Healthy Smile Series: The Periodontal Heart Connection

The evidence linking periodontitis to heart disease began in 1989 by a study in Finland, which observed that patients who had heart attacks had more severe oral conditions including periodontal disease and tooth decay. Several studies since have shown that a preexisting periodontal disease results in an increased risk for a heart attack or stroke.

These studies suggest that periodontal disease is not only associated with cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke, but it is also associated with subclinical evidence of atherosclerosis including thickening of the vessel wall. These controlled studies indicate that periodontitis remains an independent contributor to heart disease. Caution is in order because these associations do not establish causality.

Recent evidence shows the relationship between gum disease and heart disease by demonstrating the presence of periodontal pathogens (bacteria & microorganisms) within the atheromatous plaque lesions of the vessels. We have long known that gum disease is associated with transient exposures of the bacteria into the blood (bacteria) and this is the reason why antibiotics are used as a prophylactic prevention prior to dental treatment for patients with heart murmurs and valve problems. New evidence is suggesting that these organisms can lodge in the vessel walls and persist. Thus the bacteria is associated with the plaques within the vessels themselves.

Other new information links gum disease with systemic inflammation, as measured by the production of liver proteins such as C-reactive protein. This protein has been known to be a risk factor for myocardial infarction or diagnosis of peripheral artery disease in otherwise healthy individuals. Mild elevations in C-reactive protein appear to confer risk for these cardiovascular complications. New research links gum disease as one potential cause for these elevations in this protein, thus suggesting another link between gum disease pathogens and heart disease risk.

There is also an association with known cardiovascular risk factors that are involved in systemic inflammation, and there is also evidence that the organisms are within the plaques. This represents a body of circumstantial evidence suggesting that this may be directly involved in the pathology associated with cardiovascular disease.

Regardless of the root causes for cardiovascular diseases, it stands to reason that good nutrition and good oral hygiene control of bacterial inflammation in the mouth are necessary components to help lower risk factors and prevent heart disease and its complications. Removing the oral bacteria meticulously well on a daily basis, and having regular periodic professional cleanings and dental checkups, as well as providing oneself with a diet high in necessary nutrients, will help reduce unnecessary risk factors that can lead to gum disease, heart disease and stroke.

Reference - Lee Ostler DDS

(Disclaimer: This information cannot be relied on for individual circumstances or substituted for medical advice from qualified health professionals.)

Dallas Star Larry Hagman (JR Ewing) died of Oral Cancer

Famous TV show star Larry Hagman alias JR Ewing from the Dallas series died a few days ago of oral cancer. This fact triggered the attention of oral health organizations who work now more than ever on raising the awareness upon the importance of regular oral cancer screenings.

Prevention is the best cure, and if people would respect those regular oral cancer screenings, this would save the planet tens of thousands of deaths annually.

On Friday, Larry Hagman, a prominent actor died of tongue cancer. He has been diagnosed with the disease in October 2011.

Oral cancer does not select among patients and in the past few years several important names have been touched by the disease. Just to name a few, there was Michael Douglas, the former cricketer from England Geoffrey Boycott, and Dany Baker, a BBC radio presenter.

 

The best way to stay protected from oral cancer is to get annual oral cancer screenings.    The FDA-approved VELscope^® offers dentists another examination tool to help detect oral cancer in its earliest stages. The VELscope^® is a blue excitation lamp, which highlights precancerous and cancerous cell changes.

 

Make an appointment for your VELscope oral cancer screening. If not for yourself, then for those you love.

 

~ Kris

Certified and Registered Dental Assistant

Office Administrator

 

What kind of First Impression are you making?

5 surprising ways others judge you

 When you meet someone for the first time or simply pass a stranger on the street, it’s human nature to make assumptions about them: He’s conceited and lazy, she’s rich and friendly, that little girl is a huge brat. And you may have wondered what people think of you the first time they lay eyes on you.

“When it comes to appearance, how you put yourself together matters more than being conventionally pretty,” says Brandy Mychals, author of How to Read a Client from Across the Room(McGraw-Hill, 2012). “A job interview can be over before you even sit down because the person has already made snap judgments.”

Some of the ways others come to those opinions aren’t what you may expect. Check out these five things people rate you by so you can make that tenth of a second count and wow everyone at first sight.

1. Your Feet Do the Talking

You can never have too many shoes—and people judge you based on every single pair. In a study published in Journal of Research in Personality, researchers found that people could accurately guess a stranger’s age, gender, and income simply by looking at what was on their feet. They also associated certain personality traits with different shoes. More masculine-looking pairs were thought to be worn by less agreeable people, while stylish or attractive shoes were assumed to be donned by rich, conscientious folks. And people rocking those ankle boots that are so in right now came across as aggressive.

 2. Cosmetic Powers

Brushing on a little shadow or blush can not only up your attractiveness factor, it can make you appear more confident. In a 2011 study funded by Proctor & Gamble and performed by Harvard University, people said women wearing a little makeup were more likeable, competent, and trustworthy than those with bare faces.

But don’t use a heavy hand with that eyeliner: Too much makeup still made women attractive, but they also seemed untrustworthy and dishonest, especially when participants only got a quick glimpse of the woman.

