CDA Dentist Blog

When you come in for your dental visit, you may notice that we do a lot more than examine your teeth and gums.

One of the most important parts of your visit is when we ask you questions about your general health.  But many people have said to us:  “What does that have to do with my dental check up?”

The answer is -  a lot!!

More and more research is being published linking dental health to overall health, and at the Coeur d’Alene Dental Center we are concerned about both!

Did you know that diabetes, especially when it is undiagnosed, can be a huge factor in gum disease, eventually causing tooth loss?

A recent study by Columbia University concluded: “ Gum disease is an early complication of diabetes.” It continues, “Since 70% of adults see a dentist at least once per year this is a perfect opportunity to screen for diabetes and other diseases.”

According to a recent article in The British Dental Journal, it works the other way around too, as gum disease can be a contributing factor in heart disease, oral cancer, and other illnesses.

Are you taking any medications, either prescription or over-the-counter?  Many of these can lead to dry mouth, gum inflammation and other dental problems.

And it’s even more complicated for women, as hormonal changes, pregnancy and oral contraceptives can cause many changes in dental health. 

So the good news is, unlike a visit to your physician we’ll won’t examine anywhere other than your mouth!  But as you can see, its is extremely important that we know about your total physical health and any medications you are taking.  Not only can we save your teeth – we may actually save your life!

If you want to know more about your dental health and how it relates to your overall health, please let us know.  If you have any questions or want to schedule your next appointment just give us a call 667-7461.  We are here for you!

Nothing says football season like a big tub of Gatorade being dumped on the winning coach at the end of a game.  But for you and your kids it could be off sides and holding on your dental health. 

Originally developed at the University of Florida in 1965 (and named after their sports teams – “The Gators”) Gatorade was intended for athletes such as football players who endured rigorous workouts in the hot sun.  But somehow this potent drink what become a staple of our popular culture, and its combinations of sugars, salt and electrolytes can be anything but healthy for all but the most strenuous exercisers.  The fact is, for just about all of us, including children, water remains the healthiest drink either with meals or during and after exercise.

“For most children engaging in routine physical activity, plain water is best,” said Holly J. Benjamin, M.D., a member of the executive committee of the AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness.  “Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don’t need, and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay.  Its better for children to drink water during and after exercise, and to have the recommended intake of juice and low-fat milk with meals.  Sports drinks are not recommended as beverages to have with meals.”

Even worse are “energy drinks”- which contain huge amounts of stimulants including caffeine, guarana and taurine.  Some of these drinks contain more than 500mg of caffeine – the equivalent of 14 cans of soda!!  Combine that with huge amounts of tooth rotting and obesity causing sugar, and you’ve got a formula for health disaster.  To make things worse, some schools actually have “pouring contracts” where they are paid to promote an sever unhealthy sodas and sports drinks. 

Good old fashioned tap water, fortified with fluoride, not only remains the healthiest drink but it’s the least expensive as well.

So please enjoy football season, but remember not to let energy drinks and sports drinks blitz the dental and overall health of your and your children.

Recently in a July 2011 edition of the Journal of Dental Research an article was published about the opportunities to have dental practitioners identify signs of diabetes during routine dental exams.  These practitioners used oral health cues to such as periodontal pockets, missing teeth and bone loss as indicators.  Studies show that deep periodontal pockets and missing teeth were able to help correctly identify diabetes and pre-diabetes in approximately 73 percent of cases.  These oral identifiers along with elevated blood sugar levels – HbA1c levels of > 5.7 percent – increased correct identification of diabetic and pre-diabetic patients to 92 percent.  Researchers believe these oral health identifiers may allow dentist to recognize under diagnosed diabetes and pre-diabetes, allowing them to refer their patients to appropriate care providers.  What a great service, visit your dentist and they may find more than cavities or gum disease.

In 1965 James Brown san “ It’s A Man’s Man’s World.”  A few years earlier Harry Belafonte sang to us “That’s Right – The Women are Smarter!”  So who is right when it comes to dental health?

It turns out one group is more likely to have healthier gums, less plaque and tartar build-up, fewer areas of bleeding gums, and lower incidents of gum disease.  This group also is twice as likely to schedule regular dental checkups and is much better at following through with treatment recommended by their dentist.

To top it off, they have a better understanding of oral health and a more positive attitude about visiting the dentist!  So just who are these dental superstars?

According to the journal of Periodontology, a professional journal which publishes articles on gum disease – it’s the “fairer sex” who has the advantage when it comes to dental health.  Maybe it’s true that “the women are smarter!”

So does that mean females are less likely to have cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, and stinky breath?  Sorry guys – the answer is yes.

