According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, more than 200 million Americans experience some degree of gum inflammation. Over the past decade, researchers have published studies linking bacteria involved in periodontal disease to cardiovascular disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have connected oral infections to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and low birth weights.

Studies suggest bacteria that cause periodontal disease are also responsible for causing a thickening of the carotid arteries, which increases the chance of a heart attack or stroke. Further research is being conducted better to understand the link between oral health and heart disease.

What Is Gum Disease?

Our team hears this question all the time. Periodontal disease is an infection. Our mouths are filled with bacteria, and this bacteria forms plaque. If plaque is not removed through brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings, it hardens into tartar. If gingivitis (gum inflammation) is not treated early, it can advance to periodontitis. Bacteria get under the gum tissue and erode it as well as the bone that supports the teeth. The gums eventually pull away from the teeth, and infected pockets form.

Proving that periodontal gum disease is connected to heart disease has been difficult for researchers. However, there are two theories about what might connect the processes.

• Bacteria are released into the bloodstream through chewing and toothbrushing. The same species of bacteria that causes gum disease has been discovered in plaque in the arteries of the heart.
• Inflammation in the mouth can trigger inflammation throughout the rest of the body.

Practice Good Oral Habits

While the link between periodontitis and heart disease is not yet fully understood, you can reduce the risk of health complications by maintaining good oral health. It’s recommended that you brush and floss twice a day and visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and exam. Oral health should not be taken for granted. By preventing oral diseases, you’re also minimizing the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

To learn more about the connection between heart disease and oral health, or to schedule an appointment with the doctor, please call our convenient Lee’s Summit office! A clean mouth leads to a happy heart!

The sounds of the season are filling the air—falling leaves rustling along the sidewalk, football cheers, holiday greetings, and the coughs and sneezes of your fellow sufferers. Yes, it will soon be cold and flu season, and you’re one of the unfortunate people who’ve caught whatever’s been going around. While you’re recuperating, here are some tips for looking after yourself and your dental health.

Keep Hydrated

Fevers, sweating, diarrhea, and vomiting can all lead to dehydration. You know how serious that can be for your overall health, but it also affects your oral health. Lowered saliva production puts you at an increased risk for cavities, since saliva washes away food particles and bacteria, neutralizes cavity-causing acids, and helps strengthen tooth enamel. In addition to the dehydration illness can cause, many over-the-counter medications leave your mouth dry as well. Be sure to drink fluids throughout your illness and, as always, try to avoid sugary and acidic beverages.

Keep Up Your Dental Hygiene

You may feel like you never want to get out of bed again, but it’s important to maintain your dental routine. Brushing and flossing are still necessary to protect your teeth and gums. And try gargling with warm salt water or using a mouth rinse. You’ll not only soothe a sore throat and help prevent the bad breath that sinus problems can cause, but you’ll also reduce oral bacteria and plaque.

Keep Away from Your Toothbrush after Vomiting

Even though cleaning your mouth and teeth might be the first thing you want to do after throwing up, wait at least half an hour before brushing your teeth. Cavities develop over time when the acids produced by oral bacteria weaken tooth enamel. When you vomit, your teeth are exposed to much stronger stomach acid, and immediate brushing transfers these acids onto your enamel. One common recommendation is to mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a glass of water, swish it around your mouth, and spit it out. Or use a glass of plain water, and repeat if needed.

Keep Your Cough under Control

Here’s a tip a that your family, friends, co-workers, and fellow public transportation users will thank you for. If you are sick, stay home. If you do find yourself coughing while around others, cover your mouth. Cough into a tissue instead of your hands or the open air. If you don’t have a tissue available, cough into your upper sleeve. And while you’re protecting others, protect your tooth enamel. Replace overly sweet cough syrups with tablets, and, if you are using cough drops, remember that sucking on a sugary cough drop is like sucking on candy. Look for the sugar-free variety and use only as directed.

Don’t Keep Your Toothbrush

Now that you’re feeling better, it might be time to throw out your toothbrush. The chances of reinfection are low (unless you have a compromised immune system), but we often hang on to our toothbrushes long after their effective life is past. A toothbrush should only last around three to four months. If yours is older than that, this is a perfect opportunity to replace a brush that might be getting a bit long in the tooth with a fresh, germ-free model.

Above all, be good to yourself when you are ill. Drink healthy fluids, maintain your dental routine, stay up-to-date on your dental checkups, and treat your teeth and your body with care. Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery, continuing dental health, and a season filled with beautiful smiles.

