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osteoperosis and oral health - Mark L. Civin, DDS - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Osteoporosis and Oral Health in Palm Beach Gardens, FL

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What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is the result of hormonal changes or a deficiency in calcium or vitamin D. This condition can cause the bone in your body to become fragile and weakened because of tissue loss. This condition typically affects middle-aged or older people and can affect many areas of an individual’s well-being.

How does osteoporosis affect your oral health?

Because it is characterized by a decrease in bone mass, osteoporosis can have an influence on a person’s oral health. Oral health conditions of someone with osteoporosis can take the form of reduced jaw bone density, periodontal disease, and tooth loss.

Reduced bone mass of body ridges that usually holds dentures can result in poor fitting dentures. Poor oral health typically affects more women than men. Women who are already in their menopausal phase by the time they are confronted by the ripple effects of osteoporosis.

How can you improve your oral health?

As someone that is suffering from osteoporosis, you can prolong your oral health by increasing your visits to the dentist and addressing problems with your teeth and gums before they develop into complications. Make sure that you take good care of your teeth by brushing and flossing them at least twice per day.

Make sure that you follow a balanced diet with high levels of vitamin c and calcium. Follow an exercise program that you enjoy. Hard as this may be if you are a smoker try to stop and reduce your alcohol intake.

Conclusion

Just like everybody else, you have to make sure that your teeth are in the best shape possible. High sugar intake can be bad for the enamel that protects your teeth from decay, so it is best to stay away from soft drinks and sweets. Keep an eye out for products that can make it easier for you to take care of your teeth, for example, an air floss. Remember that if you make it a priority, your oral health can remain in good shape for time to come.

sleep apnea - dentist in Palm Beach Gardens - Mark L. Civin, D.D.S.

Your Dentist- The First Line of Defense Against Sleep Apnea

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According to the CDC,  more than one third Americans don’t get enough sleep. This means that a whopping 83.6 million adults in the United States are sleep deprived- effecting mood, workplace productivity, and long-term health.

One of the primary causes of sleep disturbance is sleep apnea, a condition defined by interrupted breathing that occurs during sleep. It is estimated that up to 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, the majority of which remain undiagnosed. Sleep apnea not only causes the fatigue attributed to lack of sleep, but is highly correlated with diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and sometimes sudden night-time death. Now, what if you were told the first step in improving your sleep may be a visit to your dentist?

How will your dentist diagnose sleep apnea?

A dentist is typically the first health care professional to identify untreated sleep apnea in a patient. Often, the first sign of sleep apnea in a patient is evidence of nighttime tooth grinding- termed Bruxism in the scientific literature. This condition is often diagnosed by worn surfaces on the teeth and inflamed or receding gums- all of which makes teeth susceptible to bacteria that cause cavities. Further indications of sleep apnea are a small jaw, an inflamed tongue, or redness in the throat caused by excessive snoring (a primary sleep apnea indicator).

How will your dentist treat sleep apnea?

A dentist will use his or her extensive training to determine a best course of treatment for each individual case. Often, a mild case can be treated with a change in diet, quitting certain unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, losing weight, or changing sleeping position.  Often, your dentist will fit you with a mouth guard which not only prevents the damage from the nighttime tooth grinding, but opens the jaw and manipulates the tongue to improve airflow to the lungs. More serious cases may require the use of a CPAP machine, which mechanically forces air into the lungs via a mask worn during sleep. In the most serious cases, surgery may be required.

As with many conditions in dentistry, and healthcare more generally, early diagnosis is key to preventing an escalation in the condition. Be candid with you dentist about any problems that may be preventing you from enjoying a full night’s rest and a better, happier, more productive tomorrow.

Oral Hygiene & Blood Glucose Levels

Good Oral Hygiene Helps Keep Your Blood Glucose in Check

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If you are a bit lax when it comes to maintaining good oral hygiene and already have type 2 diabetes, you could be worsening the symptoms. A new study, published in The Journal of Clinical Periodontology, reports that good dental hygiene is crucial when it comes to managing blood glucose levels.

