General

Understanding the Connection Between Sleep Apnea and Dental Care

Sometimes patients are surprised that dentist ask them about the quality of their sleep. Many Americans don’t get enough sleep they need, and some don’t know why. Snoring and sleep disturbances are often signs of obstructive sleep apnea, and these are usually blamed on oral health. The dentist is often the earliest diagnostician of sleep disorders.

What happens if I have sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea will cause the patient to have repeated breathing interruptions throughout the night. These interruptions last from a few seconds to minutes and may occur 30 or more times per hour. This is due to the muscles in the back of the throat becoming flaccid, the tongue is too large, or the jaw is too small, causing airway obstructions. The patient experiences restless sleep and feel unwell or fatigued waking up in the morning.

If sleep apnea is the root cause, there are several options to care for it, including oral appliance therapy, such as the CPAP machine. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and is considered the “gold standard” for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and has been available for 30 years. While it is the primary option for care, it’s a mask that must be worn at night, and some patients don’t want to sleep wearing one.

The director and some of his colleagues at the Dental Sleep Medicine and Orofacial Pain at the UTHSC (University of Tennessee Health Science Center) are coming up with a solution to stabilize the whole mechanism, the jaw and everything else, to prevent the jaw from dropping back.

The appliance is custom fit to the patient’s mouth and holds the lower jaw in a slightly forward position, much like a retainer or a sports mouth guard. Some are attached a little, some are not attached at all, but they still have some mechanism to prevent that collapse. The device can also help to prevent snoring in some of its patients. The patient is fitted with the device that best suits the mouth shape and the breathing issue. Follow-up visits ensure it sits properly and is relieving the problem.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options in Bellingham

Learn more about sleep apnea from your Bellingham dentist and know that the condition can be managed by oral appliance therapy. Sit down with us and let’s talk your sleeping disorder.

Under Stress? Examine Your Mouth

Stress is prevalent and is encountered in different ways. Short-term stress is more common and often viewed as helpful. It can stimulate creative thinking and enhance problem-solving skills and poses little risk to the overall health. Chronic stress is often more problematic and has been linked to significant changes in hormonal and nervous systems. It can also adversely affect the health of the mouth and its structures. Here are some ways it can do that.

Your teeth can chip. You might be grinding away your enamel with constant grinding, especially at night time when you are not even aware of it. It can also happen in the day time. Do your teeth edges seem to appear of the same length, or do you notice jagged edges? Any existing fillings may chip or break caused by grinding and suddenly you’d feel tooth sensitivity. It can end up as extreme erosion, exposing dentin and nerves, and can be painful.

Grinding your teeth can also lead to headaches, neck pain and upper back pain, possibly even developing into migraines. If you consistently wake up with headaches or neck pain you may well be grinding your teeth in your sleep. It can also cause jaw pain when you wake up, as your temporomandibular joint bore the tension of constant grinding in the night.

Chronic stress can affect gum health. Chronic stress lowers your immune strength and can result in sore, inflamed gums that bleed every time you brush. It also likely raises your chances of getting canker sores inside your mouth, small spots with a white or grayish base that have red borders. They show up in pairs or in greater numbers. Also, when you’re feeling upset, it can trigger an outbreak of cold sores on or around your lips. They’re filled with fluid, sometimes called fever blisters.

How can stress lead to bad breath?

Stress can result in dehydration, leading to lack of saliva flow. With less saliva, acid and sugar interact on the enamel and can cause tooth decay and cavities, which means bad breath. Apart from these, people under extreme stress tend to forego oral cleaning habits. With their moods affected, they may tend to skip brushing, flossing, and rinsing. This raises the chances of getting cavities or gum disease.

Dental Care in Bellingham

If you’ve got any of these oral manifestations, talk to our Bellingham dentist soon. Early intervention can stop the progress of these conditions. For stress, we might have to advise you to consult with your doctor.

Know What Your Teeth are Telling You

Beginning cavities are notoriously difficult to spot by the untrained eye, hence, they are considered a wide-spread condition. Unattended cavities can cause the spread of tooth decay and tooth loss with attendant gum disease and bone destruction.

So it is important that the first signs be recognized right away and treatment sought. Dentists were asked what signs should alert common folks that they have a tooth cavity or cavities. They agree that these five common signs point to the presence of a cavity in your mouth.

You have a toothache, and you don’t know why. You suddenly experience a toothache and nothing else about your health has changed, it could be due to a cavity. A cavity starts at the outer surface of teeth, the enamel, considered the strongest material in the body. It can bore down to the next layer, which is the dentin. If it reaches the pulp chamber with its rich nerve supply, you may feel pain already.

