Not Just Another Link

You have a higher risk for cardiovascular disease if you’ve lost some teeth during your midlife. This isn’t really new because the link has been known for a hundred years. However, this preliminary study excludes all other traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, poor diet, and diabetes. It’s just tooth loss alone in your 40s and up that can lead to heart disease.

This was the conclusion of the preliminary research led by Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, LA, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA. The research team focused on tooth loss and coronary heart disease. It involved thousands of participants, both men and women, ages 45-69, who were later followed up in two large studies: the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS).

At the start of the study, began in 1986 and another in 1992, the participants enrolled had no coronary heart disease. They were asked about their number of natural teeth when they enrolled and their tooth loss assessed in the next 8 years. The results were quite amazing.

Teeth Loss

Those who started off with most to all of their natural teeth and lost 2 or more of them in midlife had 23% higher risk of developing coronary heart disease when compared to those who had not lost any tooth. It did not matter of the quality of diet, amount of physical activity, body weight, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. However, no significant increase in risk was found for those participants who said that they had only lost one tooth. And regardless for those who had any number of teeth at the start, if they lost 2 or more during the study, they were 16% more likely to develop the heart disease. Further, if the participants had fewer than 17 teeth at the start, the risk is 25%.

In conclusion, this suggests that if you’re in midlife and losing a higher number of teeth lately, it may be associated with coronary heart disease independent of the baseline number of natural teeth and traditional risk factors. However, it was admitted that the findings present some limitations as feedback were based only on participants’ reports. The study is not yet published as a peer-reviewed paper.

Watching Oral Health in Midlife Can Save the Heart

Your Bellevue dentist says all the more must you be mindful of your oral health when you reach your 40s. Regular dental appointments do more in saving you from unnecessary tooth loss.

Causes and Treatments for White Spots

There is no serious medical concern involve when there are white spots appearing on teeth. When you see them they can bother you in a sense you don’t know where they come from and what they portend. So let us look at some of the causes of white spots on teeth and what we can do.

You may have dental fluorosis. This is usually observed in people, who when younger as children, had too much fluoride use. It may be caused by fluoride treatments and high use of fluoride toothpaste, and may or may not be coupled with a highly fluoridated water system. The condition is found in a child’s permanent teeth before their eruption, or during the first eight years of life. It is irreversible.

Another is enamel hypoplasia. Just like in fluorosis, it happens while the permanent teeth is still forming. It is caused by improper development of the teeth enamel, and later in life will make one highly prone to tooth decay and cavities.

Poor dental hygiene is another, especially on those wearing braces. Also when the diet is high in acidic and sugary foods.

Treatments

Depending on the cause, there are several treatments that can be offered. Your dentist may go for enamel microabrasion, a procedure that uses some acidic and abrasive chemicals and a micromotor to remove the white spots. This is usually followed by bleaching that makes the resultant teeth color more uniform in appearance.

In-office teeth whitening can be done to reduce the obvious appearance of white spots and other stains. These use stronger bleaching formulas that work faster and safer than if over-the-counter kits bought at drugstores or supermarkets.

You can opt for dental veneers, a more costly option yet may be indicated if the white spots are more pronounced. Sometimes called porcelain veneers, they are wafer-thin, custom-made shells of tooth-colored materials that are bonded to the front of the teeth that have white spots, brown stains, or are otherwise chipped or damaged. Veneers can change the color, shape, size, or length of teeth if need be.

Solutions For Spots in Bellevue

If you see white spots and it concerns you, come in for a consultation at Overlake Dental in Bellevue by our dentists. Our friendly staff and dental experts will assist you with blemishes, stains or white spots on teeth.

Good and Bad Foods For Your Breath

Good oral care routine can help your breath smell fresh and clean. However, if your diet is full of strongly scented foods, you can expect to carry in your mouth, clinging to your teeth, gums, and your tongue, the aromas of these foods. If you don’t carry with you at all times your reliable oral hygiene kit, use it whenever possible after a meal, you can end up with a not-so-fresh breath at the end of the day.

Halitosis: Chronic Bad Breath

But if you have chronic bad breath or halitosis, know that there are certain foods out there that can make the condition worse. Onions and garlic are the usual culprits, these food ingredients being high in sulfur contents. It’s the same with spicy foods, like curry and similar hot, exotic dishes.

Fish, like tuna, contain dense proteins which are used as a food source by the anaerobic, sulphur-producing bacteria present already in an odorous mouth. Those whose diets revolve around fish must apply a splash of lemon or vinegar onto the dish before eating as it helps reduce the fishy odor. Other food sources rich in proteins are meat and dairy products like milk and cheese.

Coffee and juices can contribute to halitosis as these beverages are acidic and provide a breeding ground for bacteria. Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages can also cause dry mouth, a condition where saliva flow is hampered. The dry environment allows bacteria to proliferate and survive, and the condition can cause a foul-smelling odor. It is good to always have the mouth hydrated by plain water to keep the odors away.

On the other hand, there are food choices that prevent bad breath. This also means they can mask bad breath if already present. So while these foods can help, the source of halitosis still needs to be addressed.