According to a report released by the CDC in July 2017, an estimated 30.3 million Americans are living with diabetes. Over 84 million more have ‘prediabetes,’ a condition that could lead to type 2 diabetes within five years if left untreated.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

It is by far the most common form of the condition; only 5-10% of Americans with diabetes have the type 1 variety. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the human body’s cells cease responding to insulin; this is a hormone produced in the pancreas which regulates your blood glucose levels. The process is called ‘insulin resistance,’ and it causes excessively high levels of blood glucose.

Previously, medical researchers have discovered a mutual link between gum disease (periodontitis) and type 2 diabetes. If you have type 2 diabetes, you’re more likely to have gum disease, and vice versa.

In other words, if you have type 2 diabetes and are not taking care of your teeth with regular brushing and flossing, you are opening the door to gum disease which could have grave repercussions. Failure to properly manage your blood glucose levels could lead to the following medical conditions:

  • Nerve damage
  • Glaucoma
  • Cataracts
  • Skin conditions

If you have diabetes, it is crucial that you pay special attention to your oral hygiene because you’re already at high risk for oral health problems such as gingivitis and periodontitis. As well as brushing twice, a day and flossing regularly, you could schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible if you haven’t visited lately.

cancer and gum disease

Recent Study Shows Connection Between Gum Disease and Cancer

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Gum disease might just be a more serious issue than we give it credit for.

Usually, when we think about gum disease, the focus is on bad breath or an unsightly smile. However, there’s a body of new research that’s beginning to indicate there could be a link between cancer and advanced gum disease.

There was a 1994 study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention suggesting a connection between oral health and cancer. Unfortunately, the women in this study rather than dental professionals self-reported gum disease which may have compromised results.

Now, though, there is fresh data emerging after the results of a lengthy team study were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Dr Michaud from Tufts University School of medicine and Elizabeth Platz from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg and Kimmel Cancer Center led this collaborative study. It was based on dental exams from over 7000 participants.

Running for over a decade until 2012, follow-up after this study led to 1648 diagnoses of cancer.

Indicators were disturbing:

  • Participants with severe periodontitis showed a 24% increase in cancer risk against those with no periodontitis or only a mild case
  • Participants who had lost all their teeth through periodontitis showed a 28% increase in cancer risk

This exhaustive study lasered in more fully on risk factors with equally unpalatable results…

  • Participants with severe periodontitis showed a 50% increase in the risk of lung cancer
  • Participants edentulous at baseline showed an 80% increase in the risk of colon cancer

Beyond this, study participants with severe periodontitis were very slightly more prone to pancreatic cancer.

On the plus side, no conclusive evidence was found to show an increased likelihood of breast, lymphatic or prostate cancer.

Dr Michaud did not dismiss these findings but stated clearly that new research is necessary in order to start lessening these risks by better preventing periodontal disease.

Other areas of research have pointed toward cancer tissues containing bacteria causing colorectal cancer to proliferate. There is perhaps a link here with periodontal disease but, again, more study is required.

Although smoking is frequently a contributory factor in periodontal disease as well as lung cancer and colon cancer, it’s not exclusively smokers who are at risk.

According to Platz, severe periodontal disease can boost the chance of lung cancer and colon cancer even in non-smokers.

Platz remains positive, though. She states that this new data reinforces the importance of proper dental health and better education about periodontal disease. She also calls out for enhanced dental insurance to guard against neglect through lack of funds for treatment.

Tooth Removal

Do you need Simple Tooth Removal or Surgery? It Depends on a few Factors

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Removing a problem tooth (extraction) is a common dental procedure. But not all extractions are alike — depending on the type of tooth, its location and extenuating circumstances, you may need an oral surgeon to perform it.

