lundi 31 janvier 2011
A Cigarette Your Dentist Won’t Notice
16:37
dr.nahida
- Image via Wikipedia
It Removes Nicotine from the Equation
An e-cigarette is an electronic cigarette. One of the primary toxins in a real cigarette that tends to make cigarettes so addictive is the nicotine. Smoking an e-cigarette, however, removes the consumption of nicotine from the equation. In fact, e-cigarettes do not contain any harmful chemicals, so it is a healthier way to smoke—for both your body and your teeth.The Dentist Will Love Your New Habit
How does the e-cigarette work? The e-cigarette uses a nicotine-infused water vapor to satisfy your need for nicotine. Since it is not real nicotine, however, it is a much safer way to fulfill the need you have to smoke. In addition, the worries of bad breath and tar-stained teeth are gone. This will make you a much more popular patient for your dentist.Non-smokers Will Like You
When you go out to eat at a restaurant or hang out with your friends, you no longer need to excuse yourself to smoke. The second-hand effects of cigarette smoke are not concerns with an e-cigarette. Your friends, family members, and even complete strangers will no longer regret being around you when you smoke. There will be no more dirty looks as you spark up your cigarette. When you pull out an e-cigarette and start smoking, someone who is not watching you do it won’t even know that you are smoking. It’s a win-win.The Guardians of the Body: The Teeth
16:34
dr.nahida
Yes, you wouldn’t believe your pearly whites are important to your overall health, but they are. So start believing. It’s important to always take care of your teeth, but you can only do so much. That’s why you need really strong dental insurance. Of course, you’re asking the easy question: why is dental care so important to overall health anyway?
Do the research. It’s basically everywhere.
Tooth decay and the more advanced periodontal disease can lead to other health problems such as heart disease and issues with your brain. Of all things, your brain! Since when do your teeth have a connection with the overall quality of health in your mind? It doesn’t matter when; what matters is that it’s true. Taking care of your teeth actually takes care of you. So be mindful of that.
Having dental insurance will dramatically reduce dental checkup costs and any prescription costs you might end up having, too. And many know just how incredibly expensive a trip to the dentist might be. Be sure to find good online insurance quotes to help you out with the matter, as you don’t want to get financially shafted even though you’re benefiting money-wise in ways you can only imagine. Who would’ve thought your teeth are so important? Well, they are.
Keeping that in mind, it allows you to get regular checkups, too. Curbing the price through insurance coverage gives you that freedom. After awhile, without coverage, the cost can kill you—probably even more than falling teeth. But with the insurance, regular dental cleanings will always make you feel like your teeth will stay healthy no matter what, even when you keep forgetting to brush and floss. Seeing a dentist regularly is absolutely crucial.
Now open wide. Don’t worry. As you hear the drill, just know that it’s completely safe.
Do the research. It’s basically everywhere.
Tooth decay and the more advanced periodontal disease can lead to other health problems such as heart disease and issues with your brain. Of all things, your brain! Since when do your teeth have a connection with the overall quality of health in your mind? It doesn’t matter when; what matters is that it’s true. Taking care of your teeth actually takes care of you. So be mindful of that.
Having dental insurance will dramatically reduce dental checkup costs and any prescription costs you might end up having, too. And many know just how incredibly expensive a trip to the dentist might be. Be sure to find good online insurance quotes to help you out with the matter, as you don’t want to get financially shafted even though you’re benefiting money-wise in ways you can only imagine. Who would’ve thought your teeth are so important? Well, they are.
Keeping that in mind, it allows you to get regular checkups, too. Curbing the price through insurance coverage gives you that freedom. After awhile, without coverage, the cost can kill you—probably even more than falling teeth. But with the insurance, regular dental cleanings will always make you feel like your teeth will stay healthy no matter what, even when you keep forgetting to brush and floss. Seeing a dentist regularly is absolutely crucial.
Now open wide. Don’t worry. As you hear the drill, just know that it’s completely safe.
mercredi 19 janvier 2011
How to Conquer Your Fear of the Dentist
05:10
dr.nahida
If you break into a cold sweat just thinking about a trip to the dentist, you’re not alone. There are many, many people who’ve had horrible experiences at a dentist, often as a child, and so, they can’t bring themselves to go back.
