Arthritis: Good dental health may ease pain - Advanced Dental Concepts

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is a chronic disease that causes inflammation, pain, stiffness, redness, swelling and warmth around affected joints. Roughly 1.3 million Americans—70% of them are women—have RA. What causes it? We don’t know yet, but we do know that although it can be treated, this chronic disease can’t be cured.
Still, there are new ways to help people with RA. One study of 40 people with severe RA who also had gum disease showed that when dental problems were treated, RA problems also improved, resulting in less arthritic pain, fewer swollen joints and reduced morning stiffness.

There’s also new hope for the estimated 27 million Americans who have osteoarthritis, or OA, a painful and debilitating condition that causes loss of cartilage in weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips and spine. People who lost as little as 5% of their body weight reduced their risk of developing OA in the knees, a six year study of 1,480 men and women age 45 and older found. For a 200 pound person, 5% is only 10 pounds; for a 150 pound person, it’s just 7.5 pounds.

If you have any questions about rheumatoid arthritis, or about your treatment at Advanced Dental Concepts, please feel free to give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you!

Ask Advanced Dental Concepts: What is Relaxation Dentistry?

Relaxation dentistry provides safe, a method of managing pain and anxiety during professional dental care though the use of medication, is a comfortable dental treatment for patients with special needs.

How can I benefit from relaxation dentistry? You can benefit from relaxation dentistry if you experience one of more of the following:

* High fear of dental care
* Complex dental problems
* Traumatic dental experiences
* Fear of needles and shots
* Trouble getting numb
* Sensitive teeth

The two most common types of relaxation dentistry are:

Anxiety Free Dentistry

Through this type of sedation you will experience very deep relaxation while still being conscious. Your doctor will provide you with an oral medication that is easy to swallow, safe, and low cost. Most adults will receive Halcion (triazolam), though children are usually given a liquid medication like Versed (Medazolan). When the medication takes effect, you will be able to speak and respond to external requests.

Inhalation Sedation

Inhalation sedation uses Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen (laughing gas) to help your body achieve a relaxed state. This is the most popular form of sedation used in dentistry today.

If you have any questions about relaxation dentistry, or about your treatment at Advanced Dental Concepts, please feel free to give us a call!

Advanced Dental Concepts has a few tips to help prevent bad breath!

The team at Advanced Dental Concepts knows bad breath can be a real downer! However, bad breath can be easily prevented!

Bad breath, or as our doctors call it “halitosis,” is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grow in your mouth. This bacteria gathers on bits of food in your mouth and between your teeth and release sulfur compounds making your breath smell, say Drs. Faulkner and Spurlock.

Recently, Dr. Andrew Weil wrote an article titled, "3 Ways to Prevent Bad Breath." He recommends the following ways to help prevent bad breath.

1. Brush your tongue "The tongue, and especially the back of the tongue, is a warm harbor for bacteria," he writes, and recommends spending some time on your tongue during teeth brushing, "moving slowly toward the back so as not to activate your gag reflex."

2. Keep your mouth hydrated Because a dry mouth typically leads to bad breath, eating oranges or celery, or drinking water, may help.

3. Freshen your mouth Herbal palate cleansers (parsley, peppermint tea and cardamom seeds may do the trick). If bad breath returns, give us a call! Drs. Faulkner or Spurlock may diagnose any condition or concerns of the oral cavity that may be causing the problems, such as gum disease.

Tips for Teeth Grinders, from Advanced Dental Concepts

Last week, the team at Advanced Dental Concepts shared with you an article titled "5 Steps to a Healthy Mouth." Today, we have a few more helpful tips on how to keep your mouth healthy. Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a problem experienced by millions of people, caused by a misaligned bite (malocclusion) or nervous tension. If the condition is left untreated, teeth grinding can actually wear down your teeth, says Dr. Weil, an American author and respected physician.

So, how do you stop teeth grinding? There are a number of ways to relieve stress or rage: Breathing exercises are a must, daily physical activity, tai chi and yoga can all make a big difference.

For more information on malocclusion or your treatment at Advanced Dental Concepts, please call our office. Enjoy the rest of your week!