Correlation Between Dental Care and Overall Wellness

Taking good dental care of your mouth, teeth and gums is not only beneficial to preventing tooth decay, cavities and bad breath, it can also help prevent certain medical conditions like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, and help identify eating disorders, sleeping problems, anxiety and stress. The case for good oral hygiene keeps getting stronger. The more you understand the connection between good dental care and overall wellness, the more likely you are to implement and maintain a proper oral hygiene regime. Below are some of the things dentists can see about your overall health and wellness just by looking into your mouth.

1. You may have diabetes

Poor gum status has been shown to be associated with diabetes. Ailments like ulcers, infections, inflammation of your gums, thrush, bad breath, and tooth decay, can all point to diabetes. While the relationship between periodontitis and gum disease is still being researched, studies in Diabetologia suggest that diabetes increases the risk of gum disease, and gum inflammation negatively impacts the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.

2. You may be at a greater risk for stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular disease

A national study of Canadians between the ages of 36 and 69 found that those with severe gum disease had between three to seven times the risk of fatal coronary heart disease. Similarly, a university study found that those with cavities and gum disease suffered strokes twice as often as those with good oral health. Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease often couple each other as the bacteria from inflamed gums can enter the bloodstream and travel to the arteries and the heart. This can drastically increase your risk for heart attack or stroke.

3. You may have sleep apnea

Your teeth could be a clue to any distress you might be feeling as stress, anxiety or a sleep disorder can cause teeth grinding. The first sign of sleep apnea is often tooth grinding (also called bruxism). Your dentist will look for worn tooth surfaces, and will either offer treatment or refer you to a specialist who helps provide treatment for sleep apnea.

4. You may have signs of human papillomavirus (HPV)

Lesions in your mouth can be one of the earliest signs that you may have HPV. By your dentist looking at your lips and the salivary gland areas in your mouth, there are a lot of things they will be able to detect, even before you visit the doctor.

5. You may have an autoimmune disease

Your dentist might be the first one to notice and set you on the path to managing conditions like lupus, Crohn’s and colitis, celiac disease, and others. These all can look like many other things and sometimes present as inflamed lesions or sores in your mouth.

6. You may have kidney problems:

A study in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology states that people with kidney disease and those on dialysis are more likely to have periodontal disease and other oral health problems than the general population. The reason is because not only does bacteria grow in your mouth, your mouth is also a breeding ground for bacteria breeding in your bloodstream. People with kidney disease have weakened immune systems and are more susceptible to infections.

7. You may suffer from an eating disorder 

Certain types of eating disorders (i.e. anorexia or bulimia), can be apparent to a dentist if they notice acid from purging which can erode both tooth enamel and dentin.

Just like you would keep abreast of trends and best practices to keep your body healthy, it’s best to keep tabs on what might not feel right and to stay curious about what is happening in your mouth. That includes looking for pain, swelling, bleeding gums, broken or loose teeth and/or enamel erosion.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

How to find if you’re a Candidate for a Root Canal?

If you are experiencing tooth pain that is so severe, what are your options? Can your pain be healed by just salt water rinses and a better oral health regime, or will you require a trip to the dentist or specialist? How do you know if a root canal treatment is your best option for optimal oral health?

If you have a tooth that you suspect of needing a root canal, here are the type of things that you should look out for.

Symptoms:

Pain in your teeth: Tooth pain is the first possible sign you may need a root canal. Be aware that root canal pain is different from other types of tooth pain as it gets worse when eating, biting down, or when you apply pressure to your teeth.

Sensitivity: While most people do have sensitivity when eating extreme hot and cold foods, root canal sensitivity occurs all the time – not only while eating hot and cold foods.

Inflamed gums:  The gum area around the infected tooth is painful, swollen, and in some cases may have a small, bump on them.

How does your dentist determine if you need a root canal?

To diagnose whether or not you need a root canal, your dentist will need to determine if the pulp inside the tooth is dead or dying or if it’s possible that the pulp could recover.

What your dentist will do:

Your dentist will ask you about your symptoms, your pain and pain threshold. Topics that your dentist will inquire about are:

  • how long you’ve had the pain
  • when did the pain start
  • how long have you had the pain
  • have you had pain in the past?
  • is the pain more bearable lying down/sitting up(positional pain)
  • what triggers the pain (extreme hot or cold foods, etc).

Once your dentist has gone through their preliminary/pre-qualifying questions (to determine if you’re even a candidate) your dentist will run a series of tests to decipher if there is an infection, pus, blood, or other infectious materials appearing. Once a dentist has identified one or more suspect teeth or fistulas on the gum  (a fistula is a little white, yellow, or red pimple-looking thing that shows up your gum), they will perform additional testing (i.e. thermal , electric pulp testing and x-rays) that can help them zero in on the infected tooth.

