Get your blood pressure checked before your dental appointment!

High blood pressure, also called HBP or hypertension, can affect your ability to receive oral healthcare. Performing dental treatments on patients with hypertension can be detrimental! If your blood pressure is too high, many dentists won’t schedule procedures until you receive a health assessment from your medical doctor.

What is high blood pressure?

The two forces measured for your blood pressure reading are the blood pumping out of your heart and into your arteries (systolic), and the heart resting between beats (diastolic). Normal blood pressure readings for a healthy individuals who are 20 years and older should be below 120 for systolic and below 80 for diastolic. If blood pressure readings are consistently higher than 120/80 then you’re probably suffering from hypertension.

According to Heart.org, the website of the American Heart Association, “Untreated high blood pressure damages and scars your arteries.” High blood pressure increases risks of blood clots, organ damage, heart attacks, and strokes. High blood pressure also results increased plaque build-up and weakening blood vessels.

How does high blood pressure affect my dental health?

In a white paper released by the American Diagnostic Corporation, it states: “…elevations of blood pressure can increase a patient’s risk of experiencing a stroke or myocardial infarctions in the dental chair.” Patients with hypertension can also be in danger from local anesthetics that use vasoconstrictors, such as epinephrine, which increase blood pressure and heart arrhythmia.

High blood pressure medications can also affect your dental wellbeing. Some prescriptions cause dry mouth and may also alter your sense of taste. Meds with calcium blockers can also create gum overgrowth, which can affect a patient’s ability to chew and may require periodontal surgery to correct.

Will my dentist still treat me if I have high blood pressure?

Most dentists will not treat patients who have high blood pressure, especially if your numbers are in the Stage 1 or higher range for hypertension. (View the chart at the American Heart Association’s website.) If you’re being treated for high blood pressure, it’s important for you to discuss your condition and your medications with your dentist before beginning any treatments. Most patients being treated for high blood pressure can still have dental procedures, take anti-anxiety medications (often used for oral conscious sedation), and safely receive local anesthetics.

Testimonials

Find out beforehand if the doctor you’re considering has any testimonials or before-and-after pictures you can see. Some states—Texas, for example—don’t allow testimonials, but others do and this can be a great way to get to know a dentist and his or her work.

Experience

Knowing where a dentist studied, how long they’ve studied, what associations they’re a member of, and what awards they’ve one can all help you decide on a dentist. Typically, you can find information like this on a doctor’s webpage, under the “About the Office” or the “About Our Team” page. If the practice you’re considering is a new practice, what does this mean to you? Are you comfortable with the dentist’s expertise and training?

Technology

Whether you’re looking for general care or restorative care, finding a practicing with cutting-edge technology can be important. Tools like digital radiography expose patients to 80% less radiation while laser dentistry can make periodontal therapy more comfortable than traditional therapy with a scalpel and stitches. What advanced tools are important to you and will encourage you to seek the care you deserve?

Services

One of the most important questions to ask yourself as you look for a dentist is, what services do you and your family need? Do you already know that you need to have a specific procedure performed? For advanced surgical care, many dentists refer patients to a specialist, but some dentists have sought extra training and can perform these same procedures in their own office.

Comfort

If you have trouble sitting for long periods of time or you struggle with dental anxiety, finding an office that keeps patient comfort in mind can be very important. Some dentists do this through sedation dentistry, while others do so by advertising spa amenities.

What are the risk factors for oral cancer?

The risk factors for oral cancer include smoking and chewing tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus (HPV), although some people develop oral cancer despite having none of these risk factors. It is believed that genetics, too, plays a role in the development of cancers, including oral cancer, as well as dietary factors. Because there are so many various contributing factors, everyone should get checked by their dentist for oral cancer at their dental checkups.

What are the symptoms of oral cancer?

The symptoms of oral cancer include:

• A flat, painless, white or red spot or sore.
• A sore that bleed easily or does not heal.
• A color change of the oral tissues.
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, crust, or small, eroded area.
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips.

It can be hard to see every spot in your mouth clearly, which is where your dentist comes in. He or she can take a look at any questionable areas and alert you if there’s a potential problem. Waiting until the symptoms become extremely obvious means wasting valuable treatment time that could save your life.

So why not make an appointment with your dentist for an exam during National Cancer Control Month? Set your mind at ease knowing that you’ve gone the extra mile for not only your oral health, but your overall health, too!

Research conducted recently found that patients who had suffered heart attacks also suffered from poor oral health, too. And the American Academy of Periodontology notes that people diagnosed with gum disease are twice as likely to have heart disease.

How do you know if you have gum disease? You may have periodontal infection if your gums:

• Bleed during or after brushing your teeth
• Feel tender, swollen, or sore
• Look red or discolored
• Form pockets around your teeth

One of the simplest ways to ensure good gum health is to brush twice, floss once, and use a fluoridated oral rinse every day. Getting regular check-ups at least twice a year gives your dentists the opportunity to check your gums—and keep you on track to periodontal health.

According to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine, patients who were treated for periodontitis showed improvements in endothelial (cells that line blood vessels) function. So, getting your oral health in order can also improve your overall health, too!

Green Tea

As we mentioned in an earlier post, green tea has been used medicinally for ages and is consumed by millions of people around the world every day. It has a higher number of antioxidants than black tea, which helps explain its many benefits for patients. Among the oral health benefits to look forward to, green tea actually kills cancer-causing free radicals and can reduce periodontal inflammation.

But that’s not all. Green tea is also known to aid in the reduction of dental plaque and can interfere with the production of hydrogen sulfide, which causes bad breath.

Dairy Products

Whether you’re talking about a slice of cheese, a cup of yogurt, or a glass of milk, dairy products can influence your smile for the better. For one thing, their low acidity protects teeth from decay and promotes a healthier pH. Dairy products are also high in calcium and phosphate, which help fortify teeth and bones alike. (You can view our earlier post on dairy here.)

Fruits and Vegetable

You’re probably all too familiar with the phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Well, there’s some truth to it. The chewing action involved in eating raw fruit massages your gums and helps keep plaque from forming on teeth. What’s more, many fruits contain vitamin C, which is not only good for your overall health, its’ also good for supporting gum health. Likewise,  the act of eating raw vegetables, which contain a host of important nutrients (including vitamin A), helps keep teeth clean and strong, in addition to supporting overall health.

Water

If someone asked you to think about foods or drinks that are good for your smile, you might not have considered that water might be one of the best. But in addition to hydrating the body, water can help you wash away food trapped between your teeth and give the body extra protection from the development of bacteria and plaque, as it aids the natural neutralizing effects of saliva.

Want to know more about how certain foods can help your smile? Call your local dentist to schedule a visit, or you can also check out these two articles (from WebMD and Dental.net) on diet and oral health.

Animals can’t operate tooth brushes, so it’s easy to assume that they don’t need to brush their teeth. But you can brush their teeth for them, and it’s actually highly recommended. Just as gum disease is common in people and causes a variety of systemic health problems — diabetes, heart disease, stroke — your pet can develop gum disease as well. Many people complain that their dog or cat suffers from bad breath, but few realize that this can signal periodontal disease.

There are pet toothpastes and toothbrushes available at your local pet store. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends daily brushing, but even every other day or a few times a week can greatly reduce your pet’s chances of developing gum disease. Never use toothpaste designed for people on your pet. That would cause them to get a tummy ache.

Here are some tips for brushing your pet’s teeth:

• Let your pet taste the toothpaste from the tip of your finger first. The paste should be designed to taste good to your pet, leaving him or her wanting more.
• Once your pet has tasted the toothpaste, put a little on the toothbrush. There are two different types of pet toothbrushes available. One looks like a traditional human tooth brush, while the other is a finger-shaped rubber cuff with bristles that fits over the tip of your finger. This second type of pet toothbrush can be easier to use — you simply stick your finger in your pet’s mouth!
• Gently massage the teeth, paying special attention to the gum line. If you can’t get all of your pet’s teeth the first few tries, don’t fret. They’ll get used to it eventually, letting you finish the job as they become more comfortable.

Pet toothpaste is completely edible, so there’s no need to rinse after brushing.

Your pet’s vet can also perform dental exams and provide you with guidance on preventing gum disease for your pet. With a little attention and tender loving care, your pet can live a long, healthy life. The best part? No more bad breath!

