Impact of Smoking on Oral Health

Smoking is one of the major cause for oral health problems. Smoking and other tobacco related products contains chemicals that are harmful to the oral cavity. The risk of oral health increases with the duration of smoking and chewing tobacco. Some of the oral health problems associated with smoking and chewing tobacco are:

Bad breath
Smoking causes halitosis. Halitosis is a condition where there is bad odor from the mouth. Smoking decreases saliva secretions and this leads to the development of plaque and gives bad breath. Not only this, tobacco contains nicotine and tar settle on teeth and gives you bad breath.

Discoloration of teeth
Smoking causes stains on teeth which is due to the presence of nicotine and tar in tobacco products. This in turn leads to teeth becoming yellow.

Tooth decay
Tobacco products contains chemicals irritates the gum tissue and gums become recede. This leads to the exposure of tooth root and susceptible to plaque formation and leads to tooth decay.

Gum problems
Smoking causes gum problems that includes gingivitis which is known as inflammation of gums and loss of bone below the teeth. Smoking reduces the flow of blood to the gum tissue and therefore lack of oxygen supply to the gum tissue and becomes susceptible to infections and leads to gum problems.

Slow downs the healing ability
Smoking and chewing tobacco slows down the healing ability of wounds after surgery or dental implantation. It interferes with the cells involved in the healing process and reduces the recovery period. In tooth extraction process, smoking causes dry sockets so patients experience severe pain and discomfort due to the exposure of bone and nerve endings.

Oral cancer
Smoking causes oral cancer. The risk of oral cancer is more in candidates who smoke than candidates who never smoke. The tobacco products and smoking contains carcinogenic chemicals. These chemicals disrupts the DNA of gum tissue cells and irritates the mucous membrane and causes oral cancer.

Lack of taste sense
Loss of taste sense is caused by smoking as it reduces the saliva secretions and mouth becomes dry and reduces the taste sense.

Black hairy tongue
Black hairy tongue is due to the development of bacteria on tongue and causes small projections called papillae. This papillae appears like black hair on tongue. These are the dental problems associated with smoking. Though these can be treated, the best way to cure is by avoiding smoking and chewing tobacco.

Dry Mouth - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Dry mouth in a technical term called Xerostomia. It is the condition in which there is decrease in saliva secretions in mouth. Saliva secretions removes the plaques or food materials from mouth and prevents dental problems. Dry mouth is commonly seen in old people. If it is untreated, it leads to other oral problems like tooth decay and gum problems.

This article provides you complete information about dry mouth causes, signs and how it can be treated.

Causes of dry mouth

• Taking medications which decreases the saliva secretions
• Side effects of some drug categories like anti hypertensive drugs, Diuretics etc.
• Side effects of diseases like HIV, Anemia, Diabetes
• Dry mouth can be seen in patients who are undergoing radiation treatment on neck, head
• Due to hormonal changes in pregnant women
• Removal of salivary glands by surgery
• Taking breath continuously with mouth.
• Dehydration- loss of water or fluids from body causes dry mouth.

Symptoms of dry mouth

• Alterations in the taste sensation
• Dryness of mouth
• Irritation on tongue
• Bad odor from mouth
• Sticking of food to teeth and mouth
• Sores or patches in mouth
• Difficulty in chewing, drinking and speaking.

How it is diagnosed?

• Saometry is used to measure the flow of saliva in particular period of time. In this 10% citric acid is placed on the tongue and check the stimulation of saliva flow with the normal saliva flow.

• Salography uses radio opaque iodine dye on salivary gland and checks for any blockage of salivary duct.

• Other tests like chest X-ray and salivary biopsy can also diagnose the dry mouth condition.

Treatment
Based on the cause it's treatment varies. If dry mouth is due to the side effect of medications then these can be substituted with the other medications. However, dry mouth can be treated by two ways, saliva stimulation and saliva substitution.

• Saliva stimulation
• If salivary gland is working properly, then saliva stimulation is used to treat dry mouth.
• Chewing sugar free gums to increase saliva flow
• Drink plenty of water
• Take medications like prilocarpine which improves saliva secretions
• Avoid breathing with mouth.

• Saliva Substitution
• Rinsing mouth with mouth wash does not containing alcohol makes mouth moist
• Take saliva substitutes
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid intake of caffeine
• Moistening the mouth and lips with melting the ice in mouth

Problems associated with dry mouth:
If the dry mouth is untreated, it can cause serious dental problems

• Tooth decay
• Periodontal diseases
• Oral thrush

Nursing Bottle Caries/Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Tooth decay in infants and young children is referred to as nursing bottle caries. This happens when there is prolonged exposure of infant's teeth to liquids that contains sugar (milk, formula or fruit juice).
This article discusses about the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of baby bottle tooth decay.

