Posted by drgracesun on September 9, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information, Smart Smile | 
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.
Tags: acid, base, bile, blood, dentist, disease, doctor, electroylytes, health, homeostasis, kidney, kidneys, mouth, oral, physician, pressure, teeth, urine
Posted by drgracesun on June 16, 2009 under General Dental Knowledge, Information, Nutrition and Diet, Technology |
What are your teeth made of? What is in that precious white enamel ? What is inside your teeth? Teeth play a very important role in our mental and physical health. The function of our teeth not only play a role in allowing speech, but also help us to cut and chew food as the first step in our digestion system.
It is only natural to be curious about what teeth are made of and how they function within our mouth. The root anchors the tooth below the gum’s surface into the jaw bone, while the crown of the tooth extends out past the gum. The outermost hard shiny layer of the tooth is called enamel, and is the hardest substance in the body and functions as a food grinder. 92- 96% of enamel consists of minerals (hydroxyapatite, a phosphate and calcium salt) with the remaining part being water and organic material .
Lying just beneath the hard, shiny enamel surface of every tooth is the dentin layer. This layer of the tooth is composed mainly of calcified bony-like tissue (mostly hydroxylapatite), and like bone it contains collagen, water and other organic components (and is soft in consistency). Throughout the dentin layer are tiny passageways into the deep pulpal layer, connected to the enamel layer – these passages are known as tubules. Unlike enamel, dentin continues to modify throughout a person’s entire life. Dentin can grow or reform in response to a change in tooth conditions, such as tooth decay or attrition.
The innermost layer of the tooth is known as the pulpal layer. This inner sanctum of every tooth consists of nerves and blood vessels. This pulp benefits the teeth in several ways: primarily, the pulp keeps the organic components of the teeth healthy and properly supplied with moisture and nutrients. The pulp also conduces senses such as heat, cold and trauma from the teeth into the body’s nervous system.
The important thing to remember about your tooth structure is that it is subject to change – when bacteria and other substances (like alcohol, smoke or even sugary liquid) is introduced into your oral environment, prompt cleaning (with a toothbrush and floss) is necessary to prevent premature decay. Once decay passes through the enamel layer into the dentin, decay will progress rapidly, even when not easily detectable from visual inspection. Only when the enamel has caved in and broken down does a cavity become visible. If the cavity was not treated early and the underlying dentin layer has already decayed (which can actually extend deep into the pulpal tissue), root canal therapy may be necessary, requiring a post and crown to restore the tooth. Ultimately, prevention is the best solution. Proper home care and regular dental check-ups can detect problems early, and are usually fixed easily.
Tags: blood, crown, dentin, enamel, function, gum, jaw, mouth, nerve, nerves, oral, pulp, pulpal, teeth, tissues, tooth, water
Posted by drgracesun on February 8, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information |
Economic recession = gum recession.
Lose job = loose teeth.
These two analogies went through my mind while I was writing my last blog on gum disease, feeling the overwhelming impact of our falling economy!
It might seem like common sense that stress can take a toll on our health, but often we don’t think about what specific implications stress can have. Only weeks ago, Mahesh Verma, principal of the Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences said “Growing economic stress among people has a deep damaging impact on teeth and heart. Recent studies have found that financial stress is one of the major cause of increasing dental problems.”
The damage begins when chemical triggers block your immune function, inhibiting your body’s natural defense mechanisms and deplete your teeth supporting bones of calcium and other necessities in order to maintain blood mineral levels. These triggers, brought on by stress (such as an economic recession), can worsen over time and indeed cause gum disease, in addition to a host of other medical maladies! The stress can also lead to poor diet and lifestyle habits (smoking, drinking), further damaging your health.
let’s hope today’s economical crunch has less impact on tomorrow’s public health!
Take home message: besides stress management, take charge of your own dental health, spend the full (read: required!) two minutes on oral hygiene brushing and flossing your teeth. Eat healthy, think positive and get ready for a better tomorrow.
Tags: blood, california, cosmetic, dental, dentist, dentist to the stars, economy, gingivitis, gum disease, Gum Treatment, gums, health, job, jobs, los angeles, recession, stress, sun, teeth, tooth, west hollywood