The good news is -  it seems to have nothing to do with genetics or the fact that women and men have a different chromosomal arrangement.  Its is purely because women take better care of their teeth and gums and see their dentists more regularly. 

So how about it guys?  It’s time to “get on the stick” – or at least the toothbrush.  Start taking better care of your teeth and gums, and be sure to give us a call to schedule your next appointment!  And women – keep up the good work!

At the Coeur d’Alene Dental Center we care about all of our patients – men and women and kids!  We are always here for you to answer any questions you should have about your dental health.  Give us a call today!

Do you have diabetes?  If you do you probably know the importance of checking your blood sugar daily.  What about your mouth?  Not many people know but recent research shows that diabetics who have healthier mouths are more well controlled and have less diabetic complications than those who don’t.  It has also been shown that oral care can reduce medical costs in diabetic patients.  Diabetics who receive gum disease treatment and regular oral care showed reduced medical costs and insurance claims compared to untreated patients.  Patients who received both initial gum disease treatment at baseline and regular maintenance care, had medical costs that were 23 percent lower than patients who only received baseline treatment.  This not only is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle for our diabetic patients but also great for the already strained health care system.  So next time your thinking about it call your dentist, ask them how they can help you achieve having the healthy smile you have always wanted.

Sometimes tooth damage can be caused by the most unlikely of sources.  Recent a man complained to his dentist that his teeth were extremely sensitive, were rapidly picking up stain, and actually losing enamel.  After much research, the culprit was found – his swimming pool!

It seemed that he had a daily swimming routine in his backyard pool but didn’t take the time to monitor the chemicals properly.  This led to the pool water having a higher than normal acid content, resulting in severe dental damage. 

According to Dr. Leila Jahangiri, chairwoman of NYU college of Dentistry Department of Prosthodontics, “ improperly maintained pool chlorination can cause rapid and excessive erosion of dental enamel.  It is a difficult balance to maintain home pools properly.  Proper pool chlorine and pH levels need to be monitored and maintained on a weekly basis.”

The fact is, we always need to be careful about things which can negatively affect our dental health.  Many foods, including healthy fruits and vegetables, are high in acid content.  And of course candies, sweets, sodas and sports drinks are loaded with sugar.  These foods are all waiting to do a full out assault on your teeth!

Medications and other factors which can cause dry mouth are also playing peril with your dental health.  And now it seems eve a swimming pool can do your teeth harm!

At Coeur d’Alene Dental Center, we care about you , your teeth and gums and your overall health.  Please make sure to brush several times per day, especially after exposing your teeth to potentially harmful substances.  And don’t forget to floss either!  (If you are not sure how to use dental floss or can’t do it comfortably, be sure to ask one of our friendly team members for instructions!)

Most importantly, don’t forget that your regular dental visit is not “just a checkup” – it’s a crucial part of you overall health care. 

If you have any question about this or any other issue, we are here for you!  Please give us a call at 208-667-7461.  And this summer, please enjoy your fun outdoor activities such as swimming – but don’t forget your pearly whites!

The suitcases are packed, the car is loaded, the dog is at the kennel – and it’s time for a summer vacation!! There is no better time for relaxing at the beach, exploring a fascinating city, or enjoying the outdoors.  Being miles away from home always makes it less stressful and more fun too!

But being miles away from home means that you are also far from us – your favorite dental office!  And while there is not way to prevent a dental emergency from happening while you are away from home, there are a few items you can bring on vacation to make things more pleasant should an emergency situation arise.  You can even throw them together into a cosmetics bag and make your own “Dental Emergency Kit". 

Here are some items to include:

Pain relief:  Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil or generic) is usually safe and effective too use for minor dental discomfort.

Lost filling or crown: “Dentemp One Step Filling Material” is a good temporary solution for replacing a crown (cap) or protecting an area exposed by a lost filling.  This is available at most drug stores and on the internet.

Broken denture: “ The D.O.C. Denture Repair Kit” works as a short term measure to adhere a lost denture tooth or repair a cracked denture.  Also available at drug stores and online.

Lost tooth: Carry an empty prescription medicine vial.  should an accident occur and an adult tooth is lost with the root intact – DO NOT  clean or handle the root.  Place it in the medicine vial along with some liquid (preferably milk) and seek dental attention immediately.

Food or other items stuck between teeth :  This can be a very uncomfortable situation, so be sure to have dental floss on hand to remove any item stuck between the teeth.  Hey – you should be carrying dental floss anyway!!

Cuts on gums, lips or tongue:  Clean gauze or cloth.  As with bleeding anywhere on the body, pressure with a clean gauze or cloth is the first line of treatment.  If bleeding does not stop, seek medical attention immediately.

