Joshua Hong, DDS Blog

Are you aware of the link between gum disease and prostate health? Previous studies had found that oral health is linked to brain health, but recent research has also discovered the link between gum health and prostate health. This connection may not appear very obvious but you should not ignore it.

Studies now revealed that treatment of gum disease can help in reducing prostate inflammation. Gum disease is known to have a link to prostate inflammation called prostatitis. This is a disease that can cause inflammation of the gland that produces semen and consequently, it can make urination difficult.The study establishing the link was published in the journal called Dentistry and pressed on the link between the treatment of gum disease and reduction in symptoms of prostatitis.

Findings of the New Prostate Study

The study was conducted by the Case Western Reserve’s Department of Periodontics and it examined the effect of treatment of gum disease on prostate health. The researchers took 27 men aged 21 years and older who were suffering from prostatitis and also had moderate to severe gum disease. All of the men chosen had a needle biopsy within the previous year that confirmed inflammation of prostate gland in them. They also had blood tests which showed high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in them. In addition, they were given the International-Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) test to determine the quality of their lives and any urination issues they might be facing.

During the course of the research, they were given treatment for their gum disease and no treatment for prostatitis. They underwent tests for four to eight weeks and showed significant improvement in their gum health.

Surprisingly, 21 out the 27 men showed improvement in prostate symptoms along with improvement in the gum health. Researchers asserted that if we treat gum disease, we can achieve a significant drop in levels of PSA. Participants with the highest levels of inflammation showed the most improvement while six of them showed no changes. After the course of gum treatment, they were again given IPSS test and improvement in the scores was noted.

The Bottom Line

Contrary to the popular belief that gum disease affects only the mouth, the research has proved that gum health is linked to the health of various body parts. Bad gum health can have an adverse effect on many other parts of the body and not just the mouth. Links have also been found between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis, fetal deaths and cardiac health.

So, you may want to have a better check on your oral health. Never ignore any oral health issues like bleeding gums, swelling or even bad breath. Remember that prevention is always better than cure. Avoid gum disease and visit your nearest dentist in Goodyear AZ today!

Enamel is the covering on your teeth that protects them from decay. With time, this enamel undergoes wear and tear, which is normal. However, you may want to watch out for extra damage to this layer as unlike your bone, it cannot grow back and you can’t get it replaced either. So, the best you can do is take proper care of your teeth to avoid any kind of major damage to the tooth enamel.

Having strong tooth enamel is one of the vital steps towards good oral care. Although it doesn’t grow back and cannot be replaced, you can follow some simple steps for tooth enamel restoration.

Here is what you can do:

1. Cut the Intake of Sugary Foods and Drinks

You may be aware the bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar to make acids. These acids attack the tooth enamel and it starts wearing out. Products like candies stick to your teeth and cause damage. Similarly, soft drinks contain sugar and acids that aren’t good for your teeth enamel. Try to drink only the plain water when you feel thirsty.

2. Choose Foods that Protect Enamel

Milk and other dairy products are known to protect the tooth enamel as they contain calcium that is capable of countering the teeth-damaging acids. If you don’t eat dairy items, go for calcium-rich foods. You can always choose a low-fat or fat-free product to keep a check on your calories.

3. Use Gentle Strokes while Brushing and Avoid Overdoing It

Over-brushing wears out your enamel too easily. So, you must not brush too fast or hard. It is recommended that you use a brush with soft bristles and hold it at about a 45-degrees angle to your gums. Also, wait up to an hour at least before you brush your teeth after eating.

4. Include Fluoride

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), fluoride fights cavities naturally by making your teeth resistant to acids. It strengthens your enamel and helps in repairing your teeth from early tooth decay.

5. Improperly Chlorinated Pools are Bad

The pools that are not chlorinated properly can result in water becoming too acidic. When your teeth come in contact with this water, it can lead to teeth damage.

6. Keep a Check on Dry Mouth

Saliva helps a great deal in washing away the food and bacteria that can harm tooth enamel. However, if you have dry mouth, you are at a greater risk of your teeth being attacked by acids. Therefore, drink water more often to keep your mouth clean and preventing it from drying.

7. Avoid Grinding Your Teeth

This habit is both annoying and damaging. Grinding the upper and lower teeth together wears down the enamel over time. Visit your dentist if you have this habit.

8. Choose a Remineralizing Diet

There are a number of foods that can help in remineralizing your teeth, which further helps in the strengthening of your enamel. Eat a balanced diet to include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and low-fat dairy items.

