Affecting Millions

Diabetics More Prone to Serious Oral Health Issues

It’s estimated that nearly 24 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, and said that millions more are simply undiagnosed.

According to a vast body of research, control of your blood glucose is closely linked to periodontal disease… but which came first, the diabetes or the periodontal disease?

Research says that it’s a two-way street. Having serious periodontal disease affects blood glucose and can contribute to the progression of diabetes. Those with diabetes are at an increased risk for serious gum disease because not only are they more susceptible to bacterial infection, they also have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.

Periodontal disease is also linked with a variety of serious health conditions, including diabetes.

The American Diabetic Association says those with diabetes are at higher risk for oral health problems, such as gingivitis (an early stage of gum disease) and periodontitis (serious gum disease). People with diabetes are at an increased risk for serious gum disease because they are generally more susceptible to bacterial infection, and have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.

But even when patients don’t have diagnosed diabetes to begin with, the presence of advanced periodontal disease significantly increases their risk of developing diabetes.

How Diabetes Affects Oral Health

Research has proven that those with poorly controlled blood glucose levels are more likely to develop more serious periodontal disease and lose more teeth than those with stable blood sugar.

Diabetics are more prone to the less common oral health conditions, like thrush, ulcers and early tooth loss.

What Those With Diabetes Can Do to Control Oral Health

First and foremost, those with diabetes need to get their blood glucose under strict control – not just for oral health reasons. Blood sugar stability helps slow the progression of the disease and can help prevent diabetics from facing some of the more serious side effects of the disease, like neuropathy, eye trouble and more.

Because diabetics are more prone to infections, keeping the harmful bacteria in their mouths in check is a good way to keep problems at bay. Oral care probiotics are a simple way to tip the balance of oral bacteria in favor of the friendly flora.

Good oral care is essential for diabetics. Patients need to keep up with regular dental appointments and professional cleanings, and, like the rest of us, they need to brush and floss with care.

No More Halitosis!

9 Reasons Your Breath May Smell

You’re on your way to an important meeting and you realize – your breath is horrible, and you have no time to do anything about it. You have no breath mints, no gum … and no chance of keeping the smell to yourself.

Bad breath can make a really bad impression, but once you understand what’s behind it, you can easily control your halitosis.

The Main Culprits Behind Halitosis:

1. Food. Yes, what you eat can cause your breath to smell. Of course, when you think of food and bad breath, you’re most likely to think of the common breath killers, like onions and garlic. These particular vegetables actually metabolize in a way that not only causes their smell to linger in your mouth, their odor is also secreted through your sweat. But onions and garlic aren’t the only causes of bad breath. Many other vegetables cause bad breath, as do dairy products, which create much more mucus in the mouth and throat. Snacking on a little cheese during happy hour may not be the best idea. Even chocolate can cause halitosis.

2. The breakdown of food in your mouth. As you eat, tiny particles of food become lodged between your teeth and below your gums. These bits of food cause a foul smell as they break down.

3. Beverages. As earlier discussed, dairy causes excess mucus, so dairy drinks can easily cause bad breath that doesn’t quickly dissipate. Sugary drinks cause the bacteria known to cause bad breath to flood the mouth. Bad-breath causing bacteria love to snack on sugar.

4. Dry Mouth. Some people have chronic dry mouth for no known reason. Others suffer from dry mouth as a side-effect of medications they take. Still others may suffer dry mouth from consuming alcohol, or consistently using alcohol-based mouth rinses.

5. Poor oral health. Teeth and gums that are not healthy can emit foul odors. For instance, those with periodontal disease often have strong-smelling breath, and cavities can also cause breath to smell.

6. Health issues. Many health problems can cause bad breath. Those with diabetes may have fruity smelling breath, or breath that smells like markers, if their diabetes is not under control. Those with kidney problems may have fishy smelling breath. And those with acid reflux often have halitosis as well.

7. Illnesses involving the sinus or throat. Whether it’s post-nasal drip caused by the common cold or by nasal allergies, those with upper respiratory illnesses often have bad breath. In fact, doctors can often recognize sinus infections or strep throat based solely on the patient’s breath.

8. Use of tobacco. Smokers and those who chew tobacco have distinctive-smelling bad breath. The more one smokes or chews, the worse the breath can smell.

9. Poor oral care. Some people are prone to skipping the step of brushing their teeth twice daily, and the American Dental Association estimates that up to 80% of individuals don’t floss daily. Brushing teeth properly helps remove unhealthy bacteria from the teeth and gums, which significantly reduces the incidence of bad breath. But even if you brush twice daily like clockwork but skip flossing, you could be leaving your mouth wide open to the effects of halitosis. Flossing teeth significantly helps remove both food and bacteria lodged between teeth in places a toothbrush cannot. It also releases bacteria from below the gum line, not only reducing the likelihood of bad breath, but also significantly reducing the risk of periodontal disease.

Curbing Bad Breath At the Source

Sometimes it’s overwhelming to think of all the ways we can create halitosis. Thankfully, there is one simple way to help reduce halitosis – even morning breath! By altering the bacterial composition of your mouth, you can help crowd out bad-breath causing bacteria. A simple probiotic mint, filled with the beneficial bacteria known to reduce the colonies of harmful, bad-breath causing bacteria, can help control halitosis, regardless of its cause.