Several early cultures used chewing sticks with aromatic or antiseptic properties, such as neem or miswak. The sticks not only cleaned teeth, but also freshened breath.

In 1498 in China, an enterprising soul plucked stiff hairs from a pig’s neck and attached the bristles to a bone or bamboo handle. When this toothbrush was adopted by the Europeans, they opted for softer bristles—using horsehairs or feathers.

The toothbrush was modernized around 1780 by Englishman William Addis when he tied boar bristles into tufts and glued them into drilled holes of a bone handle. In fact, he’s responsible for the first mass-produced toothbrush. The company that Addis started more than 230 years ago, Wisdom Toothbrushes, still exists today.

In 1857, H.N. Wadsworth was the first American to be granted a toothbrush patent. However, mass production on toothbrushes in the United States didn’t begin until 1885, and animal bristles were still used as the brushing components. Fast forward to 1938 when DuPont created a new material called nylon. These synthetic fibers soon replaced natural bristles in toothbrushes.

These days, you have a variety of toothbrush options, including electric and disposable. If you’re not sure which type of toothbrush is best for your dental care needs, ask your dentist at your next checkup. And skip the twigs.

A smile makeover can help you add an extra sparkle to your smile, which, in turn, can help you improve the different relationships in your life, whether romantic, social, or on a professional. What’s more, studies have shown that patients with whiter, straighter smiles are perceived by others as more confident, attractive, and successful.

So with all this in mind, why not talk to your dentist about a smile makeover for January?

What Is a Smile Makeover?

A smile makeover can be one service or multiple services combined. One of the most common popular smile makeover services is teeth whitening. And just as there are different smile makeover services out there, there are also different companies that produce teeth whitening materials. Regardless of which your dentist offers, you can enjoy professional results that over-the-counter products can’t deliver, and typically in either in-office or at-home varieties.

But Teeth Whitening Isn’t the Only Option to Consider

Teeth whitening may be one of the most popular cosmetic options out there, but it’s not the only one. Many offices also offer porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, and orthodontic solutions like Invisalign and Clear Correct.

If you want to give your smile a makeover for 2012, call your local dentist to find out what he or she would recommend for you personally.

Transform your smile this January with a confident, dazzling smile makeover. You never know what opportunities a change like that might unlock.

How Vegetarianism Can Affect Your Oral Health

When designing your vegetarian diet, it’s essential to make sure you’re still getting certain nutrients. Some vegetarians might not get enough calcium, riboflavin, vitamins D or B12, or protein, and this can have a negative effect on the oral health of vegetarians.

A diet low on vitamin D and calcium can increase your risk of periodontal disease (gum disease), a very serious oral health problem. But take heart! You can counteract this problem with dietary supplements. It’s also recommended that you get guidance from a nutritionist before pursuing a vegetarian lifestyle to make sure you’re on the right track.

If giving vegetarianism a go is your new year’s resolution, there’s no need to be afraid for your oral health. Just make sure you’re getting all the important nutrients by eating a balanced diet. And don’t forget to make brushing and flossing a part of your oral health routine, too!

Around the age of six, a child’s baby teeth begin to fall out to make room for primary teeth. The last of their baby teeth typically fall out by the age of 13. Teeth fall out in the same order they erupted. So, most children lose their bottom two teeth first, and then their two front teeth.

Unfortunately, there are other ways to lose front teeth. Front teeth often take the full impact of a fall. If these teeth are knocked loose or knocked out, it’s important to get to the dentist right away. The dentist will try to reinsert the tooth so that it begins to re-bond with the bone. If it’s too late to save the tooth, then it’s likely the gap can be filled in with a dental prosthesis, such as a crown and bridge, or with dental implants.

Then I Could Wish You Merry Christmas…

In 1944, music teacher Donal Yetter Gardner asked his second grade class what they wanted for Christmas. He noticed nearly all his students had lisps because they were missing at least one front tooth, and he was inspired to pen a holiday song.  After performing “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” at a music teachers’ conference, Gardner gained the notice of a Witmark music company employee.  A few short years later, the song was recorded and released by Spike Jones & His City Slickers, and the catchy tune soared to the top of the 1949 pop charts.