Archive for the ‘Patient Information’ Category

Toothpicks: a Pointed Problem

Posted on: April 9th, 2013 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

ToothpicksWhat’s long, slender, hard, sharp, indigestible and potentially hazardous? That common and seemingly harmless sliver of wood called a toothpick. Reports in the Journal of the American Medical Association point to toothpicks as causing thousands of injuries a year, mostly to young children. Youngsters aged five to 14 were most likely to be injured by toothpicks, and children under the age of five were 20 times more likely to seriously injure their eyes or ears.

Adults should also treat the toothpick with a little respect. Three deaths have been attributed to toothpicks after the people either swallowed or inhaled them by accident.

Toothpicks may be small, but their potential dangers are definite points to ponder. If you have a troublesome piece of food stuck between your teeth, a much safer option to consider is to simply grab your toothbrush!

Facing Chemotherapy?

Posted on: March 19th, 2013 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Cancer Awareness RibbonTell Your Dentist

Anyone facing cancer therapy already knows—chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer is a serious response to a serious condition.

What they may not know is that a dental appointment scheduled at least two weeks before treatment begins can reduce the risk of complication and help preserve salivary glands.

The reason is this: with radiation treatment and chemotherapy, changes in saliva occur that can encourage decay and dry mouth, diminish taste, and thicken soft tissues—to name
a few.

All these side effects may be overcome if gums are healthy, restorations are intact, and oral hygiene habits are impeccable.

So, if someone you know is scheduled for cancer therapy, share this information with them. A pre-treatment dental appointment made now will go a long way toward improving their recovery potential once therapy is complete.

Alcohol and Your Teeth

Posted on: March 12th, 2013 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Mixed DrinksDentally speaking, is drinking alcohol a good thing or a bad thing for your teeth and gums?

As with everything alcohol related, there are positives and negatives. On one hand, a mixer-free shot of vodka is probably less hazardous than caramel candies, which coat the teeth with a sticky goo that practically begs for cavities. On the other hand, every kind of alcohol—most notoriously drinks with sugary mixes—are chock-full of their own types of sugar.

Sugar is the main source of energy for plaque bacteria, and these bacteria are the villains that cause tooth decay. As plaque bacteria process sugar, they produce a variety of acids as metabolic by-products; some of these acids go to work immediately to dissolve the teeth.

Cutting back on any source of sugar and replacing it—with raw fruits and veggies, unsalted nuts and popcorn—can make a difference to your mouth.

Alcohol and Your Life

Drinking is too fundamental a component of our culture to be ignored.

A champagne toast to the bride and groom are at one end of this spectrum; a weekend binge by irresponsible children resulting in tragedy and death are at the other. As with so many things in life, balance lies somewhere in between.

Regarding alcohol, perhaps the most balanced advice would be: if you don’t drink, don’t start. If you do drink, know your limits. If you’re exceeding your limits, seek help now!

Sunshine For Healthy Teeth and Bones

Posted on: February 5th, 2013 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Sunshine Through LeavesWe don’t hear a lot about vitamin D. It’s crucial for healthy teeth and bones because it helps you absorb calcium. And the easiest way to get your minimum daily requirement is—take a walk in the sun! Vitamin D is called the “sunshine vitamin” because natural sunlight converts a chemical in your skin into a usable form of vitamin D. Experts at the Mayo Clinic write that, for most people, as little as 10 to 15 minutes of natural sunshine three times a week may provide that minimum requirement.

Taking vitamins has never been easier, or more fun. Of course, some people may need a vitamin D boost that goes beyond a sunny stroll. Among them, older adults and especially women over 50. Experts believe a daily vitamin D supplement with 400 international units (IU) can help improve bone health in women at risk of osteoporosis.

The simplest way is to take a multivitamin. However, since taking vitamin D supplements can impact other conditions, it’s wise to consult with your doctor or pharmacist first.

Meds & Your Mouth

Posted on: January 22nd, 2013 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Medicine and LozengesThe medicine you take for one physical disorder may literally rot your teeth. This is one of many reasons we need to know your medical history and current treatment.

For instance…

Chewable vitamin C supplements are a good idea for a lot of people, but check your brand for sugar content. For children especially, a liquid form does less damage to tooth enamel, and natural sources of the vitamin—oranges, green vegetables—are even better.

