Dentist in Fort Worth

Archive for the ‘Caring for Your Teeth’ Category

A good night’s sleep has the power to restore the body and enliven the mind. For the 18 million Americans who experience symptoms of sleep apnea, a good night’s sleep also has the power to save their lives. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious, life-threatening disorder that is characterized as a series of episodes in which a person stops breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep, according to an article in the March 2009 issue of AGD Impact, the Academy of General Detnistry’s (AGD) monthly newsmagazine.   So, how would someone know if he or she had sleep apnea? Snoring is a major indicator, but not all symptoms are so obvious—and audible. A dentist can detect the less evident symptoms of sleep apnea through a candid conversation with a patient, in conjunction with an exam, about the patient’s recent pains or discomforts. A dentist may suspect a patient suffers from sleep apnea if the patient complains about lethargy, morning headaches, or dry mouth (typically caused by open mouth breathing during sleep).  ”Dentists are often the first professional to become aware of a potential problem since they are usually in contact with their patients more frequently than are physicians,” says J. Michael Owen, DDS, FAGD, Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) spokesperson. Dentists will send patients with symptoms of sleep apnea to a sleep medicine specialist who will assess the patient’s conditions. If a patient is diagnosed with the disorder, he or she may return to the dentist to receive treatment.  Treatment options for sleep apnea vary depending on the severity of the disorder. An individual with mild sleep apnea may need to make behavioral changes such as altering the sleeping position, losing weight, or quitting smoking, as well as wearing a dental appliance during sleep. A dental appliance for sleep apnea, which looks similar to an athletic mouthguard, repositions the jaw and tongue to improve airflow.  ”Like any appliance they do require some adjustment and a commitment on the part of the patient, but they are typically as easy to wear as most retainers or other removable dental appliances,” says Dr. Owen. Treatment for severe cases of sleep apnea requires more aggressive management, which may include the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) system—a device that delivers air through a small mask and applies constant pressure to keep the air way open—or surgery.  Most dentists have undergone special training for the treatment of sleep apnea and are very skilled in its management using behavioral modification and dental appliances, but a confirmed diagnosis from a sleep medicine specialist is required before any treatment can be administered. Because sleep apnea can be a silent condition, it can go undiagnosed for many years. It is important to keep an open and honest dialog with health care professionals to ensure that conditions such as sleep apnea can be identified and properly treated.  People with sleep apnea usually do not remember waking up during the night. Indications of the problem may include:

• Morning headaches
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Irritability and impaired mental or emotional functioning
• Excessive snoring, choking, or gasping during sleep
• Insomnia
• Awakening with a dry mouth or sore throat

First reported more than 200 years ago, dental erosion still continues to be a major concern for dentists and consumers. Twenty decades ago, studies reported dental erosion occurred because of industrial hazards, specifically when workers were exposed to acidic aerosols. In recent years, everyday foods and drinks such as lemons, pickles, sodas and sugary, starchy goods have been associated with tooth erosion. People now also need to  be aware of another danger that causes permanent and severe loss of tooth structure, acid reflux-induced erosion, a condition that occurs when stomach contents reflux into the mouth, according to a study that appeared in the March/April 2009 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than seven million people suffer from severe acid reflux. However, David Lazarchik, DMD, lead author of the study notes that, “patients often are not aware of the damage that reflux-induced erosion has caused to their teeth until it has reached an advanced stage of destruction.”  The potential of hydrogen, or pH, is a standard way to measure the acidity of a substance. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. A lower pH means that a solution contains more acid. The higher the pH, the more alkaline (or non-acidic) the solution.  ”Dental enamel begins to dissolve at a pH of 5.5,” says Dr. Lazarchik. “Because stomach acid has an extremely low pH of 2.0, it has the potential to cause significant chemical erosion.”  Certain foods, beverages and habits are known to cause acid reflux and as preventive measure, individuals should be aware of the products they consume. Spicy, fatty, fried foods, citric fruits and beverages and dairy products can lead to acid reflux.  In addition to taking the steps necessary to establish a healthier eating lifestyle, AGD Vice President, Fares Elias, DDS, FAGD, says, “When visiting a general dentist, it’s important to make him or her aware of any medical conditions and medical history in general.”  ”In some cases, other medical conditions, not directly related to your oral health, may be the cause for problems associated in the mouth,” says Dr. Elias, who has also experienced acid reflux. ”Treating reflux-induced erosion without treating and preventing the medical condition that causes the erosion may only lead to more severe problems for your oral health in the future.”  If Acid Reflux-Induced Erosion is Diagnosed:

