Dental Health Topics

Which is Better for Dentistry: Valium or Nitrous?

2012-02-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

So, you're apprehensive about going to the dentist. You have a few appointments, some of them rather long. The dentist suggests valium or nitrous oxide for you to take. Which one should you choose? Generally your dentist would recommend one of these for you, if necessary. But to help you decide, here is some information about the two.

Valium -

inform your dentist/doctor if you have glaucoma, asthma or other breathing problems, kidney or liver disease, seizures, or a history of drug or alcohol addiction, mental illness, depression, or suicidal thoughts
do not drink alcohol while taking Valium. This medicine can increase the effects of alcohol
may be habit-forming and should be used only by the person it was prescribed for
sedative effects of Valium may last longer in older adults
may cause low blood pressure, breathing problems, or addiction and withdrawal symptoms in a newborn if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy.
An overdose of Valium can be fatal

Do not take valium if you have:

severe liver disease
narrow-angle glaucoma
a severe breathing problem

Nitrous Oxide -

works by relaxing smooth muscle to widen (dilate) blood vessels, especially in the lungs
is given in a controlled medical setting by a healthcare professional, an overdose is not likely to occur
blood pressure, oxygen levels, and other vital signs will be watched closely during treatment with nitrous oxide
an overdose of nitrious oxide is not expected to produce life-threatening symptoms
a drug interaction between nitrous oxide and other medications is not expected to occur

The dentist may make a suggestion after talking to you in order to obtain a calm patient by establishing pain and tolerance control, dynamic regulation of the blood flow in the brain and safely preparing the patient for surgery. Nitrous is available and given to children, as well as, adults. The ADA, American Dental Association confirms that you and your dentist can work together to make you feel more comfortable even during complex dental procedures.

RECOMMENDED READING

Paradise In The Dental Office

Eliminating Anxiety

The Fearful Dental Patient: A Guide to Understanding and Managing

Are Anti-Aging Products Effective and Safe?

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

There are many anti-aging products out there. Many of them even go by the name of cosmeceutical. The Clinical Dermatology Center, Geisinger Health System in Danville, PA claims that many of the products that are classified as cosmeceuticals are tested less vigorously and do not have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration to establish efficacy and safety.

The word cosmeceutical, that you may or may not heard of, has no meaning under the law and is not recognizable by the FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA uses the words drugs or cosmetics for its classification. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, FD&C Act defines drugs as those products that cure, treat, mitigate or prevent disease or that affect the structure or function of the human body. While drugs are subject to a review and approval process by FDA, cosmetics are not approved by FDA prior to sale. I could not find any studies done to determine if cosmeceuticals really work in reducing wrinkles.

Although topical creams and other anti-aging products purport to reduce the appearance of aging and skin wrinkling, there has been no critical analysis in the scientific literature of their effectiveness., states the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter, Devon, UK. The College also mentions that few trials have been done with anti-aging materials. As for the information that was found, a significant reduction in skin wrinkling was noted for date kernel extract, cork extract, soy extract, Rosaceae and peony extract. No significant reduction was noted for green tea, Vitaphenol® (a combination of green and white teas, mangosteen and pomegranate extract) or maca root.

What we eat has always been something to consider to prevent aging. Food with antioxidants has been thought to slow the aging process, but according to The National Institute on Aging, studies of antioxidant-laden foods and supplements in humans have yielded little support for the premise that antioxidants could slow the aging process. The Cleveland Clinic explains that eating a diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, but not to the prevention of aging. Many claim that a reduction in calories may reduce the aging process, although that idea and process needs more research as does intermittent fasting to lengthen a life.

RECOMMENDED READING

The Anti-Aging Plan: The Nutrient-Rich, Low-Calorie Way of Eating for a Longer Life--The Only Diet Scientifically Proven to Extend Your Healthy Years

The Youth Pill: Scientists at the Brink of an Anti-Aging Revolution

Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles: Eat Your Way to Firmer, More Beautiful Skin with the 100 Best Anti-Aging Foods

Look and Feel Fabulous Forever: The World's Best Supplements, Anti-Aging Techniques, and High-Tech

Are Writstbands Effective for Eliminating Mosquito Bites?

2012-01-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Wristbands are everywhere. They are used for identification by their color coding. They are used for the protection against nausea and there are some for the protection against mosquitoes. Some of the wristbands for the protection against mosquitos contain DEET and some do not. DEET, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, is designed for direct application to human skin to repel insects, rather than kill them. Products containing DEET are registered with the EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency. The CDC, Center for Disease Control, recommends use of insect repellents when out-of-doors. Studies submitted to EPA indicate that DEET repels ticks for about three to eight hours, depending on the percentage of DEET in the product.

• Products containing 23.8% DEET provide an average of 5 hours of protection from mosquito bites
• Products containing 20% DEET provide almost 4 hours of protection
• Products with 6.65% DEET provide almost 2 hours of protection
• Products with 4.75% DEET were both able to provide roughly 1 and a half hour of protection

As far as wristbands, I could not find many studies on them. Ethiopia is the only place that has provided any information on the wristbands and they are supporting them. They do say that DEET-impregnated fabric strips at a concentration of 1.5 mg/cm(2) provided 4 hours of complete protection against mosquito bites and the reduction of man-landing rate varied between 51.21 and 100%.