Remember, first impressions are lasting impressions. Leave your halitosis fears behind.

Don’t Skip Appointments!

Are Regular Dental Cleanings Really That Important?

If you are among of the many who brush twice daily and floss once daily, you might think that it’s OK to cut back on trips to the dentist, which, at best, can involve a small investment in time and money. “It’s just a cleaning,” you may reason, as you cancel your appointment, hoping, perhaps, to get back on schedule the next year.

Even if you are diligent with your at-home oral care, routine cleanings are important, and, as far as dentists and hygienists are concerned, non-negotiable.

4 Reasons Not to Skip a Dental Cleaning

Taking Good Care of Your Mouth Means Taking Good Care of Yourself!

Research is now backing what dentists have long known – those with good tooth and gum health have better heart health, are at a lower risk for having a stroke and are even at a lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Having a dental cleaning every six months allows the dentist to ensure that your gums are healthy and that any sign of periodontal disease is addressed as soon as possible to avoid progression of the condition.

Early Treatment is Cheaper & Easier Than the Alternative

Minor dental complications, like cavities, can easily be addressed if they are caught early, and the key to catching them early is having them examined by a dentist at least every six months. Treating common dental and periodontal conditions in their early stages can save a significant amount of time and money.

Keep Your Pearly Whites White

Regular dental cleanings help reduce the accumulation of tooth stains – it’s that simple.

Dentists Screen for Oral Cancer

Screening for this deadly disease is far more simple than treating it. During your cleaning and examination, your dentist is screening your head, neck and the inside of your mouth for anything that might indicate further testing is required for oral cancer.

Affordable Dental Care

Website Shows Facilities That Provide Low-Cost Dental Care

With the economy in a serious slump, many families have found themselves cutting back on spending the past couple of years. Car and home sales have slumped, holiday sales have led stores to cut back on inventory and staff and still many continue to look for ways to cut spending.

Families have cut back on all the extras – gifts, travel, vacations, dining out and then some.

No Expense Spared

One expense that families absolutely should not skimp on, however, is regularly scheduled dental care. In fact, keeping teeth clean and maintained is actually more cost effective than skipping a regular cleaning and potentially risking having a serious problem, like a cavity or early stages of periodontal disease (or gingivitis) going undetected while treatment is easier and more cost effective.

And the reasons for keeping those twice-per-year appointments with the dentist don’t end there. With the many diseases that are now being connected to good oral health, including heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes and more, the importance of regular dental maintenance is becoming even more clear.

Making Dentistry More Affordable

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a database to help consumers find dental clinics whose fees are based on a sliding-scale structure. To find a dentist near you whose charges are based on how much money you make, visit http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.

A Little Extra Support

Adding an oral care probiotic like EvoraPlus to your regular brushing and flossing schedule can go a long way toward supporting your tooth and gum health. By creating a basecamp of beneficial bacteria on your teeth and below your gum line, oral care probiotics crowd out harmful bacteria normally found throughout the mouth. EvoraPlus offers the added benefits of freshening breath and gradually, safely and 100% naturally whitening teeth.

Paying a little extra attention to the health of your teeth and gums can actually save you money in the long run.

What Happens When Gum Infection Sets In?

Picturing Periodontal Disease

There is much to be said about periodontal disease. This disease, which affects millions of adults, not only threatens the health of the mouth, but also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even premature birth.

Watch this video to learn what it means to have periodontal disease, and how a simple gum infection can progress to the point that teeth are lost and the body’s overall health can be compromised.

There is much to be said about periodontal disease. This disease, which affects millions of adults, not only threatens the health of the mouth, but also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even premature birth.

Watch this video to learn what it means to have periodontal disease, and how a simple gum infection can progress to the point that teeth are lost and the body’s overall health can be compromised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xO_sIPTgYf0

High Glucose Levels in Saliva Attributed to Increased Tooth Decay

Diabetics Notice Decline in Oral Health

Diabetics have a lot of things they have to keep in mind: what foods they can and can’t eat, how often they should eat, when they should check their blood sugar, when they should take their medications… Now studies show that diabetics also need to keep oral health in mind as well. 

According to the September 2002 edition of the Journal of the American Dental Association, when diabetes is not properly controlled, high glucose levels in diabetics’ saliva feeds the sugar-loving, tooth-decay causing bacteria in the mouth.  Because the high glucose levels are in the saliva and not on surfaces of teeth, the problem is much harder to control with tradition oral care methods, such as brushing and flossing.

Not only that, diabetes can cause a reduction in saliva production, which leaves the door open to bacterial and fungal infections in the mouth.

According to the American Diabetes Association, the best way to control oral health issues related to diabetes is to keep your blood glucose levels under control.

In addition to brushing and flossing, improving the bacterial balance in your mouth can also help. Along with the harmful bacteria, your mouth is home to beneficial bacteria that can help keep harmful bacteria in check. One great way to boost the balance in favor of beneficial bacteria is to use oral care probiotics, like EvoraPlus probiotic mints.

Adding a probiotics to your oral care routine is as simple as popping a probiotic mint twice daily after brushing your teeth!

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