Tag: dental health

Oral health information regarding your teeth and body.

CANKER SORES AND THE GENERAL DENTAL HEALTH

by Paul Ganjian, posted in dental blog

Canker sores similar to ulcers are small and shallow wounds that appear in the mouth, it makes eating, drinking and talking hard. The two types of canker sores include:

Simple canker sore: Occurs to people mostly between the age of 10 and 20 years about three or four times a year, lasts for at least a week.

Complex canker sores: Occurs mostly to people who have previously had them, but it is less common.

Believed to caused by stress or tissue injury, certain foods like lemons, pineapple, apples, figs, tomatoes and strawberry somewhat trigger the occurrence of simple canker sore, hence worsening it. External factors such as sharp dental appliances like braces, bad fitting dentures can still cause canker sores.

Complex canker sore is mainly caused due to an impaired immune system, lack of nutritional supplements such as: Vitamin B-12, zinc, folic acid and iron deficiency. Having gastrointestinal tract diseases such as Crohn’s or Celiac disease could lead to this mouth sore.

Canker sore has been linked to cold sore, similar yet different in some ways. Cold sores are blister which have also been identified as fever blisters/ herpes, caused by a virus they are mainly located at the external part of the mouth and highly contagious. 

Symptoms of canker sores

Below are some of the symptoms of canker sores:

• Painful sores located inside the mouth mainly on the soft palate, tongue, or inner cheek.
• Sores usually appear to be round, white or grey.
• The sores appear to have a red edge.
• When severe canker sores can cause fever, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes.

 

 

How to treat canker sores

Canker sores usually take a few days to heal with a little pain, but if you want lessen the symptoms quick you can opt for dental laser. Hence, you might have to consult your dental physician to guide you about the whole process. Canker sores have no immediate cure and the chances for occurring again are high, therefore to prevent reoccurrence you need to do the following:

• Avoiding foods that cause irritation in your mouth such as acidic vegetables, citrus fruits and spicy foods.
• Avoid irritating your mouth by chewing gum.
• Using a soft-bristled brush twice a day and flossing daily.
• Avoid sweets and candy that cause wounds in your mouth leading to sores.

Consult your dentist in case of:

• Uncharacteristically larger sores.
• Spreading sores.
• Sores that have lasted for long, which is more than a week.
• Having drinking difficulties.
• Having intolerable pain even though you have consumed pain relieving medicine.
• Having high fever together with canker sores.

In conclusion, do not be terrified when you notice that you have canker sore. Like any other dental problem it can still be prevented, you need consider your oral hygiene. Remember to brush your teeth and most importantly making regular visits with your dentist, it will enable them to evaluate the problem immediately to help you sort out the problem as soon as possible.

DENTAL EXAMS: IS IT NECESSARY?

by Paul Ganjian, posted in dental blog

Visiting your dentist for a dental examination regularly is very important because it keeps your teeth and gums healthy. Most people do not like visiting the dentist maybe because of the pain experienced during the sessions, or they just get that uncomfortable feeling whenever they are the office, either way it is not recommended. According to the American Dental Association, it is recommended that you at least visit a doctoronce after every six.
As the saying goes, better safe than sorry and the reason for this recommendation, is to prevent further risks which might occur in years on not visiting your dentist. Other problems linked to dental issues include heart diseases, and that is why having a dental examination every once in a while is very necessary.

Why a dental examination is necessary

To prevents major medical issues: During any dental examination they ensure to check for any decay and illness on your teeth and gums. Not only do they pay attention to your general oral hygiene, but also show concern to other body parts such as your neck, face, throat, saliva and how your jaw moves.
These examinations will help enable your dentist to determine whether you require any dentistry work performed or any signs of major issues such as oral cancer, diabetes, vitamin deficiency or joint problems.

