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All Posts in Category: Dry mouth

How is obesity related to your mouth?

This blog post is the 9th in a series of articles to inform our readers about the connection between your oral health and your overall health.

 

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

 

What is obesity?

According to www.letsmove.gove, obesity is defined as excess body fat. It accumulates to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to increased health problems and reduced life expectancy.

 

Typically, Body Mass Index, or BMI, is used as a screening tool for overweight or obesity. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. People with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight. People with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese.

periodontal-disease-and-your-overall-health-trans

You can calculate your BMI by visiting this chart. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmi_tbl.htm

 

Here at Loveable Smiles in Richardson, we treat all our patients like family. This blog post is not meant to judge but it is simply meant to inform our readers about the facts between your oral health and your overall health. We believe YOU deserve a Loveable Smile and look forward to helping you achieve Optimal Dental Health.

 

Obesity Statistics

  • More than 1/3 of US adults are obese. (35.7%)
  • Obesity has become one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century.
  • Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases including heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, sleep apnea, certain types of cancer and osteoarthritis.
  • The most common type of obesity results from excessive sugar and carbohydrate intake.
  • Obesity is the leading preventable cause of death, world-wide.

 

How is obesity related to your dental health? oral-health

Various studies have shown that those with excess weight have more oral health problems, including higher tooth decay, more missing teeth, and fewer essential dental fillings than other individuals in general.

 

Those who carry excess weight and are between the ages of 18 and 34 were found to have a 76% higher rate of gum disease than individuals within a normal weight range.

 

Before we explore this topic any further, we want to reassure our readers that if it’s been a while since you’ve been to the dentist, here at Loveable Smiles, we will not judge you. We will be happy to see you. We are dedicated, to helping you achieve a health mouth, which will in turn help you with your overall health.

 

Tooth Decay

The connection between obesity and tooth decay relies largely on diet. The combination of bacteria and food causes tooth decay. Plaque, a clear, sticky substance that contains bacteria forms on teeth and gums and as the bacteria feeds on the sugars in the foods, they make acid. The acid attack the teeth for 20 minutes or more after eating. Over a period of time, these acids destroy teeth enamel, resulting in tooth decay.

 

Diabetes, Heart Disease, Sleep Apnea

As mentioned above, obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases including heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes and sleep apnea. We have covered these topics and how they relate to gum disease quite extensively on this blog. (See links here.)

 

The bottom line is that it’s a problematic “Catch 22.” Obesity can lead to tooth decay, which can lead to gum disease. And gum disease not only leads to severe oral health disorders, but can exacerbate these overall health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disorders.

Your gums are the “foundation of your house” and if the foundation crumbles, the house crumbles with it.The-link-between-your-gums-and-systemic-conditions

If you want to achieve your health goals, we encourage you to start with your dental health.

Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment. 972-231-0585

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.

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How is sleep apnea related to your mouth?

This blog post is the 8th in a series of articles to inform our readers about the connection between your oral health and your overall health.

sleep apnea

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

 

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by abnormal pauses is breathing, or instances of abnormally low breathing during sleep. This can lead to daytime sleeplessness and fatigue, snoring, restless sleep, dry mouth and/or throat and teeth grinding. Sufferers can start and stop breathing up to hundreds of times per night.

 

So, how is sleep apnea related to your mouth?

 

teeth grindingTeeth Grinding

Grinding and clenching of the teeth (Bruxism) is often caused by stress and it can cause teeth to break, cause pain in the jaw and even result in headaches and migraines.

ONE of the ways Dr. Korenman of Loveable Smiles in Richardson, TX helps patients is with mouth guards.

In addition to the elimination of teeth grinding, many patients who wear the NTI mouth guard have found an improvement with their headaches and have also found that they sleep better.

Dry Mouthdry mouth 2

Dry mouth results from open-mouth sleeping, which is common among individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea or OSA.

 

Saliva contains beneficial phosphates, minerals and calcium that protect tooth enamel from being eroded by bacteria. Without the continuous flow of saliva, the mouth becomes a horrendous breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to extensive tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

 

Gum disease not only leads to severe oral health disorders, but can exacerbate overall health conditions, such as diabetes or respiratory disorders.

