Dental Care and Heart Disease - How it Can Affect You

By Joe Stewart

Dental care and heart disease aren't two things that you would think would be associated together. It seems as though the distance between these two topics is about a mile wide, however, the facts are in and we now must be on alert in order to avoid what could be devastating consequences.

Your dental hygiene can have an affect on your cardiovascular health if you have open sores or bleeding in your mouth that is there regularly and left untreated. This directly affects those individuals that have bleeding of the gums, better known as gingivitis.

Your mouth naturally produces a substance known as tarter. It is a white chalky substance that develops in our mouths naturally. This tarter can harden and turn into plaque if you don't use good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. However, there's simply no way to avoid some of this substance getting into your blood stream if you have an open wound in your mouth.

The same plaque that develops on your teeth over time can do the exact same thing in your arteries. Over time this can cause blockage of blood flow and eventually may result in a heart attack or stroke.

So what can you do to decrease the odds of this happening to you?

The first thing you must do is schedule an appointment with your dentist. Next, your dentist will likely sit you down and have this same discussion with you. He or she will explain the risks of not getting treated and exactly what treatment involves.

You'll need to get an in-depth oral examination, as well as x-rays so that the dentist can check the condition of your teeth and gums. Your dentist will likely want to do a thorough cleaning of your teeth to remove any plaque that has built up over time. This will also greatly reduce any bleeding of your gums and help them to heal.

You'll receive a follow up appointment so any other fillings, etc can be addressed.

Once you have your teeth and gums back in a state of good repair then you'll want to maintain good personal hygiene. You can do this by brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, avoiding sweets and following up with your dentist every 6 months for check-ups and cleaning.



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Dental Care For Diabetics

By Dr. Miles Madison, DDS

People with diabetes tend to experience gum disease more often, making dental care a bigger challenge than it might ordinarily be.Gum disease can lead to infections, bleeding or uneven gums, and loosened or lost teeth. Below are a set of tips to help diabetics manage their dental health.

Diabetes Dental Care Tips

• Brush and floss daily. Accumulated bacteria can cause inflammation of the gums and lead to infections that take a long time to heal. Brushing and flossing every day can help remove bacteria and prevent infections before they start. Be sure to use a soft bristle and fluoride toothpaste.
• Control your blood glucose. Periodontal disease can make it difficult to control your blood sugar, so be sure to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet to maintain acceptable blood glucose levels.
• Get regular checkups and dental cleanings. See your dentist at least every six months. Numerous studies have shown that patients who have experienced gum disease should have their teeth cleaned every three months to prevent recurrence or continuation of the disease.
• Have your doctor consult with your dentist before dental surgery. It may be necessary to adjust your diabetes medication prior to surgery or to take an antibiotic to ward off infections.
• Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk for gum disease. Studies have shown that smokers may have an impaired response to gum inflammation, which can cause gum disease and other problems to go unnoticed.

Taking control of your diabetes includes being proactive when it comes to dental care. With proper dental habits and open communication with your dentist, you can enjoy a lifetime of good dental health.



About Miles Madison
Los Angeles dentist Dr. Miles Madison, DDS, specializes in dental implants, gum grafts, crown lengthening, sinus augmentation, and more at his practice Beverly Hills Periodontics & Dental Implants. Dr. Madison is board certified in I.V. sedation, and hypnosis and is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, the California Society of Periodontists, the California Dental Association, and the Los Angeles Dental Society. For more information, please contact Dr. Madison at (310) 553-2940 or by email at periodontics@earthlink.net. See http://www.beverlyhillsperio.com for more information.

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Proper Dental Care For Sensitive Teeth

By Michael Russell

Have you ever experienced that familiar electric stinging sensation as you take a sip of iced tea or a slurp of your favorite hot soup? Have you ever felt like crying as pain hits you after you took a bite of your favorite candy bar? Well, if you answered yes, there is a great probability that you are suffering from sensitive teeth!

What causes the problem? The problem of sensitive teeth may stem from a wide variety of reasons - ranging from the simple to the complicated. This dental problem can result from a mere “bruised” tooth caused by biting too hard on something or as a result of a routine dental procedure (such as after having them cleaned or filled). Clamping the jaws tightly and habitual tooth grinding may also lead to this condition. However, tooth or teeth sensitivity may also result from a dead tooth pulp that requires a much more complicated dental procedure.

