It might surprise you to learn that over 20 million individual teeth are extracted from American mouths every year – the devastating news is that many of these extractions could have been avoided. Once teeth “pass the point of no return,” costly implants or other techniques must be used to restore a person’s smile or chewing function properly – and if said person is unable to afford proper treatment, their missing teeth may cause subsequent dental problems or humiliation and devastating blows to his or her self-esteem, even harming job security, depending on what career path said person has taken.
The sad fact of the matter is that less than 10% of people suffering from tooth pain or other signs of future tooth loss ever see a dentist (or dental professional); because nearly all tooth loss is preventable, this is simply unacceptable! Dental phobia, the fear of being judged by a dentist or financial troubles are often contributing factors in why most people suffering from tooth pain never see a dentist, but the consequence of delaying (or avoiding all together) a dental check-up often results in edentulism (missing one or more teeth). Worst of all, oral health problems are systematic (meaning they can affect other systems or parts of the body), and problems grow with time, making the need to see your dentist that much more urgent if you are suffering from tooth pain.
Of course, tooth loss in rare incidences could be due to injury or genetic problems, mainly caused by poor oral hygiene, bad oral habits leading to tooth and gum disease and eventually tooth loss. For starters, brushing and flossing twice daily and after meals is essential! When food particles are left behind embedded between tooth crevices, bacteria begins a destructive process which eats away at your teeth and gum. Secondly, eating sugary, carbohydrate-laden foods and drinking sugary beverages [frequently] without prompt proper care can erode the enamel on your teeth, making you more prone to tooth loss and gum disease. Without timely dental care, these habits will lead to an untreatable situation and inevitable tooth loss. To prevent all that unpleasantness (and the costly consequences of tooth loss), the best solution is prevention. Prevention means having a terrific home care program, proper diet and habit and getting your regular dental cleanings and check ups every year. When the problem is small (or in a earlier stage of deterioration), problems are much easier to correct and restore. To the end the effort is all worthy, and having a healthy mouth is truly the foundation of good physical health (you can eat and digest healthy, high fibrous food) and mental health (self esteem and being able to smile with confidence)!
Have you ever thought “when I grow into my golden years, I’ll never smile – my teeth will have fallen out!” It should be common knowledge that teeth do not fall out naturally as part of the aging process, quite the contrary! Teeth are lost in seniors primarily due to poor oral hygiene, resulting in tooth and gum disease. If seniors properly take care of their teeth and maintain regular check ups with their dentist, their teeth will be healthy and strong throughout their entire lives!
It’s no surprise that senior oral health is a top priority and concern for dental professionals across the United States – senior citizens are the fastest growing demographic due to the baby boomer generation, and will soon make up the largest age group in the country! For such a big group, it would seem common sense that dentists are seeing increasing numbers of senior patients, but this is sadly not true. “Seniors often take long absences from seeing the dentist,” says AGD spokesperson Nick Russo, DDS. “Sometimes they stop caring as much because they’re not out in the public very much, and they think oral hygiene doesn’t matter.” I have even had patients in their 80s and 90s who have even received orthodontic treatment (braces)! A person is never too young.
The truth of the matter, however, is that oral health matters just as much for seniors as it does for middle aged people and even young adults! Deteriorating oral health in old age is a choice, not a factual occurrence – and can be prevented rather easily. A person’s smile is the gateway to their heart, and whether that person is 15 or 115, that smile defines who you are. Keep it beautiful! The most important step for seniors (or their children or caretakers) to remember is that oral health is not a luxury – declining oral health is not purely aesthetic, and systemic problems can arise due to declining oral health. For example, genetic links between gum disease and heart disease have been proven to exist. Be sure to schedule biannual (twice yearly) dental checkups and cleanings. Not only are these appointments important for cleaning the teeth and gums beyond what a person can do at home, these appointments are essential in identifying poor habits, developing oral health problems and even cancer screenings.
