Slide

Whitening Your Smile Smoking & Your Mouth
How we look and how we perceive ourselves has much to do with The use of the word “smoking” and the phrase “good oral our self-esteem. When the color of our teeth makes us embarrassed health” in the same sentence just doesn’t go together.
to smile, it’s probably time to get our teeth whitened (bleached). As one ages, teeth may darken from coffee, tea, smoking, berries There are 9,000 deaths a year in the and other substances that get into microcracks in the enamel, U.S. from oral cancer and tobacco use causing discoloration. Some people have gray or brown bands on their teeth caused by an early childhood fever or tetracycline medication taken when the tooth enamel was forming. In some parts of the country where fluoride is found in naturally high concentrations in the drinking water, individuals have developed Not only does smoking leave brown stains and sticky tar teeth with bright white patches or dark brown blotches (mottled deposits on your teeth or dentures, but it contributes to halitosis (bad breath). It’s not uncommon to see red inflammation on the palate (roof of the mouth) from the high temperatures generated Not everyone is a candidate for bleaching. Teeth discolored from by cigarette, cigar and pipe smoking.
aging have the best results. If you have tooth-colored resin or composite fillings in your front teeth, they will not change color Smoking is a major risk factor in periodontal (gum) disease. As from bleaching and will stick out like a sore thumb after the shown by 20 years of research, smokers are two to three times procedure. If you would like to have your teeth whitened, call it to more likely to develop periodontitis (bone loss). Tooth loss is your dentist’s attention at your next check-up visit. If you are not a much more prevalent than in non-smokers. Studies have shown good candidate, he or she can suggest alternatives such as bonding a higher rate of dental implant failures for those who smoke.
Even second-hand smoke poses danger, especially for children. There are various options to whitening your teeth. Bleaching can be When children breathe in smoke, it can affect the development an in-office procedure (chairside). It may involve several and eruption of their permanent teeth.
appointments of 30-60 minutes each. The bleaching agent is applied to y our teeth and activated with a special light.
The good news is that “kicking the habit” greatly reduces the risk of developing oral cancer. After 10 years of cessation, the There is also an at-home procedure wherein you will wear a risk is similar to that of a non-smoker. There are a number of custom-made mouthguard filled with a bleaching gel for two hours ways to stop without experiencing extreme withdrawal daily, or at night, for approximately two weeks.
symptoms including the nicotine patch, nicotine gum and nicotine spray or inhaler.
Some toothpastes have added whitening agents and can be used as an adjunct to the other two procedures. In any case, there is no reason to ever again suffer the embarrassment of discolored teeth.
Heart Disease
Diabetes: Dental Tips
A number of studies have shown that people with periodontitis are more likely Diabetes can cause serious problems in your mouth. You can do something
to develop cardiovascular disease than individuals without periodontal infection. about it.
One such study suggests that the risk of fatal heart disease doubles for persons with severe periodontal disease. If you have diabetes, make sure you take care of your mouth. People with diabetes are at risk for mouth infections, especially periodontal (gum) disease. Part of the link between these two diseases may be discovered through novel Periodontal disease can damage the gum and bone that hold your teeth in place investigations of the opportunistic, infectious bacteria that colonize the mouth. and may lead to painful chewing problems. Some people with serious gum Scientists theorize that certain types of these bacteria, which form biofilms and disease lose their teeth. Periodontal disease may also make it hard to control your cause periodontal disease, also activate white blood cells in the body to release pro-inflammatory mediators that may contribute to heart disease and stroke.
Other problems diabetes can cause are dry mouth and a fungal infection called To explore the underlying inflammatory responses common to both diseases, thrush. Dry mouth happens when you do not have enough saliva – the fluid that NIDCR grantees are examining periodontal disease measures (pocket depth keeps your mouth wet. Diabetes may also cause the glucose level in your saliva where gingival tissues have pulled away from tooth surfaces and where there is to increase. Together, these problems may lead to thrush, which causes painful loss of tissue) and biological responses in 14,000 people enrolled in an extensive study of heart disease sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Scientists will also analyze gingival crevicular fluid constituents that You can keep your teeth and gums healthy. By controlling your blood glucose, may contain pro-inflammatory mediators associated with heart disease, as well brushing and flossing everyday, and visiting a dentist regularly, you can help as blood samples to identify antibodies to periodontal pathogens.
prevent periodontal disease. If your diabetes is not under control, you are more likely to develop problems in your mouth.
