Sheridan Dentist Connects Gum Disease to Arthritis

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Brushing and flossing your teeth are considered not negotiable if you want to have the best oral hygiene. Floss reaches the areas between teeth where the bristles of a toothbrush can’t fit. However, brushing twice a day, and flossing every day, is often neglected by people who are busy, tired, or just can’t seem to develop good oral hygiene habits. If staving off gum disease and tooth decay isn’t enough incentive for you to brush and floss properly, a new study claims that the benefits of diligent oral hygiene extend to joint health. Dr. Donald Coon, your Sheridan dentist, explains the details of the research that links gum disease to arthritis.

Oral Bacteria Found in the Knees

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, OH, examined DNA to determine that bacteria from our mouths can travel all the way down to the knees, potentially exacerbating existing cases of arthritis. Our knee caps are surrounded by synovial fluid.  In people with good joint health, this fluid is sterile. When arthritis is present, however, bacteria can settle in the knee (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living, Preventive Dentistry

Sheridan Dentist Discusses Abscess Prevention

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The formation of an abscess is common for patients of all ages, primarily those affected by tooth decay or gum disease. Building a wall around the infection, an abscess is actually one way the body attempts to protect itself from harm.

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Tooth decay and gum disease are both driving factors in the development of bacterial infections. Appearing at the tooth’s root, a periapical abscess generally affects those patients with tooth decay. Untreated cavities can devolve quickly, sometimes resulting in an absess, so proper preventive oral care is always recommended.
Unlike a periapical abscess (located near the root of a decayed tooth), a periodontal abscess is usually attributed to an infection located between the tooth and gum. In many advanced periodontal disease cases, food becomes lodged between a tooth and the gumline. Without care and treatment from your local Sheridan dentist, the resulting infection could spread to the rest of the body.
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filed under: Oral Health, Tooth Protection

Sheridan Dentist Explains How Dentures Compare to Dental Implants

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Tooth Replacement Security

One of the biggest fears associated with dentures is the mortifying possibility of them falling out. Dentures are notorious for slipping or shifting during chewing or speaking. These dental restorations are often held by suction in your mouth or messy denture pastes. Dental implants alleviate these fears by securing your tooth replacement with an implanted rod. The biocompatible titanium rod is bonded to your jawbone so that your dental prosthetic stays exactly where it should be. Dental implants will not slip or feel loose even when you eat tougher foods like steak or corn on the cob.

Dental Implants and Convenience

Fragile dentures may require special attention to keep them healthy. Denture wearers must remove their artificial teeth at night and place them in a cleaning solution. However, dental implants allow you to wake up every morning with your teeth in place. That’s because dental implants are fixed in your mouth. Since they so closely mimic the function of your natural teeth, you can brush and floss them just like your other teeth, instead of placing them in a glass at night. With frequent dental checkups, our Sheridan dentist, Dr. Coon, can help ensure the success of your tooth implants for a lifetime. (more…)

filed under: Dental Implants, Restorative Dentistry

Your Sheridan Dentists Discuss Diabetes and Dental Health

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Roughly 26 million people suffer from diabetes, and approximately 25% of these people have not been diagnosed. Many people are unaware of the prevalent link between dental health complications and diabetes, so the doctors at Grinnell Street Dental would like to discuss this serious issue in today’s blog.

Diabetes and Gum Disease

Research suggests that there is a direct relationship between diabetes and gum disease. This means that not only are people with diabetes at higher risk of developing gum disease, but serious gum disease may potentially effect blood glucose control and lead to the advancement of diabetes.  Research shows that diabetics are more susceptible to gingivitis (the earliest stage of gum disease), and periodontitis (serious gum disease). This is due to the fact that people with diabetes are predisposed to bacterial infection and lack the ability to fight the bacteria that invades gums.
(more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Healthy Living

What Do Neck Pain, Sensitive Teeth, and Dizziness Have in Common?

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One of the most fascinating details of dentistry is how your dental health can touch many aspects of your life. For instance, did you know that gum disease can have negative consequences for pregnancy, or that students’ grades have been linked to their oral health? Our Sheridan dentist, Dr. Coon, will explain how one oral health condition can have far-reaching consequences on your entire wellbeing.

What is TMJ disorder?

Also called TMD, TMJ disorder is a health condition involving pain with your temporomandibular joints. Your TMJs support your jaw with hinge joints that allow you to open your mouth, chew, or speak. When these hinge joints are stressed or overexerted, they can cause dental health and overall health issues.

What causes TMJ disorder?

While there are many contributing factors to TMJ disorder, the most common is misaligned bite. When your teeth do not match up correctly, your jaw hinge joints will strain to hold them in place. This strain translates to jaw muscle exhaustion and TMJ disorder. Some dentists believe other causes of TMJ disorder include cranio-facial structure, stress, teeth grinding, and neuromuscular signals.

What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?

Often, TMJ disorder symptoms send mixed signals since the effects of TMD have such far-reaching consequences. While these symptoms may seem unrelated, TMJ disorder can affect many parts of your upper body because of the location of the temporomandibular joints. These joints not only affect the movement of your mouth and teeth, but also the top of your head. In addition, the TMJs are closely acquainted with a plethora of nerves in your face which correspond to different aches and pains. For instance, some overall health signs of TMJ disorder include:

  • Chronic headaches
  • Morning earaches
  • Shoulder, back, or neck pain
  • Dizziness
  • Jaw popping sounds

TMJ disorder can also have negative consequences for your dental health including:

  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Teeth grinding
  • Difficulty opening your mouth
  • Increased cavities (more…)

filed under: Neuromuscular/TMJ Dentistry, Oral Health

Can Dental Disease Affect Your Child’s Academic Performance?

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Tooth decay remains one of the most common diseases among school-aged children, second only to the common cold. More than half of children have had cavities in their primary (baby) teeth, which can spread to their permanent teeth forming underneath the gums. Research now shows that dental issues may be associated with poor academic performance and attendance in children who don’t have access to regular dental care. Dr. Coon, your Sheridan dentist, explores the possible connection between poor oral health and poor grades.

Cavities and School

An Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC study, which will appear in the September, 2012, issue of the American Journal of Public Health, examined 1500 socioeconomically disadvantaged children throughout Los Angeles’ Unified School District. Previously, Ostrow researchers reported that 73% of Los Angeles’ disadvantaged children had tooth decay. The new study exposes a link between these kids’ oral health and their academic performance. Children who reported having tooth discomfort were four times more likely to have a grade-point average (GPA) below the median GPA of 2.8. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Oral Health

Sheridan, WY Dentists Explore Teeth of the World

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One commonality among all animals on earth is the need to eat (or absorb nutrients in some other way). To accomplish this vital action, most animals were gifted with a set of teeth, or something similar. With all that we have learned about our own teeth, we realize what amazing and complicated tools human teeth are. It also makes some of us wonder about the teeth of our fury, scaly, and flying friends. Your Sheridan dentist, Dr. Coon, entertains you with these interesting animal teeth facts.

Animal Teeth (and Their Equivalents)

  • The shape of an animal’s teeth depends on what it eats. Carnivores, which eat meat, have sharp pointy teeth to tear the meat into digestible pieces. Herbivores, which eat only vegetation, have flat teeth to grind plants down before digestion. Animals that eat meat and plants have both styles of teeth, usually pointy in the front and flat in the back like human teeth.
  • While humans have two sets of teeth in their lifetime (primary and permanent), crocodiles can grow up to 2-3,000 teeth in their lives. At any given moment, their mouths contain up to 60 teeth at a time.
  • Not to be outdone by the crocodile, sharks lose and replace their teeth every week. A shark may go through about 20,000 teeth in a lifetime.
  • Like humans, giraffe’s only have 32 teeth.
  • Unlike humans, snake teeth are hollow. Their long front fangs eject poison into their victims, which they usually swallow whole.
  • Elephant tusks are the longest and heaviest teeth in the mammal world, and can weigh up to 400 pounds. An elephant grows four sets of teeth in its lifetime.
  • Although common wisdom states that birds don’t have teeth, there are plenty of exceptions to the rule. The Greylag Goose, for instance, which is common in Europe and western Asia, has a beak whose outside edges are lined with sharp, tooth-like serrations called tomia. The teeth help the bird clip shoots and grasses that make up the majority of its meals.

Humans have arguably the most diverse diet of all inhabitants on earth. Consequently, we must take special care to keep our teeth healthy and strong. To learn about excellent tooth care, schedule a consultation at Grinnell Street Dental by contacting our Sheridan dentist office at (307) 672-7567. We welcome patients from Sheridan, WY and the surrounding communities.

filed under: Grinnell Street Dental, Just for Fun

Oral Hygiene Tips from Your Sheridan, WY Dentists

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Maintaining a healthy mouth is essential to staying healthy in general. Periodontal (gum) disease has been associated with serious systemic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Your Sheridan dentists at Grinnell Street Dental understand that your risk factors for many illnesses can be significantly lowered with proper oral health care. Review the following tips to see how you can improve your daily hygiene routine.

Brushing and Flossing

  • Although the act of brushing your teeth seems quite simple, a proper technique can mean the difference between helping and harming your teeth. Resist the impulse to vigorously scrub your teeth clean. Harsh brushing can wear down your enamel (the thin substance that protects your tooth’s crown). Instead, gently brush plaque off of your teeth, including at the gumline where gingival tissue meets the tooth structure.
  • Steer clear of natural toothbrushes that boast animal-hair bristles. These bristles are harsh, and can also damage your tooth enamel. Opt for soft-bristled toothbrushes that carry the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Porcelain Veneers

Are Metal Dental Fillings Safe?

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When tooth decay is mild, a dental filling procedure usually helps halt the spread of infection and save your tooth. For over 150 years, the filling material of choice was amalgam, a metal mixture composed of silver, tin, copper, zinc, mercury, and sometimes other metals. Amalgam has remained popular as an inexpensive dental restoration, yet debates have raged over its mercury content. Mercury exposure has been linked to adverse health effects in the brain and kidney, so people have always been wary of pouring the metal into their teeth. Your Sheridan dentists at Grinnell Street Dental discuss the controversy of metal dental amalgam.

The Amalgam War

In the 1830’s, two French brothers introduced amalgam fillings to the United States. The Crawcours brothers named their product royal mineral succedaneum. Within ten years, their product comprised half of the dental restorations placed in upstate New York. Many dentists objected to placing their patients at risk for mercury poisoning, and in 1845, the American Society of Dental Surgeons (ASDS) asked its members to pledge never to use it. At the time, however, gold was the only alternative filling material, and since patients did not develop symptoms of poisoning after leaving the dentist’s office, economics trumped the worries of the ASDS. By the end of the 1850s, the ASDS disbanded. (more…)

filed under: Family Dentistry, Restorative Dentistry

Don’t Let Your Oral Health Go Up in Smoke

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There’s a high probability of you having realized by now that smoking tobacco is absolutely destructive to your health. Endless reports show that smoking and chewing tobacco can lead to various types of cancers, as well as emphysema, severe complications during pregnancy, and premature death. Some of the science behind the destruction can be overwhelmingly complex. In the belief that knowledge is power, your Sheridan dentists explain how tobacco can destroy your oral health.

Aside from Cancer…

Oral, throat, and lung cancer are among the most common forms of cancer caused by tobacco, but smoking is capable of so much more. Other effects of smoke include tooth discoloration, which could be improved with cosmetic teeth whitening, and bad breath, which will most likely not be resolved until the habit is kicked. But wait, there’s more. Smoking and smokeless tobacco use can also cause the following:

  • Inflammation of the salivary glands, which open at the roof of the mouth. This leads to chronic dry mouth, or xerostomia, which comes with a greatly-increased risk for developing tooth decay and gum disease, as well as malnutrition due to difficulty eating.
  • Increased buildup of plaque and tartar, which also lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
  • Increased alveolar (jaw) bone loss, which diminishes tooth support. When a tooth is lost, the missing tooth also exacerbates jawbone loss, throwing your oral health into a vicious cycle of disease, tooth loss, and bone degradation, plus increased risk of infection from tobacco use.
  • Inhibited recovery process following a tooth extraction, periodontal treatment, or any other oral surgery.
  • Lower chances of a successful implant procedure (which requires proper jawbone healing to function properly).
  • Increased risk of severe periodontitis (chronic gum disease). (more…)

filed under: Healthy Living, Oral Health