The present data suggest that DMP, dimethyl phthalate, treated wristbands are most promising against both day and night-biting mosquitoes and significantly reducing the man-vector contact. Therefore, it could serve as a potential as means of personal protection device against insect nuisance biting and insect-borne disease when and where other kinds of personal protection measures are impossible and impracticable, according to College of Public Health & Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.

RECOMMENDED READING

Mosquito

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears: A West African Tale

Mosquito: The Story of Man's Deadliest Foe

AVAILABLE PRODUCTS

BuzzBarrier Mosquito & Insect Repellant Wristbands - Great for Kids and Pets! (5 Pack) - Patented Swiss Technology, University Tested - Water-Proof, Non-Toxic and DEET Free

Five (5) Bugs Lock Mosquito Insect Repellent Wrist Bands

Evergreen Research SuperBand Insect Repellent 10-Pack

What Musculoskeletal Risk Factors Do Dental Practictioners Face?

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

According to NIOSH, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has reported a couple of musculoskeletal risks. Unsurprisingly, one of them involving the neck and shoulder and the other involving the wrist. Dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants used to stand to perform dentistry, although operatory setups have improved and dental procedures have been taught sitting so that dental personnel can sit with ergonomic improvements. However, it is still common for some dental personnel to stand as to have better visual and physical access and better leverage.

As for neck and shoulder disorders, Dentists report 26-73% period prevalence of neck symptoms over the previous year, and 20-65% with shoulder symptoms. Dental hygienists report even higher rates, from 54-83% for neck and 35-76% for shoulder, and dental assistants in between (38-62% and 27-62% respectively).

Carpal tunnel syndrome, among dental practitioners is the repeated high pinch force applied during periodontal scaling. There seems to be a reduction in wrist problems with practitioners who have been scaling for years, possibly indicating that new dental practitioners use a higher level of force.

According to the ADA, American Dental Society, Clinical dentistry is physically demanding in some very specific ways. Backs, necks, shoulders, wrists and hands that for some reason are vulnerable to injury may be challenged by a combination of position, repetitive motion, stress, and even leisure activities.

RECOMMENDED READING

Musculoskeletal Medicine

Pocket Guide to Musculoskeletal Diagnosis (Musculoskeletal Medicine)

Fitness Professionals' Guide to Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Human Movement

Is Penicillin Suitable To Prevent Tick Lyme Disease?

2011-12-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Lyme disease, a tick-borne syndrome, was first described in 1975. The etiologic agent of Lyme disease is Borrelia burgdorferi, a slow-growing spirochete. There are three stages of Lyme disease. Stage I is distinguised by erythema chronicum migrans and flu-like symptoms; stage II is distinguished by dermatologic, ophthalmologic, neurologic, and cardiac disorders; and stage III is distinguished by arthritis, a multiple sclerosis-like syndrome, psychiatric disorders, and a chronic fatigue syndrome.

Instead of preventing Lyme Disease, it's better to say decrease your chance of getting Lyme Disease. The Mayo Clinic suggests that when walking in wooded or grassy areas, wear shoes, long pants tucked into your socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat and gloves. Try to stick to trails and avoid walking through low bushes and long grass. I found no where that penicillin is used to prevent Lyme Disease.

As for the actual treatment of Lyme Disease, Penicillin and tetracycline have been prescribed during stage I to accelerate the ending of stage I symptoms. For patients with early Lyme disease, tetracycline appears to be the most effective drug, then penicillin, and finally erythromycin.

An older study, done in Stockholm Sweden in 1994 found that Oral doxycycline is an adequate and cost-effective alternative to IV penicillin for the treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis, which is considered stage II.

According to the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida, tetracycline or doxycycline appears to be more effective than penicillin in preventing the development of late Lyme disease. Cefotaxime may be more effective at increasing complete recovery rates and at improving symptoms of neuropathy in people with late Lyme Disease states BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

A study done over 10 years ago compared patients treated with prednisone alone and it was found that the duration of meningitic syndrome was significantly shorter in those given penicillin, therefore determining that a high-dose of intravenous penicillin is effective therapy for neurologic abnormalities of Lyme disease.

In the penicillin group of drugs, there are many kinds of penicillin. Side effects common among the kinds of penicillin are black or hairy tongue; mild diarrhea; nausea or vomiting; pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site.

RECOMMENDED VIEWING

Lyme Disease: The Holistic Approach

Lyme Disease: Facts for Kids (4 Programs, 2 in English - 2 in Spanish)

Lyme Disease: Time for Truth (1996) [VHS]

How To Integrate Diet Advice in Dental Management?

2011-12-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Since the exposure to fluoride, negative dental health has weakened, however, it has not diminished. It is still necessary for dental professionals to educate their dental patients. Research has unequivocally shown sugars to be the main aetiological factor for dental caries. According to the School of Dental Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, repeat dietary surveys of English children over three decades indicate that levels of sugars intake have remained stable, while sources of sugars have changed considerably, with the contribution from soft drinks more than doubling since 1980.

