Warning signs of oral cancer

Oral "Ororpharyngeal" Cancer is a scary but real factor in the health of your mouth. It can affect any area of the Oropharyngeal cavity including the lips, gum tissue, check lining, tongue, jaw the hard or soft palate & throat. It often starts as a tiny, unnoticed white or red spot or sore anywhere in the mouth or throat.
During your dental visit, your dentist can talk to you about your health history and examine these areas for signs of oral cancer. Regular visits to your dentist can improve the chances that any suspicious changes in your oral health will be caught early, at a time when cancer can be treated more easily. Dr. Davis provides a free Oral Cancer screening with every patient exam.

The symptoms of Oral Cancer to watch out for can include:

+ Sores that bleed easily or do not heal

+ Thick or hard spot or lump

+ Roughened or crusted area

+ Numbness, pain or tenderness

+ Change in the way your teeth fit together.

Make sure to tell your dentist about any problems you have when chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your tongue or jaw. Regular dental check-ups, including an examination of the entire mouth, are essential in the early detection of cancerous and pre-cancerous conditions.
                                 Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

Five easy ideas for big health payoffs.

Does it ever feel like you have to spend hours and hours at the gym, change your diet dramatically to reap any rewards in the health department. Small changes can have significant health payoffs.

1. Floss more often.
A simple piece of nylon string can have dramatic effects on a woman's overall health. Flossing is one of the easiest, quickest ways to remove bad bacteria from your body.

2. Eat every 2 to 3 hours during the day.
Think you’re a saint for going on a long hunger strike at work? If you’re imagining thinner thighs as a result, don’t. You’re likely making your metabolism crazy. Eat when they’re hungry, which often translates to three meals and at least two snacks per day. 

3. Make your coffee at home.
If a trip to Starbucks is as much of a morning ritual as showering and blow-drying your hair, you might find this advice crazy, but health experts like Gregory J.E. Ladas, author of the book The Couch Potato Diet, say it will not only save you money but possibly hundreds of calories. 

4. Wear a pedometer.
Becoming aware of how much you move is motivation to move more.  It also may be fun to track how active (or inactive) you are each day. To boost your physical and mental health, wear a pedometer and challenge yourself to increase your steps every day.

5. Give yourself a compliment.
The key to feeling happy, confident and proud of your body—flaws and all? Focus on what your body can do, rather than on how it looks. Too often, we pay attention to how our bodies appear, rather than what they allow us to do.

                                Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

If I have Heart Disease, how does it affect Oral Health?

Overall the data indicates that chronic gum disease may contribute to the development of heart disease, the nation's leading cause of death in both men and women. How does this happen? Gum disease is a bacterial infection that can affect conditions outside your mouth. 

In heart disease, one theory is that gum disease can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream where they attach to the fatty deposits in the heart blood vessels. This condition can cause blood clots and may lead to heart attacks.

 Are There Special Heart Related Requirements to Maintain Proper Oral Health?

To maintain the best oral health, you should:

- Establish and maintain a healthy mouth, brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist.

- Make sure your dentist knows you have a heart problem.

- Carefully follow instructions and use prescription medications as directed.

Am I at Risk if Dental Procedures are Performed?
If you have certain preexisting heart conditions, you may be at risk for developing bacterial endocarditis — an infection of the heart's inner lining or the valves. Anytime there is bleeding in the mouth, certain oral bacteria can enter the blood stream and may settle on abnormal heart valves or tissue weakened by an existing heart problem or heart condition. In these cases, the infection can damage or even destroy heart valves or tissue.

There are precautions you need to take if you have any of the following conditions:

- Artificial (prosthetic) heart valves

- A history of endocarditis

- Congenital heart or heart valve defects

- Heart valves damaged (scarred) by conditions such as rheumatic fever

- Mitral valve prolapse with a murmur

- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Be sure to tell your dentist if you have a heart condition, and what, if any, medications you are taking for it. Your dentist will record important health information in your record and coordinate treatment with your physician.
   
                              Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

We see an alarming dental health problem...

It has come to our attention that some of our patients are postponing their regular dental cleaning and checkup appointments.  That is just like not changing the oil in your car-it saves a few bucks now but could be much more expensive in the future.  Most adults should see their dentist for a regular cleaning and check up every six months.   