Dr. McHenry “Mac” Lee, a third-generation dentist in Edna, Texas, says he’s heard countless stories from patients whom have undergone traumatic dental work during when their jaws weren’t fully numb. Patients state they complain about the pain, but the dentist often does not believe them and keeps working. An experience like that stays with you, says Lee. He says it is not uncommon for these people to go another 20 years without stepping into a dentist’s office. If you are a dental phobic, the first step is to admit that it’s time to see a dentist; making sure that the professional is one who will listen and acknowledge the need for special care. After all, your teeth are crucial to your overall health.
Lee says half the battle of overcoming fear of the dentist is finding someone you feel comfortable with. “Because of their past, most (high anxiety) patients have an extreme fear of being out of control. Once they know they can be in control and they will be numb, that is all the assurance they need,” he says. “We let our patients first know we care and they will always be in control. All they have to do is raise their hand and we will stop whatever we are doing.”
Lee, who is the author of "Nothing Personal, Doc, But I Hate Dentists!" and a founder of the group "Dentists Who Care,” says it’s the lower jaw, or mandible that can be difficult to numb. This bone is very thick, and the numbing agent won’t penetrate to the tooth the way it does on the upper jaw. It must be injected at the back of the jaw, where the nerve enters. (This is why your lip lower gets numb, even thought the shot was nowhere near it.)
The theory is that some people have extra nerves in their lower jaw that come from the floor of the mouth. In these cases, dental patients need an additional injection, either down the side of the tooth or inside the jaw, according to Lee. He says neither of these two techniques is painful if the jaw itself is already numb.
If a patient needs extra help, the dentist can always use sedation. The most moderate form is laughing gas, which works by the patient placing a small mask over his or her nose and simply breathing in a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide. If this isn’t enough to calm a patient’s fears, the dentist may offer a form of oral sedation. The most common oral sedative used is Trasilam. It is basically a short-acting sleeping pill that also produces an amnesiac state.
The final recourse would be general anesthesia. Administration of these drugs does require special training. However, none of them replaces local anesthesia, so it is still important the patient's mouth be numb when worked on.
Your fear of going to the dentist is very real as you know, but it doesn’t have to hold you back any longer. Avoidance of the thing that you fear is common to avoid uncomfortable situations such as panic attacks and other anxious responses, but deterring from your regular dentist visit will result in even bigger work that might have to be done. This avoidable consequence and the knowledge that there are very caring dentists out there should put you at ease. There’s no much information out there about different offices, individuals dentists, procedures and sedatives that you should be at ease with your choices.
Dr. McHenry “Mac” Lee, a third-generation dentist in Edna, Texas, says he’s heard countless stories from patients whom have undergone traumatic dental work during when their jaws weren’t fully numb. Patients state they complain about the pain, but the dentist often does not believe them and keeps working. An experience like that stays with you, says Lee. He says it is not uncommon for these people to go another 20 years without stepping into a dentist’s office. If you are a dental phobic, the first step is to admit that it’s time to see a dentist; making sure that the professional is one who will listen and acknowledge the need for special care. After all, your teeth are crucial to your overall health.
Lee says half the battle of overcoming fear of the dentist is finding someone you feel comfortable with. “Because of their past, most (high anxiety) patients have an extreme fear of being out of control. Once they know they can be in control and they will be numb, that is all the assurance they need,” he says. “We let our patients first know we care and they will always be in control. All they have to do is raise their hand and we will stop whatever we are doing.”
Lee, who is the author of "Nothing Personal, Doc, But I Hate Dentists!" and a founder of the group "Dentists Who Care,” says it’s the lower jaw, or mandible that can be difficult to numb. This bone is very thick, and the numbing agent won’t penetrate to the tooth the way it does on the upper jaw. It must be injected at the back of the jaw, where the nerve enters. (This is why your lip lower gets numb, even thought the shot was nowhere near it.)
The theory is that some people have extra nerves in their lower jaw that come from the floor of the mouth. In these cases, dental patients need an additional injection, either down the side of the tooth or inside the jaw, according to Lee. He says neither of these two techniques is painful if the jaw itself is already numb.
