May 26 2022

Medications, Dry Mouth, And Your Oral Health

MEDICATIONS OFTEN HAVE frustrating side effects such as nausea or headaches. But did you know that dry mouth is also a common side effect of prescription drugs?

Saliva Helps Keep Your Mouth Healthy
There are over 400 medications that can affect your salivary glands. These medications include those used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, Parkinson’s disease, and many other conditions.

Our salivary glands are extremely important because they produce saliva. Saliva keeps our mouths moist and breaks down the foods we eat. It also helps keep the bacteria in our mouths under control.

Dry mouth may result in:

A higher risk of gum disease
An increase in cavities
Discomfort and difficulty eating, swallowing and talking

7 Simple Solutions To Help Fight Dry Mouth

If you or someone you know is taking medications that may be causing dry mouth, there are plenty of things you can do to help keep your mouth moist and healthy.

Drink more water! Sip on it throughout the day. Mineral, Carbonated water and Club Soda work really well to stimulate your saliva, too.
Chewing sugar-free gum helps keep your mouth moist and salivary glands active. Just make sure the gum is sugarless. Sucking on Sugarless Mints is also very effective.
Try eating frozen fruits. Frozen fruits may be soothing and satisfying to your dry and uncomfortable mouth.
Consider limiting your caffeine and alcoholic intake. It’s easier for your body to become dehydrated when consuming alcohol or caffeine.
Possibly use a humidifier while sleeping. This can help keep your skin and mouth hydrated.
Keep up with your daily oral care habits. Brushing and flossing help save your teeth from decay and other damaging problems caused by dry mouth.
Keep your regularly scheduled appointments. We’ll help you prevent serious problems that can result from dry mouth.
Use saliva replacement products, such as the Biotene group of products, are also effective.

Does Your Dry Mouth Problem Seem Severe? Let’s Talk
If you are having a lot of trouble with dry mouth, give us a call. You may also want to consult your physician about trying different medications or adjusting your dosages.

Thanks for reading our post! Please share it with others who could benefit! Our goal at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri is to help your smile stay beautiful and healthy.

May 26 2022

You Didn’t Inherit Soft Teeth

IT’S TRUE THAT EVERY ASPECT OF OUR HEALTH IS AFFECTED TO SOME DEGREE BY OUR GENES. And yes, some people just seem to be more predisposed to getting cavities. But it’s probably not a matter of “soft teeth” versus “hard teeth.”

“I Do Everything Right And I Still Get Cavities”
Does this sound like you? If so, you’re the rare exception—and although it isn’t typical, we understand. That’s why it’s SO important that you pay particular attention to the basics if you feel you have soft teeth.

You Probably ARE Inheriting Your Oral Bacteria
There’s good bacteria and bad bacteria. That unique mix, in your unique mouth, and how your mouth reacts to that mix may be what you’re really inheriting from grandpa. This video talks about oral bacteria mix or imbalance:

BY THE WAY… If you watched the video above, Josh says, “All you have to do is brush.” Hey Josh… We have one criticism of your video. You need to floss too! When you skip flossing, you’re missing up to 35% of your tooth’s surface area!

You May Have Inherited A Tendency Toward Dry Mouth
Are you a mouth breather? Was everyone who attended last summer’s family reunion a mouth breather too? Our saliva is a critical primary defense against tooth decay. Dry mouth may be a problem you need to be aware of and treat.

You May Be Inheriting A Few Eating Habits
Some of us emulate our parents when it comes to the way we eat. That may include a tendency to snack a lot, an affinity for soft drinks, etc., which may be detrimental to our dental health.

You’ve Probably Inherited An Oral Hygiene Mindset
How faithfully do you brush and floss? How consistently do you schedule regular dental checkups? Do you avoid (or even fear) dentists? How aware are you of the connection between your oral health and whole body health? Often, these things are priorities/attitudes passed by parents to children (consciously and sub-consciously).

We Can Help You Troubleshoot
As you know, we love talking about this stuff. So if you’re unsure why you’re more cavity prone than you should be, let’s visit. We can help figure it out and suggest solutions to keep your mouth healthy.

Before We Go… Just For Fun…

As always, thanks for the trust you place in Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri!

May 26 2022

Endocarditis: Protect Against Dental Infection Spread To Your Heart

What is endocarditis?

