Month: September 2012

Periodontal disease or gum disease is a major problem for dental patients in the United States – over 85% of the population has some form of periodontal (gum) disease. This is a very serious problem if you consider that gum disease affects much more than just your mouth.

Studies show that the bacteria associated with gum disease can get into your blood stream and travel through your system, causing a long list of serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, including pancreatic cancer; rheumatoid arthritis, complications in controlling blood sugar levels in diabetes, premature birth and low birth-weight babies.

In fact, a study completed by Harvard shows that men with gum disease were 63 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer when compared to those with no periodontal problems.

That’s why we spend so much time and energy making sure our periodontal treatments are up-to-date and actually on the leading edge. We start by testing you for diabetes, then move on to our advanced treatment. Every treatment is, of course personalized to meet your particular needs, but often, we include laser therapy in the treatment.

Laser therapy is very effective in treating and healing gum disease. This therapy gently and quickly removes scar tissue in periodontal pockets, sealing the affected area as it passes and most of our patients undergo treatment without any anesthesia at all.  The laser also kills bacteria causing the disease and promotes the reattachment of the gum to tooth.  After laser therapy, we apply Arrestin®, a specialized antibiotic placed inside the infected gum pockets to continue killing bacteria for up to 21 days.

If you have not had your gums evaluated recently call my Holland, Michigan dental office at 616.396.5919. It could save more than your smile. It could save your life!

Eating right has so many benefits – you feel fitter, healthier and stronger. But did you know that eating the right foods could do the same for your dental health.

While certain foods and beverages are most certainly harmful to your teeth, others can actually protect and boost the health of your mouth – while supporting whole body health as well. Here are a few tips to help you eat your way to health:

Ÿ  Add more milk, cheese or yogurt to your diet.  Dairy products seem to lessen the occurrence of tooth and gum disease and protect your tooth enamel by providing necessary calcium.

Ÿ   Drink tea! Compounds in black tea can kill growth and acid production of cavity-causing bacteria in dental plaque.

Ÿ  Add fresh, unprocessed foods to your diet. In other words, if you want a snack between meals, try something like crunchy and fresh raw veggies or crisp fruit. Not only are they good for you, they help clean your teeth.

Ÿ  Add more Xylitol-based gum and mints and cut down on sugary or carbohydrate rich foods. Xylitol actually helps prevent the formation of cavities!

Ÿ  Avoid foods that have the dangerous three – sugar, acid and stickiness. Sour gummies or tangy taffy kinds of candy are probably the worst in this category, but even dried fruits can be a culprit in causing tooth damage.

Ÿ  If you do eat or drink highly acidic things such as sports drinks or lemonade, be sure to wait at least 30 minutes before you brush to avoid further damaging your enamel.

For more information about how to keep your mouth healthy and strong, call my Holland, Michigan dental office at 616.396.5919.