If a patient needs extra help, the dentist can always use sedation. The most moderate form is laughing gas, which works by the patient placing a small mask over his or her nose and simply breathing in a combination of oxygen and nitrous oxide. If this isn’t enough to calm a patient’s fears, the dentist may offer a form of oral sedation. The most common oral sedative used is Trasilam. It is basically a short-acting sleeping pill that also produces an amnesiac state.
The final recourse would be general anesthesia. Administration of these drugs does require special training. However, none of them replaces local anesthesia, so it is still important the patient's mouth be numb when worked on.
Your fear of going to the dentist is very real as you know, but it doesn’t have to hold you back any longer. Avoidance of the thing that you fear is common to avoid uncomfortable situations such as panic attacks and other anxious responses, but deterring from your regular dentist visit will result in even bigger work that might have to be done. This avoidable consequence and the knowledge that there are very caring dentists out there should put you at ease. There’s no much information out there about different offices, individuals dentists, procedures and sedatives that you should be at ease with your choices.
Top 10 Myths About Root Canals
05:04
dr.nahida
People seem to cringe when they hear the words root canal. I know that I used to. But reading the truth about these 10 root canal myths can help you get a better sense of what having a root canal really is all about.
1. Root Canals Hurt
According to the American Association of Endodontists, the perception of root canals being painful began decades ago when root canal treatments were painful. Today, with modern technology and better anesthetics, root canal treatments are no more painful than having a filling. Knowing what to expect while having a root canal can help ease a lot of anxiety.
2. Root Canals Require a lot of Visits to the Dentist
With today’s cutting edge technology, most root canals can be performed in one or two office visits.
3. Crowns Cause Teeth to Need Root Canals
Many people believe that having a crown on a tooth means that the tooth will eventually need a root canal. Crowns do not cause the need for root canal therapy. If a crowned tooth does require a root canal, it could be that the tooth has abscessed or that decay has gotten underneath the crown and reached the pulp of the tooth.
4. Root Canals Cause Illness
There is no evidence to support that root canals cause illness. However, there is evidence to support the fact that people who have had root canals are no more at risk for developing illness than people who have never had root canals.
5. Root Canals Involve Removing the Roots of the Tooth
When the dentist or endodontist performs a root canal treatment, he or she remove the pulp from inside of the tooth. The roots of the tooth are not removed.
6. Pregnant Women Can't Have Root Canals
Pregnant women can and do have root canals. Having a root canal does require a small x-ray, but the radiation exposure is very minimal and the x-ray is aimed at the mouth, not the abdomen area. If you are pregnant and your dentist needs to give you an x-ray, he will use a lead apron to cover your belly. The anesthetics that dentists use are also safe for pregnant women.Be sure to let your dentist know beforehand if you are pregnant.
7. Even With A Root Canal, The Tooth Will Come Out Eventually
If you have your tooth properly restored, maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for regular checkups, your natural tooth could last for the rest of your life.
8. If the Tooth Doesn't Hurt, There is no Need for a Root Canal
While a throbbing toothache usually results in the need for root canal treatment, many times a tooth can require root canal treatment when there is no pain present. Dentists and endodontists are specially trained to test a tooth to see if the pulp has been infected or damaged. If this is the case, a root canal would be necessary to save the tooth.
9. Pulling the Tooth is Better than Getting a Root Canal
Keeping your natural teeth for as long as possible is very important for proper eating and chewing functions. There are several options available for missing teeth, such as dentures, partial dentures, dental implants and fixed dental bridges, however, these alternatives can be much more expensive than saving your tooth with a root canal treatment.
10. After Having a Root Canal, My Tooth is Completely Restored
After having a root canal, it is extremely important to make a follow-up appointment with your dentist to have the tooth permanently restored. After the pulp of the tooth has been removed, the tooth can become very dry and brittle. Having a permanent restoration will help protect your tooth from fracturing.
1. Root Canals Hurt
According to the American Association of Endodontists, the perception of root canals being painful began decades ago when root canal treatments were painful. Today, with modern technology and better anesthetics, root canal treatments are no more painful than having a filling. Knowing what to expect while having a root canal can help ease a lot of anxiety.
2. Root Canals Require a lot of Visits to the Dentist
With today’s cutting edge technology, most root canals can be performed in one or two office visits.