9. Regular Checkups are Vital

Lastly, pay a visit to your dentist at least once every six months even if your oral health seems fine. This can help your dentist identify early signs of any damage and treat it in time.

By making sure that you take care of all the above points, you can protect your tooth enamel from wearing out before time. This will not only maintain your perfect smile but will also help in protecting your oral health. Finally, keep your teeth and enamel intact by eating right and taking proper care.

Bleeding gums are not normal, even when you have your teeth professionally cleaned. If your gums start bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth then you have periodontal disease, also known as gum disease. Gum disease is a contagious bacterial infection which destroys your gums and erodes your jawbone which can lead to tooth loss.

8 Reasons Why Your Gums Bleed

1. Medication

Certain medication that you take can interfere with the blood flow to tissues or hamper saliva flow which leads to dryness in your mouth. This causes your gum tissues to become more reactive to the presence of plaque which rapidly increases periodontal disease. You can ask your dentist how your meds affect your gums

2. New Flossing Routines

Changing how you floss regularly can also lead to bleeding gums. If your flossing has become infrequent, causing you to floss more to clear that extra plaque which can also cause your gums to bleed.

3. Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. Plaque that is stuck on your teeth and gum-line can infect your gums leading to symptoms of gingivitis if not removed by brushing and flossing. Gingivitis causes your gums to become swollen, tender and also start to bleed while brushing. The early stage of the disease can be stopped with good brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups.

Some pregnant women experience swollen gums and bleeding while brushing which is known as Pregnancy Gingivitis. Hormonal changes in the body tend to change the body’s response to the bacteria that causes gum disease.

4. Your Oral Hygiene’s Subpar

This occurs to those who don’t brush and floss on a daily basis resulting in visible plaque and swollen red gums. Research states that healthy gums can become diseased within 24 to 36 hours of not brushing and caring for oral tissues properly. You can use an electric toothbrush which will massage your gums, stimulate blood-flow and also bring nutrients to the tissue as well as releasing toxins.

You can start using anti-bacterial mouthwash and toothpaste, opting for a water-pick to floss. Eating oral probiotics mints also helps prevent tooth decay and whitens your teeth along the way.

5. Not Following a Natural Diet

Start picking produced over processed. Eating a good amount of natural food will boost the strength of your immune system and nourish your soft oral tissues.

6. Smoking

Smokers are at a much higher risk of gum disease due to the many toxins in cigarettes which create inflammation and decrease your body’s immunity. Smoking also leads to fibrous and enlarged gums. Bleeding gums allow the dangerous periodontal bacteria to enter your blood and spread inflammation and disease to other parts of your body.

7. Constant Stress

Constant stress will hinder your immune system’s ability to ward off gum disease. Stress causes inflammation in your blood vessels which breaks down the soft tissue in your mouth and prevent it from healing.

8. You’ve Got an Over-Bite

If your teeth are not lined properly, crooked or crowded along with grinding and clenching habits leading to “bite disease”. This is due to the destructive forces that are being applied to your teeth, gums and tissues. Your gum recedes, and the bone begins deteriorating if too much pressure is applied.

4 Ways to Prevent Bleeding Gums

1. Increase Your Oral Care

Plaque hardens to become tartar, a calcified substance that plaque adheres to and continues to irritate your gums, causing your gums to bleed and can progress to more advanced forms of gum disease if not removed.

Be sure to brush twice a day using fluoride toothpaste. Gums can sometimes stop bleeding with regular flossing along with regular visits to the dentist.

2. Examine Your Dental Tools

Even though you may brush and floss regularly with regular visits to your dentist, the problem may lie with your oral care hygiene tools which may be causing your gums to bleed.

In certain cases, it may not be your tools that are causing your gums to bleed but rather the way you use them.

3. Consider Your Medicine

Certain medicine that you take will increase the chances of your gums bleeding. Certain medicines like over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin can thin your blood and increase bleeding. Always talk to your doctor if you think a medication is causing side effects.

4. Visit Your Dentist

If you have already tried changing your oral care habits, adjusting your medications and maintaining a healthy diet, and it yields nothing, then your next step should be to visit your dentist. Your dentist can examine your teeth and determine if you are suffering from a more serious condition such as advanced gum disease through the use of ex-rays etc.

Stop your gums from bleeding and visit your nearest Joshua Hong Dental clinic today!

One of the most devastating effects of aging is the decline in cognitive function that affects our elders in their later years. Some recent research points to declining oral health for elders as a factor affecting their mental health. In the US, the senior population is growing every day, and over a third of over-70 elders suffer from some form of mental impairment!