To prevent tooth decay: After a detailed examination on various parts of your body, regular cleaning will be done to your teeth. Routine cleaning your teeth prevents accumulation of tartar or plaque on the teeth surface, decay and gum irritation is mainly caused by soft plagues which harden the tooth making it more difficult to get rid of, at the same time also staining your teeth.
Regular routine checks up together with a proper home care routine prevent the buildup of plaques leading to cavity formation, hence teeth decay. The dentists will also make sure to fill up all fillings and all teeth are intact with no visible decay.

Fix problems: During regular cleanings the dentist usually determines if there is any problems that need immediate effect, they might carry out an X-ray, check your bite during jaw movement, gum examination or using major dental devices to view around your mouth. In case of anything such as a cavity or damaged roots make an appointment to get them repaired.

Dental examination is important because it maintains the usefulness of your replacement teeth, and before you go to any dentist for a teeth checkup consult with your friends, loved ones or doctor for a suitable recommendation. Before being treated ensure that the dentist is in a suitable location and whether they are willing to adhere to your health, and make sure you consider the payment options and consultation fees.
In case of anxiety try to talk to your dentist or physician, they will obviously find a way to keep you at ease. Dental examination also includes main discussions about your diet, smoking cigarettes plus other dangerous lifestyle that could lead to oral problems, after every check-up your dentist will make a follow-up visit appointment.

Mayor’s Fund, DVS, Work to Bring Smiles to Local Veterans in Need with Dental Care Pilot

by Paul Ganjian, posted in best of New York, dental blog

Mario, a Yorkville resident, is like many of his fellow New York veterans. After serving his country, he found a second career as a police officer, and now that he has retired, he spends his time…
— Read on medium.com/@mayorsfundnyc/mayors-fund-dvs-work-to-bring-smiles-to-local-veterans-in-need-with-dental-care-pilot-52c3264534bf

Major Mistakes Which Hurt Your Oral Care

by Paul Ganjian, posted in dental blog, Dental Care

It’s essential to end up mindful of the propensities you ought to be maintaining a strategic distance from, on the off chance that you need to appreciate fantastic dental wellbeing.

Along these lines, here are 5 of the most widely recognized missteps that are harming individuals’ dental wellbeing:

1) Brushing Too Hard

The vast majority’s boss point when brushing is to wind up with a decent white arrangement of teeth, and this leads a few individuals to clean much too hard with an end goal to evacuate stains.

Bushing too hard can harm the polish covering that encompasses your teeth. With that defensive finish layer debilitated, plaque has a free rule to eat into your teeth.

Humorously, brushing too hard really accomplishes the inverse impact and gives the teeth a darker shade, since finish is the whitest part!

Try not to brush your teeth just as you’re scouring a red wine stain from a floor covering! You don’t have to apply much weight at all to evacuate ordinary stains.

2) Not Brushing For Long Enough

Your dental specialist prescribes that you brush for an entire 2 minutes, yet information gathered by Beam Technologies has demonstrated that the normal grown-up spends only 46 seconds brushing their teeth.

That is a poor exertion by all accounts!

Research has demonstrated that you are half more prone to brush for a considerable length of time in the event that you utilize a clock.

Split out your cell phone and start up the clock application when you brush for a moment help to your dental wellbeing.

3) Uneven Brushing

Individuals tend to start brushing with energy, before getting exhausted lastly surrendering. This implies the edge of your mouth that you start with gets a decent spotless, yet the rest gets only a careless going over.

We can, at the end of the day, swing to a clock to enhance our propensities here. Just change to another quadrant of the mouth at regular intervals.

Beginning in an alternate region of the mouth every time you brush can likewise offer assistance.

4) Fruit Juice Before Bed

Natural product juices and smoothies have turned out to be to a great degree prevalent in the most recent couple of years, particularly as a simple and delectable approach to get one of your five-a-day.

The issue, however, is that these juices are definitely not useful for your teeth. They’re both brimming with sugar, and unequivocally acidic; a bad dream mix for your teeth.

More grown-ups who can’t rest have a tendency to get up and snatch a glass of smoothie, before retreating to rest.

