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Diabetes and Your Oral Health

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Diabetes

Over 9 million people in the United States have diabetes, and about 1.4 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed every year. In fact, more than one in every 10 adults who are over the age of 20 have it. March 28th is the official American Diabetes Association’s Alert Day. Find out more about what you can do to protect yourself.

Do you suffer from diabetes?

What is it?

Diabetes is a number of diseases that involve problems with the hormone insulin. Normally, the pancreas releases insulin to help your body store and use the sugar and fat from the food you eat. Diabetes can occur when your pancreas produces very little or no insulin, or when your body doesn’t respond appropriately to insulin. Every 21 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes, and as of now– there’s no cure. Additionally, the disease is directly linked to poor oral health.

What’s the correlation?

Your oral health affects your overall health in a big way. A healthy mouth leads to a healthy body.

Millions of Americans suffer from diabetes and you might be surprised to learn about an unexpected complication associated with the condition. Research shows that there’s an increased prevalence of gum disease among those with diabetes. Other complications associated with it include heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.

The progression of gum disease.

Not only are diabetics more susceptible to serious gum disease, but serious gum disease may have the potential to affect blood glucose control and contribute to the progression of it. Research suggests that people with diabetes are at higher risk for oral health problems, such as gingivitis (an early stage of gum disease) and periodontitis (serious gum disease). All diabetics are at an increased risk for gum disease because they’re generally more susceptible to bacterial infection. Therefore, they have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums.

It’s manageable.

Stop tooth loss before it starts.

If your blood glucose levels are poorly controlled, you’re more likely to develop serious gum disease and lose more teeth. Like all infections, serious gum disease may be a factor in causing blood sugar to rise and may make diabetes harder to control. Maintaining good oral health is an essential part of living a healthy life. Additionally, diabetics need to manage their disease closely to stay healthy.

Make An Appointment

See us twice a year.

Always keep us informed of any changes in your condition and any medication you might be taking. Postpone any non-emergency dental procedures if your blood sugar is irregular.

The American Dental Association says that good oral health is integral to general health. Therefore, be sure to brush and floss properly and see us for regular checkups.

If it’s been over six months since your last appointment–make one today!

Dr. Randall and Stanley Burba

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, with a practice in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

Why Are Visits To The Dentist So Important?

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Twice A Year

We’ll make you comfortable.

There’s a major reason why the American Dental Association, and your dentist, recommend that you come in for a cleaning/exam every six months. Regular dental visits are essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. If you need additional help, we may even suggest you come in and see us even more frequently, until we can get your issue under control. In addition, in-between your exams, it’s important for you to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as you can.

What To Expect

Cleanings don’t hurt, so there’s no need to be nervous.

At a typical checkup and cleaning appointment, we’ll perform an examination of your mouth, teeth, and gums. Dr. Burba will be looking for any signs of gum disease, loose, broken or cracked teeth, a damaged filling, or tooth decay. He will also look for any signs of oral cancer.

Once a year you’ll need X-rays taken, and if you’ve been experiencing any pain– we’ll examine your head and neck, your bite, and the movement of your jaw.

Finally, we clean, polish, and floss your teeth– leaving them fresh and beautiful.

Benefits

Taking care of your oral health means taking care of your overall health.

There’s a number of benefits that come along with seeing us regularly. Since there’s a strong correlation between your oral health and your overall health, taking good care of your mouth means taking care of your entire body.

For example, gum disease can increase your risk of serious health problems including heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes– just to name a few.

Deep Cleaning

We clean the places you can’t reach with just a toothbrush and floss.

You might think you don’t need regular cleanings, but we have specifically designed tools to clean your teeth much better than you’re able to at home. During your cleaning, we’ll remove plaque from hard to reach areas, and get rid of any buildup that has occurred since your last cleaning.

Prevent Gum Disease

We can catch gum disease before it spreads.

Regular visits to see us can help to prevent the onset of gum disease. Gum disease doesn’t just harm your oral health– it can affect your entire body. One of the biggest reasons you might develop periodontal disease, is by neglecting your oral health, and missing dental visits. The good news is, even if you’re more susceptible to gum disease than others– we can usually help you prevent it through regular cleanings and proper oral hygiene.

