Dental Focus Center

Trench Mouth?

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:03:44 +0000

My gums are always bleeding. Needless to say, they are quite painful. I’m sure, this has a lot to do with the fact that I am very lazy when it comes to taking care of my teeth. Nakakahiya mang aminin, hindi ko kasi nakagawiang mag-toothbrush (hehehe). At saka, malakas akong manigarilyo, na ang sabi sa akin ay masama raw sa gums? Tama ba ito? – Name Withheld Upon Request

I think, what you may possibly have is what is called trench mouth. It may also be caused by a variety of factors. What is best is for you to consult a dentist, of course. Feel free to call us anytime for an appointment and we’ll be more than willing to help you.

Meanwhile, this feature article on trench mouth from may be useful.

“Trench mouth is a painful and severe gum infection. This infection occurs because of high bacteria levels in the mouth, usually from poor oral hygiene. Trench mouth can also be caused from lack of sleep, stress and / or poor nutrition. Trench mouth occurs more in smokers than non-smokers.

“The name “trench mouth” comes from World War I, where soldiers were stuck in trenches without the means to take care of their mouth and teeth. Trench mouth is also known as Vincent’s Stomatitis or Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, hence the acronym ANUG.

“While trench mouth is rare and not contagious, it can be extremely painful and will only worsen without treatment. If treatment is not sought, the infection may travel to other parts of the body. Antibiotics, along with a professional dental cleaning, can usually clear the infection from trench mouth.

“Practicing good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist for regular checkups are the best way to prevent trench mouth.”

_Sources:

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Merck & Co., Inc.

Odontophobia

admin — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:36:24 +0000

One of my greatest fears is to go to a dentist. What I do, I just take very good care of my teeth to avoid the need of consulting a dentist. But, recently, I’m having a pain in my gums that I cannot understand much less do something about. How do I conquer my fear of dentists? – Lydia Genaro of Las Piñas City

You may be suffering from what is called odontophobia, or fear of dentistry in general. Unless your fear is rooted in a traumatic childhood experience. It is possible that you had a painful episode involving a dentist and, perhaps, your parents used that dentist to scare you to submission. I had a patient like that before. Just so she’d obey her mother’s wishes, the latter would say, “If you don’t follow me, I’ll bring you to that dentist!”

Generally, however, it is understandable that most of us have some reservations about going to the dentist because dentists usually conjure the image of pain in our mind. But then, getting a dental check-up ideally once every six months (or twice yearly) is an integral part of total health care. I don’t intend to scare you but recent studies have linked periodontal disease to a wide variety of chronic diseases, including heart disease, strokes, and type 2 diabetes. In other words, odontophobia can have very serious health implications.

By the way, I’d like to tell you that, if you’re just afraid of the potential pain that may go with your dental appointment, drop by any of our Dental Focus branches (There is one in Southmall in Las Piñas City) and you are sure to be in for a pleasant surprise.

Truth is, things don’t hurt anymore. Anesthesia has become much more effective, and patients don’t have to experience the pain that used to be common in dental procedures.

Meanwhile, the following tips on how to ease angst about dentists, which we got from Kimberly A. Harms, DDS, consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, may prove helpful to you.

First, know if you’re an early bird or a late riser. Schedule your dental appointments during the time of day that’s best for you. Come in the morning if you’re a morning person, or late in the afternoon if you’re an evening person. You’ll be in a better mood and better frame of mind.

Also, prepare the night before. Get a good night’s sleep. If you have trouble sleeping the night before a visit, it may be advisable to consult your doctor about taking a sleep aid.

Still according to Dr. Harms, it is helpful to talk a lot about your fear. Like, for instance, you can make a list of what it is that bothers you about going to the dentist – whether it’s fear of painful procedures or lack of control over what’s going on – and then talk about it with your family and friends and, most especially, with your dentist. “The most important thing you can do is communicate with everyone, right from the beginning,” says Dr. Harms.

Communicating with your dentist goes a long way toward establishing a relationship that is more than just professional. When you begin to feel that your dentist is a friend, you also begin to trust her, which also goes a long way to alleviating your fears.