Dental Health significantly effects overall health and some areas of concentration are:

-Frequent consumption of simple carbohydrates, primarily in the form of dietary sugars, is significantly associated with increased dental caries risk

-Malnutrition (undernutrition or overnutrition) in children is often a consequence of inappropriate infant and childhood feeding practices and dietary behaviors associated with limited access to fresh, nutrient dense foods, substituting instead high-energy, low-cost, nutrient-poor sugary and fatty foods

-Nutrition affects the teeth during development and malnutrition may exacerbate periodontal and oral infectious diseases, since nutrition influences craniofacial development, oral cancer and oral infectious diseases

-Dental diseases impact considerably on self-esteem and quality of life and are expensive to treat

-Lack of availability of quality food stores in rural and poor neighborhoods, food insecurity, and changing dietary beliefs resulting from acculturation, including changes in traditional ethnic eating behaviors, can further deter healthful eating and increase risk for early childhood caries and obesity

RECOMMENDED VIEWING

Teeth: Some Facts to Chew On (Home Use)

Teeth: Some Facts to Chew On (Professional Use)

RECOMMENDED READING

Diet and Nutrition in Oral Health (2nd Edition)

National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Report of the Oral Health Survey v. 2: People Over 65

Reversing Gum Disease Naturally: A Holistic Home Care Program

Nutrition and Oral Medicine (Nutrition and Health)

Do E-cigs or Electronic Cigarettes Contain Nicotine?

2011-11-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Electronic cigarettes or e-cigs (ecigs) are becoming increasingly popular because of the aerosol, comprised mostly of water, that is exhaled, although water is not what is in the e-cigs. According to the Division of Health Behavior Research, School of Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis MO, there is not much research done on these cigarettes to determine if there is a heath risk in using them. E-cig users are considered "Vapors." So far the FDA has not become involved with e-cigs. In April 2011, the FDA stated that e-cigarettes and other products are not drugs/devices uness they are marketed for therapeutic purposes, but that products "made or derived from tobacco" can be regulated as "tobacco products" under the FD&C Act.

According to a study done in 2009, these products contain diethylene glycol, the same product used in anti-freeze. E-cigs also contain nicotine, just like cigarettes. Public health experts have expressed concern that electronic cigarettes could increase nicotine addiction and tobacco use in young people. The Mayo Clinic also states, that until more is known about the potentia risks, the safe pay is to say no to electronic cigarettes.

RECOMMENDED READING

X-Halers Smokeless Cigarette and CD Stop Smoking Program

Electronic Cigarettes: Technology that is replacing tobacco

The Complete Electronic Cigarette Guide (Dave & Joel's Electric Smoke)

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Honeyrose "DeLuxe" Tobacco Free Nicotine Free Herbal Cigarettes

SMOKESMART Cigarette Reduction System

Boiron - Quit Smoking Carekit, 1 kit

UBIE PORTABLE VAPORIZER - ABSOLUTE LOWEST PRICE!

Does SNUS Stain Your Teeth?

2011-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

There is good and bad to smokeless tobacco products. Let's start off with the good. According to the American Cancer Society, the first dose of nicotine makes a person feel awake and alert, while later doses make them feel calm and relaxed.

Now, let's go to the bad. As you can see, the good was noted above this line and the bad is noted below this line.

Smokeless tobacco products cover a large territory including oral, chewing, snuff, spit, and spit-less tobacco. Snus, pronounced snoose, represents something more. Snus is an attempt to move smokeless tobacco beyond stereotypical users such as baseball players and rodeo cowboys, and into offices or restaurants where people want a nicotine fix but can't light up, according to an article in USA Today. Snus and all other smokeless tobacco are not particularly healthy and they are causing health problems. Some of those health problems include; destruction of the bone sockets around the teeth, and tooth loss. They also cause the same glamor problems, you might say, as cigarettes, such as bad breath and stained teeth.

For many years studies have shown that In addition to cancers, oral health concerns related to smokeless tobacco include leukoplakia, gingivitis, periodontitis, and dental caries as well as cosmetic concerns such as tooth staining, malodor, and tooth loss with resultant disfigurement, notes an article from The American Journal of Public Health.

Nicotine lowers skin temperature and reduces blood flow in the legs and feet. Nicotine is what gets people addicted to the tobacco, but tobacco is the culprit that causes all the problems. Therefore, smokeless tobacco is just as dangerous as cigarettes, causing just as many health issues.

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Honeyrose "B" Blue - Tobacco Free Nicotine Free Herbal Cigarettes

Equate: Stop Smoking Aid Nicotine Lozenge

Nicotrol Nicotine Gum 2mg Mint

Are Low-Income People at Higher Risk for Dental Caries?

2011-10-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

What do adults give their children to drink. There are many drinks that are geared toward children. Kool-aid is probably the most popular. Yes, there are unsweetened versions and parents should encourage their children to drink unsweetened drinks, or better yet, parents should encourage heir children to drink water.

Carbonated soft drinks are another problem, however, Coke is trying to discourage drinking soft drinks containing sugar. The Journal of Dental Research has done a study on children drinking soft drinks and their study suggests high consumption of carbonated soft drinks by young children is a risk indicator for dental caries in the primary dentition and should be discouraged.

Coke and Kool-aid are given to all classes of children, high-income, low-income and middle income, so assuming that these products are causing dental caries in low-income may or may not be appropriate information.

However, there have been studies on diets of low-income people and we find that their diets are less than of nutritional quality. Low-income people seem to be high on a study done in Detroit on low-income African American children suggests that children who consumed more soft drinks, relative to milk and 100% fruit juice, as they grew older were at a greater risk of developing dental caries, according JADA, the Journal of the American Dental Association. This study was complimented with another study that NCBI, National Center for Biotechnological Information reported. The latter study indicated that caries was extensive, with 82.3% of the 1,021 participants. This population had severe caries, poor oral hygiene, and diets that are high in sugars and fats and low in fruits and vegetables. Apart from tap water, the most frequently consumed food item by adults of all ages was soft drinks. Nearly three quarters of the adult participants were overweight or obese. The study participants were low-income African-American adults, residents of Detroit Michigan, with household incomes below 250% of the federally-established poverty level.