It really doesn’t happen very often. But sometimes you bite into something much harder than you anticipated. Sometimes you grind your teeth without realizing the pressure you’re putting on them. Sometimes you have a cavity that has stealthily developed beneath an earlier filling. And the result is, sometimes you lose a filling.

What to do when this happens? If you’re at a loss for ideas, we have some suggestions.

Don’t Panic

Usually, a cracked, broken, or lost filling is not an emergency. That being said, it’s still important to call us immediately. We can give you the best advice on caring for your tooth until you can make an appointment. If your dental problem might be a dental emergency, we can make sure you are seen as soon as possible.

Take Care of Your Tooth

Keep your tooth and the area around it clean. Brush gently to keep food particles away from the newly exposed tooth surface. You can (carefully) rinse around the area with a bit of water or salt water as recommended. Your lost filling might not inconvenience you at all. But if you feel sensitivity when the tooth is exposed to air, or when you eat hot or cold foods, or if you feel pain when you bite down, let us know. We can recommend some over-the-counter medications and pain relievers that can help. If you’re experiencing severe pain, call us at once.

Eat the Right Foods

This might not be the time for sticky caramels, frozen treats, or extra-hot beverages. Make yourself comfortable by avoiding chewing with your compromised tooth and postponing foods that could trigger sensitivity.

Make an Appointment ASAP

Don’t put off treatment, even if the filling is small and the tooth is causing you no discomfort. There might be further damage or decay that should be treated. A tooth that requires a large filling is often more fragile than an intact tooth and might need a crown to protect it. A missing filling might reveal deep decay that has exposed the tooth’s pulp to infection or damage, and a root canal might be necessary. A seriously damaged tooth might require extraction. Delaying treatment could result in a more complex restoration.

See us as soon as you discover a problem with your filling, and we will make sure not only that your tooth is treated appropriately, but that the reason for the lost filling is discovered. While no filling lasts forever, if the cause of your lost filling is tooth grinding or decay, it’s important to be proactive to prevent further problems.

Losing a filling? It really doesn’t happen very often. But that’s not much comfort if you do happen to lose or break a filling. If you’re at a loss for what to do next, contact our Lee’s Summit office. You’ll find yourself smiling again in no time!

If you have never had a crown before, you might be wondering why crown treatment is best, what the procedure involves, and which type of crown to choose. Let’s get down to the basics of crowns!

A crown is the best way to treat many dental conditions, either to strengthen and save the tooth or to improve its appearance. We might suggest a crown if you have any of the following conditions:

• A filling that needs to be replaced, without enough tooth structure left to fill properly.
• A tooth that is fractured or broken, or so weak that it might fracture.
• A recent root canal.
• A dental implant.
• A bridge that needs a crown to serve as the base for attachment.
• A tooth that is discolored or irregularly shaped.

At your first visit to our Lee’s Summit office, the doctor will prepare the tooth that will receive a crown. A tooth might have to be built up if there isn’t enough of the original tooth left, or the top and sides of the tooth will be shaped down so that the crown fits smoothly and evenly with your other teeth. An impression will be made and sent to a dental lab so that a crown with the perfect fit for your tooth and mouth can be created. A temporary crown will be placed to protect your tooth while the final crown is fabricated.

Types of Crown Materials

The permanent crown is a cap that covers your tooth. It can be made of various materials, which all offer different advantages:

• Metal crowns, made of gold, platinum, or base metal alloys, are the longest-lasting. Because of their metallic color, they are often chosen for back molars, where they are less visible.
• Porcelain over metal—because the porcelain color is matched to your natural teeth, these crowns look very realistic. Porcelain is more fragile than metal, so it may not be as durable.
• Resin, which is less expensive than other options, but these crowns are more fragile and do not wear as well.
• All-porcelain/all-ceramic is the most realistic-looking option, especially for front teeth, and is also suitable for anyone with a metal allergy. They are, again, not as strong as metal crowns and can be damaged.
• Stainless steel is often used for baby teeth or as a temporary crown for adult teeth.

We’ll discuss your options and help you decide on the best type of crown for you.

Crown Placement

When the crown is finished at the dental lab, you will have one more visit to secure the crown in place. We will make sure your bite is comfortable, and the color and appearance of the crown are satisfactory. We will also provide instructions for the next few days following the procedure, and we can make adjustments as needed.

A crown is a perfect example of form and function working together: a crown maintains the beauty of your smile and preserves the health of your tooth. If you need a crown, we will be happy to discuss your best options for a strong, long-lasting, and natural-looking smile.