Smile with Confidence: A Comprehensive Guide to Dental Health and Care

Author page: dental blogger

Causes of Overbites and Underbites

Overbites and underbites can cause people to feel self conscious about their appearances, but that’s not the only effect an overbite or underbite can have on a patient. Overbites and underbites both can cause medical conditions such as migraines and temporomandibular disorders, as well as neck pain and mouth pain. If you or someone you love has an overbite or underbite, it’s important to know there are things that can be done about it.  Many people have overbites or underbites that are slight and unnoticeable. They don’t cause them any difficulty, so they live with them, never giving them another thought. However, others may decide to have this condition corrected, especially if they are experiencing pain from them. Top dentists want you to know that there are dental remedies to overbites and underbites, and the positive effects of having these dental conditions corrected are many. Following is more information on the causes, effects, and treatments of overbite and underbites.

What Is Oral Thrush?

If you notice a white coating inside your mouth, you may have oral thrush. Oral thrush is an infection of the mouth caused by yeast. It’s estimated that upwards of 35 percent of newborns develop oral thrush in the first few months of life. Additionally, oral thrush is fairly common among children in their toddler years, as well as elderly patients who wear dentures. But oral thrush doesn’t just occur in children and the elderly. People who smoke are at particular risk for developing this mouth infection, as smoking can weaken the immune system. Pregnant women and patients who have compromised immune systems from medical conditions such as HIV, diabetes, and cancer also are at greater risk of developing oral thrush. Following is information from top dentists about oral thrush, its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Sleep Apnea and Teeth

Millions of people in the United States today suffer from sleep apnea, and many of them don’t even know it. In fact, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, upwards of 12 million people in the U.S. have from sleep apnea. That means that about 1 in 20 people throughout the country suffer from sleep apnea, with many of them not even being aware of their medical condition. The problem, of course, with not knowing is the serious complications that can occur due to this disorder with no preventive measures being taken. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can cause its sufferers to stop breathing while they’re sleeping, with incidents of breathing cessation occurring up to 100 times per night. One of the little known consequences of sleep apnea is its effects on oral health, which can be serious.

Routine Dental Care for Seniors

The average lifespan is increasing, and that means seniors have more time now than ever before to enjoy a full and active life. It’s true that seniors in Livingston and throughout the country have a greater expectation of having a long, happy life. But if your teeth are in poor condition, chances are you might not be enjoying life as much as you should. If you’re going to live longer than your parents and grandparents, why not make it the best life possible?! Perhaps there was a time when living longer meant you were a likely candidate for losing your teeth and wearing dentures, but those days are in the past. And, even if you do have dentures, you want them to last. Whether you’re a denture wearer, you have your own natural teeth, or you have dental implants or any of the other wonderful innovations of restorative dentistry, your oral hygiene habits are a vital part of your healthy, active life.

Routine Dental Care

Walt Disney once said, “A kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Needless to say, this was a metaphor. No one wants to experience an actual kick in the teeth … not just because it’s painful, but also because, well, everyone likes having nice teeth! Right about now you may be thinking, “Well, duh!” However, have you ever thought about how likely it is that someday you may lose teeth due to improper dental care? A healthy dental care routine often is all that’s necessary to ensure that your teeth remain with you for the rest of your life. But keeping your teeth may be only half the story. Recent studies have shown a potential link between poor oral hygiene and risk factors for developing certain medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. The fact is that poor dental hygiene is the main reason that people throughout the country can experience tooth decay, tooth loss, and even loss of the bone structures surrounding the teeth. Here are some tips on optimal dental care routines for everyone in your family.

How to Prevent Throat Cancer

A diagnosis of throat cancer can be a devastating event. And, although modern medical science has yet to discover the causes of this disease, researchers have discovered that certain behaviors can put individuals at greater risk for developing throat cancer. If you’re someone who falls into any of the categories for being at a higher risk for developing this disease, it’s important to know that making just a few lifestyle adjustments can lower your risk. Though the overall cancer rate in the U.S. is declining, some types of cancers, including mouth and throat cancers, are on the rise throughout the country. Here are some steps you can take to help prevent experiencing this disease firsthand.

How to Prevent Oral Cancer

In a recent 30-year study done by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the American Cancer Society, it was reported that overall cancer deaths in the U.S. were on the decline. However, this is not true for all types of cancer. While instances of some types of canworse than ever, with many oral cancer sufferers surviving less than 5 years post diagnosis. Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital recently reported that cancers affecting the tongue, tonsils, soft palate, and back of the throat have increased nearly 60 percent in the past 40 years for those 44 and younger. This distressing prognosis is proof that everyone throughout the country needs to get serious about taking steps necessary to prevent this disease. Following are the symptoms of oral cancer to watch out for, as well as vital proactive preventions that can be taken.

Types of Oral Cancer

Some types of cancer are on the decline throughout the entire United States. However, the number of cases involving other types of cancers is increasing. Oral cancer is one of these, and more Americans are in the high-risk groups for developing this disease than ever. There are several types of cancers that are considered oral, and the type typically depends upon the location of the disease. As with many types of cancer, the exact causes of the different forms of oral cancer are unknown to modern medicine. However, medical researchers have identified risk factors and behaviors that can put some individuals in greater danger of developing oral cancer, especially if they exhibit more than one of these components. Following is information on the different types of oral cancer, risk factors, and how to cope with a cancer diagnosis.

How to Prevent Snoring

Quiet, uninterrupted sleep … it’s what every snorer and partner of a snorer longs for every night. Snoring has been comedic fodder for decades in TV and in movies, but if you’re someone who experiences it from either perspective, it’s anything but funny. If you snore, you wish you didn’t, but if you’re the partner of a snorer, you’ve likely stopped at nothing to solve the problem. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were some sort of elixir or magic potion that would end that awful wheezing noise and allow you to sleep again? Okay, so there’s no magic to preventing snoring, but there are things folks can do to reduce or even eliminate it. It’s just a matter of finding the cause and taking the necessary steps to prevent that awful snoring once and for all. Easier said than done, right? Here are some tips on potential causes of your snoring as well as possible solutions.