Posts Tagged ‘oral health’
Friday, May 11th, 2012
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. (more…)
Tags: dental wellbeing, heart attacks, high blood pressure, oral health, periodontal health
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Family Dentistry, General Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry | Comments Off
Tuesday, March 27th, 2012
Nearly 80% of American adults suffer from gum disease! Gum disease can devastate your oral health, causing serious dental problems. In fact, the number one reason for adult tooth loss in the United States is untreated gum disease. Worse, though, is the effect that gum disease can have on your heart health.
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. (more…)
Tags: gum disease, heart health, oral health
Posted in General Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry | Comments Off
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
You already know how important brushing and flossing are for the health of your smile. But did you also know that certain foods can benefit your oral health too? Any number of specific foods can be beneficial, but today we’re targeting just a few general foods or drinks that can help you.
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. (more…)
Tags: General Dentistry, nutruition and diet, oral health
Posted in General Dentistry, Uncategorized | 52 Comments »
Friday, July 8th, 2011
Nineteenth century novelist George Eliot once said, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.”
Yet smiling is more than just a way to convince your mother that you really did enjoy that meatloaf surprise. Even the smallest upward lip curve—whether or not it’s sincerely delivered—has far-reaching emotional and physical benefits.
Here are five advantages of turning that frown upside down:
1. Studies have shown that smiling lowers blood pressure. If you need some instant Zen, then all you have to do is smile. Chanting is optional (especially if you’re standing in line at the grocery store). (more…)
Tags: best dentist, Coping with stress, dental health, oral health, pregnancy and oral health, teeth brushing, teeth whitening
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Family Dentistry, General Dentistry, Preventive Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry | 2,568 Comments »
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011
Why are we discussing cancer on a dental newsletter? Because dental health affects your overall health, and your smile is your dentist’s business. Oral Cancer is a little discussed cancer that is on the rise, despite the overall decline in cancer rates. Why? Awareness. Many people simply don’t talk about oral cancer. Your dentist wants to change that.
Every year, almost 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. Of these cases, 70% are discovered in the disease’s later stages. As many as one fourth of those diagnosed didn’t even participate in the risky behaviors commonly attributed to the disease, such a tobacco use or excessive alcohol consumption.
(more…)
Tags: dental health, General Dentistry, National Cancer Control Month, Oral cancer, oral cancer screening, oral health, Preventive Dentistry, VELscope, ViziLite
Posted in Preventive Dentistry | Comments Off
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
A Healthy Smile? It’s Easy to Find! Remember to Brush & Floss Every Day!
February marks National Children’s Dental Health Month, a time which the 
American Dental Association has set aside to encourage dentists, parents, and other adults to educate children on how to take care of their little smiles. And even though that’s more than a week away, it never hurts to get a head start! Now’s the time to help kids brush up on good oral health!
Here are some ways your children can maintain strong, healthy smiles that last a lifetime: (more…)
Tags: american dental association, children's dentistry, national children's dental health month, oral health, oral hygiene, Preventive Dentistry
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Thursday, August 5th, 2010
While Shark Week continues to strike fear into the hearts of Americans nation-wide, we’re keeping on our eye on another, more sinister threat: Gum Disease. We think gum disease is infinitely scarier than anything a silly ol’ shark can dish.
Take a look at these statistics and tell us if you agree.
Sharks: Chances of being attacked by a shark are one in 11.5 million
Gum Disease: Chances of being attacked by gum disease are about one in three (conservatively)
Sharks : Account for less than 1% (way less) of annual deaths
Gum Disease: Accounts for 70% of all tooth loss
(more…)
Tags: gum disease, gum disease statistics, oral health, shark statistics, shark week
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Monday, April 19th, 2010
Quick! Make a mental list of habits that have an impact on your dental health.
You thought about brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups, right? Those are all hugely beneficial in keeping your teeth healthy, it’s true. But did you know that your diet has a big influence on your dental health? To really address the overall issue, let’s dig a little.
Many people don’t realize that a balanced diet with good nutrition is a key element in keeping a smile attractive and healthy. The same vitamins and minerals that keep your body in great shape are equally beneficial to your teeth. A few powerhouse players include:
- Calcium and Vitamin D
A proper amount of calcium is very important to maintaining the structure of your teeth, along with phosphorus and magnesium. Vitamin D boosts absorption of the mineral, so a sufficient level of both is essential. (more…)
Tags: best dentist, Dental decay, dentistry tips, General Dentistry, Nutrition and diet, oral health
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Do you ever feel like circumstances are spinning out of your control? You’re not the only one. If there’s one thing we all have in common fairly often, it’s that stressful situations can occupy our minds and sap our energy. Not only that, stress can actually compromise your health. If you are stressed, it’s more likely that you’ll grind your teeth during sleep. While this bit of information has been around for a while, a recent study shed light on new piece of the teeth-grinding puzzle.
The article published in journal Head and Face Medicine shows that some ways of coping with stress can be healthier for your teeth and jaw than others. Those people who deal with stress by attempting to ignore their problems or internalize them are at higher risk for teeth grinding, also called bruxism. The study found that heavy grinders often used what were termed “negative” coping methods, like ignoring the causes of stress instead of working through problems directly. (more…)
Tags: best dentist, Bruxism, Coping with stress, dentistry tips, General Dentistry, oral health, Teeth grinding
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Dental caries (cavities) is the most prevalent childhood disease, and 90% of adults have had a cavity. Gum disease is responsible for 70% of adult tooth loss. A few simple habits could help you reduce your risk for cavities and gum disease – and improve your potential for keeping natural teeth long into your golden years. Kids and adults alike can benefit from these 5 quick and easy oral health tips. Some you’ve known since kindergarten, while others may be news. (more…)
Tags: brushing and flossing, cavities, cavity prevention, dental caries, Dental decay, dental disease, dental health, dental hygiene, gum disease, oral health, oral healthcare, tooth decay, tooth erosion
Posted in Uncategorized | 2,296 Comments »