People at a greater risk for oral diseases should have dental check ups more than twice a year, which means about every 3-4 months.  Tobacco and alcohol use,  diabetes, pregnancy, periodontal and gum disease, poor oral hygiene and certain medical conditions are some of the many factors that your dentist takes into consideration when deciding how often you need your dental cleaning and check up.

We are also seeing more and more patients that are taking multiple medications for their general health such as Osteoporosis medications, Statins for high cholesterol, multiple meds for high blood pressure etc.  We have had many patients on these drugs for years and all of a sudden they develop a dry mouth.  This condition can cause serious damage to your mouth.  We have had about 4 patients on medications that skipped their regular cleaning and the next time we saw them they had 10-20 cavities caused from the dry mouth.  If you notice a dry mouth please contact your physician and us immediately to see how we can prevent this devastating damage.

Going to your regular check ups will help to keep your gums and teeth healthy as well as detect any problems in the early stages and of course that will save money and grief.  Lately we have had several patients that haven’t been in over the last year or so and then they call with a toothache, cracked tooth, massive decay etc. which now costs them in some cases thousands of dollars and lots of grief.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

                          Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

Cancer and how it can affect your oral health.

What Are Oral Complications of Cancer Therapy?

Most people are aware of common side effects of cancer treatment like nausea and hair loss. But many don't realize that more than one-third of people treated for cancer develop complications that affect the mouth. These problems may interfere with cancer treatment and seriously lower the standard of living of the patient.

Head and neck radiation, chemotherapy, and blood and marrow transplantation can cause oral complications ranging from dry mouth to life-threatening infections.

What Can Be Done to Reduce Their Risk and Impact?

Advise the dentist as to which therapy is planned. Each therapy has it's concerns and preparations.

Conduct blood work 24 hours before any dental procedure.

After radiation make sure the patient follows up with a fluoride gel/home care compliance. 

Tooth extraction, if unavoidable, should be conservative.

Resume a regular dental recall schedule when chemotherapy is completed and all side effects, including immunosuppression, have resolved.

These are just a few preventative steps that can help keep your oral health up while beating the disease. Dr. Davis can help develop plan to to make sure you're doing your best.

                   Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

Top food and drinks that can stain your teeth.

Determined to keep those pearly whites their whitest? You already know how important it is to brush and floss daily and to see a dentist periodically. But dentists say you should also be mindful of certain foods and beverages that stain teeth.

Intensely colored foods and beverages tend to be the biggest offenders. If you’re worried about spilling the food or drink on your white tablecloth, it could stain your teeth. The more intense the color, the more potential there is for staining.
The color in these foods and beverages comes from chromogens, intensely pigmented molecules with a talent for attaching to dental enamel.

Acidity is another factor. Acidic foods and drinks promote staining by eroding the dental enamel, temporarily softening teeth for chromogens to do their work.

And finally, a family of food compounds known as tannins promotes staining by further boosting chromogens’ ability to attach to enamel.

The Top Teeth-Staining Foods and Drinks.

1. Wine (Red and White). 

2. Tea. 

3. Cola. 

4. Sports drinks. 

5. Berries. 

6. Sauces.

7. Sweets.
                                         Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

Need a cosmetic dentist? Here's what to look for.

With the explosion of dental services on the web it seems a good time to identify what to look for in a dental practice. This is the dentist a friend might send you to, a competent doc with decades of experience. 

The keyword is experience, defined as "active participation in activities leading to the accumulation of knowledge and skill".

Something happens after years of practicing extends into decades. Completing literally thousands of procedures, top dentists learn to anticipate problems before they happen. He doesn't just know how to fix things, he knows the best overall solution.

Experience alone isn't enough. The complexity of dentistry requires ongoing education. The combination of experience plus continuing education is what makes a great dentist.

A layman's tip for figuring out how much ongoing education the doc has is the string of letters that appear with his/her name. 

The longer the better though MAGD (Mastership from the Academy of General Dentistry) is good. Having Academy Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry listed in the doc's bio is even better. There are only a few hundred of these type dentists in the world.

You deserve nothing less than the best, don't settle for less. There are many great docs out there. 

Cosmetic Dental Associates, located in Houston Texas features Dr. Spiker Davis with over 30 years of practice. Consider him during your next search  for the best local dental practices.
                              Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

New numbers are in, brushing basics still the best.

