Rolling dice and playing poker are popular ways to try to beat the odds and win money. But when it concerns your health, like betting against the house, gambling with tongue cancer is a sure loser.

The American Cancer Society warns that over 34,000 new oral cancer cases will be diagnosed this year. Sadly, 50 percent of those victims have only a 5-year survival rate. The majority of those cancer cases will be people under 30 years old.

Tongue cancer is an unforgiving disease whose origin is not well-established, but research is showing encouraging results unmasking this vicious disease.

A surprising study concludes that tongue cancer may be directly associated with periodontal disease (perio, for short). Perio is a chronic dental infection that results in jawbone and tooth loss.

Some of the bacteria that naturally live in your mouth create waste products that cause perio. Scientists think those waste products are toxic to the surrounding, healthy cells. The infection exposes the cells to substances that are known to cause cancer.

According to the study, the odds of developing tongue cancer are over five times greater for every millimeter of dental bone loss the patient has. [A millimeter is about the thickness of a dime.]

Using early detection tools, we can diagnose oral cancer and perio when they are in their early stages and much easier to manage. Perio is unlike other oral diseases because it doesn’t hurt, and there is no cure. We can only control it.

If you gamble with your health, place your money where the odds are in your favor: on good home oral care and regular dental examinations.

Call and schedule an exam. Preventing oral diseases and taking care of your teeth is a sure bet.

(Article from the Patient Newsletter of Livingstone Dental Excellence)

Injuries to the mouth and face are the number-one sports trauma, and a dental injury is not only painful and costly; it's also permanent. Fortunately, many mouth injuries can be prevented by wearing an athletic mouth protector—also called a mouthguard. 

A mouthguard is a soft plastic appliance that fits over the teeth. When a properly designed mouthguard is worn, the lips, cheek, tongue and jaws are protected, as well as the teeth. The American Dental Association estimates that mouthguards prevent 200,000 injuries each year in high-school and college sports alone. 

Most people are aware that sports mouthguards are mandatory for participation in high-contact sports such as football, boxing and hockey. But what many people don't realize is that the majority of mouth injuries occur in children between the ages of 7 and 14, often while participating in commonplace activities like skateboarding, rollerblading or bike riding! Mouthguards should be worn during all activities where there is a risk of falling or head contact, either with another player or a piece of equipment. The Academy for Sports Dentistry has identified 35 activities and sports in which mouthguards should be worn to prevent orofacial injury, including baseball, soccer, basketball, martial arts, skiing, volleyball and gymnastics.

The most common mouth injuries are broken or lost teeth, but a blow to the mouth or jaw can also cause: 

jaw fractures

concussions and cerebral hemorrhage

head and neck injuries

problems with the jaw joint

jaw dislocations

Choosing a mouthguard

There are three types of mouthguards available: 

 - ready-made stock mouthguards

 - boil-and-bite mouthguards

 - custom-made mouthguards

Stock mouthguards are used right off the shelf. No modifications are made to enhance or customize the fit, so they offer very little, if any, protection. They also tend to feel loose, bulky and uncomfortable, and interfere with breathing and speaking, so it's likely they'll just be left in the gym bag. 

Boil-and-bite mouthguards fit somewhat better, because after they are purchased, their fit is enhanced somewhat by softening them in boiling water, then shaping them around teeth and allowing them to harden. However, this type of mouthguard also hampers speech and breathing, because the fit is not optimal. Furthermore, they aren't thick enough to provide adequate protection, and they become brittle after awhile so they need to be replaced relatively frequently.

Custom-made mouthguards are by far the best choice. For about the cost of a good pair of athletic shoes, custom mouthguards offer: 

 - sufficient thickness in critical areas, so protection is maximized

 - the best possible fit and retention

 - greater durability, which means less frequent replacement

Custom mouthguards are created specifically for you by professional technicians, using a material that is resilient, odorless and tasteless. To fabricate a custom-made mouthguard, on the first appointment, impressions of your teeth are made. From these impressions, models of your teeth are created. The mouthguard is fabricated on these models to ensure that the fit is precise. Then, on your next appointment, your mouthguard is tried in and adjusted as necessary to make sure protection and comfort are optimized.

While any mouthguard is better than none at all, a custom mouthguard is far more comfortable, so it's less likely to be left lying in the locker or the gym bag. They are also much more effective in preventing injuries, since they conform precisely to an individual's teeth. A custom mouthguard costs a bit more than off-the-shelf varieties, but their precise fit, comfort and excellent quality make them well worth the additional cost.

