A stroke is never a pleasant experience, and it can have long-lasting implications for many aspects of your life. Your dental care is no exception. You will likely find that you will need to take certain measures to maintain proper oral health following your stroke.

First of all, many people who suffer a stroke experience decreased manual dexterity or weakness in their extremities. This means that you may have trouble with your daily oral hygiene routine. You might benefit from an electric toothbrush or a flossing tool to compensate for this. In some of the milder cases, you might just need to wrap your brush in a cloth so that it’s easier to grip.

When it comes time to visit our Bellevue dentist again, bring along a list of any medication that you may have been prescribed following your stroke. Drugs like anticoagulants can be problematic during many dental procedures, as they promote excessive bleeding. It also helps to make sure that we have the contact information for your doctor in the event that you have any new problems during your visits.

A dental grill is an unconventional piece of jewelry that has been popularized by hip-hop culture. It comes in the form of a fixture, often made with jewels and precious metals, that fits over the front of your teeth. People enjoy these grills as an extravagant fashion accessory, but they represent a significant hazard to your oral health.

One of the big problems with a grill is that they are yet another surface for bacteria and plaque to thrive on. Further, having a mouth full of hard metals and faceted gemstones is irritating to your delicate gum tissues. Some models may even bring about an allergic reaction, if they contain a nickel impurity.

If you wear a grill, it is important that you are mindful of its effect on your mouth. Try not to wear it at all times, and clean it regularly. If you notice any swelling, redness, or pain while you wear your grill, make an appointment with our Bellevue dentistry clinic.

Brushing and flossing isn’t just a good way to keep strong teeth and healthy gums. Indeed, maintaining good oral health is an important part of maintaining good health throughout the rest of your body. When you suffer from tooth decay and gingivitis, you are inviting a list of other conditions upon yourself, one of which may be pancreatic cancer.

This is according to research done at the Harvard School of Public Health, which found that men who had a history of a type of gum disease known as periodontitis have a 64% greater chance of having pancreatic cancer, compared to men who never had periodontitis. The results of this study do not make it clear whether the gum disease is responsible for increasing your risk of pancreatic cancer, or if a risk factor of pancreatic cancer increases your vulnerability to periodontitis, but it seems evident that there is some sort of relationship.

One way or the other, regular dental care is a vital part of your general health. Contact our Bellevue dentistry clinic to schedule an appointment.

A healthy tongue should have a healthy pink color. However, some people will occasionally discover that their tongue has taken on an unusual red hue. This will sometimes be accompanied by enlarged taste buds, transforming the top of your tongue into a strawberry-like surface. This can be caused by any of the following:

• Benign Migratory Glossitis: Alternatively known as geographic tongue, this condition is characteristic of patterns that resemble geographic formations on the surface of your tongue. These patterns may be outlined with a thin, white border. It’s usually a benign condition, but you should talk to your dentist if it persists for longer than two weeks.
• Kawasaki Syndrome: It’s usually only young children who experience this condition. It comes with a very high fever, and possibly a swelling in the hands and feet. Should your child exhibit such symptoms, make an appointment with your family doctor.
• Scarlet Fever: This infection is occasionally paired with a strawberry tongue. If you are suffering from scarlet fever, you will need to visit your doctor.
• Vitamin Deficiency: A red tongue may simply point to a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid. Seek out animal products for vitamin B12, and leafy green vegetables for folic acid.

Chronic dental pain can be a brutal experience, and a lot of people are willing to try anything that promises to give them some relief. One alternative medicine option that has been popular lately is known as magnet therapy. Under this practice, powerful magnets are placed against key areas of the body for the purposes of managing pain and promoting your natural healing mechanisms. But is magnet therapy all it’s cracked up to be?

Unfortunately, there’s no conclusive way to tell if magnets can effectively manage your pain. It isn’t outside the realm of possibility to think that magnets may be used to some effect on your body, as magnetic fields are present in many of your important systems. However, some of the claims made to support magnet therapy don’t hold up to logical scrutiny. For example, it is claimed by some therapists that the magnets act upon the iron in your blood, even though it is well understood that this iron is not in a state that responds to magnetism.

If you are looking for ways to deal with dental pain, talk to our Bellevue dentist during normal business hours.