Endocarditis is a rare, potentially fatal condition affecting the heart lining and its valves and started by bacterial infection. It is much more frequently found in people who have certain heart conditions and in previous endocarditis cases. If you are at high risk for endocarditis, your doctor may recommend antibiotics be taken before dental procedures.

Who should take preventive antibiotics?

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends antibiotics prior to certain dental procedures for people with heart conditions associated with the highest risk of developing endocarditis. The AHA recommends that patients receive antibiotics prior to dental treatment only if they have:

had bacterial endocarditis before
a prosthetic (artificial) cardiac valve
prosthetic material used in valve repair
cardiac valve disease and have had a cardiac transplant
congenital (present at birth) heart disease. This includes only people having the following conditions:
- unrepaired cyanotic congenital heart disease (including those with devices that relieve symptoms only)
- completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device during the first six months after the procedure
- repaired congenital heart disease with defects that remain at or near the site of a prosthetic patch or prosthetic device

With these recommendations in mind, you and your doctor can decide whether or not preventive antibiotic dosing is preferred for your condition.

How are preventive antibiotics taken?

Patients who require preventive treatment take a single dose of an antibiotic, usually by mouth about one hour before certain dental treatments.

For which dental procedures are the antibiotics taken?

For patients at highest risk for endocarditis, the AHA guidelines suggest preventive antibiotic treatment for only the following:

Dental procedures that involve manipulation of gum tissue (around bone and teeth) or the tip of the tooth root
Dental procedures in which the inside lining of the mouth is penetrated

The guidelines do not recommend that high-risk individuals take preventive antibiotics for the following dental procedures or events:

Routine anesthetic injections through noninfected tissue
Dental X-rays
Placement of removable dental prostheses or orthodontic appliances
Adjustment of orthodontic appliances
Placement of orthodontic brackets
Shedding of baby teeth
Bleeding from trauma to the lips or inside of the mouth

If you have concerns about whether or not preventive antibiotics are needed for your condition, talk to your doctor.

What can I do to lower my risk for infections?

To reduce your risk for infection, it’s important that your dental team knows about your current health status. Be sure to tell us if your health has changed since your last visit, including if you have been diagnosed with a heart condition. You should let us know if you’ve had heart or vascular surgery, or any other surgery or medical procedure, within the past six months.

In your dental record, make sure we have a complete list of the names and dosages of all of your medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, including vitamins and herbal remedies. It’s important that we have all of the names and phone numbers of your current physicians, in case we need to consult with them. Finally, it’s especially important to practice regular good home care of your teeth. Brush at least twice a day for 2 minutes each time, and floss every day. Visit our office at least every six months for regular exams and cleanings.

If you have questions about preventive antibiotic treatment, you should talk to your doctor and Dr. Cardon at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri. Learn more at http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/TheImpactofCongenitalHeartDefects/Infective-Endocarditis_UCM_307108_Article.jsp#.Vwc4l8fntPY and http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/HeartValveProblemsandDisease/Heart-Valves-and-Infective-Endocarditis_UCM_450448_Article.jsp#.Vwc4_MfntPY

May 26 2022

Telling The Story About Dental Implants

By the time you read this, you should be able to find a book I’ve participated in writing and publishing. In fact, maybe I’m the only dentist in Jefferson City who’s on the cover of a book about dentistry for consumers. My contribution was about one of my professional passions, dental implant solutions. It’s been a learning experience, and may not be the last of my involvement in such a thing.

Two years ago, I was at a meeting in Colorado with several friends who happen to be dentists from around the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states. Our recurring meetings were where we put our heads together, searched for and shared ideas to help us do a better job for you, our clients. People may not like coming to the dentist, but for some crazy reason or another a lot of you do come, and I’d hate to ever take that for granted. So I try to work on leading my team to improve the experience we provide to you. I hope at least some of the time our efforts make a difference for you.

One of my dental friends proposed that we collaborate in producing a book we could share with people who want to improve the quality of their lives by enjoying a healthy, strong, confident smile. It’s something we believe in because of how great it feels for us when we can produce a life-changing result for someone who’s suffered poor health and self-confidence because of the poor condition of their mouth.

Not all of my friends were able to participate in writing the book, and some who thought they would found it was more difficult to accomplish than they’d expected. Like any collective effort, it required a lot of coordination and patience to get each participant’s contribution. Most of my part of the book was written soon after we began the project, but the editing process went on for many months afterwards. After many months without any apparent progress, I began to wonder if our book would really be completed and published.