Tooth sensitivity occurs as a result of the dentin (part of the tooth that covers the nerve) being exposed either through recession of the gum, or loss of the enamel layer. It often becomes painful when one eats or drinks something hot or cold, or sweet or acidic. The pain usually subsides after a short period of time. Here is a brief video that provides a clear understanding of tooth sensitivity and why it occurs:

Please visit your Canaan CT Dentist if you suspect you may have, or be developing tooth sensitivity. There are available treatments and we will work together to select the right on for you.

Valentine's Day is every day; tell your sweetie that chocolate may be just what the doctor ordered. Chocolate, the ultimate feel good snack of chocoholics, has been given a scientific thumbs up. Researchers discovered that dark chocolate containstannin, a bitter-tasting substance that can prevent cavities.

Tannin prevents oral decay-causing bacteria from using sugars and starches to produce acid that pulls minerals out of your tooth enamel.

Tannin is found in many foods, such as—

several varieties of berries (blueberries, cranberries and strawberries),

apple and grape juices,

grapes,

red beans,

red wine,

fish or meats cured or smoked in some woods, and

the spices cinnamon and cumin.

If you have ever bitten into an unripened fruit, puckered and made a squinty face, that pucker is caused by tannin.

Your favorite black tea and raisins also contain tannin.

Raisins have gotten a bad rap over the years. Many people think they are junk food because of their high sugar content, but new research shows that bacteria are unable to stick to your teeth after you eat raisins. However, any food left on your teeth, healthy or not, can cause decay.

It's important to limit the amount of snacks you eat and not graze throughout the day. Remember, even though a snack food may help your teeth, it should not take the place of a balanced, nutritional diet.

Wait 20 minutes to brush your teeth after eating an acidic food because acid weakens tooth enamel, and waiting lets the enamel reharden.

Foods that have beneficial qualities are not a substitute for good oral care. It's important to brush with a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste twice daily, floss at least once each day and have regular check-ups.

Maybe this year you can give your sweetheart a heart-shaped box of chocolate toothpaste. OK, maybe not.

Calcium can help you keep your natural teeth for a lifetime. This finding comes from a recent study of more than 2,500 post-menopausal women, which showed that an adequate calcium intake can play a role in maintaining healthy gums by strengthening the underlying jaw bone. Conversely, women with low bone density (often caused by inadequate calcium intake) were 86 percent more likely to have periodontal or gum disease, the major cause of tooth loss for people over 35 years of age.

Dentists have long been aware of the need for calcium, especially for women, for overall well-being as well as for dental health. "Calcium is a critical ingredient of healthy teeth, which begin developing before birth," said Vicki Grandinetti, D.D.S. "That's why pregnant women need plenty of food high in calcium every day in order to start their babies on a lifetime of good dental health."

"Calcium also fortifies teeth during childhood, and helps to keep them intact throughout life," she added.

This means that calcium, the most abundant mineral in the human body, can help you keep your natural teeth for a lifetime. 

How can you make sure you're getting enough calcium?

Nearly 75 percent of women don't get enough calcium each day, according to studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And over 50 percent don't even get half the recommended amount. Yet, they don't realize their bodies are short on calcium, because there are no immediate, obvious symptoms of calcium deficiency. Unfortunately, the after-effects of inadequate calcium intake can become sadly apparent in later years, in the form of gum disease and osteoporosis. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, the National Research Council and the National Academy of Sciences, adults over age 25 should get at least 1000 milligrams of calcium each day.

Calcium sources in food

The preferred source of calcium is calcium-rich foods, including dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Other excellent food sources of calcium are green, leafy vegetables, canned sardines, salmon with edible bones, and tofu. 

For those who can't meet their daily calcium needs with conventional foods, calcium-fortified foods and calcium supplements are another method by which optimal calcium intake can be reached. 

Calcium supplements

Over-the-counter calcium supplements are an easy, inexpensive way to ensure you're getting enough calcium each day. However, choosing a calcium supplement can be confusing, as there are a number of different forms of this mineral.

Calcium carbonate: This is the least expensive form of calcium, as well as the most concentrated. 

Calcium citrate: This form is easily dissolved in the stomach, so it's the one most often recommended for older adults or for individuals taking stomach-acid-blocking drugs. It's not as concentrated as calcium carbonate, and it's a bit more expensive.

Calcium lactate: This form is also absorbed well by the body. It's the least concentrated of the three, and it can be a bit pricey.

Vitamin D is added to milk and is often included in calcium supplements because it helps the body absorb calcium. Magnesium is another mineral that enhances calcium's usefulness in the body; the calcium-magnesium ratio in the supplement you choose should be 2-1 (for example, 500 milligrams of calcium to 250 milligrams of magnesium).

Other ways to enhance absorption of calcium from supplements include taking them with meals, taking them at night, when absorption levels increase naturally, and taking them in chewable form. Also, missing a few doses of calcium can also be beneficial, as this appears to maintain a high level of absorption of calcium by the body.