In order to solve this dental problem, it would be best to see your dentist to determine what exactly is causing all the trouble. If a simple enamel abrasion or normal gum recession brings about your condition, rejoice! You can effectively deal with the problem just by following these simple suggestions:

Proper dental hygiene is the key. As a rule of thumb, you must observe proper dental hygiene at all times. It would be advisable to brush your teeth at least twice a day using a soft toothbrush and the proper brushing techniques. Flossing at least once every day will also be a great idea. These practices will definitely hold dental plaque at bay and prevent it from causing even more trouble.

Why all this attention in keeping plaque away as much as possible? Well, dental plaque, that white gummy substance that forms on the surface of your teeth, can cause sensitive teeth to react more strongly to the usual stimulants whenever the affected tooth comes into contact with them. Thus, waging a war against dental plaque can definitely spare you from pain and save your day!

Use desensitizing toothpaste - If you are suffering from widespread dental sensitivity due to enamel abrasion or gum-line recession, dental fillings alone cannot effectively solve the problem. One good way to treat this problem is to start using desensitizing toothpastes. These products can help reduce your problem by filling up the tubules in the dentin to minimize your tooth or teeth’s sensitivity.

You can also use these special dental products to coat the areas surrounding the sensitive tooth or teeth before you retire for the night to help reduce the pain. For best results, try not to rinse your mouth after the application. Do this for two to three weeks and feel the difference!

Swish on a fluoride rinse - Using specially formulated fluoride rinses can effectively reduce your teeth’s sensitivity. You can buy these products in your local pharmacy or at the dental section of any grocery store. For best results, use the product once a day.

Make a stand – against snuff, that is. Believing that chewing on a tobacco is much less harmful than smoking it, many teenagers have recently taking on this nasty habit. More popularly known as “dip” or “snuff”, tobacco chewing can bring on more harmful effects such as mouth cancers, gum recession, tooth sensitivity and tooth decay.

Be good to your teeth. Follow these suggestions and you can be sure that the problem with your sensitive teeth can be handled more effectively!


Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Dental


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Dental Care - Where Now?

By Michael Challiner

The government led reform of the dental industry is history now. It appears that things are very much simpler for both High Street dentists and their patients since the changes. The dentists have simply disappeared - they've either changed to completely private practice, reduced the amount of NHS patients on their books or their waiting list is so long it's virtually impossible to register with them. The simplicity for patients is that many simply can't find an NHS dentist.

For those who still have their NHS dentist, the higher cap on the charges for the most complicated treatments have been welcomed, although some charges for the more minor treatments now cost more than previously.

It's not easy to find a dentist willing to take you on - it's estimated that the shortage of them in the UK could be as high as 4,000 and rising.

The Governments confidence in their belief that the new agreements would have meant that an increasing number of dentists would stay in the NHS appears to have been wrongly placed. The misgivings of the British Dental Association - who felt that more than half of dentists would lessen their commitment or even leave the health service when the contracts came in - seem to have been correct.

So, it can be an expensive time when you need a trip to the dentist. You have to keep up to date on your check ups too - go 15 months without a visit and the dentist has the right to take you off their patient list.

Lots of people are turning to other ways of ensuring their dental care is kept up to date and there are several different private dental care schemes on offer.

The plan that comes to mind when you think of private dental care is the one which is featured in many dentists waiting rooms. It's known as a "capitation" scheme and is a payment plan which is offered via your dentist. It's not actually dental insurance - more on that later - but more a way of letting you budget for preventative care and routine dental procedures.

Your dentist will examine the state of your mouth to assess the condition and also take into account your previous dental history. It will be necessary to have any outstanding dental work carried out so that you start the plan with a clean bill of dental health. After this is complete you're ready to go and the plan provider will work out a cost, normally paid monthly, for you to join them.

There are variations on the cover, within whatever plan you choose, and some are more inclusive than others. A simple care plan will cover things like fillings, bridges, crowns, oral hygiene and any x rays that are needed. The only parts of the deal not covered are laboratory costs. The plan usually has an insurance element included which will cover serious dental problems and is there for dental emergencies.



Michael Challiner is the editor of Brokers Online one of the UK's largest financial websites. Life Insurance Brokers Online offers its clients access to most uk financial products including Cheap Dental Insurance. Visit Brokers Online to gain access to a wealth of articles and information about Dental Insurance.

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