 

More About Gum Disease

80% of people have Gum Disease and DO NOT KNOW IT! There is usually no pain involved for people until extremely late in the degeneration. Many gum problems will go unnoticed until they are diagnosed by a dentist.

 

The good news is that Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.nti device

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

Finally, patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea often benefit from wearing an oral appliance at night. This helps keep the airway open during sleep.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment. 972-231-0585

This is just one of many examples of how we treat people, not just teeth.

Read More

How is Diabetes related to your mouth?

This blog post is the second in a series of articles to inform our readers about the connection between your oral health and your overall health.

 

It’s called the “Mouth-Body Connection,” and it means that poor dental health can severely deteriorate your body, especially your lungs and heart, and it can also lead to a host to other conditions including Diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

 

So, how is Diabetes related to your mouth? Diabetes-and-your-oral-health image 2

 

If you have gum disease and your gums bleed, you’re sending bacteria and inflammation by-products through your blood vessels, damaging the vessels and exacerbating your diabetes condition.

 

Additionally, this is how gum disease affects Diabetics:

  1. Uncontrolled Type II Diabetics are at a higher risk for gum disease.
  2. Severe gum disease can affect blood sugar.
  3. Diabetics have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.
  4. Medication can cause dry mouth which can cause soreness, ulcers, infections and cavities.

 

Your gums are the “foundation of your house” and if the foundation crumbles, the house crumbles with it.*

 

The good news is that Dr. Korenman and his team are dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of gum disease and they check all their patients for it.   He and his team are also dedicated to educating their patient family about the health of your mouth and the health of your body.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman can design a treatment plan to help you keep it under control.

We urge you to call Loveable Smiles for your Total Health Dental Care appointment at 972-231-0585.

This is just one of many examples of dentistry saves lives.

*Dr. Elias J. Achey Jr., D.M.D. “A cup of coffee with 12 leading dentists in the United States.

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Dry Mouth: It Can Lead To A Host of Dental Problems

Dr. Korenman of Loveable Smiles Explains Dry Mouth: Causes, Associated Problems, and Treatment

Dry mouth—also called xerostomia—results from an inadequate flow of saliva. It is not a disease, but a symptom of a medical disorder or a side effect of certain medications, such as blood pressure medications, antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers, diuretics and even neurological medications for treatment of anti-anxiety and ADHD.

With regular saliva production, your teeth are constantly bathed in a mineral-rich solution that helps keep your teeth strong and resistant to decay.

Dry mouth can lead to extensive tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

Dr. Korenman has seen many people with this problem who have had their dentistry ruined by the rampant root decay.

The best thing people can do is come for a risk assessment and plan for preventing problems such as these. 972-231-0585

Signs You May Have Dry Mouthdry mouth 2

  • Extreme thirst.
  • Waking up in the night needing water.
  • Teeth feel rough like sand.
  • Cheeks stick to your teeth.
  • Lips feel dry.

Other Issues Associated with Dry Mouth

Other health issues can also arise if dry mouth is left untreated. Common problems linked to dry mouth include:

  • Existing dentistry is highly susceptible to decay at the “seams” where the crowns or fillings join the tooth due to the lack of fluid formation.
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Fungal infections in mouth
  • Hoarseness
  • Sore gums/throat
  • Problems with swallowing food
  • Burning sensation in mouth
  • Dry nasal passages
  • Difficulty wearing dentures

Treating Dry Mouth

While there isn’t any cure for dry mouth, the sooner it gets diagnosed the less damage it does to your teeth. Here are some tips for treating your dry mouth.

  • Korenman highly recommends Biotene and Oasis dry mouth products, which can help relieve the symptoms of Dry Mouth caused by medications.
  • Swish with water in addition to drinking it.
  • Use fluoride toothpaste and mouth wash.
  • Chew sugarless gum.
  • Patients with dry mouth should have regular dental checkups with Dr. Korenman and his staff for evaluation and treatment. Please bring up-to-date medication list with you to your appointment at Loveable Smiles.

If you are experiencing a dry mouth as a side effect of your medication, please call Loveable Smiles at 972-231-0585

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