Category — oral health

 This is a cautionary report. Redheads are back in the news. This week NBC reported that redheads are more sensitive to pain that people with other hair colors. People with red hair need 19 percent more painkillers than the greater population.

Research published in the Journal of American Dental Association (July 2009) found that painful experiences at the dentist might cause more anxiety for men and women with red hair, who were twice as likely to avoid dental care than people with dark hair. People with red hair need larger doses of anesthesia and are twice as likely to avoid going to the dentist than those with other hair colors.

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If spring cleaning has hit you, include an inside job. Get your teeth cleaned to brighten your smile and avoid gum disease.

Take this opportunity to make a dental appointment for yourself and your family. Get your teeth as clean, fresh, and sparkling as your home.

If you have one denture or partials, you must have your remaining teeth cleaned. Take care of the teeth you still have.

Keep smiling.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

 Beets are nature’s simple, unassuming, deliciously sweet, deep dark ruby red, low fat delivery system for calcium, potassium, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and sugar with an earthy flavor and enough nutritional value to make them vital for our oral and overall health.

They are a colorful winter root vegetable that have become available all year in red, yellow, orange, white, and variegated. First documented in 8^th Century BC, Mesopotamia, beets were used in folk medicine for the treatment of fevers and constipation in Ancient Greece and Medieval Europe.

As I wax poetic about the beet, I recall homemade bowls of borscht on my mother’s dining room table with dollops of sour cream in their middles. Pickled beets, beet juice, and beets in salads and curries are popular in America, South America, Europe, Eastern Europe, India, and some parts of Africa. [Read more →]

“You keep medical supplies on hand for cuts and bruises, but what about your teeth?  It’s important to be prepared for a dental emergency in case one happens, especially if  the emergency occurs on a weekend or holiday when your dentist isn’t available, ” according to Brian Gold, D.D.S., who practices in Monticello, NY.

Dental emergencies can range from a dislodged cap/crown or lost filling to a knocked out tooth to pain or a cracked denture. Majestic Drug Company explains some common dental emergencies and suggestions for treatment.

1. Cracked or broken denture.  According to Dr. Gold, all denture wearers should have a spare pair to use until the other is repaired. If not, it is good to keep on hand an emergency denture repair kit such as D.O.C. Emergency Denture Repair Kit, available at your local pharmacy.

2. Knocked out tooth.  If you knock out a permanent tooth, try gently replacing it into the tooth socket. Do not scrub the tooth clean—you can damage the fibers needed for reattachment. If that doesn’t work, place the tooth in a glass of milk to keep it moist. Get to a dentist immediately.

3. Mouth pain.  A throbbing pain from a toothache may indicate an infection and a dentist should be consulted as soon as possible. Tooth sensitivity can be combated by the use of desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne. Irritation from mouth sores can be alleviated by the use of specialized oral pain relief products such as Orajel.

4. Lost filling.  Rinse out the cavity with warm water. Apply a temporary filling product such as Dentemp® O.S. which can be made into a ball and pressed firmly into the cavity.

5. Dislodged cap/crown. Apply a temporary dental holding product such as Dentemp® O.S. and gently replace the cap onto the tooth.  Make sure you get a proper fit. [Read more →]

This is a true story told to me by the wife of a dental patient with a heart murmur (mostly in her words).

Three months ago my husband lost part of a filling and used a temporary fix he bought at a Drug Store. What he didn’t realize was the need to have this looked at by a dental professional. He assumed no pain, so why rush to the dentist? Especially when he feared the dentist!

1. At 40-years old,  no medical or dental professional had ever told him he would more susceptible to blood infections because he was born with a heart murmur.

2. He started sleeping a lot more, not wanting to do too much. He just assumed he stayed up too late.

3. Then he started getting low grade fevers that would only go away with aspirin.

4. He went to the doctor and was diagnosed with the Swine flu. He was told to rest and that the virus seemed to be near its end.

