Heart disease claims at least 250000 lives each year. Many adults know that heart disease is the number one killer of Americans. However, according to a consumer survey by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), 60 percent of the people surveyed did not know that a sore or painful jaw is one warning sign that may indicate an impending heart attack.

Stress can put Stress on your Teeth.

Many dentists routinely see the signs of Stress and its effects on the teeth. Stress can cause orofacial pain, cold sores, and temporomandibular disorders (TMD/TMJ). People who are stressed can tend to take it out on their teeth by clenching or grinding. The clenching or grinding of teeth can cause damage to the teeth. Talk to your dentist if you are stressed so they know the higher risk factors.

Tongue piercing can cause more than just Chipped Teeth Problems.

Typically people that get tongue piercing may know the risk of chipping their teeth if they are not careful. However, wearing tongue studs can also cause gums to be recessed, nerve damage, and a much more severe for developing a fate infection, such as Ludwig’s angina or endocarditis. (according to a report in the May/June 2004 issue of General Dentistry). Endocarditis occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream by piercing and infecting the heart. Anyone with a history of heart defects is at risk for endocarditis.

Eating Disorders Can Affect Your Oral Health.

Eating disorders will impact your overall general health but can also damage your oral health. Eating disorders such as anorexia and Bulimia can rob your body of needed vitamins and minerals. Gums can lose their healthy pink color, become increasingly soft and tender, and bleed easily. With Bulimia, excessive vomiting can cause tooth discoloration and tooth enamel erosion. People who have eating disorders may also experience swollen salivary glands, dry mouth, and sensitive teeth. People with eating disorders should inform their dentist so that additional dental care can be provided.

Approximately 35000 new cases of oral cancer are reported annually in the United States. Oral cancer can be difficult to self-diagnose. Therefore seeing a dentist and having routine dental exams are highly recommended. A dentist will feel for lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, cheeks, and oral cavity and thoroughly examine the soft tissues in your mouth, specifically looking for any sores or discolored tissues. Some indicators of oral cancer can include Bleeding sores, Lumps, and Hard Spots, as well as changes in how your teeth fit together. You should see your dentist or doctor immediately if you notice any of these signs.

In the United States alone, more than 25 million people have diabetes. For people that do have diabetes, oral health care is very important to maintain. Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection. Therefore gums are at a higher risk for gingivitis and gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss. Also, those with diabetes can experience high incidences of oral fungal infections and persistent bad breath.

FDA approved a mouthpiece that takes needles away from dental visits.

The FDA approved the first cryo-anesthetic dental mouthpiece. The new mouthpiece called gumEase makes dental visits much easier, eliminating the need for shots. It’s big news for millions who can’t or don’t wish to use conventional hypodermically delivered anesthesia.

The easy-to-use, disposable device is inserted into the gums for a few minutes. After removal, the anesthetic effect lasts up to twenty minutes and can be repeated. Patients can apply and reuse them post-operatively without the side effects, nausea, or impairment of conventional anesthesia. In tests, the new gumEase diminishes pain by 90% in just 2 to 3 minutes on average.

The Holidays are a time for giving. However, it is important to remember yourself. This holiday season, make sure to maintain good dental hygiene. During the holidays, people can become very busy and have increased stress levels. Sometimes due to that, oral hygiene can suffer. In addition, the holidays tend to lead people to consume more sugary treats and drinks than usual.

If you have extra treats during this time of year, try to drink water or chew on a piece of sugarless gum afterward. Doing so will boost saliva flow in the mouth and help wash away bacteria. Holiday anxiety or stress can cause some people to grind or clench their teeth. Clenching or grinding your teeth can cause jaw pain, headaches, and teeth damage. Try finding ways to relieve your stress, such as yoga, walking, relaxing, etc. If you are still grinding or clenching your teeth, talk to your dentist about getting a custom night guard.

Question: What should you know before choosing a Cosmetic Dentist?

Reply: Cosmetic dental care can be costly and is usually not covered under many dental insurance plans. When making the step to have cosmetic dental services choosing the right dentist is very important. You want to ensure the dentist you choose is skilled in cosmetic dentistry. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry advises asking the dentist for the following:  

• Any before and after photos of other patients’ dental treatments done by the dentist.  
• Ask for references and ensure the dentist can provide proof of continuing education. 

