May 17, 2016
Holistic dentistry is the practice of considering dental health in the context of a patient’s whole health. For years, it has been a major focus of ours at Falmouth Dental Arts, and we continue to expand our education of best practices and new advances in holistic dentistry. We utilize holistic dentistry because it emphasizes your long-term health and well-being, and allows us to consider the implications of new techniques and tools in dentistry.
Holistic Dentistry looks at the entire medical history of a person, past and present, when making decisions about a patient’s health – in this case, oral health. Therefore, holistic-focused dentists implement healthier versions of common procedures to increase the patient’s overall health and well-being. Some examples include:
- Digital X-Rays, which decrease radiation exposure by 90%.
- Teeth cleanings that involve using natural products and essential oils, factors that prevent bacterial growth and increase a patient’s immune response.
- Using biocompatible materials that reduce the chances of a patient having an adverse reaction. No mercury/silver fillings are placed here. In fact, we have a “mercury safe” removal technique that we use.
- Using ozone therapy for cleanings, restorations, natural root canals, and many other procedures.
If you’re interested in learning more about holistic dentistry, detailed information can be found on our site here. Be sure to ask us about our holistic approach during your next visit!
May 17, 2016
Hormones, the tiny chemical messengers that tell our bodies what, how, and when to do something, can have a huge impact on women’s oral health, especially during periods of change. Puberty, pregnancy, and menopause all come with mild to massive hormonal changes in the body. These changes have been discovered to be linked to specific oral maladies. During these life stages, it is important for women to know what signs to look for that indicate oral illness.
Puberty
During puberty, a woman’s body begins producing larger quantities of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is theorized that these hormones cause the microenvironment of your mouth to change into one more accommodating for the harmful bacteria that lead to gingivitis. These bacteria take up residence in the pubescent mouth in huge numbers. Signs of gingivitis to watch out for include bleeding or inflamed gums.
Pregnancy
In addition to gingivitis, pregnant women have another complication to deal with. The saliva of a pregnant woman can change in two ways. Frequently, pregnant women’s saliva loses its anti-microbial efficacy due to a change in the chemical cocktail within the saliva, leading to a build up of harmful bacteria. Dry mouth is another common problem in which saliva production is reduced. Saliva helps fight cavities, so a persistent dry mouth could lead to unwanted problems. Sipping water frequently helps.
Menopause
Women going through menopause are more susceptible to gingivitis, dry mouth, and several other oral health issues. One frequent condition, called Burning Mouth Syndrome, has symptoms of burning sensations that are felt in different parts of the mouth. Osteoporosis during menopause could lead to bone loss in teeth and the jaw bone. Signs of oral osteoporosis are loose teeth and dentures that do not fit properly.
If you or other women close to you are going through any of these life changes and are experiencing oral discomfort, please call or have them call us right away to schedule an appointment.
women’s oral health
Apr 20, 2016
Our teeth are under constant threat by the hazards that lead to periodontal disease: sugar and bacteria. For smokers, these threats become magnified by a factor of four! That’s right, smokers are four times more likely to develop periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. What’s more, once you have gum disease, smoking makes it harder for treatments to manage it.
The link between cigarette smoke and cancer is well known. With respect to oral health, this includes all oral cancers. Smoking increases the chances of developing oral leukoplakia, which has the appearance of thick, white patches along the gums, tongue, or cheeks. If you’re a smoker and you’ve noticed these white patches, it’s important that you try to stop smoking and consult your dentist or physician. If you continue smoking, leukoplakia could lead to mouth, tongue, or throat cancer.
Smoking can also affect the beauty of your smile. The same plaque and tartar buildup that can lead to gum disease can also make your teeth look unattractive. Smoking also leads to yellowing of the teeth and bad breath, which can impact your self confidence in addition to your smile.
If you are concerned about the impact smoking has had on your teeth, call us today to schedule an appointment.
smoking and dental hygiene oral cancer awareness month
Apr 20, 2016
Ahh, winter is finally over (knock on wood)! Time to clear out the garage, remove the cobwebs in the attic, and schedule a spring cleaning for your teeth. We know spring is a busy time of year, but remember that receiving regular cleanings will help ensure your teeth stay healthy enough for you to enjoy some barbecue this summer!
In addition to being vital for your oral health, cleanings can help us diagnose other diseases in your body. Similar to the saying ‘the eyes are the windows to the soul,’ your teeth and gums can give signals related to other maladies in your body, like heart disease and cancer. Regular cleanings and check-ups increase the chances of catching these illnesses in their early stages.
We offer holistic options with our cleanings, such as using ozone in place of fluoride to naturally harden your teeth’s enamel. To learn more, visit our Holistic Dentistry page.
Give us a call or visit our New or Existing patient appointment pages to schedule your personal spring cleaning!
teeth cleaning
Mar 23, 2016
Americans have seen an overall improvement in their oral health ever since we started adding fluoride to our daily intake of water, but in other ways, fluoridation has led to a hidden problem, what we in the industry refer to as “hidden caries.” Our tooth enamel has become harder and more durable due to the fluoride we receive, but sometimes this causes tooth decay to travel below the surface, where it can go undetected and wreak havoc on a patient’s oral health and on our ability to diagnose the problem.
Our solution? The DIAGNOdent Laser. This tool allows dentists to see below the surface of a tooth in order to know exactly what the ‘root’ cause is. In the past, dentists had to occasionally guess and perform procedures without knowing if they were targeting the correct issue. With our DIAGNOdent laser, the guesswork is gone, allowing us to make the right diagnosis for your optimal dental health.
The laser emits a specific wavelength of light (655 nanometers to be exact) that targets the problem area. Healthy tooth material won’t react at all, but decaying material, even below the surface, will reflect a fluorescence that is measured by the laser. The higher the fluorescence, the more tooth decay there is.
If you’re experiencing dental problems and are unsure of the cause, it’s possible that we can detect the issue with the DIAGNOdent laser. Call our office at 207-781-5900 and tell us your story.
diagnodent
