How Overall Health Affects Dental Health

When it comes to oral health, people usually think of it as a separate entity from the rest of the body, yet the two are connected. In fact, some medical or health conditions directly impact the health of your teeth and gums. In some cases, it is the illness that affects the health of your mouth; and in others, it is the medication or treatment administered.

From diabetes to cancer treatments, these illnesses or treatments can erode tooth enamel, cause a dry mouth and bad breath, or even turn your tongue black. You will need to be more conscious of your dental health if you have:

1.       High Blood Pressure

An estimated 25 percent of the American population suffers from this dangerous condition. Although it is treatable, the medications used have a number of side effects, including gingival enlargement – a condition characterized by inflammation of gums causing them to grow over your teeth.

2.       Diabetes

People with diabetes tend to have high levels of sugar in saliva, as well as reduced saliva flow, which facilitates the growth of bacteria in the mouth. This puts them at higher risk of infections in the mouth from not only bacteria, but also yeast, fungi, and viruses. So, these people have a higher risk of severe tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Conversely, people with uncontrolled gum disease can have difficulty controlling diabetes.

3.       Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is a serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated. It is usually characterized by breath that smells like ammonia or fish. As your condition worsens and the kidneys are unable to filter toxins and waste from your blood, your breath will start smelling like urine.

4.       Acid Reflux

Also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, acid reflux can be diagnosed by your dentist during a normal check-up, since it causes erosion on your back teeth due to powerful acid in your stomach dissolving the enamel. You can protect your teeth by gurgling water in your mouth after every reflux episode. Also avoid taking meals 2-3 hours before bed, and stay away from triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and acidic items.

5.       Stomach Ulcers

Ulcers are usually caused by the bacterium H. pylori, which weaken the protective lining of your stomach and intestine, resulting in sores. Ulcers themselves do not affect your oral health; but the medication used can turn your tongue black. Fortunately, this side effect fades away once you stop taking the treatment.

6.       Other Conditions

There are many more conditions to watch out for, including:

• HIV/AIDS – the virus increases the risk for gum disease, dental caries, and mouth infections (sores, blisters, oral warts, and yeast infections)
• Hyperthyroidism – increases the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease
• Anemia – insufficient oxygen in the gums leading to gum disease
• Sjogren’s syndrome – dry mouth
• Cancer treatment – known to cause sores, bleeding, and fungal/viral/bacterial infections

Take charge of your health

If you are suffering from any of these conditions, work closely with your dental care providers to come up with a good oral care plan to keep your mouth healthy.

How to avoid the negative impact of stress on your oral health

Most people are aware of the effects of stress on the body, though many don’t realize that it also affects the teeth, jaw, and a number of other oral tissues. Nearly everyone suffers from some form of stress in their life, but some people deal with more stressful situations than others. Regardless of whether you face a little or a lot of stress in your daily life, there is a good chance that the stress is impacting your oral health.

Some of the oral health conditions associated with stress include:

• Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) – Usually occurs at night while asleep, and is known to cause damage to tooth enamel and teeth, as well as headaches and jaw soreness
• Gum disease – Stress tends to lower your immune system, reducing the ability of the body to fight against harmful bacteria in your mouth
• Dry mouth – Can be a side effect of stress or the medications taken to manage stress or depression, reducing your ability to wash away food particles and neutralize the acid in your mouth, increasing the risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and infection
• Tooth decay – Stress can lead to neglect of proper oral hygiene, and encourage unhealthy lifestyle choices that increase the risk for decay
• Canker sores – Though harmless, the white spots that form on the soft tissue of the mouth can be very painful

How can you improve your oral health and reduce stress?

During your routine dental visits, it is important that you talk to your dentist about any stress-related issues you may be experiencing, and how to manage the implications.

