What we’re learning about COVID-19 and Gum Disease

What we’re learning about COVID-19 and Gum Disease does not surprise us. And as Teuscher Dental continues to pursue our values of excellent healthcare and constant improvement, we’ve been researching all we can to ensure your health and safety. Here’s what we are finding out:

What We’re Learning

Studies investigating the link between gum disease and COVID susceptibility/severity are ongoing. But what we know so far is that the inflammatory mediators in gum disease correlate with more severe COVID infections. In other words, there is evidence that the extent of gum disease increases the severity of COVID sickness. Studies are ongoing, and we will keep you updated as more information rolls in. But the early evidence is clear.

“Now that we’ve confirmed periodontitis makes [COVID] even deadlier, if you’re worried that you may have gum disease, your next trip to the dentist may actually save your life”

-Dr Shervin Molayem, founder of UCLA Dental Research Journal

Your Risk

Those in “high risk” groups for COVID are usually also those with a higher incidence of gum disease. This is because of the oral-systemic connection we’ve written about before. And if you are “high risk” for COVID, it’s understandable you’d be cautious about leaving your house. But we strongly recommend that you continue to receive dental care.

Because of COVID quarantining, we have some patients we’re seeing for their first routine dental care in over 9 months. Unfortunately, in many cases their mouth is noticeably less healthy than before. We always recommend regular dental care. But what we’re learning about COVID-19 and Gum Disease shows us that your dental health is ESPECIALLY important during this pandemic.4

We can assure you that we’re doing everything possible to be the safest environment possible for you and your family. Dr Mike has those details in this video. Great news also is that a recent ADA and UAB study showing that dental settings have one of the lowest transmission rates in all of healthcare. We care about you and hope to see you soon! If you have any questions, give us a call. We’re always happy to help.

References:

1. Thodur Madapusi Balaji, Saranya Varadarajan, U.S. Vishal Rao, A. Thirumal Raj, Shankaragouda Patil, Gururaj Arakeri, Peter A. Brennan.

2. Oral cancer and periodontal disease increase the risk of COVID 19? A mechanism mediated through furin and cathepsin overexpression, Medical Hypotheses, Volume 144, 2020, 109936, ISSN 0306-9877

3. https://www.dentistrytoday.com/news/industrynews/item/6778-covid-19-patients-with-periodontitis-face-greater-risk-of-dying

4. Patel, J. and Woolley, J. (2020), Necrotizing periodontal disease: Oral manifestation of COVID‐19. Oral Dis.

The Importance of Being More Kissable!

Who knew that kissing has actual health benefits?  The scientific study of kissing is called “philematology” (philos in ancient Greek = earthly love).  A Nobel Prize-winning study reported that people who increased their frequency of kissing over a 6-week period had lower cholesterol blood levels. They also had less allergy symptoms and allergic reactions, relief from hives, and – not surprisingly – lower stress levels!  Kissing also stimulates your brain to release feel-good chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin, which may also dilate blood vessels, thereby reducing headaches and cramps. Kissing is also shown to lower cortisol levels – a stress hormone also associated with difficulty losing fat.  Kissing can burn 5-26 calories per minute, and may also reduce the appearance of wrinkles by tightening and toning facial muscles!

Here’s the BAD news: studies also show that the biggest turnoff when it comes to kissing is – you guessed it – bad breath!  Missing teeth, cracked teeth and stained teeth are also rated as very off-putting. Kissing is a cultural indication of acceptance and affection. But research indicates that 2/3 of us would refuse to date someone with bad breath. 

A BIG problem is that most people with bad breath have NO IDEA so… that person could be you.  Bad breath can be a social barrier in everything from friendships to work relationships.  The bad-breath obstacles to kissing and close relationships can result in lower overall self-esteem in everyone from children to teens to adults. Sadly, those with bad breath may notice that others are avoiding them but not quite know why.

Bad breath can be more than just a social deterrent.  While breath odor is most often an oral health issue, there can be other causes. These include tobacco use, certain foods and medications, and medical issues such as infections in the nose, sinuses and throat, chronic reflux, some cancers and metabolic disorders. The Mayo Clinic adds that in young children an item such as food that’s stuck in a nostril may also cause bad breath, so it’s important for parents to pay attention.

So start with good oral hygiene habits that include regular cleanings and examinations by a dentist who is an expert in pro-active prevention. Obvious treatments like brushing with toothpaste or using mouthwash can be enough to cure bad breath at first. But bad breath can also indicate oral or respiratory infections as well as other GI issues like GERD, which can lead to more serious issues, including cancer. A “wait and see” approach doesn’t do you many favors (health-wise OR financially) when, very often, we can catch these things early on. This is when we can usually intervene with simple solutions and lifestyle change suggestions. This is only a small part of the reason regular dental cleanings and exams are so important!  

I am passionate about helping people get healthy and helping you to stay that way, so it would be my honor to help you be more kissable!  

Your grateful partner in health,

Dr. Mike

Two Crucial Cold Weather Health Tips to Know Today!

Lots of sane people love winter weather, but I’m not one of them.  Give me the hot sun any day.  But everything in life gives us an opportunity to learn, and cold weather is no exception.

