It is your responsibility to control diabetes. Don’t let diabetes control you.

Get the story at this link:  http://gotteethguide.com/tag/american-diabetes-association/

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

The goal of periodontal treatment is to control and stop the infection. It can’t always save the affected teeth.

These are 6 common preventative treatments of differing degrees:

1. Removing plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line (hurts).
2. Removing hard deposits from the root (hurts).
3. Removing diseased tissue and infection from the tissue lining and jawbone (hurts).
4. Prescribing antibacterial mouth rinses and/or antibiotics (doesn’t hurt).
5. Reshaping your bite by grinding a tooth’s surface (doesn’t hurt).
6. Splinting teeth together to stabilize loose teeth (never had it, don’t know).

Treatments range from deep cleaning (scaling and root planing), flap surgery, bone and tissue grafts, and bone transplants. [Read more →]

Pineapple is a golden yellow, sweet, juicy, luscious, tropical fruit that has an ample supply of Vitamin C, which is good for your gums.

A study conducted at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that vitamin C can reduce your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease.

1. Vitamin C increases increases the body’s ability to fight invading bacteria and other toxins that contribute to gum disease.
2. Vitamin C is the antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and boosts the immune system.
3. Vitamin C helps build and repair bodily tissue and promotes wound healing.
4. The body uses vitamin C to help metabolize fats and cholesterol, absorb iron, and synthesize amino acids and collagen.
5. Collagen is one of the primary building blocks of skin, cartilage and bones.

Periodontal disease, which destroys gum tissue and underlying jaw bones, has been linked to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Fresh pineapples are available now. Enjoy.

Keep smiling.

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

If you have gingivitis or periodontal disease, your toothbrush can transfer oral bacteria back into your mouth after every use. To avoid bacterial transfer, do this:

1. Dip your toothbrush into a small amount of undiluted Listerine after every use.
2. Buy a new toothbrush every 2-3 months.
3. Do not share your toothbrush.

Cleaning your toothbrush and replacing it on a regular basis will help keep your mouth free of bacteria.

It’s all connected.

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

Top 100 Blogs

Wuuhoo! The Daily Reviewer ranked www.gotteethguide.com in the Top 100 Dentistry Blogs. Thank you.

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 withouth them.
www.gotteethguide.com

Researchers have found that people tend to miss appointments for life-saving procedures like a mammogram, colonoscopy, and skin cancer screenings. Dental appointments can be life saving, too.

If you’re not consistent about keeping appointments, you can begin by choosing a memorable date. Any date reminiscent of time passing (two weeks before or after your  birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Years) can remind you to take care of yourself.

Bleeding or painful gums should not be the reason you make a dental appointment. Make your appointment before it’s too late.

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 received this email from a reader about adult braces and periodontal disease. I’m publishing it to help you if you’re considering getting braces.

“Thank you, Saundra, for helping. I have always had nearly perfect teeth and was stunned to find out I had periodontal disease. I am 50 years old and want to do all I can to keep my teeth.

I do not believe that periodontal disease is always a result of neglect. Mine resulted from having braces as an adult (30 years old). When the teeth are moved by the braces there becomes room for food to get in between the teeth and supporting tissue. Adults considering braces should be aware of this risk. I was told before hand that this was a risk by my orthodontist, used floss, waterpic, etc. and still got it.” [Read more →]

Dr. Sanjay Gupta says, “…having chronic periodontal or gum disease is like living with a low-grade infection that can be linked to heart disease, diabetes, and some kinds of cancer.”

For every person who does not have health insurance, there are two people who do not have dental insurance.

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

36% of the people polled skipped dental care or checkups in the past 12 months.

The Poll: Care-Cost Consequences

The Question: In the past 12 months, because of the cost, did you or a family member in your home do any of the following?

The Answers:

42% Relied on home remedies or over-the-counter drugs rather than go see a doctor.
36% Skipped dental care or checkups.
33% Put off or postponed needed health care.
29% Did not fill a prescription for a medicine.
27% Skipped recommended medical treatment.
18% Cut pills in half or skipped medicine.
8% Had problems getting mental health care.

I don’t how know how many people were polled in the Kaiser Family Foundation Poll, April 2009, but I have seen similar statistics in recent years. I was not one of the people polled. Were you?

This is the year of health care reform. Take action to have your voice heard!Contact your elected officials or become involved in the health care reform effort at http://www.healthactionnow.org/ or call 1-866-227-7449.

Keep smiling.

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

Smoking cigarettes, pipe tobacco, marijuana (even with a hookah pipe), cocaine, meth, candy (kids are smoking it to get high), or anything under the kitchen sink is hazardous to your health.

I won’t go into the amount of money that went into marketing cigarettes to get you addicted or government-protected lobbyists and cigarette companies keeping you addicted by adding more addictive chemicals to cigarettes annually so it’s harder to quit and then raising taxes on cigarettes. What are “they” smoking? [Read more →]