Causes of baby bottle tooth decay
Nursing bottle caries can occur when the baby is put to bed with the bottle containing milk or other sweetened liquids like juice. Bacteria in the mouth live to digest sugary and starchy food or drinks multiply and form acid. This acid attacks the enamel of tooth/teeth gradually dissolving other layers of tooth resulting in tooth decay.
The upper front teeth are more susceptible to get decayed from baby bottles.

Symptoms

• White or brown spots appearing on teeth
• Pain
• Swelling and bleeding gums
• Fever caused by gum or tooth infection

Prevention
Following are some tips for preventing tooth decay in children:

• After every bottle-feed, clean your child's gums and teeth gently with a soft cloth or a gauze pad. This will help in removing any bacteria that contains plaque and excess sugars that may have built up.
• Begin to brush your baby's tooth as soon as his/her first tooth erupts.
• When all the baby's teeth have erupted, use a pea size amount of toothpaste for brushing the baby's teeth prescribed by your dentist.
• If your child is using pacifier, make sure that it is clean and sterlized. Never dip it in honey or other sugars.
• Never put your child to bed with a bottle that contains sweetened liquids or the liquids that contains natural sugars like milk, formula or fruit juice.
• Begin encouraging your child to drink from a cup from six months onwards.
• Arrange regular dental checkups as soon as your baby’s first tooth erupts.
• Encourage healthy eating habits.
• Supervise your child's tooth brushing until the age of 5-6 years.

Treatment
For treating this kind of decay, the dentist will remove the decayed portion from the tooth/teeth and fills the cavity with a material called as composite resin or silver amalgam, thus restoring and protecting the tooth. If the decay is severe and has attacked the tooth pulp, the dentist will perform the root canal treatment.

If the decay is caught earlier, there is no need of root canal treatment. This is the reason why dentist recommends visiting them regularly.

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Increased Risk of Gum Diseases With Smoking

Gum diseases including gingivitis and periodontitis are common among people with poor oral hygiene. However, smokers are more prone to the risk of periodontitis, a severe gum disease. Periodontitis is a disease condition where the inflammation of gums spreads to the ligaments and bones which hold the teeth. Red, swollen or tender gums are the major symptoms of periodontitis. Gum bleeding with brushing and flossing, bad breath, and pus between teeth and gum line are some other symptoms of the gum disease.

Individuals often habituated to smoking are likely to develop calculus. Calculus is a hardened plaque on the teeth. In addition, development of pockets between the teeth and gums is the other major issue seen among tobacco users. Deterioration of bone and tissues supporting the teeth is also more in smokers. It reduces the blood flow to the gums. So, wound healing may become problematic. All these factors are considered to increase the chances of periodontitis. It is found that smoking masks the signs of periodontal disease. The blood vessels get constricted with nicotine which may cover the signs of the disease.

It is found that smoking extends favorable bacterial growth in oral cavity. Special mechanisms which damage the harmful bacteria are interfered by certain byproducts of smoking. As a result, the growth of bacteria rises to an extent promoting early development of periodontal lesions. If neglected, the gum diseases affects surrounding tooth and results in tooth decay and loss. With continuous smoking, the opportunity to treat periodontitis is lessened. Hence, it is better to quit smoking and get rid of the uncomfortable gum disease.

Various Factors Affecting Cost of Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are one of the better options for preventing a weak tooth in the mouth from breaking. They are even used to cover dental implants and restrict the movement of dental bridge. However, it is found that people are concerned of the cost of dental crowns. Several factors affect the dental crowns cost.

Different types of materials are used for making dental crowns. They include porcelain, metal, porcelain fused metal, etc. The type of material varies the cost of crown. When compared to the resin crowns, porcelain fused metal crowns are more expensive as they are more durable and stronger. The metal crowns are also stronger and are used by many individuals. The cost of full metal dental crowns varies with the percentage mix of the precious metal. Among many materials, gold and platinum too are used for crowns. They are, however, more costly.