Here are two cold weather essentials you should know:

1. Nose Breathing is best in cold weather – and the rest of the time too. 

Studies show that breathing through your nose (as opposed to breathing through your mouth) not only warms the cold winter air, and cleans and humidifies the air – all good for lung health, but nose-breathing may also improve your memory. Memories have 3 main stages of development: encoding, consolidation & retrieval, and according to a recently published Journal of Neuroscience study, nose breathing – but not mouth breathing – enhances all three of these memory stages.  For the athlete in all of us, it’s interesting to note that the nasal-pulmonary reflex closes the lungs when the nose closes and opens the lungs when the nose is more open – the Cleveland Clinic says this may be why elite athletes like using nasal strips during exercise.  Nose breathing also warms the air before reaching our delicate lungs, humidifies the air for our throat and lungs, and helps clean the air of bacteria, viruses, allergens, pollutants, dust and more before that air reaches your lungs.

2. Pay Attention to the Warning of Cold Sensitivity when it comes to your teeth. 

This is no small thing.  According to the ADA, causes of sensitive teeth include tooth decay, cracked teeth, worn tooth enamel, worn fillings, and tooth roots that are exposed because of periodontal (gum) disease, gum recession or even from too-aggressive tooth brushing.  The Mayo Clinic says that periodontitis, a form of gum disease, can not only cause tooth loss but some research suggests that the bacteria responsible for periodontitis can enter the bloodstream through gum tissue, possibly affecting your heart, lungs, and other parts of the body. Periodontitis may be linked with respiratory disease, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary artery disease or stroke.  

If your teeth are sensitive to cold air, it can be vitally important to heed this warning and take action now with your dentist because periodontal disease can be quite serious, and because other causes of cold sensitivity may be way easier to treat when caught early.  

So let the cold weather be an opportunity to learn about your health, and a motivation to take positive action!  As always, I’d be honored to help you in any way I can.  

Your grateful partner in health,

Dr. Mike

Christmas Gifts That Will Make Them Smile!

Let’s face it: 

Giving the gift of health can sound… boring.  Gift certificates to the dentist (yes, we do that!) sound pretty blah, but could be one of the best gifts you ever give.  To add some fun-factor, here are some ideas for everyone on your list! (Amazon links included!):

Expectant mothers:

Pregnancy can be an especially hazardous season for the mother’s oral health. Recent studies suggest critical links between a pregnant woman’s dental status and the health of the baby, while increased hormone levels frequently cause gingivitis. Combine the gift of an exam and cleaning along with some pickle-flavored toothpaste (YUM and yes this really can be found!) and floss for those expectant and new moms on your list!

Engaged couples:

All soon-to-be married couples (and family members!) want bright white smiles for their big day! We offer in-office whitening as well as overnight trays for at-home use, and even on-the-go strips. Give them the gift of a cleaning and check-up along with tooth whitening  – and throw in a denture-shaped ice cube tray for good measure!

Children and Grandchildren:

Books such as The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist and Dora The Explorer Show Me Your Smile are great gifts to get little ones started on their dental health journey!  You can gift your children and grandchildren with dental exams too, or just bring them with you to your own dental visit to be an example to them of how important their health is – and while they’re here they can experience riding up and down in the dentist’s chair for the first time!

Daughters and Granddaughters: 

Barbie’s “I Can Be A Dentist”  play set is a fun way to help young girls consider their future options.  We would be happy to talk with your kids about what we do too!

Teenagers and all ages:  

Who doesn’t want straight teeth? Invisible orthodontics can be a great option for many people, and we do these right in our office.  Along with a tooth-shaped cookie cutter, gift loved ones a dental exam to determine if these simple appliances are right for them, and we can get them started!

Baking enthusiasts and sweet-tooths:  

Cupcake-flavored floss, toothpaste and a tooth-shaped cookie cutter combine perfectly with a dental gift certificate!

Coffee drinkers: 

Fill a tooth mug with coffee-flavored floss and a dental exam gift!

Animal lovers:

Bacon-flavored treats for dogs and cats, along with bacon-flavored dental items for their owner would be fun, along with a vet dental cleaning and a human one too!

For the health-conscious or health-compromised: 

Mayo Clinic confirms that oral health may be linked with a myriad of diseases including diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, obesity, eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, pregnancy issues such as premature birth, and more.  To show how much you care, put together a care basket that includes a comprehensive exam that includes an oral cancer screening, personalized dental disease risk assessment and a customized prevention program designed just for them.

I hope these ideas are fun for you, and even more than that- I hope for you to take oral health very seriously. It truly is a gift.  My team and I would be happy to help you with any of these ideas or other questions you may have. Always feel free to give us a call.

If you have other dental gift ideas, please share them below! Have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Your grateful partner in health,

Dr. Mike

Build Your Legacy

Although many people have heard of Weston Price, not everyone realizes he was a dentist. A man ahead of his time, Dr. Price was one of the first to suggest a relationship between nutrition, dental health, and physical health. He studied the nutrition and overall health of a wide range of cultures, taking particular note of the amount of processed foods and sugars consumed by these cultures. His research led him to conclude that the introduction of a “modern Western diet” was associated not only with a decline in the dental and overall health of the people who ate those foods, but in their offspring he also noticed a developmental decline in proper facial bone structure – resulting in overcrowding of teeth.

Taking care of our dental health today not only affects our overall health in ways we may not realize, but, according to Dr. Price’s research, our choices can also affect the overall health, future dental health – possibly including the need for orthodontics – of our children. We have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy of health through the choices we make. Why not start building that legacy today?