High fiber foods help prevent bad breath, such as fresh produce like fruits and vegetables. Apples and pears,
oranges, melons, and berries, also celery, carrots, and cucumbers are high in fiber and are abrasive, able to get rid of odour-causing plaque. They have high water content, preventing dry mouth and flushing away bad breath. Eating these foods also promote saliva production in the mouth. Parsley is probably one of the most well-known claims to treat bad breath, perhaps owing to its strong and natural deodorizing flavor.

Fresh produce are also a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals that build strong and healthy teeth and promote the health of gums. Drinking green and black teas, because they contain polyphenols, is said to help eliminate sulphur compounds and reduce oral bacteria.

Consult with Our Bellevue Dentist

Learn more about which foods to avoid and which to enjoy more where bad breath is concerned. Better still, have that dentist appointment with our Bellevue dentist, and have halitosis managed and cured.

What’s in red wine that might have oral health benefits?

Lovers of red wine do not only enjoy the velvety taste and lingering aroma of this famous beverage but many are well aware about its cardiovascular benefits. Certainly when drinking in moderation, red wine is a beneficial companion together with a balance diet. Other studies have extolled the health benefits of the drink, including, prevention of dementia, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Now a new study out of Spain, from the Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación in Madrid, and the Department of Health and Genomics at the Center for Advanced Research in Public Health in Valencia, is saying that drinking red wine is also beneficial to oral health. But isn’t red wine one of the culprits in teeth staining? It’s a well-documented disadvantage to oral health. However, the study revealed that there is another merit of red wine where oral health is concerned – some of its components may protect against the formation of cavities and against gum disease.

The researchers hypothesized that polyphenols found in red wine and grapes could have a protective effect in the mouth, fending off harmful oral bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Polyphenols are micronutrients with antioxidant properties which can protect against the action of free radicals.

The study first compared the effect of two types of polyphenol typically found in red wine (caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid) as well as that of red wine and grape seed extracts (Provinols and Vitaflavan) on three harmful oral bacteria: Fusobacterium nucleatum, Streptococcus mutans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Using a laboratory model of gum tissue, it was found that the two red wine polyphenols were most effective at keeping harmful oral bacteria and preventing them from attaching to healthy tissue. Then a mix of the polyphenols and an oral probiotic named Streptococcus dentisani, which may help to prevent tooth decay. It proved to be more successful as the protective effect of the two polyphenols was enhanced by the presence of the probiotic.

So now there’s scientific basis to love more your red wine. The polyphenols in red wine can help prevent cavity formation and gum disease. And where red wine can stain teeth, just be sure to have a mouthwash or a teeth-brushing after enjoying a night of wine. One must not ignore that wine is an alcoholic beverage, though, and overdrinking have problems of its own.

Drinking Moderately is Key

Do enjoy your red wine, its health and now, its oral benefits. Moderation is key in order to reap its advantages. However, do mind regular dental visits which, by themselves, are essential to oral health. Always consult with your doctor and dentist first.

E-Cigarettes vs. Traditional Cigarettes

Marketed as safer than traditional tobacco products, electronic cigarettes still are packed with nicotine, that notorious component which inhibits wound healing, increases the risks of anesthesia, and may lead to other complications during and after surgery. If you are thinking of having dental implants and you are an e-cigarette smoker, something is going to be amiss.

Anesthesia providers in the dental clinic setup are part of any oral health team, and together with dentists, surgeons and hygienists, are well aware of the dangers of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products to general oral health. A 17-year veteran of the sector, Cathy Harrison, DNAP, MSN, CRNA, talks about it in Dentistry Today.

Risks for Smokers

She says that that smokers, whether cigarettes or e-cigarettes, have very reactive airways, such that when they are sedated, they may start coughing during procedures. This also presents a hazard for the dentist, particularly in invasive procedures, such as when using a drill for implantation.

Effects of Nicotine

Nicotine impedes the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to organs and tissues. If the body is not using oxygen and promoting adequate circulation, this decreases the body’s capability to heal appropriately and increases the risk of infection.

Smoking also is a risk factor for periodontal disease, which can lead to bone loss and loose teeth. This is an important consideration for anesthesia providers who provide general anesthesia because there is a large population of smokers who need surgery.

Even 12 to 24 hours after a surgery can significantly increase the body’s ability to deliver oxygen to vital organs and tissues. Patients should be advised not to smoke or use e-cigarettes after dental procedures as simple as extractions. E-cigarettes can cause negative pressure, which can pull the clot from the extraction site and cause dry socket, which is extremely painful.

Detailed Health History

A thorough health history is important for the anesthesia provider to understand the patient’s health status and adjust the anesthetic or sedation plan accordingly. Smokers must disclose their history promptly.

E-cigarettes Are Not Less Risky

Best advice is to quit smoking or vaping. Either way, the potential complications are not to be ignored. For surgeries such as dental implants, let’s show you the way to treatment success, sans e-cigarettes. Please make sure to go over any questions or concerns you may have for our Bellevue dentist, Dr. Monica Yu.