Navigating Healthcare: A Guide to Modern Medicine and Wellness

Oral Health

How to Keep The Tongue Healthy

Healthy Tongue
If you see a dentist or dental hygienist on a routine basis, they no doubt give you an oral cancer check.  This is commonplace now since over 40,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral and throat cancers yearly.  Sadly, the five-year survival rate of those diagnosed is only slightly more than 64 percent.  By being proactive, you and your dentist can detect cancer and treat it so that major health problems are alleviated later.  So thank your dentist next time when the oral cancer test is complete as he or she might just save your life!

What Is Gingivitis?

GingivitisIt’s probably safe to say that everybody has heard the term ‘gingivitis.’ Most people probably even know that gingivitis is gum disease. But do you know the impact it can have on your oral health? Yes, put simply, gingivitis is gum disease. The problem is that it’s not simple at all. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to more serious oral health problems such as periodontitis, which is an inflammatory disease that affects the tissues surrounding and supporting your teeth. Once periodontitis sets in, it can cause bone loss which can then lead to tooth loss. The American Academy of Periodontology, a non-profit membership association for periodontists, lists gingivitis as a common, mild form of gum disease. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? Wrong! If this mild form of gum disease goes unchecked, it can lead to less common and far more serious forms of gum disease that can threaten the health of your teeth and its supporting structures. Thankfully, gingivitis often is easily prevented. It can even be treated once you get it, but why risk it? Why not just prevent it in the first place?! Following is more information on gingivitis, its causes, and what you can do to avoid getting it.

What Is Laser Dentistry?

Laser DentistryLaser dentistry is more popular today than it’s ever been since its first uses more than 20 years ago. With new innovations in laser dental procedures and their safety, laser dentistry is fast becoming a booming part of the dental industry, and for very good reason. Lasers used in dentistry create a more precise procedure, which makes that dental procedure even more effective. A highly skilled, top dentist who is experienced in laser dentistry can perform laser dental procedures that can reduce pain and minimize recovery times. And with the ever-expanding number of procedures that can be performed using lasers, the list of benefits of laser dentistry continues to grow. But just what is laser dentistry? What are the benefits of laser dentistry? And which dental procedures can be performed with lasers?

How to Prevent Tooth Decay

https://www.dreamstime.com/-image3234654Disrepair, rot, extinction … these are the words that come up when you type ‘decay’ into your online thesaurus. Extinction! And that is exactly what can happen if your teeth are decaying. Tooth decay has the power to destroy your tooth structures and causes you to lose your teeth. And then, before you know it, your teeth are as obsolete as the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex. Exactly as the name suggests, tooth decay causes ruin wherever it goes. It can destroy any tooth in your mouth, from top to bottom, inside and out, on any level, and it can even destroy your gums and the bones that support your teeth. In fact, recent reports from medical researchers and top dentists indicate that, if it is left untreated, tooth decay not only can lead to gum disease, but more serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke. The saddest part about tooth decay is that it’s almost totally avoidable and preventable. There’s simply no reason to suffer from tooth decay and all the destruction it brings with it. In just a few simple steps, teeth can be healthy and strong, making tooth decay, rather than teeth, a thing of the past.

The Anatomy of Teeth

TeethSomeone once said that good-looking people with strong teeth get things handed to them on platters. If this is true, undoubtedly it’s because the teeth are one of the first things we see … or should see … when meeting someone for the first time. In fact, in a recent poll, more than 50 percent of people said that a smile is the first thing they notice about someone!

But how much do you really know about teeth? For instance, did you know that, before the invention of toothpaste, people ground up chalk, charcoal, or ashes and added lemon juice or made a honey-tobacco mixture to clean their teeth? Or did you know that in 1800s England people who had false teeth often ate in their bedrooms before events where they gathered for dinners so they could be protected from the embarrassment of having their teeth fall out in front of others? Or, did you know that a common custom in the Middle Ages was to kiss a donkey to relieve toothaches? It’s true!

What Causes Bad Breath?

Halitosis. This is a scientific term for something that far too many Americans have. If it is bringing you down, you need to find an answer to fix the problem right away. No one wants to smell your bad breath. Luckily there are ways to prevent, mask, and cover it up.

Bacteria

Bad breath is from bacteria that causes odor grows in the mouth. It accumulates of left over bits of food left in between your teeth and in your mouth. Sulfur compounds are released to make your breath smell. This all happens because you do not brush your teeth and floss regularly.