save the planet, save your wallet and save our water by turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth!
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!
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!
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!
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!
“Stop licking and peeling your chapped lips, just grease them and leave it alone!” Chapped lips, a condition whereby the lips become dry and sometimes even cracked (also known as cheilitis) can be unsightly, annoying and dreadfully uncomfortable. The causes of chapped lips can stem from environmental influences, like long-term exposure to dry, windy or severely hot/cold weather. Other causes could also include dehydration, salty food, a thyroid hormone imbalance, B vitamin deficiencies, hypersensitivity to cosmetic products, contacts with irritants or allergens, a fungus infection or physical illness.
Often times, our lips become dry because the layer of oil that is naturally produced by the body to coat the lips is removed, or is lacking. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of chapped lips, as it can often be multi-factorial. The sometimes-painful condition affects many many people!
Lip balm (or petroleum jelly like Vaseline) can sometimes provide relief for chapped lips, but this also depends on the degree of cheilitis in the lips. Medical grade lanolin USP can help to stimulate and repair lips, and is used in several lip repair products. Other steps you can take to eliminate or cure chapped lips are: Stay indoors and avoid windy, dry weather. Avoid alcohol, no spicy/salty or acidic foods, drink plenty of water and use a humidifier in your room if you are a mouth breather! Use lip care products from old remedies (like honey or duck fat) to products containing petroleum, lanolin, coconut oil, sheabutter, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel. An improved diet rich in Vitamin B2- riboflavin may also help, or take a supplement.
Avoid licking your lips: certain enzymes present in saliva can irritate the lips, and the evaporation of the water in saliva saps moisture from them. If you do have chapped lips, do not play with dead skin cells on the lips – pulling or peeling tissue from the lips can be damaging, the dead skin should naturally exfoliate or can be removed with small, sterilized sugical scissors.
When the corner of the mouth is cracked, this condition is called angular chelitis, and can be an indication of a riboflavin deficiency (and possible a yeast infection). Apart from improving one’s diet and taking a B vitamin supplement, try cutting down sugar intake and applying a lip moisturizer / antifugal cream. Avoid using lip gloss with a sponge wand applicator. Avoid kissing with your pets (I am sorry!) and regarding medication, it is known that Retinoids (isotretinoin and acitretin) are the most frequent drug-induced causes for chapped lips.
If you have tried different approaches to eliminate chapped lips and do not see improvement, it would be best to consult with a medical professional. Evaluate whether there is any underlying conditions requiring attention and/or treatment. Chapped lips can often be a sign indicating that there is health attention needed, so let’s have some lip care for our own good for health and beauty!
People ask me all the time whether they should have laser bleaching to whiten their smile. “It all depends on whether you are in a hurry to get your teeth whitened, and whether or not you are a candidate for tooth whitening in the first place” – my typical response! The benefits of laser bleaching over an over-the-counter home solution include instant results, a painless experience and a completely guided procedure. If your teeth can benefit from teeth whitening, at-home tray bleaching techniques will work for most people unless their teeth are sensitive, eroding, severely worn or if they have gum recession. If you do have severely discolored teeth, a combination of laser bleaching and home bleaching and whitening toothpaste would be the best approach to obtaining and maintaining a bright and dazzling smile.
Laser bleaching utilizes laser light energy to accelerate the chemical reaction of a bleaching agent, typically a hydrogen peroxide base product. Hydrogen peroxide is very unstable in response to light and heat (which is why over-the-counter 3% hydrogen peroxide solution is stored in opaque dark brown bottles). Because of this, light energy can excite peroxide molecules, breaking the covalent bonds of the bleaching agent. The agent then reacts to and breaks the long, discolored molecule chains into shorter-chained molecules, lightening the tooth color. The bleaching agent used with laser bleaching is a high-strength solution when compared to home bleaching agents or over-the-counter kits. Your mouth will be protected with an isolator to protect the oral tissues , and placement of the bleaching agent is done in a very controlled manner by a highly trained dental professional. Once a 10-to-15 minute bleaching cycle is complete, the teeth will be cleaned and evaluated to discern whether additional applications of bleaching agent will follow. Normal bleaching procedures involve three applications of the bleaching gel, with an “instant average” of six shades of whiteness typically resulting. Laser bleaching is instantly gratifying. In my office, you can watch a movie through virtual i-glasses while the procedure takes place, and before your movie is finished your teeth will have been transformed into a younger, prettier and whiter smile!
Many different types of lasers (or light) are used for eliciting fast chemical reactions in teeth whitening. Some people will experience more sensitivity when infrared energy (heat) is utilized, which appears in most dental offices, but a few alternatives like Argon or KTP lasers (which emit blue and green light) exist. These lasers have the correct level of energy required to excite the bleaching gel, but they leave the teeth cool and comfortable. Most sensitivity is transient, and should subside within a day (Ibuprofen will be helpful if there is any available). After a smile has been bleached with a laser, one must be very careful to maintain his or her newly brightened smile lest the brilliant white color fade and dull over time. Alcohol, soft drinks and smoking are all bad habits which can stain teeth and regress any laser bleaching process. A healthy diet will also be beneficial for your physical and oral health. If you take care of your mouth, your reward will be apparent with a happy and healthy smile.
It’s known that gum disease can lead to other health problems such as cardiovascular disease. Interesting new research results, however, have named plaque a key contributor to fever and illness in the elderly.
In an all-too-common trend in dental research, university researchers are discovering that poor oral health almost consistently leads to systemic problems throughout the body. In the latest example reported in The Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, the following was released: “Researchers studied 271 older people who were long term hospital patients. The study lasted one year. In that time, people with high oral plaque levels and at least 10 teeth were more than 5 times as likely to have fever as were people with 1 to 9 teeth.” Among the elderly with no teeth, those with more plaque on their tongues were 5 times as likely to have fever as people with cleaner tongues.
Several studies like the one described above have suggested that poor oral health and poor oral hygiene in all patients can affect overall health. The bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal (gum) disease may be risk factors for some types of pneumonia in older adults, as poor oral hygiene may be linked with pneumonia or difficulty breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This recent study only serves as further evidence of the importance of oral hygiene and upkeep: a healthy mouth contributes to a healthy nervous system and defense system. Brush and floss twice daily, as well as after meals. Using tongue scraper or brush to remove plaque build up on the tongue. Avoid alcohol and tobacco when possible, and brush / rinse after such activities. Curtail poor oral habits in order to save your mouth from excessive plaque build-up.Have regular dental check up, early detection and treatment of dental and gum problem will allow a cleaner oral environment enable decrease the plaque build up.
Getting old is part of life cycle, but not with our attitude nor our oral condition. With proper care, our teeth will outlast us, keepup our oral health can do tons of good for our quality of life.
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than blonds or brunettes. A 2005 study indicated that redheads are more sensitive to thermal pain and are more resistant to the effects of local anesthesia. Researchers believe variants of the melanocortin-1 receptor gene play a role. This MC1R gene produces melanin, which gives skin, hair and eyes their color.
