Dental Problems Only Worsen With Delay In Care

Posted on Jan 03, 2018 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

“Never put off for tomorrow, what you can do today.” – Thomas Jefferson

The quote by Thomas Jefferson, today, would probably include modern terms such as “be proactive,” or “take charge of your to-do’s.” But any way we say it, the meaning is basically the same: Take care of things while they’re small so they don’t become bigger problems.

As a periodontal specialist, I’ve seen a great many patients who have lost their teeth because they didn’t take a few minutes a day to brush their teeth. They also felt they could avoid their 6-month dental checkups because “nothing hurts.” Yet, while in treatment for gum disease or having dental implants placed, the majority share the same regrets, that they didn’t take the small steps needed for prevention.

When an oil light comes on in our vehicle, we know there are costly consequences to ignoring it. When a ceiling shows signs of a leaky roof, we know that letting it go can lead to serious damage. When an appliance starts making a funny noise, we know to tend to it before it goes on the blink.

Then why don’t adults know to act – and be proactive – when it comes to their dental health?

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reported that only 64 percent of American adults had a dental visit in 2015. That leaves a third of our nation’s adults with oral wellness that is at risk. It’s no wonder that an estimated 47 percent of adults have some level of periodontal disease.

New Year’s resolutions often include weight loss, getting more exercise, and eating healthier. These are made to achieve a healthy body. Yet, the mouth is not only part of the precious body we are given, it plays a major role in our overall health.

Your mouth is far more than part of your facial appearance. It provides the first stage of the digestive process. As you chew, saliva flow brings in oral acids that help break foods down even before you swallow. The phrase your grandmother said, “Chew your food well,” was wise advice. The chewing process gives food time to be digested more efficiently.

However, research over the past few decades has revealed how our oral health integrates to a much greater extent with our overall health. It has been found that the bacteria of gum disease can travel throughout the body via the bloodstream. This bacteria has been linked to a number of serious health problems.

The bacteria of gum disease can create inflammatory triggers that have been correlated to heart disease, stroke, some cancers, preterm babies, arthritis, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction (ED). Research is underway to study strong indications of its links to Alzheimer’s disease. Obviously, this is potent bacteria that should be acknowledged as serious.

Tooth loss is no picnic. Just ask long-time denture wearers. Losing tooth roots means the bone that once supported them begins to shrink. This bone loss is a slow but continual process, which is why a denture that fit when first made begins to slip and move. As the ‘ridge’ the denture was designed for flattens, adhesives will be of minimal help. Eventually, even relines won’t help much.

As a periodontist, my specialty also includes the diagnosis and placement of dental implants. Dental implants are held by the jaw bone, just as natural teeth, so they restore biting and chewing stability and halt bone loss. However, it is so much easier and far less expensive to care for natural teeth and avoid tooth loss in the first place.

I’ve had many dental implant patients tell me, “If I could turn back time, I’d have taken much better care of my teeth.” When they learn that their implants will need to be cared for even better than natural teeth, they enthusiastically agree to “do what it takes.” Losing teeth the first time was hard enough. Losing their dental implants would be worse.

Your smile is an expression of who you are from the inside out! I hope 2018 brings you many smiles and much laughter. Take good care of your smile and be committed to a thorough oral health routine at home. Have twice-a-year dental checkups and follow the advice of your dentist and hygienist carefully. Drink plenty of water and limit sweets. (Your waistline will thank you, too!)

Happy 2018 to you and yours!

Important Reasons Why You Need Healthy Gums

Posted on Dec 06, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

As responsible adults, we take certain precautions that help to keep us healthy. We use sun screen when we’re going to spend time in the sun. We wear appropriate shoes when hiking or jogging. We wear a helmet when biking or motorcycling. We assign a designated driver rather than drink and drive.

These actions help to protect us and hopefully prevent occurrences that may otherwise result in health problems. Certainly, it makes more sense to avoid problems in the first place rather than endure the time, expense and even disabling consequences of ignoring practical preventive measures.

Then, doesn’t it make sense that adults would be especially devoted to having good oral health?

The Centers For Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports that over 47 percent of American adults have some level of gum disease. This is astounding for a country as advanced as the U.S.

I believe one of the reasons the rates of periodontal disease are so high is largely based on a population that is unaware of the ramifications of gum disease. This, in addition to a high number who are unfamiliar with its symptoms.

Let’s look at just a few reasons to be highly-committed to achieving and maintaining good oral health.

• Periodontal disease is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss. I believe it reaches such a state because people are not aware of the warning signs. For example, some people believe that seeing blood in the sink when brushing is a sign they’re doing a good job at tooth brushing. (It’s not.)

• Research has found that the bacteria of gum disease is linked to systemic inflammation. This is when the body’s immune system goes out of whack and can’t turn itself off. Symptoms of chronic inflammation are chronic pain, fatigue, obesity, memory loss and insomnia.

• The bacteria of gum disease doesn’t necessarily stay confined to the mouth. Through tears in weakened gum tissues, the oral bacteria of gum disease can enter the bloodstream. As it travels throughout the body, it can contribute to serious health risks, including heart disease, stroke, some cancers, preterm babies, impotency, arthritis and diabetes.

• Good gum health is the foundation for keeping your natural teeth healthy, and for a lifetime. Research has shown that people with their natural teeth live ten years longer, on average, than those who wear dentures. And, healthy teeth support the ability to eat a healthy diet and feel socially confident to smile and laugh.

A 2006 report by the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated “the baby boomer generation will be the first where the majority will maintain their natural teeth over their entire lifetime.”

It adds, “Over the past 10 years, the number of adults missing all their natural teeth has declined from 31 percent to 25 percent for those ages 60 years and older, and from 9 percent to 5 percent for those adults between 40 and 59 years. However, 5 percent means 1 out of 20 middle-aged adults are missing all their teeth.” (https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/adult-oral-health/index.html)

It’s easy to enjoy good oral health. It takes just minutes for proper brushing twice daily and daily flossing so the overall health advantages of healthy gums can be enjoyed. It is also important to have 6-month dental cleanings and exams. These opportunities help to remove bacterial buildup between appointments, often preventing the need for more expensive and time-consuming treatment later.

Symptoms of gum disease include tender gums that bleed easily when brushing, persistent bad breath, swollen gums, gums that turn red in color (versus a healthy pink), and pus pockets that form on gum tissues. Without treatment, teeth will eventually loosen and may require removal.

Protect your smile AND your overall health by keeping your gums healthy. If you’ve delayed care or suspect you have gum disease, call us at 828-274-9440. We are a ‘lecture-free zone’ and respect each patient and his or her needs. We just want to help you enjoy the advantages of a healthy, confident smile!

Post-Menopausal Women Have Unique Oral Health Challenges

Posted on Nov 24, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

For women who are post-menopausal, the risk for developing periodontal (gum) disease and experiencing tooth loss is much greater than ever before. Research shows that it is particularly so in the first decade after menopause begins.

What causes this is the decline in estrogen levels, which leads to higher rates of bone loss. Studies show that bone loss (or osteoporosis) in postmenopausal women can be accompanied by an increased risk of gum disease.

In addition to a higher risk of gum disease, post-menopause may bring about a lower volume of saliva, which is the mouth’s natural cleansing agent. Saliva helps to keep bacteria moving out of the mouth. When it is insufficient, bacteria levels are allowed to grow beyond what the immune system can manage.

One such study found that post-menopausal females with osteoporosis had a significantly greater susceptibility for gum disease than that of women with no indications of osteoporosis. Estrogen decline after menopause also increases the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s along with increased cavities and taste alterations.

For women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the restoration of estrogen has been shown to help post-menopausal women be less susceptible to these health issues. Naturally, this is based on the recommendations of your medical doctor and your receptiveness to using an HRT.