This information is not only applicable to the U.S., but also other countries. England, for example has found that poorer women are more likely to eat low amounts of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fish, and higher amounts of sugar and sweetened drinks compared with more affluent women.

Dietary advice should be given by dental health professionals to advice people to increase the consumption of starchy staple foods (eg bread, potatoes and unsweetened cereals), vegetables and fruit to reduce the consumption of sugary and fatty foods, states the School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University in England.

RECOMMENDED READING

Can low-income Americans afford a healthy diet?: An article from: Frozen Food Digest

Low income families: Their diets and sources of information about foods

Effects of foods and nutrition education on food practices of low income families in four Mississippi counties, Summer 1966,

Does Chronic Renal Failure Effect Your Periodontal Health?

2011-10-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

According to the National Kidney Foundation, more than 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease and most don’t know it. Anyone anyone 18 years and older with high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of these conditions or kidney disease is a candidate for kidney disease. Having to go through hemodialysis is very important in the maintenance of kidney disease, along with maintaining your diet. Good foods to eat include carrots, cucumber, peaches, watermelon, tangerines, but not oranges. Your diet may change once you start dialysis.

Preventive programs are necessary to promote the oral health status of haemodialysis patients are also needed since patients with chronic renal failure have less favorable periodontal health than the average patient, according to information from the Department of Oral Medicine, Iranian Center for Research in Oral and Dental Diseases, Kerman School of Dentistry. A better diet will also affect your oral health.

At the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Finland found that saliva components after renal transplantation showed significant improvement compared with components found during the predialysis stage. It has also been found by the Department of Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry at Vrije Universiteit, in Amsterdam that renal transplantation enhances salivary flow and decreases symptoms of xerostomia and thirst. This indicating that your periodontal health may improve after renal transplantation.

RECOMMENDED READING

Silver Spoons: Hemodialysis Cookbook

Long-Term Hemodialysis; The Management of the Patient With Chronic Renal Failure

Hemodialysis - From Basic Research to Clinical Trials (Contributions to Nephrology)

What Percentage of Alcohol in Whitening Mouthwashes?

2011-09-15T00:01:00.001-07:00

Alcohol is a drying agent and any mouthwashes containing alcohol will make an effect on your oral hygiene. Natural saliva contains substances that rid the mouth of the bacteria that cause dental decay or cavities and mouth infections, so good oral hygiene is extremely important when you have dry mouth, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Some mouthwashes and mouth rinses are documented here with the amount of alcohol, so that you can choose which mouthwashes benefit you.

Listerine® Whitening Vibrant White - 8%, Sugar Free with Sorbitol
Listerine® Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse - 8% - Sugar Free with Sorbitol
Listerine® Whitening Plus Restoring - 10-20% - Sugar Free with Sorbitol
Listerine® Total Care Plus Whitening- 21.6% Alcohol, Sugar Free with Sorbitol

Scope® White Mint Spash - 3-7% Alcohol,
Crest® 3D White Multi-Care Whitening Rinse - Alcohol Free, Sodium Saccharin
Crest® ExtraWhite Plus Scope Outlast - Alcohol Free
Crest Pro-Health Night Clean - Alcohol Free, Sodium Saccharin

BreathRx Anti-Bacterial Mouth Rinse -Alcohol Free, Sugar Free

Colgate® Total™ - Alcohol Free, Sugar Free with Sorbitol

Rembrandt® Deeply White™ + Peroxide Whitening Mouthwash

Aim Whitening Mouthwash - Alcohol Free, Sugar Free with Xylitol

Nature's Answer Periowash - Alcohol Free, Sugar Free with Xylitol

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS

SmartMouth Alcohol-Free Mouthwash, Fresh Mint, 16-Ounce Box (Pack of 2)
Listermint Mouthwash With Fresh Mint Flavor 32-Ounce (Pack of 3)
BreathRx Anti-Bacterial Mouth Rinse (33oz Bottle), Large Economy Size.
Nature's Answer Periowash Alcohol-free Mouthwash, Wintermint, 16-Ounce

Can You Get Gum Disease From Chewing Tobacco?

2011-09-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Chewing tobacco and snuff are both considered smokeless tobacco. Chewing tobacco is packaged in a pouch or a brick and is placed between the cheek and gum. It is kept in the mouth for many hours to get the high from the nicotine. Snuff, on the other hand, is in powdered form and is sold in cans. A pinch is all that is needed to get the quick high from getting absorbed into the bloodstream.

Plaque is the main cause of gum disease is plaque, but other factors can effect the health of your gums. Anything that effects the tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth is considered gum disease. Gum disease includes gingivitis and periodontitis. Smokeless tobacco can definitely affect the health of your gums and is an increasing problem among adults. It may not cause gingivitis which is red and swollen gums, but it definitely can cause periodontitis, which is the gums pulling away from the teeth.

The problem is smokeless tobacco contains a lot of sugar which forms an acid that may eat away the tooth enamel, causing cavities and mouth sores, note the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. Placing anything in the mouth and having continuous contact with the gums may cause the gums to recede and exposing the more of your teeth. JADA, the Journal of the American Dental Association adds, chewing tobacco may be a risk factor in the development of root-surface caries and, to a lesser extent, coronal caries. This may be due to high sugar content and increased gingival recession.

