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.

A common question

What Are Cavities?

When it comes to oral health, we hear the word “cavity” all the time. In general, the word cavity means a pit or hole. While that definition somewhat holds for tooth health, there’s a little more to dental cavities than a simple hole.

According to the American Dental Association, dental cavities (or caries, as they are called by dental professionals) are synonymous with tooth decay. A cavity can be anything from a small decay-containing pit in a tooth to a tooth that needs serious work.

Tooth decay is a destruction of the tooth enamel – the covering of the tooth. Once bacteria has penetrated this outer layer, the inner layers of the tooth, including the dentin, pulp and sometimes even the root. Decay is generally caused by the way we treat our teeth  (whether we have excellent oral care habits, brushing for 2-3 minutes twice daily, and flossing once daily) and the foods we eat. Eating carbohydrates leaves a feast on the teeth for the microscopic bacteria that live on our teeth. When the harmful bacteria munch on the bacteria, they produce acids that destroy the enamel, exposing the tooth to decay.

Minor cavities are simply cleaned out and filled with either an amalgam filling or a composite filling. Amalgam fillings are the traditional silver fillings that many of us have lingering from childhood. Composite fillings are more popular these days, as dental professionals are able to match the color of the filling to the teeth around it.

Tooth decay left untreated can lead to a destruction of so much of the tooth that a root canal is required.

Tooth Decay? Isn’t That Just Kid Stuff?

Actually, the majority of adults find that at sometime in their adulthood, they’ll be sitting through a routine dental cleaning and hear the dreaded words, you have a cavity.

If that’s you, don’t worry too much. Cavities in adults are common for those who didn’t have regular dental cleanings throughout childhood, and those whose water was not fluoridated.

Also, according to the American Dental Association, many adults experience mild decay around the perimeters of cavities filled during childhood. Over the years, amalgam fillings can weaken and fracture, or even leak around the edges. When fillings leak around the edges, decay-causing bacteria can slip between the teeth and fillings, causing further decay to a tooth that was treated long ago. Many dentists recommend getting fillings from childhood replaced when patients are in their late 30s to early 40s, depending on the quality of the original filling.

Preventing Adult Tooth Decay

There are many things that can be done to help prevent tooth decay – in both children and adults. Brushing and flossing are key. Most people don’t take flossing seriously, but it is key to removing bacteria and debris between teeth.

In addition to good routine oral care, addressing the balance of oral bacteria is a great way to support tooth health. Oral care probiotics can support the colonies of beneficial bacteria that naturally thrive in the mouth, which can help crowd out the harmful bacteria.

While tooth decay is common in both children and adults, good oral care is the best form of prevention. A few minutes of brushing at least twice daily and flossing daily can go a long way toward keeping your teeth cavity-free.

Dental Health Month

What’s 5 Times More Common Than Asthma and 7 Times More Common Than Hayfever in Children?

Dental Disease.

Each and every day, parents wake their kids and try their best to get them ready for school.

Dressed? Check.

Backpack ready? Check.

Lunch?  Sure.

Breakfast? Absolutely.

Teeth brushed? Here’s hoping!

Tooth decay is an important concern for most parents. And, according to the Surgeon General, it’s the cause of 51 million lost school hours each year.

According to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation, pediatric dental disease is 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.

Dental and periodontal diseases have been linked to a hefty handful of major chronic conditions, such as heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes, strokes, osteoporosis and even Alzheimer’s, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Sometimes it’s really hard to know how well our kids are taking care of their teeth, but with so much at stake, it’s worth it to get involved to make sure your child is prepared for a lifetime of oral health.

Here are some ways you can help make sure younger childrens’ teeth are brushed well enough:

•    Teach proper brushing technique, which is to brush gently in small circles, with the brush angled away from the child’s gums.

•    Once your child seems ready to brush, let him try!

•    After he brushes for about a minute (which will feel like a long time the first few times!) you take over the brushing.

•    While you’re brushing, give lots of praise and encouragement for the great brushing your child has done.

•    If your child is consistently missing a certain spot, try teaching her from another angle. Sometimes standing behind the child, cradling her head in your arm and letting her hold the brush while you provide hand-over-hand assistance will show your child how to make brushing work from a better angle.