Calcium channel blockers (Procardia, Cardizem, Adalat) cause swelling of the gums in at least 20% of patients with high blood pressure or heart disease. This can be very dangerous, as bacteria invade gums and may reach the heart itself.

Over-the-counter preparations of all sorts—lozenges, cough drops, antacids —are sugar-laden. Tums has calcium, yes, and enough sugar for a family of four.

Osteoporosis: The Calcium Connection

Posted on: January 15th, 2013 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Osteoporosis—porous bones—is a fragile, frightening reality for at least 15 million North Americans.

What begins as a slow and initially painless decrease in bone mass eventually leaves bones weakened and susceptible to fracture. It turns strong backs into weak; healthy strides into shuffles.

From a dental viewpoint, the disease is evident in loss of tooth strength and jaw erosion. Osteoporosis, most common in middle-aged women and the elderly, is particularly insidious in that it is rarely diagnosed until the damage is done.

Evidence suggests that adequate calcium intake early on in our lives may reduce the risk of osteoporosis as we age. Lucky that children often show a natural fancy for calcium-rich dairy products—it’s a happy addiction, as youngsters need calcium for building strong bones as they grow.

Less understood is the importance of calcium for adults. Though we use the mineral throughout life, our ability to absorb it decreases with age, suggesting a need for increased intake. How can we minimize our personal risk for osteoporosis? Calcium is a possibility.

Calcium for “grown ups”

In the North American diet, milk and milk products are still the best source of calcium. But many adults gave up milk years ago. How do you add more calcium to your diet when you can’t stomach milk?

There are scads of non-dairy sources of calcium, some quite grown-up: oysters, salmon, beans, leafy greens and even molasses. And that fancy French mineral water you’re drinking is calorie-free and calcium-rich. Voila.

In general, food is the preferred source of calcium for both young and old. But supplements are widely available in many forms (the University of California Cooperative Extension stresses non-food calcium as a supplement, not a replacement for other sources). It may be combined with vitamin D, a nutrient that enhances the retention of calcium.

Calcium, of course, won’t “fix” our bones—it’s not the whole preventive picture of osteoporosis.
A healthy lifestyle always enriches our resistance to disease. It’s not surprising that limiting caffeine, cigarettes, and alcohol seems to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. And exercise has been shown to reduce bone loss, maybe even increase bone mass.

Do strive to improve your overall health—your bones and teeth will be much obliged.

Here’s to Health in 2013

Posted on: January 1st, 2013 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

We care about you as patients and as friends, too. Hopefully these suggestions will help you lead a healthier life for years to come.

1. Make the New Year tobacco-free!

Do whatever you need to quit smoking—seek out a program, a patch, a support group. Half a million North Americans die annually from disease caused by cigarette smoking. It doesn’t have to be!

2. Check your blood pressure and cholesterol.

See a physician annually; a blood pressure reading is part of the program. Ask for cholesterol testing, too.

3. Brush—and floss—after every meal.

Just remember to brush after your last meal and your dental hygiene level more than doubles.

4. Cut the fat—and the sugar.

Too much fat and too little fiber are hard on the entire body. Watch for low-fat and sugar-free foods. And avoid food containing High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), which piles on empty calories and extra weight!

5. Guard against gum disease with regular dental checkups.

Periodontal disease has been revealed as a key risk factor for potential heart attack and stroke. It’s not just a dental thing—it can benefit your overall state of health!

6. Get a mammogram or a prostate exam.

If you’re 40 or over, these exams—one for him, one for her—are essential cancer screens.

Bulimia, the “Private Problem”

Posted on: December 25th, 2012 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Not So Private Anymore

If you recognize yourself or someone in your family in this piece, you share a problem with over 500,000 other people. Bulimia.

  • Do you worry about how much you eat—all the time?
  • Do you start a new diet almost every day?
  • Do you perceive everyone else as thinner than you are?
  • Do you make time in the day to eat in solitude—ice cream, doughnuts, pies, cakes, soft drinks—then vomit or take laxatives?

Eating disorders have become so common in this weight-obsessed nation that we’ve been forced to face the facts. Too many young people—and some not so young—are caught up in a cycle of binge eating, then purging, to physically attain some wacky cultural ideal.