Detect Oral Cancer

Your visits could be life saving.

By seeing us twice a year, you’re giving yourself the best shot at catching the early warning signs of oral cancer. If we do detect any symptoms of the disease, we’ll recommend you begin treatment immediately to improve your chances of beating it quicker. If oral cancer is detected early, it’s curable.

Save Money

Regular check-ups save you time and money in the future.

In addition to their health benefits, regular checkups can even be good for your wallet. Finding and treating minor problems like cavities, can spare you the expense of future complicated procedures including extractions, crowns, or root canals.

Cure Side Effects

Knocking out one problem can fix another.

Sometimes dental problems have side effects, and Dr. Burba will be able to correct more than one issue at a time. For example, bacteria in your mouth can not only cause tooth decay, but it’s also responsible for bad breath. Conquering tooth decay will help you get rid of your mouth odor as well.

Make An Appointment

Don’t forget to schedule a cleaning every 6 months!

By visiting us twice a year, and practicing good oral hygiene daily, you’ll keep your teeth and gums healthy, and prevent diseases.

If it’s been over six months since your last appointment, request one today!

Dr. Randall Burba (left) and Dr. Stanley Burba (right)

Dr. Randall Burba is an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, Massachusetts. He considers himself an artist–with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking.

How Does Aging Affect Your Teeth?

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As we get older, many different things happen to our bodies. Overall wisdom tells us the best thing we can do is embrace the process and enjoy the ride. However as is the case with most things, there are some ways we can proactively choose to live and care for our bodies that will pay off tremendously as we get older.

What does this mean for taking care of your oral health? How does aging really affect your teeth?

 

Your oral health should be a top priority at every age as you can experience many serious conditions whether you are 25 or 75. There are some key conditions for which you become more susceptible as you get older. We have broken down some of the key items below and what you can do to minimize your risk.

Erosion

 

The biggest concern at the core of your oral health is preventing acid erosion. Sugary and starchy foods are carbohydrates that ferment and cause the bacteria in your mouth to produce acid. The acid erodes the enamel on your teeth which creates small holes or openings where a cavity can form. As you age, erosion is more likely to happen near previous fillings or where gums have receded. Your dentist will be able to monitor this at your check-ups.

Avoiding sugary foods and sweetened drinks and having regular check-ups are key to minimizing the risk of enamel erosion.

Wear and Tear

Your teeth are meant to withstand constant wear and tear. The challenge is that as you age, you may have more teeth that are compromised by fillings, root canals, or other dental procedures. These teeth are more vulnerable to breaking and chipping.

“Contrary to what many people assume, teeth do not become more brittle with age,” says Steven E. Schonfeld, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association and a practicing dentist. “Still, we see patients all the time who have cracked or chipped a tooth biting down hard on something like an olive that still has a pit or a kernel of unpopped popcorn.”

Avoid chewing hard foods. This can be helpful in minimizing the risk of chipping a tooth. It is advised that you don’t chew on ice at any age.

Another factor to consider is clenching or grinding your teeth. Bruxism, the technical term for clenching, can wear down the surface of your teeth which can lead to cavities. You may not even be aware you are doing it, but your dentist may be able to detect signs of wear and tear associated with bruxism. A nightguard may be recommended.

 

A nightguard can be very effective in preventing or minimizing the amount of clenching and grinding you are able to do. When the teeth are not able to line up directly, less muscles are activated during the clenching process so there is less risk of damage or jaw joint pain.

Gum Disease

According to a 2012 study done by the Center for Disease Control, nearly fifty percent of adults over the age of 30 have some amount of gum disease. Also known as periodontal disease, this disease involves chronic inflammation of the gum tissue and bone supporting a tooth.

It is imperative to treat periodontal disease before tooth loss happens. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss and there is also research that connects gum disease and heart disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions.

Flossing is the only way that plaque can be removed from between your teeth, which is where gum disease begins, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.

 

 

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Dr. Randall Burba is an AACD accredited dentist, practicing in Salem, MA. He considers himself an artist – with teeth and beyond! He often paints, draws and has a passion for woodworking. Follow Burba Dental Partners on Twitter and Facebook.