Blog – Page 4 – Karen P. Meyers, DDS

Cancer and Cavities: How Your Dental Health Care Providers Are Partners in Your Cancer Fighting Regimen

October 24, 2015

If you or your loved one is battling cancer, we know how overwhelming the entire process can be. You have to be on top of numerous appointments with all kinds of doctors for treatments, bloodwork, scans and tests. At the same, you are trying to live as normal a life as possible, fitting in work and family.

What does any of this have to do with your teeth?

Some of the side effects of cancer treatment can also have an impact on your mouth. Here are a few things to consider:

See us before you start treatment: If you know you are going to begin an extensive cancer treatment, regardless of your last cleaning, schedule an appointment for a quick cleaning and examination before your chemotherapy or radiation starts. Call the office and explain why you need to schedule the appointment and when you expect your treatments to begin. Starting your mouth in the best possible shape prior to chemotherapy and radiation could head off some other problems down the road. In addition, any dental issues that you have put off (like that filling) need to be addressed at this time.
Modify your care of your teeth. You should continue to brush your teeth at least twice a day, but buy a new softer toothbrush (the softest you can find). You can continue to floss, but don’t insert anything sharp into your mouth like a toothpick. You may not be aware of inflamed gums and introducing sharp objects can injure you and open an avenue for further infection, especially if you have a weakened immune state.
Decrease the amount of cavity-producing foods. You might want some comfort foods during this stressful time, but try your hardest to eliminate or reduce your intake of sugary sweets, sticky foods and soft drinks containing sugar. Quit or reduce smoking, too! All of these aforementioned items contribute to cavities, which your mouth may not be as effective in combating during treatment.
Fight off dry mouth. Certain chemotherapy drug regimens as well as radiation therapy to the head and neck can damage the salivary glands. As a result, you may experience occasional or consistent dry mouth (called xerostomia), which can affect speech, chewing and swallowing. The lack of saliva can also contribute to increased plaque development as saliva helps to wash away bacteria and plaque, which can contribute to cavity development. That’s why it’s important to have a cleaning prior to treatment. If you experience xerostomia, drink often, chew sugarless gum and discuss other drug options to help with this side effect with your health care team.
Your mouth may become inflamed. Again, certain radiation and chemotherapy components are to blame for causing inflammation of the insides of your mouth as well as your lips. When it is severe, this can cause enough pain to inhibit eating. It is very important to keep up your nutrition intake during cancer treatment. Call your dentist if this occurs, and we will work together with your physicians to determine the best course of action.
Mouth infections can crop up. The body’s ability to fight infection is compromised during cancer treatment. That is why your white blood cell count is constantly monitored. Be aware that a low white blood cell count means that you are at risk for all sorts of infections, including infections of the mouth. Be vigilant during these vulnerable times by practicing the very best hygiene including hand washing. Keep your hands away from your face and mouth as much as possible and avoid sick people and crowds during these times as well.

As soon as you’re done with treatment, schedule another appointment so we can deal with any issues that occurred. Most doctors and dentists recommend waiting a couple of months after your last cancer treatment to see the dentist again unless there is an oral health emergency.

Cancer can be complicated. Let your oral health care providers be part of your team.

I’d Rather Have a Root Canal!

October 11, 2015

Root Canals in jokes and in offhanded remarks have become shorthand for an unwanted medical procedure. It is true that nobody looks forward to a root canal, but we are fans of the unloved root canal, because of the serious dental problems that they solve.

Consider these facts about root canals:

Root Canals Can Save the Tooth. In the past, a tooth that was damaged and nearly dead was a candidate for removal. Now with timely and appropriate root canal procedures, the tooth can be saved, and the patient can avoid having an implant or worse, having a hole where that tooth was, which adversely affects eating and your appearance, too.
Root Canals Get Rid of Pain. We are sure you have seen someone who was complaining about the incredible tooth and mouth pain they were in that had to be fixed with a root canal. This pain was in the pulp, the interior of the tooth. The only way to fix the pain is a root canal. Performed expertly and with appropriate anesthesia, the actual root canal procedure is relatively painless and the previous extreme discomfort is (almost) magically gone.

A root canal is performed by taking out the diseased core of the tooth, which is called the pulp. The pulp, which is the soft tissue beneath the enamel and the dentin, contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. The pulp connects to the root canals, around which are the roots of your teeth, the parts of your teeth that are rooted to the gum.