You feel sensitivity or pain with certain food and drinks. When you eat or drink acidic, cold, hot, sticky, or sweet items, you may have sensitive teeth. When a cavity finds its way down to the dentin, hollow canals known as microscopic tubules within can allow these foods to stimulate the nerves and cells inside. Dentin is yellowish tissue and makes up the bulk of teeth. It is harder than bone but softer than enamel. It is sensitive to pain, pressure, and temperature as the tubules connect to the pulp chamber.

You see a hole or pit on your tooth. If you see a small white spot on the surface of your tooth, a cavity is just forming. As the erosion gets worse and the cavity begins to burrow into your tooth, it forms a hole or pit that might be visible to the naked eye.

You notice a spot that has stained brown, black, or white. A discolored spot of a different hue from the rest of your teeth, can be a sign of tooth decay. Although cavities typically first look like little white marks, they can eventually pick up stains from the foods and beverages you consume, turning them a different color.

You feel a sharp jolt of pain when you bite down. This is another sign that your tooth’s pulp is inflamed or has actually died due to infection and is pressing down on the root underneath enclosed in bone. Any pressure downwards would hurt. There might be a crack in the tooth, allowing entry of outside elements.

Not Ignoring Warning Signs in Bellingham

Know the warning signs of cavities on your teeth. If you encounter any of these symptoms, do not delay seeing us at Dr. Tetrick’s. Early intervention is key.

Where The Problem Lies

Without a doctor or dentist’s guidance, some parents don’t follow national recommendations for early dental care for their children, a new national poll discovers. According to a recent C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, most parents believed children should delay dentist visits until age 4 or older – years later than what experts recommend. This clearly doesn’t connect with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association recommendation of starting dental visits around age one when baby teeth emerge.

The national poll is based on responses from 790 parents with at least one child aged 0-5. More than half of parents did not receive guidance from their child’s doctor or a dentist about when to start dentist visits. The reasons cited by some parents whose child has not had a dental visit are that the child is not old enough, the child’s teeth are healthy, and the child would be scared of the dentist.

Another factor that may delay dental care is that healthcare recommendations for early childhood are often focused on well-child visits with medical providers, and parents seemed to strictly follow through. They are well guided as to first visits after birth, immunization schedules, vitamins and milk formula instructions, and other such preventive care measures. Parents get much less guidance on when to start taking their child to the dentist. Less than half say, though, they have received professional advice. This lack of guidance may mean many parents delay the start of dental visits past the recommended age.

Welcoming Infants and Toddlers at Tetrick Family Dentistry

By the time your baby is one year old, visit Tetrick Family Dentistry for your child’s first visit.

New Study Proves the Connection

Studies have shown that dental health problems, like periodontal disease, are related to inflammation, diabetes, smoking and a not-so-healthy diet, according to a study, out of the department of epidemiology at Tulane University in New Orleans. Previous research has pointed out that there’s an association between dental issues and cardiovascular disease risk. If you had dental issues which eventually led to loss of teeth, it equates with an increased risk of this type of health problem.

However, most of that research looked at cumulative tooth loss over a lifetime, starting as early as childhood tooth loss. It is the tooth loss in middle age that’s more likely related to inflammation, but it hasn’t been clear how this later-in-life tooth loss might influence cardiovascular disease risk.

Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health collaborated in this new study analyzing the impact of tooth loss in large studies of adults, aged 45 to 69 years. Participant recorded their number of natural teeth at the onset with a follow-up of reported recent tooth loss. They didn’t have cardiovascular disease at the beginning. Researchers followed up in the next 8 years, afterwards followed an incidence of cardiovascular disease among those with no tooth loss, with one tooth lost, and two or more teeth lost over 12-18 years.

Cardiovascular disease risk among all those studied (regardless of the number of natural teeth) increased among those losing two or more teeth during the study period, compared to those who didn’t lose any teeth. Those with less than 17 natural teeth at the beginning were 25% more likely to have cardiovascular disease.

With the knowledge that tooth loss in middle age can signal elevated cardiovascular disease risk, adults can take steps to reduce the increased risk early on. Regular dental visits should be a crucial practise by younger adults in order to spot potential issues. Oral hygiene is also integral to preservation of one’s dentition.

Early Tooth Preservation in Bellingham

As early as possible, have your oral health overseen by your trusted dental experts here at Dr. Tetrick’s in Bellingham. Reduce your chances of tooth loss early and lessen your risk for cardiovascular disease.

Your Brain and Your Tooth Ache

Most people are so tuned in to pain they exactly know where it hurts – a knife cut in the middle finger or a splinter caught under the thumb nail, even if the fingers involved are near each other. It is not so readily easy with toothache in the mouth. A new study from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany is one of the first to address the puzzle of toothache localization.

