7 Serious Health Concerns That Also Affect Your Teeth

Mouth and Body Go Hand-in-Hand

Did you know that poor oral health care can be the cause of many different health issues within your body itself?  There are many connections between taking care of your mouth, teeth and gums and the rest of your body.

People with gum disease have a 40% increased risk of developing a chronic health condition. Bacterial build up on your teeth and gums give you a greater probability of infection which may then spread throughout other areas of your body.

Common Health Issues That Affect Oral Health

• ·         Diabetes: causes oral inflammation and affects the body’s ability to process sugar.
• ·         Heart Disease: about 91% of those with heart disease are also found to have periodontitis.  Inflammation in the mouth corresponds with the inflammation of blood vessels which then leads to less blood flow causing an increase in blood pressure.  There is also a chance of plaque that is attached to the blood vessel itself, breaking off and traveling to the heart and/or brain resulting in a heart attack or stroke.
• ·         Issues during Pregnancy: pregnant women with gum disease run the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and susceptible to developmental issues such as learning disorders, lung and heart conditions.
• ·         Osteoporosis: osteoporosis, like periodontitis, causes bone loss.  It’s common for those with osteoporosis to also have some degree of gum disease.
• ·         Rheumatoid Arthritis: those with rheumatoid arthritis battling gum disease have found gum disease treatment may also reduce overall body pain in regards to their arthritic symptoms.
• ·         Smoking:  bad for your health, both overall and oral.  Nicotine interferes with your gums’ ability to fight infection.  This also extends the recovery period for those gum infection treatments.
• ·         Obesity: those with 20% or higher body fat percentage have been linked to rapid progression of gum disease.

Taking excellent care of your oral health has a positive domino effect for the rest of your body.  Same can be said with your body – taking care of your health and body can positively affect your mouth, teeth and gums.

If you care about your health and yourself, you in-turn need to care about your mouth.  Be true to your teeth, or they will be false to you!

Dr. Nicole Ancich

2208 North 30th St., Suite 201

Tacoma, WA 98403

Phone: (253) 235-3029

How to Help Your Kids Create Good Oral Hygiene Habits Now

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and we’re dedicated to raising awareness! 

In America, 51 million hours of school is missed every year due to oral health issues. Although every month should be important when it comes to a child’s dental health, February is the one dedicated to it. Here are things to keep in mind when helping children become conscious of just how important dental hygiene is and exactly how to start creating good habits right away:

1. Keep the sugar intake to a minimum
2. Floss, floss, floss
3. Brush twice a day
4. When you brush, make sure you hit the 2 minute mark
5. Visit your dentist regularly

Have you ever seen that amazing “magic trick” when you ask your child “Did you brush your teeth?”  And they respond with a “yes” only because their toothbrush is wet?  Then come to find out, there was no brushing going on, they merely stuck their toothbrush under the faucet and wiped their front teeth once, maybe twice. Now is the perfect time to kick this bad habit!  Dental health can be fun for kids (and adults)!

Here are 5 ways to incorporate some fun and giggles into children’s daily oral care:  

Toothpaste – a plethora of choices

Let’s start off with toothpaste.  There are gels, pastes, and so many different flavors; such as cinnamon, vanilla, bubble gum, and variety of different mint flavors.  Let your child choose which one they would prefer.  

Flossing – 40% of cleaning your teeth comes from flossing*

Floss comes in different flavors as well and also had a variety of textures.  There are waxed, woven, and even the hand held pick form to name a few.  

Toothbrush – the master tool

Choosing a toothbrush will probably be your child’s favorite thing to do.  Not only are there options as far as handheld or battery operated, there are TONS of different designs now!  Your child can pick their favorite cartoon character or stick to the basics-like their favorite color.  

Brushing Timer – brush 2min 2x a day

While the tiny sand timers you flip upside down are always fun for kids to watch, there are now toothbrushes with built in timers. The brush will alert timer markers with a beep or a vibration for 2 minute duration, some even play a popular song. 

Giving Kids Something to Look Forward To

This is the perfect way to create a morning and nighttime routine to get your child excited about developing healthy habits.  Getting your child involved in the decision making of choosing some cool and fun dental products makes them more apt to look forward to brushing and flossing daily.  

Starting off good oral hygiene practice at a young age will propel your kids into the future for a lifetime of healthy pink gums and bright shining smiles!  A healthy smile is a smile you can be proud of! 

References

http://www.ncohf.org/resources/tooth-decay-facts

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/still-not-flossing-more-reasons-why-you-should

Nicole M. Ancich | (253) 383-5636

2208 N. 30th St., Ste. 201

Tacoma, WA 98403 (map)

Mouthguards Aren't Just for Professional Athletes

Who should use mouth guards?

Mouth guards aren’t just for professional athletes; they should be worn by anyone playing contact sports. However, even those that are participating in noncontact sports benefit from wearing a protective mouth guard because accidents can happen during any physical activity. The advantage of wearing a custom mouth guard during sports is that it stays in place and helps limit the risk of teeth and other oral injuries.  

Why are the ArmourBite® Mouthguards special?

The mouth guards do more than just protect your teeth. They can also enhance your performance by reducing athletic stress and reducing dental impact.

How to get the ArmourBite® Mouthguards

Call our dental office to schedule your appointment or request one online. Together we’ll determine which mouth guard model is right for you. Then, getting an ArmourBite® mouth guard takes three simple steps:

1.      We’ll take your bite impressions to ensure a snug fit

2.      The impressions are shipped to our lab and created just for your athlete

3.      Once the finished appliance is shipped back to our office we’ll have you back for a final fitting. The wait is a short 7 – 10 business days.

At our Tacoma dental office, we believe that all athletes should wear a mouth guard while participating in sports, that's why we donated a custom Under ArmourBite® Mouthpiece to the ExperienceTacoma.com auction which helped raise money for the Cross District Association of Tacoma.

Nicole M. Ancich, DMD, PLLC

General and Esthetic Dentistry

(253) 383-5636 | DrAncich.com

2208 North 30th St., Suite 201

Tacoma, WA 98403