Even though your oral health is our emphasis, your overall health is our concern as well. While both are designed to work together, it’s natural that particular risk factors occur with the aging process. By keeping your oral health at an ideal level, you avoid problems in the first place or, for any that do occur, we can provide early treatment that will help you avoid greater time and costs for more complex treatment.

Begin with a healthy foundation. Call 828-274-9440 for a thorough examination.

New Study Finds Clogged Arteries More Connected To Oral Bacteria Than Fatty Foods

Posted on Nov 13, 2017 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

For years, we’ve been led to believe that the main cause of clogged arteries is the cholesterol-rich diet we consume. However, a recent study published by the Journal of Lipid Research has found fat molecules unrelated to butter, fatty animal meats and eggs may be the true source.

According to an article in Medical News Today (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319967.php), the University of Connecticut (Storrs) conducted a study showing the fat molecules in plaque that are typically blamed for clogged arteries may actually originate from oral and gut bacteria.

In past studies, researchers have known there are strong connections between the bacteria of gum disease and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Yet, pinpointing the precise cause-&-affect has been elusive. This study may have tracked down the intricate path.

Atherosclerosis occurs when fat molecules, calcium, cholesterol, and other compounds in the blood form plaque on the inside walls of arteries. These arteries are what carry oxygen via the bloodstream to the heart, brain, kidneys, and other parts of the body.

When plaque accumulates, it can harden and narrow the arteries, thus depriving oxygen-rich blood to vital organs and tissues. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, other serious health problems and, in some instances, even death.

For decades, it was assumed that the fatty molecules of atherosclerosis, or lipids, are the result of a diet rich in foods high in fat and cholesterol. This study focused on the formation of plaque (that include fat molecules) as well as other growths known as atheromas.

Atheromas  refer to fatty masses that develop in the artery walls. Their presence activates the immune system, which recognizes that the lipids are not of human origin. This, in turn, tends to trigger inflammation. Inflammation is what leads to the thickening of the smooth muscles that line artery walls.

When the research team analyzed atheromas of hospitalized patients, they found the chemical makeup of lipids were not from animals. Rather, the fat molecules matched bacteria belonging to the Bacteroidetes family.

Bacteroidetes, fatty acids that do not have the same features as animal fat, are not typically harmful. They exist in the mouth and, in some situations, can activate gum disease but are not known to invade blood vessels. The culprit, however, lies in the lipids they secrete, which can penetrate cell walls and enter the bloodstream.

Apparently, it is an enzyme that breaks down the bacterial lipids that can activate a process that manufactures molecules that promote inflammation. When the immune system encounters the bacteria and then couples with the enzyme that creates inflammation, their combined actions can lead to an even higher risk for the formation of plaque.

The researchers are continuing efforts to further study how atheromas form where Bacteroidetes lipids accumulate. They are seeking even more evidence that fat molecules from Bacteroidetes are linked to atheroma growth, and thus to heart disease.

In the meantime, we certainly encourage you to eat a diet low in cholesterol. Yet, keep this study in mind as reinforcement to the need to maintain good oral health. For decades, research has shown the close relationship of oral health and overall health.

In addition to heart disease and stroke, past research has correlated the bacteria of periodontal (gum) disease to diabetes, arthritis, preterm babies, some cancers and impotency. Obviously, this is potent bacteria and keeping its accumulation to a minimum is beneficial to your overall health.

Is is important to know the signs of gum disease. Seeing blood in the sink while brushing, tender or swollen gums, frequent bad breath, and gums that pull away from teeth and expose sensitive tooth roots are just a few of the signs. Without treatment, gum disease will only worsen. It affects over 47 percent of American adults and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.

Protect your smile and your overall health. In addition to a thorough at-home commitment to oral hygiene, have twice-yearly dental check-ups and watch for signs of gum disease. If you suspect gum disease exists, call 828-274-9440 to schedule an exam. This will be the first step to protecting your smile, and apparently, your heart!