Using smokeless tobacco may also cause heart disease, gum disease, and oral lesions other than cancer, such as leukoplakia (precancerous white patches in the mouth), according to the National Cancer Institute.

RECOMMENDED READING

What You Should Know About Gum Disease

Reversing Gum Disease Naturally: A Holistic Home Care Program

The Roots of Disease: Connecting Dentistry & Medicine

What Diseases Cause Dry Mouth?

2011-08-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Dry mouth can be a normal problem. For instance, if you are under stress, maybe you are upset, or maybe you are just thirsty. There are, however, some diseases that cause your mouth to feel like you don't have enough saliva. This can be a real health issue.

Saliva has some importance in your mouth. For one, it helps to digest your food. Two, it protects teeth from decay. Three, it protects infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth. Four, it makes it possible for you to chew and swallow.

Without enough saliva you can develop tooth decay or other infections in the mouth. You also might not get the nutrients you need if you cannot chew and swallow certain foods, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

Diseases that cause dry mouth are:

Alcoholic liver disease -usually occurs after years of excessive drinking

Sjögren’s Syndrome - an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks a person’s own body

Diarrhea - having loose watery stools, chronic diarrhea may be a symptom of a chronic disease

Burning Mouth Syndrome - moderate to severe burning in the mouth

Viral Gastroenteritis - intestinal infection caused by several different viruses

Diabetes - a chronic disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood

Graft-versus-host disease - a complication that can occur after a stem cell or bone marrow transplant in which the newly transplanted material attacks the transplant recipient's body

Side effect of too much Vitamin D

Scleroderma - a group of diseases that affect the connective tissues in the body

Bell's Palsy - a form of temporary facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to one of the facial nerves

Bell's Palsy Natural Treatments and Cures

Diseases of the Salivary Glands: Including Dry Mouth and Sjogren's Syndrome Diagnosis and Treatment

Scleroderma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Effective Treatments Official Guide from the National Institute of Skin Diseases

Are Teens At High Risk for Bone Loss During Pregnancy?

2011-08-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Woman who are pregnant absorb calcium from foods more than non-pregnant woman. It appears that even though a baby does not draw calcium from a mother's teeth, a baby does draw calcium from a mother's bones especially during the last three months of the mother's pregnancy so that the baby's bones will grow, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The reason the last three months is accentuated is because, while in the womb, the baby becomes more active during the last three months and it is thought that this activity is necessary for bone development. Therefore, the calcium for the bones is drawn from the mother.

Luckily, during this time, most woman do not experience any bone problems. This does not say that there not other problems to consider. For instance, teenage mothers may be at especially high risk for bone loss during pregnancy and for osteoporosis later in life, stated by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

I have found that some articles call woman 15-19 years old adolescent and some articles call woman in this age group teens. Paediatrics and Child Health, which is the Journal of the Canadian Paediatric Society, calls woman in this category adolescents and they state that adolescent females, very often, have diets low in calcium and iron. It just seems that chips and fast foods are more the norm. Unlike older women, adolescent mothers are still building their own bones. If a woman is pregnant during these adolescent years, the unborn baby's need to develop its skeleton may compete with the young mother's need for calcium to build her own bones, compromising her ability to achieve optimal bone mass that will help protect her from osteoporosis later in life.

This indicates that pediatricians and young mother's should be very perceptive on maintaining calcium in the diet or taking calcium supplement tablets.

SUGGESTED READING

Your Pregnancy & Newborn Journey: A Guide for Pregnant Teens

Teen Mom: A Journal

Teen Dads: Rights, Responsibilities & Joys (Teen Pregnancy and Parenting series)

Is Failure of Dental Implants Caused by Osteoporosis Drugs?

2011-07-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Common drugs, taken orally, used to treat osteoporosis include Actonel Boniva, Didronel, Fosamax, Fosamax Plus D and Skelid. A few intravenously administered include Aredia, Bonefos and Zometa.

This is important because there have been cases reported that state osteonecrosis of the jaw has been caused by osteoporosis drugs. Osteonecrosis of the jaw is a serious and severe bone disease that effects the upper and lower jaw caused by reduced local blood supply. Since there are orally administered and intravenously administered osteoporosis drugs, it is important to note that data from Merck pharmaceutical company shows that patients under treatment with oral bisphosphonate therapy are at a considerably lower risk for Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the jaw than patients treated with IV bisphosphonates.

It seems that the majority of reported cases of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw have been diagnosed after dental procedures such as tooth extraction, according to the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs. It was in 2003-04, when

oral and maxillofacial surgeons were the first clinicians to recognize and report cases of non-healing exposed, necrotic bone in the maxillofacial region in patients treated with intravenously administered bisphosphonates.

Oral bisphosphonates are prescribed for a number of diseases, but the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons states that oral bisphosphonates are usually prescribed for osteoporosis patients and they are approved to treat osteoporosis and are frequently used to treat osteopenia as well. They may be also used to treat Paget’s disease of bone, and osteogenesis imperfecta of childhood, but by far they are mostly used for treating osteoporosis. Intravenous bisphosphonates are primarily used and effective in the treatment and management of cancer-related conditions.

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Sheba Medical Center in Israel concludes that patients undergoing bisphosphonate treatment and who receive dental implants require a prolonged follow-up period to detect any development of Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with dental implants.

