Two more small studies have add to strengthen the evidence that links periodontal disease with other health conditions. One Study focused on atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

The researchers took samples of diseased arteries from 53 people. They also took samples of healthy arteries from 21 other people. They tested the arteries for bacteria that cause periodontal disease. The study found that 53% of the diseased arteries had periodontal bacteria in them and only 24% of the healthy ones did.

The other study focused on people with type 2 diabetes which included 60 people. Twenty had periodontal disease and diabetes. Another 20 had periodontal disease, but not diabetes. The last 20 had diabetes, but not periodontal disease. People with diabetes and periodontal disease had higher blood sugar levels and poorer blood-sugar control than people who had diabetes only. The people with both conditions also had more of a protein called C-reactive protein. Higher levels reflect more inflammation in the body. This group also had the lowest levels of HDL. This study is in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

In a study to the Identification of unrecognized diabetes and pre-diabetes in a dental setting, published in the Journal of Dental Research, researchers at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine found that dental visits represented a chance to intervene in the diabetes epidemic by identifying individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes who are unaware of their condition.

Periodontal disease is an early complication of diabetes, and about 70 percent of U.S. adults see a dentist at least once a year. This said by Dr. Ira Lamster, dean of the College of Dental Medicine, and senior author on the study.

People who have Diabetes are at a Higher Risk for Developing Gum Disease

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes affects nearly 24 million people in the United States. It is encourage that people who are diabetic pay extra attention to their oral health needs. Studies have shown that those with diabetes are more susceptible to the development of oral infections and periodontal (gum) disease than those who do not have diabetes.

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is a joint program of the CDC and the NIH (National Institutes of Health). The CDC regularly collaborates with a workgroup within NDEP called PPOD (Pharmacy, Podiatry, Optometry, and Dental Professionals). PPOD develops and promotes materials to educate patients and fellow dental professionals on the disease and how to prevent a major complication that often results from having diabetes—periodontal disease.

Findings from scientific studies clearly show that school dental sealant programs work to stop tooth decay.

The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends school sealant programs and issued a strong endorsement* in 2001. In 2003, the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors published a Best Practice Approach Report.* This report reviews the scientific evidence that school sealant programs work and presents specific examples of practices in state programs.

Sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. This is where most tooth decay in children and teens occurs. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from decay by keeping germs and pieces of food out.

Learn more about sealants, including how they help prevent tooth decay and how they are applied, from this Dental Sealants Fact Sheet.

Question: Where do you get dental wax?

Reply: Most orthodontic dental office will supply you with the dental wax free of charge. If you do not get it just ask for it before you leave.

If for some odd reason they do not have it you should be able to get dental wax at your local drug store

Question: I just got my retainer about a month ago. while cleaning it I put them in very hot water to kill germs. I did not think they would melt so easily. I called my Orthodontic office and told them what I did and that the retainer now does not fit right. They said I can have a new one but it would take at least three weeks for it to come in. She stated my teeth may shift a little. Is there anyway i can fix my old retainer until the new one comes in? I want to keep my teeth from shifting.

Reply: There is no way to repair what you did to your retainer. Trying to do so and then wearing them may cause more damage to your teth. I suggest just wait for your new ones to come in. If your teeth do shift a little they will adjust your new retainer to correct any issues. Three weeks is not all that long. Do not try and jimmy rig your old retainers. You would only be making an even bigger mistake.

Swallowing Your Gum.

Question: I just accidentally swallowed my gum. Is it really bad for you to do that?

Reply: Although chewing gum is designed to be chewed and not swallowed, it generally is not harmful if you swallowed it. Myths suggests that swallowed gum sits in your stomach for seven years before it can be digested. However not to worry as that is not true. If you swallow a piece of gum, there is probably no reason to see a doctor. It should pass normally through your digestive tract.

Compared with their parents, many Americans now enjoy markedly better oral health. However, certain segments of the population (e.g., those who have low incomes, are members of racial or ethnic minority groups, or are older) have severe dental decay, much of which remains untreated. Healthy People 2010 objectives seek to eliminate these disparities, so that all Americans receive the benefits of good oral health. Community-based programs, such as community water fluoridation and school-based dental sealant programs, are cost-effective ways to achieve this goal. For example, if half of the children at high risk for tooth decay participated in school sealant programs, half of the caries that these children otherwise would develop would be prevented.

Community-Based Strategies to Prevent Tooth Decay Save Money

• Depending on the size of the community, every dollar spent for community water fluoridation saves from $8 to $49 in treatment costs. Savings are greatest in large communities.
• Fluoridated water saves more than $4.6 billion annually in dental costs in the United States.
• School-based dental sealant programs are cost saving when delivered to populations at high risk for tooth decay, such as children in low-income households.

