Nov 11

How is Diabetes related to your mouth?

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and we want to educate Diabetics on oral care and gum disease.

This blog post is part of a series of Total Health Dental Care 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 of other conditions including Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

So, how is Diabetes related to your mouth?

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

The startling news is that 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.

Additionally, this is how gum disease affects Diabetics:

Uncontrolled Type II Diabetics are at a higher risk for gum disease.
Severe gum disease can affect blood sugar.
Diabetics have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.
Medication can cause dry mouth which can cause soreness, ulcers, infections and cavities.
A dry mouth can exacerbate the side effects of diabetes, which will then lead to an increase in glucose levels, wreaking havoc on the body.
Having a dry mouth, especially as a diabetic, can lead to rampant tooth decay, which means blood sugar increases as the body tries, and fails, to fight infection.
Sometimes if the blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, the result is dry mouth.

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

Medications and Dry Mouth

Medications that treat high blood pressure or other heart problems, including diuretics, are often used by many patients to manage complications of diabetes. A very common side effect of these medications is Dry Mouth.

The combination of two or more of these medications dramatically increase dry-mouth effects.

Dry mouth is a growing problem in dentistry. On a daily basis, Dr. Korenman and his staff see patients who suffer from dry mouth and the issues associated with dry mouth including tooth decay, gum disease and mouth sores.

The Good News for Diabetes Patients

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.

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

Additionally, if you suffer from Dry Mouth, Dr. Korenman provides the following tips for treating this dangerous condition:

Swish with water in addition to drinking it.
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.

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 how we treat people, not just teeth.

#DiabetesMonth

#ThisIsDiabetes

Sep 05

Type 1 Diabetes and Oral Health

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, lifelong disease that is typically diagnosed in children and teenagers. If the blood glucose levels aren’t controlled properly, the risk of developing gum and teeth problems increases for them.

A few oral health problems associated with Type 1 Diabetes are thrush, dry mouth, cavities and gum disease.

How Diabetes affects gum disease:

Uncontrolled Type I Diabetics are at a higher risk for gum disease.
Severe gum disease can affect blood sugar.
Diabetics have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.
A dry mouth can exacerbate the side effects of diabetes, which will then lead to an increase in glucose levels, wreaking havoc on the body.
Having a dry mouth, especially as a diabetic, can lead to rampant tooth decay, which means blood sugar increases as the body tries, and fails, to fight infection.
Sometimes if the blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, the result is dry mouth.

Preventing Dental Complications Linked to Diabetes
The first step is keeping the child’s blood glucose level under control. If blood sugar is high, the sugar can appear in the saliva. Sugar is a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause gum disease and other oral health problems.

According to the American Dental Association, it’s recommended to brush teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste because that helps protect the teeth against tooth decay Flossing at least once a day is recommended as well because it helps remove the plaque and food particles between the teeth. Lastly, make sure to make a trip to the dentist twice a year to ensure there are no problems arising with the teeth and/or gums. Be sure to notify the dentist that your child has diabetes so that they can check the mouth for swollen gums, dry patches, bleeding and more.

If you’re looking for a gentle children’s dentist, contact the team at Loveable Smiles today. 972-231-0585

Mar 14

World Oral Health Day

In March, we celebrate Word Oral Health Day.

Dr. Larry Korenman is dedicated to improving your overall health through dentistry.

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 migraines, Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

Poor dental health is often caused by 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.

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 where we will check you for gum disease at 972-231-0585.

May 05

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Baby

Quite often Dr. Korenman hears a common “myth” or wives’ tale about cavities and pregnancy.

Women share with him that they had perfect teeth until they got pregnant. That all of their calcium leached out of their teeth and into the baby’s bones causing all their cavities.

The reality is that the calcium does not leach out of teeth.

There are several reasons why many pregnant women and new moms get tooth decay:

Hormones change during pregnancy causing the gums to be more susceptible to infection.
Many women experience nausea during pregnancy not allowing them to eat let alone put a toothbrush in their mouth. So the teeth aren’t getting cleaned.
Many women can only stomach certain foods and often give in to cravings that contain a lot of sugar and/or carbohydrates. These foods can cause tooth decay.

If you are pregnant, one of the most important medical appointments you can make is to call your dentist.

Why? Because the bacteria that cause gum disease may increase a mom’s risk for delivering prematurely.

Gum Disease & Developing Babies

There is a link between uncontrolled gum disease (and the mom may not even know she has gum disease as 80% of people have it) and pregnancy complications such as premature labor and preeclampsia (rise in blood pressure).

A study exploring the possible link between gum disease and preeclampsia found that 50% of the placentas from women with preeclampsia were positive for one or more periodontal pathogens.

Scientists believe these infections cause a rapid increase in certain fluids in the body that, in turn, induce labor. It’s not necessarily the infection itself but the body’s response to the infection that causes the premature birth.

Mom’s Hormones and the Baby’s Teeth

Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase the risk of developing gum disease, which can affect the health of their babies.

Studies have shown that bacteria responsible for tooth decay are passed from the mother to the child in utero. The more frequently you give in to the craving for sugary snacks, the greater the chance of developing tooth decay.

Additionally, pregnant women with acid reflux are also at a greater risk of tooth erosion and

periodontal problems as the acid dissolves away the protective coating of teeth (enamel) leaving them weakened and at a very high risk of needing extensive (and expensive) restorations.

Dr. Korenman recommends that women visit his office as soon as they learn or their pregnancy. Dr. Korenman and his team will test for any dental health problems that might affect your baby.

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

For the health of your unborn baby, 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 how we treat people, not just teeth.

Feb 26

World Oral Health Day in Richardson, TX

In March, we celebrate Word Oral Health Day.

Dr. Larry Korenman is dedicated to improving your overall health through dentistry.

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 migraines, Alzheimer’s disease and even some Cancers.

Poor dental health is often caused by 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.

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 where we will check you for gum disease at 972-231-0585.

Feb 01

American Heart Month: Heart Disease & Dry Mouth

February is American Heart Month and Dr. Larry Korenman of Loveable Smiles in Richardson has some important information for you.

If you take medication for heart disease you are probably experiencing a very dangerous side effect: Dry Mouth.

Dry Mouth is a side effect of popular heart medications including:

Blood pressure medications
Anti-depression/Anti-Anxiety
Diuretics
Cholesterol medication

The combination of two or more of these medications dramatically increases dry-mouth effects.

If you take any type of heart medication, it’s very important for you to take care of your dental health because Dry Mouth can lead to the following:

Tooth decay
Gum disease, including bacterial infections.
Fungal infections
Mouth sores
Bad breath

Additionally several theories exist to explain the link between periodontal (gum) disease and heart disease.

Oral bacteria can affect the heart via the blood stream and then attaching to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and contributing to clot formation.
Another possibility is that the inflammation caused by periodontal (gum) disease increases plaque buildup, which may contribute to swelling of the arteries.

Researchers have found that people with gum disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease.

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 Effervess Oral Care products, which can help relieve the symptoms of dry mouth caused by medications. (Available at Loveable Smiles and Amazon.) The line includes toothpaste and a whitening gel.
Swish with water in addition to drinking it.
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

Oct 05

How often should you see your hygienist for dental cleanings?

October is National Dental Hygiene Month.

How often should you see your hygienist for dental cleanings? Some people may say that you should go every six months, some people may say every 3-4 months, and others may only visit the dental office when they are experiencing pain.

So, which one is right for you?

The answer is not as black and white as you may think…

Dental cleaning frequency is completely dependent upon the patient and their individual needs.

It is the same concept as when someone goes to physical therapy or rehab and the therapist creates a custom program for each individual in order to get them back to health (there is no blanket solution).

Patients who have seen the dentist regularly and practice good oral home care may only need to have a dental cleaning every six months because they have minimal build up and little to no bleeding in the gums. On the other hand, some patients who have not seen the dentist regularly and/or do not practice good oral home care may need to have their teeth cleaned every 3 to 4 months because they have moderate to severe build up and bleeding in the gums or they have been previously diagnosed with periodontal disease (loss of bone around the teeth).

The goal is to get your teeth cleaned frequently enough to keep the bacterial plaque build up at a minimal level so that either healing can occur or so that the tissues can stay in an optimum state of health.

In order to see what frequency is right for you, you should see your hygienist and discuss what treatment cycle will give your teeth and gums the best outcome.

Call for your dental hygiene appointment! 972-231-0585

Mar 26

Loveable Smiles Patient Experiences Relief from Dry Mouth Thanks to New Laser Therapy

Linda Terveen used to wake up in the middle of the night with her tongue glued to the top of her mouth and her cheeks stuck to her teeth.
She would wake up in desperate prayer hoping she’d be able to drink some water and relieve her seriously dry mouth.

During the day, Linda would constantly experience unquenchable thirst.

Linda is like so many others who suffer from a common medication side effect: Dry Mouth.

Dry Mouth is not a disease, but a symptom of a medical disorder and/or most commonly, a side effect of popular medications including:
• Blood pressure medications
• Anti-depression/Anti-Anxiety
• Cholesterol Fighters
• Pain killers
• Antihistamines/Decongestants
• Even neurological medications for treatment of ADHD.

Thanks to a new laser treatment at Loveable Smiles in Richardson, TX, Linda now feels more rested because her sleep is no longer interrupted due to extreme dry mouth.
Her saliva glands have been re-stimulated and now function better to create the moisture that is needed for the mouth, teeth and gums.

Dr. Korenman is the first in Dallas/Ft. Worth to offer this breakthrough laser treatment for Dry Mouth.

This is the first treatment that actually deals with the problem of Dry Mouth itself and not just the symptoms.

The treatment is painless, simple and quick.

If you would like to find out more about this phenomenal treatment, please call us and schedule an appointment to see how we may be able to help you. 972-231-0585

Learn more about the dangers of dry mouth here.

Apr 27

Women & Gum Disease – How Your Gums Change in Various Stages of Life

There is an important connection between a woman’s oral health and her overall health.

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

Hormonal fluctuations throughout a woman’s life, including puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, can affect many tissues, including gum tissue.

Throughout her life cycle, women should be aware of these hormonal and oral/overall health connections. It’s very important for women to maintain their dental care appointments so that their dentists can check them for gum disease and other concerning dental issues.

Oral birth control: Inflamed gums are a common side effect of taking the pill. Dr. Korenman and his staff can give you suggestions to protect your gums and teeth.

Pregnancy: There is a link between uncontrolled gum disease (and the mom may not even know she has gum disease) and pregnancy complications such as premature labor and preeclampsia (rise in blood pressure).

Additionally studies have shown that bacteria responsible for tooth decay are passed from the mother to the child in utero. The more frequently you give in to the craving for sugary snacks, the greater the chance of developing tooth decay. Women are encouraged to call their dentist for an appointment as soon as they learn they are pregnant.

Menopause: During menopause, changing hormone levels can cause various mucus membranes to dry out including salivary glands, often leaving menopausal and postmenopausal women with a persistent feeling of dryness in the mouth. Other oral changes that may occur during menopause are red or inflamed gums, mouth sores, bad breath, burning sensations, and altered taste, especially salty, peppery or sour.

The health of your mouth can be a sign of your body’s health. Mouth problems are not just cavities, toothaches, and crooked or stained teeth. Many diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers are linked with oral health problems. Regular dental exams help you maintain good oral health and avoid related health problems.

At Loveable Smiles, we practice Total Health Dentistry and educate our patients on the “Mouth Body Connection.” Additionally, we check all our patients for gum disease.

If you are diagnosed with gum disease, Dr. Korenman will design a treatment plan to help you get it under control and even more importantly, to keep it maintained in a healthy state.

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

Happy Mother’s Day from Loveable Smiles in Richardson!

Jan 19

Crowded Teeth and Your Overall Health

This blog post is part of a series of Total Health Dental Care 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. Today we are discussing the connection between malocclusion (poor “bite” or fitting together of the teeth) and your overall health.

Straightening teeth is no longer only for appearance. Straightened teeth contribute directly to your overall health.

What is a Malocclusion?

Malocclusion is often referred to overcrowding or misalignment of your teeth. Specifically, it refers to the relationship between your upper and lower teeth, which should fit together evenly with low force exuded on the jaws and tooth surfaces. If there is a misalignment between the upper and lower teeth, then a number of symptoms can occur:

Premature wearing and breaking of teeth which can lead to tooth loss.
Chronic headaches
Neck and jaw pain
Tooth sensitivity
Pain of facial muscles
Joint noises in the jaw
Difficulties with biting or chewing

Teeth that are crowded or out of alignment are more difficult to keep clean which can contribute to gum disease.

Gum disease not only leads to severe oral health disorders, but can exacerbate overall health conditions, such as diabetes or respiratory disorders. If left untreated, malocclusion can progress to affect bone, jaw, neck, and even head health.

Additionally, the improvements to bite functionality that result from malocclusion treatment can also make regular nutritional intake easier.

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.

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

Problems with your bite can lead to problems elsewhere in your body. And, at Loveable Smiles, we understand the connection.

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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All Posts in Category: Gum Disease

February is American Heart Month and Dr. Larry Korenman of Loveable Smiles in Richardson has some important information for you.

There is an important connection between a woman’s oral health and her overall health.

Throughout her life cycle, women should be aware of these hormonal and oral/overall health connections. It’s very important for women to maintain their dental care appointments so that their dentists can check them for gum disease and other concerning dental issues.

What is a Malocclusion?

More About Gum Disease