3. Crowns Cause Teeth to Need Root Canals
Many people believe that having a crown on a tooth means that the tooth will eventually need a root canal. Crowns do not cause the need for root canal therapy. If a crowned tooth does require a root canal, it could be that the tooth has abscessed or that decay has gotten underneath the crown and reached the pulp of the tooth.
4. Root Canals Cause Illness
There is no evidence to support that root canals cause illness. However, there is evidence to support the fact that people who have had root canals are no more at risk for developing illness than people who have never had root canals.
5. Root Canals Involve Removing the Roots of the Tooth
When the dentist or endodontist performs a root canal treatment, he or she remove the pulp from inside of the tooth. The roots of the tooth are not removed.
6. Pregnant Women Can't Have Root Canals
Pregnant women can and do have root canals. Having a root canal does require a small x-ray, but the radiation exposure is very minimal and the x-ray is aimed at the mouth, not the abdomen area. If you are pregnant and your dentist needs to give you an x-ray, he will use a lead apron to cover your belly. The anesthetics that dentists use are also safe for pregnant women.Be sure to let your dentist know beforehand if you are pregnant.
7. Even With A Root Canal, The Tooth Will Come Out Eventually
If you have your tooth properly restored, maintain good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for regular checkups, your natural tooth could last for the rest of your life.
8. If the Tooth Doesn't Hurt, There is no Need for a Root Canal
While a throbbing toothache usually results in the need for root canal treatment, many times a tooth can require root canal treatment when there is no pain present. Dentists and endodontists are specially trained to test a tooth to see if the pulp has been infected or damaged. If this is the case, a root canal would be necessary to save the tooth.
9. Pulling the Tooth is Better than Getting a Root Canal
Keeping your natural teeth for as long as possible is very important for proper eating and chewing functions. There are several options available for missing teeth, such as dentures, partial dentures, dental implants and fixed dental bridges, however, these alternatives can be much more expensive than saving your tooth with a root canal treatment.
10. After Having a Root Canal, My Tooth is Completely Restored
After having a root canal, it is extremely important to make a follow-up appointment with your dentist to have the tooth permanently restored. After the pulp of the tooth has been removed, the tooth can become very dry and brittle. Having a permanent restoration will help protect your tooth from fracturing.
How to stop teeth grinding
05:01
dr.nahida
Roughly 20 percent of adults grind or clench their teeth to the point that they're at risk for permanent tooth and jaw damage, dentists say.
Here are tips for protecting your pearly whites:
Recognize the symptoms. Those include flattened, worn or chipped teeth; jaw pain or tightness; gum sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures; and earaches and headaches, especially right after you wake up. Bedmates also may hear clicking or squeaking noises as you sleep. Call your dentist right away.
Work to relieve stress. Regular meditation, deep breathing, exercise and enjoyable hobbies will help; some people also benefit from talking to a therapist. It's especially good to do right before bedtime. Take a bath, listen to soft music, read a favorite book or drink a glass of warm milk. Holding a warm washcloth against your jaw for about 10 minutes can help relax those muscles.
Wear a mouth guard. Protective dental devices keep teeth from rubbing together at night. Such as the DenTek Comfort Fit Nightguard.
Cut back on alcohol and caffeine. Both can make a grinding problem worse, especially if you eat or drink either shortly before bedtime.
Train yourself not to clench. During the day, notice if you are pressing your teeth together and work to hold them apart even if your lips are sealed. Putting the tip of your tongue between your front teeth may help.
Talk to a doctor. People with a severe grinding problem may benefit from a temporary prescription for muscle relaxants or even surgery. Just be aware that medical interventions may have unpleasant side effects. Relaxants, for example, can be addictive over time.
Here are tips for protecting your pearly whites:
Recognize the symptoms. Those include flattened, worn or chipped teeth; jaw pain or tightness; gum sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures; and earaches and headaches, especially right after you wake up. Bedmates also may hear clicking or squeaking noises as you sleep. Call your dentist right away.
Work to relieve stress. Regular meditation, deep breathing, exercise and enjoyable hobbies will help; some people also benefit from talking to a therapist. It's especially good to do right before bedtime. Take a bath, listen to soft music, read a favorite book or drink a glass of warm milk. Holding a warm washcloth against your jaw for about 10 minutes can help relax those muscles.
Wear a mouth guard. Protective dental devices keep teeth from rubbing together at night. Such as the DenTek Comfort Fit Nightguard.