Treatment options to help alleviate painful symptoms include:

• Custom-fitted night guard – Can be worn at night to prevent tooth damage caused by clenching and grinding
• Avoiding hard or crunchy when in pain
• Avoiding alcohol and tobacco as coping mechanisms since they can make the oral symptoms worse (like through dehydration resulting in dry mouth)
• Take pain relief medications or try physical therapy or a gentle massage to help you relax
• Stay out of the sun or protect yourself with a strong sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to prevent cold sores
• Request your dentist or doctor for a prescription for antiviral drugs to prevent cold sores, or anti-inflammatory drugs to manage jaw inflammation

Final note

While managing and treating the symptoms may provide some relief, the biggest contributing factor to your deteriorating oral health is the stress itself. So, you need to consider stress reduction techniques to help manage painful oral health symptoms. Some options include: taking a break from work to relax; exercising and eating a diet rich in iron and proteins; staying hydrated; avoiding refined and excess sugar and caffeine; and changing your attitude.

A Wonderful Smile Gets You Noticed – Feel Better With Invisalign®

Straight, aligned teeth are not only healthier, but also better for your confidence. Invisalign braces give you a youthful appearance and a wonderful smile that is more likely to get you noticed. A bright smile evokes both warmth and sincerity, and stimulates the excretion of “feel-good” hormones.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Redesigning the smile you have become accustomed to since birth to better reflect the person you are today is an easy and exciting process with the Invisalign system.

Invisalign refers to a sequence of thin, clear, virtually invisible custom-molded aligners designed to fit over your teeth and gradually straighten them. Invisalign is a non-intrusive orthodontic treatment that requires you to wear each set of aligners for two weeks, straightening your teeth bit by bit. The Invisalign system usually takes 12-18 months with regular but quick (10-15 minutes) checkups.

The aligners are comfortable to wear, and you can take them out for eating, brushing, and flossing. Unlike braces, Invisalign is practically invisible, which means that it does not draw unwarranted attention to your mouth. In fact, no one will notice unless you tell them. The entire Invisalign treatment plan is designed using 3-D computer imaging technology, so you can view your virtual results to see how your teeth will look like once the treatment is complete.

Common applications of Invisalign include:

1.       Tooth crowding

The problem tends to worsen over time, making it more and more difficult to take proper care of your teeth through brushing and flossing. Because you can’t clean areas with crowded teeth well, those spots are filled with bacteria that can easily attack the gums, teeth, and bone if they find a point of entry, like when you injure your gums through hard brushing. If no remedy is sought, the inflammation can advance to more severe gum disease that leads to gum recession, bone loss, and ultimately tooth loss.

2.       Misaligned bite

Excess wear on your front lower teeth may cause your bite to be slightly off. This, in turn, causes some teeth to meet sooner than others. The resulting stress and flexing can cause the enamel to separate from the inner dentine, forming an abfraction – a notch at the gum line. The notches create weak points that cause the tooth to become compromised and more likely to break or chip.

Final Note

Generally, Invisalign is used to correct mild to moderate bite and misalignment issues. It will not only give you a more youthful, attractive, and beautiful smile, but also deliver more balanced forced, thereby, reducing stresses and trauma responsible for fractures, bone loss, and tooth loss.

Braces Las Vegas is a certified Invisalign® provider and other forms of orthodontic braces designed to help you achieve the smile you've always wanted. Call us @ 702.660.2256 for more information on orthodontics/

Did You Know Dr. Saoly Benson is a Board-Certified Orthodontist?

Dr. Saoly Benson of Braces Las Vegas has recently become a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. This is great news because it showcases the expertise & knowledge our orthodontists offer.

Importance of Board Certification

Board certification is an on-going process dentists, doctors, orthodontists, and other select fields of expertise voluntarily participate in to become a true expert in the trade. 

The process is very comprehensive, challenging & includes multiple components:

• Confirmation of required orthodontic education
• Comprehensive written examination reviewing orthodontic educational curriculum
• Clinical examination demonstrating expertise through an oral exam and case presentation
• Re-certification to assure treatment quality

Are all orthodontists Board Certified?