Researchers analyzed brain activity in healthy volunteers as they experienced tooth pain. They delivered short electrical pulses to the upper left canine tooth or the lower left canine tooth in the subjects. These bursts of electrical stimulation produced a painful sensation similar to that felt when biting into an ice cube and were tuned such that the subject always rated the pain to be about 60%, with 100% being the worst pain imaginable.

The researchers used fMRI to monitor changes in activity when the upper tooth or the lower tooth was electrocuted. Many brain regions responded to top and bottom tooth pain in the same way, for the signals came from two branches of the trigeminal nerve . The V2 branch carries pain signals from the upper jaw, and the V3 branch carries pain signals from the lower jaw. Regions in the cerebral cortex behaved similarly for both toothaches. These brain regions are known to play important roles in the pain projection system, yet none showed major differences between the two toothaches.

Though the stimulation was more or less the same, the experiments might have missed subtle differences that could account for why some tooth pain can be localized and some can’t. The person couldn’t tell where the pain was coming from, so dentists should be aware that patients aren’t always able to locate the pain source. There are physiological and anatomical reasons involved.
These findings are consistent with what dentists see in practice – the brain is unable to tell top-tooth pain from bottom-tooth pain.

Understanding the pathway from tooth to brain may help researchers devise better treatments for acute tooth pain, such as cavities or infections, and more-chronic conditions, such as phantom pain that persists in the mouth after a tooth has been removed.

Understanding Tooth Pain Locations in Bellingham

Are you experiencing tooth pain and can’t exactly tell us which or where? No worries. It’s a common enough dilema. Come to us in Bellingham for a consult and let us look you over and help.

Pros and Cons of Alternative Toothpastes

The Los Angeles Dental Society talks about the pros and cons of some of the popular alternative toothpaste in the market today. Like most commercial health and beauty products, toothpaste has been industrialized over the years. Fluoride is still a popular ingredient and its benefits well studied. To curb excessive use of fluoride, the ADA lends its seal of acceptance on those brands that conform with the safe and proper proportions of fluoride. Question is, do these other alternative oral care products actually clean teeth and prevent cavities?

Charcoal

Synonymous with “black”, charcoal is claimed to help whiten your teeth. The abrasiveness of charcoal helps remove stains, helps raise the pH in your mouth which in turn helps neutralize acids. While there’s no proof that it’s a better option than regular toothpaste, charcoal-based toothpaste may be too abrasive if the quantities are too high.

Baking Soda

Although baking soda does help to remove plaque, it doesn’t kill any bacteria, and that can actually increase cavity formation in your teeth. Its abrasive properties that help clean your teeth can also damage the enamel, so it’s best to use baking soda and baking soda-heavy products only occasionally.

Cinnamon

It is known to be anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory. If you use cinnamon in too strong a concentration or too frequently, you may wind up with red and white patches in your mouth that burn. With a condition called cinnamon-induced oral mucosal contact reaction, you’ll need to stop using cinnamon-flavored products, including toothpastes and gum.

Coconut Oil

It has been shown to help prevent and treat oral candida infections or thrush. However, whether it will reduce cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth is still in question. Some small studies suggest its antibacterial ability helps reduce plaque and gingivitis, but more research is needed for a solid conclusion.

Sea Salt

Sea salts can temporarily raise the pH in your mouth, which makes it more difficult for bacteria to thrive. That’s why it’s also a top ingredient in homemade toothpastes.

Recommending Best Toothpaste Ingredients

Alternative toothpaste with their cleaning effects have their own benefits to boast. It just may be more safe for consumers to use them in moderation. Ask your Bellingham dentist about them.

The Problem of Receding Gums

Pink and firm to the touch, healthy gums fit around tooth roots snugly. Made of soft tissue, gums (also called gingiva) support teeth and keep them in place. Sometimes it might not always be the case. You might notice that some teeth appear to look longer than usual, the gum tissue around them have a reddish hue. This indicates receding gums, slowly pulling away from their usual firm grip. In addition, the gums are swollen and tender, bleed easily when you brush. You might even notice bad breath.

What might have caused the recession? There may be several reasons for this. One is neglect of oral health which can lead to gum disease. You might be brushing too hard, which can do more harm than good. Crooked teeth and misaligned bite are also risk factors. There might have been injury to the teeth involved, or you might be into teeth grinding. Genetics also play a role.

The edge of the gum tissue, which surrounds your teeth, is known as the gingival margin. If this margin pulls away from the teeth, it leaves the roots exposed and more susceptible to decay and tooth loss. Your gums won’t return on their own because they do not grow back. It can affect your self-esteem, your smile. There are a few ways to treat gingival recession. Stopping the habits within your control and improving dental hygiene can reverse the recession process. These are two immediate changes you can make.

