Blog

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Nobody likes talking about any type of cancer. It’s a scary epidemic that continues to take the lives of thousands each and every year. Oral cancer, specifically, is a fairly common type of cancer in the United States with over 45,000 cases diagnosed every year. Of those diagnosed, about 9,700 will lose their battles with the disease. At our Douglasville dental office, we want to take time during Oral Cancer Awareness Month to educate our patients and neighbors on the risk factors and signs of oral cancer, and why it’s so important to catch it early.

The Importance of Early Detection

Oral cancer is very treatable when caught early, which is one of the reasons that maintaining appointments with your dentist is so important. In between your dental visits, it’s best to know the early signs of oral cancer so you’re able to seek treatment quickly.

Recognize the Signs

Oral cancer can develop anywhere from the lips, tongue, and cheeks to in and around the throat. But sometimes diagnosis can be tricky. A lot of oral cancer symptoms can easily be mistaken for other problems. If you recognize any of these signs, call your dentist in Douglasville immediately to schedule an oral cancer screening:

• Chronic bad breath
• A sore or several sores that don’t go away
• A lump on the cheek
• Difficulty swallowing
• Changes in your voice

Know the Risks

There are several lifestyle and hereditary factors that can increase someone’s risk of developing oral cancer. Please know that while these are common risk factors, anyone can develop oral cancer even if none apply to them.

• Gender: Men are two times more likely to develop oral cancer than women.
• Age: The majority of oral cancer patients are over the age of 55 and on average, most people are diagnosed at 62.
• Tobacco: Nearly 80% of oral cancer diagnoses are in tobacco users.
• Alcohol: About 70% of those diagnosed with oral cancer are heavy drinkers.
• Tobacco & Alcohol Combo: Those who use tobacco and drink heavily have a 15 times greater risk.

This Oral Cancer Awareness Month, take control of those risk factors that you CAN change and quit smoking, chewing tobacco, or using alcohol excessively. If you have other questions about oral cancer, call our dental office in Douglasville.

Welcoming patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica

Celebrate Heart Health Month with Your Douglasville Dentist

It’s not uncommon for the month of February to be full of hearts — candy hearts, heart shaped boxes of chocolate, and a whole host of other gifts given in the name of love. At our Douglasville dental office, we’re all for celebrating love, but this February, we’d like our patients to pay attention to a different kind of heart — the one inside you — and ways to keep it healthy.

Fast Facts on Heart Disease

February is recognized as Heart Health Month and is used to raise awareness of the seriousness and widespread occurrence of heart disease in America. Here are some important facts you should know about heart disease.

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
• Someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds
• Every 60 seconds, someone dies from a heart disease-related event
• You can decrease your risk of heart disease by making lifestyle changes

The Effect of Oral Health on Heart Health

Why should you take heart health advice from a dentist? Isn’t that what a cardiologist is for? Well, yes, a cardiologist is the best person to help diagnose and treat any heart problems you may have. However, your Douglasville dentist can be a crucial part of your health care team.

In recent years, there have been numerous studies that show a clear link between gum health and heart health. In fact, gum disease doubles a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke. But how?

Your gums are like a portal to your bloodstream. An infection in your gums means that the infection can easily enter your bloodstream. When there is infection in your blood, your body reacts. The liver begins to produce certain proteins such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and these proteins lead to all kinds of problems including:

• Inflamed arteries
• Blood clots
• Heart attacks
• Strokes

How Can You Minimize Your Risk?

There are ways to decrease your chance of gum disease and the overall health concerns associated with it. Start with maintaining regular visits to our dental office in Douglasville. In between appointments, make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, floss everyday, and avoid tobacco products. Proper dental care can, in fact, save your life.

Accepting patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica

What Causes Bad Breath?

Halitosis, also known as bad breath, is a common issue that affects nearly 80 million Americans. It’s a serious problem that doesn’t only affect your oral health, but can directly impact your personal life as well. Don’t worry, your dentist in Douglasville is here to help.

Dry Mouth

Your mouth needs an adequate saliva supply to keep itself healthy. Essentially, it helps wash away bacteria and neutralize acid that can lead to decay and cavities. Without it, bacteria are left to linger around and cause all sorts of problems, including bad breath. Dry mouth can be caused by numerous things including some medications or mouth breathing.

Foods

Although fragrant foods don’t tend to be a serious, long-lasting problem, they are a cause of bad breath. The typical culprits like your morning cup of coffee, a garlicky pasta sauce, or a tasty onion-packed sandwich can sometimes leave an after-smell in your mouth, even after you brush and floss.

Poor Dental Hygiene

When someone doesn’t follow a proper at-home oral health routine of brushing twice a day and flossing once a day, the chance of odor causing bacteria sticking around and creating an unpleasant stench increases. Not to mention, poor dental hygiene can lead to more problems like cavities, the need for root canal treatment, discoloration, or even tooth loss.

