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Posts for: November, 2019

Having Diabetes Could Increase Your Risk of Gum Disease

By David Van Appledorn, DDS, PC
November 22, 2019
Category: Oral Health
Tags: gum disease   diabetes  
HavingDiabetesCouldIncreaseYourRiskofGumDisease

Currently, one-third of Americans are either diabetic or have prediabetic symptoms. Caused by an imbalance in blood sugar levels, diabetes can complicate and increase the risk for other inflammatory conditions like heart disease and that includes another disease typified by inflammation: periodontal (gum) disease.

Each November, dentists join other healthcare professionals in commemorating American Diabetes Month. Besides making people aware of the widespread impact of diabetes, it's also a chance to highlight ways to manage the disease and promote better health for your body overall, including your gums.

If you have diabetes (or your doctor is concerned you may develop it), here's what you should know to keep it from harming your gum health.

Keep your diabetes under control. The adverse effects of diabetes on the body, including the gums, can be minimized through medication, good dietary habits and exercise. Because of its chronic nature, though, managing diabetes should become a permanent part of your daily life. But it's essential to keep symptoms under control to protect your gums from infection.

Practice daily oral hygiene. Gum disease can occur with anyone, not just those with diabetes. A few days without proper oral hygiene to remove bacterial plaque is all it takes to trigger an infection. So be sure you're brushing and flossing each day, as well as having routine professional dental cleanings at least every six months.

See us at the first sign of gum problems. If you notice your gums are reddened, swollen or bleeding after brushing and flossing, see us as soon as possible. If it is gum disease, the sooner we begin treatment, the less likely the infection will cause extensive damage—including tooth loss. It's also possible to have gum disease but not have any symptoms initially. That's why it's important to see us on a regular basis to check your gum health.

Keep your healthcare providers informed. Some studies seem to indicate that if you have both diabetes and gum disease, treating one condition could help improve symptoms with the other. Be sure both the dentist treating your gum disease and the physician managing your diabetes know about the other condition. It may be possible to adjust and coordinate treatment to get the most benefit for both.

Living with diabetes is a challenge, especially if you're also dealing with gum disease. Keeping your diabetes under control and caring for your teeth and gums can help make that challenge easier.

If you would like more information about protecting your dental health while managing diabetes, please contact us or schedule a consultation. To learn more, read the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Diabetes and Periodontal Disease” and “Gum Disease and Systemic Health.”


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Make Your Baby as Comfortable as Possible During Teething

By David Van Appledorn, DDS, PC
November 12, 2019
Category: Oral Health
Tags: pediatric dentistry   teething  
MakeYourBabyasComfortableasPossibleDuringTeething

Your sweet, good-natured baby has seemingly gone from zero to grumpy overnight. The reason is simple: They’re teething.

Teething is a natural process in which a baby’s first teeth (primary teeth) begin to break through the gums, usually between six and nine months of age. This process continues intermittently until all twenty of the primary teeth erupt, sometime around age 3.

This uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience can cause gum swelling, biting and gnawing, chin rash and drooling. Your child may become irritable not only from this physical discomfort but also from disrupted sleep patterns and decreased appetite that often accompanies teething.

While you may have an unhappy baby while they’re teething, there’s usually no cause for concern. This is a natural process all children encounter, and the best thing you can do is make them as comfortable as possible. An exception would be accompanying diarrhea, fever or lingering crankiness—these could be symptoms of a more serious condition. If you begin to notice these, consult your doctor as soon as possible.

During teething there are a number of things you can do to reduce irritation. For one, allow your child to chew on clean, chilled (not frozen) teething rings, or a cold wet washcloth. The cold will help numb their irritated gum tissues. Massaging their gums with a clean finger can also help counteract the pressure caused by the incoming tooth.

If your doctor advises, you can also give your child over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen in an age-appropriate dosage. But be sure you give these medications orally and not rub them on the gums—some ingredients in them could burn the tissues. You should also not apply rubbing alcohol to the gums for the same reason. And avoid products with the numbing agent Benzocaine® in children less than two years of age unless your doctor advises otherwise.

Teething isn’t always a pleasant time for your baby or you, but it’s necessary—and temporary. In no time at all this discomfort will pass, and in its place will be their first set of teeth.

If you would like more information on teething, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Teething Troubles: How to Help Keep Your Baby Comfortable.”


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Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!

By David Van Appledorn, DDS, PC
November 02, 2019
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: celebrity smiles   mouthguard  
DrTravisStorkIfOnlyIdWornAMouthguard

If we could go back in time, we all probably have a few things we wish we could change. Recently, Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of the syndicated TV show The Doctors, shared one of his do-over dreams with Dear Doctor magazine: “If I [could have] gone back and told myself as a teenager what to do, I would have worn a mouthguard, not only to protect my teeth but also to help potentially reduce risk of concussion.”

What prompted this wish? The fact that as a teenage basketball player, Stork received an elbow to the mouth that caused his two front teeth to be knocked out of place. The teeth were put back in position, but they soon became darker and began to hurt. Eventually, both were successfully restored with dental crowns. Still, it was a painful (and costly) injury — and one that could have been avoided.

You might not realize it, but when it comes to dental injuries, basketball ranks among the riskier sports. Yet it’s far from the only one. In fact, according to the American Dental Association (ADA), there are some two dozen others — including baseball, hockey, surfing and bicycling — that carry a heightened risk of dental injury. Whenever you’re playing those sports, the ADA recommends you wear a high-quality mouth guard.

Mouthguards have come a long way since they were introduced as protective equipment for boxers in the early 1900’s. Today, three different types are widely available: stock “off-the-shelf” types that come in just a few sizes; mouth-formed “boil-and-bite” types that you adapt to the general contours of your mouth; and custom-made high-quality mouthguards that are made just for you at the dental office.

Of all three types, the dentist-made mouthguards are consistently found to be the most comfortable and best-fitting, and the ones that offer your teeth the greatest protection. What’s more, recent studies suggest that custom-fabricated mouthguards can provide an additional defense against concussion — in fact, they are twice as effective as the other types. That’s why you’ll see more and more professional athletes (and plenty of amateurs as well) sporting custom-made mouthguards at games and practices.

“I would have saved myself a lot of dental heartache if I had worn a mouthguard,” noted Dr. Stork. So take his advice: Wear a mouthguard whenever you play sports — unless you’d like to meet him (or one of his medical colleagues) in a professional capacity…

If you would like more information about mouthguards, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Athletic Mouthguards.”


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        • Too Old to Straighten Your Smile? Not If You're Like These A-List Celebrities
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        • Treating Gum Disease is Good for Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Mouth
        • Use This Product to Check Your Brushing and Flossing Effectiveness
        • Here Is How We May Be Able to Bring an Impacted Tooth Where It Should Be
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        • Instill These Habits in Your Child for a Lifetime of Great Dental Health
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        • Practice Daily Hygiene to Avoid Gum Swelling While Wearing Braces
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        • Inform Your Dentist if You're Taking Blood Thinners
        • You may Need Orthodontic Work Before Getting a Dental Implant
        • Follow the Fast-Food Lead: Cut Back Sodas in Your Child's Diet
        • Janet Jackson: Even pop stars get insecure about their smiles!
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        • Simple Procedure Could Reduce Biting the Inside of Your Mouth
        • A Loose Tooth is a Sign of Deeper Dental Trouble
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        • Uncovering Early Gum Disease Through Periodontal Probing
        • Find Out How These Famous Celebrities Protect Their Smiles From Teeth Grinding
        • 3 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Tooth Enamel
        • A Root Canal Treatment Will Improve Your Health, Not Harm It
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        • Miley Cyrus's Little Secret: Straightening Her Smile With Lingual Braces
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      • November (3)
        • Having Diabetes Could Increase Your Risk of Gum Disease
        • Make Your Baby as Comfortable as Possible During Teething
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
      • October (3)
        • Don't Delay Seeing the Dentist If You Suspect Gum Recession
        • 3 Reasons Why Correcting a Poor Bite Is Worthwhile at Any Age
        • Implant Failure Is Rare, but Possible. Here Are a Few Ways to Avoid It
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        • Healthy Smiles for Alfonso Ribeiro and Family
        • Orthodontics: More Than Straightening a Crooked Smile
        • Watch Out for These Dental Health Issues as You Age
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        • You can Get Relief from Facial Pain
        • NBA Player's Injury Points Out Need for Mouthguards
        • Lingual Braces: An Invisible Way to Move Your Teeth
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        • You May Need to Postpone an Upcoming Dental Visit if You Have Shingles
        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
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        • J-Lo's Unlucky Break: Chipping a Tooth on Stage
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        • Less-Invasive Pulp Capping Could Save Your Tooth
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        • Why a Bonded Retainer Might be a Better Choice After Braces
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        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
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        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
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        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
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        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
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        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
        • Answering Your Questions about Your Upcoming Teeth Whitening
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        • Treating Gum Disease Important to Saving the Underlying Bone
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        • Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
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        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
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        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
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        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
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        • The Laser Revolution is Changing the Dental Healthcare
        • Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
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        • There may be more to that Toothache that Suddenly Stops Aching
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        • Crown Differences Could Ultimately Affect Your Cost
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        • Don't Panic! Take Methodical Approach to Help Your Child Stop Thumb Sucking
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