Senior Mental Health and Oral Health: What the Research Says

In a number of oral and cognitive health studies published from 1993-2013, some findings suggest a link between indicators of poor oral health and mental decline. A few studies show that elders with tooth loss, cavities and gum disease were more likely to be at risk of dementia and other mental health problems.

Other studies didn’t find a link, or differed on the number of cavities or missing teeth in our elders with mental health issues. On the whole, however, most of the studies found a greater prevalence of oral health issues in seniors with impaired cognition, especially dementia.

Even if research has not yet proved a direct causal link between the two, there is enough of a connection to raise concern about senior mental health and their oral hygiene.

How Is Senior Mental Health Affected By Poor Oral Hygiene?

Here are some of the possible factors that may link poor oral health and cognitive decline:

• According to a North Shore University Hospital dentist named Dr. Jacqueline Sobota, there may be a shared inflammatory pathway for both cognitive impairment and poor oral health for seniors.
• As per a Lenox Hill Hospital memory loss specialist and neurologist, Dr. Gayatri Devi, dementia may also cause apraxia, where patients forget a task they’ve learned previously, like brushing their teeth.
• Patients with cognitive problems might also forget to brush or floss their teeth, even without apraxia. This could be a contributing factor affecting their dental health, according to Dr. Devi.

Maintaining Oral Health is Critical for Seniors

Dr. Gayatri Devi also added that seniors in the early stages of dementia typically continue to take care of their oral hygiene with the same attention they gave these tasks before their cognitive abilities were impaired. However, senior caregivers and healthcare providers need to pay special attention to their patients’ dental health.

Good oral hygiene is especially crucial for seniors, since dental problems are also associated with other conditions like diabetes, stroke, heart disease, pneumonia, etc. Brushing, flossing, eating healthy and visiting a dentist regularly can help keep a wide range of other problems at bay.

To learn more about dental health and tooth restorative solutions for seniors, call 623-925-8822 for a complimentary consultation at Joshua Hong DDS today!

Haven’t we all heard about arthritis (or rheumatoid arthritis)? The most common symptom is pain in the joints and it also affects cardiovascular system, connective tissues and internal organs. Many a times crepitus is experienced where the joints, while functioning, brush against each other and make rubbing sounds. But did you know that arthritis can also affect your oral health? Yes, an arthritis patient can suffer from various oral problems like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) infection, xerostomia (dry mouth), periodontal disease (periodontics and gingivitis) and mouth ulcers.

How does Rheumatoid Arthritis Adversely Affect your Oral Health?

As arthritis directly attacks joints, TMJ disease is induced. Due to this, stiffness while opening or closing the mouth, deformation of the joint or swelling are seen. As per researches, around 10-15% of the people with rheumatoid arthritis tend to develop Sjogren’s Syndrome (dry mouth due to inflammation). Dry mouth accelerates dental decay as well as causing thrush and gingivitis.
Arthritis commonly attacks the hands and legs. One of the indirect effects is the decrease in the frequency of important oral hygiene methods like brushing and flossing teeth due to the restricted movement of hands. When it is left untreated for prolonged periods of time, periodontal disease (receding gum-line, bleeding gums, tooth loosening, deepening of tooth pockets, tooth loss etc.) may occur.
Some patients may have to take the prescribed medicine for arthritis, methotrexate. Depending on the dose, such patients may develop mucositis viz. inflammation of mucous membrane, which may lead to mouth ulcers. The negative effects of methotrexate are also increased by the usage of nitrous oxide, a commonly used inhalable sedative.

How can you Prevent it?

The first, and eventually the most important, thing that you can do is to go to a good dentist who is updated on current medications and operations.. Knowledge about current medications will significantly help in planning any oral surgery. As a general recommendation, arthritis patients should go for dental consultation in the late mornings or early afternoons, as the condition is much better compared to other times. Do not forget to inform the dentist about any previous joint-replacement surgery you might have gone through as prosthetic joints are a lot more prone to infection, especially when they have been newly placed. It is highly recommended to avoid any invasive oral treatment within the first six months of the joint-replacement surgery.
Other simple improvements in daily measures will also help in avoiding oral complications. Using an electric toothbrush is a good idea as less movement of the hands and wrists is required while brushing. Use a softer brush and replace it every three months. Rinse your mouth with a good anti-microbial mouthwash after every meal to avoid rigorous brushing. Flossing is very important as it helps in removing food particles and plaque where normal brushing may not reach. Invest in flossettes as well as floss holders which help in the execution of flossing. Lastly, eat healthy and oral-friendly food.