Maintaining good oral health is not just about a bright smile; it can also be a crucial factor in preventing life-threatening conditions such as heart disease. While most people associate dental check-ups with cavity prevention and gum health, the importance of routine dental visits extends beyond the mouth. In this article, we’ll explore the surprising connections between regular dental check-ups and overall well-being, with a sobering reminder from the tragic case of NFL wide receiver Mike Williams, whose life was cut short by brain infections originating from dental issues.
Research has shown that there is a profound connection between oral health and the health of the rest of the body. The mouth serves as a gateway to the body, and harmful bacteria from untreated dental issues can enter the bloodstream, leading to systemic health problems. Regular dental check-ups play a pivotal role in preventing these issues by identifying and addressing potential problems before they escalate.
One of the most startling connections discovered in recent years is the link between gum disease and heart disease. The bacteria that cause gum disease can enter the bloodstream and contribute to the formation of arterial plaque, increasing the risk of heart disease. Regular dental check-ups can help catch gum disease in its early stages, allowing for timely intervention and reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems.
The untimely death of NFL wide receiver Mike Williams serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of dental health. Williams passed away due to brain infections that originated from dental problems left untreated. This tragic incident underscores the potential severity of dental issues and highlights the need for regular check-ups, even for seemingly minor concerns.
Regular dental check-ups not only help prevent oral health issues but also play a crucial role in identifying potential signs of broader health problems. Dentists are often the first to notice symptoms such as inflammation, bleeding, or infection, which can be indicative of underlying systemic conditions. Early detection allows for prompt intervention, potentially preventing life-threatening complications.
As you embark on your journey toward optimal oral health, remember you’re never alone. Shine Dental Associates is your partner, guide, and source of unwavering support. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that every step you take toward a healthier smile is met with expertise, compassion, and personalized care. Don’t hesitate to contact us at (516) 348-8500 – your destination for exceptional dental care and a brighter, more confident future. Let’s sail towards a world of smiles together!
A radiant smile is a powerful tool that exudes confidence and positivity. Achieving and maintaining a healthy smile requires more than just occasional brushing and flossing – it demands a commitment to proper techniques and consistent care. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of oral hygiene, uncovering the secrets to effective brushing and flossing while sprinkling in some inspirational tips to keep you motivated on your journey to excellent dental health.
Step 1: Choose the Right Tools:
Selecting the proper toothbrush is the foundation of effective brushing. Opt for a soft-bristle toothbrush that’s gentle on your gums and enamel, paired with fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your teeth and combat cavities.
Step 2: Technique Matters:
Preparing for Brushing: Wet the toothbrush with water to soften the bristles. Apply a peanut-sized amount of toothpaste to the brush.
Positioning: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums.
Gentle Movements: Use gentle circular or back-and-forth motions. Avoid vigorous scrubbing, which can damage your gums and enamel.
Cover All Surfaces: Brush the front, back, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. Remember your tongue, which harbors bacteria and can lead to bad breath.
Step 3: Duration:
Brush for at least two minutes, two times a day, ensuring you dedicate time to each quadrant of your mouth. Consider setting a timer or playing a favorite song to make the process enjoyable.
Step 4: Rinse and Clean:
Spit out the toothpaste after brushing. Avoid rinsing your mouth immediately to allow the fluoride to continue protecting your teeth.
Tip 1: Remember that each brush stroke is a step toward a healthier, more confident you. Every time you brush, you’re investing in your future smile.
Step 1: Choose the Right Floss:
Select a floss that suits your preferences – whether it’s traditional floss, dental tape, or floss picks. The key is to find a floss that you’re comfortable using consistently.
Step 2: Technique:
Flossing Order: Begin with one section of your mouth and work your way around. Use a clean section of floss for each tooth to prevent transferring bacteria.
Gentle Glide: Gently slide the floss between your teeth, curving it into a “C” shape to hug the tooth’s surface. Be cautious not to snap the floss, which can harm your gums.
Up and Down: Move the floss up and down against the tooth’s surface to remove plaque and debris. Repeat for all teeth, including those at the back.
