We receive quite a few questions about whether or not it is safe to perform routine oral health procedures during pregnancy. Recently, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists sent out an announcement stating that it is indeed safe for pregnant women to have teeth cleanings and dental X-rays.
We encourage you to read the announcement in its entirety on the ACOG website.
There are many ways in which your oral health has an impact on your overall general health. There are naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth. Some of those bacteria, including strep and staph, are harmful, while other bacteria are essential for the balance of intestinal flora. The healthier your mouth is, the less likely it is the harmful bacteria will travel to other parts of your body to infect it and make you sick. There is much more to good dental hygiene than brushing and flossing.
Historical Methods of Maintaining Oral Health
Ancient civilizations relied on natural remedies for maintaining oral health. Around 250 AD, the Kemetic Egyptians used myrrh and other herbs as antiseptics for treating infected gums. Two centuries later, the Nubians, who lived in the Nile River valley, drank beer to ease the pain of infected teeth. That probably sounds crazy, but their beer was effective because they used grains that were contaminated with the same bacteria that produce the antibiotic tetracycline.
Today's Biggest Dental Hygiene Challenge
In the past, tooth decay was more of an issue because there was no routine dental care, and problems that are routinely treated today went untreated. Thanks to fluoridated water and toothpastes containing fluoride, tooth decay is far less problematic than it was a century or more ago. Gum disease has replaced tooth decay as the most serious dental problem facing people today. According to the Canadian Dental Association, 70 percent of Canadians suffer from some form of periodontal disease some time in their lives.
Ironically, if that infection attacked any other part of your body, especially in a place where it was clearly visible, you would head to your doctor for treatment immediately. People tend to ignore gum tenderness and bleeding. When the tenderness and bleeding aren't treated, the inflammation can turn into periodontitis. The longer you allow the inflammation to go untreated, the greater the likelihood that it will affect other body parts. Make sure to visit Drs. Tom Holmes, Gordon Lansdown, Karen Nesbitt, and Nick Cosman at Cataraqui Dental Centre regularly to be proactive about dental health!
Researchers are now discovering that untreated inflammation in the mouth acts as a driving force for multiple chronic illnesses, including clogged arteries, heart attacks, arthritis, and even cancer. That inflammation is one of many hypotheses that may explain how chronic infections can trigger systemic diseases, and even intensify existing ones. Bacterial overgrowth in the inflamed gum tissue can enter the bloodstream through the food you eat, and from daily brushing.
Caring for your mouth at home is just as important as visiting our office for exams!
Dr. Cosman from our practice recently attended a conference in Florida that focused on bone grafting. There were 40 participants from around the U.S. and Dr. Cosman was one of four Canucks—there was even a dentist from Denmark!
In addition to learning some great information that he will bring back to the practice, Dr. Cosman got to enjoy some fantastic 68 degree and sunny weather.
If you are interested in seeing photos from the event, you can check them out on their website at: http://www.pikosinstitute.com/gallery/?galAlbum=17
Grind, grind, grind… if your little one happens to be a teeth grinder, you may be familiar with this unpleasant sound. Teeth grinding, or what Drs. Tom Holmes, Gordon Lansdown, Karen Nesbitt, and Nick Cosman and our team at Cataraqui Dental Centre also call bruxism, is common in children. In fact, three out of ten kids grind or clench their teeth, usually in response to stress, jaw growth, malocclusion, losing teeth, or other discomforts, such as allergies. Kids typically outgrow teeth grinding by the time they reach their teenage years.
Many kids who grind their teeth in their sleep have no idea they’re doing it. In fact, when they wake up in the morning they feel no jaw, facial, neck, or shoulder pain. In most cases, if it hadn’t been for a parent or sibling telling them about it, the teeth grinding would have gone unnoticed.
There are children, however, who wake up with jaw pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, and headaches. Teeth grinding can cause a host of dental complications, from cracked teeth and receding gums to a misaligned jaw. Drs. Tom Holmes, Gordon Lansdown, Karen Nesbitt, and Nick Cosman will tell you that teeth grinding is not something to take lightly. Teeth grinding can have serious consequences that, if left untreated, can lead to tooth fractures and damage to the temporomandibular joint, also known as TMJ.
The first step in helping your child recover from teeth grinding is noticing and diagnosing the problem. Symptoms of teeth grinding typically include:
If you suspect your child is a teeth grinder, Drs. Tom Holmes, Gordon Lansdown, Karen Nesbitt, and Nick Cosman and our team will be able to help. Please give us a call at our convenient Kingston, ON office! We look forward to treating your child!