“Thin is in.” “You can never be too rich or too thin.” While there may be nothing wrong with thinness, dieting to that end can become obsessive. That’s when your health starts to suffer.

The First Signs

Bulimia is hard to admit. Most victims feel out of control—they want to stop, and can’t. But because bulimia shows in your mouth, your dentist may well be aware of your situation.

Here’s what we see in someone addicted to binge-and-purge cycles.

  • Enamel eaten away on the insides of upper front teeth from daily exposure to stomach acids
  • “Moth-eaten” edges of front teeth
  • Heightened sensitivity to heat and cold
  • Erosion has thinned the tooth enamel so nerves are sensitive
  • Low salivary pH—acidic saliva chemical erosion of enamel around fillings
  • Swollen glands due to vitamin deficiency
  • Soft tissue damage

Bulimia won’t go away in a day. But there is immediate dental help at hand until you get eating patterns under control.

First of all, people who brush their teeth after purging may be making a mistake. Brushing in an acid environment will only embed more acid in tooth enamel. A sodium bicarbonate or simple water rinse may be safer.

Home fluoride treatments can also be prescribed to encourage remineralization of enamel. And there are de-sensitizers to help your teeth stand up to heat and cold.

The reasons for bulimia are many, but can be resolved over time. The important thing: there is help.

Help for Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa & Related Eating Disorders
P.O. Box 5102
Eugene, OR 97405
503-344-1144
http://www.anred.com

Bulimia/Anorexia Self-Help (BASH)
6125 Claytone Avenue – Suite 215
St. Louis, MO 63139
800-227-4785

Center for the Study of Anorexia & Bulimia
1 West 91st Street
New York, NY 10024
212-595-3449
http://www.womenshealth.gov/

National Anorexic Aid Society
1925 East Dublin-Granville Road
Columbus, OH 43229
614-436-1112

Smoking and Still Smiling?

Posted on: December 18th, 2012 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

Say you’ve spent the time and effort to get your mouth and teeth in shape. You’re dentally hale and hearty. And you smoke.

As if there isn’t enough reason to give up smoking, your dental health suffers too. Dramatically. Aside from the tobacco stains on teeth (not to mention the bouquet), serious oral disease can develop. The evidence just keeps piling up.

Gum Disease – Research is showing that the incidence of gum disease is increased in a smoker, even given good oral hygiene and the best dental habits. Nicotine appears to discourage the attachment of tissue to teeth that is vital to healthy gums. Where nicotine is, nothing wants to grow.

Loss of Teeth – If the gums go, can the teeth be far behind? Nicotine seems to have the same effect on the bone that anchors teeth—bone recedes in the presence of nicotine.

Oral Cancer – Smokers, give yourselves 10% more likelihood of inviting an oral cancer into your lives.

Cell Abnormalities – If you’re in an orthodontic program, you can count on lengthier treatment if you smoke. Damage to tissue—on the cellular level—slows down normal response to braces. And you’ll be in more often for replacement of elastic.

Ask us about the Stop Smoking clinics in our community. We care about your whole health.

Dental professionals see firsthand what smoking does to your oral health. The only warmth in your statistics: your chances of disease decrease over time—if you quit.

Diabetes and Your Mouth

Posted on: November 13th, 2012 by Nicholas Geller, DDS No Comments

We could be first to know. Don’t let us be the last.

Diabetes affects the blood chemistry and metabolism of its victims, threatening them with multiple serious disorders. But early detection can ward off the dangers, and we dentists are often the first to notice clues.

Diabetics are more likely than others to develop tooth decay, periodontal (gum) disease, fungal infections, dry mouth, impaired taste, inflammatory skin disease, delayed healing and infections. Many diabetics have to come in for dental checkups more often than everyone else.

How You Can Aid in Prevention

Schedule dental appointments for mid-mornings. If a local anesthetic is needed, ask how long your mouth will feel numb. We may use a shorter-acting anesthetic so you won’t need to postpone a meal.

Don’t chew anything while your mouth is still numb to avoid injury. If necessary, switch to liquids temporarily. We may prescribe an antibiotic to help prevent infection after a procedure. If healing or glucose level problems arise after your appointment, call us or your diabetes healthcare team immediately.

Tell us…

  • If you have diabetes
  • If it’s under control
  • If your medical history has changed in other ways
  • The names of all your prescription and over-the-counter medications