How long should you wait to have a root canal done?

It really depends on the availability of your dentist/specialist, however after the initial exam from your dentist, if they’ve determined that you are a candidate for a root canal, ensure to take the antibiotics right away. Because it is an infection and can easily spread to your other teeth, vulnerable tissues, and your heart, it is best to start with the treatment right away.

Whenever you experience tooth pain, it’s a sign that something isn’t right, and it is important to seek the advice and treatment of a dentist as soon as possible.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Six Simple Ways to Heal Tooth Decay and Reverse Cavities

Like most people, when you discover you have a cavity or pain in your teeth, the first thing you do is make an appointment with your dentist as you think that fillings are the only way to fix cavities. However, what most people fail to realize is that tooth decay and cavities can be reversed and fillings aren’t the only option available.

This article will explain the basic principles behind how you can heal cavities naturally and prevent tooth decay.

  1. Change your diet and reduce your sugar intake. Studies in the British Medical Journal suggest that a change in diet can actually reverse tooth decay. Easy adjustments can be made to your diet immediately like:
    • Consuming more calcium rich foods (i.e. kale, collards, broccoli rabe and dairy) which can help strengthen your bones and teeth.
    • Avoid drinking pop, juice and drinks with high carbonation as the sugars cause excessive plaque and tartar build up which may result in cavities.
  2. If you want to protect your teeth from early decay or heal existing tooth decay, include the following steps in your oral care routine.
    • Brush your teeth at least twice a day ensuring you reach all the surfaces, crevices, pockets and corners.
    • Floss at least once daily. This helps remove any remaining food from underneath your gums and prevents bacteria from forming.
    • Use mouthwash; it has antibacterial properties and helps you get rid of any remaining bacteria in your mouth.
  3. Add vitamins and supplements to your diet. Micro nutrients are essential to bone health and keep inflammation under control to prevent or reverse cavities. Certain vitamins help produce saliva which helps to prevent bacteria from staying on your teeth and certain vitamins make your teeth a lot stronger. Foods that help promote salivation include bananas, Brussels sprouts, and peas. Vitamins you should consume include Vitamin B, D, magnesium and iron. If you’re not interested in taking supplements, eat whole grain foods and seafood (i.e. salmon, canned tuna and sardines are all great sources of vitamin D).
  4. Eat foods with natural probiotics. Because bad bacteria associated with infection look for places to hide in the small areas between the teeth, consuming probiotics helps to offset the acidic pH. Foods rich in probiotics include kombucha, kefir and fermented foods like kimchee and sauerkraut. These foods stimulate the production of healthy bacteria in the mouth needed to prevent plaque buildup and dental decay.
  5. Be aware of the pH values in the foods/drink you consume. Imbalanced pH levels can create an environment for bacteria to thrive. Drinks such as coffee create pH imbalances (like some citrus fruits and sugars), and act as the perfect environment for harbouring infectious oral bacteria. If you’re a daily coffee drinker and suffering from tooth decay, a great alternative to coffee is green tea as it contains a polyphenol (known as catechins) which acts as a powerful antioxidant and has several anti-inflammatory properties which hinder the growth of harmful bacteria and improves oral health.
  6. Develop a new oral care regime. Have you heard of a technique called oil pulling? Oil pulling is believed to create a soap like cleansing on teeth with moisturizing and antiseptic capabilities. It consists of swishing an oil (i.e. sesame, sunflower or coconut oil) for about 10-20 minutes in the mouth to reduce plaque buildup. It’s important that you don’t swallow the oil and to brush your teeth afterwards. Oil pulling has been shown to reduce plaque and gingivitis in one month’s time.

Remember, if a cavity has already struck, a trip to the dentist may not be avoidable. However, you can limit the damage by following these simple steps and paying a little extra attention to your pearly whites.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Dentist or Oral Surgeon? What Specialist is Best for You?

When you visit the dentist, you often meet many staff members, each of whom is responsible for one or more aspects of your oral health care. When choosing a dental professional to provide a specific service, however, many patients may not understand the difference between a dentist and an oral surgeon. It is an important distinction that could affect the outcome of your dental procedure.

Role of a dentist:

Dentists are responsible for maintaining good oral health and are aware of your entire oral health history. What you can expect when visiting the dentist is a thorough cleaning with a dental hygienist, a full dental exam (where they will inspect your teeth, gums and probe between the gum lines looking for decay or deep pockets), scaling (a procedure used to remove extremely stubborn build up), oral cancer screenings, fluoride treatments, x-rays to look for any problems that can’t be seen with the naked eye and sealants (if applicable to your child). If your dentist notices any abnormalities (i.e. gum disease or extremely deep pockets between your teeth and gums) they will refer you to an oral/maxillofacial surgeon who will examine these issues further.