For many more dental irritations of the teeth, gums and mouth, a good old-fashioned warm salt water rinse can give temporary relief.  We are not big fans of medications like Anbesol Gel as there are many side effects and over usage can harm the mouth tissues.

So there you have it – your very own travel dental emergency kit!  The most important thing to remember is that all of the solutions presented here are temporary in nature.  Should any emergency arise, it is important to se a dentist as soon as possible.

At Coeur d’Alene Dental Center we are always here for you, even if you are far away from home.  If you have any questions about a dental emergency or anything  else in dental related , please give us a call at 208-667-7461.  Have a safe and healthy summer vacation, and don’t forget to brush and floss.

http://www.cdadentist.com/

Did you know that women who are pregnant that do not take care of their mouths have a greater chance of delivering a pre term, low birth weight baby.  This is an easily resolved problem.  Now your probably wondering, how would a pregnant mother prevent this?  Simply brush and floss twice daily and visit your dentist twice yearly for regular checkups and exams.  Its that simple.  By taking care of your mouth at home you can prevent tooth decay and gum disease which are both caused by bacteria.  These same bacteria are linked with causing pre term, low birth weight babies.  By eliminating the bacteria you lessen your chance of decay and gum disease.  Visiting your dentist twice a year will also greatly reduce chances of decay and gum disease from getting to a point of gross infection.  Your dental team can eliminate areas of decay and gum disease with relatively simple procedures, improving your overall health and your babies too!  A recent study in Pennsylvania  through Proctor and Gamble Co. found that pregnant women who use an antimicrobial, alcohol free mouthwash along with proper oral hygiene routines can reduce the risk of premature birth.  Women in the study used the rinses twice daily.  What a simple thing to do!  If you are pregnant and have not been to the dentist for a regular checkup look on the internet today for a dentist in your area and schedule an appointment, you thank yourself and your baby will too.

Recently in our local newspaper, The Coeur d’Alene Press, an article was written about the adverse effects of fluoride and benefits of fluoride.  The article was well written and for the most part supported the decay fighting properties of topical and systemic fluoride.  Although this is true it also continued to rekindle the fire to ban fluoride in a public program.  As a dentist being at the front lines of the fight against decay, this is something we cannot ignore.  When will the anti-fluoridation camp get on board? We know for a fact that since the addition of fluoride and routine use in toothpaste and rinses teeth are more resistant to dental decay.  Its obvious if you look at the people 65 and older,  many of these patients still retain all their teeth.  Trust us we know, we have a huge population of our senior patients who have nearly all their teeth, most not missing any at all.  What a landmark success, to keep all your teeth throughout your lifetime and not succumb to becoming a dental cripple having to wear a denture.  Research shows that $1 invested in water fluoridation saves $38 in unnecessary dental costs.  The battle of health care reform should take note, if we want to save on dental health care costs, get more people access to fluoride.  The CDC also stated that fluoridation of water is “one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century".  Lets get on board with this and stop preventing our families from having healthier mouths.  With all the access to sugary carbonated beverages and sugary foods, we cannot afford not to do this.  Focusing on the health of our mouth can reap huge benefits for the overall health of our children in generations to come. 

Do you ever feel like your mouth and the Sahara desert have something in common?

If so, you are not alone.  Over 25 million Americans suffer from Dry Mouth.  And it’s not just the discomfort of dry mouth (called “xerostomia” by dentist) that is the problem; it is often accompanied by trouble chewing and swallowing, difficulty in speaking , a rise in DENTAL CAVITIES and GUM DISEASE, and most noticeably to some, bad breath.  If people act like there is a fire drill taking place every time you open your mouth, this could be the culprit!

So why do some any of us have what is often referred to as cotton mouth?

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), over 400 medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can lead to dry mouth.  It’s also caused by mouth breathing, dehydration (drink your water), sand lack of salivary flow due to aging.  In rare instance, dry mouth may be caused by an underlying serious disease -  so its not something to take lightly. 

Of course our good old friends (actually enemies) – excessive alcohol consumption and smoking are among the leading causes of this problem, so if you need another reason to put away the cigarettes for good and cut down on the booze, now is a great time!

There are several things you can do to help reduce the symptoms of dry mouth, including:

• Chewing a sugar free gum containing Xylitol
• Drink plenty of water
• Breath through your nose instead of your mouth (easier said than done)
• Frequent brushing and rinsing with a fluoride toothpaste an mouth rinse
• Using a room vaporizer to humidify the air in your home
• Using an over the counter saliva substitute

Since dry mouth can also be a sign of a serious illness and cause an increase in cavities and gum disease, excellent oral hygiene and regular dental visits are a must.  If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please call us immediately at 208-667-7461 for an appointment or visit our website at www.cdadentist.com.  Your health is important to us and we are here to help you.