Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body Connection

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

The mouth is a window into the health of the body. It can show signs of nutritional deficiencies or general infection. For example, systemic diseases—those that affect the entire body, like diabetes or immune deficiency diseases—may first become apparent because of accelerated decay, infection. delayed healing and other oral problems.

Without a doubt, there is a connection between a healthy mouth and a healthy body. Bleeding gums, visible root surfaces and loose teeth are not normal at any age. These are usually signs of an infection called periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal infections can be serious and can affect not only the mouth, but potentially your overall health. In addition, an increasing body of medical evidence suggests that an unhealthy mouth may worsen serious medical problems like heart disease, stroke, bacterial pneumonia and diabetes. Pregnant women with periodontitis (advanced periodontal disease) may be at increased risk of delivering preterm and/or low-birth-weight infants.

More studies are needed, but some researchers suspect that bacteria and inflammation linked to periodontitis play a role in several systemic diseases or conditions. Likewise, diseases such as diabetes, blood cell disorders, and immunity diseases can lower the body’s resistance to infection, making periodontal diseases more severe.

People with diabetes often have periodontal disease. In addition, there is evidence that people with diabetes are more likely to develop and have more severe periodontitis than those without diabetes. Some studies suggest that periodontitis can make it more difficult for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar.

Although periodontitis may contribute to these health conditions, it’s important to understand that just because two conditions occur at the same time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one condition causes the other. That’s why researchers are examining what happens when periodontitis is treated in people with these various health problems.

Given the potential link between periodontitis and systemic health problems, prevention is essential in maintaining overall health. Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day. Clean between your teeth with floss or another type of inter-dental cleaner once a day. Your dentist may recommend using an antimicrobial mouth rinse as part of your daily oral hygiene routine. Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks. And finally, schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings. Professional cleanings are the only way to remove calculus, or tartar, which traps plaque bacteria along the gum line.

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com

Fluoridated Water; Drink it Up!

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Community water fluoridation is the single most effective public health measure in history to prevent tooth decay.  Grand Rapids, Michigan became the world's first city to adjust the level of fluoride in its water supply back in 1945. Since that time, fluoridation of drinking water has dramatically improved the oral health of tens of millions of Americans. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites community water fluoridation as one of ten great public health achievements of the 20th century. About 72% of the U.S. population served by public water systems receive the benefit of optimally fluoridated water. 

Fluoridation of community water supplies is simply the adjustment of the existing, naturally occurring fluoride levels in drinking water to an optimal fluoride level recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, identified as 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million for the prevention of tooth decay. Water that has been fortified with fluoride is similar to fortifying milk with Vitamin D, table salt with iodine, and bread and cereals with folic acid.

Glenwood Springs has fluoride in its public water too. The City of Glenwood Springs began supplementing the natural fluoride in its water supply in 1986. Although fluoride exists naturally in No Name and Grizzly Creeks at a quantity of 0.08 to 0.25 parts per million, that amount is augmented to 1 part per million, based on the recommended level set by the Colorado Department of Public Health.

Studies conducted throughout the past 67 years have consistently shown that fluoridation of community water supplies is safe and effective in preventing dental decay in both children and adults. Simply by drinking water, people can benefit from fluoridation's cavity protection. Today, studies prove water fluoridation continues to be effective in reducing tooth decay by 20 to 40 percent, even in an era with widespread availability of fluoride from other sources, like fluoride toothpaste. 

Fluoridation is one public health program that actually saves money. Consider this: an individual can have a lifetime of fluoridated water for less than the cost of one dental filling. 

The bottom line? Drink lots of water, and here's to your abundant good health!

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com

Tooth Sensitivity: Reasons and Solutions

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

If  hot, cold, sweet, or sour foods and drinks—or even breathing cold air—causes pain or discomfort, you are experiencing tooth sensitivity. The pain can be sharp, sudden, and shoot deep into the nerve endings of your teeth.

Sensitive teeth occur when the underlying layer of your teeth—the dentin— becomes exposed as a result of receding gum tissue (the protective blanket that covers the tooth roots). The roots, which are not covered by hard enamel, contain thousands of tiny tubules, or channels, leading to the tooth's nerve center, or pulp. These channels allow the stimuli — the hot, cold, or sweet food—to reach the nerve in your tooth, which results in the pain you feel.

Some reasons for tooth sensitivity include:

• Brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush that wears down enamel and causes the dentin to be exposed.
• Tooth decay near the gum line.
• Recession of the gums due to periodontal disease, in which the root surface becomes exposed.
• Gum disease and gingivitis which cause loss of supporting ligaments, exposing teh root surface that leads to the tooth nerve..
• Chipped or broken teeth that may fill with bacteria from plaque and enter the pulp causing Inflammation.
• Grinding or clenching your teeth may wear down the enamel and expose underlying dentin.
• Tooth whitening products can often contribute to sensitive teeth.
• Age is a factor. Tooth sensitivity is highest between the ages of 25 and 30. 
• The presence of plaque on the root surfaces can cause sensitivity. 
•  Some over-the-counter mouthwashes contain acids that can worsen tooth sensitivity if you have exposed dentin. The acids further damage the dentin layer of the tooth. If you have dentin sensitivity, ask your dentist about the use of a neutral fluoride solution. 
•  Regular consumption of foods with a high acid content, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles, and tea, can cause enamel erosion. 
•  Finally, sensitivity can occur following teeth cleaning, root planing, crown placement, and tooth restoration. Sensitivity caused by dental procedures is temporary, usually disappearing in four to six weeks.

To reduce or prevent tooth sensitivity, be sure to maintain good oral health with regular teeth cleaning and daily flossing and brushing with a soft-bristled brush. A de-sensitizing fluoride toothpaste, with the ADA Seal of Approval, is also helpful. Limit high-acid food consumption. If you grind your teeth at night, be sure to use a mouth guard. And finally, be sure to see your dentist at regular intervals; we recommend a visit once every six months.

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com

Smart Advice for Wisdom Teeth

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. If they grow in with proper alignment, wisdom teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth, but more often, they are misaligned and require removal.

Wisdom teeth present potential problems when they are misaligned - they can position themselves horizontally, be angled toward or away from the second molars or be angled inward or outward. Poor alignment of wisdom teeth can crowd or damage adjacent teeth, the jawbone, or nerves. Wisdom teeth that lean toward the second molars make those teeth more vulnerable to decay by entrapping plaque and debris. In addition, wisdom teeth can be entrapped completely within the soft tissue and/or the jawbone or only partially break through or erupt through the gum. Teeth that remain partially or completely entrapped within the soft tissue and /or the jawbone are termed "impacted." 

As part of a dental visit, your dentist will examine you to determine if your wisdom teeth are healthy and properly positioned. Based on the condition of your mouth, your dentist may recommend removal of one or all of your wisdom teeth in the office under a local anesthetic, or refer you to an oral surgeon for a procedure under general anesthesia.

Every patient is unique, but in general, wisdom teeth may need to be removed when there is evidence of changes in the mouth such as:

• Pain
• Infection
• Cysts
• Damage to adjacent teeth
• Gum disease, and
• Tooth decay, especially if it is not possible or desirable to restore the tooth.

In addition, the condition of your mouth changes over time. Wisdom teeth that are not removed should continue to be monitored, because the potential for developing problems later on still exists. As with many other health conditions, as people age, they are at greater risk for health problems and that includes potential problems with their wisdom teeth.

Regular dental visits are important, and we generally recommend visits twice per year. Your dentist can evaluate not just your wisdom teeth but your overall oral health to help you prevent and manage dental disease and achieve optimal oral health.

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com

Trust the ADA and its Official Seal When Choosing Dental Products

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Dental professionals and consumers have recognized the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance as an important symbol of a dental product's safety and effectiveness for more than 125 years. The ADA Seal of Acceptance program began in 1930. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan gave the Association a certificate of commendation for the outstanding self-regulatory efforts of its Seal program.

Americans recognize the ADA Seal of Acceptance as the gold standard when it comes to evaluating the safety and efficacy of dental products. Look for the Seal when buying toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash and even chewing gum. Other products include denture products, cosmetic whitening bleaches and water filters that don't remove fluoride.

Products eligible to apply for the ADA Seal are those that have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for market directly to consumers, regardless of whether the company elects to market the products over-the-counter or exclusively through oral health care professionals. The Council on Scientific Affairs evaluates consumer dental products and their elements such as therapeutic agents, drugs, chemicals, materials, instruments, and equipment that are employed in the treatment or prevention of dental disease. 

The ADA Seal database has over 300 consumer products that have passed their rigorous screening process and received the Seal of Acceptance. For a full shopping list of consumer products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance go to adaseal@ada.org.

Dr. Benjamin Coon, D.D.S.

Glenwood Meadows Dental

40 Market Street, Suite A

Glenwood Springs, CO  81601

970-947-1717

www.gmeadowsdental.com