After a biannual checkup plan has been cemented, it is key to remember to brush and floss, for two minutes, after every meal. If brushing and flossing is not occurring after meals, food particles turn into bacteria which destroy enamel and gum tissue. Also, stay away from sodas (diet or otherwise!), candy and other sugar-laden foods and drinks. Water or tea would be a much healthier substitute. Extend your beauty and your life by taking your oral health seriously. Your teeth and gums will take care of you, if you take care of them!
“Brushing for a healthy heart ” is a true statement – the link between gum disease (or the bacteria associate with the gum disease) and the body’s cardiovascular system is tight. Prophylactic measurements (like antibiotics before dental visits, for people who have a valve replacement) have been a practice in our society for quite some time, but German scientists presented a study last Monday (May 25, 2009) at the European Society of Human Genetics in Vienna, Austria confirming a link between gum disease and heart disease – simultaneously confirming the importance of maintaining your oral health, not just for your mouth’s well being but for your vital organs as well!
The association between periodontitis and coronary heart disease is not a new concept, but a genetic link between the two is a new concept which provides startling information for dental professionals and patients regarding the gravity of gum disease, as well as its potentially devastating systemic effects throughout the body. Specifically, the researchers were noted as finding “that the two diseases share a genetic variant on chromosome 9. The genetic variation associated with the clinical pictures of both diseases was identical.” The link between the two diseases postulated the following conclusion: “we think that periodontitis should be taken very seriously by dentists and diagnosed and treated as early as possible,” Dr. Schaefer said, noting that periodontitis and heart disease share risk factors such as smoking and obesity.
Although this information doesn’t change how we should treat oral hygiene or periodontitis, it does serve as a wake-up call for everyone regarding how important our oral hygiene routines should be. It is vital to brush your teeth after every meal (and after that midnight snack)! Late-night and mid-day nibbling can cause the most harm to one’s oral environment, from a lack of desire or motivation to clean both the surface and crevices of the teeth. Bacteria thrive in dirty surroundings! Drinking sugary liquids like soda not only provides zero nutritional value, it also creates unhealthy habits which wreak havoc on the oral environment – stick to water or tea if you can. Remember, once the deterioration of dental structures starts, damage may be very difficult or impossible to reverse or restore completely! Prevention is the best measurement, and it is within your reach. Ask your dental professional about prevention – it is easy to work on, both for a cleaner oral environment and for a stronger bacterial host resistance. A healthy mouth may lead to a healthy heart, and such health is priceless.
Hookah smoking is a popular activity for the young and old alike, and has even been gaining popularity in metropolitan city centers: hookah lounges are very popular among residents and college students. The Mediterranean past time of smoking fruit-flavored tobacco (known as shisha) out of a water bong is safer for the lungs than traditional cigarette smoke (as the smoke is filtered through water and ice chambers), but does this smoke harm the oral health as normal cigarette smoke does?
Hookah smoke is damaging to your teeth.
Unfortunately, there is no good news for Hookah smokers. Although the benefits to a water hookah’s filtration have been debated, hookah smoke contains the same toxins as cigarettes which can cause increased blood pressure and risk for heart attack, as well as impaired liver function. In addition to these detractors, hookah smoke is no healthier for your mouth than common cigarettes. Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm studied 262 adults in Saudi Arabia (where hookah smoking is extremely common and culturally condoned) to test this hypothesis – the group was made up of both exclusively cigarette smokers and exclusively hookah smokers, as well as smokers who partook in both forms of smoking.
After an extended period of observation, 20% of the group was found to have signs of gum disease – 30% of hookah smokers and 24% of cigarette smokers were affected by these symptoms. While other factors like age and diet were taken into account, the study concluded that regular hookah smokers are five times more likely than non-smokers to develop gum disease, whereas cigarette smokers were 4 times more likely to develop gum disease. This information might actually suggest that hookah smoke is more dangerous than cigarettes to your oral health! The bottom line is that any form of smoke – whether it is from a cigarette or a water pipe – is harmful to your body and your mouth. Gum disease is only the beginning of long-term systemic problems that occur with smokers, and can lead to tooth deterioration, tooth loss and eventually oral cancer (which is usually detected late, quickly becoming deadly). Curbing your smoking habits and substituting them with healthier living patterns will help you in the long run.
