Friday, December 28, 2012

Our Top Five Popular Posts in 2012

We're relatively new to blogging about oral health, but we've thoroughly enjoyed the time we have been bloggin her at Dental Care of Corona. To celebrate our new found affinity for blogging, we're linking you to the top 5 most popular blog posts on our blog. Click on the images of the posts to read the full version -- just in case you missed it the first time around.

1. Video From Colgate: Understanding Tooth Sensitivity

2. Dental Minutes: Tooth Whitening Is Not Equal To Tooth Brushing

3. The Facts About Mouth Guards

4. The Facts About Mouth Guards

5. Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Diabetes And Oral Health

Diabetes and Oral Health

During the past 10 years, much research has been undertaken on the link between diabetes and periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the sixth leading complication of diabetes. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop periodontal disease, with a higher rate of more severe levels of bone loss and gum infection.¹

What Is Diabetes? Diabetes is a serious disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches, and other foods into energy. Normally, insulin helps get sugar from the blood to the body's cells, where it is used for energy. When you have diabetes, your body has trouble making and/or using insulin, so your body does not get the fuel it needs and your blood sugar stays too high. High blood sugar sets off processes that can lead to complications, such as heart, kidney, and eye disease, or other serious problems.^2,3

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop periodontal disease.

Are There Different Types of Diabetes? It is estimated that more than 20 million adults and children in the United States have some form of diabetes–14 million having been diagnosed with the disease and 6 million being unaware they have it. There are different types of the disease: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, as well as prediabetes. Most Americans (around 90%) who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.^2,3

What Is Periodontal Disease? Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a bacterial infection of the gums, ligaments, and bone that support your teeth and hold them in the jaw. If left untreated, you may experience tooth loss. The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless microbial film that constantly forms on your teeth. Toxins (or poisons) produced by the bacteria in plaque irritate the gums, causing infection.⁴

Diabetes Control and Periodontal Treatment

Periodontal disease may make it more difficult for you to control your blood sugar. Your body's reaction to periodontal disease can increase your blood sugar level. Consequently, it is important for patients with diabetes to treat and eliminate periodontal infection for optimal diabetes control. Periodontal treatment combined with antibiotics has been shown to improve blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, suggesting that treating periodontal disease could decrease insulin requirements.¹

What Are the Warning Signs?

DIABETES

Constant hunger or thirst
Frequent urination
Blurred vision
Constant fatigue
Weight loss without trying
Poor wound healing (cuts or bruises that are slow to heal)
Dry mouth
Itchy, dry skin
Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Most people with diabetes do not notice any warning signs

PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Red and swollen gums that bleed often during brushing or flossing and are tender to the touch
Gums that have pulled away from the teeth, exposing the roots
Milky white or yellowish plaque deposits, which are usually heaviest between the teeth
Pus between the teeth and gums accompanied by tenderness or swelling in the gum area
A consistent foul, offensive odor from the mouth

IMPORTANT: Physicians and Dentists Need to Work Together

It is important that your dentist be kept up-to-date on your diabetic condition and treatment and that your physician be kept up-to-date on your oral condition and treatment, so that they can work together to help you control your diabetes and prevent or control periodontal disease.¹

Keep your dentist up-to-date on your diabetic condition and your physician up-to-date on your oral condition.

If your diabetic condition is well controlled, periodontal treatment would be the same for you as for a patient without diabetes. In early stages, treatment usually involves removing the plaque and calculus from the pockets around your teeth. If the periodontal disease is more severe or if your diabetes is not well controlled, treatment will be more specialized and tailored toward your specific condition. Your dentist may recommend more frequent oral prophylaxes (dental cleanings) involving scaling and root planing or may recommend periodontal surgery.¹

Diabetes and Your Mouth

Periodontal disease is not the only problem that can occur if you have diabetes. Although you might not be able to prevent these problems, you can minimize the trouble they cause you⁵:

Dry mouth: Xerostomia occurs when your salivary glands don't produce sufficient saliva to keep your mouth moist, causing tissues in your mouth to become inflamed and sore. It can make chewing, tasting, and swallowing more difficult, as well as cause difficulty in eating, making it more difficult to control blood sugar.
Fungal infection: Candida albicans is a fungus that normally lives inside the mouth without causing any problems. But when you have diabetes, deficient saliva in your mouth and extra sugar in your saliva allow the fungus to cause an infection called candidiasis (thrush), which appears as sore white or red areas in your mouth.
Burning mouth syndrome: If you feel severe burning and pain in your mouth even though you don't see any problems causing it, you may have this syndrome.
Oral surgery complications:If you need oral surgery, diabetes— particularly if poorly controlled—can complicate oral surgery. Diabetes retards healing and increases risk of infection. Your blood sugar levels also may be harder to control after oral surgery. Your dentist should work closely with your physician to minimize possible complications. If you need oral surgery, the American Diabetes Association recommends that you^:
Article Source: http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patienteducation/Diabetes-and-Oral-Health/article

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Videos and Tips About Good Oral Health

If you need to bring yourself up-to-date about your oral health, get some inspiration from these dental health videos that cover healthy habits, brushing tips, and how your oral health needs shift over time as you age. Educating yourself about proper oral hygiene is the best way to ensure your smile stays bright and healthy.

