by Roseman Dental | Jun 12, 2015 | Dental Clinic Blog
What do daily exercise, taking a multivitamin, and brushing your teeth all have in common? These are all fairly simple daily habits that could improve a man’s overall health, but ones that far too many men are ignoring. Oral health, in particular, is an area where many men could stand to “brush up” their skills a little, so to speak.
The Oral Health Battle of the Sexes
While both men and women report that a great smile is one of the first things they notice about a potential dating partner, women apparently take that more seriously than men.
A study published in the April 2011 issue of the Journal of Periodontology showed that women are more proactive about teeth and gum maintenance than their male counterparts. Women are twice as likely to have been for a recent dental checkup (in the past year), and were proactive in scheduling recommended follow-up treatments. These healthy habits resulted in far lower incidence of common periodontal disease indicators, such as plaque, calculus, and bleeding gums.
Other Benefits of Good Oral Health
Taking care of your teeth care is the best way for a man to maintain a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile, but the benefits extend beyond just aesthetics. Research published in the June 2008 issue of The Lancet Oncology found that gum disease, often the result of poor oral health habits, puts men at a higher risk of developing cancer, including kidney cancer (49% more likely), pancreatic cancer (54% more likely), and blood cancers (30% more likely).
Gum disease has also been linked to higher risk for other serious health conditions, such as heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.
Developing Healthy Oral Habits
To maintain that bright white smile, or get it back if you’ve neglected it for a little bit too long, dentists recommend making oral health care a priority.
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Spend at least two minutes brushing, and make sure you are moving the toothbrush throughout your mouth to clean every surface.
- Floss teeth at least once a day to remove food particles and plaque that get stuck between teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach.
- Throw out your old toothbrush every three months, after you have been sick, or when you can see obvious signs of damage, such as bent or missing bristles.
- Avoid behaviors that can damage teeth, such as smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or drinking dark beverages (such as coffee or soda) that can wear down enamel.
- Visit a dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings. While brushing teeth daily is important, it’s no substitute for the professional cleaning you get from the dentist every six months.
It’s also important to know the warning signs of periodontal disease so you can seek treatment. These signs include gums that are red or swollen or that bleed easily, areas where gums have pulled away from the teeth, persistent bad breath, tooth loss, or changes in your bite (the way your jaws fit together). If you notice any of these potential warning signs, see your dentist or consider visiting a periodontist to look into it more closely.
If you don’t have a dentist, you can contact The Dental Clinic at Roseman University at 801-878-1200 to schedule an appointment for affordable dental care in the Salt Lake valley provided by student dentists.
by Roseman Dental | Jun 9, 2015 | Dental Clinic Blog, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
If you ever check on your children at night, you may notice that they are grinding their teeth. The official medical term for teeth grinding is “bruxism,” it can be pretty common in children and often takes place during sleep or times of stress. According to statistics, two to three out of ten kids clench and grind their teeth and jaw, but a majority of them will eventually outgrow it.
Triggers for Bruxism
The exact cause of bruxism has yet to be determined, but there are cases where children grind their teeth because their bottom teeth are improperly aligned. Other stressful times, such as teething and earaches, can be reasons for kids to clench their teeth in an effort to ease the discomfort.
Children can also become stressed by a shift in a normal routine or due to exterior factors like after-school activities, tests, and assignments in school. A child can also suffer if parents are arguing around them, causing them to react by clenching their jaw and grinding their teeth. There are also situations where children who are on certain mediations or suffer from medical conditions, including cerebral palsy, start to show signs of bruxism.
Effects of Bruxism
A majority of children who develop bruxism do so without any negative effects and do eventually outgrow the condition, but there are instances where it can cause earaches or headaches and be an annoyance to family members and those around the child because of the sound of grinding teeth.
There are also situations where the child can clench or grind his teeth so much that he starts to wear away at tooth enamel, chip a tooth, experience sensitivity to temperatures and/or develop major jaw complications and facial pain. One example of jaw problems a child might suffer from because of bruxism is temporomandibular joint disease, otherwise known as TMJ. Unless and until bruxism becomes a chronic condition, it generally will not become TMJ.
If your child has developed bruxism, make an appointment with your dentist to have them checked today.
by Roseman Dental | May 13, 2015 | Dental Clinic Blog
Stress. It’s something that we all experience, and in our fast-paced world it seems inevitable to feel anxious every now and then. While many people understand that having high levels of stress or constant stress can wear down your physical health—due to anxiety, panic attacks, weight gain, and lack of sleep—not as many people understand how much of an impact stress can have on your oral health. High levels of stress can impact your mouth, gums, jaw, and teeth in several ways.