RECOMMENDED READING

Building Bone Vitality: A Revolutionary Diet Plan to Prevent Bone Loss and Reverse Osteoporosis--Without Dairy Foods, Calcium, Estrogen, or Drugs

Osteoporosis: An Exercise Guide

Better Bones, Better Body : Beyond Estrogen and Calcium

Can Bone Loss from SNUS Lead to Cancer?

2011-07-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

I can find no studies that indicate that bone loss from SNUS leads to cancer. Matter-of-fact, I can find no evidence that bone loss in general leads to cancer. What I can find is just the opposite, cancer leads to bone loss. The University of Southern Florida, College of Medicine in Tampa adds that bone complications of cancer are increasingly common with the elderly. The College recommends that all patients 65 years of age and older are at risk of osteoporosis when treated with cytotoxic agents, and so should be screened for bone loss.

Cancer treatment can dramatically reduce bone density and increase the rate of bone turnover and the risk of fragility fracture. SNUS is unassociated with cancer of the oropharynx, oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, lung or other sites, or with heart disease or stroke.

"Snuff-dipper's lesion" does not predict oral cancer, according to P.N. Lee Statistics and Computing Ltd, of the U.K. By working closely with medical experts, P.N. Lee has extensive experience in the design and analysis of epidemiological studies.

It does seem a bit funny that SNUS leads to pancreatic cancer and an increased risk of colon cancer, but not colorectal or anal cancer, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

RECOMMENDED READING

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer

Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do: Third Edition

The Biology of Cancer

Should a Mother Eat Peanuts During Pregnancy?

2011-06-15T00:02:00.000-07:00

In 1998, the UK government issued precautionary advice that pregnant or breast-feeding women with a family history of atopy, may wish to avoid eating peanuts during pregnancy and lactation. The government said that the result of woman eating peanuts at this time of their lives, when they are pregnant, has led to children being allergic to peanuts. This has been a controversial issue for years. Some doctors are supporting it and some are not.

The American Academy of Pediatrics confirmed that nutritional options during pregnancy, lactation, and the first year of life that may affect the development of atopic disease (atopic dermatitis, asthma, food allergy) in early life. In 2008, it was noted that current evidence did not support this. They did, however, support the idea that breastfeeding for at least 4 months, compared with feeding formula made with intact cow milk protein, prevents or delays the occurrence of atopic dermatitis, cow milk allergy, and wheezing in early childhood. The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine reported that their main finding was of an increased risk of asthma symptoms, but not atopy, with daily (compared with "rare") consumption of nut products, but not nuts per se. As you can see, this debate has gone on for years.

So exactly, what is the stance today. According to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, a study suggests that in this cohort of infants with likely milk or egg allergy, maternal ingestion of peanut during pregnancy was strongly associated with a high level of peanut sensitization.

Suggested Reading

Peanut Allergies and Pregnancy

The Infertility Diet: Get Pregnant and Prevent Miscarriage

The Peanut Allergy Answer Book: 2nd Edition

Suggested Medical Alert Apparel

Medical Alert Peanut Allergy Dog Tag Necklace

AllerMates Peanut Allergy Awareness Wristband P. Nutty

Medical Alert Stainless ID TAG for Bracelet ~ Peanut / NUT ALLERGY

Does Lyme Disease Effect Your Chewing?

2011-06-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

There are medical symptoms caused by Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected Blacklegged tick. Even your face and mouth can be effected by this disease. The rash, called erythema migrans, may be solid red, form a ring or multiple rings called a "bulls-eye" appearance, reported by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. The tick can bite a person on the face, causing a ring on the face, but also the masticatory organ can also be affected. The masticatory organ consists of teeth, mandibular joints and chewing muscles, noted by the Institute of Craniomandibular Dysfunction.

Multiorgan clinical manifestations of borreliosis might occur in the masticatory organ and this fact should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of pain by medical and dental practitioners, according to the Chair and Department of Conservative Dentistry, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.

Early treatment typically consists of orally administered antibiotics, like Tetracycline given to adults or Penicillin given to children. Although, even with treatment, symptoms may persist for some time and a full recovery is not always possible.

RECOMMENDED READING

Healing Lyme: Natural Healing And Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis And Its Coinfections

The Top 10 Lyme Disease Treatments: Defeat Lyme Disease with the Best of Conventional and Alternative Medicine

Insights Into Lyme Disease Treatment: 13 Lyme-Literate Health Care Practitioners Share Their Healing Strategies

What is Causing the Breakdown of Composite Fillings?

2011-05-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

There is considerable concern on the chemical breakdown of composite resins or more commonly known as white dental fillings. It is always important to know what may be causing these filling to not hold up as well as silver or amalgam fillings. According to the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto, Human saliva contains cholesterol esterase (CE)- and pseudocholinesterase (PCE)-like hydrolase activities. The study done at the University of Toronto concluded that CE and PCE act synergistically to increase the biodegradation of both composite resin materials. Both of these are enzymes and without them, serious health concerns can exist. Some enzymes help join specific molecules together to form new molecules and other enzymes help break specific molecules apart into separate molecules. Enzymes in your digestive system break food down into small molecules that can be absorbed by the body.

The Research Institute for Medicines and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal more recently reported that different factors such as saliva characteristics, chewing or thermal and chemical dietary changes may be responsible for the biodegradation of acrylic based resins.

If people want the white fillings, we need to find out what we can do to enhance their durability. The Department of Science Dental School in Siena, Italy has possibly found that a post-cure heat treatment may be useful for enhancing the flexural strength of resin composites. The Department of Restorative Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, MA in Brazil has confirmed the same approach, but believes more studies are still needed for verification. The Department of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dental Science, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands says that under specific conditions we have been able to show that fibers do reinforce resin composite beams.