Video Source: YouTube

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Sports and Energy Drinks Responsible For Irreversible Damage To Teeth

A recent study published in the May/June 2012 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry, found that an alarming increase in the consumption of sports and energy drinks, especially among adolescents, is causing irreversible damage to teeth—specifically, the high acidity levels in the drinks erode tooth enamel, the glossy outer layer of the tooth.

"Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better' for them than soda," says Poonam Jain, BDS, MS, MPH, lead author of the study. "Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid."

Researchers examined the acidity levels in 13 sports drinks and nine energy drinks. They found that the acidity levels can vary between brands of beverages and flavors of the same brand. To test the effect of the acidity levels, the researchers immersed samples of human tooth enamel in each beverage for 15 minutes, followed by immersion in artificial saliva for two hours. This cycle was repeated four times a day for five days, and the samples were stored in fresh artificial saliva at all other times.

"This type of testing simulates the same exposure that a large proportion of American teens and young adults are subjecting their teeth to on a regular basis when they drink one of these beverages every few hours," says Dr. Jain.

The researchers found that damage to enamel was evident after only five days of exposure to sports or energy drinks, although energy drinks showed a significantly greater potential to damage teeth than sports drinks. In fact, the authors found that energy drinks caused twice as much damage to teeth as sports drinks.

With a reported 30 to 50 percent of U.S. teens consuming energy drinks, and as many as 62 percent consuming at least one sports drink per day, it is important to educate parents and young adults about the downside of these drinks. Damage caused to tooth enamel is irreversible, and without the protection of enamel, teeth become overly sensitive, prone to cavities, and more likely to decay.

"Teens regularly come into my office with these types of symptoms, but they don't know why," says AGD spokesperson Jennifer Bone, DDS, MAGD. "We review their diet and snacking habits and then we discuss their consumption of these beverages. They don't realize that something as seemingly harmless as a sports or energy drink can do a lot of damage to their teeth."

Dr. Bone recommends that her patients minimize their intake of sports and energy drinks. She also advises them to chew sugar-free gum or rinse the mouth with water following consumption of the drinks. "Both tactics increase saliva flow, which naturally helps to return the acidity levels in the mouth to normal," she says.

Also, patients should wait at least an hour to brush their teeth after consuming sports and energy drinks. Otherwise, says Dr. Bone, they will be spreading acid onto the tooth surfaces, increasing the erosive action.

Article Source: http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=s&iid=312&aid=10688

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Diabetes and Oral Health

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you are 3 to 4 times more likely to develop periodontal disease.

Diabetes Control and Periodontal Treatment

What Are the Warning Signs?

DIABETES

Constant hunger or thirst
Frequent urination
Blurred vision
Constant fatigue
Weight loss without trying
Poor wound healing (cuts or bruises that are slow to heal)
Dry mouth
Itchy, dry skin
Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Most people with diabetes do not notice any warning signs

PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Red and swollen gums that bleed often during brushing or flossing and are tender to the touch
Gums that have pulled away from the teeth, exposing the roots
Milky white or yellowish plaque deposits, which are usually heaviest between the teeth
Pus between the teeth and gums accompanied by tenderness or swelling in the gum area
A consistent foul, offensive odor from the mouth

IMPORTANT: Physicians and Dentists Need to Work Together

Keep your dentist up-to-date on your diabetic condition and your physician up-to-date on your oral condition.

Diabetes and Your Mouth

Periodontal disease is not the only problem that can occur if you have diabetes. Although you might not be able to prevent these problems, you can minimize the trouble they cause you⁵:

Dry mouth: Xerostomia occurs when your salivary glands don't produce sufficient saliva to keep your mouth moist, causing tissues in your mouth to become inflamed and sore. It can make chewing, tasting, and swallowing more difficult, as well as cause difficulty in eating, making it more difficult to control blood sugar.
Fungal infection: Candida albicans is a fungus that normally lives inside the mouth without causing any problems. But when you have diabetes, deficient saliva in your mouth and extra sugar in your saliva allow the fungus to cause an infection called candidiasis (thrush), which appears as sore white or red areas in your mouth.
Burning mouth syndrome: If you feel severe burning and pain in your mouth even though you don't see any problems causing it, you may have this syndrome.
Oral surgery complications:If you need oral surgery, diabetes— particularly if poorly controlled—can complicate oral surgery. Diabetes retards healing and increases risk of infection. Your blood sugar levels also may be harder to control after oral surgery. Your dentist should work closely with your physician to minimize possible complications. If you need oral surgery, the American Diabetes Association recommends that you^:
Article Source: http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patienteducation/Diabetes-and-Oral-Health/article

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

How Does Diabetes Affect Oral Health?