Understanding the Stress/Oral Health Link
The term “stress” has a mostly negative connotation, but there are some positive forms of stress—the kind that motivate you to get up in the morning, go to work, and get things done in your life. This eustress, as it’s called, is important in our daily lives. Distress, on the other hand, is the negative kind that if left unchecked can lead to serious health consequences.
When you experience high stress levels you may compound the problem by engaging in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking or tobacco use, alcohol use, or consuming foods that are high in sugars and low in nutrients. You may also neglect important oral health routines such as brushing and flossing daily, and all of these things can add up to problems for your mouth.
Common Conditions Related to Stress
There are several oral health conditions that often manifest in people who have high stress levels. These include:
Canker sores – small sores on the interior of your cheeks, gums, or the roof of your mouth that can be painful and are sometimes linked to stress.
Bruxism – people suffering from this condition grind their teeth during the night, which can wear down tooth enamel, destroy health teeth, and cause pain and soreness when you wake up. A night guard can often help with this condition.
Dry mouth – chronic dryness from lack of saliva production can lead to increased bacteria in your mouth and higher risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Dry mouth can be caused by stress, or can be a side effect of medications to treat conditions that result from high stress such as anxiety or depression.
TMJ – temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) can contribute to stress and result in grinding teeth and pain in the jaw area.
Persistent gum disease – when you are stressed for a prolonged period of time the high levels of cortisol and the inability to respond to other hormonal controls can increasing inflammation, negatively impacting your immune system and your body’s ability to fight disease. This puts you at higher risk of developing gum disease and infections and makes it harder for your body to heal when you do get a disease.
Reducing Stress for Better Oral Health
When you are feeling stressed, here are a few ways you can reduce or control it:
- Accept that you cannot control every situation
- Try to look at the positive side of things
- Create a routine to help stop stress as you feel it coming—take a walk, talk to someone, or practice deep breathing techniques or meditation
- Exercise regularly
- Add things to your life that are fun or pleasurable, such as reading, gardening, or spending time with friends
- Plan out each day so you can manage your time efficiently
- Avoid alcohol, drugs, and smoking
- Eat healthy, well-balanced meals each day
- Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night
If you still feel overwhelmed and stressed, reach out to friends and family for help, or seek out professional help such as a therapist or support group. When stress is impacting your oral health, talk to your dentist for suggestions on proper oral care to minimize the damage. If you don’t have a dentist, you can contact The Dental Clinic at Roseman University at 801-878-1200 for affordable dental care in the Salt Lake valley. By reducing negative stress in your life you can have better overall health, better oral health, and a better smile.
by Roseman Dental | May 13, 2015 | Dental Clinic Blog, Dental School, Oral Health, Roseman Dental - NV, Roseman Dental - UT
It has become extremely important to have regular health examinations to prevent or discover any early signs of cancer or other diseases, since modern medicine often provides many treatment options for cancers and other diseases when they are caught early. This stands true for dental health as well. Dentists find approximately 84 percent of oral cancer cases when doing screenings on patients and individuals who have either found an abnormal growth or those who might be at heightened risk due to factors such as age, family history, alcohol use, or tobacco use. It is important to ask your dentist if he or she feels you need an oral screening.
Oral Cancer Screening
Here is what you can expect when it comes to an oral cancer screening.
- There is no special preparation you need prior to an oral cancer screening, and screenings are typically performed during a regular dental visit.
- If you are wearing any sort of dentures or removable implants, your dental professional should remove those before the examination begins.
- Some dentists will ask you to rinse your mouth with a special blue dye prior to the examination. The dye will absorb into abnormal cells, making them more visible for the dentist.
- Your dentist should examine and inspect the inside and outside of your gums and cheeks throughout your entire mouth. Your lips and the floor and roof of your mouth will also be inspected for any patches or sores.
- Your lymph nodes, jaw area and around your ears will be checked.
- Expect your dentist to ask you to stick out your tongue and say “ahhh” in order to examine the back of your throat and mouth.
Recommendations
If your dental care provider does find anything that looks abnormal, he or she may recommend a couple of options. One is a “wait and see” approach with a simple follow-up visit to see if the irregular area is still there after a few weeks. If your dentist believes you might be at risk or that the abnormality is severe, he or she will often recommend a biopsy to remove a sample of cells to be tested for cancer.
Oral cancer screenings are very simple and practically stress-free for you; however they are extremely important for your overall health.