The research team will compare these measures with clinical indicators of heart disease, ultrasound measures of carotid vessel thickening, and the occurrence of Take steps to keep your mouth healthy. Call your dentist when you notice a
heart attacks, stroke, and death to determine if there is a correlation. Should the problem.
link between oral disease and heart disease be firmly established, future studies will focus on identifying the specific biological factors involved and transferring If you have diabetes, follow these steps: •Control your blood glucose.
•Brush and floss every day.
Oral Health & Wellness Content provided by NIH •Visit your dentist regularly. Be sure to tell your dentist that you have diabetes.
•Tell your dentist if your dentures (false teeth) do not fit right, or if your gums are sore.
•Quit smoking. Smoking makes gum disease worse. Your physician or dentist can help you quit.
•Take time to check your mouth regularly for any problems. Sometimes people notice that their gums bleed when they brush and floss. Others notice dryness, soreness, white patches, or a bad taste in the mouth. All of these are reasons to visit your dentist.
Remember, good blood glucose control can help prevent mouth problems.
Care of Primary Teeth
The Body's Silent Alarm
Primary teeth are important for several reasons. They allow One human mouth is home to more microorganisms than there are the child to chew properly, maintain space for the later people on our planet earth. The wide array of habitat renders the eruption of the permanent teeth, and are needed for proper mouth a microbial paradise, offering preferred accommodations on the speech development. Early loss of primary teeth can lead to cheek, or on the back of the tongue in an anaerobic crevice, or in the future space crowding problems as the permanent teeth erupt. moist, oxygen-deprived area between the tooth surface and the Orthodontic correction may be required. In addition early loss of primary teeth may cause some psychosocial issues for the The mouth's microbial ecology, however, is extremely sensitive to the child due to speech or appearance problems. challenges that confront its human host throughout the lifespan and, therefore, can often change precipitously. From fetal life through senescence, the mouth's continued exposure to opportunistic infectious Milk, sugar water, apple juice, or pathogens is in balance with host immunity; the balance between these any liquid containing sugar should profoundly important processes often serves as a mirror for the not be given to the child at bedtime. detection of not only oral pathology, but also major systemic diseases.
It is especially in the soft tissues that this relationship is played out. Prior to eruption of the child's first tooth, parents should wipe The lips, tongue, gums, salivary glands, and oral mucosa can all warn the child's mouth and gums with a clean damp cloth or gauze of trouble in our general health. Because of their exquisite positioning pad. Parents need to begin brushing a child's teeth at in the body, these tissues and their fluids form a protective barrier of mucosal immunity to the outside world that when breached, signal approximately six months or when the first primary teeth clinical disease. They tell of direct assaults by a broad range of begin to appear. The child's first visit to the dentist should be systemic disorders such as diabetes, AIDS and Sjögren's syndrome, as 6 months after the first tooth erupts, but no later than 12 well as complications of treatments like cancer chemotherapy and radiation. For some disorders, particularly AIDS and diabetes, oral tissues may reveal lesions or pathology that are the first signs of systemic disease.
"Baby bottle tooth decay" can be prevented by giving plain water at bedtime or during the night. Milk, sugar water, apple Oral Opportunistic Infections: Links to Systemic Diseases
juice, or any liquid containing sugar should not be given to the child at bedtime as they can cause tooth decay if left on The periodontium, comprised of the gingiva, bone and other supporting tissues that anchor the teeth, plays a key role in the interplay between oral health and systemic disease. Infection in these tissues, primarily by gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, can initiate a Fluoride, whether in the drinking water or in the form of series of inflammatory and immunologic changes leading to the tablets or vitamins, has been proven to be up to 70 percent destruction of connective tissue and bone. Long considered a localized effective in the prevention of tooth decay. Parents should infection, periodontal diseases are now linked to a variety of check with their dental or medical health care providers for conditions with systemic implications.
