oral health – Page 3 – Karen P. Meyers, DDS

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.

Do it Yourself Dentistry: A Bad Idea

June 8, 2015

There are lots of fabulous ideas for do-it-yourself projects out there including gardening, interior decoration, and creating kids’ birthday cakes. You can log onto youtube and find thousands of videos about car repair, washing machine repairs and how to use complicated software.

But not everything is a DIY project.

A generally bad idea is DIY dentistry and a particularly awful idea is DIY orthodontia.

But just because it is a bad idea doesn’t make it illegal to post harmful videos and other information on the Internet about home orthodontic treatments.

The Internet includes all sorts of bad advice like utilizing rubber bands and hair elastics around teeth, even paper clips and dental floss.

The use of clear bands, often called gap bands, is the most ubiquitous of the DIY orthodontic tips. These bands are deceptively harmful. These gap bands can move up the teeth and actually dislodge the tooth from the underlying bone. Then, instead of a straightened tooth, you will have a weakened tooth, one that may not be reparable, even one that requires an actual implant to fix.

Dentists and orthodontists’ expertise includes understanding the structure of your teeth, the condition of the surrounding gum and knowledge of which appliances are the safest and most effective.

People embark on DIY projects to save money and because they have some skills in the project area. In the case of orthodontia, there are no savings, there is ordinate potential for great harm and the do it yourselfer clearly has no expertise in the practice of orthodontics.

Instead of going down the DIY road, it is better to visit your oral health care provider and work together on how to make your care affordable. That is the most effective and safest approach to this project.

The Info on Implants

May 11, 2015

What are dental implants? What are they used for? How do you take care of dental implants?

Dental implants are more common than you think. They are used typically when a tooth is no longer salvageable due to disease or breakage. A dental implant is a permanent solution to a loss of a tooth. It is an attractive new artificial tooth with a great track record for longevity, and with none of the issues that accompany non permanent dentures and bridges.

The implantation procedure is as follows:

Permanent removal of the tooth or teeth in question.
Implantation of a screw (or screws) directly into either the upper or lower jaw. These are typically made of titanium and either shaped like a screw or are cylindrical.
After the jaw has accepted the screw, then a porcelain tooth or teeth are installed.

Following the dental implantation, patients are able to eat normally and the porcelain teeth are as attractive as your natural teeth and even tougher.

Patients should be aware that dental implants still require excellent oral hygiene including regular brushing and flossing. In addition, patients with dental implants require regular dental check-ups to assess the continuing health of the dental implant and the gum surrounding it and to make sure any disease processes that may have caused the initial tooth loss are under control. Patients with dental implants are also advised to quit smoking.

Keeping our Seniors Smiling

March 30, 2015

If you are responsible for the care of an elderly person or have an elderly loved one who requires care, we urge you to check out their teeth.

Many elderly folks who were diligent about their oral care throughout their adult lives are currently suffering because they no longer are able physically or cognitively to take care of their teeth. These same people who had regular cleanings and check-ups may be long overdue for dental care and may also not be brushing or flossing as often or as effectively as they did in the past.

For frail elderly, poor dental health can also have a negative impact on nutrition. Recently, Citymeals-on-Wheels in New York partnered with Columbia University College of Dental Medicine to determine the extent of this problem among the low income seniors who receive meals. Their initial findings were startling: 40% of their clients reported that they had difficulty eating, not because of poverty but because their teeth problems (often from years of neglect) had made eating solid food sometimes impossible. Further, some of the seniors physically could not demonstrate an ability to brush their teeth, often because of poor grip strength or other muscular-skeletal issues, often the result of other diseases like stroke or diabetes.

Tooth loss in the elderly is another serious issue. For many, tooth loss is a sign of declining physical and mental health. Tooth loss can often be tied to unhealthy activities like smoking and drinking. Elderly adults who don’t smoke and who drink moderately are more likely to have good overall health and better dental health. When you witness an elderly person begin to lose teeth, however, this is a clear sign that more rigorous action regarding their oral health needs to occur.

When an elderly person is edentulous (has no teeth), that does not mean that they no longer need oral health attention. Many homebound elderly have dentures that need repairing or that fit poorly. In addition, they may not be taking care of their dentures appropriately.

A common problem in senior care facilities is loss of dentures. When this occurs, a cascade of catastrophes can happen. If the resident quits wearing the dentures, their regular food will by necessity modified to only soft foods or pureed foods. For many seniors, even those who complain about their food, meals are stimulating and can be social, too. When the nature of these meals becomes purely nutritive and a rather tasteless soft diet ensues, these seniors have higher incidence of depression.

Often, when dentures are eventually found, after an extended period of time of not wearing them, they may no longer fit or may be painful.

Poor dental care also causes halitosis (bad breath). This impacts socialization and even relationships with family members.

There are many aspects to taking care of our elderly loved ones. Part of ensuring their safety and their quality of life is making sure that their mouths are healthy.

Your Pregnant Mouth

March 15, 2015

Photo by David Roseborough

Does it seem like there are more visibly pregnant women than ever? Now is the time when you will notice them! More women give birth in the month of September than any other month, followed by August, June and then July. So that makes these next few months high pregnancy months and the early fall are the lowest numbers of pregnancies.

Pregnant women have a higher risk of gum disease during their pregnancy. Pregnancy is a time of changing hormone levels and these fluctuations affect the blood supply to the gums, which can prevent the gum tissue from effectively fighting off infection. This can result in inflamed gum tissue, which looks like swollen, red gums.

Pregnancy gingivitis is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. There are lots of anecdotes of women being asked by their dentist if they were pregnant before scheduling their first visit to the obstetrician!

