3 Ways To Improve Your Dental & General Health

Our teeth are important to our well-being. Of course, we know a smile enlightens our day. Would you agree it is worth it to keep the smile bright by taking good care of your teeth? In our practice, we offer teeth whitening/brightening solutions.

However, have whiter teeth is not the pinnacle of oral health, as many hold it out to be. Having a whiter smile is appealing, but your dental health is much more important. Can you imagine having a car with a dazzling paint job with ragged seats and a filthy interior? The answer should be, no. The same principle applies to our smile. Why have a white smile and have bad breath or health issues? In today’s appearance conscious world, many invest a lot of capital in looking good on the outside. Unfortunately, the lack of care for what is on the inside may get little concern.

More and more research is being shown to the public that good oral health can lead to better overall health. Here, are some ways to examine where giving more attention to your dental care can help your general health.

1. After the Yawning Ends Start Brushing

After you do your morning stretching walk into your bathroom, pick up the toothbrush and dental floss. Some people choose to wait until after breakfast to brush. Whichever you choose brush your teeth in the morning. First, developing a habit of brushing is excellent. Morning brushing helps to eliminate stale morning breath. Additionally, morning brushing helps since this can reduce the number of bacteria before exposing them to food. Thus, the amount of acid production is anticipated to be less, which is always a good thing.

Health Benefit of Morning Brushing

Brushing your teeth in the morning reduces acid on your teeth. Significant acid content in food and drinks which we all take in can do a job on your pearly whites. Acid in foods or liquids can cause irreversible erosion of tooth enamel. The results of the erosion can consist of sensitivity, pain, a greater prospect of tooth decay, and darker teeth, because the layer underneath our white enamel is dark.

2. Watch What You Eat (& Drink)

Some of the things we can do to improve our health are so painfully obvious they often go overlooked. Our staff will tell you that sugar and other sticky carbohydrates, like sugar coated cereals and snack foods, are the preliminary point of tooth decay. Other foods such as bread and raisins can cause problems too. Why? The problem is not just about too much sugar, but that the sugar and refined carbs are the starting point for the streptococcus bacteria inside the mouth. These bacteria live on a biofilm called plaque, and they produce acids. The acids eat away at the exterior layer of teeth. Saliva can only moderately neutralize the acid. If the acid stays on the enamel just 20 minutes, the teeth demineralization process starts.

Also, be careful of the very popular energy drinks. MensHealth.com, reports, “Energy drinks are worse for your teeth than either sports drinks or coffee.

Researchers recently analyzed 13 sports drinks and nine energy drinks. They immersed samples of human tooth enamel in the liquid for 15 minutes, followed by a soak in artificial human saliva for 2 hours. After five days of testing, the scientists found that 3.1 percent of protective enamel eroded in the energy drink samples compared to 1.5 percent in the sport drink group.”

3. Buy Dental Floss and Use It

If you have ever been to the dentist, you have heard the hygienist and dentist beg you to floss your teeth. Brushing your teeth is not enough. A vacuum cleaner today has several attachments to help clean various areas of your home. Your tooth brush is one attachment your dental floss is the nook and cranny attachment.
There are several paybacks to developing the practice of daily flossing. Dental floss can help remove food particles and plaque from the spaces between your teeth. These spaces cannot be reached in an effective manner by your tooth brush. Flossing is better than oral irrigators too. Using dental floss effectively helps prevent gum or periodontal diseases, tooth decay, and bad breath.

Good health to you.

Dr. John E. Robinson, DMD enjoys developing individualized care plans and related tips for his patients to aid in maintaining their overall dental health. Our practice offers the some of the most state-of-the-art advancements in assisting our patients healthy teeth and smile.

The Embry Hills Dental Care family would be pleased to discuss your dental concerns and offer the necessary information to help you and your family make educated decisions regarding your dental health.

Oral Cancer - Prevention the Best Medicine

Cancer, the mere mention of the word sends makes chills go down your spine. As scary as the word is, with today's information systems (i.e. Google) and medical advancements many people have more of an advantage than in years past. Additionally, many people are more aggressive in taking a more active role in their own health care. These individuals arm themselves with as much information as possible and often begin their search with how to avoid a disease altogether.

