National Pet Dental Health Month

Every February, the American Dental Association sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to advocate for and draw attention to the importance of oral health for children.  But everyone can benefit from a healthy mouth - even our pets.  Just as bad breath in humans can signal a teeth or gum problems, bad breath in a pet can indicate the same thing.  Until my cat had periodontal problems and needed to have several teeth removed, I had no idea this was such a common problem in both cats and dogs.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) encourages pet owners to pay attention to this very important aspect of pet health.  According to their website, "Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition in cats and dogs even though it's completely preventable."  Visit their pet dental health website to watch videos and learn all about how to keep your pet's mouth happy and healthy.
https://www.avma.org/events/pethealth/pages/February-is-National-Pet-Dental-Health-Month.aspx?utm_source=prettyurl&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=mktg&utm_term=petdental

 

 

Have Cheese with that Wine! Eating for a healthy mouth.

Each new year our minds turn to diet.  We've overdone it starting with Halloween all the way through New Year's Day and our bodies feel it.  Too busy to exercise or eat properly we deal with the aftermath of the holiday season by making resolutions to be healthier.  This year, why not include healthy eating for the mouth as well as the body?

Even children know that too much sugar is no good for you.  It's no good for your body or your teeth and the two are connected.  Sugar causes inflammation in both the body and the mouth and, when plaque is present, can cause inflammation of the gums and cavities in the teeth.  Plaque germs that live in the mouth on the teeth, gums, and tongue, use the sugary foods that we eat as fuel and form acid as a by-product.  This "acid attack" on the teeth lasts for twenty minutes until the mouth can naturally return to its normal state.  Because repeated exposure to acid is what causes the breakdown of enamel frequent sipping and snacking can make matters worse.

So what is one to do?

Well, to start, brush at least two times a day for two minutes and floss once a day to reduce plaque levels.  Rinsing with an anti-cavity or anti-bacterial mouth rinse can help, too.  Brush or floss about 30 minutes after meals.  Your mouth will feel super clean and you may be less likely to want to snack, especially at night.

Pair "cavity-causing" sugary or acidic foods and beverages, with "neutral" or sugar and acid "reducing" foods.  For example, if you want a sugary snack, have fruit and then sip some water.  Water helps wash away the sugar from the teeth and can be used to swish away sugar following any snack or meal.

If you want to really indulge have cookies or a donut but follow it with milk.  The level of pH of milk is about 6.5, close to the level of pH of water which is a neutral 7.  You get the added benefit of calcium from the milk, too.

The pH of wine is acidic at about 3 for white wine and 3.5 for red wine.  Pairing it with cheese, with a pH of 5 to 5.9 can reduce the acid levels in your mouth.  Further reduce acid attacks by eating snacks or drinking sugary or acidic drinks with your meals and by not eating in between meals.  Remember, it is the frequency of snacking and sipping that increases the number of acid attacks.

In the long run, we are what we eat and drink.  If you stick to "one ingredient" foods like fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry you can't go wrong.  And if you take good care of your teeth you can indulge in that occasional snack or goody, even that glass of wine, with minimal negative impact on the health of your mouth.

Have a healthy eating tip or question about eating for good mouth health?  I invite your questions and comments.

This blog is not intended to diagnose any dental or medical condition.  If you are concerned about your dental or medical health please contact your dental or medical professional.  Don't worry or wait until it's too late!

Tooth and Mouth signs of Celiac Disease

Gluten-free diets have become a nutrition fad and gluten-free products abound, but for people with celiac disease being gluten-free is a necessity.  Diet is the only treatment for this autoimmune disease and eating even the tiniest amount of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye, can cause severe illness.  If left untreated it severely damages the intestines. 

Celiac disease, which seems to be on the rise, affects about 1% of the population and is diagnosed with blood tests and biopsy.  But celiac disease is tricky because the classic symptoms, diarrhea and weight loss, are not present in everyone with the disease leading some physicians to feel it is underdiagnosed.  Some people present with constipation and bloating, others with vitamin deficiencies since the destruction of the intestines leads to poor absorption of nutrients, and some have no symptoms at all.  But there are some other classic signs of the disease and they show up in the mouth.

Children with celiac disease are often found to have poorly formed or missing enamel on the teeth resulting in cavities.  If they are diagnosed before the age of 7 and treated with gluten-free diet, the adult teeth are unaffected.  If not, the disease will also affect the enamel of the permanent teeth.  Over 80% of children with celiac disease have been found to have enamel defects of the teeth.

Adults with untreated or undiagnosed celiac disease also have problems with weak enamel, cavities and bleeding gums.  In addition they may have higher incidence of advanced periodontal disease similar to people with other types of systemic inflammatory diseases like diabetes.  Some people with celiac will develop glossitis, an inflammation of the tongue caused by vitamin deficiency, and about 40% of people with the disease have recurring ulcers of the mouth. 

Because the symptoms of celiac disease, both in the mouth and the rest of the body, are similar to other conditions, a full medical history and further testing is necessary.  But for the person with a family history as well as medical and dental problems similar to celiac, the answer to mysterious symptoms may start in the dental chair.