During the root canal, the infected pulp is removed, the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and then the tooth is sealed with a rubber-like material. After recovery from a root canal, the patient is fitted with a crown or a filling for the top of the tooth.

Root canals might not be your idea of fun, but they are a dental miracle in many ways, saving teeth and alleviating pain.

Too Many Choices: The Toothpaste Dilemma

September 26, 2015

We hope you regularly brush your teeth and are regular consumers of toothpaste. How did you select your toothpaste?

There are more varieties of toothpaste than ever before. Many offer exactly what you need. Other toothpaste products may be making claims without providing much added value, despite the higher price.

What should a toothpaste contain?

A mild abrasive which scrapes away the debris that accumulates between brushing.
Detergent which causes the toothpaste to “foam up”
Some sort of flavoring agent which helps the experience to be a bit more pleasant (particularly for children)
Fluoride (recommended to strengthen tooth enamel, which then prevents cavities from forming)
ADA (American Dental Association) approval. This means that the brand has been investigated by the ADA and meets their standards for toothpaste ingredients.

Your toothpaste may also have some of these components:

Breath enhancers (typically contains triclosan) or some sort of minty flavoring (which has a very short duration)
Sensitive formulas. If you complain that your teeth are sensitive, especially during brushing, look for toothpaste that incorporates potassium nitrate or strontium chloride, as they may reduce tooth sensitivity
Whitening agents. Some toothpastes may have mild abrasives like silica which can aid in reducing surface stains.
Tartar control: Different ingredients may inhibit tartar build-up including zinc citrate, pyrophosphates and triclosan. The best defense against tartar build-up is brushing at the gum line and regular dental cleaning.
Microbeads will often act as a mild abrasive (like a face scrub). However, microbeads are now being banned in certain states, as they are being found inside fish in rivers and lakes who mistake the beads as eggs. We suspect that microbeads will not be in toothpastes for much longer.

In general, stick with brands that have ADA approval and buy the most economical brand that you like enough to brush for long enough.

E-Cigarettes: The Newest Danger to Youth?

September 12, 2015

You may not be aware of the electronic cigarette fad. So called e-cigarettes are “smokeless” cigarettes. They consist of a battery used to create heat, a cartridge (which contains water, some type of flavoring, and quite often nicotine) and a vaporizer. Some people call “smoking” these e-cigarettes “vaping”, because of the creation of vapor.

Advocates of vaping often tout these cigarettes as “healthy alternatives” to tobacco smoking and even promote their use to smokers who are trying to quit.

However, American and Canadian dentists and researchers are now beginning to question the safety of these e-cigarettes, especially as their use among youth has skyrocketed. It is estimated that 2 million American middle and high school students are using e-cigarettes recreationally. This statistic is particularly significant, because it shows a huge growth in e-cigarettes’ popularly among young people, as now three times as many kids are vaping than were reported as recently as 2013.

E-cigarettes contain flavors that make them more palatable to young people, and they are often directly marketed to young people. Of particular concern is the effect of e-cigarettes on oral health.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a division of the National Institute of Health, recently announced a new research initiative. The Food and Drug Administration admits that not enough research has been conducted on the safety of e-cigarettes. However, the Centers for Disease Control want parents to know that nicotine is addictive and considered an impediment to brain development for adolescents. E-cigarettes very often contain nicotine and are often promoted as safe alternatives to tobacco products.

The NIDCR research will focus on whether the cells and tissues of the mouth are negatively affected by vaping.

In the meantime, the Canadian Dental Health Authority has come down even stronger in opposition to teenage vaping and has advocated for the following changes in Canadian law:

A ban on e-cigarettes sales to minors.
A ban on flavorings in cartridges and e-liquids.
A ban on e-cigarette use in public places and workplaces.