Research from a blog by Emily Main

Teething and Breastfeeding

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:28:44 +0000

Help! My 8-month-old baby has started having teeth and it weakens my resolve to breastfeed him until two years old. Please help. – Name Withheld Upon Request

This feature article from la Leche League International may prove very enlightening.

“Mothers are often curious about how teething will affect their breastfeeding relationship. Sometimes there is concern that baby may bite, or that teething will cause breastfeeding to become uncomfortable. Some mothers may even consider weaning. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that breastfeeding continue for a minimum of two full years, and similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that breastfeeding continue a minimum of one year, and as long thereafter as baby and mother mutually desire. Some mothers may wonder how these recommendations can be applied when most babies cut their first teeth during their first year.

“It is important to understand that when a baby is latched on to the breast correctly, his lips are flanged and his gums land far back on the areola (the dark area around the nipple). His bottom teeth are covered by his tongue and do not come in contact with the mother’s areola at all. For this reason, a baby who is latched on correctly and actively nursing cannot bite. However, if a baby is latched onto the nipple only, the baby can clamp down and cause pain to the mother’s nipple. Good positioning and latch-on techniques can prevent painful bites.

“Many mothers find the real challenge occurs during the time that the baby is actively cutting teeth, rather than after the teeth have erupted. Babies can experience significant discomfort due to teething and will sometimes alter their positioning or latch to avoid hitting the sore spots on their gums. This can cause mothers temporary nipple soreness or discomfort. Here are some suggestions that might help:

“Before Nursing:

Offer your baby a cold, wet washcloth or a cold teething toy to chew on.
If baby is eating solids, offer a frozen bagel (or other hard, cold food). As with any food, watch baby closely to avoid choking, and discard the food once it begins to get soggy and disintegrate.
Try massaging your baby’s gums with a clean finger.
Before using over-the-counter gum numbing preparations, consult your baby’s doctor. These products may also numb baby’s tongue, and occasionally mother’s areola, making breastfeeding difficult.

“During Nursing:

Try different nursing positions, and ensure that the weight of your baby’s body is well supported when he is latched on.
Make sure that baby latches on well every time. Gently remind him to open wide before latching on.
Before baby will clamp down on the nipple, he has to move his tongue out of the way or risk biting himself. The observant mother can be ready to stick a finger in the corner of his mouth so the clamping is done on the finger and not the nipple.

“After Nursing:

Consider rinsing your nipples with cool water, as some mothers find that baby’s increased saliva from teething irritates the nipples.
Some mothers find it helpful to apply lanolin (or other 100% lanolin preparation for nursing mothers).

“On occasion, baby’s new teeth can irritate in other ways. A mother may find that baby’s teeth leave indentions on her areola, or baby’s teeth scrape as he latches on or off. If this happens to you, it might help to:

Assure that baby opens wide and latches on well.
Assure that baby is positioned well, and his weight is well supported. Sometimes the weight of baby can drag down the nipple and contribute to the problem.

“Around the time that a baby gets teeth, many mothers introduce a sippy cup. Babies often chew on the spouts of these cups and some babies might transfer this same mouth activity to the breast. If you suspect this is happening, here are a few things to try:

Take a break from the cup for a while.
Try an open cup (water only for easy clean up).
Try a cup with a straw and lid.

“Many mothers find that continuing to nurse as their baby cuts teeth adds a priceless tool to their toolbox when the joys and challenges of toddlerhood begin.”

Losing Milk Teeth

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:24:59 +0000

My six-year old is starting to lose his milk teeth. Is it wise to pull them out manually? Do I need to bring him to a dentist? – Lina Villa-Benavides

Children typically start losing primary teeth around five to six years of age. They will most likely continue to lose them until around twelve to thirteen years of age, at which point most of his or her permanent teeth have erupted. Primary teeth should be lost as naturally as possible, and should not typically be pulled until the permanent tooth makes it loose. If a primary tooth is pulled too early, then it creates the chances of the permanent tooth to become misaligned or crooked. Primary teeth fall out because the permanent tooth is pushing them to make room. Most teens have a total of 28 permanent teeth, plus four additional teeth, wisdom teeth, that will grow in behind in late adolescence.