“Dr. Sun, can you check why I taste metal in my mouth? I have no metal fillings; I checked on line, and I’m afraid I might have a cavity or gum infection!” So, I checked, and the oral department was cleared.
” Your mouth is healthy, tell me what has changed in your life?”
” I lost my job, I’ve been taking anti depressants and Ambien for sleep, but I had a physical exam that was fine.”
“Have you been good to yourself, healthy diet, taking supplements, exercising and proactive on job hunting?”
“Ha! Funny, Dr. Sun, I was going to ask you for a job! I exercise, but not eating well and maybe drinking more.”
“Well, keep yourself in the best condition. The metallic taste has lot to do with the medications you are taking; poor diet and alcohol intake don’t help either. My advise to you is be positive, count your blessings, treat yourself right, maintain a healthy diet, cut down on alcohol and keep up your good oral hygiene. You may rinse your mouth with warm salt water or rinse with warm water with added baking soda (1/4 teaspoon to 8 oz warm water) to neutralize the taste. Also talk to your physician about this, see whether GERD or other gastrointestinal issues play a role.”
It is common to get the funny taste in your mouth (dysgeusia), it might taste metallic, acidic or bitter, it usually goes away on its own, but if is lasts more than two weeks, consult with your health care professional.
Dysgeusia is related to a multitude of adverse health conditions. It is a sign of imbalanced body chemistry, associated with changes of your physical, mental or oral condition: medication and diet also are contributing factors. Starting with the mouth, make sure there is no caries, infection or poor oral hygiene. Think about whether you are taking prescription medications to treat hypertension and anxiety, (like lithium) antibiotics, antidepressant or others which may cause the metallic taste. The last would be possible physical illness likes cancer, a peptic ulcer, food allergies, or excessive metal elements (iron, copper, iodine, mercury, selenium, lead) in your body. Effects of radiation therapy may also cause dysgeusia.
Get a good assessment of the condition, then improve your health and feel better. Apart from consulting with your health care professional, do your part of eating right. Keep up good and clean habits, including oral hygiene, balanced stress level and a positive life outlook. You can also try brushing / scraping the tongue, rinsing with herbal mouth wash (like Tooth & Gum tonic), or swishing with warm salt water or baking soda rinse to neutralize the metallic taste.
Diabetes is a serious health condition for a large segment of the population, which can cause problem of your eyes, heart, kidneys, nerves and blood vessels. Los Angeles (the city I live and love) has the highest diabetes-related amputation rate in the country! My father-in-law had a diabetes-related stroke, hitting close to home how the consequences of diabetes can be quite severe. There are many varied effects on oral health due to the diabetes condition, including periodontal disease (gum disease), tooth decay, salivary gland dysfunction, fugal infection , delay and poor healing and taste impairment. I get pretty apprehensive when treating diabetic patients, especially when dental implants are called for, or surgical procedures were needed, because of the delayed and poor healing associated with diabetes. It is important to keep your health history updated and inform your dental professional if you are diabetic, whether or not the management of the condition is under control.
When diabetes is not controlled properly, excess glucose can attach to proteins in the blood vessels and alter their normal structure and function; the thicker and less elastic vessels lead to poor circulation and reduce the body’s resistance to infection (leading to gum infection). High glucose levels in your saliva will promote bacteria growth also. When this happens, your oral environment becomes much more susceptible to cavities, infection and gum disease. It is important if you are diabetic to keep up with your oral hygiene, as proper brushing and flossing can help prevent periodontitis, which can compromise the gum and bone and lead to tooth loss. Poor circulation due to diabetes can decrease blood supply to the gums, causing dry mouth which is more susceptible to disease as well (tooth decay, gingivitis , periodontitis, or fungal infection).