Leaving this acidic and sugary deposit on your teeth throughout the night while you rest is not a smart thought! The corrosive debilitates your teeth’s guards, whilst plaque microbes flourishes with the sugar.

On the off chance that you do get up in the night, make that drink a decent, spotless, icy glass of water.

5) Not Flossing

No one appreciates flossing their teeth, however tragically, it’s an absolute necessity!

Toothbrushes essentially can’t get in the middle of your teeth, and that implies that in case you’re giving the dental floss a miss, you’re leaving a wide range of nasties in those niches and crevices.

Regardless of the fact that you brush industriously twice per day, the nourishment particles and plaque microbes that gather between your teeth can prompt Gingivitis on the off chance that you don’t floss.

So hunker down, split out the dental floss, and make it a propensity to floss each prior day you brush your teeth. Continue reading “Major Mistakes Which Hurt Your Oral Care” →

Dental problems. Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

by Paul Ganjian, posted in dental health, Gum, Health

Not every oral health problem is visible or results in pain or discomfort. Just because you don’t see a dramatic change with your teeth or gums or feel pain, it doesn’t mean your oral health is in ideal shape.

Again, only your dentist has the expertise to determine this, and only regular appointments with your dentist can keep your mouth in the best shape possible.

Importance of Nutrition for Your Oral Health

by Paul Ganjian, posted in Dental, dental blog, dental health, Health, nutrition

Proper nutrition acts as an effective way to ensure optimal health and prevent the occurrence of disease. Moreover, receiving adequate nutrients from a variety of healthful foods and beverages can positively impact dental health. Certain foods with poor nutritional composition can increase the incidence of tooth decay and other detrimental dental conditions, leading to the need for treatments such as root canal therapy or dental implants. Additionally, combinations of certain food substances can elevate the risk for cavities.

Current research suggests that antioxidants are often found in foods like fruits, beans, and vegetables—may positively affect immunity and increase the body’s agency to fight infection and inflammation, which aids in protecting an individual’s teeth and gums. Certain foods have even been demonstrated to have a significant consequence on the mouth’s ability to manage decay-causing bacteria.

Calcium operates as one of the best nutrients for oral health. Items such as milk, yogurt, and fortified juice assist in promoting healthy teeth and bones, which diminish the risk for tooth loss. For individuals who dislike dairy products, adding powdered milk to cooked dishes can confer the same benefits. In particular, cheese releases a burst of calcium. This calcium can attach itself to an individual’s teeth, immediately assisting in remineralization of tooth enamel.

Fruits and vegetables—specifically ones that are crisp such as apples, carrots, and celery—aid dental health by removing plaque from teeth and freshening breath. Furthermore, antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C help fortify gums and other oral tissues from harmful bacterial infections. Research points to a link between fresh cranberries and their ability to hinder oral bacteria from forming damaging plaque.

Folic acid, a member of the vitamin B group, stands as an excellent choice to promote dental health due to its ability to support cell growth throughout the body. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale should be eaten regularly. Additionally, brewer’s yeast operates as a substance rich in folic acid.

Cavity-causing agents feast on the sugars found in foods such as soda, candy, cookies, and pastries. These agents transform the sugar into acid, which bombards tooth enamel and results in tooth decay. Acidic foods—like citrus fruits, juices, pickles, sour candies, and wine—can erode tooth enamel to become overly sensitive and discolored.

The timing of meals can also affect oral health. Foods that require a lengthy chewing time, or that are held in the mouth such as hard candies and cough drops can significantly damage teeth as sugar is held against teeth for a long time.

Many health professionals discourage snacking on sugary, starchy, and acidic foods throughout the day. Ideally, individuals should avoid these foods to preserve optimal oral health. However, if an individual wishes to enjoy an occasional treat, it is recommended these sub-prime foods be consumed during a meal to minimize contact between acid and an individual’s teeth. Additionally, the body fashions extra saliva to digest bigger meals; thus, harmful bacteria are washed away before they can negatively impact teeth.

Paul J Ganjian

Email: pganjian@bxdental.con