It is estimated that up to 20 million people have diabetes, but only two-thirds of these individuals are diagnosed. Studies have shown that diabetics are more susceptible to the development of oral infections and periodontal (gum) disease than those who do not have diabetes. Oral infections tend to be more severe in diabetic patients than non-diabetic patients. And, diabetics who do not have good control over their blood sugar levels tend to have more oral health problems. These infections occur more often after puberty and in aging patients.

How are gum disease and diabetes related?

Because diabetes reduces the body's resistance to infection, the gums are at risk for gingivitis, an inflammation usually caused by the presence of bacteria in plaque. Plaque is the sticky film that accumulates on teeth both above and below the gum line. Without regular dental check-ups, gum disease may result if gingivitis is left untreated. It also can cause inflammation and destruction of tissues surrounding and supporting teeth, gums, bone and fibers that hold the gums to the teeth.

What other types of problems could I experience?

Diabetics may experience burning mouth syndrome and fungal infections, such as thrush and oral candidiasis. Dry mouth (xerostomia) also may develop, causing an increased incidence of decay. To prevent problems with bacterial infections in the mouth, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics, medicated mouth rinses and more frequent cleanings.

How can I stay healthy?

Make sure to take extra good care of your mouth and have dental infections treated immediately. Diabetics who receive good dental care and have good insulin control typically have a better chance at avoiding gum disease.

Diet and exercise may be the most important changes that diabetics can make to improve their quality of life and their oral health. Diabetic patients should be sure both their medical and dental care providers are aware of their medical history and periodontal status. To keep teeth and gums strong, diabetic patients should be aware of their blood sugar levels in addition to having their triglycerides and cholesterol levels checked on a regular basis. These may have a direct correlation on your chances of avoiding gum disease.

What is the best time to receive dental care?

If your blood sugar is not under control, talk with both your dentist and physician about receiving elective dental care. Dental procedures should be as short and as stress free as possible. Also make morning appointments because blood glucose levels tend to be under better control at this time of day. If you have a scheduled appointment, eat and take your medications as directed. See your dentist on a regular basis, keep him or her informed of your health status and keep your mouth in good health.

Article Source: http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=D&iid=188&aid=1231

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Is Your Child At Risk For Early Childhood Decay?

The average healthy adult visits the dentist twice a year. The average healthy 2-year-old has never been to the dentist. By kindergarten, 25 percent of children have never seen a dentist, yet dental decay is the single most common chronic childhood disease in America.

The culprit? A combination of misinformation about when a child should first visit the dentist, when a parent should start caring for a child's teeth and the frequent and long-term exposure of sugary liquids to a child's teeth.

Photo

A child should first visit the dentist six months after the eruption of the first tooth. During this first exam, the dentist can teach parents the best way to guard against early childhood tooth decay by wiping down the teeth with a damp cloth after every feeding and remind parents to limit sugary beverages.

Frequent and long-term exposure of a child's teeth to sugary liquids is commonly called baby bottle tooth decay. Most parents are aware of baby bottle tooth decay but may not know that the long-term and regular consumption of sugary liquids in a bottle or cup puts children's growing teeth at increased risk for decay.

"Unsweetened fruit juices, teas and water are always best for children to help promote oral and overall health," says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Cindi Sherwood, DDS.

Fruit juice causes tooth decay if children are allowed to hold a bottle, cup or box of juice in their mouth through the day.

"If left untreated, baby bottle tooth decay can result in pain and infection," says Dr. Sherwood. "Baby teeth are important because they hold the place for permanent teeth and help guide them into correct position. Severely decayed teeth may need to be extracted, which could effect the development of permanent teeth, speech and chewing."

Caring for children's teeth beginning in infancy promotes good oral health care habits for a lifetime and increases the chances of a child maintaining healthy permanent teeth.

Tips for parents to decrease the risk of early childhood tooth decay:

Wean a child from the bottle or breast by age 1.
Use spill-proof cups as a transitional step in the development of children, not a long-term solution.
Don't allow children to use spill-proof cups throughout the day. Save spill-proof cups for snack and mealtimes when increased salivary activity helps clean teeth.
Drink sugary beverages through a straw. The best spill-proof cups to protect against decay are those with collapsible rubber straws.
Introduce oral health care habits early. Wipe baby's gums with a damp cloth after every feeding. Introduce brushing with a soft-bristle brush and water when the first tooth appears. Parents can add a pea-sized dab of fluoridated toothpaste to the toothbrush by age 2.

Article Source: http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=c&iid=296&aid=1175

Dental Care of Corona

Corona South Main Medical Plaza

260 E. Ontario Ave. Suite 201

Corona, CA 92879

(866) 261 6988

www.coronasmiles.com

dentalcareofcorona@gmail.com