•    When you think it’s time to let your child do the brushing on her own, let her take over the morning or evening routine, but keep the other routine the same, so you can ensure that missed spots aren’t overlooked for too long.

Before you know it, you’ll have a pro-brusher on your hands!

Children and Gum Disease

Think Periodontal Disease is Just for Adults?

You brush your children’s teeth every day, and then you take them to the dentist for cleanings and to check for tooth decay. You expect the dentist may point out teeth that are crowding, or poor brushing habits. But what about periodontal disease?

Yes, your children can have periodontal disease. In fact, some studies indicate that nearly all children have gingivitis – the very first stage of periodontal disease.

Signs of Periodontal Disease

Keep alert for these signs of periodontal disease. If you notice any of these symptoms between dental appointments, you may wish to schedule an appointment to have your child assessed.

Bad Breath

Does your child’s breath stink? It might mean something… Sometimes children have bad breath because they don’t brush thoroughly, or because they don’t floss. It could be a sign of strep throat or a sinus infection. Or it could be a sign of periodontal disease. If your child has persistent bad breath, you need to have him or her examined by a dentist to determine the cause.

Bleeding Gums

Gums that bleed while brushing (when there are no loose teeth in the mouth) are an indication of gum inflammation. Children should not have gum inflammation.

Puffy Gums

Swollen or puffy gums are another symptom of periodontal disease, or its predecessor, gingivitis. You may also notice that puffy or swollen gums are red.

Receding Gums

Receding gums, or gums that are pulling away from teeth, can expose the roots of the teeth. This is very dangerous for the teeth and can lead to the loss of permanent teeth.

It’s important to understand that there are many considerations for childrens’ oral health. When it comes to your kids’ mouths, it’s not just about tooth decay. Be alert for symptoms of periodontal disease, and if you notice any of the symptoms listed above, be sure to contact your dentist.

Choosing the Best Toothpaste

Why Whitening Toothpastes May Not Make You Smile

If you think your smile might be less-than-white, you’re probably tempted to try out a whitening toothpaste.

It’s much easier to stain a smile than it is to whiten it. All you have to do is drink staining beverages, like coffee, tea, cola or red wine, or eat staining foods, like blueberries, beets, spinach or chocolate, and your smile can easily start to yellow.

Did you know that the inside of our teeth – called the dentin – is actually yellow? Is it any wonder then that as we age, the outer layer of our teeth – called the enamel – starts to yellow as well?

And it’s only natural that as our smiles start to get a little less than the really white-white we prefer, we want to reach for what seems like the easiest-to-use whitening product – whitening toothpaste. But what if that toothpaste is actually making your smile more yellow in the long run? It could be.

Whitening toothpastes often contain baking soda, an abrasive that is often used to help remove stains on hard surfaces, from your teeth to your kitchen sink. While these toothpastes may make your teeth whiter at first, ongoing use of whitening toothpastes, however, can roughen the surface of your teeth, attracting more stains.

How About Truly Whitening Your Smile?

What if there was something just as simple to use as toothpaste that could whiten your teeth so gently that it could be used every day? Actually, there is. Probiotic mints are great if you are looking for tooth whitening that is simple, quick, effective and safe. EvoraPlus® contains a patented blend of probiotics that releases a gentle, low-dose of natural hydrogen peroxide that whitens teeth while supporting gum and tooth health and freshening breath.

What’s even better is that EvoraPlus probiotic mints are 100% natural and made in the USA. They are safe and effective!

EvoraPlus oral care probiotics are now available online, as well as at many mass market retailers, including Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Hannaford, Sweetbay and many more. Simply visit Evoraplus.com to see a full listing of the retailers carrying this innovative mint.

If you’re looking for a naturally whiter smile, on-going tooth and gum health and truly fresher breath, try EvoraPlus!

What’s That? I Need A Breath Mint?

Do you think your breath smells? Do you know?

If you notice that lots of people are offering your breath mints or gum, it really might mean that you DO have bad breath. Like the old saying goes, never turn down a breath mint!

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is one of the most common oral health complaints.

The Bad News Behind Bad Breath

Unfortunately, the bad news about bad breath is that you may be the last to know that you have it.