Source: www.agd.org

Baby Born with Teeth

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:02:33 +0000

When my baby was born two weeks ago, we were dismayed to see that he already has two front teeth. Is there any cause for alarm? – Gina Casas-del Mundo of Angono, Rizal

Indeed, it is rare but some infants are really born with teeth, just below the gum line. These are known as natal teeth and, according to the American Dental Association, are found in about one out of every two thousand births. Natal teeth are not milk teeth or primary teeth.

Natal teeth usually fall off given time; but they are usually removed by a dentist due to the prevalence of problems associated with them. Like, if it causes pain in the infant; if it gets in the way of feeding the infant adequately and well; if it gives discomfort to the breast feeding mother; or if it injures or causes damage to the tip of the infant’s tongue.

Do visit us and we will help you. If Dental Focus is not that accessible, do go to the nearest dental clinic.

Why only in the South?

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:41:54 +0000

Every since I had my first very pleasant experience with Dental Focus three years ago, not only have I brought my family for our dental needs there, I have also been talking about it with my friends. I work in Makati City and live in Muntinlupa so the Dental Focus Festival Mall branch is not that far from me. But whenever i talk about Dental Focus with my friends and co-workers, especially those from Mega Manila, their first question is why all the four clinics of Dental Focus located in the South. Oo nga naman. It is quite unfair that the same quality service that Dental Focus provides is not very accessible to people who happen to live in Metro Manila. So, what gives, Dental Focus? Bakit nga ba nasa South of Metro Manila lang kayo? Sana, magka-branch kayo sa mga malls like Glorietta or Megamall. This is just a suggestion.

10 Commandments for a Happy Marriage

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:24:16 +0000

Yes, it is the day of hearts, the season of love, the time for affirming and validating love and marriage!

There is no such thing as a perfect marriage. What appears like one is actually the product of commitment and dedication lived out through the daily toil and sacrifices of both husband and wife.

On this very special occasion, I’d like to share my own personal 10 Commandments for a Happy Marriage.

Thou shalt have no other lover than thy spouse. Your spouse is a divine gift you are to love and cherish till the last breath of your life. Next to God, your spouse must be the greatest love in your life – not your job, your hobbies, your sports, your friends.

Thou shalt not take the name of thy spouse in vain. Always strive to build up, affirm and protect the honor and reputation of your spouse as an integral extension of your own. Do not do anything that may harm or reduce it in any way.

Thou shalt keep significant dates holy. Nurture your love for your spouse through open communication, constant connection and a good memory. Always remember anniversaries, birthdays and special occasions – and celebrate them.

Honor thy children. Respect their uniqueness and individuality. Discover what God has endowed them with and help them develop and become what the Lord has intended them to be.

Thou shalt not kill thy love. Avoid things that kill the love – like selfishness, critical spirit, jealousy, intolerance, impatience, lack of understanding, unwillingness to give of self, complacency, insensitivity to feelings, and more.

Thou shalt be faithful to thy family. Strive to never bring shame and dishonor to your family. Take pride in every little and big successes; and be encouraging in failure. In seasons of plenty as well as in want, bring your family to God.

Thou shalt not steal joy from thy spouse. You and your spouse are one. The pain of one is the pain of both. Decide to always delight and uplift. Know everything that makes your spouse smile and, whenever there is a chance, cause it to happen.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy spouse. At all times, believe in your spouse. Always side with your spouse. Never badmouth or disparage your spouse. If you disagree, as you sometimes necessarily must, do so lovingly and with respect.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s spouse. Take care of your own garden so you do not try to smell the flowers elsewhere. Decide to love your spouse more each day; so that when you are both old and gray, your love will be quieter but deeper.

10.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods. Work hard as you must, but choose contentment over ambition. Happiness is not in what you still aspire for but in what God has already given you.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ALL!

