Oral Health Tips for Smokers

Oral Health Tips for Smokers

* Seek out resources for assistance: www.cancer.org, www.hazelton.org, www.smokefree.gov, www.pointperio.com.
* Schedule an exam with your physician to identify the right smoking cessation program. Inquire about a counseling service, nicotine patch or gum, nasal inhalers and sprays or non-nicotine prescription medications.
* Schedule a professional dental cleaning and oral health checkup. Inform your dentist that you are a smoker and ask to be screened for periodontal disease and other smoking-related conditions.
* Be certain to maintain a proper dental hygiene home program. Smokers have special dental hygiene needs. For example, smokers usually require professional cleaning more often than non-smokers. Treat yourself to a new tongue cleaner, dental floss and mouthwash.
* Initiate a stress reduction program such as an exercise regimen, Pilates or a yoga class.

Smokers’ Challenges & Solutions

The challenge in quitting smoking lies in both the physical and emotional dependency caused by the nicotine in cigarettes. Nicotine is a drug equally addictive to other narcotics. The physical withdrawal from cigarettes may include headaches, nausea, cold sweats, and tremors. The emotional symptoms may include depression, irritability, nervousness, fatigue, and a lack of concentration.

find a local dentistSince withdrawal from smoking can be one of the most difficult challenges to overcome, the healthcare community has developed a wealth of solutions to assist you. There are state-sponsored “quit smoking” hotlines, prescription medications, and over-the-counter drugs designed to help you through the withdrawal period.

There are behavioral modification programs that can be accessed through state sponsored “quit smoking” hotlines. You may have access to one-on-one therapy offered by private psychologists, therapists, counselors or in some cases, through prescription medication companies. In the end, the advantages of quitting are far greater than the risks associated with smoking.

Whose Oral Health is Affected by Poor Nutritional Habits?

Whose Oral Health is Affected by Poor Nutritional Habits?

Minerals and Nutrients Necessary for Oral Health

The number of people consuming sugar-filled sodas, sweetened fruit drinks and snacks that contain little, if any, nutritional value is skyrocketing among the general population.

Eating patterns and food choices, particularly among children and teens, are important factors that affect how quickly tooth decay develops. Dentists believe that children who consume too much soda are more prone to tooth decay and serious ailments, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, later in life. However, foods high in carbohydrates, as well as some fruits, juices and sodas, peanut butter, crackers and potato chips, also contribute to cavities in children.

The elderly, individuals on restrictive diets and those undergoing medical treatment may be too isolated, weak or lack the appetite, time, resources or money to eat nutritionally balanced meals at a time when it is especially vital. As a result, these individuals may be afflicted by tooth loss, pain or a joint dysfunction such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, all of which can impair an individual's ability to taste, bite, chew and swallow foods.

People who are severely underweight or overweight (struggling with obesity), who have recently lost weight and/or are malnourished or take medications (steroids, immunosuppressants, chemotherapeutic agents, etc.), may have a poor nutritional state that could negatively impact their dental caries rate, also.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these circumstances, talk to your dentist about solutions and remedies to the situation. It is important to keep all members of your healthcare team informed and up-to-date about your medical history, lifestyle and eating habits so they can work together to identify, prevent and/or control oral and medical health risks.

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Nutrition affects teeth during development. Poor nutrition may exacerbate periodontal disease, a leading cause of tooth loss in adults, as well as other oral infectious diseases. Although poor nutrition does not cause gum disease directly, many researchers think the disease progresses faster and more severely in people with poor nutritional habits.

Therefore, getting the proper amount of vitamins, minerals, fats and protein is essential for the growth and regeneration of normal tissues, as well as your body's ability to fight infections. Carbohydrates, fat and protein supply the energy your body needs for tissue maintenance and repair. Along with vitamin C, vitamins A, E, B, K and D are essential for healing and a quicker recovery time. For example, vitamin A significantly contributes to healing by reducing the inflammatory period of tissue repair.

Important minerals and nutrients your body needs to stay healthy include the following:

Calcium:
Your teeth and jaws are made mostly of calcium. Without enough calcium in your diet, you may develop gum disease and tooth decay. Calcium is found in many foods and liquids, such as milk and dairy products, beans, broccoli, nuts and oysters.

Iron:
Iron deficiency can cause tongue inflammation and mouth sores. Iron is found in foods such as red meat, bran cereals and some nuts and spices.

Vitamin B3 (niacin):
A lack of vitamin B3 can cause bad breath and canker sores. To boost your B3 levels, eat chicken and fish.

Vitamins B12 and B2 (riboflavin):
Mouth sores can develop when you do not get enough Vitamins B12 and B2. Red meat, chicken, liver, pork and fish, as well as dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese, are good sources of vitamin B12. Vitamin B2 is found in foods like pasta, bagels, spinach and almonds.

Vitamin C:
Vitamin C deficiency may lead to bleeding gums and loose teeth. Sweet potatoes, raw red peppers and oranges are great sources of vitamin C.

Vitamin D:
Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which helps build strong bones and teeth. A diet lacking or low in vitamin D can lead to burning mouth syndrome. Symptoms of this condition include a burning mouth sensation, a metallic or bitter taste in your mouth and mouth dryness. To increase your vitamin D intake, drink milk, and eat egg yolks and fish. Limited amounts of sunshine help the body to produce Vitamin D.

Teeth Whitening ...

Do you sometimes ask yourself why are you so unfortunate for having such yellow teeth? Are you always shy to go out because you don't want people to notice your yellow teeth because you feel that you might feel more terrible about yourself? Having yellow teeth can be such an awful thing. However, you shouldn't dwell on the fact that you have yellow teeth because you can still do something to make your teeth look whiter than ever. Remember that anything is possible if you believe you can do the things that you need to do.


There are actually hundreds of possible and guaranteed ways that can help you make your teeth look whiter than ever. Besides brushing your teeth each and every meal, you can as well have the biggest chance to have pearly whites if you will consider using the best teeth whitening gel that you can easily order online.

You don't need to worry so much about your yellow teeth because there are hundreds of guaranteed ways that can help you have whiter teeth very soon. Remember that as much as possible, you need to avoid drinking coffee, soda or tea because these drinks will only give you yellow teeth. So besides brushing your teeth after each meal and using the best teeth whitening gel, you must as well try your best to avoid drinking beverages that have artificial colors in it.

Remember that if you're going to brush your teeth right after each meal and if you're going to use the best teeth whitening gel and you won't drink coffee, soda or tea anymore, it won't take long until you're going to make your teeth look whiter than ever. You don't really need to go to the dentist's clinic just to have professional results of having whiter teeth because in simple ways you can as well achieve effective results that will definitely change the color of your teeth for the better.

You deserve to feel so much better about yourself that's why you shouldn't think twice about doing things that can make you have whiter teeth than ever. I wish you all the best and good luck!

The mouth

Oral cavity

The mouth, also called the (oral cavity) or buccal cavity is the entranceway into the digestive system containing both primary and accessory organs of digestion.

The mouth is designed to support chewing, (mastication) and swallowing, (deglutition), and speech (phonation).

Two rows of teeth are supported by facial bones of the skull, the maxilla above and the mandible below.

Teeth are surrounded by gingiva, or gums, part of the periodontium, support tissue of oral cavity protection.

In addition to the teeth, other structures that aid chewing are the lips, cheeks, tongue, hard palate, soft palate, and floor of the mouth.

Teeth

Humans normally will produce two sets of teeth called primary dentition, or deciduous teeth, and secondary dentition, or permanent teeth.

A tooth is the toughest known substance in the body exceeding bones in density and strength. Tooth enamel lends great strength to the tooth structure. The formation of a developing tooth includes the process of dentin formation, (see: Dentinogenesis) and enamel formation, (see: amelogenesis). As the tooth breaks through the gum into the mouth, the process is called eruption. The formation of teeth begins in early fetal development and goes through six stages:

* (1) initiation stage, 6th - 7th week
* (2) bud stage, 8th wk
* (3) cap stage, 9th-10 wk
* (4) bell stage, 11th-12th wk
* (5) apposition
* (6) maturation stage

Tooth enamel is white initially but is susceptible to stains from coffee and cigarette usage. A tooth sits in a specialized socket called gomphosis. The tooth is held in location by a periodontal ligament, with the assistance of cementum.

The white visible part of a tooth is called the crown. The rounded upper projections of the back teeth are cusps. The hard white exterior covering of the tooth is the enamel. As the tooth tapers below the gumline, the neck is formed. Below the neck, holding the tooth into the bone, is the root of the tooth. The inner portions of the tooth consist of the dentin, a bonelike tissue, and the pulp. The pulp is a soft tissue area containing the nerve and blood vessels to nourish and protect the tooth, located within the pulp cavity.

There are various tooth shapes for different jobs. For example, when chewing, the upper teeth work together with the lower teeth of the same shape to bite, chew, and tear food. The names of these teeth are:

* (1) Incisors, there are eight incisors located in the front of the mouth (four on the top and four on the bottom). They have sharp, chisel-shaped crowns that cut food.
* (2) Cuspids (or canine tooth), the four cuspids are next to each incisor. Cuspids have a pointed edge to tear food.
* (3) Premolars (or bicuspids), the four pairs of molars are located next to the cuspids. They crush and tear food.
* (4) Molars, there are twelve molars, in sets of three, at the back of the mouth. They have wide surfaces that help to grind food.

Adults have 32 permanent teeth, and children have 20 deciduous teeth.

Salivary glands

There are three sets of salivary glands: the parotid, the submandibular and the sublingual glands. The (exocrine) glands secrete saliva for proper mixing of food and provides enzymes to start chemical digestion.

Saliva also helps to hold together the formed bolus which is swallowed after chewing.

Saliva is composed of primarily of water, ions, salivary amylase, lysozymes, and trace amounts of urea.

Periodontium

The periodontium includes all of the support membranes of the dental structures surround and support the teeth such as the gums and the attachment surfaces and membranes.

This includes epithelial tissues (epithelium), connective tissues, (ligaments and bone), muscle tissue and nervous tissue.

Tongue

The tongue is a specialized skeletal muscle that is specially adapted for the activities of speech, chewing, developing gustatory sense (taste) and swallowing.

It is attached to the hyoid bone.

Terms meaning tongue include "glosso" and "lingual."

Mucosa

The protective tissues of the oral cavity are continuous with the digestive tract are called mucosa or mucous membranes.

They line the oral, nasal, and external auditory meatus, (ear), providing lubrication and protection against pathogens.

This is a stratified squamous epithelium containing about three layers of cells.

The lips are also protected by specialized sensory cells called Meissner's corpuscles.

The cells of the inner oral cavity are called the buccal mucosa.

Destruction of enamel

Destruction of enamel

The high mineral content of enamel, which makes this tissue the hardest in the human body, also makes it susceptible to a demineralization process which often occurs as dental caries, otherwise known as cavities.[16] Demineralization occurs for several reasons, but the most important cause of tooth decay is the ingestion of sugars. Tooth cavities are caused when acids dissolve tooth enamel:

Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2(s) + 8H+(aq) → 10Ca2+(aq) + 6HPO42-(aq) + 2H2O(l)

Sugars from candies, soft drinks, and even fruit juices play a significant role in tooth decay, and consequently in enamel destruction. The mouth contains a great number and variety of bacteria, and when sucrose, the most common of sugars, coats the surface of the mouth, some intraoral bacteria interact with it and form lactic acid, which decreases the pH in the mouth.Then, the hydroxylapatite crystals of enamel demineralize, allowing for greater bacterial invasion deeper into the tooth. The most important bacterium involved with tooth decay is Streptococcus mutans, but the number and type of bacteria varies with the progress of tooth destruction.

Furthermore, tooth morphology dictates that the most common site for the initiation of dental caries is in the deep grooves, pits, and fissures of enamel. This is expected because these locations are impossible to reach with a toothbrush and allow for bacteria to reside there. When demineralization of enamel occurs, a dentist can use a sharp instrument, such as a dental explorer, and "feel a stick" at the location of the decay. As enamel continues to become less mineralized and is unable to prevent the encroachment of bacteria, the underlying dentin becomes affected as well. When dentin, which normally supports enamel, is destroyed by a physiologic condition or by decay, enamel is unable to compensate for its brittleness and breaks away from the tooth easily.

The extent to which tooth decay is likely, known as cariogenicity, depends on factors such as how long the sugar remains in the mouth. Contrary to common belief, it is not the amount of sugar ingested but the frequency of sugar ingestion that is the most important factor in the causation of tooth decay.[28] When the pH in the mouth initially decreases from the ingestion of sugars, the enamel is demineralized and left vulnerable for about 30 minutes. Eating a greater quantity of sugar in one sitting does not increase the time of demineralization. Similarly, eating a lesser quantity of sugar in one sitting does not decrease the time of demineralization. Thus, eating a great quantity of sugar at one time in the day is less detrimental than is a very small quantity ingested in many intervals throughout the day. For example, in terms of oral health, it is better to eat a single dessert at dinner time than to snack on a bag of candy throughout the day.

In addition to bacterial invasion, enamel is also susceptible to other destructive forces. Bruxism, also known as clenching of or grinding on teeth, destroys enamel very quickly. The wear rate of enamel, called attrition, is 8 micrometers a year from normal factors. A common misconception is that enamel wears away mostly from chewing, but actually teeth rarely touch during chewing. Furthermore, normal tooth contact is compensated physiologically by the periodontal ligaments (pdl) and the arrangement of dental occlusion. The truly destructive forces are the parafunctional movements, as found in bruxism, which can cause irreversible damage to the enamel.

Other nonbacterial processes of enamel destruction include abrasion (involving foreign elements, such as toothbrushes), erosion (involving chemical processes, such as lemon juice), and possibly abfraction (involving compressive and tensile forces).

Though enamel is described as tough, it has a similar brittleness to glass making it unlike other natural crack-resistant laminate structures such as shell and nacre potentially vulnerable to fracture. In spite of this it can withstand the bite forces as high as 1,000 N many times a day during chewing. This resistance is due in part to the microstructure of enamel which contains processes, enamel tufts, that stabilize the growth of such fractures at the dentinoenamel junction.The configuration of the tooth also acts to reduce the tensile stresses that cause fractures during biting.