It is important to learn about your body, manage the diabetic condition through diet, exercise and medication under the care of your physician, see your dental professional regularly (twice or three times a year) for cleaning and check ups. All in all, if you are on top of your oral hygiene (brush and floss after every meal), control your blood glucose levels and visit your dentist regularly, you should be in good health. Schedule an appointment with your dental professional if you suspect your diabetes may be adversely affecting your oral health!
The toothbrush is, of course, an essential tool for keeping your teeth clean and plaque-free, but there are many types of toothbrushes available for use. The structure of your mouth is very intricate, including soft gum tissue, hard enamel, various crevices and spaces where food can hide, etc – and every person’s mouth is different, and responds differently to various types of brushes. How do you pick the right toothbrush for you?
If you get perfect dental check-up scores, do not have any type of gum sensitivity issues nor any other dental problems, you can probably keep your present hygiene routine. An over-the-counter toothbrush will normally suffice for people with normal gums and teeth if you are using it properly. If you have a history of dental and gum issues, special care is needed. You may need more than one toothbrush (different sizes and shapes of brush heads and tips) to adequately clean between your teeth and restorative material, such as a specialty brush shaped to accommodate dental restorations.
What about electric toothbrushes? There are many toothbrushes on the market, available both over-the-counter and from your dentist, which advertise a much deeper cleaning than what a manual toothbrush can provide. Keep in mind that an inexpensive battery-operated toothbrush often lacks the torque (twisting power) needed to adequately clean your teeth, remove plaque and remove biofilm; If you have children who refuse to brush their teeth, an electric toothbrush might be a fun way to encourage proper oral hygiene!
The more advanced electric toothbrushes, with proper technique, can clean your teeth more effectively than manual brushes. Manual brushing often does not do a good enough job at removing plaque than electric toothbrushes from your dentist (prescription electric toothbrushes like Rotadent, what I recommend to my patients has micro-filaments bristles with different tips). These brushes allow more advanced brushing techniques with different brush head attachments to accommodate different parts of the mouth, and have the necessary torque to properly clean your oral environment. If you have any of the following conditions, you should equip yourself with a better toothbrush for better oral health: orthodontic braces, gum problems, dental implants, dental bridges, arthritis, etc…
No matter what type of toothbrush you have, remember that it is necessary to spend two minutes brush at least twice a day, and after meals. The food caught between your teeth can start producing harmful bacteria only 5 minutes after eating (which is why you should bring a toothbrush to school or work every day)! Because every mouth is different, and certain tooth angles (and dental work) require special brushing or special brushes, consult with your dental professional. Besides brushing, flossing, tongue scraping, rinsing, and irrigation are all important steps to get your mouth’s environment as squeaky clean as it can be. It is a lot of work to keep yourself in top condition, but it will become second nature. You deserve paying your mouth so much attention – for your own health!
When you stay up way too late you might find pimples on your face and canker sores in your mouth – never fun to get! This painfully annoying little mouth sore – also known as an aphthous ulcer, can be quite bothersome to your eating and speaking actions for days. Thankfully, you can still kiss your loved ones with a canker sore, which are not contagious, different from viral cold sores (also known as a fever blister) caused by the herpes virus. Both are ulcerative sores in the mouth, but canker sores occur on the soft tissue inside the mouth. Cold sores tend to be on the outside of the mouth, around the lips.
