Dec 19, 2013
It’s that time of year again… along with the cold weather comes, well…colds. Stuffy noses, sore throats, headaches, coughing – you know the drill. ‘Tis the season.
But did you know that an infection or abscess in your back teeth can spread into your maxillary sinus and cause an infection there as well?
As you might know, you have several sinuses, but only one of those sets can be affected by tooth-related issues. The maxillary sinuses are on either side of your nose and come in close contact with the roots of your upper teeth. Because the two are so close, abscesses from the upper back teeth can make their way into your maxillary sinus and cause an infection.
Most cases are due to a viral infection and resolve over the course of 10 days. However, if your sinus infection or toothache has been nagging for weeks, you may have a maxillary sinus infection that relates to an unknown infection in your teeth! So if you are prone to sinus infections, you may not think to visit with us, but perhaps you should!
Here are some common signs and symptoms of sinus infections:
- Headache, localized facial pain/pressure, or toothache – a dull, constant, or aching sort over the affected sinuses is common with both acute and chronic stages of sinusitis. This pain is typically localized to the involved sinus and may worsen when the affected person bends over or when lying down. Pain often starts on one side of the head and progresses to both sides.
- Acute and chronic sinusitis may be accompanied by thick nasal discharge that is usually green in color and may contain pus (purulent) and/or blood.
- Infection of the eye socket is possible, which may result in the loss of sight and is accompanied by fever and severe illness. Another possible complication is the infection of the bones of the forehead and other facial bones.
- Sinus infections can also cause middle ear problems due to the congestion of the nasal passages. This can be demonstrated by dizziness, “a pressurized or heavy head”, or vibrating sensations in the head.
- Other symptoms of sinusitis include bad breath and Post-nasal drip.
Generally, tooth abscesses are painful. However, once in a while there’s no discomfort at all—it depends on the location of the infection. If you’re experiencing pain (even if the pain goes away), or any of the other symptoms listed above, let us know. We can help catch problems—and infections—before they spread.
Source: http://dentaltipz.blogspot.com/2013/12/sinusitis-and-dental-office.html
Dec 19, 2013
At FDA we love this time of year. Celebrating with friends and family, festive decorations, cooking and eating traditional recipes, and of course, exchanging gifts.
Our gift to you is the something that we are certain you would never expect from us…CANDY! Yes, candy. But not just any candy…
Researchers are developing a new candy that is actually GOOD for your oral health!
Now, we understand that you are probably thinking one of three things:
- Healthy candy? Yea right…that is way too good to be true.
- Any healthy candy has got to taste absolutely disgusting.
- This is some sick Christmas joke.
However, we are not joking, this candy is in fact REAL and we are telling the TRUTH!! Simply put, an ingredient in the candy has proven to reduce levels of bad, cavity-causing bacteria in mouths. Also, sugar-free candy such as this one actually stimulates saliva production which is good for oral health.
Let’s explain this a little further…
Our mouths are comprised of a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria. When we clean our teeth, the aim is to get rid of cavity-causing bacteria while allowing good bacteria to thrive.
Now, researchers have developed this sugar-free candy. The research team, led by Christine Lang, believes that this good bacteria in the candy binds with the harmful bacteria in the mouth and prevents it from reattaching to the teeth. Without the ability to latch onto teeth, saliva washes the bad bacteria away and potential for developing cavities declines. Seems to make sense, right?
Lang and her team used 60 subjects in their initial trial. Twenty subjects ate candy with 1mg of good bacteria, another twenty subjects ate candy with 2mg of good bacteria, and the remaining twenty subjects ate candy that tasted similar, but contained no good bacteria (the control group).
In total, each subject ate five candies during the course of the 1.5-day experiment. They were not allowed to perform any oral hygiene activities during this time, and they were also not allowed to consume coffee, tea, wine or probiotic foods.
Results showed that nearly 75% of the participants who ate candies with the good bacteria had “significantly lower” levels of bad bacteria in their saliva than before, compared with the control group. Additionally, the subjects who ate candy with 2 mg of good bacteria had a reduction in bad bacteria levels after eating only one piece of candy.
So, we are telling you the truth! Sugar-free candy that actually benefits your mouth and potentially reduces risk of cavities may not be far away.
Merry Christmas to all!!
