Pregnant? Don't Forget About Your Oral Health

For some pregnant women, a dental visit is not top priority.  We understand - you have a lot on your plate!  Between doctor visits, preparing for baby’s arrival, and managing pregnancy symptoms, scheduling a routine dental visit may not seem too important. 

Plus – you might be concerned about whether it’s safe to visit the dentist. Or, you may not want to take more time off of work.  Cost can also be an issue - prenatal visit co-pays and getting the nursery ready can really add up.  Why spend more at the dentist - right? 

Well, we’re here to tell you – dental visits are not only safe but an important part of your prenatal care!  Pregnancy affects your mouth in many ways and the link between gingivitis and systemic illness suggest that untreated gum disease can affect the health of your unborn baby as well as lower your immune system.  In fact, gum disease has been inked to gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and premature delivery. 

Gingivitis, Cavities and More!

When your expecting, your body undergoes many changes - some of these are dental related.  Due to pregnancy hormones, you may experience pregnancy gingivitis, which can cause gum sensitivity and bleeding while brushing or flossing.  Symptoms include bad breath, and swollen, red sensitive gums that bleed easily. The rise in hormone levels can also cause the gums to swell, trapping food which irritates your gums.

Pregnant women also have an increased risk of tooth decay.  Eating more carbohydrates, snacking between meals, or increased acid in the mouth from vomiting due to morning sickness, will put your teeth at a higher risk for decay.

Some women also experience “pregnancy tumors,” which are benign growths of tissue along the gums and between the teeth that may be related to excess plaque.  These sound scary but they are not cancerous.  Your dentist will be able to diagnose what’s normal or what’s not during your exam.

Finally, any infection in your mouth not only puts stress on your body from the pain, but may spread to the rest of your body as well.  Periodontal disease or an infection may result in low birth weight, premature birth, or even preeclampsia, a rare but life-threatening condition.

Prevention Is Key 

In addition to scheduling your routine dental cleaning and exam, be sure to keep up your home care routine.  Brush thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste twice a day. Vomiting due to morning sickness can create acidic environment, which means you need to brush even more.  Don't forget to floss - your gums need extra care during this time.   

You will also want to eat well to protect your baby's teeth. Diet deficiencies during pregnancy may cause changes in baby’s tooth formation and leave their teeth at greater risk for decay later in life. Choose foods that are high in calcium, vitamins and minerals.  

Dental Treatment and Safety While Pregnant
If you need dental treatment, like a filling or crown, while your're pregnant, don't worry.  Technology has made great strides in the dental field and today's procedures and medications are more gentle and safer than ever before.  We recommend that you have any non-emergency dental work done during the second trimester - when morning sickness has subsided and before it becomes too uncomfortable to lie on your back for long periods of time.  

Thanks to digital x-rays, should these be required, the exposure to radiation is lower than ever.  The added reassurance of a lead apron (which covers your abdomen and neck) reduces your exposure even further.  

Dental anesthetics is also safe fore use during pregnancy.  Fortunately, lidocaine, which is the most commonly used local anesthetic during dental treatments, is  considered to have almost no negative effect on the mother and  fetus. In addition, the changes of any local anesthetics used in dental treatments for pregnant women having a negative affect on pregnant women and their fetuses appears to be very low.   

At Jeff M. Morrison & Associates, DDS, we want to provide our patients who are pregnant (or who think they may be) with the best possible care.  Be sure to  share the following important information with us when you schedule:

• Let us know if you are pregnant (or you suspect you may be) 
• Let us know what month you are in when you make your appointment. 
• Tell us if you are having a high-risk pregnancy or you have some other medical condition or concern such as vomiting due to morning sickness. 
• Let us know if there is any change in the medications you take or if you have received any special advice from your physician. 
• Keep us informed of any changes in your mouth such as swelling, redness or bleeding gums. 

 

If you’ve been putting off your dental visit, go ahead and make that call!  Concerned about cost?  Some dental benefit plans have special maternity programs with additional services like extra cleanings or discounts on oral health prescriptions.  If you don't have dental insurance, our in-office St. Mary's Street Dental Savings Plan provides discounted preventive care, as well as 15% off all other general or cosmetic dental care. 

Our friendly staff an be reached at 919 755 3450 if you have questions or want to schedule an appointment. You can also request an appointment online . 