Role of an oral surgeon:

If your dentist refers you to an oral surgeon, it does not necessarily mean you have a challenging case to treat…it simply means there is a specialized surgeon who can adequately treat your case better than a general practitioner.  Oral and maxillofacial surgeons focus on treating problems related to the hard and soft tissues of the face, mouth, and jaws. You might need oral surgery for something as common as dental implants or for the treatment of a tumours or cysts in your jaw.

Here are some reasons why you may need to visit an oral surgeon:

  1. Dental Implants: As an alternative to dentures, you would see an oral surgeon if you wanted implants to replace any broken or missing teeth.
  2. Impacted teeth: If your teeth are impacted or fully below the gum line, you would need to see an oral surgeon who will administer a general anesthetic who will cut into the jaw line to remove the teeth.
  3. Cracked or fractured teeth: If you have teeth that are already cracked or fractured and are likely to break more during the extraction, you would see an oral surgeon who is trained in the delicate procedure of removing cracked or fractured teeth.
  4. Complications during extractions:  If your tooth has complex roots or develops cracks, an oral surgeon may be called in to minimize discomfort and the risk for further complications.
  5. Sufferers from dental anxiety: Regardless of the physical situation with your tooth, some patients prefer to be asleep for an extraction if they suffer from dental anxiety or a fear of going to the dentist. In this case, an oral surgeon is needed to administer general anesthesia.

Getting teeth removed and deciding whether to get a dental implant procedure is a big step. We recommend talking with your dentist first. Your dentist can assess your situation and recommend the oral surgeon or dental specialist that is most suited for you.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Pediatric Dentist Recommendations for Children’s Oral Health

Good oral health is important for everyone, even for babies and young children. However, good oral health is not only about caring for your child’s teeth, it is also about  educating them and yourself about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene starting at a very young age. Also, because a lot of people are afraid of the dentist, it is best to see a pediatric dentist who specializes in working with young children so that your child’s first dental experience is a positive one.

Here are some recommendations from pediatric dentists on how to keep your child’s mouth as healthy as possible:

Start an oral regime early

Despite great advancements in decay prevention, one in four children still develop signs of tooth decay before they start school. In fact, did you know even babies can develop tooth decay if good feeding habits aren’t practiced? From an early age, if proper dental regimes aren’t implemented, your child could develop something called bottle mouth. This is when the sugars from the milk and juices stay on the teeth and gums. In severe cases of this, once the permanent teeth have actually grown in, they may have to be removed if bottle mouth isn’t treated or addressed. In older children, reports show that at least half of all kids have cavities. This is why dental care and education should start as soon as your child is born. Even before their teeth start to develop, pediatric dentists say to run a clean, damp washcloth over the gums to clear away harmful bacteria. After your child develops their first tooth (within the first six months to a year), using an infant toothbrush with water and a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a rice grain). The Canadian Dental Association recommends that kids have their first dental exam between the ages of 1 and 2. These visits can help find problems early and help kids get used to visiting the dentist so they’ll have less fear about going as they get older. These appointments are important for parents as well. Your child’s pediatric dentist will provide information about proper brushing and flossing techniques for your child.

Use sealants to protect teeth

According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., using thin protective coatings on teeth in children may help prevent tooth decay  in the molars which start sprouting at about the age of six. According to the Canadian Dental Association about 23 percent of children do suffer from tooth decay; however, only one in three children receive sealants on their teeth. By using sealants you’re drastically reducing the risk of tooth decay…so it’s best to consult your pediatric dentist to find out more.

Instill habits of brushing and flossing daily

Good dental hygiene and practices are not something that’s innate; it has to be taught in order for your children to have an effective oral regime. Colgate recommends that once your child’s teeth begin to touch you should introduce them to flossing. And always remember to brush your child’s teeth a minimum of twice daily and change the toothbrush quarterly (about four times a year) to ensure their best dental health.

Maintain proper eating habits and avoid sugars

At every age, a healthy diet is essential to healthy teeth and gums. A well-balanced diet of whole foods (including grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables, and dairy products) will provide all the nutrients you need. Avoid giving your children sugary drinks, including soft drinks and fruit drinks. These pose a special threat to teeth as they raise acid levels and can erode enamel.

It’s never too early to teach your kids proper oral hygiene techniques or check cavities and other dental problems.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

Does Red Wine Really Improve Your Oral Health?

If you’re a red wine drinker, you may already know about the health benefits of having a glass of wine daily. However, new research has found yet another piece of evidence why you should keep on enjoying wine! These recent studies now reveal that red wine may be just as important to your dental health and wellness as flossing, brushing and regular teeth cleaning.