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269685.php?utm_campaign=webinar%2520promotion&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=11371487&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–KzY1yjt8pP671JS6XiUPLxRkWXOdqrCBS0U3gyYDJWBH-kYtaCAK_WzNWE59EGrXjbxATQbCf–WCEMg2BlcyaP0SXQ&_hsmi=11371487
Nov 26, 2013
In it’s inaugural season, Dancing With the Dentists exceeded all expectations in raising well over $40,000 for Portland’s Healthcare for the Homeless Dental Clinic, and Maine Dental LifeLine. Conceived by Dr. Glen Knock and patterned after the wildly popular “Dancing With The Stars”, local dentists were paired with professional ballroom dance instructors to put on a dazzling display of footwork and fun. Over 400 people attended and cheered the contestants on at the Italian Heritage Center in Portland. Host Shannon Moss, DJ Mike Violette, and judges Governor John Baldacci, physician and author Dr. Christiane Northrup, and radio personality Ken Altshuler helped make the program one to remember.
Each contestant danced either a ballroom or Latin dance and the audience and judges voted for who they thought was the best. None had ever done ballroom dancing before September. A wonderful twist was that the dancers were all dentists married to dentists and the vote was tallied for the best couple. There was even a family angle with Dr. Joseph Penna and his wife, Maine Dental Association President Dr. Demi Kouzounas competing against their daughter and son-in-law, Drs. Nichol Penna and Doug Delli Colli! Also dancing were the overall winners, Dr. Jenny Fultz, the dentist at the Healthcare for the Homeless Dental Clinic, with her husband Dr. Brian Brunacini. Drs. Killian and Tarryn MacCarthy rounded out the four couples.
The generosity of Northeast Delta Dental and Tom’s of Maine helped underwrite the program, with Delta’s donation earmarked for Dental LifeLine. Many other donations and ticket sales helped make this first ever Dancing With The Dentists a huge success. Everyone is looking forward to next November and the second Dancing With The Dentists!
Check out some pictures of the event! Photo credit to No Umbrella Media!
Sep 30, 2013
Lucky you, you live in New England in the fall! Many of us take the change of seasons for granted, lamenting the fading daylight and dropping temperatures, but remember: there’s a reason tourist season doesn’t end in September! From ripening pumpkin patches to winding cornfield mazes, Maine’s natural beauty is reason alone to get out and enjoy the clear skies, changing leaves, and crisp autumn air. But, you should also consider the abundance of health benefits that you gain simply by getting outdoors, and one activity in particular has a number of benefits for your oral health!
What we are referring to, of course is an apple-picking expedition! This fall favorite will get you active outside and you will get to take home some delicious (and healthy!) fall produce. Not only do outdoor activities provide physical benefits, studies have shown that exposure to the foliage and open air can improve your concentration, elevate your mood, and promote stress relief. So, this fall, be healthy, have fun, and enjoy the weather while it lasts!
15 Benefits of Eating Apples
Autumn, also known as apple-picking season, is finally upon us, so we thought we’d take a moment to remind you just how healthy those delicious fruits are:
- Get whiter, healthier teeth – Munching on an apple increases salivation, which reduces tooth decay by lowering your mouth’s bacteria level.
- Avoid Alzheimer’s – Drinking apple juice can help keep Alzheimer’s at bay and fight the effects of aging on the brain.
- Protect against Parkinson’s – People who eat fruits and other high-fiber foods gain protection against Parkinson’s through antioxidants.
- Curb all sorts of cancers – Eating flavonol-rich apples can help reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 percent, while compounds in apple peels have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon, and breast.
- Decrease your risk of diabetes – Women who eat at least one apple a day are 28 percent less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes due to the soluble fiber in the fruit.
- Reduce cholesterol – The soluble fiber in apples binds with fats in the intestines, lowering cholesterol levels.
- Get a healthier heart – An extensive body of research has linked high soluble fiber intake with a slower buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque in your arteries.
- Prevent gallstones – Doctors recommend a diet rich in fiber to prevent gallstones, which are a product of high cholesterol levels.
- Beat diarrhea and constipation – Without getting too graphic, the fiber in apples can both absorb water from the colon when you’re constipated and absorb excess water from your stool to slow your bowels down.
- Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome – To control the symptoms of IBS, doctors recommend staying away from dairy and fatty foods while including a diet high in fiber.
- Avert hemorrhoids – Going hand-in-hand with the control of constipation, hemorrhoids can be avoided with a high fiber intake, which prevents too much straining in the bathroom.
- Control your weight – Foods that are high in fiber will fill you up quickly while keeping your caloric intake low.
- Detoxify your liver – Apples and other fruits are one of the best things you can eat to clear toxins out of your liver.
- Boost your immune system – Red apples contain the antioxidant Quercetin, which, studies have shown, can help boost and strengthen your immune system.