Early Childhood Cavities

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:13:55 +0000

I have a 27-month old child whose baby teeth are already showing signs of decay. I don’t know what to do. Please help. – Rexy de Leon of Navotas

Your worry is a common problem of mothers of very young children. My first question is, is your baby bottle-fed? If yes, you will find the following feature article from the American Dental Association helpful:

Early Childhood Cavities (ECC), more commonly known as “baby bottle tooth decay” is a condition that affects children up to the age of three, or as long as they remain using a bottle. Although rare, ECC may indicate the potential risk for severe tooth decay when the child develops their adult teeth. ECC is caused by:

Sugars and carbohydrates in the child’s diet
Beverages that contain sugar such as milk, infant formula, fruit juice, or any other liquid that contain or is sweetened with sugar.
Bacteria transferred from the caregiver to the child
The frequency of feedings
Allowing a child to fall asleep with bottle that contains any liquid other than pure water.

Prevent early childhood decay by:

Offering a pacifier rather than a bottle during naps and bed time
Speak with your dentist for advice on how to expose your child to fluoride, if it is not available through your water supply. Fluoride is recommended by the American Dental Association to strengthen teeth, which may prevent tooth decay.
If using a bottle during periods of sleep, fill the bottle with only pure water.

_Source:

_{The American Dental Association. Oral Health Topics – “Early Childhood Tooth Decay (Baby Bottle Tooth Decay)”}

Severe Headache?

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:57:25 +0000

I have a headache that began two months ago, which grows more severe as time goes by. Somebody mentioned that it may have something to do with my jaw. Is this true? What can I do to find out what’s wrong with me? – Jojo de la Paz

Of course, the very first thing you should do is to consult a doctor – or a dentist, if you think it has something to do with your jaw. You may visit us at any Dental Focus branch anytime and we’d be glad to help you.

But, for now, the following feature article from the website of the Michigan TMJ/Headache Institute may be of help to you:

“It may be possible for you to do some self-diagnosis in order to explain why you have head pain. The following are some identifying characteristics for people who are predisposed to head pain.

“Please remember that it is the balance between your jaws, skull bone, and neck that determines your diagnosis and treatment guidelines.

“Head pain (including migraines, headaches, earaches, neck problems, etc.) is a symptom of a neuromuscular and skeletal imbalance above your shoulders.

“Once you find out where the imbalance is, the cure is normally quite simple.

“1. Do your jaws look like they’re out of alignment?

“The most common problem is an overbite, indicative of a deficient lower jaw. Possible causes may be growth disturbances during infancy either due to genetics or possibly enlarged tonsils and adenoids that have prevented or stunted proper jaw growth.

“An overbite is easy to diagnose by noticing that your lower teeth fit too far underneath your top teeth. This may be only slightly discernible, while in some patients it is so obvious that the lower teeth disappear behind the upper teeth when they bite down all the way. The problem with this relationship is that the muscles that connect the lower jaw to the skull bone overpower the lower jaw, causing it to compress the joint, skull bone, and brain tissue.

“It is important to realize that there are over 300 muscles that attach to the jaws, skull, and neck. 298 of these muscles do one and only one thing: they close the lower jaw, squeezing it into the skull bone (in close intimacy to the brain tissue)! Any misalignment problems, or deficiencies, cause compression and dysfunction in the joint, skull bone, and brain.

“Furthermore, it is critical to realize that human beings use their lower jaw over 5,000 times a day. Think about what would happen if you tried to ride 1,000 miles on a bicycle that had missing spokes. A small lower jaw can also be a sign that the sutures (growth plates of your skull) have not developed properly and may be calcified, thereby causing a generalized “tightening” of all of the bony plates of your head. This leads to a skull bone that is nonresilient and very rigid. Healthy skull bones have flexible suture lines that allow for an overall elastic function of the skull, just the way springs and shock absorbers allow your car to go over bumps. Calcified plates indicate a struggle of the skull to maintain proper function. Think about your car working without coil springs and shock absorbers! This is what happens with many overbite patients and chronic pain sufferers. They become wheelbarrows!

“Class III underbite (big lower jaw) also causes jaw muscle irregularities. The lower jaw becomes too powerful for the joint. The upper jaw is not strong enough to “house” and support the lower jaw.