instructions on when and how to get this protection. Oral Health & Wellness Content provided by NIH Preventive Dentistry: Fluorides
Preventive Dentistry: Sealants
The incorporation of fluoride into the tooth enamel allows the tooth to be more resistant to demineralization by acid and ensuing tooth decay. Perhaps the most predictable and consistent preventive measure in Applying sealants on the chewing surface of permanent teeth dentistry is the ingestion of systemic (the blood stream) fluoride up to about age 14. If your community doesn't add fluoride to the water supply, may offer some children supplemental protection against tooth your child should be receiving drops of a fluoride/vitamin combination as decay. Sealants are thin plastic coatings that seal off the pits soon as possible after birth. The first permanent molars are already and fissures (depressions and grooves) on the biting surface of calcifying by three months of age. In this formative stage, the tooth will incorporate the greatest amount of fluoride. Studies have shown that fluoride will not cross the placental barrier, so pregnant woman no longer Sealants act as a barrier against receive fluoride preparations. Systemic fluoride (at 1 part per million) is a plaque and acids in these vulnerable safe and effective way to dramatically reduce dental decay, along with the cost of dental treatment. Contact your dentist's office to learn if your water areas on the chewing surface of the tooth. is fluoridated, and if not, he or she will be able to prescribe the proper dosage. While brushing and flossing can easily remove plaque (a sticky mixture of bacteria, food and debris) from the smooth surfaces The incorporation of fluoride into the tooth enamel allows the tooth to be
of the teeth, they are sometimes ineffective at getting into the more resistant to demineralization by acid and ensuing tooth decay.
Fluoride can also be applied topically to the surface of the teeth. This is usually suggested for children up to age 18. Topical fluoride application is Tooth decay is caused by the bacterial breakdown of food into also effective and recommended for adults with rampant carries (tooth acid, which dissolves away the enamel cover of the tooth. decay, cavities); individuals wearing orthodontic appliances; and anyone Sealants act as a barrier against plaque and acids in these vulnerable areas on the chewing surface of the tooth.
There are a variety of alternatives for topical fluoride application.
1. Use fluoride toothpaste daily that has the Canadian Dental Association
Sealants are most effective if applied to the tooth soon after (CDA) or American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. eruption. A child's first permanent molars erupt at about age 2. Purchase fluoride mouth rinses from your local pharmacy. six and at about 12 years of age for the second, permanent
molars. The pre-molars (bicuspids) are also prime
3. Visit your dentist's office. The dentist can provide a professional candidates for sealants. However, sealants are not always
application of topical fluoride for your children at their regular check-ups. He or she can also prescribe a home fluoride gel and fabricate custom trays for its application when deemed necessary. The application of sealants require no anesthesia. It can be There are some precautions that should be followed. Fluoride products should painted on in just a few minutes per tooth. As part of the not be swallowed. Do not give a fluoridated mouth rinse to a child under procedure, the teeth are first cleaned and the chewing surface is age six. Supervise young children who are brushing with fluoridated "conditioned" with a solution that helps the sealant bond to the toothpaste. They should use only a "pea-size" amount of toothpaste on enamel. Sometimes a "curing" light is utilized to hasten the their brush. Fluoride toxicity can occur if a large amount of fluoride is ingested in a short period of time. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain or increased thirst. If your child is experiencing Sealants typically last up to 5 years and are easily replaced if any of these symptoms, induce vomiting or have him/her drink milk. Call lost. They should be examined at each check-up. your medical doctor or the dentist's office immediately. Preventing Tooth Decay
Dentists may also suggest fluoride drops or vitamins for infants who Tooth decay (caries, cavities) is probably the most prevalent don't live in areas in which the public water supply is fluoridated. oral disease, affecting almost everyone during his or her Call your dentist to see if your water is fluoridated. lifetime. The good news is that it isn't life threatening and isessentially preventable. Diet is significant in caries prevention. . Studies have shown that the Acid, if produced frequently, will demineralize (dissolve) the
nature and frequency of sugar intake is more important than the tooth enamel structure, which is the hardest substance in the
amount. If the sugary food is very sticky, like caramel, gummy human body.