For more information on celiac disease please visit:   www.celiac.nih.gov/articlearchives.aspx

This blog is not intended to treat or diagnose any dental or medical condition.  Please visit your doctor or dentist if you have any medical or dental concerns.

Diabetes and Your Mouth

Do you have diabetes?  Do you know your A1C?  Do you know that having diabetes can harm your gums and your teeth?  Not only can diabetes contribute to gum disease and cavities, having gum disease can make diabetes worse. 

An A1C test determines the average amount of sugar in your blood.  In general, consistent results of 5.7 to 6.5 are considered pre-diabetic and 6.5 and over is considered diabetic.  A level of 7 and above is considered uncontrolled. 

Diabetes is an inflammatory disease that affects the whole body and also has an effect on the mouth.  There are many signs of diabetes in the mouth.  Out of control blood glucose levels exaggerate the body’s response to germs that are present in plaque.  This results in inflamed, swollen gums and gum disease may progress very quickly in diabetics.  Germs in the mouth also use sugar as fuel so high blood sugar levels may lead to an increased incidence of cavities.  Dry mouth caused by medications or dehydration can contribute to cavities as well.  Diabetes may also cause thrush, a yeast infection in the mouth.   

The relationship between diabetes and gum disease is very well established.  It is so important to take excellent care of the teeth and gums if you have been diagnosed with diabetes.  If inflammation in the gums is not treated it can be very difficult to control blood glucose levels.  Brushing and flossing as well as regular dental hygiene visits are essential.  Treating other signs of the disease such as dry mouth is also necessary to prevent cavities.  If you have diabetes it is imperative to discuss any oral symptoms with your doctor, dentist and dental hygienist.

To learn more about diabetes, including symptoms and risk factors, visit the American Diabetes Association website where you can take their diabetes risk quiz:

http://www.diabetes.org/are-you-at-risk/diabetes-risk-test/?loc=atrisk-slabnav

(Like their website says “It takes only 60 seconds and it could save your life!”)

This information is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical or dental condition.  Please see your doctor or dentist for treatment.  You'll feel better and stop worrying!  

The Gums, Part II (If you Ignore Your Teeth, They'll Go Away)

My last post addressed gingivitis, the reversible form of gum disease.  Gingivitis is reversible because although the gums are infected with germs and are bleeding and swollen, removal of the plaque with good brushing and flossing, as well as regular dental hygiene visits, can restore the gums to health.

Periodontitis, the irreversible form of gum disease, means that the bacterial infection of the gums has now spread to the supporting structures of the tooth.  These supporting tissues are the ligaments and bone that hold the teeth in the mouth.  In its most severe form periodontitis causes the teeth to become loose and fall out.

There are several things that contribute to periodontitis.  A person may have a family history of the disease, have other health issues such as diabetes, or take medications that affect the mouth.  Smoking is a also a huge factor in periodontitis and tooth loss.  (A special note for smokers: the gums of smokers may not bleed.  Blood and oxygen are being sent by the body elsewhere, like the lungs, brain and heart, to compensate for the damage being caused by smoking and nicotine also constricts the blood vessels.  Smoking is very devastating to the teeth and smokers have higher and more severe incidence of periodontal disease and more tooth loss than nonsmokers.)

Periodontitis occurs because plaque germs have been able to get below the gum line and harden.  The gums pull away from the teeth, forming a pocket.  This makes it even more difficult to keep the teeth clean.  The deeper the pocket, the harder it is for a toothbrush or floss to reach the bacteria hiding in the pocket.  When the pocket is deep enough, and this is just millimeters in measurement, it become impossible to remove the bacteria with ordinary brushing or flossing.  In this pocket the bacteria explode in number and type.  The plaque hardens, forming in layers on the teeth.  The body, in its effort to fight the bacteria off, begins an assault that will eventually destroy the connective tissues - ligaments and bone.  If this process continues unchecked eventually the gums recede, the teeth loosen and then they fall out.  The insidious part of all this is that, often, periodontitis is completely painless, but there are signs to look for:

- Lack of personal daily oral hygiene (brushing and flossing are not happening)
- Bleeding gums
- Swollen, "puffy" looking gums
- Bright red or purple colored gums
- Persistent bad breath
- Receded gums
- Sensitive teeth
- Teeth seem to have "shifted"
- Loose teeth
- Gums may be sensitive or hurt when touched but are otherwise painless
- Pockets around the teeth greater than 3 millimeters (as measured by a hygienist or dentist)
- Tooth abscess, pus

Once the ligaments and bone are destroyed, they are gone.  However, with proper treatment the condition of the gums and teeth can be maintained and further tooth loss prevented.  This may involve scaling and root planing ("deep cleaning") to remove deposit below the gum line, medications applied topically or given orally, and even surgery.

If you have any of the signs of gum disease get to a dental professional right away and find out what you can do to restore or maintain the health of your mouth.  If you haven't been brushing and flossing start today, now.  Your teeth will thank you by sticking around.

Photo courtesy of Photobucket.com

Please see your dental or medical professional for treatment.  This blog is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease or condition.