Tag Archives: Peridontal Disease

What’s the deal with Oral Cancer?

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Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to dedicate this blog post to oral cancer. Let’s start with some dreadful statistics. Last year, 42,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with oral cancer; and just over half (57%) have a 5 year survival rate. To put that in prospective, thyroid, cervical, testicular, skin and lymphoma cancers all have higher long term survival rate than oral cancer.

Peter Franta 004So, how do you know that you have oral cancer? Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing that you have oral cancer by appearance. The only definitive way to find out is through biopsying an area deemed suspicious by a medical professional. Dentist and medical doctors looks for a variety of lesion on your tongue and in your mouth. We are looking for lesions or wounds that do not heal within two weeks. We look for lumps and bumps in your mouth. We look for white, blue or red patches. We even ask patients if they have difficulty swallowing; that is a sign of a growth on the base of your tongue and throat.

What causes oral cancer? Oral cancer is caused by repeated irritation to the soft tissue or the oral mucosa. The number one irritant is tobacco. In fact, 75% of people who have been diagnosed with oral cancer have used tobacco in some form. Another irritant that causes oral cancer is heavy alcohol use.

Historically, the stigma attached to oral cancer patients has always been that they were older heavy drinkers and smokers. Recent studies have turned the stereotype 180 degrees. Research is now showing the fastest growing segment of oral cancer patient are young, non-tobacco users. The cause of this trend is the human papillomavirus (HPV). This is the same virus that causes cervical cancer. HPV oral cancers usually appear on the tonsils or base of the tongue. Fortunately, the survival rates are much higher than oral cancers caused by heavy tobacco and alcohol use.

The key to successful treatment is catching the oral cancer early. Every dental exam should consist of a quick and painless oral cancer exam, and if anything suspicious turns up, a quick biopsy to rule out oral cancer. As Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

As always, feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have through our website, www.FordDentalGroup.com or call us at 714-842-7431. Dentist Huntington Beach 16511 Goldenwest St. Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Why do I need to treat dry mouth?

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So, why is treating dry mouth so important? Saliva contains electrolytes, antibacterial agents, and digestive enzymes. The electrolytes consist of calcium, phosphate, and bicarbonate that create a buffer and protect your teeth from getting cavities. The antibacterial agents in saliva … Continue reading →

What is gum disease and do I have it?

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Gum disease (periodontal disease) is a slow progressing, chronic disease that infects your gums and the bone surrounding your teeth. If it becomes severe, it will ultimately lead to the loss of your teeth. If your gums become inflamed, irritated, infected or bleed easily, you have the beginning stages of gum disease.

perio xray

Gum disease is caused by bacteria. The bacteria feed off the food that we eat and break it down to form plaque. Plaque is a film that forms on our teeth and is composed of food, bacteria and bacteria waste products. Our body’s immune system is unable to fight the infection by itself. By removing the plaque through brushing and flossing and routine dental cleanings (prophy), we maintain healthy gums and help our bodies flight off the residual infection. If the plaque stays on your teeth for more than a couple of days, it begins to calcify and become calculus or tartar. The x-ray is an example of active periodontal disease.  Once calculus develops, it becomes visible on an x-ray (see red circles) and the only way to remove it is through a dental cleaning. Additionally, this x-ray shows how the bone level changes and gets lower in periodontal disease (see blue arrow).

Just like the bacteria that cause common cold, the bacteria that cause gum disease can be transferred between people. Kissing, drinking out of the same glass or sharing the same utensils are all ways periodontal pathogens can be transferred between people.

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So, how do you know if you have gum disease if it does not hurt?  Most patients who have gum disease have teeth that look longer than normal and/or have big spaces between their teeth. This occurs because the gums and bone have receded leaving more tooth showing. The picture shows a perfect example of this. This patient has teeth that look longer, which is shown by the blue lines.  The yellow boxes help display the bigger spaces between your teeth.  Another sign that you have gum disease is if you have teeth that are loose or mobile. If your gums bleed while you brush or floss them, you can also have the beginning stages of gum disease.

Lastly, gum disease is a chronic infection that affects the rest of your body as well. There is an abundance of scientific research relating gum disease to premature/low birth weight babies, diabetes, and heart disease. A healthy body means a healthy mouth as well.

If you have any questions about gum disease or would like to start treatment for it, please contact us through our website, www.FordDentalGroup.com or call us at 714-842-7431. We are a family dental practice located in Huntington Beach, CA. 

 

Dentist Huntington Beach

Dental X-Rays-What Dentists Look For?

