Diabetes can cause serious problems in your mouth. You can do something about it.

If you have diabetes, make sure you take care of your mouth. People with diabetes are at risk for mouth infections, especially periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal disease can damage the gum and bone that hold your teeth in place and may lead to painful chewing problems. Some people with serious gum disease lose their teeth. Periodontal disease may also make it hard to control your blood glucose (blood sugar).

Other problems diabetes can cause are dry mouth and a fungal infection called thrush. Dry mouth happens when you do not have enough saliva- the fluid that keeps your mouth wet. Diabetes may also cause the glucose level in your saliva to increase. Together, these problems may lead to thrush, which causes painful white patches in your mouth.

If your diabetes is not under control, you are more likely to develop problems in your mouth. The good news is you can keep your teeth and gums healthy. By controlling your blood glucose, brushing and flossing every day, and visiting a dentist regularly, you can help prevent serious problems in your mouth.

Take steps to keep your mouth healthy. Call your dentist when you notice a problem.

If you have diabetes, follow these steps:

• Control your blood glucose.
• Brush and floss every day.
• Visit your dentist regularly. Be sure to tell your dentist that you have diabetes.
• Tell your dentist if your dentures (false teeth) do not fit right, or if your gums are sore.
• Quit smoking. Smoking makes gum disease worse. Your physician or dentist can help you quit.

Take time to check your mouth regularly for any problems. Sometimes people notice that their gums bleed when they brush and floss. Others notice dryness, soreness, white patches, or a bad taste in the mouth. All of these are reasons to visit your dentist.

Remember, good blood glucose control can help prevent mouth problems.

Dentist sure do cringe as Halloween and the buckets of candy being distributed, but we’re not necessarily complete scrooges when it comes to this holiday. Anything is okay in moderation but there are types of candies we recommend to stay away from and others that are fine to enjoy.

1. Sort the candy. When you are raiding your child’s candy bag, separate the stack into two parts. Place the “Troublesome” taffy, caramels “cause calamity”, “ghastly” gummies, anything that is sticky, chewy or sour into the first pile. All of the other candy goes into the second pile.
   
2. Avoid the first pile. Dental cavities have a proven cause-and-effect relationship with extended exposure to sugary or sour substances. Oral bacteria thrives in this environment and converts these substances to acid that can, in turn, lead to cavities.
3. Watch your family’s consumption of these sweet treats during this season. A great tip is to leave the candy wrappers in a visible area so that you remember how many of these ghoulish confections you’ve eaten.
4. Chew sugar-free gum to help you ration your sweet intake. Ingredients like Xylitol and Sorbitol, low calorie sweeteners found in some gum, can actually be  beneficial to your oral health. Research has shown that these sweeteners starve destructive bacteria, allowing your mouth to replenish minerals to your teeth. Get advice from your Dentist on the frequency and amount recommended.
5. Talk to your kids about oral health. This is a great time to reinforce the twice-a-day brushing routine and the daily “oh-so-dreaded flossing” regime. Always remember, children will mostly do as they see. The most ideal scenario would be to brush after consumption of candy. If that’s not possible, then encourage your child to eat candy within a few minutes instead of snacking throughout the day, and then wash away some of the sugar by drinking a glass of water. And remember, Halloween is a great time to call your dentist and get the family scheduled for a check-up!

Happy Halloween from all of us at Martin Family & Cosmetic Dentistry! Be safe and be smart.

Please spread the word to family and friends about our business.

Our new referral program offers a $15.00 Home Depot or Target gift card for each new patient you refer that is seen.

Thank you,

Dr. Martin & Staff

In 2006, the America Cancer Society predicts that there would be 212,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer, and in that year, 40,970 women would die from it. While breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in the United States, many lives can also be saved if a diagnosis was given earlier. Studies recently show that salivary tests can now be used to make early diagnoses for breast cancer.