This month is "National Smile Month" which includes the release of some interesting new numbers. According to their web site many brushing basics are still being ignored.

Brushing twice a day

25 per cent of adults do not brush twice a day, including a third of men
People who only brush once a day are a third more likely to develop decay.

Cleaning habits

 42 per cent of adults use just a toothbrush and toothpaste for their oral care
 31 per cent of adults use mouthwash
 21 per cent of adults use dental floss

Visits to the dentist   
          50 per cent of adults say they visit their dentist every 6 months

21 per cent of adults say they visit their dentist annually
Visiting the dentist annually reduces the risk of tooth decay by 60 per cent 

                                     Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

What's better an old fashioned manual toothbrush or the latest electric?

We all know a regular toothbrush works. The question is if an electric version can do it better. The answer to the question seems to be yes.

According to Alan Carr, D.M.D. writing for the Mayo clinic "It's possible to brush your teeth effectively with a manual toothbrush — but an electric toothbrush can be a great alternative to a manual toothbrush. Whether you choose an electric toothbrush or a manual toothbrush, what's most important is daily brushing and flossing." 

Many people tend to be lazy brushers. An electric toothbrush can be more thorough and not as tired as you first thing in the morning. Some models include timers to indicate recommended brushing times, adjustable power settings, flexible handles for arthritic hands and small 
easy to control bristle areas. They can improve not only tooth health but promote healthy gums as well. Beware though replacement bristles can cost as much as half of the original purchase price.                                       
                                     Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

Want to find out more about how dental office infections are controlled?

Recent developments in the news highlight the importance of the sterilization practices we follow. At Cosmetic Dental Associates we have followed strict infection control standards in our office for the past 35 years.  

If you 're interested in more information please visit the American Dental Society and the links below in particular.

Policy Statement on Bloodborne Pathogens, Infection Control and the Practice of Dentistry

Statement on Infection Control in Dentistry

CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings (2003)

                                    Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

What is a veneer and the basics of what I need to know?

Veneers are widely agreed to be the most practical solution for a fast, affordable, "dream smile". In case you're not familiar, a porcelain veneer is a thin sheet placed on the outer surface of the tooth. 

Once installed Veneers are permanent! Don't take a chance on one of those new, fast food style, veneer companies! Dr. Davis has been a smile makeover expert in Houston Texas, creating beautiful custom Venners, for over 35 years.                        
                                 Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

Should kids with baby teeth see the dentist?

Even though all of your child's baby teeth will eventually be lost, they still need to be brushed and flossed daily. This brushing and flossing is important to establish good habits early in life. Daily brushing and flossing also helps prevent cavities or tooth decay. Cavities in baby teeth can affect the development of the permanent teeth and do need to be treated. 
                            Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

Dental History CSI

American history figure Paul Revere, in addition to earning a living as a silversmith and copper plate engraver, also worked as a dentist. Revere is the first person known to use dental forensics, to identify the body of a colonial colonel killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill by the bridge he wore. 
          Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

Does your cold seem to keep coming back? Your tooth brush could be the problem.

Have you been sick this Flu season with a bug that seems to keep coming back? You should replace your toothbrush every three months and always always get a new one after you have an episode of flu, cold or other viral infections. These Bacteria can implant themselves on the toothbrush bristles leading to re-infection.You should also not keep your toothbrush near a toilet. The airborne particles from a flush can travel up to 6 feet. Give your toothbrush the extra care it deserves.          Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com

What are Lumineers?

Lumineers are a type of veneer ( a thin layer of material placed over a tooth) created by a laboratory in California. They are available in several types of materials which allows the flexibility to use specific materials that best conform to your mouth. They are designed and made with the help of a computer or can be hand made to create a more customized look.

Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.spikerdental.com

Good oral health equals good heart health.

Good oral health equals good overall health. The data is in from multiple sources such as the Mayo Clinic, the AMA and more. In particular there appears to be a link between good oral health and a healthy heart. Bacteria from infected gums enter the bloodstream and may directly infect blood vessel walls, making them susceptible for plaque deposition. Oral infections can also lower your immunity and make you more susceptible to secondary infection. It's a new year, never too late to improve. Contact our office and see what we can do for you.
                                              Cosmetic Dental Associates | www.cosmeticdentistshouston.com