bears or jam, it will remain on the teeth for a longer period of time. If you or your children are constantly snacking on sugary foods, The tooth decay process begins with dental plaque (a sticky there is a continuous acid attack on your teeth. mixture of bacteria, food and debris). Bacteria, which naturallylive in everyone's mouth but thrive in plaque, utilize What do we do to prevent this potential problem? Avoid having
carbohydrates from food, especially refined sugar, to produce sugar stay in the mouth for long periods of time. Stay away from acid. Acid, if produced frequently, will demineralize (dissolve) candies and chewing gum (unless sugarless) and refrain from the tooth enamel structure, which is the hardest substance in drinking soft drinks regularly (unless diet). Try to cut down on the the human body. From there the acid will continue to eat number of snacks per day. If you must snack, substitute foods that through the underlying dentin layer until the bacteria and their most people like but that don't promote tooth decay. Examples are waste products reach the pulp (nerve). Left untreated, tooth popcorn, pretzels, fruits, nuts, cheese and vegetables. decay can lead to root infection and eventually loss of the tooth. Substitute foods that most people like but that don't promote tooth
There are visible signs of a cavity. Initially, it will appear as a decay. Examples are popcorn, pretzels, fruits, nuts, cheese and
small white spot, which in time will turn brown. As the decay vegetables.
continues, a hole in the tooth may become apparent. There are also warning symptoms such as sensitivity when brushing, to Consuming sugary foods with a meal or for dessert has a less hot or cold foods or to breathing in air. Of course, a painful detrimental effect, because increased saliva flow during meals helps to wash the food away. Also, after having a meal most people will brush their teeth. Keeping this in mind, it is better for children to eat Prevention
sweets at a time and place that allows them to brush soon afterwards. As your children are growing, make sure they get plenty of calcium (dairy products) so that their tooth enamel develops The most important prevention technique is daily removal of plaque with flossing and brushing. If possible, good oral hygiene should be practiced after every meal. Finally, because you may be asymptomatic and unaware of the They can also fabricate custom trays to be used at home with a beginning of tooth decay, it is critical that you visit your dentist gel fluoride for adults who have rampant caries or who are every six months for a check-up. Some cavities are hard to detect, predisposed to having tooth decay. Dentists may also suggest especially those between the teeth. Sometimes, only bitewing x-rays fluoride drops or vitamins for infants who don't live in areas in can identify them. Your dentist will also give you a professional which the public water supply is fluoridated. Call your dentist prophylaxis (cleaning), which is an important part of prevention. Pregnancy and Oral Health
There are two major dental concerns for pregnant women -- Pregnant women also risk developing "Pregnancy tumors" that avoiding dental emergencies and/or treatment in the last are benign growths that arise out of swollen gums. Normally, trimester and preventing periodontal (gum) disease. the treatment is to leave them alone until they break on their own. However, if they interfere with eating or oral hygiene, If you are trying to become pregnant
or have recently learned that you are,
try to schedule a dental check-up and
Emerging evidence shows that periodontal disease may be a significant risk factor for pre-term, low-birth weight babies. a prophylaxis (cleaning) within the
Although more research is needed to confirm the direct first trimester.
association to pregnancy outcomes, expectant mothers are advised to be concerned about periodontitis as with all other infections. If you are trying to become pregnant or have recently learned that you are, you should try to schedule a dental Prevention
check-up and a prophylaxis (cleaning) within the first trimester. It is better to have dental work completed within To prevent or minimize "pregnancy gingivitis," take extra care the fourth to sixth month of pregnancy than to deal with and time with good brushing and flossing techniques to potential complications from anesthesia, medication or remove plaque. It is advisable to have a professional extensive procedures during the last trimester. If you have a prophylaxis in the first or second trimester. Eat a good dental emergency in the third trimester, consult your balanced diet, getting plenty of vitamins C and B12. Smokers obstetrician and call your dentist. Definitely postpone all should refrain from smoking for the entire pregnancy. to see if elective procedures until after you give birth. It is common for pregnant women to develop "pregnancy gingivitis." Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and surrounding tissues. It is characterized by redness, swelling, tenderness and bleeding. The primary cause is an increased level of hormones - especially estrogen and progesterone, which correlates with an increase in dental plaque (a sticky mixture of bacteria, food and debris). This condition starts to become evident in the second trimester. If you had gingivitis prior to your pregnancy, it will probably worsen. Left untreated, it could lead to bone loss around the teeth.

Source: http://www.cr.k12.ia.us/districtresources/Public/Human%20Resources/Benefits/documents%202012_13/Oral%20health%20handouts.pdf