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Tooth Decay and Abscess

I wanted to write a blog post today on what a dentist looks for in a dental X-ray. I’ll talk about the most common stuff first. The first thing a dentist looks for are cavities or tooth decay. Teeth appear very white on X-rays. The scientific term for that is radiopaque. The whiter the tooth appears the denser and stronger it is. When you get a cavity, acid has deminerialized your tooth and made it less dense. Since it is less dense, it will look black on a X-ray or “radiolucent.” The X-ray to the right shows a tooth with a very large cavity. The cavity is identified by the red oval. The really white part inside the tooth shows what a filling looks like on an X-ray. The blue oval in the bottom of the X-ray shows what an abscess looks like on a X-ray. A dental abscess is an infection that forms in the jaw bone and deminerializes the bone; therefore, causing a black area to appear on the X-ray. These two things show up very commonly on X-rays.

Periodontal DiseaseI chose this X-ray as an example of periodontal or gum disease. Your teeth stay in your mouth because your jaw bone holds them there. However, with gum disease, the bone that holds your teeth into place starts to dissolve. The reasons for periodontal disease can be a whole blog post in itself and will be the topic of my next post. The red line/arrow shows where the bone should be in a healthy mouth. The blue line and blue arrow show where the bone level is in this patients with severe gum disease. These teeth are loose, mobile and will eventually fall out. So X-rays definitely show us more than just cavities.

Lastly, I wanted to show you something that we see rarely on X-rays, but when we do, it can literally be a life saver. This type of X-ray is called a panorex. It allows a dentist to see your whole jaw and all of your teeth in one film. It gives us a general overview of your mouth. For specific information, we would need the X-rays seen above. In this particular panorex, look carefully inside the red ovals. You will see some small white dots. That is calcified material in your carotid arteries. The calcified material is an arterial plaque that is restricting blood flow into your brain. If these are left untreated, they will ultimately cause the patient to have a stroke.

CalcificationHope you enjoyed this blog topic. I’ll be back soon to share information on periodontal disease. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

 

www.FordDentalGroup.com

16511 Goldenwest St

Huntington Beach, Ca 92647

Dentist Huntington Beach

 

Is it that important to floss?

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Should I really floss every day? I only floss one to two times a week…is that ok? Do I have to floss? These are the various questions about flossing we hear daily. The answer is “Yes, you need to floss!”

Your teeth have 5 surfaces. Three of those surfaces can be cleaned with a toothbrush. A toothbrush bristle cannot clean between your teeth. So, if you are not flossing, you are not cleaning 2 out of the 5 surfaces of your teeth. In other terms, you are only cleaning 60% of your mouth and leaving 40% of it untouched. If you don’t floss, it is similar to showering and not cleaning your right arm; or washing your hands but not your fingers.

A surprise fact: If you were on a deserted island and could take either a toothbrush or floss, dentists would prefer that you take floss. Your tongue and cheeks brush and rub against your teeth and help keep the same areas that a toothbrush reaches clean. However, floss is the only thing that gets between your teeth and cleans those “in between your teeth” areas. Now, we wouldn’t advise only flossing, but this hypothetical situation stresses the importance of flossing.

Here are some other questions that we commonly get regarding flossing:

1)      What type of floss should I use? Tape vs. glide? Flavored vs. non-flavored?

Use the type of floss that you prefer. Some patients have tighter teeth and prefer using the glide. Some patients have bigger gaps and prefer using the tape because it is a little bit thicker. As far as flavoring goes, all of the flavors are equal. Use whichever one you like best.

2)      Can I use a waterpick instead of floss?

Unfortunately, a waterpick does not replace floss. A waterpick is really good for children with braces or aging adults who have larger spaces between their teeth. The waterpick helps remove big chucks of food or debris between teeth, but it doesn’t remove the plaque that is attached to your teeth. A waterpick can definitely help make your mouth healthier, but it is not a replacement for floss.

3)      Can I substitute a mouth rinse instead of flossing?

Even the most vigorous swisher doesn’t produce enough force to remove the plaque from your teeth. A mouthwash can definitely help with bad breath, but it is not a substitute for flossing.

4)      Is it ok if my gums bleed when I floss?

If your gums bleed when you floss, it means that you have gingivitis or gum disease. Gum disease is inflammation of your gums due to plaque and bacteria that attach to your teeth. By flossing, you remove the plaque and allow your gums to heal. So, the more you floss, the less likely your gums will bleed.

Effective flossing not only removes food that is stuck between your teeth, it also removes plaque and bacteria that can cause periodontal disease, bad breath (halitosis) and even cavities. There is a saying in the dental field that “You only need to floss the teeth that you want to keep!”

As always, feel free to email or call us with any questions you have. You can always check out our blog for updates on our office or for new insights into the field of dentistry. The web address is www.FordDentalGroup.com/blog.

Lastly, the biggest compliment our office can receive from you is the referral of a friend or family member. If you want to go one step further, you can also give us a great review on google, http://goo.gl/6iBx4. We look forward to seeing you soon.

 

With your dental health in mind,

 

Ford Dental Group

Dentist Huntington Beach

16511 Goldenwest St. Huntington Beach, Ca 92647

Drop Dead Healthy? This includes your teeth!!