Cut back on alcohol and caffeine. Both can make a grinding problem worse, especially if you eat or drink either shortly before bedtime.
Train yourself not to clench. During the day, notice if you are pressing your teeth together and work to hold them apart even if your lips are sealed. Putting the tip of your tongue between your front teeth may help.
Talk to a doctor. People with a severe grinding problem may benefit from a temporary prescription for muscle relaxants or even surgery. Just be aware that medical interventions may have unpleasant side effects. Relaxants, for example, can be addictive over time.
Green Tea May Strengthen Your Teeth
05:00
dr.nahida
Researchers suspect antimicrobial molecules contained within green tea helps preserve teeth (as long as you don't add sugar).
That's the finding of new research published in Preventive Medicine. The findings show that drinking at least one cup of green tea a day increases the odds of keeping your teeth as you age.
The researchers suspect that antimicrobial molecules called catechins present in green tea and in lesser amounts in oolong tea provide the benefit. But be careful if you like your tea with sugar: sweetener may negate the effect, the team found.
"Green tea may have bacteriocidal effects, which would affect teeth, but only if you drink it without sugar," said Alfredo Morabia, of Columbia University in New York and editor of Preventive Medicine, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new research.
"They also reported that drinking sweet coffee was actually deleterious," he added. "Coffee alone had no problem, but sweet coffee would actually make you lose your teeth."
Yasushi Koyama of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and colleagues looked at more than 25,000 Japanese men and women between age 40 and 64 in making the determination.
They found that men who drank at least one cup of tea a day were 19 percent less likely to have fewer than 20 teeth (a full set including wisdom teeth is 32) than those who did not drink green tea. Tea-drinking women had 13 percent lower odds.
One possible explanation for the benefits of tea drinking is that warm drinks wash out your mouth. But coffee, which also provides a mouth rinse, had no benefit, suggesting something else is going on.
Catechins have been shown to kill mouth bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum disease, so the researchers suspect this is what gives green tea its dental benefits.
"Previous research has indicated that regular consumption of green tea may lead to a lower instance of periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss in adults," said Samuel Low of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and President of the American Academy of Periodontology in a statement to Discovery News.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is part of maintaining a healthy body, Low said. "That is why it is so important to find simple ways to boost periodontal health, such as regularly drinking green tea -- something already known to possess certain health-related benefits."
- People aged 40-64 who drank one cup of green tea a day were less likely to lose teeth.
- Drinking unsweetened coffee had no effect on keeping teeth.
- Antimicrobial molecules called catechins may account for green tea's benefits.
That's the finding of new research published in Preventive Medicine. The findings show that drinking at least one cup of green tea a day increases the odds of keeping your teeth as you age.
The researchers suspect that antimicrobial molecules called catechins present in green tea and in lesser amounts in oolong tea provide the benefit. But be careful if you like your tea with sugar: sweetener may negate the effect, the team found.
"Green tea may have bacteriocidal effects, which would affect teeth, but only if you drink it without sugar," said Alfredo Morabia, of Columbia University in New York and editor of Preventive Medicine, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new research.
"They also reported that drinking sweet coffee was actually deleterious," he added. "Coffee alone had no problem, but sweet coffee would actually make you lose your teeth."
Yasushi Koyama of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and colleagues looked at more than 25,000 Japanese men and women between age 40 and 64 in making the determination.
They found that men who drank at least one cup of tea a day were 19 percent less likely to have fewer than 20 teeth (a full set including wisdom teeth is 32) than those who did not drink green tea. Tea-drinking women had 13 percent lower odds.
One possible explanation for the benefits of tea drinking is that warm drinks wash out your mouth. But coffee, which also provides a mouth rinse, had no benefit, suggesting something else is going on.
Catechins have been shown to kill mouth bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum disease, so the researchers suspect this is what gives green tea its dental benefits.
"Previous research has indicated that regular consumption of green tea may lead to a lower instance of periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss in adults," said Samuel Low of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and President of the American Academy of Periodontology in a statement to Discovery News.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is part of maintaining a healthy body, Low said. "That is why it is so important to find simple ways to boost periodontal health, such as regularly drinking green tea -- something already known to possess certain health-related benefits."
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