The other bad news is that most breath fresheners not only cannot be trusted to do their jobs, but they are also usually full of sugar which is the ideal food for the bacteria that are causing your bad breath in the first place.

Yep, that’s right. Not only do breath fresheners NOT make your breath fresher, they actually make your breath smell worse.

Why Don’t Most Breath Fresheners Work?

Here’s how it works: Inside your mouth, there are hundreds of different species of bacteria. Most of them are completely harmless – they just find the warm, wet, dark place that is the human mouth a good place to call home. A few are a little more worrisome.

The worrisome bacteria include the bacteria known to cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Then there are a few other bacteria in the mouth that are considered beneficial bacteria. Why beneficial? Because, by their very presence, they keep the bad bacteria at bay. They compete for space and nutrients, effectively crowding out the harmful bacteria.

So, who’s to blame for your bad breath?

You guessed it – the same bacteria that claims the blame for cavities and periodontal disease. You see, when these little guys feast on sugar (a common ingredient in most breath fresheners) and other food particles, they release Volatile Sulfur Compounds , which smell just as bad as they sound.

Oral Care Probiotics For Truly Fresh Breath

The only way to truly eliminate bad breath is to get rid of the bacteria that causes it. By using a probiotic mint twice daily, you can allow the beneficial bacteria to keep the bad bacteria in check, and finally kiss that bad breath goodbye!

Now that makes sense!

Are Harmful Bacteria Winning the War in Your Mouth?

If you’re like most people, you probably brush your teeth at least twice daily, floss as often as possible and visit your dentist whenever it’s recommended. But are you happy with the appearance of your teeth? Are they white enough? And how about your breath? Minty fresh? If you’re not happy with your oral health basics, you’re not alone.

If you’re dedicated to following a pretty good oral care routine and still have stained (or yellow) teeth and bad breath, you may have a bacterial imbalance in your mouth. Like everywhere else in your body, your  mouth is loaded with bacteria. Each of those bacteria have a different story. Some of them are good for your tooth and gum health. Some are harmful. And many just happen to like the warm, wet, dark digs your mouth provides.

The harmful and beneficial bacteria in your mouth are directly at odds with one another. They compete for space on the teeth and food. If the bad bacteria is winning that war, one way you’ll know is in the smell of your breath. The harmful bacteria that reside in the mouth produces volatile sulfur compounds (VOCs) which are best known for their rotten-egg smell. Now, your breath doesn’t have to smell like rotten eggs to know that bad bacteria and VOCs are causing foul play. Bad breath is a sign that things are not right, and one simple way to rectify the situation is to address the bacterial imbalances in your mouth. Oral care probiotics help restore the beneficial bacteria in your mouth, giving those harmful bacteria less food to munch on and less room to grow.

Other signs that bad bacteria are gaining a strong foothold include poor tooth and gum health and bleeding gums.

For the moment, bad bacteria may be winning the battle in your mouth. But you don’t have to let them win the war! Fight back with oral care probiotics!

A Halloween Nightmare

Watch Your Mouth!

With extra candy, gum and other sugary treats lying around during the Halloween season, even the strongest-willed among us are inclined to do a little extra snacking. Who can resist a few nibbles of chocolate here, or a package of gummy treats there?

If you’re worried about your tooth health, and you just can’t (or won’t!) resist those yummy Halloween sweets, here are some ways you can protect your teeth.

Brush After Snacking

Of course, the most common sense rule is to brush your teeth after you indulge in sweets. Because the bacteria that are responsible for tooth decay love to snack on sugar, the best thing you can do to keep tooth decay at bay when you’ve been snacking on sweets is to brush that sugar away.

The other benefit to brushing is that it may slow down your snacking, if you’re the type to graze. You might be able to resist the candy dish (or your child’s bag of Halloween treats) if your teeth are freshly brushed.

Oral Care Probiotics

Using a probiotic mint, like EvoraPlus, can help crowd out the sugar-loving bacteria by competing with them for both space and nutrients. Using oral care probiotics supports gum and tooth health year ‘round, not just at Halloween!

Drink Water!

Drinking water between snacks helps rinse a little of the food – and sugar – from your teeth. It’s not nearly as effective as brushing your teeth, but if it’s the only thing you can do to clean your mouth after indulging in a little treat, it’s certainly better than nothing.