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It has been awhile since my last blog post….time really does fly, but I wanted to talk about the book I’m currently reading. The last couple of books I have read have all been health related. The first one was “The China Study.” It is extremely informative, but a little bit dry. It really gets you thinking about your diet and how it affects your health and lifestyle. The research is so convincing that my wife and I have become vegetarians…..can’t quiet make the jump to eating vegan. My next book is going to be “Forks over Knives”, which is a book/documentary that is based on the research from “The China Study.”

The book that I am close to finishing now is “Drop Dead Healthy” by A.J Jacobs. The author decided to become as healthy as possible and try every diet and workout possible. The book is his quest to “maximal health from head to toe.” The book is extremely entertaining, but also educational. If you like any of Bill Bryson’s book, you will fall in love with Jacobs writing style. The stories are unique and one of a kind. I’m still laughing about the chapter describing caveman exercises. He even has a chapter about your mouth and how gum disease is correlated to cardiovascular disease. He also goes on an amusing rant about floss and why it’s so important.

That’s all for now…..I’ll be posting more often. Feel free to contact me via my website, www.FordDentalGroup.com

16511 Goldenwest St. Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Dentist Huntington Beach

Update- How often do you change your toothbrush? Dentist Huntington Beach

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UPDATED from last blog post. We ask patients if they would like to have a new toothbrush after each dental cleaning. Most people say yes; however, there are some that decline. Recently, I started to ask patients who did not want a toothbrush why they did not need one. Some say they have a mechanical one; others say that their toothbrush looks fine, so they don’t need a new one.

 

Even though a toothbrush looks normal, it contains millions of bacteria that are introduced into your mouth each time your brush. With that in mind, here are some suggestions to minimize the bacteria that your toothbrush harbors.

 

1)      Don’t brush where you flush. When you flush your toilet, thousands of bacteria are sprayed into the air. If your toothbrush is nearby, it starts collecting the bacteria that was in your toilet. Isn’t that a stomach-wrenching thought?

2)      Keep your toothbrush dry. Bacteria thrive in warm and moist environments and these conditions allow bacteria to replicate. By keeping your toothbrush dry, you minimize the numbers of bacteria and make your brush more sanitary.

3)      Keep your toothbrush to yourself. The human mouth harbors hundreds of millions of bacteria. By sharing your toothbrush, you introduce new strains to your mouth that can be more aggressive and cause gum disease.  Even keeping your toothbrush in the same cup or container as a family member causes the spread of bacteria.

 

Since toothbrushes can harbor so many bacteria, it is recommended that you change your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Don’t wait until the bristles fray or your brush develops mold!!! Yes…this can happen. Here are also other times when you want to change your toothbrush.

 

1)      When you are finished recovering from a cold. A cold is usually passed from person to person, when people sneeze and spread the bacteria or viruses via saliva droplets. Every time you brush your teeth, a toothbrush is saturated in that same saliva and harbors the cold-causing bacteria or viruses. Therefore, once you recover, it is very important to change your toothbrush and not introduce the bad bacteria back into your system.

2)      When you have your teeth cleaned. The purpose of a dental cleaning is to remove plaque and calculus that you have not been able to remove on your own. It is usually found in hard to reach places and has been in your mouth for a couple of months. These plaques have been able to grow and usually contain a more aggressive type of bacteria. When a dentist or hygienist removes them, your mouth returns to health. If you go home that evening and brush your teeth with your old toothbrush, you are just re-introducing the aggressive types of bacteria back into your mouth. A new toothbrush will help you keep your mouth healthy!

 

As always, feel free to email or call us with any questions you have. You can always check out our blog for updates on our office or for new insights into the field of dentistry. The web address is www.FordDentalGroup.com/blog.

 

Lastly, the biggest compliment our office can receive from you is the referral of a friend or family member. If you want to go one step further, you can also give us a great review on google, http://goo.gl/6iBx4. We look forward to seeing you soon.

 

With your dental health in mind.

Ford Dental Group

Should dentists be looking at more than just your mouth?

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Over the weekend, I saw an article posted on cnn.com about whether dentists should be doing general health screenings in addition to their normal exams. Here is a link to that article. It discusses the fact that close to 20 million people a year see their dentist, but skip a visit to their primary physician. That is a staggering number. It talks about possible reasons why and looks at the different statistics.

The article reminded me of a newsletter that I wrote last year to my patients. http://www.forddentalgroup.com/pdf/Spring2010.pdf It talked about the protocol that we follow in our office to screen for many common chronic diseases and also suggested that dentists may be relied on in the future to screen for many of these conditions. Additionallty, I discussed how saliva may be a subsitute for blood to diagnose many chronic conditions in the future.

Feed back is always appreciated. Hope you enjoy the post.