A Whole-Body Problem

While bad breath may seem like a small yet embarrassing issue, it may be a sign that something more serious is happening somewhere else in the body. Bad breath has been linked to:

• Gum disease
• Pneumonia
• Liver or kidney disease
• Diabetes

This is why the team at my Douglasville dental office encourages anyone suffering from chronic bad breath to see their dentist as soon as possible.

If you’re worried about bad breath, or it’s just time to see a dentist, we welcome you to call my dental office in Douglasville to schedule an appointment. We’ll be happy to see you and discuss any dental concern you may have.

Accepting patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica and the surrounding areas.

“Why Do I Keep Biting My Tongue At Night?”

Everyone enjoys getting a solid night’s sleep. It not only feels great… it also provides some valuable health benefits, too. But sometime, sleep can be interrupted by any number of things — a snoring partner, a sick child, or even from biting your own tongue. If this last item happens to you frequently, my dental office in Douglasville encourages you to find out why. We’re here to help.

Common Causes

Nighttime tongue biting is actually pretty common, but it can be incredibly uncomfortable and painful. What’s more, it may be a sign that something more serious is going on. The top reasons someone may experience tongue biting during sleep include:

• Nighttime seizures
• Grinding your teeth
• Rhythmic movement disorder

Let’s take a closer look at each cause and potential treatment.

Nighttime Seizures

Seizures are usually categorized by a tightening of muscles accompanied by violent twitching. Involuntarily biting of the tongue is also one of the main indicators of seizures. But the symptoms aren’t always so noticeable, and sometimes there are no daytime signs and rather only occur during sleep. Treatment: Using a seizure medication can help prevent seizures and, in turn, tongue biting.

Rhythmic Movement Disorder

This disorder causes individuals to experience jerks or sudden movements during sleep, usually in the head or neck. Typically more common in children, sometimes rhythmic movement disorder can appear as head banging and may result in injuries to the eyes, brain, and yes, tongue. Treatment: The good news is rhythmic movement disorder in children tends to go away on its own. If not, medication may be recommended.

Grinding Your Teeth

Nighttime bruxism, also known as grinding your teeth, is fairly common but can cause someone to bite their tongue unwillingly. Teeth grinding may also create additional dental problems like chips and cracks. Treatment: A bruxism night guard can protect teeth from grinding against each other, as well as the tongue from being bitten

If you suffer from frequent nighttime tongue biting, talk with your dentist in Douglasville to determine if grinding your teeth may the cause and to discuss the best treatment for your specific needs. My Douglasville dental office also encourages you to see your physician if another culprit is suspected.

Accepting patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica.

Top 4 Causes of Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is an uncomfortable feeling that all of us experience occasionally. But living with a chronically dry mouth isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s unhealthy too. At my Douglasville dental office, we wanted to examine the top causes of dry mouth, why it’s so concerning, and ways to combat it for healthy, happy mouth.

Why Is Dry Mouth Concerning?

When the mouth is dry, it means your body isn’t producing enough saliva to keep it moist. Saliva is crucial for oral health has many jobs. It helps wash away food particles, neutralizes acids, and even kills bacteria. Without it, you’re at increased risk for things like tooth decay and infections in the mouth.

Top Causes of Dry Mouth

• Medications. Many medications can contribute to dry mouth, hundreds in fact. Most commonly, these medicines are those used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, and cancer. Look at the label on your medications to see if dry mouth may be a side effect.
• Diseases & Medical Conditions. Dry mouth could also be caused by another health problems including, but not limited to, Sjögren’s syndrome, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes.
• Smoking & Drinking. Both smoking and drinking alcohol can have a drying effect on the mouth.
• Mouth Breathing. If the mouth is opened for prolonged periods of time, the constant exposure to air dries out the mouth.

Signs & Symptoms

• Cracked, dry lips
• Difficulty swallowing, chewing, or speaking
• Dry throat or tongue
• Bad breath

How to Combat Dry Mouth

Treatment of dry mouth can vary from person to person, depending on their own individual reason for having dry mouth. Some ways you can help stop dry mouth include:

• Drink water throughout the day
• Limit your intake of caffeinated beverages
• Chew sugarless gum to stimulate salivary glands
• Speak with your dentist in Douglasville

If you’ve been suffering from dry mouth, or believe it may be a problem, give my dental office in Douglasville a call to schedule an appointment. We’ll evaluate your symptoms and talk about the possible cause. Then together, we’ll determine the best treatment for you.

Welcoming patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica

Does Oil Pulling Actually Work?

By now you’ve probably at least heard of oil pulling, but perhaps you’re unsure as to what exactly it is, how it’s supposed to help your oral health, and if it actually works. Don’t worry, my dental office in Douglasville is here to help. We’ve looked into the now popular technique and we’ve got some good, and not so good, news regarding the latest oral health trend.

Where Did Oil Pulling Come From?

First thing’s first, we need to talk about what oil pulling is and where it came from. While it may seem like a fairly new trend that popped up over the past couple of years, oil pulling is actually a technique that’s over 3,000 years old. Originally founded in Ayurvedic medicine — a holistic approach to medical care, oil pulling claims to help not only oral health, but lists several other whole-body benefits as well. For the sake of this blog, we’re going to focus on the oral benefits.