• Avoid eating acidic foods and foods that can cause acid reflux (tomatoes, citric fruits, spicy & fried foods, fatty meats, dairy, chocolate and caffeine are all culprits)
• Avoid brushing for 60 minutes after reflux episodes
• Rinse mouth with water after reflux episodes
• Take a sugar-free antacid and let it dissolve in the mouth
• Chew xylitol gum or other sugarless gums, lozenges or candies

Tooth decay affects children in the United States more than any other chronic infectious disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC states that tooth decay, if left untreated, can cause pain and infections that hinder eating, speaking, playing and learning. The controlled addition of a fluoride compound to public water supplies is considered to be the most cost-effective way to prevent cavities and fight tooth decay, according to a study published in the January/February 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) peer-reviewed clinical journal.   “Fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before damage is even visible,” said C.H. Chu, BDS, PhD, MAGD, ABGD, lead author of the study. “Studies have confirmed the most effective source of fluoride to be water fluoridation.”   More than 144 million United States residents in more than 10,000 communities drink fluoridated tap water, providing an automatic defense against the harmful ingredients that cause such a preventable oral health disease.   “Instead of drilling holes to fix cavities, dentists would rather educate the public on how to avoid developing tooth decay in the first place,” said Cynthia Sherwood, DDS, FAGD, spokesperson for the AGD. “Drinking tap water to receive fluoride is safe, and it’s easier on your wallet than going to the dentist for a filling.”   The second-most effective source of fluoride is varnish. Varnish, applied quickly and easily by a dentist, is one of the most concentrated products available commercially. Varnishes that contain sodium fluoride adhere to tooth surfaces when saliva is present, providing an excellent fluoride treatment.   Keeping fluoride in the mouth enhances its ability to arrest demineralization and promote remineralization, and varnishes are better for this purpose than fluoridated drinking water or toothpaste. Fluoride varnishes are typically used for patients who don’t receive enough fluoride from other sources.   “The bland flavor and simplicity of the varnish method also makes it well-tolerated by young children and special needs patients,” Dr. Chu said.   Dr. Chu looked at the effectiveness of fluoride in specialty milk and salt products, toothpaste, mouthrinse and gum, but found that only the water fluoridation and varnish methods had the ability to reduce cavities by more than 30 percent.   Patients who suspect that they have a cavity should visit a general dentist right away.

The human mouth is home to an estimated 800 to 1,000 different kinds of bacteria. The warm and moist environment, along with hard tooth surfaces and soft tissues, prove to be optimal factors in boosting germ growth. Many of these bacteria are harmful and can form a film on teeth called “dental plaque,” which causes cavities, gingivitis and eventually more severe kinds of gum disease.

Toothpaste that contains triclosan/copolymer is better than regular fluoride toothpastes at killing the kinds of bacteria that live in people’s mouths, according to a study published in the January/February 2010 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

“Manufacturers add specific agents to toothpastes to provide added benefits to consumers,” said Joseph J. Zambon, DDS, PhD, one of the study’s authors and a distinguished teaching professor at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. “The best known agent is fluoride, which was added to toothpaste to prevent cavities. Triclosan added to toothpaste has been shown in a number of clinical studies to inhibit plaque and gingivitis. The copolymer helps to keep triclosan in your mouth for a longer period of time, which boosts its ability to inhibit oral bacteria.”

The triclosan/copolymer toothpaste and two fluoride toothpastes were tested on several different kinds of lab-grown bacteria that mimic germs found in the mouth. The tests were also done on bacteria taken from the mouths of human volunteers.

“Repetitive testing shows that toothpaste with triclosan/copolymer outperformed the fluoride-only toothpastes when it came to inhibiting the growth of bacteria,” Dr. Zambon said.

Along with brushing teeth twice a day, the AGD recommends the daily use of floss and a mouth rinse to reduce dental plaque and kill germs in the mouth.

“The importance of killing germs is that if you can keep your mouth relatively clean, you can minimize the likelihood of cavities and gum disease, as well as the unpleasantness of bad breath,” said Paul Bussman, DMD, FAGD, spokesperson for the AGD.