Oral Cancer is real and deadly. Cancer of the mouth, or oral cancer, will kill more Marylanders this year than either melanoma or cervical cancer. Only 50 percent of those diagnosed with the disease will survive five years. This information was reported by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers in the United States are for 2012:About 35,000 people will get oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer. An estimated 6,800 people will die from these types of these cancers. These cancers are more than twice as common in men as in women. They are about equally common in blacks and in whites.

What are the risk factors?

Every part of your mouth can be susceptible to developing cancer. This includes your gums, the lining in your mouth and even the tongue and lips. It is good to remember that oral cancer is one type of cancer than in many instances can be completely avoided. You cannot change your age, sex or ethnicity - but if you have not been diagnosed with oral cancer you can work to avoid developing this condition. Here are some risk factors to for mouth and lip cancer:

• Individuals who consume excessive alcohol and those who smoke a lot are at grave risk
• Chewing tobacco is also an important risk factor for lip cancer
• Sun exposure increases the risk for lip cancer as well

The mirror (or two mirrors) can be a great aid in this case. Next time you are in front of a mirror take a good look inside your mouth. The signs can be right in front of your eyes. After taking this look do not ignore the signs. If you have a sore or an ulcer that does not heal, it will be a good idea to call your family doctor or dentist to have this examined. In the event, you have discomfort or pain which does not go away schedule a medical appointment quickly. Other items to look for which should not be ignored are as follows:

• White patches anywhere in your mouth (leukoplakia)
• Red patches anywhere in your mouth (erythroplakia)
• A lump on the lip, tongue or in the mouth or throat
• Unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth
• Pain when chewing or swallowing
• A feeling that something is caught in the throat
• Unusual bleeding or numbness in the mouth
• Loose teeth
• Dentures feeling uncomfortable and not fitting properly
• A change in your voice
• Speech problems
• Weight loss
• A lump in the neck

Preventing disease is key to improving our health and that of our family's. When we invest in prevention, the benefits are widely shared.

This post is provided is a forum for you and your family's dental matters. No treatment should be taken based upon its contents. Please consult with a medical or dental professional.

When you have questions about periodontal disease, please contact John Robinson, DMD, at Embry Hills Dental Care 678-383-2622.

Looking to find the more information on Dentist In Tucker, Dental Care In Tucker, and then visit www.atlantageneraldentistry.com to find the best advice on Family Dental Care in Tucker for you.

Is a Power Toothbrush Right For You?

Where did you buy your last toothbrush? Most likely you bought your toothbrush and those for your family from your local grocery store or drug store. The majority of toothbrushes bought at these retail places cost under $5 U.S. With this in mind, the suggestion to purchase a power toothbrush may push you into sticker shock. These power brushes or electric toothbrushes can go over the $200 U.S. mark. Can a power toothbrush make a difference in your oral hygiene? To address this question you can consider the following.

(1) Power toothbrushes are more effective

Power toothbrushes brush more than 30,000 strokes per minute. The average with a manual toothbrush is about 100 strokes per minute. In my opinion Oral-B leads the pack. According to a 2005 independent study, “Brushes that worked with a rotation oscillation action removed more plaque and reduced gingivitis more effectively than manual brushes in the short and long-term... No other powered brush designs were consistently superior…”*

(2) Power toothbrushes are healthier

Usually rich in technology and features, electric toothbrushes deliver many oral health benefits. Selected models can even facilitate improved brushing habits. Hi-tech features include:

• Several brushing modes are designed to help with sensitive teeth, teeth whitening and some offer a gum-massage feature

• You may not know you are brushing to hard, if so, you will appreciate the pressure sensors which have a signal to alert you when you brush too hard

• Do you rush when you brush? Many models offer timers to help you know how long you brush your teeth

• Don’t know when to throw your toothbrush away? Some models offered by Oral-B, have digital reminders. These will let you know when to replace a brush head.

• Oral-B offers oscillating-rotating or sonic technology

(3) Power toothbrushes can save money

It is true that the initial cost of a power toothbrush is more than as everyday toothbrush. However, this is an investment in your health and well-being. Consider using a power toothbrush as it is less expensive than having to visit the dentist for periodontal treatment or to get a cavity filled. This does not even address the reduction in stress when you have one less dental visit. How much is this worth to you?