“Severe and Mild Underbite: In this first photo, a severe underbite, the dynamics are easy to observe. Muscular dysfunction results due to this improper jaw to jaw relationship. The lower jaw is simply too strong for the upper jaw and the skull bone.

“The second photo, representing a milder case of Class III underbite, is subject to the same principles but is more difficult to diagnose (note the differences in size between the upper and lower jaws).

“Eventually, things give out and pain sets in. This is one of the most difficult problems to address, therefore proper treatment must be carefully evaluated.

“2. Have you had previous orthodontic care?

“Orthodontic care straightens teeth, but the majority of orthodontic care does not address the jaw to jaw relationship or the jaw joint function. If your teeth are straight but the jaw to jaw relationship is not corrected properly, then you can develop slow lingering problems with the jaw joints.

“The adjacent photo reveals the lack of orthodontic treatment for a crowded teeth condition. This teenaged patient had a history of headaches caused by this unbalanced jaw relationship.

“Some studies show that 50% of patients that complete orthodontic treatment end up having jaw dysfunction and eventual head pain problems.

“This is especially true for patients who have received premolar extractions. Taking out these teeth causes the jaws to shrink, consequently constricting the jaw function and compressing the jaw joints. Many migraine sufferers have received this type of care. Even if your teeth look perfectly straight, it does not mean that your jaws align properly. Many of the patients that we see look like they have Hollywood teeth. Unfortunately, what the orthodontics accomplished and what genetics gave you may not be in harmony. Don’t let a perfect smile or a perfect bite fool you!

“3. No signs of any problems

“Patient is having absolutely no jaw pain or muscular pain in chronic migraine sufferers…no signs of a TMJ or jaw problem whatsoever! These patients visit their dentist, physician, and many other specialists who cannot detect a TMJ problem due to the fact that the jaw joint exhibits no noises or signs of pain. This is very common with chronic pain patients, especially migraine sufferers. The explanation is as follows: the joints slowly became “plasticized” over time due to compression. The protective disk slowly resorbed, over time, with no apparent signs of pain or problems. The joint itself adapted to the dysfunction by smoothing out the skull bone and the head of the lower jaw (the condyle). The “hyalinized” bone (smoothed bone) makes no noise or causes no pain within the joint itself because it has polished itself in an effort to protect the area. The problem, however, comes with time as the surrounding tissues, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and brain sense the dysfunction and start to cause head pain. This is the most commonly misdiagnosed and missed problem in today’s headache war.

“4. Do you get frequent sinus infections and sore throats?

If you have exhausted the medications prescribed by your ENT doctor then maybe the true cause is a jaw problem. Even if you don’t have headaches or other symptoms, jaw imbalance problems can lead to sinus issues. The muscles of the jaws attach directly to the sinuses.

“5. Chronic neck and shoulder pain?

“The jaws and your neck/shoulder work in tandem. If one is out of alignment, the other cannot be balanced. Proper treatment can only be accomplished by taking into consideration all working parts. Physical therapy and chiropractic may work temporarily, but they will not provide any long term healing without functional jaw treatment.

“6. Do you have a hard time getting numb?

Whether for dental procedures or experiencing unusual complications after dental work, the problem may not be your dentist, but pinched nerves either in the jaw joint or between tight muscles. Forget about being comfortable and numb during dental procedures, until you treat the underlying muscle and nerve problems

“7. Do you wear dentures or partials?

This is an easy one! Dentures cannot support your jaws. They are plastic, inefficient excuses for the loss of your teeth. Most denture wearers eventually reach a stage of dysfunction that is hard to repair. Your jaws may no longer have any support left since you lost your natural teeth and your dentures are no more than a set of band-aids. Denture wearers are predisposed to wearing down their joints because it is practically impossible to support the jaws in the right position. Dentures are not stable enough to provide adequate jaw to jaw relationships. This leads to dysfunction within the jaw joint, over time. Furthermore, the jaw bones shrink with age and continuous pressure from the dentures. As the jaws shrink, the dentures become “looser” and more unstable. Many denture wearers reach the point where they can no longer wear their artificial teeth due to the bone loss factor. The only solution for your problem is to place implants in your jaws and find proper stabilization of your dentures, thereby improving the stability and function of your jaw joints. You will need a team of skilled dentists and oral surgeons!