Effective Strategies

Community and school partnerships raise awareness about the value of school sealant programs. Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin, a CDC-supported statewide effort to improve the oral health of Wisconsin children through school and community partnerships, began in October 2000. This program helped to establish new community-based sealant programs, and in 2007–2008, these programs provided sealants to 9,202 children in 19 counties.

Community coalitions are essential for gaining approval for community water fluoridation. During the past decade, broad-based citizen coalitions in several large U.S. cities have educated residents about the benefits of water fluoridation. Water fluoridation was approved in many of these jurisdictions, including Los Angeles and Sacramento, CA; Manchester, NH; Las Vegas, NV; San Antonio, TX; and Salt Lake City, UT.

Effective Strategies

Community and school partnerships raise awareness about the value of school sealant programs. Healthy Smiles for Wisconsin, a CDC-supported statewide effort to improve the oral health of Wisconsin children through school and community partnerships, began in October 2000. This program helped to establish new community-based sealant programs, and in 2007–2008, these programs provided sealants to 9,202 children in 19 counties.

Community coalitions are essential for gaining approval for community water fluoridation. During the past decade, broad-based citizen coalitions in several large U.S. cities have educated residents about the benefits of water fluoridation. Water fluoridation was approved in many of these jurisdictions, including Los Angeles and Sacramento, CA; Manchester, NH; Las Vegas, NV; San Antonio, TX; and Salt Lake City, UT

This is hard for me to write about but would like some advise on what to do. To start with I am 32 and my teeth are so bad that they hurt I can only eat soft foods because I am afraid to eat anything to hard for fear of braking my teeth. I know I have no one to blame but myself for he problem that I am now facing. When I was younger I just did not take good care of my teeth like I should have. My mom was poor so we did not have much and going to the dentist was always costly for her. She told me and my brother that we needed to brush extra well and to floss every day because she could not afford to fix our teeth.

Even knowing all that I just did not take care of my teeth. Now at 32 I have not been to the dentist for over six years. I am afraid of what they would think of me. I am not so much scared of the dentist but just in how the dentist will know I am at fault for the way my teeth are. I can not even brush them so that they may look better then what that are.

I would even continue with statuesque if it were not for the fact that my teeth really hurt. I never smile because I do not want people to see how bad my teeth are. I really hardy talk to people either and when I do I make sure they can not see my teeth. How can I go to the dentist like this. I want to cry when I think of someone see my teeth and how bad I let them get.

Reply: Going to the dentist is scary for many people even for those that do not have bad teeth. Try not let your fears stop you from getting your teeth fixed.

It is very bad to let your teeth rot. Besides all the orig diseases like gingivitis. You can get other health problems from bad teeth. So this in nothing to take lightly.

I really do not think any dentist is going to put you down about your teeth. Many people go to the dentist only when they have a toothache. This is not to say they will not say how you need to take better care of your teeth. This is what dentist do.

Irreversible treatments that have not been proven to be effective – and may make the problem worse – include orthodontics to change the bite; crown and bridge work to balance the bite; grinding down teeth to bring the bite into balance, called “occlusal adjustment”; and repositioning splints, also called orthotics, which permanently alter the bite.

Surgery

Other types of treatments, such as surgical procedures, invade the tissues. Surgical treatments are controversial, often irreversible, and should be avoided where possible. There have been no long-term clinical trials to study the safety and effectiveness of surgical treatments for TMJ disorders. Nor are there standards to identify people who would most likely benefit from surgery. Failure to respond to conservative treatments, for example, does not automatically mean that surgery is necessary. If surgery is recommended, be sure to have the doctor explain to you, in words you can understand, the reason for the treatment, the risks involved, and other types of treatment that may be available.

Implants

Surgical replacement of jaw joints with artificial implants may cause severe pain and permanent jaw damage. Some of these devices may fail to function properly or may break apart in the jaw over time. If you have already had temporomandibular joint surgery, be very cautious about considering additional operations. Persons undergoing multiple surgeries on the jaw joint generally have a poor outlook for normal, pain-free joint function. Before undergoing any surgery on the jaw joint, it is extremely important to get other independent opinions and to fully understand the risks.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors the safety and effectiveness of medical devices implanted in the body,including artificial jaw joint implants. Patients and their health care providers can report serious problems with TMJ implants to the FDA through MedWatch at www.fda.gov/medwatch or telephone toll-free at 1-800-332-1088.

Because more studies are needed on the safety and effectiveness of most treatments for jaw joint and muscle disorders, experts strongly recommend using the most conservative, reversible treatments possible. Conservative treatments do not invade the tissues of the face, jaw, or joint, or involve surgery. Reversible treatments do not cause permanent changes in the structure or position of the jaw or teeth. Even when TMJ disorders have become persistent, most patients still do not need aggressive types of treatment.