 

3. Grin and Bear It

 

Your dentist is about to become your most popular medical practitioner. Earlier this year, Kelton Research conducted a study with Invisalign where more than 1,000 people were shown pictures of men and women’s teeth. Those with straight smiles were perceived to be happier, smarter, and more successful and popular than those with crooked teeth.

Thirty-eight percent also said crooked choppers would kill the chances of a second date, and almost half said that when two job candidates had the same skills and experience, one with straight teeth would be hired over one with crooked teeth.

 

4. The Clothes Make the Woman

 

While Hillary Rodham Clinton rocks the pantsuit—and certainly nobody would doubt her confidence or competence—showing a little leg (tastefully, of course) may work better for you. Women in skirtsuits were thought to earn more money and be more confident than those in pantsuits in a study conducted at the U.K.’s University of Hertfordshire. The researchers say the skirt balances professionalism with attractiveness without being provocative.

Wearing the right outfit can also change your self-perception, researchers at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management found. Students who wore white lab coats while doing a scientific experiment performed better than those in regular clothes.

5. Take Up Space

 

Simply standing tall can speak volumes. According to a 2011 study published in Psychological Science, so-called “posture expansiveness”—where you open up the body and occupy space—not only makes you appear more confident and authoritative, you actually think and act that way. Posture matters even more than your title: It gives you a sense of power, no matter where you line up on the totem pole, researchers say.

reference:  Jene Luciani - Shape Magazine.com

Halloween candy is a treat; not a snack!

For some parents, the scariest thing about Halloween is dealing with all the sugary treats that come home with their little ghosts and goblins. Erin Webley, registered dietitian at Spectrum Health’s Helen DeVo s Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Weight Center, advises parents to view Halloween candy as a treat for their children, not a snack option.

Webley says there are ways parents can help their children prepare for and manage the deluge of candy that comes with trick-or-treating. But, she cautions, parents should not make a big deal of it either way, or it will cause anxiety to both parent and child.

Here are some suggestions for dealing with the Halloween candy deluge: Be consistent with healthy   snacks and meals around Halloween. Make sure you continue to offer the healthy options first, then reward children with a treat.

As soon as you return from   trick-or-treating, separate out the candy your children don’t like and just throw it in the garbage so there is less temptation. Or, you can donate it to agencies that ship candy overseas to our service men and women. *** Halloween Candy Buy Back***

It’s OK to offer your child one or two pieces a day, but offer it with a healthy snack first. Candy is not nutritionally balanced or even satisfying as a snack.

Think about where you   keep the candy. Out of sight is out of mind, but do not hide it. Candy s hould not be forbidden.

After a few weeks, when children tend to focus less on the candy, you can start to throw it out in the garbage for good.

Increase your child’s level of physical activity to make up for the extra caloric intake. Take more walks or bike rides around this time.

Consider giving out nonfood treats such as dollar store favors, stickers or bags of pretzels and popcorn.

Put your Halloween candy in the freezer so it can be enjoyed throughout the year.

Don’t buy candy too far in advance of Halloween or during post-holiday sales or you will be tempted to eat it around non-holiday periods.

You can make better choices about candy. Think of miniatures and those with lower fat content (peppermint patties vs. Snickers, for example).

— Information provided by Spectrum Health and the Grand Rapids Press

An Ounce of prevention is worth a Pound of cure.

If you had a way to reverse a problem or prevent a problem would you try? We have a treatment to help you reverse the beginning stages of tooth demineralization that can lead to tooth decay.

If tooth decay has not reached the inner layer of the tooth (dentin) the enamel can be strengthened and the decay process can be halted using a specialized treatment of MI Paste Plus and custom trays.

First, we make custom trays that will fit onto your teeth. These trays will hold the MI Paste Plus in contact with your teeth. The trays are worn daily at bedtime to strengthen  weakened areas of the tooth. MI Paste Plus has two main components, calcium phosphate and sodium fluoride. These components help strengthen the enamel portion of the tooth. By strengthening the enamel the demineralization process can be stopped and the tooth stabilized.

This minimally invasive technique can help you make your teeth healthier and stronger and possibly prevent you from needing tooth structure removed and replaced with a restoration.

Schedule an appointment for your evaluation.

Val ~ Dental Hygienist

Cheap isn't always cheaper

There is a predictable process many of us go through when we decide to stop living beyond our means. We get cheap. In fact, some even call us cheapskates — a label I personally enjoy because it proves I am not the person I used to be: a credit card junkie and a totally whacked-out spendthrift.

My thinking was that if cheap was good, then cheaper must be better. 

But that is not always true.

Sometimes the cheapest option ends up costing the most.

Case in point: Our house desperately needed painting.

Spending thousands of dollars made m e queasy. So when one of the bids came in much lower than the others, I jumped on it.

After the job was done, we were very disappointed at how it looked. Then, before even two years passed, the trim cracked and peeled, making our paint look 10 years old. I know now that our cheap paint job cost us far more than if we had gone with the highest bid from the start.

After just three years, we had the house painted again. This time, instead of going for cheap, we were determined to buy the most quality we could afford.