No. All orthodontists must be licensed to practice, but at this time only 1 in 3 orthodontists have continued on to complete Board Certification. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) certification process signifies a unique achievement—a significant step beyond the two to three years of advanced education required for a dentist to become a specialist in orthodontics. The process requires the orthodontist to demonstrate actual accomplishments in patient care with detailed case reports on the treatment provided for a broad range of patient problems. Board certification is a voluntary achievement that all orthodontists do not choose to pursue. In order to become board certified by the ABO, an individual orthodontist is thoroughly interviewed by a highly respected panel of examiners to demonstrate their orthodontic knowledge, clinical skills and judgment.

How many certifying boards are recognized by the American Dental Association in the specialty of orthodontics?

One. The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) is the only certifying board in the specialty that is recognized by the American Dental Association. The ABO was founded in 1929 and is the oldest specialty board in dentistry. The board’s purpose is to elevate the quality of orthodontic care for the public by promoting excellence through certification, education and professional collaboration.

Why would an orthodontist choose to complete this voluntary certification process?

Successful completion of the examination process demonstrates the orthodontist’s highest commitment to excellence in orthodontics – to both the orthodontic profession and the general public. It represents a commitment by a licensed specialist that he/she has the necessary knowledge base and skills to treat patients to the highest of standards. It exemplifies a practitioner’s commitment to continue to keep abreast of the latest advances in patient care, and to continue to deliver these latest advances to patients. Many orthodontists see it as a demonstration of their dedication to the specialty and the highest level of personal achievement.

What steps are required to complete the ABO certification process?

Since the establishment of the ABO in 1929, the certification process requirements have continued to adjust to the demands of the specialty. Today, the process involves a thorough Written Examination (240 questions) covering all areas of information which an orthodontist should be knowledgeable. Successful completion of this “board exam” allows the orthodontist to proceed to the Clinical Examination where they present detailed case reports from their practice/residency, demonstrating a history of excellence in patient care. These cases are evaluated by a panel of examiners and later discussed during an oral examination where the applicant is tested on a wide variety of academic and clinical topics. After successful completion of these examinations, the orthodontist has officially achieved Board Certification, for a time-limited period. The orthodontist must go through Certification Renewal every 10 years to maintain their certification status by demonstrating this continued level of patient care.                  

What Board-Certification Means For Patients?

By now you may be asking exactly what having a board-certified orthodontist means to you as a patient? Great question.

Simply put, it means better care. Board certified orthodontists possess more skills, techniques, & knowledge of their trade and as a result may offer better strategies when presented with unique cases from every patient.

Choosing a board certified orthodontists ensures that you are in good hands and will receive the highest possible treatment standards.

Dr. Saoly Benson is a board-certified orthodontist in Las Vegas.

*All information was sourced from the American Board of Orthodontics.

Grinding Teeth at Night? Consider a Night Guard.

People grind their teeth when anxious, tense, or under stress. However, it can also happen at night due to an abnormal bite, sleep disorders, or when you have crooked or missing teeth, causing your teeth to wear or incur serious damage. Continuous grinding causes damage to your tooth enamel in the form of cracks, chips, and fissures that are not only painful, but also lead to additional damage if no corrective measures are taken.

If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist can recommend that you wear night guards. These dental devices are usually the first and easiest solution to control grinding and tooth injury that may affect your smile.

When to Visit Your Orthodontist

When you notice these symptoms, you should consult with your dentist immediately: 

• grinding
• fractured teeth, loose or painful teeth
• dull headaches
• gum irritation
• jaw soreness 

Your Las Vegas orthodontist will examine your teeth and collect the facts, like your symptoms, times when your grind your teeth most, and recent changes in your personal life that may cause severe anxiety, before providing a suitable solution depending on the severity of the condition and whether you have suffered from any dental trauma.