5. Another week went by and the doctor told him to go to the hospital to get a blood culture. That’s what they do when they can’t figure out what is causing a fever.

6. Yet another week went by and the blood culture results confirmed that he had a strep (streptococcus) infection of the blood that may have infected his heart valves. He was admitted to the hospital on a Friday where IV antibiotics were administered immediately. [Read more →]

There are enough studies to prove that apples are a whole-body benefit fruit that lowers blood cholesterol, protects your teeth from bacteria and plaque, improves bowel function, reduces risk of stroke, prostrate cancer, type II diabetes, and asthma.

1. Apples contain tannins,  nutrients that can protect your teeth against plaque and gum disease. Eating an apple can help clean bacteria from your teeth.
2. Chewing apples help stimulate your saliva production that kills bacteria and helps prevent tooth decay.
3. Apples are a good source of boron, associated with improved bone density and a stronger heart.  Their high folic acid content has a protective benefit for your heart. [Read more →]

Who doesn’t like Halloween candy? Your teeth and your body hate it, your dentist loves it. America’s annual Halloween sugar festival tab is almost $2 billion.

This year give healthy Halloween treats. Be prepared to duck if the kids throw them back at you.

1. Edible treats include mini-packs of chips, pretzels, goldfish crackers, cereal bars, nuts, cheese crackers, and trail mix; all safer alternatives than pure sugar hard candies and candy bars.
2. Sugar-free gum is a healthy choice, just not for toddlers.
3. Vampire teeth, wax lips, small containers of bubbles, small cans of playdoh, plastic sunglasses, pencils, notepads, temporary tattoos, and stickers are fun treats. They still make those, right?
4. Tell the kids you want to see a trick before giving them treats. It’s a lost “trick or treat” tradition.

Refined sugar in candy wreaks havoc with you and your kid’s energy levels, causing mood swings, stress, and fatigue. Too much sugar from candy can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, headaches, digestive disorders, a malfunctioning immune system, Type 2 diabetes, and childhood obesity. [Read more →]

The newest fashion obsession of tongue piercing is associated with tongue infections, tooth fractures, periodontal (gum) disease, heart problems, respiratory tract disease, a higher risk of deadly brain abscesses, and even death.1. “There are many potential complications, ranging from pain and swelling to chipped or cracked teeth. Patients who have oral piercings can also suffer receding gums and prolonged bleeding,” said Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association.

1. “You’re sticking a metal object through both sides of the tongue and what that’s going to do is obviously create a pathway via which bacteria from the mouth, from the saliva, which is pretty grubby, can gain access to the tongue and then spread through the tongue through to some other tissues,” said lead researcher Hans Zola.

2. According to a case reported in the Archives of Neurology, a 22-year-old man died from multiple brain abscesses weeks after getting his tongue pierced, indicating that people with oral piercings are more likely to develop fatal infections. [Read more →]

We all know blueberries and broccoli help stop periodontal disease. But do you know that lemons can wear away tooth enamel?

Jennifer Jablow, a cosmetic dentist in New York City says:

1. Eat your antioxidants. The teeth and gums are made up of collagen, and foods containing antioxidants, like blueberries and broccoli, help protect them from inflammation.

2. Limit lemons. It’s fine to sip some lemon-spiked water on occasion, but don’t overdo it, and never suck on lemons. The high acid content of lemon juice can wear away tooth enamel.

What I know for sure is that it’s all connected.

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com

I had surgery on my left arm Tuesday and I’m left-handed. That is not an acceptable excuse to avoid brushing my teeth so I discovered 3 reasons to love my electric toothbrush.

1. You can use an electric toothbrush with either hand without getting hurt.
2. Your electric toothbrush does a good job even if you don’t feel well or you’re not in the mood.
3. Your electric toothbrush works when you don’t.

Leave a comment and tell me why you love your electric toothbrush.

Keep smiling

Saundra Goodman
Got Teeth? A Survivor’s Guide
How to keep your teeth or live without them.
www.gotteethguide.com