The job took nearly six weeks, five of which were devoted to prep, and included three coats of high quality paint. We expect this job will last 15 years.

That turns out to be much cheaper in the long run than getting a cheap paint job every three years. And our bonus is that the house looks like a million bucks.

There are other times — like buying a mattress, putting on a new roof or dental care — when buying the most quality you can afford is the cheapest way to go. 

So how do you know which way to go? Ask yourself this question: How long do I want this item to last?

If the answer is, “As long as possible,” that is a sign that you need to buy the most quality you can afford.

If, on the other hand, your answer is something like, “Until the end of the wedding reception,” you do not need quality.

How do you know you’re making the most cost effective choice? Do the math. Take a mattress, for example. First, determine the life expectancy of the model you are considering. Now divide the number of years into the purchase price. Then divide that result by 365, to see how much this mattress will cost per day. Do the same for the cheap option, making sure you adjust the life expectancy accordingly.

You will not believe how often the cheap option is really the most expensive.

Knowing when to buy the most quality you can afford, and when to go for the cheapest price you can find, is a learned skill.

The more you practice, the better you will get. And the better you get, the more you will enjoy some finer things in life.

Reference: Mary Hunt at Everyday Cheapskate - Grand Rapids Press

 More information: 

quality dental care

Dental Health Investment Plan

Schedule a dental appointment - because the best investment you can make is the investment in your health!

What your mouth reveals about your health

If left untreated, this oral health problem can damage more than your gums. Gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and other health problems.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic infection that can result in a number of health problems, from mild inflammation to severe gum damage to tooth loss, if left untreated. In addition, gum disease can affect your overall health, and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Gum disease develops in the space between your gum line and your teeth. It causes tissue inflammation and damage that can eventually cause your gums to recede. The severity of gum disease is determined by the depth of the excess space, or so-called "pockets," that form as your gum tissue recedes.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research estimates that 80 percent of adults in the United States have some degree of gum disease.

Types of Gum Disease

Gum disease is classified as either gingivitis or periodontitis. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease and is reversible with treatment. But it can also develop into the more serious oral health problem, periodontitis.

·    Gingivitis results in swollen, irritated gums that bleed easily. Good oral health habits, including daily flossing and brushing, as well as getting regular professional teeth cleanings can prevent and help to reverse this disease, which typically doesn't result in the loss of gum tissue or teeth.

·    Periodontitis occurs as a result of untreated gingivitis. In periodontitis, the gums significantly recede from the teeth, leading to the formation of infected pockets. As your body's immune system struggles to fight off these infection, tissues and bones may start to break down. Without proper treatment, the gums, connective tissue, and jaw bones that support your teeth may all deteriorate and begin to compromise your overall oral health. Eventually, the teeth will loosen and either fall out or have to be removed.

Signs of Gum Disease

Your oral health is critical to your overall health. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek care from a dentist who is knowledgeable about treating gum disease:

·      A sour taste in your mouth or persistently bad breath

·      A change in how your partial dentures fit

·      A change in how your teeth fit together when you bite   down

·       Bleeding gums

·      Gum tissue that pulls away from your teeth

·      Loose teeth or increasing spaces between your teeth

·      Pain when chewing

·     Unusually sensitive teeth

·      Swollen and tender gums

Causes of Gum Disease

In addition to poor oral health habits, other factors associated with gum disease include:

·    Smoking and chewing tobacco — tobacco products irritate the gums and make gum disease more difficult to treat.

·    Systemic diseases that affect the immune system, such as cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS

·    Taking certain medications, including some blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, steroids, and oral contraceptives, that can cause dry mouth. The lack of saliva in your mouth makes you more susceptible to gum disease since one of its main functions is to help wash away food particles and bacteria.

·    Crooked teeth

·    Dental bridges that don’t fit properly

·    Old and defective fillings

·    Hormonal fluctuations, particularly those that occur during pregnancy

·    Genetic differences may make some people more susceptible to gum disease

·    Stress, which can reduce your body's defenses when it comes to fighting off any infection, including gum infections

Consequences of Untreated Gum Disease

Untreated gum disease has been associated with an increased risk for heart disease and stroke, and for women, an increased chance of delivering a baby with a low birth weight. Gum disease has also been linked to trouble controlling blood sugar among diabetics.

Gum Disease Treatment Options

Gum disease can be treated in several ways, depending on whether you have gingivitis or periodontitis. The primary goal is to manage the chronic infection that leads to gum damage. Treatment options include:

·    Regular professional deep cleanings

·    Medications that are either taken orally or are inserted directly into infected tissue pockets

·    Surgery, in more severe cases of gum disease. One type, called flap surgery, involves pulling up the gum tissue in order to remove tartar and then stitching the tissue back in place for a tight fit around the teeth. Tissue grafts can also be used to replace severely damaged bone or gum. In bone grafting, for instance, a small piece of mesh-like material is placed between the bone and gum tissue, enabling the supportive tissue and bone to regenerate.

While it's good to know there are treatments, it's better to avoid gum disease in the first place, by brushing and flossing at least twice a day, eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings.

Reference: Everyday health