Tips for Avoiding Oral Thrush, And What to Do if You Have It

Candida albicans – It’s the technical name for the fungus that most moms call “thrush.”

Oral thrush is a condition in which the fungus accumulates on the lining of your mouth. In addition to painful creamy white lesions, oral thrush can appear on the roof of the mouth, the gums, tonsils and the back of the throat.

Babies and those who wear dentures are most affected by oral thrush infections, as are those who use inhaled corticosteroids and those whose immune systems are compromised.

Though oral thrush can be quite painful, it is only a minor problem for those who are healthy.

How You Can Prevent Oral Thrush

Keep It Clean!

Not only do bottles and pacifiers need to be sterilized, babies’ mouths need to be cleaned after feedings in order to help prevent thrush infections. If the baby is breast fed, it’s important that the mother keeps her nipples clean before and after feedings. It’s easy for mothers and babies to share oral thrush infections.

Good Digestion

The mouth isn’t the only place Candida albicans fungus likes to hang out. The digestive tract is another favorite haunt for these pesky health-wreckers. Not only does the Candida albicans fungus cause the painful lesions of oral thrush, it also causes major digestive discomfort if it travels into your stomach or intestines. To help avoid this, try eating lots of green, leafy vegetables and other fiber-rich roughage, which can help keep the intestines clear. Digestive probiotics can also keep Candida albicans out of the digestive tract.

What If You Suspect Your Or Your Baby Has Thrush?

Call your doctor. While there are many things you can do to avoid thrush, and many great ways to take care of yourself to avoid a relapse, if you think you or your child have thrush, the best thing you can do is call your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

How is Oral Thrush Treated?

As with many conditions, the treatment for oral thrush depends on the person.

Doctors tend to treat both mothers and their nursing babies, even if only one of them is presenting symptoms, simply to keep them from passing the infection back and forth. While the baby will take an antifungal medication, the mother is likely to use an antifungal cream for her breasts. Anything that regularly comes into contact with the baby’s mouth, like bottle nipples, pacifiers and teething toys will need to be rinsed in a solution of equal parts water and vinegar to inhibit the growth of fungus. The same goes for all parts of breast pumps that come into contact with the mother’s milk.

Healthy adults and child with oral thrush may be able to get their symptoms under control simply by eating unsweetened yogurt or taking acidophilus capsules or liquid. Yogurt and acidophilus don’t destroy the fungus, but they can help restore the normal bacterial flora. If the infection persists, a doctor generally will prescribe an antifungal medication.

Adults with weakened immune systems need to go straight antifungal medication.

Things to Consider

Less Saliva Means More Cavities

Dry mouth is a common problem that could lead to an even more common – and more costly and painful problem – cavities.

A number of things can reduce the flow of saliva. The prevailing cause generally is medication. From antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications to diuretics, narcotics, antihistamines and blood pressure medications, many prescription and over-the-counter medications can quell your normal flow of saliva.

You may have also noticed that your mouth is dry at night. This is because when we sleep, salivary glands produce less saliva. Our salivary glands also tend to produce less as we age, so dry mouth is more common in older people. Not only that, the composition of our saliva changes as we age, making our saliva less protective as we age.

Unfortunately, any alteration in the quantity or quality of one’s saliva can reduce the benefits that saliva can provide. The presence of xerostomia, which refers to a state of diminished salivary flow, can tip the balance between tooth demineralization and remineralization in favor of tooth decay, or the forming of cavities.

Brush and Floss

Since salivary flow decreases at night, be sure to brush and floss at night before going to bed to ensure that you’re removing both food particles that may be left behind and as much harmful bacteria as possible.

Drink!

Those with chronically dry mouths should drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, to moisten the mouth and to keep food and bacteria from staying lodged between teeth.

Try Oral Care Probiotics

Saliva isn’t the only thing that protects your teeth from harmful bacteria. The good bacteria that live in your mouth also help to protect your teeth and gums from the harmful bacteria that reside there. Oral care probiotics help replenish those residential beneficial bacteria to support gum and tooth health.

Chew Sugarless Gum

Since chewing increases the flow of saliva, chewing sugarless gum can help increase your flow of saliva without feeding the bacteria known to cause cavities and gum disease.