Five Reasons to Start Flossing Your Children's Teeth Early

According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), flossing is the single most important weapon against plaque.  Gaining an early start on flossing can significantly reduce cavity-causing bacteria in your child's mouth, leading to healthier teeth and gums.   Here are five great reasons to start flossing early:

Flossing Gets Rid of Plaque

Plaque is a soft, sticky film that constantly builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. When your child eats, the bacteria in plaque use the sugars in the food to produce acids that eat away at the tooth enamel. Repeated attacks cause the enamel to break down, eventually resulting in a cavity (or hole) in the tooth surface.  

30% of Tooth Surface Not Reached by Brushing

Brushing cleans the surface of the teeth - but about 30% of your child's tooth surface is unreachable by their toothbrush.  That's why flossing is so important.  It removes plaque and tiny amounts of food debris in between teeth.  

Dental Hygiene Visits Are Easier For Your Child

Plaque that is not removed daily by brushing and flossing between teeth can eventually harden into tartar around the gum line. Flossing allows you to remove the plaque that causes tartar while it's in its early form: sticky, soft and pliable.   Once plaque becomes tartar, it can't be removed without professional help.  Most kids (and adults) don't enjoy the scraping the Dental Hygienist must do to remove tartar.    

Flossing Can Save Money and Time

In an era of rising health care costs and diminishing insurance benefits, it pays to take steps to reduce your dental expenses. Flossing is inexpensive, easy and takes under a minute.  Compare this to the costs (missed work, cost of care) associated with having a cavity filled.

Early Oral Hygiene Routines Lead To Better Outcomes

Teaching your child to floss when they start to brush will help them develop a strong oral hygiene routine that will have a significant impact on their dental health.   

How To Help Your Child Floss

Once a child’s teeth start to fit closely together, usually between the ages of two and six, parents should get their children in the habit of flossing daily.  Here are some tips on helping your child become a good flosser:

• Learning Curve.  Because flossing requires more hand-eye coordination and dexterity than most young children have, they will need help with flossing from an adult until they can start doing it on their own.  As a general rule, when your child starts to learn cursive (around second or third grade), they’re skilled enough to floss solo.  
• Good habits take time to develop.  Give your kids some positive reinforcement.  A combination of gentle reminders and praise when kids floss (both with help and on their own), will keep them excited about taking care of their teeth.
• Be a good example.  Brushing and flossing your teeth alongside your kids will reinforce good habits to them and enable you make sure that they are doing it correctly.
• Follow up.  Even older kids can use some follow-up.  Make sure your older kids and teens have dental floss available, are using proper flossing technique, and are flossing each day. 
• Fun Flossing Tools.  The best flossing tools for children are the ones that will make flossing a fun and a life-long daily habit. Winding dental floss around little fingers can be tricky.   Luckily, kid-friendly floss sticks are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes and characters. 

Our Dental Hygienists are trained to teach flossing skills to our youngest patients, and will happily give you some tips to help at home.  Is it time for their cleaning and exam?  Give our office a call at 919 755 3450 or schedule online.  

Was this blog post helpful?  If so, please leave a comment.  Also, share other dental health topics you may be interested in.  Thanks for visiting!

Seven Benefits of a Dental Cleaning and Exam

Professional dental cleanings aren’t just for keeping your smile bright; they can have a significant impact on your oral health and your overall health, as well. Brushing and flossing at home are essential, but to ensure teeth and mouth are healthy and thoroughly clean, you should schedule regular check-ups and dental cleanings at least twice a year (more often if you have periodontal disease).

Here are seven reasons professional cleanings are so important: 

Prevent plaque, which leads to cavities

The whitish film that builds up on your teeth is called plaque and it is the leading cause of tooth decay. This acidic substance eats away at the tooth enamel and, if left unattended, can lead to cavities. Plaque can be removed by brushing, flossing and dental cleanings.

Stop tooth loss

Gum disease, which starts with built-up plaque, is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. As gum disease advances, plaque moves further down the tooth where it can destroy the supporting bone in your jaw, causing teeth to loosen and fall out. Luckily, the chance of this happening to you can be greatly reduced through regular dental cleanings combined with good oral hygiene habits.

Brighten your smile

Drinking coffee, tea and wine or using tobacco can stain your teeth. A dental cleaning can remove built-up stains and leave you with freshly polished teeth. The result? A whiter, brighter smile!

Freshen your breath

Good oral hygiene is the best way to prevent persistent bad breath. Even if you brush and floss regularly, getting a cleaning is a great way to keep your mouth healthy and odor-free.  Also, some medical and dental conditions, such as dry mouth, periodontal disease and diabetes, can cause bad breath.   Dr. Morrison will discuss this during the exam if you have concerns about bad breath. 

Boost your overall health

Studies have shown a strong connection between your oral and overall health. Poor oral hygiene can cause periodontal disease, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, strokes, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's Disease and many other problems. Regular dental cleanings may help lower your risk for some diseases, like heart disease and stroke. 

Save money

Get the most value from your dental benefits. Most dental plans have low or no co-payments/coinsurance for dental cleanings and oral exams. If you take advantage of your benefits now, you may be able to save money in the long run by helping to protect your oral health and potentially avoiding more costly and extensive procedures. If you are a member of our St. Mary's Dental Savings Plan, you receive two discounted cleanings each year, as well as discounted treatment, should that become necessary. 

Catch problems early

At your cleaning we can usually catch minor problems, such as broken fillings and fractures, at the earliest possible stage - before they come time consuming, expensive and sometimes painful. Many medical conditions, some of them life-threatening (such as oral cancer), can be detected in their early stages during a routine oral exam. Often problems can go unnoticed because patients are unaware of symptoms, or a patient does not have noticeable symptoms until the advanced stages.

At Jeff M. Morrison & Assoc., DDS, we take every opportunity to educate our patients and keep them up-to-date with the best ways to care for their oral health. Our goal is to prevent problems from occurring - and if they do, to address them at the earliest possible stage. If you have any questions about your dental health please make an appointment with us today. You can schedule online or call us at 919 755 3450.

Worried About Thumbsucking? You Probably Don't Need To

As a dentist I get a lot of questions about thumb sucking - a very common childhood activity that occurs in about 80% of infants and children. It's been observed in utero starting as early as 15 weeks of gestation and is pretty common in the first three months of life. About 30% of children still suck their thumb at age one. Most give it up spontaneously between the age of 2 and 4, with little if any damage as a result. The habit no longer serves its purpose so they stop. About 12% of children are still sucking their thumb at age 4.

I’ve never encouraged parents to get overly concerned about stopping their small child from thumb-sucking. It's a normal behavior up to age 4 and can even have an adaptive value in that it can provide a sense of security and helps children self-soothe. And anyway, parents aren’t usually successful in getting their child to stop — their peers are. It's when their friends at their preschool or playgroup bring the habit up that children are motivated to stop.

So when should parents start to worry? According to the American Dental Association, children who vigorously suck their thumbs, suck for a long duration, and continue to do so beyond age four, risk causing damage that may require orthodontic treatment to correct. The thumb can exert pressures upon teeth, bone, and soft tissues in the mouth causing problems with positioning of teeth and growth of the jaws. The most obvious consequences of a persistent thumb sucking habit are:

• Pushing the upper front teeth (incisors) out and the lower incisors in causing a "buck tooth" smile.
• Preventing the front teeth from erupting all the way together causing an openbite.
• Stopping the lower jaw from developing normally, resulting in a recessive or “weak” chin.
• Narrowing of the soft tissue in the palate of the mouth, resulting in a crossbite.

However, before getting too worried, parents should keep in mind that the likelihood of changes in dentition depends on genetics as well as the duration and intensity of sucking. Tooth movement generally requires 4-6 hours of force per day. So thumb sucking for a few minutes before falling asleep - even for a child who is 4 or 5 - is not normally going to be a problem.  If the thumb sucking stops while your child is still growing, most of the dental problems that may have occurred can self-correct, but sometimes the help of a dentist or an orthodontist is required to correct the position of the teeth and align the jaws.

The American Dental Association recommends that parents start encouraging their children to stop sucking their thumb after age 4 — but even then, they advocate a gentle, positive approach. Here are five tips we offers parents to proactively encourage their child to stop a damaging thumb sucking habit.

1. Explain to your child the damage their habit is causing to their mouth and teeth. Kids today are smarter than you think. Pictures of buck teeth and openbites go a long way helping drive home the point.
2. Develop a program with your child’s input to stop the habit. Let them be proactive in determining the best way to correct their own problem. They are more likely to cooperate if they have a choice in the process. Suggest aids like wearing a sock on their hand when they go to bed, or a band aid on their thumb while watching TV to remind them at times when they may unconsciously put their finger in their mouth. With some children, there is a blanket or stuffed animal that goes hand in hand with thumb sucking. It's difficult to stop one, without removing the other. I know it sounds like a double whammy… but it's often what's needed to be successful.  Try letting them pick out a new blanket or plush toy - one they don't associate with sucking their thumb, to help them through the transition.  
3. Set up a calendar to track progress with small rewards at the end of every day, week and/or month acting as an incentive. With older children, offer a larger incentive after the habit has stopped for at least 4-6 weeks. Anyone (including myself) who has tried to stop a persistent habit knows it can be emotionally stressful and very hard work.  Expect some tears and even tantrums as your child figures it out.  A new Lego or special day at the park is definitely in order once they succeed.  
4. If you notice your child relapsing, work on alleviating what's causing the stress and anxiety which underlies the thumb sucking, rather than the habit itself.  You already know they can stop sucking their thumb if the environment is right - so work on that.  
5.  Children always respond more favorably to positive praise vs. negative criticism. In addition to reminding them to take their thumb out of their mouth, praise them when they are proactively decreasing or eliminating the habit.  Catching them in the act of NOT sucking their thumb (and praising them), will have a much greater impact than catching them doing it and then telling them to stop.  

No matter what method you try, be sure to explain it to your child and enlist them as a partner. Don't forget that we - your dental team - are partners in this as well. Our Dental Hygienists and I have talked to thousands of children over the years about thumb sucking and we can kindly and compassionately offer them support and encouragement from a different perspective.

If you have successfully helped your child stop sucking their thumb please share your strategies. Don't hesitate to contact us via our website or give our office a call at 919.755.3450 if there is any way we can help.

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Can Dietary Changes Reverse Periodontal Disease?

If you've been told you have inflammation of the gums or even periodontal disease, we have some good news for you.  Simple dietary changes may help to reverse this disease.

A little background first:  there are two types of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontitis.  Gingivitis is the swelling of the gums that is caused by the accumulation of bacteria along the gum line. If the gingivitis is left untreated, it leads to periodontitis. Symptoms of periodontal disease include receding gums, inflammation along the gum line, pain, and sensitivity to changes in temperature.  Eventually this disease can lead to bone and tooth loss.  Almost 50 percent of adults over age 30 in the United States have some form of periodontal (gum) disease based on findings by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention.

It's clear that that sugar leads to tooth decay, and that a healthful diet supports oral and systemic health alike.   What's new is that research is has demonstrated that eating certain foods can actually reverse conditions like periodontal (gum) disease.   It makes sense - a periodontal lesion is essentially a wound, and certain nutrients must be available for optimal wound healing.   Further,  periodontal disease, like heart disease or rheumatoid arthritis, is an inflammatory condition and some food studies have shown that certain foods decrease inflammation.  Here's what two recent studies on oral inflammation have shown: 

Just this past July, BMC Oral Health published a small study demonstrating the impact of diet on periodontal inflammation – a hallmark of gum disease – where the gums appear red and puffy.  For four weeks, test group participants followed a diet that was low in carbs and rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins C and D, and fiber.  A control group followed their normal eating habits.   By the end, those who ate the “oral health optimized diet” improved greatly with respect to inflammation.  In fact, the inflammation in the experimental group decreased to approximately half that of the baseline values.  These changes were not noted in the control group, which did not follow the "oral health optimized diet."

This builds on a 2009 study in the Journal of Periodontology, which looked at “The impact of the Stone Age diet on gingival condition in the absence of oral hygiene.” “Gingiva” is the clinical term for the gums.  Here, participants followed a "paleo"-type diet for four weeks and didn’t brush their teeth or otherwise follow normal hygiene habits.  A paleo-type diet includes anything we could hunt or find – meats, fish, nuts, leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and seeds. The results showed that those following the paleo-type diet had a decrease in tongue bacteria and gum disease symptoms improved. What made the difference?  In both studies, the researchers believe the lack of refined sugar and hyper-processed foods led to the decreased inflammation.

These are just the latest in a growing body of research connecting the dots between our oral health and diet.  Our message to our patients with periodontal disease is that eating healthier may, in a relatively short amount of time, lead to a decrease in gum inflammation and a slowing or even stopping of the progression of the disease.   Because many people with periodontal disease may be at risk for other inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease, these simple dietary changes may have an even greater impact on their overall health.   

Just to be perfectly clear - dietary changes are NOT an alternative to the ongoing treatment of periodontal disease.    It's vital that we continue to monitor and provide you with care.   If you have periodontal disease, we invite you consider these dietary changes as a complement to the oral therapy that you receive in the dental office and the recommended oral hygiene regiment we advise you follow at home.    Questions?  Concerns?  Give our friendly staff a call at 919 755 3450 or schedule online.   

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Gum Disease Bacteria Triggers Joint Inflammation, Latest Research Suggests

     Your mouth is a busy place, with millions of bacteria constantly on the move. While some bacteria are harmless, other bacteria multiply and produce toxins that can sneak in beneath the gumline, breaking down the bone and connective tissue in and around the teeth leading to periodontal (gum) disease. Left unchecked, gum disease can progress to the point where bone and connective tissue are destroyed, and teeth become loose and may have to be removed.

     This bacterial inflammatory process may play a key role in the onset and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune condition affecting about 1% of the population. Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating, joint destroying condition where the body's immune cells attack the joints, causing chronic inflammation, swelling, pain and stiffness. Patients with RA are eight times more likely to have periodontal disease. For years, doctors and dentists have observed that people with RA tended to have more periodontal disease, and people with periodontal disease tended to have more RA. It was assumed that periodontal disease was a result of RA itself (stiff, painful hands made oral hygiene difficult) or the medications to treat RA (drugs that suppressed the immune system inhibited the body’s ability to fight harmful bacteria in the mouth). Furthermore, some people with RA have diminished production of the mouth’s protective saliva, leaving it vulnerable to periodontal disease.

     Recent research suggests the connection is much more complicated.  More and more, scientists are finding that the accumulation of mouth bacteria may trigger the development, or influence the progression, of RA. Here is a summary of some of these studies:

• At least two studies found that tooth loss, a marker for gum disease, may actually predict RA and its severity, with the more teeth lost, the greater their risk for joint inflammation. 
• Several recent studies reported the presence of high levels of antibodies to oral bacteria as well as the presence of virulent perio pathogens in the synovial (joint) fluid of people with RA. The authors concluded that the perio pathogens were directly associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis.
• Another interesting study found that a specific perio pathogen is the only microbe known to produce an enzyme capable of modifying specific proteins resulting in an autoimmune response to these proteins. This culminates in the joint destruction typically seen in RA patients. 
• Other researchers have examined the possibility that treating periodontal disease in patients with RA could alleviate RA symptoms. They found that study participants who had a professional "deep" non-surgical cleaning at the dental office had significantly less pain and morning stiffness and fewer swollen and painful joints than the group that simply cleaned their teeth at home. Even more impressive, researchers found that the deep cleaning actually decreased levels of an inflammatory protein in the blood that triggers inflammation. 

     There are still many unanswered questions. Not everyone with gum disease develops RA, and not everyone with RA had previous gum disease. However, with such a high prevalence of periodontal disease in patients with RA, a highly plausible biological connection between these two inflammatory disease processes, and evidence of a link between RA and gum disease, we strongly suggest that people who have RA, periodontal disease, or both be diligent in taking care of their oral health.

     If you have RA or periodontal disease we encourage you to do everything possible to improve and maintain your oral health. Schedule regular dental exams and cleanings, eat healthfully, brush and floss and, if you have trouble taking care of your teeth due to stiff, painful hands or jaws, speak us about ways to make dental care easier, including the use of special assistive devices. Prevention and early treatment of periodontal disease is our goal.

     Do you know someone with RA or periodontal disease? We invite you to share this article with them. The team at Jeff M. Morrison & Assoc. DDS has expertise in successfully treating periodontal disease and, as always, we  welcome new patients. Questions?  Would you like to make an appointment?  We invite you to get in touch!  

Sources:

Konig MF, Abusleme L, Reinholdt J et al. Aggregatibacteractinomycetemcomitans–induced hypercitrullination links periodontal infection to autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis. Science Translational Medicine . 2016.

Research suggests that taking care of your teeth may be a good way to take care of your joints. Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/comorbidities/gum-disease/ra-and-gum-disease.php

http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/comorbidities/gum-disease/dental-care-relieves-ra-pain.php.  Treat Gum Disease to Relieve RA Pain and Stiffness:  A thorough dental cleaning can control symptoms.

http://www.dentaleconomics.com/articles/print/volume-100/issue-11/for-your_practice/periodontal-disease-and-rheumatoid-arthritis.html

Your New Year’s Dental Resolutions

These five resolutions could make a real difference for your oral - and overall - health.

Your dental health is an important part of your overall wellness, and the New Year is a great time to create resolutions for improving your health. Here are five resolutions that the dental office of Jeff M. Morrison & Assoc., DDS recommends for a healthier 2017.

1) Resolve to brush twice per day for at least two full minutes

Brushing your teeth - and doing it correctly - is important to your dental health as it removes bacterial plaque that adheres to your teeth. For successful plaque removal brush at least twice a day for a full two minutes. Use an appropriately sized, soft-bristle, manual or electric toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste. Also, don’t forget to change your toothbrush every three months. Using a frayed, worn toothbrush is less effective at removing plaque – it’s basically just pushing paste around.  A good idea is to change your toothbrush with the change in season, and after an illness.

Make sure that one of the times you brush is before going to bed. Not brushing at night allows bacteria to sit undisturbed, on your teeth and gums for 8 or 9 hours. Saliva flow, which protects your teeth from acidic, bacterial bi-products, decreases at night leaving your teeth defenseless. Give your mouth a fighting chance to be healthy by brushing at night!

2) Resolve to Floss Daily

Brushing alone usually only reaches about two thirds of your tooth surface.  That means that no matter how well you brush, one third of your tooth surface is not cleaned.  This is the area in between your teeth, and below your gum line where cavities and gum disease often start. Taking a minute or two to floss your teeth each day will help get rid of this bacteria decreasing the likelihood of developing these oral health problems.

The bacteria which accumulates in these areas can also lead to diseases beyond your mouth. Research has shown that bacteria and inflammation in the mouth, and gum disease, are linked to heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, difficulty controlling blood sugar levels in diabetes, low birth weight/pre-term births and even Alzheimer’s disease. Put floss by your bed or even floss while watching TV, just don’t forget to do it once per day!

3) Resolve to stop drinking sugary and acidic beverages

The disease-causing bacteria in your mouth thrive off sugar you consume – the more sugar you eat, the more sugar bacteria eat. These bacteria deposit acid on your teeth. This acid weakens, or decalcifies, your teeth – which is how cavities begin. If your drink of choice is acidic and sugary - such as a soft drink or energy drink, your teeth are not only being weakened by the acid from bacteria, but getting a double-dose of acid from the drink itself.

If you are going to have that Coke or Gatorade, use a straw so your teeth aren’t being bathed in as much sugar and acid. Don’t sip either; drink it and be done with it so your mouth has a chance to recover from the acid attack. Along the same lines, drink water after a sugary and/or acidic beverage, to help wash away the sugar and help bring your mouth back to being pH balanced.

4) Resolve to Quit Smoking or Using Other Tobacco Products

If you use tobacco, you  hear this all the time! However, it's a message that needs repeating. Using tobacco can harm your mouth in a number of ways, increasing your risk for tooth discoloration, cavities, gum recession, gum disease and throat, lung and oral cancer. Smokers are about twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers. It’s not just smoking tobacco that has negative effects on your oral health: use of smokeless tobacco can be just as harmful to your oral health. The good news is that the risk of tooth loss decreases after you quit smoking or using smokeless tobacco.

5) Resolve to keep regular and recommended dental appointments

Regular dental appointments allow our team to monitor the health of your entire oral cavity. Many oral health problems, such as chronic gum disease and cavities, don’t hurt in the beginning stages. It’s only when they have progressed to a point where treatment is quite extensive (not to mention expensive) that you actually feel any discomfort. For instance, a cavity tends to only hurt once it has reached the center of the tooth where the nerves are located. At this point, a filling may not take care of the problem. A root canal and a crown may be required, if the tooth can be saved at all. For something like oral cancer - you may not feel any pain or see evidence of a problem until it has significantly progressed. This is why detecting problems early is so important.

Hygiene appointments are more than “just a teeth cleaning.” Remember how oral bacteria from gum disease has been linked to diseases in the body? Our hygienists remove this disease-causing plaque full of bacteria, and the hardened/calcified plaque (tarter or calculus) during your regular cleaning. I also evaluate your head, neck, and tissue in the mouth for any indication of abnormalities, such as cancer. Some diseases and disorders show symptoms in your mouth before your body; like diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, and autoimmune disorders. During your exam we will notice any changes and alert you to underlying issues that may be present.

Let us know how you are doing with your New Year's dental resolutions at your next visit. If there is any way we can help you achieve your goals for this year get in touch!

Michael Anne, our Scheduling Coordinator and an avid runner, will be stepping it up this year.