Pregnancy is not just a time for new gum disease; it can also be a time when existing oral health conditions worsen. So pregnant women who already are prone to gum disease may find the months while they are expecting particularly challenging.

Gum disease, left untreated, can become periodontal disease, an advanced gum condition. Periodontal disease is not just unhealthy for pregnant women; women with untreated periodontal disease have a higher risk of pre-term or low birth weight babies. One more note: a mother with untreated cavities can pass along the cavity-producing bacteria to her newborn.

Pregnant women need to take the following steps:

Stay current with your dental appointments and cleaning procedures.
If you are prone to gum disease, increase the number of cleanings during your pregnancy to once every 3-4 months as opposed to twice a year.
Continue to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily.
Be vigilant about cleaning carefully right along the gum line.
Drink water between meals and rinse your mouth out when you cannot brush your teeth.
If you suffer from nausea, do not brush your teeth right after you vomit. Instead, rinse your mouth out with water and a mouthwash. You may brush your teeth ½ hour after throwing up. This ensures that the acids from your stomach don’t get brushed into your enamel.
Avoid food that can do damage to teeth and dental appliances like ice, popcorn kernels and sticky treats.

Canker Sores! Ouch!

March 2, 2015

Canker sores are also known as aphthous ulcers. They are small, shallow lesions and they can be found on the soft tissues of your mouth or on the gums. Canker sores are not the same as cold sores; they do not appear on the lips and they are not contagious like cold sores. But canker sores can be painful, irritating or just plain annoying.

We are not always sure what causes each individual canker sore, but these are typical culprits:

A small or minor injury to your mouth. This could be caused by aggressive brushing, or a collision (particularly a sports-related one)
Accidentally biting your cheek
Sharp edges on dental appliances
Eating spicy food
Food sensitivities
Insufficient B-12
Changes in hormones as a part of the menstrual cycle
Allergic reactions
Stress, anxiety or depression
Celiac disease (gluten sensitivity)
Gastrointestinal disorders like Crohn’s Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome
HIV/AIDS

Canker sores typically go away on their own within one to two weeks. But you should seek advice from your health care professional if your canker sores recur, if they grow, if they last longer than three weeks, if they extend into the lip, if the pain is intolerable or if you develop a high fever.

Of course, see your dentist immediately if any dental or orthodontic appliances develop sharp edges, so she can make needed repairs and prevent further mouth injury.

Reviewing Dental Equality on MLK Day

January 16, 2015

Martin Luther King, Jr. urged Americans to find a path towards equality and justice. Towards the end of his life, King focused his attention on poverty and the inequalities that poverty itself causes.

Poverty and socioeconomic status, on the whole, appear to be the leading causes of disparities in dental health care in America. The other contributors are behavioral: poor dietary choices, use of tobacco, and frequency of alcohol consumption.

In America, there is still a large gap in terms of general oral health. Non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and Alaskan natives have far poorer dental health than other members of American society. The greatest disparity is among the youngest Americans, children ages 2-8 years of age. This is a critical time period in terms of tooth development as well as the establishment of healthy oral hygiene habits and dietary routines.

But adults also vary in their oral health status. Adults aged 35-44 years of age are more likely to access and utilize the services of a dentist if they feel they can afford it. Therefore, the statistic that overwhelmingly correlates with good overall oral health is whether or not the adult has graduated high school. Those who have not tend to earn less and to be employed by institutions that do not offer dental health. For these less educated Americans, the incidence of untreated tooth decay is twice as high as Americans who have at least a high school diploma. The presence of destructive gum disease is nearly three times as much in the non-graduates of high school compared to adults who have at least some college education.

Another alarming statistic: Black men have a five year survival rate for throat cancer of 36%, while white men have a 61% five year survival rate. The disparity can be traced to earlier detection, among other factors.

Clearly, access to dental care can cut across all socioeconomic lines and improve the lives of all Americans.

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Teeth

January 5, 2015

New Year’s Resolutions abound. We agree that everybody should exercise more, eat a healthy diet and repair their relationships with family and friends. We also hope you’ll join us in making some Near Year’s Resolutions for your teeth. It’s a good time to put bad habits in the past and start with a clean slate.

So, from us to you, we hope you will take on these resolutions:

If you haven’t been to the dentist in a little while or a long while, go NOW. You are not the only one who has put off dental care due to finances, fear or “life events”, but you will reap instantly better-looking and well-cared for teeth, and you will be on the path to better future oral health care when you partner with your dentist. It’s time to take action on all of those things you have been putting off, starting with your mouth.

See your dentist regularly, twice a year for cleanings at a minimum. For those who put off cleanings, it doesn’t make things easier. Delayed teeth cleanings can lead to a deterioration, not just of teeth, but of gums, too. Then you will need to engage in a deep cleaning gum treatment, which is not painful, but takes a bit more time and needs to be done in multiple sittings.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and for at least 2 minutes at a time. You may not realize how little time you are spending with your toothbrush. Time yourself this week and begin to feel what 2 minutes feels like.

Floss regularly. Flossing disturbs the particles between your teeth and allows toothbrushes and saliva to wash them away. And recent research indicates flossing saves lives!

If something feels “not right” with your teeth (your bite feels different, you are more sensitive to hot or cold drinks or foods, you notice any swelling or ulcers), don’t put off seeing your dentist. Dental care delayed is never the best option.

End your association with tobacco. We know that New Year’s is a time when we resolve to stay in touch with good friends. Tobacco is not your friend. Whether you are smoking or using smokeless tobacco (snuff), now is the time to “unfriend”. If it is any motivation to you, trust us when we tell you that mouth cancers can be hard to treat and intractable to cure.

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