Summary of the research:

Researchers from seven different universities and public health departments in Spain found that red wine (as well as coffee, tea, cider, raspberries, blueberries and cranberries) can be good for your oral health and wellness. The antioxidants in these foods (i.e. grape seeds, stems) contain micro nutrient compounds called polyphenols that can fend off harmful bacteria in your teeth and gums, mitigating the risk of tooth decay and gum disease as well as prevent and/or reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, certain neurological diseases and cardiovascular degeneration.

What did the research reveal?

The study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, looked to see if there were any effects on bacteria that stick to teeth and gums when consuming red wine polyphenols, grape seeds and red wine extracts. Working with cells that replicated gum tissue, the scientists were able to identify that two wine polyphenols (caffeic and p-coumaric acids), acted as key cells in reducing the chances of bacteria sticking to the teeth.

How do polyphenols reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease?

Every day, millions of bacteria (that lead to plaque and tarter build up as well as cavities) grow on the surface of your teeth and gums. The studies found that the compounds in red wines, coffee and berries are able to prevent bacteria from sticking to gums (and are even more effective when coupled with an oral probiotic) as these compounds are like shields, and block the molecules formed by the bacteria.  As the research is still in its stages of infancy, it is best to not over indulge in drinking wine quite yet as the research that was conducted was only done on simulated gums (not real teeth) and the authors acknowledge that further research needs to be conducted on what actually prevents the bacteria from sticking (as opposed to just blocking the bacteria).

Caveat: While red wine and these foods are proven to help prevent bacteria, it’s best to consume these foods and beverages in moderation as they heavily stain your teeth and in some cases can increase your chances of oral cancer and gum disease. It is important to keep up with your oral regimen of brushing, flossing and seeing your dentist for regular checkups.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.

 

Dental Implant Options

One of the major concerns around dental implants is the cost associated with them. To help you make an informed decision that is best for your oral health, it is important you understand that you many have other options in situations where a dental implant might be used…options that might be less expensive and more appropriate to your specific situation.

Gum Disease Treatment:

If your gums are receding and there has been bone loss around the tooth, that doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll lose your tooth and require a tooth replacement. With gum disease treatment, there are three cheaper procedures that your dentists/periodontist may be able to do to reduce your chances of needing implants.

  • Gum Grafts: In this procedure, gum tissue is taken from your palate or from another source and used to cover the exposed roots of one or more teeth. Covering exposed roots helps reduce sensitivity and protects your roots from decay, while stopping gums from further recession and bone loss.
  • Pocket Reduction: This includes folding back the gum tissue around the infected tooth so your dentist or periodontist can remove infectious bacteria and smooth areas of damaged bone, allowing the gum tissue to reattach to healthy bone.
  • Regenerative Procedures: During this type of treatment, your dentist or periodontist will eliminate bacteria and then place either natural or synthetic bone in the area along with tissue-stimulating proteins to help your body effectively regrow bone and tissue.

If after consulting your dentist, you find that these treatment alternatives work, ensure to book more checkups and cleaning appointments to keep on top of your periodontal health and drastically reduce your need for implants.

Root Canal Therapy:

While dental implants are used to replace teeth if your teeth have little to no remaining structure to them, root canals are designed to save your existing teeth. Like gum disease, it really depends on how severe your infection is (as there are instances when the infection has damaged the tooth to the point where it cannot be saved). Your natural teeth are your best option for having optimal oral health. If you are using root canal therapy as an alternative to dental implants, your dentist will remove the infected or inflamed pulp inside your tooth and then restore the tooth with a dental crown. Your natural smile is maintained. With proper care, a tooth that undergoes a root canal can last a lifetime.

Dental Bridges:

If you can’t save the tooth either with gum disease treatment or root canal therapy, you can often get a dental bridge that will perform the same function. With a dental bridge, the replacement tooth is supported by dental crowns on teeth next to the missing tooth. Dental bridges are fixed, meaning they are not loose and won’t slip out. You can maintain your existing diet and they can look as good as dental implants. There are three options for bridges as an alternative to dental implants:

  • Tooth-supported fixed bridges: uses healthy adjacent teeth to attach and support the bridge.
  • Removable partial/complete dentures: this denture sits on top of the gums where the missing teeth were and need to be taken out for cleaning your teeth.
  • Resin bonded bridges: also known as a Maryland bridge, this is used for replacing your front teeth and is affixed to your healthy adjacent teeth with wings on each side.

If the damage to your tooth is extensive and one of these three alternatives is not a long-lasting solution, then your dental professional may recommend extraction and implant dentistry. When you visit one of our dentists, they will provide you with all available options. At Altima, several of our clinics offer a range of implant dentistry options and have a team of dental professionals.

If you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us to book an appointment.