(4) Power toothbrushes clean better around braces and bridges

"It's critical to find a high-rated electric or sonic toothbrush, especially if you have braces. Orthodontic bands, brackets and wires can making cleaning the gum line difficult; it's not uncommon develop sore, red gum lines, white spots in the enamel, signs of early decay and gingivitis during the brace-wearing period." **

In conclusion, brushing and flossing is the best pair for caring for your oral health. When you add a professional dental care team, such as our team at Embry Hills Dental Care you are reducing your risk for periodontal disease, developing cavities, losing teeth and even oral cancer.

If you have any questions about the right Oral-B power toothbrush, general dental needs or even cosmetic procedures, please call John Robinson, DMD, at Embry Hills Dental Care 678-383-2622.


Looking to find the more information on Dentist In Tucker, Dental Care In Tucker, then visit www.atlantageneraldentistry.com to find the best advice on Family Dental Care in Tucker for you.

Article references

(*) Robinson PG, et al., Manual versus powered tooth brushing for oral health, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005; Issue 2. This study did not endorse, and is not affiliated with, Oral-B products.

(**) http://www.livestrong.com/article/225565-the-best-electric-toothbrush-for-braces/#ixzz1iV6Zikkq

The editorial content in this blog is not provided in place of or as a substitute to, recommendations from your medical, dental or mental health professional. Please consult with your individual health provider.

Is Morning Breath an All Day Problem

This process of putrefaction in the mouth accelerates during sleep. Why? During the day, the mouth is constantly rinsed with oxygen-rich and slightly acidic saliva, washing bacteria away. However, the hourly production of saliva is reduced to about 1/50 the normal rate during sleep. As one magazine puts it, a dry mouth “becomes a stagnant pond of more than 1,600 billion bacteria,” creating the well-known “morning breath” with its accompanying bad taste.

Reduced salivary flow can also be triggered by stress while you are awake. For example, a nervous public speaker may get a dry mouth while speaking and finish up with a bad case of halitosis. Oral dryness is also a side effect or symptom of a number of diseases.

But bad breath is not always a result of bacterial activity in the mouth. In fact, oral malodor is often a symptom of a variety of conditions and illnesses. For this reason, in cases of unexplained persistent bad breath, it is best to seek medical attention.

Bad breath may also originate in the stomach. However, contrary to popular belief, this happens rarely. More often, some unpleasant odors reach your mouth from the lungs. How? After some foods, such as garlic or onions, are digested, they enter the bloodstream and are transported to the lungs. The associated odors are then exhaled through the respiratory tract into and out of your mouth and nose. According to the magazine Health, “studies have shown that people get garlic breath even when the cloves are simply rubbed on the soles of their feet or swallowed without chewing.”

Drinking alcoholic beverages will also charge your blood and lungs with the odor of alcohol. When this happens, there is virtually nothing you can do to correct the situation other than wait. Some food smells will linger in your body for up to 72 hours.

Bad breath cannot be corrected by simply chewing on a candylike breath freshener. Remember that bad breath is often a result of bacterial activity in the mouth. One must always keep in mind that tiny pieces of food that remain in the mouth provide a banquet for millions of bacteria. Therefore, one important way to fight bad breath is to keep your mouth clean, hence reducing its population of bacteria. This is done by regularly removing food particles and plaque from your teeth. How? Brushing your teeth after meals and at bedtime is important. But brushing is only one of the steps.
There are tooth surfaces unreachable with a brush. So flossing at least once a day is vital.

Experts also recommend gently brushing your tongue, which is a favorite hiding place and breeding ground for bacteria. Periodic examinations and teeth scaling by a dentist and a dental hygienist are also necessary. Bypassing any of these steps can result in bad breath and, in time, in serious tooth and gum diseases.

There are some temporary measures that can also be taken to freshen your breath. Take a drink of water, chew sugarless gum—do something that will increase your salivary flow.

Want to find out more about Dental Care In Tucker, then visit Dr. John's site on how to choose the best Family Dental Care in Tucker for all your dental needs.

Source July 1995 AWAKE magazine