If your gum recession is advanced already, the most appropriate treatment will depend on whether you have symptoms of periodontal disease and the severity of the recession. With signs of gum disease, the dentist might perform a deep cleaning of the teeth, to remove any bacteria and debris, before the tissue is attached. If there is a considerable amount of recession, a gum graft is recommended to replace the lost tissue, taking tissue from one area, like the roof of the mouth, then transferring it to the gum area. Another is the pinhole surgical technique which involves manipulating existing gum tissue over the exposed roots.

Good oral habits must be maintained at all times to prevent worsening of your gum recession. Fix crooked teeth or have your bite aligned. Stop smoking which can advance gum recession.

Gum Recession is Treatable in Bellingham

Don’t delay any further if you’ve noticed gum recession. See your Bellingham dentist right away for advice and treatment. Know that gum disease is rampant and when it is long-standing, it can jeopardize oral and body health.

Better Oral Health in 2018

With 2018 upon us, we take stock of things and resolve to start doing new stuff or following thru with old resolutions. Most people will make some health related resolutions in the list for the new year – going to the gym, quitting the bottle, getting more sleep, and the like. Oral health must figure also in the resolve for change and for the better. Here are some great ideas to begin with.

Make better your oral hygiene regimen

Avoid dental caries and gum disease by being mindful of your brushing style, choice of toothpaste, timing and frequency, as well as your nightly flossing. Remember that flossing prevents plaque build-up in between spaces that your toothbrush have difficulty reaching. Be sure to replace the toothbrush every 3 to 4 months or as necessary, especially when you’ve just recovered from the cold or the flu, to prevent the spread of germs.

Eat better and eat healthy

Reduce your consumption of sugars, starches, and acidic foods that can harm teeth. Sugary foods, snacks, and beverages are notoriously tied with caries and tooth decay. Starches as chips, bread, pasta or crackers break down into sugars that bacteria feeds on. We know acidic foods like citrus, tomato products, as well as coffee and wine can stain and weaken enamel if they linger in the mouth. Consider dairy products high in calcium. Crunchy fruits and raw vegetables, like apples and celery, clean plaque and freshen breath. Antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin C and beta-carotene, and other fruits and vegetables help protect gums from bacterial infection.

Quit bad habits damaging to teeth

Smoking doubles the risk for gum disease and is linked to many other health issues. There is absolutely no reason to keep it. Other unhealthy habits you should stop subjecting your teeth to are nail biting, chewing ice and other hard objects, opening caps with your teeth, ignoring teeth grinding or engaging in sports without a mouthguard.

Get an in-office whitening

It’s a great way to start the year. Have bright, white and healthy smiles done professionally; it’s a precise and safe option.

Dental Check-ups at Tetrick Family Dentistry

Don’t be part of statistics that say 1/3 of the population doesn’t visit the dentist at least once a year. Every six months is recommended. Have that professional cleaning and can identify and address any serious issues before they become dangerous to your health.

The Culprit: Too Much Sugar Intake

We were told that tooth brushing with toothpaste is one of the cornerstones of proper oral hygiene, complimented by interdental cleaning or flossing, enables the removal of plaque-forming debris. Towards the aim of preventing decay and caries, it is a widely accepted hygiene practice. So comes this latest research from the UK claiming that toothbrushing is not enough to protect children’s teeth from damage?

Published in the Journal of Public Health, a UK study found that the snacking habits of children under five years of age have the most impact on their oral health, even as parents rely on toothbrushing it does not suffice to prevent decay. Toothbrushing alone cannot protect children’s teeth from the damage caused by sugary food and drink snacks.

The research supports that snacking is unhealthy and confirms that snacking on sugary foods and drinks is the key contributing factor. Child and teenager tooth extractions reached record highs last year, equating to 170 hospital operations a day. The Local Government Association found that there were a little less than 43,000 hospital extractions in England for those under 18 years of age during 2016/17, almost a fifth over the last four years. The cost of extractions are a staggering £36 million every year. This is how severe the incidence of tooth decay is in England.

There is an urgent need to introduce measures to curb children’s sugar addiction. There must be innovative oral health education so that parents and children understand the impact of sugar on teeth and the importance of a good oral hygiene regimen. The British Dental Association is critical of the situation. It condemned ministers for a ‘short-sighted’ approach towards tooth decay when it should be reaching millions of patients. It pointed to the lack of a national oral health programme for children, unlike in Wales and Scotland.

The government is set to reduce the number of children having teeth extracted because of tooth decay and plans to implement a sugar tax by April on soft drinks with the most added sugar. Their world-class NHS dentists are also playing a vital role to improve dental hygiene in the child population.

Concern About Children’s Sugar Intake in Bellingham

Bellingham dentistry is just as concern with our pediatric cases, seeing the rise of tooth decay incidence. We strongly advocate sugary food and drinks reduction among kids for a healthier future adult population.