Conservative Treatments

Because the most common jaw joint and muscle problems are temporary and do not get worse, simple treatment is all that is usually needed to relieve discomfort.

Self-Care Practices

There are steps you can take that may be helpful in easing symptoms, such as:

• eating soft foods
• applying ice packs,
• avoiding extreme jaw movements (such as wide yawning, loud singing, and gum chewing),
• learning techniques for relaxing and reducing stress,practicing gentle jaw stretching and relaxing exercises that may help increase jaw movement. Your health care provider or a physical therapist can recommend exercises if appropriate for your particular condition.
  Pain Medications

For many people with TMJ disorders, short-term use of over-the-counter pain medicines or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen, may provide temporary relief from jaw discomfort. When necessary, your dentist or doctor can prescribe stronger pain or anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, or anti-depressants to help ease symptoms.

Stabilization Splints

Your doctor or dentist may recommend an oral appliance, also called a stabilization splint or bite guard, which is a plastic guard that fits over the upper or lower teeth. Stabilization splints are the most widely used treatments for TMJ disorders. Studies of their effectiveness in providing pain relief, however, have been inconclusive. If a stabilization splint is recommended, it should be used only for a short time and should not cause permanent changes in the bite. If a splint causes or increases pain, stop using it and see your health care provider.

The conservative, reversible treatments described are useful for temporary relief of pain – they are not cures for TMJ disorders. If symptoms continue over time, come back often, or worsen, tell your doctor.

Treatment should be tailored to your individual needs. Depending on the cause of your BMS symptoms, possible treatments may include:

• adjusting or replacing irritating dentures
• treating existing disorders such as diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome, or a
• thyroid problem to improve burning mouth symptoms
• recommending supplements for nutritional deficiencies
• switching medicine, where possible, if a drug you are taking is causing
• your burning mouth
• prescribing medications to
• relieve dry mouth
• treat oral candidiasis
• help control pain from nerve damage
• relieve anxiety and depression.
  When no underlying cause can be found, treatment is aimed at the symptoms to try to reduce the pain associated with burning mouth syndrome..

A review of your medical history, a thorough oral examination, and a general medical examination may help identify the source of your burning mouth. Tests may include:

blood work to look for infection, nutritional deficiencies, and disorders associated with BMS such as diabetes or thyroid problems oral swab to check for oral candidiasis allergy testing for denture materials, certain foods, or other substances that may be causing your symptoms

There are a number of possible causes of burning mouth syndrome, including:

• damage to nerves that control pain and taste
• hormonal changes
• dry mouth, which can be caused by many medicines and disorders such as Sjögren’s syndrome or diabetes
• nutritional deficiencies
• oral candidiasis, a fungal infection in the mouth
• acid reflux
• poorly-fitting dentures or allergies to denture materials
• anxiety and depression.
  

In some people, burning mouth syndrome may have more than one cause. But for many, the exact cause of their symptoms cannot be found.

Burning Mouth SyndromeBurning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a painful, frustrating condition often described as a scalding sensation in the tongue, lips, palate, or throughout the mouth. Although BMS can affect anyone, it occurs most commonly in middle-aged or older women. BMS often occurs with a range of medical and dental conditions, from nutritional deficiencies and menopause to dry mouth and allergies. But their connection is unclear, and the exact cause of burning mouth syndrome cannot always be identified with certainty.

Moderate to severe burning in the mouth is the main symptom of BMS and can persist for months or years. For many people, the burning sensation begins in late morning, builds to a peak by evening, and often subsides at night. Some feel constant pain; for others, pain comes and goes. Anxiety and depression are common in people with burning mouth syndrome and may result from their chronic pain, tingling or numbness on the tip of the tongue or in the mouth bitter or metallic changes in taste dry or sore mouth.

With more and more studies showing links to poor oral health and over all health care issue it is important to maintain your oral and dental care health. Seniors may need to see their dentist more then just twice a year if advised by their dentist in order to properly maintain their dental healthcare needs. However with the rising cost of dental care many seniors tend to put off their dental care needs. One why to address the cost factor is by having dental insurance. There are many different types of dental insurance plans that can address different needs. One this website we offer Affordable low cost dental insurance plans such as HMO and or dental discount plans. Both of these plan types will make dental care much more affordable at a low month cost. For people that wish to stay with or choose their own dental provider we also offer dental PPO plans such as Dental Dental, and StandardLife Dental to name a few. Take a moment to review our dental insurance and plan options and see which may be the best fit for your dental needs and your budget.