Another helpful tip is to use review sites such as Yelp and Angie’s List. Google, Yahoo, and Facebook are ways to learn more about cosmetic dentistry.

Dental bonding is a tooth-colored material that can be used to fill in gaps or change the color of teeth. Dental bonding typically requires only a single office visit. Although dental bonding can last several years, it is more susceptible to staining or chipping than other forms of restoration. Bonding can also be used as a tooth-colored filling for small cavities. Additionally, it can be used to close spaces between teeth or cover the entire outside surface of a tooth to change its color and shape.

Under many dental insurance plans bleaching or teething whitening may not be covered since many dental insurance plans will not provide benefits for cosmetic services. Your dentist can perform bleaching or teeth whitening in their office or under dental supervision at home. Generally, your dentist will create a custom mouthpiece to ensure the correct amount of whitening solution is used and that your teeth are correctly exposed. Typically, whitening at home takes two to four weeks, depending on the desired shade you wish to achieve. Whitening in the office may call for one or more 45-minute to one-hour visits to your dentist’s office.

Flossing after each meal provides preventive dental care to maintain healthy teeth and gums. However, correctly flossing is essential to receive the maximum benefits.

Measure the floss at about arm’s length, or approximately 18 inches. Wind each end of the floss around your middle fingers. Grasp 1 to 2 inches of the floss with your index finger and thumb. Then gently glide the floss in between the teeth in a sawing motion. Angle the floss so it hugs the tooth in a c shape. Gently slide the floss up and down the tooth’s surface, ensuring it goes slightly below the gum line. When complete, angle the floss to hug the tooth in the opposite direction and repeat. As you move on to each set of teeth, you will want to unwind the floss from your fingers and rewind it so there is a clean section of floss to use. If unsure if you are flossing correctly, ask your dentist to show you.

Question: When do you floss your teeth?

Reply: Many people may think it is okay to floss infrequently and better than not flossing. The fact is that it is more beneficial if you floss after every meal. That is two to three times a day. Part-time flossing does not provide adequate preventive dental care.

You may have heard your dentist state how important flossing is for good dental and oral health. By flossing daily, you can remove food bits stuck between your teeth, which helps prevent bacteria from collecting up against your gum line, which can cause gum disease, dental decay, and bad breath.

For children under five, it may be hard to find a general family dentist willing to work on younger children. Seeing a Pediatric dentist may be the best advice since their office is set up to help young children into their preteens. If you have current dental insurance, you should check if Pediatric dentists are covered under your plan. Some dental plans may provide benefits but at the general dentist level. Other dental insurance plans may be in a network-only plan; therefore, you want to ensure your dental insurance plan has a Pediatric dentist in its network.

Question: What is an excellent way to get your child used to going to the dentist?

Answer: One way to show your child that going to the dentist is a good experience is by taking them with you when you go to your dentist for a dental check-up. Ask your dentist if it is okay for your child to watch you have your dental check-up.  That way, your child can become familiar with the dental process of having a check-up, but seeing mom or dad having their check-up and seeing how easy one is will make the process much easier.

Knowing when to add a newborn to a current dental insurance plan can be challenging. Unlike many major medical insurances, where your baby is added at birth, with dental insurance, you must make sure to add your child usually during open enrollment. For some, that may seem too soon as their baby may not have teeth. However, adding your child to your dental plan is better than waiting another year. The ADA advises children to see a dentist when they cut their first tooth (a baby’s first tooth cuts in around 6 – 8 months) but no later than their first birthday.

Should your Baby have Vision and Dental Insurance?

A child pediatrician will check babies’ eyes at their regular doctor visits, generally covered under your major medical (however, you should refer to your policy terms and conditions to confirm that). Vision insurance may be needed for a child if advised by your baby’s pediatrician (say if glasses are required). For dental, a child should have dental insurance before their first birthday. The ADA advises that a child should see a dentist when they cut their first tooth but by their first birthday. Dental care starts even before teeth come in, so insurance will help with the cost of seeing a dentist.

Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a pain-free way of tackling dental decay that reverses the damage of an acid attack and rebuilds teeth as new.

Researchers at the University of Leeds developed a revolutionary new way to treat the first signs of tooth decay. Their solution is to arm dentists with a peptide-based fluid that is literally painted onto the tooth’s surface. The peptide technology is based on knowledge of how the tooth forms in the first place and stimulates regeneration of the tooth defect.