Posts Tagged ‘periodontal disease’
Good News and Bad News
Friday, July 10th, 2009
The Center for Disease Control and The Center for Disease Prevention released a ten-year report April 30 of this year titled, ‘Trends in Oral Health Status’, which is based on data from the CDC National Center for Health Statistics. The report sounds good on the surface, but has some findings that have cause for serious concern to parents of infants.
First the good news. Let’s work from the top down. In the 65 and older category, edentulism (loss of teeth), is down 7% from 1997, which is most likely because periodontal (gum) disease, the leading cause of tooth loss, is down 10%. Let’s hear it for the seniors! Public awareness and motivation toward disease prevention is getting them flossing and having cleanings like never before, but don’t let up, because gum disease still remains their primary threat to oral health.
The adults from 20 to 64 have 5% less periodontal disease, a mild improvement. As you look at younger groups, the focus shifts from periodontal disease to decay being the main concern. In children from 12 to 19, decay is down a whopping 9% over the last 10 years. I’m sure that this is due to the increase in the use of sealants in that group, which is up 20%. Similarly, the use of sealants in children from 6 to 11 is up 8%, resulting in a 4% decrease in decay. Not a lot, but any positive trend is good.
The CDC report revealed additional information which is beneficial in understanding causative factors in dental disease. An obvious example is the fact that 12% of children from 6 to 11 that are from families which are below the poverty level have untreated decay, versus 4% of those in families above the poverty level. Well, of course you would expect that. Another trend I found interesting however, was the fact that 31% of Mexican American children from 6 to 11 years of age have had decay in permanent teeth, versus 19% of white non-Hispanics. On the surface, one might suspect some socio-economic reason, but in my experience I have seen that it is simply hereditary. Mexican-Americans have fissures, or grooves, in their teeth that are much deeper on the average than other nationalities. It’s unfortunate, but in light of that statistic, now they are armed with the knowledge that they need to be more diligent than average in having their children’s teeth checked and having sealants done to prevent that type of decay.
Well, I’ve put off the bad news as long as possible, but here it is. The decay rate in children from 2 to 5 years is up 4% from 24% to 28%. It may seem like a small thing, but there is something going on that has decreased these children’s resistance to dental disease and possibly other diseases. This trend will produce a ripple effect through all the previously mentioned categories as the children get older, unless our society makes some major changes in our approach to disease prevention.
Like any other endeavor, it must start with a good foundation, the diet. The first thought is to pick on sugar, but there are a lot worse things. Of course, limiting your sugar is important, but totally avoid high fructose sugars usually found in sodas and candy. Also keep your children away from processed foods and artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame. These are killers. Good substitutes are pure maple syrup, stevia, splenda, and xylitol, a natural sugar that actually prevents decay. If you need any help finding these products, call our office. Baby bottles and sipper cups, outside of meal times, should only contain water.
Then good hygiene habits must be developed. If flossing and brushing is started before walking, you’ll never need to remind your children when they get older. Just stay away from fluoride toothpastes such as Crest and Colgate. If you will read the fine print on those products, it says if you accidentally swallow any more than is necessary to brush your teeth, then call the poison control center! Well, you know your kid is going to swallow anything that goes in his mouth, and fluoride is especially toxic to young children. Find good fluoride-free toothpaste, such as Spry, Neways, Tom’s, or Oxyfresh at the health food store or our office.
Finally, the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry recommends getting your child’s first dental exam before their first birthday. Of course, you will rarely find anything, but at that age they are relatively fearless, and having a fun experience riding in the chair and getting a toy and some kudos will reinforce their confidence and desire to see the dentist in the future. The CDC, ADA, and AAPD consider the rise in children’s decay cause for national concern and have coordinated their efforts to mobilize a program to reach infants, especially in poverty-level families, to educate the parents in effective preventive measures and to provide treatment. To contribute to this cause, our office is providing free exams and cleanings to any child 3 years and younger. Also, I would like to remind you that we have always provided free dental treatment to children that qualify through Virgin Valley Family Services. I urge you to take advantage of these services for the sake of your children.
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times,
June 2007
Tags: artificial sweetners, decay rate for children, diet, disease prevention, high fructose sugar, periodontal disease, untreated decay
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The New Order
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
In the olden days, there seemed to be an order of things that would prompt a person to go see their dentist for care.
The first concern for most patients was pain, followed by appearance, decay, gum disease, and missing back teeth, respectively. Many patients would only seek dental treatment when they were experiencing extreme pain, or if they were not happy with the look of their front teeth. Cavities, gum problems, and spaces where teeth were extracted were often ignored.
With all of the new information we know about gum disease, it is necessary to change our list of priorities.
Pain is still the front-runner and greatest cause for concern. If a patient has a tooth-ache, it often means that there is an infection present, whether it is within the tooth itself, or the gums that surround the tooth. Dental infections can be very serious and should be taken care of immediately.
Periodontal, or gum disease, is the second most important priority. According to recent studies, more than half of all people over 18 have at least the early stages of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is an infection that destroys the gum surrounding your teeth and also destroys the supporting bone that holds your teeth in place. Unlike most diseases that give us early warning signs, gum disease progresses silently, often without pain. It may develop slowly or progress quite rapidly. Not only is the loss of gum and bone a concern, but studies have proven that gum disease may increase your risk of a variety of health problems, including:
Heart disease
Weakened immune system
Diabetes
Stroke
Lung Disease
Preterm, low birth babies
Respiratory disease
Osteoporosis
Gastric ulcer
If you are already experiencing any of these health concerns, it is very important to maintain good oral health by visiting your dentist regularly.
Tied for third on the new list are decay and appearance. I’m sure most of you know that if decay is not kept under control, it can actually spread to other teeth in your mouth. Also, if decay is left in a tooth long enough, it will eventually reach the nerve of the tooth, often causing an abscess, or infection, in the bone. The tooth will then need a root canal, or may need to be extracted.
We all understand how prominent appearance has become in our society. Everyone wants to have a beautiful smile to share. There are many ways to achieve the smile you have been wanting, including whitening, “invisible” braces,
porcelain veneers, etc. Just remember that a beautiful smile is more than straight, white teeth. It is important to make your entire oral health a priority.
As before, missing back teeth are last on the list. But that doesn’t mean they are less significant than the other things.
When a tooth is lost and not replaced as soon as possible, the remaining teeth can drift out of position and change the bite. This can lead to cavities, gum disease, bite problems, and TMJ (joint problems in the jaw). All of your teeth work together to help you chew, speak, and smile. When teeth are missing, it is difficult to do these things. Even the loss of back teeth can cause your bite to shift and your face to look older. Fortunately, missing teeth can be replaced in several ways, including implants, bridges, and removable appliances.
As you may have noticed, the dental concerns we have discussed can often times be interrelated. Gum disease can cause tooth loss, and tooth loss can cause gum disease. A “tooth-ache” can be caused by gum disease as often as it can be caused by decay. Loss of teeth, swollen, red gums, and decay all affect our appearance.
Evidence shows that it is time to let go of the ‘old school’ mentality and embrace the new order of things. We cannot stress enough how important it is to visit your dentist to have oral examinations and cleanings done regularly. By keeping these recare appointments you will increase your chances of a healthy smile, but most importantly, a long, healthy life.
Dr. Moulton’s article was published in the Desert Valley Times, June 2007
Tags: abscess, Bridges, decay, Diabetes, gastric ulcer, gum disease, heart disease, Implants, infection, invisible braces, lung disease, missing teeth, Osteoporosis, periodontal disease, porcelain veneers, removable appliances, respiratory diesease, root canal, stroke, tooth-ache, weakened immune system
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