Step 3: Frequency:
Floss at least once daily to clean the spaces your toothbrush can’t reach. It’s a small effort that yields significant rewards for your oral health and significantly lowers your chance of getting cavities.
Tip 2: Flossing might seem like a small task, but its impact is monumental. Just as threads weave together to create a tapestry, your flossing efforts weave a fabric of health and vitality for your smile.
Embrace your role as the guardian of your oral health. Every brush, every floss, every moment of care is an investment in yourself. Remember that your smile reflects your inner radiance, so keep it shining bright with the power of consistent and effective oral care. Your journey to a healthier, happier smile starts with the simple acts of brushing and flossing – take those steps with confidence and enthusiasm!
*Always ask your Dentist: You should always seek the advice of your dentist to make sure which options are best for you. Dental conditions vary widely among individuals. Not all dental problems are visible or easily detectable. No matter how diligent your oral hygiene routine is, professional cleanings are essential. Regular dental check-ups allow for the early detection of potential issues. Dentists are trained to provide expert advice on oral hygiene and other factors that impact your dental health. Online information may need more depth and accuracy to address your specific needs.
As you embark on your journey toward optimal oral health, remember you’re never alone. Shine Dental Associates is your partner, guide, and source of unwavering support. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that every step you take toward a healthier smile is met with expertise, compassion, and personalized care. Don’t hesitate to contact us at (516) 348-8500 – your destination for exceptional dental care and a brighter, more confident future. Let’s sail towards a world of smiles together!
Your health matters tremendously, but what most may not realize is that keeping yourself in the best physical shape isn’t always just about working out and eating right. Instead, you need to think about other aspects of your life – and good oral health is one of them. (more…)
It seems that people are beginning to understand what we’ve known for many years – that one’s dental health has a profound effect on one’s overall health.
In fact, employers are discovering that they get more productivity from employees who take care of their teeth. This is why business owners are seeing great value in providing dental insurance to their employees.
This article found at smallbiztrends.com by Annie Pilon discusses the relationship between dental health and overall health, and the benefits to employers of providing employee dental health plans so they can take better care of their oral hygiene and prevent dental emergencies.
“…for business owners, providing employee dental health care isn’t just a bonus that can make your benefits package look more attractive to employees. It can actually have a huge impact on employees’ overall health, quality of life and even their productivity at work.”
“According to the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), people without employee dental health benefits insurance reported higher incidences of a variety of other illnesses. For example, periodontal disease has been shown to make other health conditions like diabetes worse. In addition, people who have access to dental coverage are more likely to practice good preventive care, which can help keep them healthier overall.”
Read the entire article here: More than a Toothache: Why Employee Dental Health Matters
We know how important it is to practice good oral hygiene, and now it looks like employers are understanding this lesson as well.
Periodontal disease is one of the most common dental problems and involves inflammation of or infection of the gums. If left untreated gum disease can eventually lead to the loss of teeth and damage to your bones, so it is important that you let us treat your gums right away to reverse the damage.
Gum disease, like other dental problems, is the result of bacteria living in your mouth. These bacteria feed on the food particles in your mouth and can form plaque that sticks to your teeth. Over time, this plague hardens and becomes tartar that has to be removed by a dentist.
The initial stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. This problem primarily involves red, inflamed gums that may bleed easily. If you notice that your gums are bleeding after you brush your teeth, for example, give us a call so that we can help clean your teeth and reverse the inflammation.
We don’t want to scare you…okay, perhaps we do. However, we’re scaring you for a good reason…to get you to take your oral health more seriously!
We found a recent online article by Dr. Peter Galgut at Express.co.uk that once again reveals the scientific studies that connect poor oral health and hygiene to many of today’s most harmful diseases, such as: heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and more.
Gum disease is an infection caused by dental plaque bacteria that creep in underneath the gums. This infection slowly erodes away the foundations of the teeth. Then the gums start to shrink, the teeth get loose and wobbly and, if left untreated, we finally end up with abscesses and the loss of our teeth. But that’s not all.