“8. Have you lost back teeth?

“Just as bad as an overbite. No support for the jaw joint! Compression of the jaws results due to lack of support from your teeth. The joint wears out!

“9. Crowded teeth?

“Never finished your orthodontics? Not necessarily a predisposing factor, unless the jaw to jaw alignment is bad. Don’t let your orthodontist tell you that he/she can cure all of your head pain by straightening your teeth. Straight teeth does not necessarily mean proper jaw to jaw alignment. Only your skull and jaws can tell you where the proper alignment is…not your teeth!

“10. Do you grind or clench your teeth?

This is one of the most common and widespread problems affecting a large segment of the population. As the teeth wear down from continuous grinding and/or clenching, so do the joints. The teeth lose their ability to support the proper jaw to jaw balance. As the teeth wear down they lose the ability to support the jaws and the jawjoints.

“11. Do you feel tired during the day?

May be a symptom of your pain, or possibly sleep disturbance problems. Most pain patients require a sleep study. The chicken may have come before the egg, but if you’re having fatigue problems you need to get to the root of the problem and find out if you have a constricted airway (snoring, breathing difficulty, asthma, sleep apnea, etc.) or a pain induced narcolepsy.

“12. Have you been diagnosed with depression?

“It does not take a long time for chronic pain patients to develop psychological or even psychiatric problems. Learning to deal with the pain may be more than the human body can tolerate. Remember: the trigeminal nerve accounts for over 50% of your brain’s processing. The jaw joint houses over 25% of all of your body’s nerve impulses and over 40% of the nervous impulses of your head. The trigeminal nerve is fully responsible for the regulation of blood flow of your brain’s own blood vessels. Compress this nerve alone and you have some serious repercussions. Include a few more of the nerves associated with the jaws and you can have some debilitating effects. It’s not in your head! It is in your jaws! Again, many people have no joint noises or pain within the TMJ. Why are there so many unexplainable symptoms, ranging from depression to chronic pain if nobody can find anything wrong? The answer is quite simple: the skull bone has only 1/16th of an inch of protective bone covering the jaw joint. Yes, there is very little bone keeping the condyle (head of the lower jaw) from entering the brain tissue. As the joint becomes dysfunctional (with or without pain), the brain starts to sense the frequent pounding/beating in this area, since there inadequate bone protection. As the joint loses most of its protective barrier and the brain becomes exposed to the constant beating of the lower jaw… Pain worsens! Unfortunately, nobody can get to the root of the problem because the symptoms and signs of the dysfunction are not readily apparent and observable.”

Hope to see you in any of our Dental Focus clinics soon.

admin — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:45:09 +0000

But, for now, the following feature article from the website of the Michigan TMJ/Headache Institute may be of help to you:

“It may be possible for you to do some self-diagnosis in order to explain why you have head pain. The following are some identifying characteristics for people who are predisposed to head pain.

“Please remember that it is the balance between your jaws, skull bone, and neck that determines your diagnosis and treatment guidelines.

“Head pain (including migraines, headaches, earaches, neck problems, etc.) is a symptom of a neuromuscular and skeletal imbalance above your shoulders.

“Once you find out where the imbalance is, the cure is normally quite simple.
“1. Do your jaws look like they’re out of alignment?

“Eventually, things give out and pain sets in. This is one of the most difficult problems to address, therefore proper treatment must be carefully evaluated.
“2. Have you had previous orthodontic care?

“The adjacent photo reveals the lack of orthodontic treatment for a crowded teeth condition. This teenaged patient had a history of headaches caused by this unbalanced jaw relationship.

“Some studies show that 50% of patients that complete orthodontic treatment end up having jaw dysfunction and eventual head pain problems.

“3. No signs of any problems

Just as bad as an overbite. No support for the jaw joint! Compression of the jaws results due to lack of support from your teeth. The joint wears out!
“9. Crowded teeth?

Hope to see you in any of our Dental Focus clinics soon.