Anti-Aging in Dentistry

Posted by drgracesun on October 14, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, Healthy Smile, Hygiene, Nutrition and Diet, Smart Smile | Be the First to Comment

Anti-Aging is something of a buzzword in today’s marketplace: the medical community, the marketing community and nearly every community in between seems to have been captured by this craze. What exactly is anti-aging? The concept is to reduce the visual signs of a person’s age to make one appear younger, more vibrant and more beautiful. While there are a range of methods and procedures available to the public to accomplish anti-aging, the patient themselves must be willing to make changes to his or her lifestyle in order to sustain the changes provided by his or her physician.

I recently attended the 5th European Congress in Aesthetic Dermatology and Surgery in Anti-Aging Medicine, hosted by the European Masters in Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine (or EMAA) in Paris, France. The conference focused on a plethora of anti-aging information and news in the field, but what I found interesting were the procedures tailored toward dental medicine. Botox, or Botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxic protein that is in fact one of the most poisonous substances known to man! Despite the dramatic definition, the use of very small amounts of this toxin to treat muscle spasms in anti-aging medicine is widespread. Botox relaxes muscle spasms in a way that can reduce wrinkles, by training specific muscle groups to relax and lower tension.  Botox effects wear off between three and six months, and will need to be re-administered to maintain results.

From the dental aspect, Botox can be used to control a gummy smile. Botox relaxes the muscles in a person’s upper lip – known as hyperactive upper lip – which contributes to a gummy smile. When Botox is injected into the muscle group in a person’s lip, the toxin actually relaxes the muscles and restricts the muscle’s ability to overly contract upward thus showing excessive gum tissue . Botox can also be used to control facial muscle spasms that contribute not only to wrinkles and frown lines, but to headaches as well. By undergoing Botox therapy, the muscles in the lips and face can be trained to eventually relax on their own.

Although Botox may sound like a miracle drug for reducing the appearance of gummy smiles, fine lines and even headaches, one must remember that any anti-aging treatment plan is dual-fold: the patient must be committed to their health in order to achieve long-lasting results. Patient compliance is key in any medical treatment plan, but when it comes to anti-aging, a healthy lifestyle can make all the difference in the world. Diet is one of the most important factors in patient compliance. Everyone has heard the age-old saying “you are what you eat,” – it is absolutely true.

A patient who is concerned with his or her physical health and appearance – and is willing to go through Botox therapy to achieve anti-aging results – must realize that his or her diet is vital to achieving long-lasting results. Vegetables, lean proteins and minerals are all vital in achieving healthy skin, bones and organ function. A poor diet high in refined sugars, fat and carbohydrates with poor habits (like alcohol consumption and smoking, staying up late and no exercise) all will contribute to a faster aging process. We all wishto be young and healthy forever – it all starts with healthy choices.

“What About Swine Flu?”

Posted by drgracesun on May 2, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information, Smart Smile | Be the First to Comment

Swine Influenza H1N1, more commonly known as Swine Flu, has continued to grow and expand worldwide over the past week, and concerns are (rightly) high about how we can stay healthy and safe. The World Health Organization may even declare swine flu a pandemic! Apart from not gathering in large groups and washing your hands, is there any way you can stay safe?

Transmission of the virus is from human-to-human contact, and all reported cases worldwide have stemmed from some sort of exterior human interaction. A high-running fever (over 100* Fahrenheit), fatigue, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and respiratory problems are among the most common symptoms of having the virus. In attempting to prevent transmission of this virus, be sure to wash your hands frequently and always cover your mouth, preferably with tissues or your forearm instead of your hands when coughing or sneezing (especially if you are in a doctor or dentist office).

Now, how to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the swine flu or any flu: prevention rules.

1. The first step to fight any flu is prevention. Stay away from people who have caught any disease or have symptoms of it. Avoid public restrooms at all costs. Wash your hands after you touch any public door knobs or hand rails, and wash your hands before you touch your toothbrushes or contact lenses. Use hand sanitizer.

2. Boost your immune system. A healthy lifestyle is always beneficial for your overall health. Eat a proper diet rich in fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, keep yourself well hydrated, exercise, get a good night’s sleep, and keeping a positive attitude are all important. Regarding alternative remedies to boost the immune system and against flu, consider garlic. Cooked garlic has less odor, or you can cut up small pieces and swallow like a pill, or take it in a pill form. Cloves, oregano oil, zinc, echinacea, and vitamin c are few suggestions.

If you are noticing any respiratory problems or prolonged flu symptoms and are running a temperature, schedule a visit with your primary health care physician. Brush and floss twice daily, and after meals (a clean mouth prevents introducing pathogens into your system). If you have a sore throat, gargle with warm salt water and increase your vitamin c intake to around 2000 mg/day. Limit your bad habits like alcohol drinking, smoking as well as your soda intake! Treat your body well and it will do its best to fight outside invaders.