Always talk with your healthcare provider about whether calcium supplementation is appropriate for you. Individuals with kidney disease or a history of kidney stones, or those with an overactive parathyroid gland, should not take calcium supplements. 

More than just a tooth and bone booster

Calcium is vital to virtually every cell in your body, and it's involved in just about every bodily function, including nerve impulses, heartbeat regulation, muscle contraction and blood clotting. Even small changes in calcium levels can have large affects on how well your body functions.

Calcium fights PMS symptoms

Recent research from Columbia University has shown that women who take calcium supplements experience over 50 percent fewer symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

The results of the carefully monitored study of 497 women were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The participants were divided into two random groups. One group was assigned to take four calcium carbonate tablets each day, totaling 1,200 milligrams. The other, a control group, took tablets that contained no calcium. Neither the participants nor the physicians knew which women were in which group. 

The women who had the calcium supplementation experienced significantly fewer or less severe PMS symptoms, particularly pain, mood swings, depression, food cravings, low backache and bloating. 

While researchers have believed a connection existed between PMS and calcium intake, "this is the strongest study published to date," said Dr. Robert Heaney of the Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. "It highlights the fact that most women are not getting enough calcium in their diet."

The words "root canal" are usually assoicated with pain and discomfort, and cause most of us to cringe when we hear of someone having one done, or when we are told that we need to have one done. Of course we have been told and inderstand that the procedure is beneficial to our oral health, but the horror stories have already been told, and until we have a first hand experience, it will always be a dreaded procedure. So what exactly do we have to look forward to during a root canal?

Usually when the tooth has a small cavity, a filling may be all that is needed to restore the funtionality of the tooth. However, there are times when the tooth is so badly decayed or infected, that the nerve of the tooth, and the pulp which is in the center of the tooth also becomes infected and/or damaged. This is when a root canal becomes necessary.

During the root canal, the pulp and the nerve are removed, and the inside of the tooth is then sealed and cleaned. Usually a crown is put on to protect the underlying tooth. Having a damaged nerve in the tooth alone doeas not suggest that a root canal is necessary. The nerve's only function is sensory - determining hot or cold. However, when the pulp and the nerve tissue become damaged, it breaks down and this causes bacteria to form in the pupl chamber. This can lead to one getting an abscessed tooth, and can eventually lead to swelling around the face and neck and sever toothache.

Here at Livingstone Dental Excellence we are dedicated to doing everything we can to make this procedure as painless as possible. We know that people have geniune fears and we are here to provide you with as much information as possible to help ease those fears. Please feel free to come in and talk with Dr Livingstone about the best options available for you.

Today, oral cancer is very common among the younger generation, mainly due to HPV. 

Dentures, like natural teeth, mustbe kept free of plaque and tartar. This prevents permanent staining and bad breath. Use a denture brush and one of the many commercial cleaning products to thoroughly clean all the surfaces of your dentures at least once a day.

Tough stains and tartar can be removed by soaking your dentures in white vinegar for several hours. If there are no metal parts in your dentures, you can also soak them in a diluted chlorine bleach solution. Whenever your denture is out of your mouth, it should be stored in water.

To remove plaque from your remaining teeth, brush them, as well as your tongue, palate and gums, with a soft bristle brush each day. This keeps your teeth and tissues healthy, stimulates circulation and freshend your breath. A healthy mouth and increased self-confidence will come with proper denture care.

As children, many of us looked forward to losing those baby teeth, as that was a sign of us getting older and becoming big kids. As adults, the thought of losing a tooth is a dreaded one, and one that most of us hope will not happen for many, many years. However, it does happen, and when it does, it affects a person’s ability to eat, hence affecting their nutrition.  It also affects their appearance, speech, and overall self esteem. Fortunately, there are various options available for us to chose from to help restore those beautiful smiles. Here at Overland Park Smiles, one of the options we focus on is the use of dental implants.

In the past, dentures and fixed bridges were mainly use as the methods of tooth/teeth restoration. However, in the past 20 years, dental implants have quickly become choice for most people for the replacement of missing teeth.

The dental implant is made from a titanium rod which is anchored in the jaw to support restorations that resemble a tooth to replace missing ones. As a result of the the implant being anchored in the jawbone, it helps maintain the integrity of the bone. Another important advantage of the dental implant over a fixed bridge is that the health of the surrounding teeth is not sacrificed.

Here at Livingstone Dental Excellence, we are committed to restoring those healthy beautiful smiles, giving you back your confidence and the ability to smile and eat. Our wonderful staff is here to put you at ease and answer all questions. Please feel free to drop in for a consultation on the best treatment for you.