In General Dentistry, researchers explain that there are proteins levels in saliva that can play a role in forming a diagnosis, treatment plan, and potential follow-up care for a patient with breast cancer. That would put general dentist in a position to assist with diagnosis samples. Because patients tend to make more frequent dental visits than physician visits, it would make sense for dentist to easily take saliva samples from patients’ mouths during checkups.

Salivary test have also shown to have advantages over blood testing. Researchers have compared saliva and blood samples and explained that while saliva is clear and colorless, blood can change in color, which may affect results. Saliva collection is also and non-invasive, and can be taken without causing the patient any pain.

This method of diagnosis is still pending and under the consideration of the Food and Drug Administration. If salivary testing does get approved, dentists and physicians can work together to help catch the onset of breast cancer early on. However, this does not mean that women should not go in for mammogram screenings or blood analysis; they are still considered the first line of defense. Even if breast cancer was detected via a salivary sample, a mammogram or imaging test is still needed to find the location of the cancer. The possibility of detecting breast cancer early on through something as non-invasive as salivary analysis is truly promising.

 The staff at Martin Family & Cosmetic Dentistry wishes you a Happy National Hygiene Month (NDHM)! The importance of National Dental Hygiene Month is to promote good oral health maintenance to the public. This year, NDHM is centered around the four components of good oral health maintenance.

The Four Components of Good Oral Health Maintenance:

• Brush teeth twice daily- Always brush two minutes, two times a day.
• Floss everyday- Ensure flossing is a daily habit. You could try “text2floss.com” if you have trouble remembering.
• Rinse with mouthwash- Use mouthwash to improve oral health
• Chew Sugar-Free gum- Chewing sugar-free gum after eating can help fight tooth decay.

  FACT: Acidic foods can break down your teeth’s outer shell (enamel), weaken the tooth, and make teeth more prone to decay. The bacteria responsible for tooth decay produces acids. Eating sugary foods often throughout the day (including juice and soda) can enhance that process. So go light on the acid and practice good oral care.

• Break off about 18 inches of floss, and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers.
• Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take the floss as it becomes used.
• Hold the floss tightly (without any slack) between your two hands, with about an inch of floss between them. Guild the floss between your teeth using a gentle sawing motion.
• When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into a C-shape against the tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel resistance.
• Hold the floss against the tooth. Gently scrape the side of the tooth and the adjacent tooth , moving the floss away from the gum.
• Repeat this technique on all of your teeth, including the teeth in the back.

    Immunization Helps prevent dangerous and sometimes deadly disease. To stay protected against serious illnesses like flu, measles, and tuberculosis, adults need to get their shots – just like kids do.

National Immunization Awareness Month is a great time to promote vaccines and remind family, friends, and coworkers to stay up to date on their shots.

How can National Immunization Awareness Month make a difference?

We can all use this month to raise awareness about vaccines and share strategies to increase immunization rates with our community.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Talk to friends and family members about how vaccines aren’t just for kids and the elder. People of all ages can get shots to protect them from serious diseases.
• Encourage people in your community to get the flu shot every year.
• Invite a doctor or nurse to speak to parents about why it’s important for all kids to get vaccinated.

We love giving people reasons to smile, and we often come across great quotes about smiling while doing research for our blog or social media post. Here are seven favorites we’ve come across recently- watch our Facebook and Twitter pages for more quotes and reshare them if you like them, too!

1. “If you see a friend without a smile, give him one of yours.”- Proverb

2. “The shortest distance between two people is a smile.”- Unknown

3. “You are not fully dressed until you wear a smile.”- Evan Esar

4. “If you smile at someone, they might smile back.”- Unknown

5. “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”- Dr. Seuss

6. “Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.”- Mark Twain

7. “A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you’re at home.” – Unknown

 Myth: Microwaving plastic containers and wraps release harmful, cancer-causing substances into food.

Fact: Microwave-safe plastic containers and wraps are safe to use in the microwave.

But plastic containers not intended for use in the microwave could melt and potentially leak chemicals into your food. So avoid microwaving containers that were never intended for the microwave, such as margarine tubs, takeout containers or whipped topping bowls.

You should always check to see that any container you use in the microwave is labeled as microwave-safe.