Even the location of the dentist is considered to affect the dental crowns cost. It is much higher in the United States, whereas, comparatively very lower in countries like India and Mexico. Even in the United States, the cost varies with the location including the cost of living of the city. In order to get crowns in lesser prices, people opt to go for other parts of the state or even foreign countries. The experience and credentials of the dentist is the other factor affecting dental crowns cost. A reputed dentist with many years of experience often charges higher for the crowns. Insertion of crowns for a tooth depends on the oral conditions of an individual. If any complications are observed, the cost will again go up. Considering these various factors, it is better to research on the cost in various locations and at various dentists to get the crowns in your affordable price range.

Know Some Myths about Root Canal Treatment

Bearing the pain of dental problems is really difficult. It makes you miserable and does not allow you to concentrate on any work. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a dentist and get rid of the problem as early as possible. Among many dental procedures, root canal treatment is one.

Root canal is nothing but the space inside the tooth from the center, called as pulp chamber, which moves down the length of the root to the tip. Based on the anatomy of the teeth, the number of root canals varies from one to four. Certain tiny canals are present in the pulp of the tooth and are referred as nerves. If the nerve gets infected, then there is a requirement for root canal treatment. It should not be neglected to pursue the treatment. However, many people fear of the treatment because of some myths among which some are given here.

Root canal treatment is painful. The treatment is generally recommended for people who suffer from unbearable pain in the tooth. It is generally done to treat broken teeth, infected pulp or damaged nerve. The treatment relieves the person from severe pain. Hence, the thinking that the treatment is painful shoud be neglected. The other myth is that it requires many visits to the dentist for a complete treatment. Many people feel it bored and difficult to take a treatment for a long time. Root canal treatment causes illnesses and the benefits do not last long, are some of the other myths. People even fear that teeth need to be hurt before undergoing root canal treatment. However, avoid considering these myths and get the treatment to alleviate your tooth pain.

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Diet for Patients Suffering from Heart Diseases

Life after heart attack is more frightening and it is important to prevent further attacks. After heart stroke the heart muscles are damaged and require utmost care. It is important for the patients suffering from heart related diseases to follow a special heart patient diet that restricts the intake of foods that are high in fat and cholesterol.

• Foods that contain high levels of Vitamin C like oranges and lemons along with other foods like green leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce and cabbage etc. are good for the heart patients because they help to boost the immune system and can reduce the risks of any complications.
• Level of the sugar in the blood of heart patients should be controlled and the foods that contain whole wheat flour are preferable to products that are made from refined flour.
• For the heart patients it is better to eat small meals at more number of times rather than eating two or three large meals and meals that should be a part of a heart patient diet are breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and a snack.
• Soy protein reduces the cholesterol and this protein is present in soybean or tofu, cereals that have been fortified with soy.
• Soups like clear celery soup, cabbage soup or any other soup can be given to heart patients which restricts the intake of fats.
• The foods that are derived from the animal products should be avoided for heart patients because they contain more amount of saturated fat.
• It is better for the heart patients to keep themselves away from margarine, oily or fried foods, red meat, sweet preparations like cakes, pastries, margarine and carbonated drinks.
• Foods which are rich in Magnesium like broccoli, potatoes, tofu, spinach, and wheat germ helps to protect the heart.
• It is advised for the heart patients to not to take any kind of stress or strain may it be physical or psychological.

Already affected by one heart attack, the patient should take utmost care to prevent further attacks by right diet plan.

What are the Effects of Smoking on Dental Implants?

Earlier, replacement of lost teeth is only possible with dentures. However, these days it has become efficient with dental implants. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that helps to hold replaced tooth. The procedure for dental implants is time-consuming. The process of implantation becomes successful only when there are no complications. However, dental implantation among smokers gives rise to many problems. The probability of rejection of dental implant is increased by smoking.

Once the implantation is done, healing process is necessary. It involves the growth of new bone and gum tissue to integrate with the artificial teeth. If you start smoking, then the healing process is affected. Smoking results in constriction of blood vessels. As a result, sufficient nutrients are not delivered to gums and bone at the right time. So the healing process is slowed down. Additional bone loss may also result due to continuous smoking after the dental implant surgery.

When healing is not proper, the implant cannot be bond to the tissue properly. This results in failure of implantation procedure. So it is better to quit after the implantation. Dental implants are found to be successful among non-smokers than in smokers. Many risks such as shifting teeth, mouth holes or bores, increased build-up of plaque, and tooth decay arise due to smoking. So a dentist advises you to quit smoking when you want to replace your teeth by dental implants. However, in order to replace missing teeth among smokers, certain alternatives can be used. Bridges and dentures can be used for them which are also best solutions for replacing tooth loss.