I was chosen to write a chapter on dental implants, while my other friends wrote about things like helping people with dental anxiety, helping diagnose the causes of and restore the damage caused by destructive bite habits, using high-tech solutions such as dental lasers and computer-aided design and machining (CAD/CAM) to treat dental conditions, and even a bit of soul-searching about what draws a person into the dental career field in the first place.

Dental implants are such a rapidly expanding mode of oral treatment worldwide, it’s likely that you or someone you know has either already considered or had one placed in their mouths. They provide satisfying solutions to many of the most challenging and vexing conditions patients and dentists encounter. My training in placing and restoring dental implants began in 1997, while in a two-year dental residency in San Antonio, Texas.

Since then, I’ve attended hundreds of hours of additional training in implant dentistry. At Stadium Dental Center we place and restore damaged smiles with conventional and “mini implants.” From the “All On Four” advanced solution for replacing an entire arch of missing teeth to the natural looking and feeling replacement of individual missing teeth, dental implants have been an exciting alternative to offer many of our clients. I’ll post more on the topic in this blog soon.

May 26 2022

What Every Parent Should Know About Their Child’s First Dental Visit

There’s enormous lifelong value in getting your child off to a good start with his or her oral health. Their first dental visit will have a long lasting impact on the kind of life they enjoy because of their oral health habits. We love helping children get started on a life of great oral health at Stadium Dental Center in Jefferson City, Missouri!

When should my child first see a dentist, and why?

Seeing your child within six months after his or her first baby teeth erupt—no later than by their first birthday—is an ideal time for our first dental visit with you and your child. It’s a prime time for us to observe and document the development of your child’s mouth. Identifying potential problems early saves trouble, time, and expense. For example, early tooth decay, teething discomfort, gum disease, and prolonged thumb- or pacifier-sucking are issues that may affect your child’s health and their smile. We can provide preventive strategies and, if needed, effective remedies for these conditions.

How do I prepare my child and myself for this first visit?

We appreciate it greatly when you bring records of your child’s complete medical history for his or her record to the first dental visit. It helps us provide the best care we can.

Sometimes, parents who’ve had their own difficult dental experiences transfer their fears to their children by how they talk to them about going to the dentist. Make the upcoming dental visit something for your child to look forward to by helping him or her understand what will happen during the visit. There are a number of children’s books about going to the dentist. Reading these books with your child before his or her first dental visit is an excellent way to help prevent or minimize their apprehension about an unfamiliar place.

Very young children may be fussy and restless. We understand it’s normal for a child to feel frightened and cry, so you don’t need to worry about that. On the other hand, some children will happily cooperate during their visit. Either way, we’re happy they’re in our office to be seen before bigger problems develop!

What happens during their first visit?

Your child’s first dental visit is a time to acquaint your child with us. Short, regularly recurring visits can build the child’s comfort with us and with our office. The visit should be scheduled when your child is alert, fed, and refreshed. You may be asked to sit in the dental chair and hold your child during the first examination. The first visit usually lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and may include any of the following, depending on the child’s age and ability to cooperate:

A gentle but thorough exam of the teeth, jaw, bite, and oral soft tissues to monitor growth and development
A gentle cleaning, including polishing teeth to remove plaque, tartar build-up, and stains
X-rays (usually not before 4 years of age)
A demonstration of proper home care for your child’s mouth and teeth
Nutritional counseling
An application of fluoride to the teeth

We’re happy to answer any questions you have to make you and your child feel comfortable throughout the visit.

When should we schedule the next appointment?

We recommend regular checkups every six months for children and adults. If treatment needs warrant, a more frequent interval for simple, non-threatening visits can help build your child’s confidence in coming to our office to make it easier for them to have their treatment done. In time, coming to see their Jefferson City family dentist to stay healthy will become an easy, ordinary thing to your child!

7 Simple Solutions To Help Fight Dry Mouth

What is endocarditis?

Who should take preventive antibiotics?

How are preventive antibiotics taken?

For which dental procedures are the antibiotics taken?

What can I do to lower my risk for infections?

When should my child first see a dentist, and why?

How do I prepare my child and myself for this first visit?

What happens during their first visit?

When should we schedule the next appointment?

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