RECOMMENDED READING

Everything You Need to Know About Enzymes: A Simple Guide to Using Enzymes to Treat Everything from Digestive Problems and Allergies to Migraines and Arthritis

Enzyme Factor

Whole saliva flow rate and proteolytic activity induced by an enzyme-containing chewing gum (SAM-TR)

Does Poor Oral Health Affect Chronic Kidney Disease?

2011-05-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

A Drum Dialyzer, the first rudimentary dialysis machine was developed in the 1940's by a Dutch doctor, William Kolff. The next improvement was made by Dr. Nils Alwell, from Sweden, was responsible for the next phase of the dialysis machine as we know it today.

Since then, Sweden has contributed a number of studies on kidney disease. One of them is on oral health and kidney disease. Recent evidence links periodontal disease with chronic kidney disease.

The situation is whether poor oral health affects chronic kidney disease or if chronic kidney disease affects oral health. It appears that the consequences of poor oral health may be more severe in chronic kidney disease patients because of advanced age and common comorbidities such as diabetes and concurrent medications, according to the Department of Clinical Science at the Karolinska Institutet, in Sweden.

At the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital and Institute of Dentistry, in Finland, found that diabetic patients also had more dental caries and lower salivary flow rates than other chronic kidney disease patients.

So it appears that prior to kidney disease, people need to be especially concerned with their oral health and take extra care brushing and flossing.

RECOMMENDED READING

Raising oral health awareness among nephrology nurses.(Report): An article from: Journal of Dental Hygiene

Coping with Kidney Disease: A 12-Step Treatment Program to Help You Avoid Dialysis

Chronic Kidney Disease: Are You at Risk? (Home Use)

Should Dental Care Providers Give Dietary Advice?

2011-04-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

In England, at the Department of Applied Clinical Research and Public Health at the Cardiff University School of Dentistry, a bit of controversy has arisen on whether dentists are providing the proper nutrition information that the government does to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food. Some of the dental leaflets conflict with the Food Standards Agency guidelines. Items such as chips are indicated as healthy for your oral health, but the Food Standards Agency indicates that crisps or chips are unhealthy because they do not protect the consumer's interest as a way to tackle obesity. Some of the dental leaflets also suggested that cheese was healthy with no limits on portion size. With no limits, this could conflict with nutritional guidelines associated with percentage energy contribution of saturated fat to the diet.

For years, the American Dental Association has recommended that children and adults limit eating and drinking between meals and, when they must snack, give preference to nutritious foods identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's or USDA's dietary guidelines.

According to the Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dental personnel and dentists can play a critical role in motivating and enabling healthy food choices.

It appears that some leaflets are not consistent and that dental professionals should acknowledge these differences when selecting leaflets to hand out in their office.

RECOMMENDED READING

Teeth: Some Facts to Chew On

Diet and Nutrition in Oral Health (2nd Edition)

Cure Tooth Decay: Heal And Prevent Cavities With Nutrition - Limit And Avoid Dental Surgery and Fluoride

Is Dental Caries A Problem for For Type 2 Diabetes?

2011-04-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

It is known that there is a higher probability of bone loss or periodontal disease among diabetic patients. But the information from those studies does not include caries or tooth decay information for diabetics. In reality, dental caries causes gingivitis, gingivitis advances and causes periodontal disease or bone loss.

Our blood turns a lot of the food we eat into sugar for our bodies to use for energy. A hormone secreted by the pancreas called insulin helps sugar in our blood get into the cells of our bodies. The American Diabetes Association says that if your body doesn’t make enough insulin, as in type 1 diabetes, or if the insulin doesn’t work the way it should, as in type 2 diabetes, blood sugar can’t get into your cells and instead stays in your blood, raising your blood sugar level.

Optimum salivary flow rate is responsible for establishing protective environment against dental caries, according to a recent study at Department of Biochemistry, Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry in Pakistan. Tooth decay or cavities are consequences of caries. If left untreated, the disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection, and, in severe cases, death.

According to a study done at the Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla, Thailand, "It appears that Type 2 Diabetes Melitis is a significant risk factor for root surface, but not for coronal caries. Periodontal disease should be treated early in type 2 diabetic subjects to reduce the risk of subsequent root surface caries."

What they are saying is that bacteria that gets under the gums on the roots of the teeth is more of a risk factor than bacteria on the visible portion of the teeth for type 2 diabetics.

RECOMMENDED READING

The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

Diabetes For Dummies

Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes

Does Smoking Make You Bald?

2011-03-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

I believe everyone has an idea that nicotine stains teeth. There are plenty of articles that explain that and plenty of indications by actual smokers. According to NIDCR, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, brushing your teeth won't make the tobacco stain go away. The staining is too hard and must be scraped or scaled off by a dental hygienist or dentist. There are also more indications and signs of a smoker on the body. The most evident and enduring signs of smoking are the tar and nicotine stains can also be found on hands, fingers, lips and on the skin in addition to the teeth. Smoking, as you might know causes premature skin aging. All of these signs also point to a cardiovascular risk among smokers. It seems like a smoker can easily be spotted by all these dark stains effecting the cardiovascular system and body.

