My dentist says I have gum disease

So your dentist says you have gum disease.  What is it exactly?  Gum disease is gingivitis in the early stages and periodontal disease in the later stages.  Once you have periodontal disease you always have periodontal disease. 

Gingivitis is in a nut shell inflammation of the gum tissue.  It is a completely reversible disease.  Gingivitis is caused by plaque, which is a waste product (yes their poop) of bacteria that live in you mouth.  Plaque is formed every day by these bacteria and if it is left on or between your teeth it will cause gingivitis and other problems.  If you leave gingivitis alone long enough your body will sense the infection and start to dissolve the bone around your teeth.  Once that bone loss starts you have periodontal disease.  Once the bone is gone it is gone. 

Periodontal disease can be stopped especially if it is caught early.  But again, once you have periodontal disease you will always have periodontal disease.  If you are diagnosed with periodontal disease or even gingivitis your dentist may recommend you come in for a cleaning more than twice a year.  It is critically important that you follow these recommendations. 

In my office I highly recommend the use of a waterpik.  The waterpik is basically a power washer for your teeth and it cleans in between your teeth extremely well.  I have seen patients who have gingivitis start using a waterpik and the next visit their gums look very healthy. 

Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease, and problems with an unborn child.  Some dental professionals think it may contribute to far more health problems than we currently understand.

If you have been told you have gum disease, you need to take the necessary steps to treat your disease.  Talk to your dentist to learn more about how to take care of your mouth.

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The Power of Prayer

Life is hard, really hard at times.  I often wonder how some people deal with all the heartache and pain and trials they go through.  I know people who have lost children, spouses, have terrible diseases, lost jobs, the list goes on and on.  I am grateful for my life.  It isn't easy by any stretch of the imagination, but I am glad I have my life.  I am grateful for the power of prayer.  I have felt my Father in Heaven's warmth and comfort as I have fallen to my knees and prayed to him.  I was recently betrayed by someone I considered a friend.  He took advantage of me and my trusting nature.  I have been on my knees praying often for help in dealing with him and his behavior.  I don't know how I would get through my trials without prayer.  If you don't pray start and you will be amazed at how much it will help you.

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This is going to be expensive

My patients who don't brush and floss regularly tend to get a lecture about how expensive it will be to fix their teeth down the road.  I usually save this lecture for kids and teenagers, because I've found that adults really don't care.  Yesterday I had a young patient sit in my chair.  He is in his early twenties and is attending university.  He is married and has dental insurance but as with all dental plans it only covers about $1500.00 a year.  He is in for a cleaning and exam.  I start to list off all the cavities he has and there are a bunch.  In fact if memory serves correct he had a cavity on almost every tooth.  I rattle off filling, filling, root canal and crown etc.  In other words cha ching, cha ching, cha ching.  I really did feel bad for this kid.  I can tell they don't have a lot of money, and he is at a major cross road with his teeth.  He either forks out almost $10,000.00, yes that's ten THOUSAND dollars, to fix his teeth or he will be in dentures in the near future.  End of options.  I'm not talking big cosmetic case with veneers, I'm talking fillings and where needed root canals and crowns. 
So as I tell my patients 1 minute a day can save you thousands of dollars, I am not exaggerating at all.  If he had flossed regularly he would be nearly cavity free.  How is that you ask?  Simple, almost every cavity he has is one that started between his teeth.  Flossing prevents those cavities.  It really is that easy.  So for what it is worth, take time to floss.  Or you can just plan on writing a big fat check to your dentist.

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What do you do when you get a cold?

Sunday I woke up feeling a little odd.  I felt like I might be coming down with something but I got up and got dressed for church.  I made it to the first part of church but I knew I was getting sick.  I went home and started the "healing routine".  This cold is miserable.  I have been very blessed in that I think I have gone nearly 2 years with out a cold.  On Sunday my throat was on fire!!!  Literally on fire, ok maybe not literally but I wouldn't have even flinched if I had flames shoot out of my mouth.  I took some NyQuil and went to bed.  Monday I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a runaway freight train.  I canceled my patients and laid on the couch all day long.  I usually work through anything but this cold hit me hard.  Here is my I have a cold routine.  I love NyQuil and DayQuil.  They don't last that long but they work like a charm.  I also take insane amounts of vitamin C I just took 5000 mg.  I drink plenty of fluids and rest as much as possible.  I am not aware of much more I can do when hit with a cold.  If you have any tricks or tips please pass them on.

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I have a tooth ache

The other day I had a patient come into my office with a tooth that was bothering her.  I took an x-ray and sure enough there was a large cavity that extended into the nerve of the tooth.  She told me this tooth had bothered her a month or so ago and she went to the doctor and they put her on an antibiotic.  She took the antibiotic and the tooth started feeling better at which point she put off going to the dentist.  She was in some pain when I saw her but due to time constraints we only prescribed her an antibiotic and some pain medicine and scheduled her for a time that worked better for her. 
The next morning she called and she said she was swollen and was going to the emergency room.  I knew exactly what they were going to tell her, GO BACK TO THE DENTIST.  We normally start at noon on Wednesdays and stay open until 7.  I came in to see her at 10.  She was very swollen.  I got her numb and did the root canal which turned out great!  But now she will have to wait for the antibiotics to kick in which usually takes 48 hours, and she will probably be swollen for a week or so.  Why am I telling you this?  Simple, if she had come in the first time her tooth hurt she would have avoided a visit to the ER and an emergency root canal and all the swelling.  A general rule with teeth.  If it hurts its most likely going to be expensive and the longer you wait the worse it will get.

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Thrive not just survive

Often times in life it seems we get so busy with work, school, kids, grand kids, church, friends, etc. that we don't take time to enjoy the simple things in life.  The other day I was riding in the car with my wife and she was reading a book and she would periodically share parts of the book with me.  One sentence she read to me was, The key to happiness in life is learning to thrive not just survive.  I am quoting from memory but that was essentially it.

I really had to stop and think about that for a minute.  There are so many things in life that are beyond our control.  We never know from day to day or minute to minute if something bad will happen to us or some one we know.  We never know when tragedy will strike or hardship will reign supreme in our lives.  The only thing that is certain is that we will all experience tragedy and hardship.

So how do we thrive instead of just survive when the bad times come?  I am not 100% sure I have the answer.  But I often think that it is all about how we look at it.  When events in life come we have the choice to be angry or be happy.  Let me give you an example.  When I was a kid I would ask my dad to tell me a story at bed time.  I used to say if he could make me laugh the story was over.  Well as you can imagine I would do my best to not laugh, and I was quite good at it.  I was taking a happy event and nullifying it.  Now I know this is very different from a tragic event in life but I believe that the same principal applies.  We choose how we feel.  It isn't always an easy choice but I truly believe we choose how we feel.

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