Canker sores can arise for many reasons; the most common are stress factors, like a lack of sleep. Stress can wear down your body’s immune system, making your oral environment more susceptible to ulceration. Food allergies or sensitivities (to acidic fruits or toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate for example) can trigger canker sore formation. The environment you are in can also stress your body and cause canker sores, like being in extreme heat or cold. Deficiencies in iron, folic acid, zinc or vitamin B12 will lead to a nutritional imbalance in your body, making you more susceptible to canker sores. Bacterial infection, hormonal imbalances and hereditary issues can all be causative factors. Finally, dental appliances or procedures which place pressure in specific parts of your mouth (like braces) can cause canker sores. Some physicians have theorized that canker sores are actually hereditary, but extensive research on this topic has not yet taken place.
So what do you do if you have a canker sore? Improve your lifestyle! If you are able to extend your sleep cycle to between 7 and 8.5 hours of sleep nightly, maintain a balanced diet and master “stress management” at work, school and at home, your canker sore frequency will decrease. Canker sores are your body’s way of telling you to slow down and re-evaluate! Luckily, most canker sores will heal within 14 days (albeit painfully), unless your immune system was compromised. If you have a canker sore, avoid contact with it. Any unnecessary stimulation to the site can cause you to say ouch! Avoid spicy or acidic foods as this will further irritate the site. Make sure you are eating a well balanced diet, take supplements like vitamin B and C, and reduce your acidic fruit intake.
There are topical agents which can relieve canker sore symptoms, such as Milk of Magnesia, kenalog in orabase, tetracycline, suspension or low-level-laser-therapy (LLLT). Non-alcoholic mouthwash can also reduce the frequency of canker sores. If you do suffer from severe, frequent or lingering canker sores, speak with your dental professional or your primary health care physician. Remember, the best path to a healthy, ulcer-free mouth is proper oral hygiene, a healthy lifestyle (including quality sleep) and a healthy, balanced diet – if you take care of your body, you can enjoy your quality of life even more.
Do you know the names and numbers of your teeth? Can you only say “The pointy one in the top right side!” Let’s get to know your teeth better here; it will make you a better communicator with your dental professional – you’ll even be able to pinpoint specific teeth over the phone!
The universal numbering system, pictured above, identifies each tooth in a person’s mouth with an individual number. This system references all the teeth that should be in your mouth, so if you have wisdom teeth (or other teeth) which have been removed, those numbers still exist. # 1 is your upper right wisdom tooth. Each tooth then progresses up one number all the way across to the 3rd molar (wisdom tooth) on the left side of the mouth (# 16). #17 will be the lower left wisdom tooth, and counting clockwise, the last tooth will be #32, the lower right wisdom tooth.
Because most people do not have 32 teeth, due to wisdom tooth extraction, congenitally missing them or extraction due to un-restorable dental conditions, we will skip over any missing numbers. It is also important to know the names of the teeth! Your front four teeth (7, 8, 9, 10) and your front lower four teeth (23, 24, 25, 26) are incisors. Incisors are mainly used for gripping, cutting and shearing food, and are the first thing a person sees when you flash your smile. Incisors also play a dominant role in speech.
Moving further back are the canines (or cuspids).On the upper jaw, canines are also named “eye teeth” because the long root almost points to the eye socket. They are #6 and 11 (upper jaw) and #22 and 27 (lower jaw). Canine teeth are relatively long and pointed, used primarily for holding food while it is being ripped in the mouth.They are an important guide for the bite of your teeth; usually they are the first to wear away. Once canines are worn, other teeth will wear away quickly.
Behind the canines lie the bicuspids (or premolars), #4, 5, 12, 13 (upper jaw) and #20, 21, 28, 29 (lower jaw). Bicuspids are a sort of “inbetween tooth,” with the properties of both the canine and molar teeth. These teeth transfer food from the canines to the molars for proper grinding.
Finally, the molars make up the rear-most teeth in your mouth. Depending on if you have your wisdom teeth or not, you will have 8 or 12 molars, which lie directly behind the two biscuspids in each quadrant of your mouth, #2, 3, 14, 15 (upper jaw) and #18, 19, 30, 31 (lower jaw). Molars are like a grinding table, carrying out the smashing and grinding of food for digestion.