- Prevent cataracts – Long-term studies suggest that people whose diets contain an abundance of antioxidant-rich fruit like apples are 10 to 15 percent less likely to develop cataracts.
http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/nutrition/15-health-benefits-of-eating-apples
Jul 30, 2013
Were you ever so hungry that you dive right into a piping hot, steaming pizza even though you know it might burn you. Of course you have, we all have. That delicious pizza, or pivotal first cup of morning coffee is just too tempting to resist. But do these burns that we sustain in our mouths have any lasting effects?
The answer is maybe. Taste buds “recycle” about every two weeks, so any taste buds you damage might result in long term damage, but it is unlikely because those damaged buds will probably recycle anyways. As you get older some of your taste buds stop “recycling” so younger children often have stronger taste sensation than adults. The recycling (or failure to recycle) of taste buds is what causes the change in taste that you may experience over the course of your life. The most common things that affect your sense of taste are: smoking and tobacco use, really hot foods and liquids, freezing cold foods, and cuts in your mouth.
If your sense of taste changes drastically – particularly by way of losing much of your sense of taste – than it is possible that you may have developed what is called a taste disorder. Many people who have a taste disorder are actually just experiencing problems with their sense of smell which is very closely related to taste. If you think you or someone you know may have a taste disorder, proper oral hygiene is important to regaining and maintaining a well-functioning sense of taste.
So what are some taste disorders? Here is a brief list of the most common:
Phantom Taste Perception – that is, a lingering, often unpleasant taste even though you have nothing in your mouth.
Hypogeusia – a reduced ability to taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory foods
Ageusia – the inability to detect any tastes at all. True taste loss, however, is rare. Most often, people are experiencing a loss of smell instead of a loss of taste.
Dysgeusia – a condition in which a foul, salty, rancid, or metallic taste sensation will persist in the mouth. Dysgeusia is sometimes accompanied by burning mouth syndrome, a condition in which a person experiences a painful burning sensation in the mouth. Although it can affect anyone, burning mouth syndrome is most common in middle-aged and older women.
What causes taste disorders?
Some people are born with taste disorders, but most develop them after an injury or illness. Among the causes of taste problems are:
- Upper respiratory and middle ear infections
- Radiation therapy for cancers of the head and neck
- Exposure to certain chemicals, such as insecticides and some medications, including some common antibiotics and antihistamines
- Head injury
- Some surgeries to the ear, nose, and throat (e.g., third molar—wisdom tooth—extraction and middle ear surgery)
- Poor oral hygiene and dental problems
Are taste disorders serious?
They can be. Taste disorder themselves don’t pose the problem, but they certainly pose some concerns. Because taste is the main sense that we use to detect spoiled or rotten food, those with weakened or non-existent senses of taste are at a much greater risk of eating something that could harm them. The same holds true with individuals who have food allergies.
Additionally, a distorted sense of taste can be a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other illnesses that require sticking to a specific diet. When taste is impaired, a person may change his or her eating habits and can cause people to either gain or lose weight. Taste disorders can also cause people to add large amounts of sugar or salt to their foods in an attempt to make it taste better – this poses a very specific and serious problem to those with certain medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
In severe cases, loss of taste can lead to depression. Loss of taste and smell can also be a sign of certain degenerative diseases of the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease. If you are experiencing a taste disorder, talk with your physician.
Can taste disorders be treated?
The good news is that many types of taste disorders are curable. For those that are not, counseling is available to help people adjust to their problem.
Get checked out by an otolaryngologist for proper diagnosis and cause of the specific disorder. Some people, notably those with respiratory infections or allergies, regain their sense of taste when these conditions are resolved. Often, the correction of a general medical problem also can correct the loss of taste. Occasionally, a person may recover his or her sense of taste spontaneously. Proper oral hygiene is important to regaining and maintaining a well-functioning sense of taste.
If you lose some or all of your sense of taste, there are things you can do to make your food taste better:
- · Prepare foods with a variety of colors and textures.
- · Use aromatic herbs and hot spices to add more flavor; however, avoid adding more sugar or salt to foods.
- · If your diet permits, add small amounts of cheese, bacon bits, butter, olive oil, or toasted nuts on vegetables.
- · Avoid combination dishes, such as casseroles, that can hide individual flavors and dilute taste.
We are here to help! If you think you or someone you know may have a taste disorder, get in touch with us. We can help and offer guidance and support through the process. Call the office at 207-781-5900 or email us.
Sources of our information: National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