What is Oil Pulling?

Oil pulling is a pretty simple technique, but requires some time and a commitment. All you need is some liquid vegetable oil, usually coconut oil is used, and 20 minutes. Simply take about a tablespoon of the oil and swish it around in your mouth, pushing and pulling through the teeth, for 20 minutes. Then just spit it out and rinse with water. Repeat daily.

What Does Oil Pulling Do For Oral Health?

There are several supported oral health benefits to oil pulling including:

• Whiter Teeth
• Better Breath
• Reduced Plaque
• Cavity Protection

Does It Work?

Using oil pulling can help in some areas of oral health, but not all. For example, regular oil pulling can remove some surface stains and whiten teeth, even if just a little bit. It can also be used post-brushing instead of mouthwash for boost in fresh breath. Oil pulling can even reduce the amount of plaque in the mouth, but that’s about where the benefits stop. Oil pulling 20 minutes daily doesn’t remove enough plaque to fight against gum disease or help protect cavities, and shouldn’t be used as an alternative to brushing, flossing, and visits with your Douglasville dentist.

In short, more research needs to be done in order to fully understand the possible benefits of oil pulling. Until then, keep brushing and flossing every day and remember to visit my Douglasville dental office twice a year. Maintain those important steps and your mouth will stay healthy.

Accepting new patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica

“Is My Dentist Happy to See Me?”

Part of what makes being a dentist so rewarding and enjoyable is getting to know patients and their smiles. At my Douglasville dental office, my team and I always like to take the time to help without making anyone feel rushed or uncomfortable. I am truly happy to see each and every one of my patients, every day. Here’s why:

1. We’re Preventing Problems, Together

My patients know the importance of maintaining great oral health thanks to regular cleanings and checkups. They also understand the power of prevention, to make sure pesky problems like cavities, gum disease, and root canals don’t happen. It’s a win-win situation that makes everyone smile!

2. We’re Keeping Gums, Teeth, and Your Entire Body Healthy

Gum disease can be damaging to not only teeth, but studies show it may be connected to other problems in other parts of our bodies that can affect overall health. I enjoy seeing my patients’ healthy gums and knowing they’re free of disease. I want only the very best for their smile and the rest of their body too.

3. We’re Working Together As A Team

Building long-lasting relationships with patients is a main priority for me, but it’s also something I strive to do with my staff too. I care as much about my patients as I do my team. When we are happy and working well together, we can provide patients the very best dental care possible.

4. We’re Making Patients Feel Comfortable

Your dentist in Douglasville understands that a trip to the dental office usually isn’t on the list of things people are most excited to do. Going to the dentist doesn’t have to be unnerving. It makes me so happy to help put a nervous patient at ease. I want to see them smile, and I truly enjoy going out of my way to do so!

5. We Love Making People Smile

Any dentist will tell you, one of the best things about what we do is helping a patient really get to love and be proud of their smile. It’s gratifying to see them speak and smile with confidence.

At my Douglasville dental office, my team and I never grow tired of helping, treating, and seeing healthy teeth. Our patients truly make what we do enjoyable and gratifying. If you or someone in your family is in need of a checkup, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We’re always happy to see you!

Welcoming patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica and the surrounding areas.

Top Dental Concerns for People Over 50

As we get older, we tend to experience more health concerns than we did when we were younger. Our dental health is no different. At my Douglasville dental office, we want all of our patients to be aware of some of the most common oral health issues that tend to affect those 50 or older.

Gum Disease

Like many oral health problems, gum disease can affect overall health. Research has shown a positive correlation between gum disease and heart disease, diabetes, as well as some cancers. In those over age 50, 30% are affected by gum disease.

Decay

Many times we think of cavities and decay as something that affects the younger population when, in fact, anywhere up to 60% of those over 50 have recently had a cavity. Decay can be caused by a variety of things including inadequate dental hygiene, softening of teeth as we age, or even dry mouth.

Dry Mouth

We already know that dry mouth can lead to decay, but why? When the mouth is dry it means there’s not enough saliva production to rinse away bacteria. Saliva also helps keep teeth from softening thanks to its levels of calcium and phosphate. Dry mouth tends to affect the older population more so because of the increased use of medication. Many medicines’ side effects include dry mouth, so it’s important to tell your dentist everything you take.

Oral Cancer

The name itself describes how serious this particular concern is, but even more so for those over 50. In fact, the likelihood of developing oral cancer greatly increases in those 50 and older. While 45,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, and 8,000 actually die from it, the chance of survival greatly increases if caught early.

All of these common oral health concerns can eventually lead to tooth loss or more serious issues if not treated. To help avoid them, see your Douglasville dentist at least twice a year for regular dental check ups and cleanings.

If you’re concerned about any dental issues at any age, we encourage you to call my Douglasville dental office to schedule an appointment. We’ll discuss your concerns and determine the best treatment options to help you keep your teeth for a long time.

Accepting patients from Douglasville, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica.