Healthy Teeth and Gums and Overall Health

Healthy teeth and gums begin with good oral hygiene, and if you are a bit lazy when it comes to brushing, flossing, and dental checkups, you could be doing more harm than you realize. According to Gentle Touch Family Dental, plaque can cause serious problems for the rest of your body.

The American Dental Association explains that there is a real connection when it comes to the health of your mouth and the health of your body.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss; however, periodontal disease can also cause heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Gentle Touch Family Dental explains that sticky film that accumulates on your teeth when you sleep, eat, and drink can get into your bloodstream. That unhealthy bacterium will attach itself to the arteries in your heart causing blockages. Your mouth is loaded with healthy bacteria, but without good oral hygiene, it will become overrun with the unhealthy stuff.

Diabetes

If your teeth and gums are unhealthy and you suffer from periodontal disease, the inflammation will weaken your ability to control your blood sugar. Gum disease complicates diabetes as the inflammation impairs insulin utilization. The high blood sugar in diabetics is ideal for gum and other infections. Thankfully, by scheduling regular dental appointments with Gentle Touch Family Dental and practicing good oral hygiene, you can manage the problem.

Heart Disease

Although it is not fully understood why, heart disease and gum disease seem to go hand in hand with as many as 91 percent of patients with heart problems suffering from periodontal disease. Scientists believe that the mouth inflammation causes blood vessel inflammation increasing your risk of a heart attack in several ways.

Blood vessels that are inflamed allow less blood flow between the body and the heart Not only does this raise your blood pressure, but it can also put you at risk for a stroke or heart attack if that fatty plaque breaks off a blood vessel and travels to your heart.

If you would like more information regarding the mouth and body connection for healthy teeth and gums, call or click and schedule an appointment with Gentle Touch Family Dental today. 

Schedule Your Annual Dental Checkup

Now is the perfect time to schedule your annual dental checkup, especially with the holidays in full swing. Having healthy teeth and gums before you start indulging in those sweet treats will help your conscious and let you enjoy the things you only get to have once a year.

An annual dental checkup isn’t just for your teeth and gums. According to statistics, people who have a comprehensive dental exam have a better chance of oral cancer detection earlier than patients who haven’t had an oral cancer screening.

During the holidays, those cakes, candies, cookies, cakes and other delicious irresistible goodies can cause serious problems for your teeth.

Hard Candy-According to Gentle Touch Family Dental hard candies, peanut brittle, candy canes, and those scrumptious butterscotch hard candies can chip your teeth. If you don’t bite and like to dissolve every drop your teeth will be enjoying a pure sugar bath. If you like to eat hard candies, be sure and rinse and brush or enjoy with another meal.  

Chewy Morsels-Caramels, gummy bears and anything sticky will stay on your teeth. It is nearly impossible to brush away all of the sticky sugar from the fissures and grooves on the back of your teeth. Even dried fruit such as figs, mangos, apricots, dates and pineapple will remain on your teeth quickly converting to bacteria eating away the enamel on your teeth. If you must indulge rinse with water and brush when you can. According to Gentle Touch Family Dentistry, it isn’t a bad idea to eat sticky food as part of a meal.

Starchy Foods-Those chocolate covered pretzels are double the trouble. The chocolate is loaded with sugar and the pretzels are starchy leaving their presence in your mouth long after you have savored the last one on your plate. Keep breads, cookies, cakes, potato chips, crackers and any other starchy food to minimum and rinse and brush after enjoying.

Happy Holidays from Glen Family Dentistry and don’t forget to schedule your annual dental checkup for the New Year today. 

Sleep Apnea Could be Deadly

Sleep Apnea affects millions of people all over the world and according to your dentist is a potentially life threatening condition.

According to Web MD, there are two types of sleep apnea. The rarer of the two, Central Sleep Apnea, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea is a condition that occurs when the brain isn’t sending the right signals to the muscles controlling your breathing. Obstructive Sleep Apnea happens when the muscles in your throat relax.

If you suffer from Central Sleep Apnea, you may wake up suddenly unable to breath. You may also have problems staying asleep or difficulty falling asleep. One of the most common causes of Central Sleep Apnea is heart failure. Your dentist explains that daytime sleepiness and snoring can occur with Central Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when your muscles at the back of the throat relax. Once they relax, your breathing passageways narrow causing you to gasp for breath. Because your brain has the sense to wake you up, you will be startled several times when you are sleeping. Some people who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea may wake up hundreds of times while sleeping. These constant disruptions will result in impaired ability during your waking hours, snoring and daytime sleepiness.

Some people who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea may not even be aware that they have it. If you have a partner ask if you gasp for breath, gurgle, or wake up suddenly while you are asleep. If you sleep alone talk to your doctor about dental therapies such as sleep oral appliances that can help as heart problems and other complications can occur.

Some of the signs to look for with either type of sleep apnea include loud snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness. If you have episodes of breathing cessation or wake up abruptly feeling short of breath, you may have sleep apnea. Insomnia, attention problems, morning headaches, and waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth could also be signs that you have sleep apnea.

High blood pressure, heart problems, daytime fatigue, especially while driving, liver problems, and complications with surgery and medications could all stem from sleep apnea.

Although anyone, including children, can suffer from sleep apnea, people who carry too much weight, have thicker necks or narrowed airways may be more susceptible to sleep apnea. Men are two times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, especially if they are overweight. Age can also cause sleep apnea as well as family history. Excessive use of tranquilizers, sedatives, or alcohol could cause your throat to relax resulting in sleep apnea.

If you believe you may be suffering from sleep apnea talk to your dentist who can custom make a sleep oral appliance to keep you from suffering. Schedule your appointment today.

Turn your Frown Upside Down with Invisalign

If you are unhappy with your smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can give you the toothy grin that you have always wanted.

Invisalign is the only way you can straighten your teeth without those cumbersome metal braces. This revolutionary new procedure can give teens and adults straight teeth in just six months to a year dependant on the patient.

Created in 1999, the orthodontic appliance uses a series of clear plastic aligners that are perfect for teens and adults who would rather not deal with metal wires and brackets.

Although metal braces have certainly changed over the years, they can still be cumbersome. Metal braces can cause all sorts of problems including mouth sores and tooth decay, not to mention numerous visits to your dentist for adjustments.

Because Invisalign aligners are removed when you eat, brush, and floss, you will not have to deal with cavities. When you wear metal braces you have to be especially careful, as the tiny spaces allow plaque and food particles to become trapped. You also have to avoid certain foods while you are wearing metal appliances.

With Invisalign, you can enjoy the foods you like without having to worry about starchy and sugary foods that can cause damage to the wires and actually loosen the brackets associated with traditional metal braces. Popcorn, hard candy, nuts, and caramels can cause damage to your metal appliances, as can healthy foods like apples and carrots.

Invisalign clear plastic aligners are worn 20 to 22 hours every day, and best of all, the only ones who will know you are wearing them will be you and your dentist. Braces must be worn 24 hours a day seven days a week and in some cases need to be on your teeth for up to two years.

If your dentist has determined that you are a good candidate for Invisalign you will be fitted for a series of between ten and thirty sets of custom-made Invisalign clear plastic aligners. Once you receive your first set of Invisalign aligners, you will change to a new set every two weeks helping your teeth shift until they have reached the desired position. Your dentist will schedule dental appointments every six weeks in order to ensure that your treatment is headed in the right direction.  

For more information regarding a new smile with Invisalign, schedule an appointment with your dentist who can determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign.