News Letter | WeglosFamilyDental: March 2008

March 2008 • Volume II, Issue 3

From the Doc I feel the swirling winds of March coming upon us. The months keep flashing by. I hope everyone is enjoying our relatively mild winter -- only one snow day so far this season. May everyone have the luck of the Irish this wonderful month of March. Didn’t St. Patrick send all the serpents and rats into the water surrounding Ireland? And was he a recognized saint, after all? Remember, Easter is in March this year. For everybody who observes the Lenten season, I hope all sacrifices are going very well. May we give praise to Jesus for his sacrifice for us. That’s why we celebrate this time of year. I would like to send out hardy congratulations to my chiropractor, Dr. Rich Berkowitz, and his wife on the birth of their first baby, Max Henry. May Max live for a hundred years. Yours for a healthy mouth – Dr. Mark
Rebuilding That Perfect Smile: Tooth Replacement Options Unfortunately -- even in today’s world, with all our advanced knowledge and modern technology -- people still lose their natural teeth every day. And once they start losing their teeth, other stresses begin to mount on their bodies. One obvious consequence of tooth loss comes immediately to mind: Digestion capabilities begin to be compromised. When people lose teeth, their ability to chew food properly, into the state of what we call a digestible bolus, is negatively affected. At this point, people must rely on their stomachs to do more of the food breakdown. Does it happen properly? Not really. And if their food is not being properly broken down in the first phase of digestion, then their small intestines can’t absorb as many crucial nutrients their bodies need on a daily basis. Another negative effect of early tooth loss is the beginning of jawbone disintegration. Jawbones are extremely happy holding teeth within their confines. Once teeth are taken away, they begin a process called resorption. Approximately 40-60% of existing bone material recedes from that immediate site in 2-3 years. If people lose more than one tooth during a procedure, even more of their jawbones shrink away. If this bone loss continues over decades, it results in the all-too-familiar sunken look to that person’s face and lips. It causes a prematurely aged appearance -- not something most folks would aspire to. Though avoidance of tooth loss in the first place is what we strive for, today’s dental practitioners now have a proven procedure to help people combat the negative effects of early tooth loss: Dental implants. Dental implants are now considered state-of-the-art, made from a titanium alloy 98-100% compatible with human cell tissue. These implants closely resemble the shape of natural teeth roots, rather conical in shape with many threads in them, kind of like a screw. It only takes a minor surgical procedure to implant them, performed under local anesthesia and with relatively pain-free placement. Then, over the following few months, patients’ jawbones actually integrate (attach) onto the implants. Depending on the individual case scenario, patients can have strong, reliable new teeth in a matter of months. Most patients report little to no pain following the procedure. What there is can be easily managed with a few ibuprofen tablets. Imagine it: People who may previously have suffered all the ill effects of premature tooth loss can now have attractive, serviceable new teeth with minimal to no pain! Works for me. Because I am a licensed dental surgeon, all implant services are offered right here in our office. From the initial surgery to final tooth placement, our patients can have the peace of mind of knowing all procedures are done right on the premises, where they’re comfortable…no need for referrals to a stranger’s office. If you’ve been struggling with tooth loss, relax: We’ve got you taken care of. Call Patti today at 215-860-0738 to schedule a consultation, and start on the path to a bright new future. We’ll even make it easy for you: Anyone scheduling time for dental implant placement by March 31, 2008 will get a $250 credit toward payment for the procedure.
Natural Body Rhythms And Your Oral Care Routine Did you ever notice that some people seem to be natural early birds, while others appear to be in some kind of stupor until afternoon? You’re not imagining things, according to Dr. Thomas Wehr, Chief of Clinical Psychobiology at the National Institute of Mental Health. "We're all governed by our circadian rhythms, daily cycles that are produced by a kind of pacemaker in our brains," he explains. "This clock wakes us in the morning and puts us to sleep at night and coordinates with hormonal and other cycles. Some people's clocks run fast or slow. If you've got a fast clock, you're a morning person. You spring out of bed bright and early, but by evening you're ready to sleep. Evening people run slow, have a terrible time getting up in the morning and don't do well until noon or later." What most of us don’t realize is that our daily rhythms also govern sleep patterns, alertness, peak body strength, memory, logical reasoning and sensitivity to pain. That’s right: They all change hourly according to our internal clocks, and each individual’s clock runs a bit differently. So it only makes sense that an optimal oral care routine is one that fits best into our natural rhythms. If it does, you’re more likely to maintain a regular care regimen than if it goes against your natural flow. Morning People If you’re more of a natural morning person, you’re up with the sun or before, and likely give your mouth a good scrub with your toothbrush to get rid of that stale morning taste. That’s great, and remember that the taste comes from bacteria that embeds itself among your tongue’s taste buds. If you want to make sure your mouth stays fresh-tasting for you and fresh-smelling for anyone you get close to during the day, you’ve got to scrub your tongue, too. You can either use your regular toothbrush bristles for that, or the backside of one whose head is designed specifically for use as a tongue scraper. You can also use an implement designed solely for tongue scraping. Just make sure you get as far back on your tongue as possible (it can be tricky for those with a strong gag reflex). If you’re a snacker, try to eat healthy snacks that are lower in sugar and avoid acidic drinks. Then brush afterwards if you can, and if you can’t, at least rinse your mouth with a vigorous swishing of water. Small packets of single-use flossers are available for discreet use when you’re away from home. This same routine should work for you at lunch, as well. One more round of teeth cleaning after supper is ideal, but if you skip that, at least be sure to do a last one before you go to bed. Night Owls If you’re more of a third-shift kind of soul, you have to do the same kind of routine, but while dealing with the added challenge of going against the established patterns of most folks. Because bedtime for them may be more like midday for you, you must be careful not to overlook that last brushing, the most important of your day. Because you stay up late and could be quite tired by the time you go to bed, you may be tempted to just skip your before-bed routine. Don’t do it! During your sleep time is the longest period when your mouth remains closed. It gets warm in there, and without any water to disturb it, bacteria and tooth decay carnage unabated. So give your mouth a fighting chance by doing a thorough brushing and flossing before you turn in. If you often find yourself too tired to brush before bed, resolve to simply do your final cleaning of the day earlier, and forego any late-night snacks. Your waistline will thank you, too. What Am I? The BBC offers a fun quiz to help you figure out whether you’re a true “morning person” or “evening person:” http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/crt/
Recipe of the Month: March Comes In Like A Lamb One 6-10 pound leg of spring lamb (bone in) ½ cup minced shallots ½ cup minced garlic 1 cup Dijon mustard (I recommend Grey Poupon brand) ½ cup chopped fresh rosemary A few dashes Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce A few dashes soy sauce. 6 egg whites Mix shallots, garlic, mustard, rosemary, Worcestershire Sauce, soy sauce and egg whites together until well blended. Season leg of lamb with salt and black pepper. Rub egg white mixture inside and outside of leg. Roast in a 350° F oven until thermometer reads 125° F internal meat temp. (approximately 75-90 minutes; maybe 120 minutes for a 10-pounder). Let rest 10-15 minutes. Slice thinly and serve. For adventurous cooks who like a bit of extra flavor, try cooking your lamb in a Weber kettle charcoal grill: Place two piles, consisting of 25-30 briquettes each. directly across from each other to the outer edges of the grill. Light briquettes and allow to go gray. Place leg of lamb in middle of grill and cover. Cooking time is about 3 hours. Remember: You will have to continually add about 3-4 briquettes to each pile every 20-30 minutes to maintain constant temperature. I recommend using Matchlight briquettes from Kingsford to start your initial piles. When adding briquettes to existing hot coals, use regular Kingsford briquettes.
You Need More Than the Luck of the Irish to Maintain A Healthy Mouth: Making Good Choices About Decorative Piercings Maintaining oral health is not a matter of luck. Whether you're Irish or not, oral health depends on regular maintenance, preventative measures and intelligent choices. Your choices will affect your health, and some are better than others. Some fads and trends are relatively harmless—low-slung blue jeans, gothic makeup, even tattoos if they're attained from a reputable, licensed tattoo artist. One of the most popular trends for teens and young adults these days is tongue piercing. But what’s fashionable isn’t always healthy. Dentists across the country are seeing an increase in the number of complications in their patients with pierced tongues. Receding gums A study was recently performed by researchers from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry and Ohio State University College of Dentistry to evaluate the dental health effects of tongue piercings. Researchers examined 52 young adults with pierced tongues and the results were disturbing: 35% of those who had lived with their piercing for four or more years suffered from gum recession 50% of those wearing long-stemmed barbells for two or more years experienced gum recession. Receding gums are a known precursor to more serious gum disease and early tooth loss. Chipped teeth The culprit is not the piercing itself, but the jewelry. Whether the barbell was short- or long-stemmed, 47% of those subjects studied who had had their piercing for four or more years also had chipped teeth. Researchers claimed the damage resulted from biting the barbell, a habit easier to develop with the short-stemmed variety because it is easier to position between the teeth. Periodontal disease Another study that focused on 4,500 young people between the ages of 12 and 21 found that those with body piercings were more likely to smoke cigarettes, too. The combination of mouth piercing and smoking is even more risky, as smokers are more likely to develop pockets between their teeth and gums. In addition, they often lose the bone and tissue that support teeth. Add this to the gum recession, and you're just a step away from periodontal disease (bacterial infection that destroys the fibers and bone that hold your teeth in your mouth). Heart disease – really! Another serious risk factor with a tongue piercing is Ludwig's angina, a bacterial infection of the floor of the mouth. After a mouth piercing, there is an open wound that allows bacteria to get into the bloodstream. This causes swelling inside the mouth, which can prevent swallowing and easy breathing. Even more serious is endocarditis, an inflammatory reaction that results from bacteria getting into the blood via the hole and infecting the heart valves. What you can do If you or someone you know is aware of the serious risks and still wants to go through with getting a tongue piercing, there are a few things to keep in mind: Choose your piercing provider with care. Many people who perform piercings are not members of the medical profession. Because of this, health histories of patients are not recorded, emergency medical kits are often not kept on hand, antibiotics can't be prescribed for treatment of infection, and post-op care is not provided. Give serious consideration only to shops that are licensed. Check out the premises before making a decision, and pay attention to cleanliness of the shop as well as the operator. Ask to see the piercing shop’s sterilization process and ask about their safety procedures. Understand that non-sterilized tools can cause serious infection, including blood-borne hepatitis. Seek an evaluation by a doctor and a dentist before getting the piercing to be made aware of any potential risks, such as heart defects and murmurs, or oral conditions.
Keeping Snack Time Healthy It's a fact that causes concern: People are not maintaining healthy diets very much anymore. The effects of this recent apathy toward nutrition are noticeable everywhere: Childhood obesity is at an all-time high. Diabetes and heart disease are now two of the most common causes of death. The average weight of Americans has risen 13 pounds in the last ten years. What people don’t always realize is that unhealthy eating is not only bad for the body, but also for the teeth, particularly in children. Kids are snacking on unhealthy food daily, eating in between classes or after school as a substitute for a real meal. Soda and candy machines can be found on almost every high school campus in the country, and many elementary schools require that students bring food to class for snack time. The problem with all this is that kids between the ages of 5 and 18 are still developing their teeth. This development is stunted by a constant intake of sugar and acids found in common snack foods. Following is a list of tooth- (and body-) friendly snacks that are still filling and delicious, and which can be eaten quickly, with little mess. For Elementary-Level “Snack Time” Pretzels, Goldfish™ crackers, Chex™ Mix, and graham crackers all make excellent snacks if you need to buy for the whole class. All are available in family size or bulk packaging. If your child just has to bring in food for him- or herself, go with cheese sticks, naturally sweetened applesauce cups, granola bars, bagged fruit, or whole-grain crackers. For Teens Send along a water bottle or bottled sports drink (without the high fructose corn syrup) to prevent the temptation of soda machines. Pack a yogurt cup, sandwich, granola bar, or bagged whole-grain cereal/wheat or baked crackers. Avoid candy machines and potato chips of any kind. Obviously, it’s important that kids also follow a regular regimen of brushing and flossing. They should also receive regular check-ups and tooth cleanings with their dentist. All the healthy eating in the world can’t replace good oral hygiene!

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