Lunch box Lessons: Healthy Mid-day choices for Your Mouth

August 30, 2015

Whether you are packing a lunch for yourself, your partner or a child, it’s good to remember that healthy lunch choices can also keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Consider these choices as you prepare lunches for all of your loved ones:

Include food from several food groups, and don’t ignore fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy and protein.
Fruit is a great source of something sweet. If you find that you or your child find the fruit to be “too much of a bother”, take some time to cut up the fruit and see if the fruit gets eaten. Kids often times won’t eat a whole apple or a pear or an orange, but if it is sliced up and immediately put into an air tight container or zipper bag, it suddenly becomes much more user friendly.
Make sure your child drinks milk if it is available to them. Adults and kids who can tolerate milk can include dairy in many other forms: packaged string cheeses, yogurts and cottage cheese. Ending your meal with cheese is great for keeping tooth decay at bay.
Try not to pack sticky foods, which leave sugary residue on the teeth for the rest of the day.
Also avoid foods that could become lodged in between teeth like popcorn.
Try to avoid packaged sweet treats if your kids will willingly forego them. They just add calories and more sugary residue to the surface of the teeth. Even though fruit contains sugar, the water in the fruit helps to wash away the sugar content.
Salads are great for everybody; they can be low calorie but packed with added protein and they take a long time to eat. Throw in a sealed container of salad dressing and a plastic fork. Tell yourself (and your kids) that you are packing a salad bar in a bag and be creative with dinner’s leftovers: some green peas, a little cut up chicken breast, shredded cheese, corn, crunched up tortilla chips…the choices are endless.
Choose whole grain breads and crackers over white breads and crackers

Packing lunch can be a chore, but with planning, creativity and wise choices, you can create lunches that are healthy for your body and your mouth.

Touchdowns and Teeth: The Best Mouth Guards

August 17, 2015

Sports are in season.

Everything athletic seems to be gearing up, whether it’s school sports teams or travel or recreational leagues: football, field hockey, boys and girls soccer, tennis, fall softball and baseball, cross country and we’re sure there are more.

Some of these sports have a lot of protective equipment, like football. Some, like tennis have absolutely no required protection. Sports protective equipment includes shin guards, helmets, and shoulder pads.

Reasonable sports protective equipment should also include mouthguards. Some sports do have mandatory “no mouthguard, no play” policies. These include football, ice hockey and field hockey

A 1995 study on mouthguards reveals the following statistics about mouth injuries:

In football, where mouthguards are required, .07% of the injuries are orofacial.

But in basketball, where mouthguards are typically not required and absolutely not required, 34% of the injuries are orofacial.

According to the Australian Dental Association, studies of mouthguard users and nonusers have consistently shown that “mouthguards offer significant protection against sports-related injuries to the teeth and soft tissues. Mouthguards provide a resilient, protective surface to distribute and dissipate forces on impact, thereby minimizing the severity of traumatic injury to the hard or soft tissues.”

The American Dental Association recommends fitted mouth guards for all sports participants who have any chance of orofacial contact.

There are different types of fitted and non-fitted mouthguards:

Stock mouthguards
“Boil and bite” mouthguards
Custom fit mouthguards

Stock mouthguards are extremely cheap, and are often given away for free. They are not personalized or fitted at all. They provide little or no protection. They can be uncomfortable and they certainly are unlikely to remain in place during sports practice or games.

Boil and Bite mouth guards are so-called because they require you to boil them and bite down to help them fit. These boil and bites are available at sporting goods stores; they are inexpensive (under $30).

Boil and bite guards are most likely better than nothing at all. But boil and bite guards are not always the best option. They can move around if the first impression is inaccurate. Poorly fitting mouthguards may inadequately protect the teeth and gums. Boil and bites also are shorter, and don’t cover the back teeth. In addition, athletes sometimes cut or fold the guards to try to make them feel better or fit better. Cutting the guards makes them less protective.

Custom mouthguards are fitted by your dentist and then formed to fit your mouth after the dentist has taken a stone impression of your mouth. These custom mouthguards are also made of a type of plastic composite, but are thicker and more durable than boil and bites. They also take into account how the user bites down and the idiosyncrasies of each mouth, including missing teeth, erupting teeth, orthodontia and implants. In addition, the dentist can provide additional protection if the patient has had a history of a previous dental injury or even concussion.

All athletes should recheck their bite guards if there has been a change in bite, due to oral surgery, tooth extraction, or significantly for student athletes, installation or removal of orthodontia.

All athletes should inform their dentists about their athletic involvement and decide together on the best mouthguard choice.

Before You Retire, See Your Dentist!

August 3, 2015

If you are about to retire, your to-do list is not short. You have to make a visit to human resources, make arrangements with your pension plan, make a determination about how and when to collect Social Security.

And you have to take care of your teeth.

Many people who are working have the benefit of some sort of dental insurance coverage. But as you move into retirement, that number goes down. You may be able to arrange for dental coverage.