Another area of the body that is effected by smoking is the hair, or loss of hair, you might say. Studies indicate that smoke genotoxicants cause damage to the DNA of the hair follicle. Secondhand smoke exposure was studied in Ghana by Environmental Health Science Department, Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. The reason Ghana was selected is because Ghana has no legislature to prevent smoking in public places. I did not find any recent studies later than 2003, but in 2003, an observational study had indicated a significant relationship between smoking and baldness. Another study around that time period also indicated that the nicotine content of white hair was much less than that of black hair collected from the same subjects with grizzled hair, according to the Department of Pharmacology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Japan.

It appears that hair nicotine levels among nonsmokers working in places with there are no restrictions on smoking were similar to hair nicotine levels of active smokers, according to the Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine in New Zealand.

RECOMMENDED READING

Effects of Smoking Activity Model

The physical effects of smoking; preliminary experimental studies

Causes and Effects of Smoking

Can We Determine What You Eat By Microwear?

2011-03-01T00:05:00.000-08:00

The health of people and the importance of food they have eaten is under careful study. We can determine if early ancestors ate plant, meat or both plant and meat depending on food availability. These studies are done on the buccal tooth-surface microwear, where the average density and length of the striations on the buccal, or cheek, surfaces of teeth. Tooth-surface microwear is highly correlated with abrasive particles in foodstuffs during chewing are this is determined by the abrasiveness of food eaten. For instance, many fossil hominins exhibit antemortem chips on their posterior teeth, indicating their use of a strong bite to consume large hard foods such as seeds.

The high density of striations observed in the buccal surfaces of several Neanderthal teeth might be indicative of the inclusion of plant foods in their diet, states a study done by the Department on Animal Biology at the University of Barcelona. Some of the reasons I have found for studying microwear it to determine the ecology of extinct mammals.

We could take this information a step further. We could use this material to determine how healthy extinct mammals, or even our ancestors, were by what they ate. Maybe we could even use this type of information in autopsy of humans. Maybe we could use this information to determine how a tooth implant may have become loose. This is not entirely out of the question as the Center of Biomechanics and Skeletal Biology at the University Medical Center of Hamburg-Eppendorf Germany has already started investigating this. They found that the interpretation of findings indicates that different mechanisms of origin in terms of tissue contamination with wear debris and the alloy should be included in the improvement of implants or implantation techniques.

I did not find much information on this, but I don't see why more people don't allow this to be done. Maybe it is not entirely possible because a study done by the Department of Biology at Duke University, states that the abrasiveness of dietary components depends not only on the hardness of the particles ingested, but also on the presence of dust and other exogenous elements introduced during food processing. Personally, I don't see dust making much of an effect on the surface of our teeth compared to seeds, but that's what studies are for.

RECOMMENDED READING

Experimental Determination of Stone Tool Uses: A Microwear Analysis (Prehistoric Archeology and Ecology series)

Teach yourself microwear analysis: A guide to the interpretation of the function of stone tools (Arqueohistorica)

Dental microwear of fossil bovids from northern Greece: paleoenvironmental conditions in the eastern Mediterranean during the Messinian [An article from: ... Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology]

Should You Use PerioGard® to Heal Swollen Gums?

2011-02-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Periogard®  Oral Rinse contains 5-10% ethanol and it has a pH range of 5-7, which is near neutral.  Pharmacokinetic studies with a 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse  indicate approximately 30% of the active ingredient is retained in the  oral cavity following rinsing. This retained drug is slowly released  into the oral fluids. Studies conducted on human subjects and animals  demonstrate chlorhexidine gluconate is poorly absorbed from the  gastrointestinal tract.

Chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse can cause staining of oral  surfaces, such as tooth surfaces, restorations, and the dorsum of the  tongue.  Not all patients will experience a visually significant  increase in toothstaining.  In clinical testing, 56% of chlorhexidine  gluconate oral rinse users exhibited a measurable increase in facial  anterior stain, compared to 35% of control users after six months; 15%  of chlorhexidine gluconate users developed what was judged to be heavy  stain, compared to 1% of control users after six months.  Stain will be  more pronounced in patients who have heavier accumulations of unremoved  plaque.

According to a literature review from JADA, Journal of the American Dental Association, To decrease staining  caused by irrigation with chlorhexidine rinses (for example,  0.12 percent concentrations, Peridex [Zila Inc.] and  PerioGard [Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals]), clinicians can  dilute the rinses to 0.02 percent. The selection of a 0.02  percent chlorhexidine concentration is based on a study that  determined that a reduced amount of chlorhexidine (0.02  percent) delivered with an irrigator achieved a clinical result  similar to that achieved with a 0.2 percent concentration, and  reduced staining.  This concentration can be formulated by diluting 0.12  percent chlorhexidine mouthrinses with five parts water to  one part chlorhexidine. 

In clinical tests, users of chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse had more calculus on the teeth, on the side of the dental crowns, that non-chlorhexidine gluconate users.

  People with special needs are always a challenge in dentistry.  Many times people admitted to nursing homes or to intensive care units have a high amount of dental plaque.  Intellectually and  physically disabled, as well as those with high caries and  periodontal disease activity, require additional vigilance  and interventions to prevent oral disease activity.

I would like to point out two additional overlooked populations that fall into this category are hospitalized patients and nursing home residents. 

RECOMMENDED READING

Evaluation of plaque pH changes following oral rinse with eight infant formulas

ISO 16408:2004, Dentistry - Oral hygiene products - Oral rinses

The Antimicrobial Effect of Mouth Rinses When Used for 15 Seconds: An article from: Journal of Dental Hygiene