Using Night Guards

A night guard is a dental device, similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes, which is typically made from acrylic or hard plastic and designed to fit snugly in either your upper or lower jaw. It covers all your teeth, in either jaw, providing a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while sleeping. This protects your teeth from unnecessary pressure and wear, and also rests your jaw. All night guards are personalized to ensure a perfect fit and comfort.

Custom-made night guards are helpful for bruxism – the habit of grinding or clenching teeth – caused by sleep disorders, missing teeth, or crooked teeth. While it is possible to get over-the-counter night guards, their materials and fit may not be as comfortable, or last as long as a custom device from your dentist.

Using the proper night guard will not only preserve your smile for years to come, but also protect you from costly dental restorations.

Wondering About Invisalign? - Braces Las Vegas Can Help

With the increasing popularity for clear, removable braces it’s no surprise that Invisalign is a popular choice. However, there are many adults that are skeptical to the treatment often wondering if Invisalign® is the right choice. Your Las Vegas braces orthodontists can provide help.

Cost of Invisalign®

The cost of Invisalign braces will vary from practice to practice, but generally falls aound $5,000 for a full treatment plan that will last for 12 - 18 months depending on how your teeth respond. This price falls around the same range for traditional metal braces, minus the common problems associated.

Same Price, All of the Perks

The reason Invisalign braces strike well with many people is for a couple of important perks that are not offered with metal braces:

1. They are clear (almost invisible).

2. They are a lot easier to manage.

By having braces that are clear in color, you won’t feel ashamed for having to smile in pictures. Your peers won’t even notice that you have braces in your mouth. This is important in our society, in a world where impressions matter and people are quick to judge. With traditional braces, you may feel ashamed or embarrassed to smile – which could affect your mood greatly.  

The other point refers to Invisalign’s ease of use. The ability to quickly remove your set of invisible aligners means that you can eat, drink, floss, and brush your teeth without worrying about the extreme hassle associated with metal braces.

Please visit our Invisalign frequently asked questions page for more information. As orthodontists of Las Vegas, we also offer traditional braces for those who would prefer that option. 

Halloween Candy Braces Care - Braces Las Vegas

Most of us are probably excited for Halloween right about now, but as an orthodontist in Las Vegas; I wanted to personally remind you how to have a sticky-free Halloween this year.

Some Candies are Worse than Others

First off, you or your children do not have to give up candy completely, but rather take steps in trying to minimize the amount of harm done. The fact of the matter is that there are a wide variety of candy products on the market with some being worse than others.

Icky Sticky

If you’re thinking about putting any sticky candies into your mouth, or candies that are gooey then you may want to reconsider this and evaluate the positives and negatives.

Any candies with caramel, taffy, and others always pose the possibility of breaking one of your brackets off directly from your teeth. The reason is because when the candy sticks to the teeth, it adds extra pressure to your teeth every time you open and close your mouth. If the situation is worse enough, then the pressure will eventually pull a bracket right off. Beware!

Hard Times

If it’s hard, then be careful. Every candy can be considered “hard” to a certain degree but we’re referring to actual hard candies such as jawbreakers or anything that must be sucked on for a period of time before you have any chance at biting down. Biting down too forcefully on hard candies may result in damaged braces. It’s not worth it!

Quick tip: suck on any hard candies instead of biting down, that way you still enjoy your candy! 

It's Not Just About Candy

Lastly, it’s not necessarily all about what type of candy you’re consuming, but rather how frequently you’re consuming it. At the end day, we can all agree that candy is over 50% sugar. Unfortunately, sugar causes our mouth to become an acidic environment that is perfect for initiating tooth decay.

Quick tip: it’s actually better to eat more candy at once rather than stringing it out for the whole day. When you string candy out in small pieces throughout the day, you constantly expose your mouth to an acidic environment and that isn’t good.

If you’re going to partake in the candy tradition this Halloween, then don’t forget to compensate for this by putting extra effort into brushing and flossing your teeth. Make absolutely sure to remove any candy particles that are caught between your teeth and in your braces.

Happy Halloween from your braces orthodontist in Las Vegas!