Sources of continuing dental coverage could include:

Continuing coverage through your previous employer
Certain Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), if you choose one
Medicaid coverage for low-income seniors
Other association plans that you might be a part of, like AARP or associations or consortiums that were part of your industry

If you have not or cannot obtain continuing dental coverage, then you need to have as many dental health needs dealt with prior to retirement, so make an appointment to see your dentist right away, prior to the end of your insurance coverage. Have a thorough cleaning and make arrangements to deal with any chronic issues prior to your retirement.

If you plan to permanently forego dental insurance coverage, be sure you can afford to pay for dental care out of pocket. If you have had a history of optimal oral health, this might be a reasonable risk. But, for many, this is a poor financial decision. If you are going to be without dental insurance, set aside money for cleanings and treatments, take care of your teeth fastidiously and see a dentist at the earliest sign of tooth or gum problems, while the problem remains small.

Many legislators are trying to include dental care into Medicare coverage, but this is not yet the standard. Until then, the newly retired need to either privately pay for coverage or pay up. A poor choice is to go without dental visits. Please don’t make that choice.

Crunchy Good!

July 20, 2015

Sometimes when we are snacking, we want something that has some “crunch” in it. Certainly, many foods fit the bill.

But not all crunchy foods are created equal. Some crunchy foods are good for your teeth and some….well, not so great.

When you consider crunchy foods, choose ones that take a long time to eat, requiring a lot of chewing. Chewing is actually great for your teeth, because chewing encourages the production of saliva. Saliva, that magical spit, bathes your teeth and gums with moisture and removes bacteria and debris from your teeth and the spaces between them.

Good crunches:

Pears and apples: Both of these fruits do have sugar, but their water content more than makes up for the sugar content. This is an ideal ratio; the water “washes” away the sugar in your mouth.

Raw celery, carrots and broccoli: Of these, celery is actually the best choice. It has the least amount of calories and its fibers actually act like a natural dental floss.

Nuts with no added flavors or sugar: A handful of almonds or cashews provides protein and vitamins. They are not without calories, but their crunch is the right kind of crunch.

Bad crunches:

Chips and crackers: These high calorie starches really provide very little crunch (think about how the items “melt” in your mouth). Anything that is mostly carbohydrate turns into a “sugar” in your mouth, and contributes to bacterial build-up.

Popcorn: Popcorn can be low-fat, but what cannot be taken out of popcorn is the “sticky” quality of the kernels, pieces of which often get stuck under the gums and between teeth. Popcorn contributes to far more than its fair sure of dental issues. You’ve been warned.

Peanut brittle: This is the granddaddy of bad crunches. Essentially, you are chewing sticky, hardened sugar. Go directly to the tooth brushing station. Do not pass “Go”!

Healthy snacking can be a part of a balanced diet and part of an enjoyable lifestyle. Consider not just your waistline but your gum line as you choose what to crunch.

Focus on Fathers: A Man’s To Do List

June 19, 2015

We celebrate the fathers, stepfathers and grandfathers in our lives this Sunday. On Father’s Day, we remind our special guys how important they are to us. We want them to take care of themselves in all ways.

It’s also a day to remind them to take care of their teeth. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, men are less likely than women to take care of their oral health.

So, men, put these items on your to-do lists. Taking care of your mouth not only preserves your teeth and gums, but also contributes to better overall health.

Make an appointment to see your dentist right now. Men are less likely to see their dentists for “preventive maintenance” and often wait until there is a problem. A rule of thumb: Make your dental appointment every other time you change your car’s oil.
An easy 2 for 1: Brush twice, floss once. That’s right, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once. You can do more, but if you do that bare minimum, you are ahead of what most bros do.
Fluoride is your friend. If your water supply doesn’t contain fluoride, be sure you are using toothpaste and/or mouthwash products that introduce fluoride to your teeth and gums.
Nicotine is your enemy. Quit or reduce using any tobacco product, including cigarettes and of course, smokeless tobacco, which is used predominantly by men and which causes significant damage to teeth, gums, the tongue and the esophagus.

For men who often have a lot of responsibilities, self-care often moves down the to-do list. But taking care of your oral health now is cost-effective and brings great benefits to you and your family for years to come.

Monday:	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday:	9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday:	Closed
Thursday:	8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday:	By appointment only
Saturday:	By appointment only
Sunday:	Closed