Research has shown that gum infections have very harmful effects throughout our bodies. Did you know there is a major connection between gum disease and heart disease?
It is now known that the bacteria from gum disease can settle on the heart valves and cause permanent damage to them. Once this happens the heart will be unable to work efficiently and it becomes more susceptible to other infections.
Also, women who have active gum disease during their pregnancy are more likely to have pre-term and low birth weight babies as the body cannot concentrate all its resources on the baby while it has to continuously fight off an ongoing infection in the mouth.
We also know that those with uncontrolled diabetes are more susceptible to infections. If these people also have gum disease either it gets worse or the diabetes becomes more difficult to control, or both. So if the immune system has to struggle to control two problems at the same time to try to maintain health, it often fails to manage either.
Worryingly, rheumatoid arthritis has been linked with gum disease and more recently bowel cancer, asthma and even erectile dysfunction.
As more and more medical conditions are associated with this ongoing silent infection, it is clear that although gum disease does not cause pain, swelling or any other alarming symptoms in its early stages, the effects of the infection from the highly toxic bacteria lodged underneath the gums echo throughout our bodies and can cause or contribute significantly to other illnesses.
Again, we want you to take your oral health seriously. At Shine Dental Associates we have an excellent team of dentists, hygienists, and a board certified periodontist to provide the very best dental care on Long Island. Give us a call today for a free consultation at (516) 348-8500.
If you have inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bone structure that supports the teeth, you are not alone. Many adults in the US suffer from periodontal disease, which is a kind of gum disease that affects the bone structure around the teeth. This irritation is caused because of the reaction of the gums to food debris, calculus and plaque building up between the teeth and the gums.
Gum tissues would become red and swollen as a result. Even bleeding can occur when brushing the teeth and flossing.
This article will highlight three tips to avoid periodontal disease.
1. Taking regular care of your mouth is very important to avoid periodontal disease. Brushing the teeth twice a day, flossing a few minutes a day and using an effective mouthwash is very important in this regard. The first two methods will help to remove food particles from between the teeth and the gums while the mouthwash will help to reduce bacterial action in the mouth.
2. Eating adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables are very important to maintain healthy gums and teeth. Consuming plenty of fluoridated water and calcium rich foods are also important in this regard. Avoiding sugary foodstuff is mandatory in maintaining good oral health. Regular exercises will help to improve blood flow, which is important to the gums and teeth roots.
3. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year is very important to prevent any oral diseases. “Prevention is better than cure”, this old saying is very true as visiting the dentist can help to identify any abnormalities in your gums or teeth. Dental x-rays can help to keep you updated about the bone structure of your teeth. Any early signs of oral disease can be diagnosed by your regular visits to the dentist.
Call Shine Dental Associates at (516) 348-8500 to schedule your next dental check up.
Daniella Sansotta is a Registered Dental Hygienist at Shine Dental Associates of the North Shore located at 400 Jericho Turnpike in Syosset.
Daniella strives to build close relationships with her dental patients. She is determined to help her patients avoid unnecessary dental problems like periodontal disease that can be avoided with proper dental care.
If you’re looking for a caring dental hygienist you should give Daniella a call at (516) 348-8500.
Your daily dental hygiene regimen is not complete unless you floss at least once a day. Flossing can really help the overall health of your mouth. Carefully ease the floss down near the gums between your teeth. Gently pull the floss to and fro. Keep the floss at the level of your gums, but not embedded underneath. While the spaces between your teeth are important, you should also focus on the front and back as well when flossing.
Call Shine Dental Associates to make an appointment with Daniella today: (516) 348-8500.
Your teeth aren’t just for flashing a beautiful smile, they are a major indicator of your overall health. Take proper care of them, and they should endure for most of your lifetime, if not all of it. While regular visits to your dental professional and twice daily brushing are always advised, there are many ways to maintain oral health that deserve your consideration.
Eat Smart Foods
Certain foods can help clean your teeth, due to their texture and firmness. Apples, for example, are a great snack for curbing hunger while spiffing up your pearly whites. Celery and raw carrots make for cleaner teeth too, so add them to the end of your meal for maximum effectiveness. Of course, it’s best to avoid sugary foods, particularly the ones that stay behind long after you’ve finished them, like hard candy or caramel. Keep a travel kit with you for those times when you enjoy a meal, but aren’t able to brush immediately.
Periodontal disease can form whenever you develop gingivitis in your mouth that goes untreated. As it advances into periodontal disease, the gums will actually pull away from the teeth and start to form spaces that are known as pockets, which can become infected. In order to avoid periodontal disease, it is important to keep a good oral hygiene regimen in place. Practicing good dental habits along with dental visits and a balanced diet are a great way to get started.
Bacteria lives in our mouths and if not removed daily through proper brushing and flossing it can cause bone loss.
You may not see the bone loss as it can occur underneath the gum tissues. However, plague and tartar are present on the roots of the teeth and the gums become red and loose.
Once the bone has been destroyed it cannot grow back. But by removing the bacteria we can prevent the bone loss from becoming worse and hopefully prevent the loss of your teeth.
Flossing is one of the most important things you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you floss correctly and regularly your chances of developing cavities and periodontal disease, or needing dentures, dental implants, and root canal treatment is greatly reduced. However, most people don’t know how to floss correctly. The video below will explain how to floss your teeth the right way.
Your teeth should be flossed daily to remove the plaque and bacteria that accumulates between the teeth and in the pocket of tissue around the teeth.
The floss is placed between the teeth, and with a gentle motion, is rocked between the tooth and gum tissue to clean within the pocket.
This procedure is repeated for all the teeth in your mouth.
Although this process may seem tedious at first, over time and with practice, it will become a quick and simple way to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
National Dental Hygiene Awareness Month is here to help raise awareness about oral health. The most important thing to remember is, “brush, floss and rinse”.
Brushing for 2 minutes twice a day cleans teeth and gums effectively. Research has shown that brushing teeth for 2 minutes two times a day helps reduce plaque, cavities and gingivitis.
Rinsing your mouth daily with an anti-microbial mouth rinse is another important step to prevent gingivitis. If gingivitis is left untreated it will advance into periodontitis. Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease which causes bone loss around teeth which in turns becomes loose and eventually fall out. It is very important that you treat periodontal disease because it is associated with many other systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and premature births.
Also, hygiene is very important around dental Implants. Dental implants are posts that provide foundation for a fixed or removable denture. It is very important that you keep the dental implant clean because you don’t want to develop an infection and get bone loss around the implants.
Maintenance or routine dental cleanings are very important not only around dental implants but also around your own teeth. If you have any questions regarding how to maintain or clean your teeth or dental implants please contact Shine Dental Associates of the North Shore at 516-348-8500 for a complimentary consultation with our Board Certified Periodontist.
Are E-Cigarettes Safer Than Regular Cigarettes?We have noticed that many of our patients have switched from cigarettes to the electronic cigarettes. E-cigarettes don’t burn tobacco. Instead, they contain cartridges that are filed with nicotine and other chemicals. Once the e-cigarette is used the liquid chemicals turn into vapor.
There is limited research on e-cigarettes with respect to oral cancer. However, there are chemicals such as nitrosamine in the e-cigarettes that are known to cause cancer.
In our opinion, there needs to be more research on this product to determine the risks vs. benefits compared to regular cigarette smoking.
Screening for oral cancer is very important whether you use e-cigarettes or whether you smoke regular cigarettes, cigars, or a pipe. Shine Dental Associates of the North Shore does a thorough intra-oral examination for our patients to make sure no lesions are missed.
If you have any questions, please contact us at 516-348-8500.
Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth. The bacteria can cause an infection of the gums and leads bleeding and swelling and can eventually destroy the supporting bone around the teeth.
As the disease advances the teeth become loose and maybe lost. Periodontal disease may be prevented by proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits.
To find out what we can do to help you avoid periodontal disease, or to stop and reverse the disease process if you already have it, please give us a call today for a free consultation with our board certified periodontist.
You can reach our Syosset Long Island office at: (516) 348-8500.