Next time, try to communicate with your dental professional the name or number of your tooth that is being discussed. It would impress and earn great respect from your dental professional, and would also be the first step to knowing your teeth! Once you know your teeth better, you will likely find taking care of your dental health easier more interesting. If you learn these numbers, you will be one step ahead of most people regarding dental communication!
What you eat, and how often you eat foods that are unhealthy for your teeth, determine how likely you are to get cavities and other problems caused by bad diet, like bad breath and even gum disease. As you eat, your mouth begins the first stages of digestion. Healthy bacteria in your saliva convert sugars into acids – good for digestion, bad for your teeth. Plaque is one of the biggest enemies to your mouth, which forms when food particles are allowed to linger around your teeth and gums. This process begins the moment you begin to eat, which is why it is so important to brush and floss after every meal.
A healthy meal for your body and your teeth!
Once a tooth forms, it is subject to our oral environment. Diets consisting of high sugar, starch or acid content can all erode your enamel unless you are exceptionally good keeping up your oral hygiene (brushing and flossing after every meal). The health of gum and bone tissue that supports the teeth is greatly influenced by proper diet that contains nutrients to keep our body healthy.
What should you eat? Natural, organic and unrefined foods. These foods have high nutrient value and less sugar than processed food, and will pose a smaller threat to your teeth. The best food choices include dairy (like milk, cheese and yogurt) and poultry (like chicken and duck). These foods provide your teeth with calcium and phosphorus, which help to form enamel and bone. Crunchy natural foods like nuts and green leafy vegetables or orange-colored fruits will stimulate gum and saliva flow, a natural cavity fighter. These foods also contain beta carotene, which the body turns into vitamin C (essential for your body’s ability to maintain and repair healthy soft tissue). If you cannot eat fruits and vegetables naturally, taking a supplemental vitamin or drink which contains Vitamin C and other antioxidants will help protect your gums against cellular damage, and promote their healing abilities. Unsweetened tea is another great drink which has little impact on your mouth’s health.
Foods which contain high amounts of sugar (like candy and carbohydrate-laden foods like bread, chips, fries and muffins), natural or processed, are a tooth’s worst nightmare! The high sugar content of these foods help bacteria thrive. Breads and starches should be an occasional indulgence: when starches mix with amylase (a natural enzyme in your mouth), acid forms that erodes the enamel of your teeth. Additionally, dry foods like chips and cookies or even dried fruits have a tendency to stick to the surface of your teeth, which also helps bacteria thrive. Acidic sweetened beverages like sodas are the worst type of liquid to expose your teeth to, and can cause tooth erosion, enamel decay and even periodontitis – avoid soda and carbonated beverages at all costs! Artificial sweeteners can be a better alternative to sugar-sweetened drinks, as they do not feed bacteria like natural sugar.
Pregnant? Start right by eating right during pregnancy. Eating sensibly during pregnancy means getting adequate calcium (your body needs Vitamin D to absorb calcium) to form strong teeth and bone, which will give your child a good start also. Fluoride can also be used to prevent tooth decay.
So, eat more vegetables and fruits, avoid sugary foods and drinks, and remember to brush, floss and rinse your mouth (and tongue) after meals. You will be on the road to healthy, brilliant teeth!
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on your teeth, making you more prone to tooth loss and gum disease. Without timely dental care, these habits will lead to an untreatable situation and inevitable tooth loss. To prevent all that unpleasantness (and the costly consequences of tooth loss), the best solution is prevention. Prevention means having a terrific home care program, proper diet and habit and getting your regular dental cleanings and check ups every year. When the problem is small (or in a earlier stage of deterioration), problems are much easier to correct and restore. To the end the effort is all worthy, and having a healthy mouth is truly the foundation of good physical health (you can eat and digest healthy, high fibrous food) and mental health (self esteem and being able to smile with confidence)!