Fortunately, that’s not always the case. Teeth with straight or cone-shaped roots, like an upper front tooth, have a fairly straight removal path. A general dentist first carefully manipulates the tooth loose from the periodontal ligament fibers that help hold it in place (experienced dentists, in fact, develop a “feel” for this process). Once it’s loosened from the fibers it’s a simple motion to remove the tooth.

But as mentioned before, a “simple extraction” won’t work with every tooth or situation. To find out if it can we’ll first need to determine the true shape of the tooth and roots, as well as the condition of the supporting bone. We might find any number of issues during this examination that make a simple extraction problematic.

For example, teeth with multiple roots (especially in back) may have complicated removal paths. If the roots themselves are unhealthy and brittle from previous injury or a root canal treatment, they can fracture into smaller pieces during removal. A tooth could also be impacted — it hasn’t fully erupted but remains below the gum surface. It’s these types of situations that require surgery to remove the tooth.

During a surgical extraction, the oral surgeon will first numb the area with a local anesthetic, as well as a sedative if you have issues with anxiety. They then perform a surgical procedure appropriate for the situation to remove the tooth. More than likely they’ll insert bone grafts before closing the site with stitches to deter bone loss (a common occurrence after losing a tooth).

Afterward, your provider may prescribe antibiotics and an antibacterial mouthrinse to ward off infection. You’ll also be given care instructions for the extraction site to keep it clean. Any discomfort should subside in a few days and can be managed effectively with a mild anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen or aspirin.

It can be overwhelming having a tooth removed. In your dentist’s capable hands, however, the experience will be uneventful.

If you would like more information on tooth extraction, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Simple Tooth Extraction?”

Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair

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BeyonceMakesFlossingaFamilyAffair

As is the case with most celebs today, Beyonce is no stranger to sharing on social media… but she really got our attention with a video she recently posted on instagram. The clip shows the superstar songstress — along with her adorable three-year old daughter Blue Ivy — flossing their teeth! In the background, a vocalist (sounding remarkably like her husband Jay-Z) repeats the phrase “flossin’…flossin’…” as mom and daughter appear to take care of their dental hygiene in time with the beat: https://instagram.com/p/073CF1vw07/?taken-by=beyonce

We’re happy that this clip highlights the importance of helping kids get an early start on good oral hygiene. And, according to authorities like the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, age 3 is about the right time for kids to begin getting involved in the care of their own teeth.

Of course, parents should start paying attention to their kids’ oral hygiene long before age three. In fact, as soon as baby’s tiny teeth make their first appearance, the teeth and gums can be cleaned with a soft brush or cloth and a smear of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. Around age 3, kids will develop the ability to spit out toothpaste. That’s when you can increase the amount of toothpaste a little, and start explaining to them how you clean all around the teeth on the top and bottom of the mouth. Depending on your child’s dexterity, age 3 might be a good time to let them have a try at brushing by themselves.

Ready to help your kids take the first steps to a lifetime of good dental checkups? Place a pea-sized dab of fluoride toothpaste on a soft-bristled brush, and gently guide them as they clean in front, in back, on all surfaces of each tooth. At first, it’s a good idea to take turns brushing. That way, you can be sure they’re learning the right techniques and keeping their teeth plaque-free, while making the experience challenging and fun.

Most kids will need parental supervision and help with brushing until around age 6. As they develop better hand-eye coordination and the ability to follow through with the cleaning regimen, they can be left on their own more. But even the best may need some “brushing up” on their tooth-cleaning techniques from time to time.

What about flossing? While it’s an essential part of good oral hygiene, it does take a little more dexterity to do it properly. Flossing the gaps between teeth should be started when the teeth begin growing close to one another. Depending on how a child’s teeth are spaced, perhaps only the back ones will need to be flossed at first. Even after they learn to brush, kids may still need help flossing — but a floss holder (like the one Beyonce is using in the clip) can make the job a lot easier.

If you would like more information about maintaining your children’s oral hygiene, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more by reading the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Top 10 Oral Health Tips For Children” and “How to Help Your Child Develop the Best Habits for Oral Health.”