Bisphosphonates and dental care

If your doctor has prescribed you bisphosphonates, especially if they must be injected intravenously, it is important to tell your dentist because, in this case, it is contra-indicated to proceed with any surgical treatment in the mouth, including extractions and dental implants.

Bisphosphonates are drugs that prevent the loss of bone mass in certain medical conditions. Doctors prescribe it in tablets for women in menopause or pre-menopause. Bisphosphonate tablets are also indicated for people with Paget’s disease (misshaped bones).

These drugs can also be injected intravenously during therapy of bone metastases of breast cancer. In this case, some patients may develop in their mouths a condition called osteonecrosis. This condition is described by bone death following a blood circulation problem.

The link between osteonecrosis and bisphosphonates is not yet well understood. It is important then to inform your dentist if you take these drugs especially if intravenously. Your dentist can then check for any signs of osteonecrosis in the mouth and treat if needed. Furthermore, it’s strongly believed that keeping a good oral hygiene can reduce the risk of getting osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Links

• Bisphosphonates and oral health care
• Photo: The Beehive Blog

Smoking and cancer statistics

The Canadian Cancer Society has published recent statistics concerning this disease. Although these statistics follow studies on the Canadian population, they can also portrait the situation in other countries as well. Here are those statistics:

• Smoking is responsible for 30% of all deaths related to any cancer.
• Smoking is responsible for 85% of all deaths related to lung cancer.
• Cases of death related to cancer have decreased of 2.2% each year (from 1997 to 2006) because Canadians are smoking less.
• Lung cancer remains the type of cancer that has the least survival rates, 16% of affected patients are still alive after 5 years, whereas 62 % of patients of other cancers survive after 5 years.
• Lung cancer is the second most common cancer for both men and women; the first most common cancer is prostate cancer for men and breast cancer for women.

I know all humans beings are destined to die one day, but why not stop smoking and live a longer and healthier life!

Related Articles

• Smoking related to birth defects
• When can someone smoke after tooth extraction?
• Why is it Bad to Smoke after Tooth Extraction?

Links

• Canadian Cancer Society
• How smoking affects dental and oral health | Studio Dentaire
• Statistiques sur le tabagisme et le cancer

Dental problems and overall health

If you have dental problems, such as cavities, gum disease or infections, can they affect your health in general? Yes they can!

Dental health and body health are linked. The mouth should be considered like an open door to all kinds of infections that can eventually reach other organs in the body. Most dental problems are caused by bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms. Those bugs can be the cause of dental cavities, gum disease, and abscesses.

If these dental problems are not taken care of, oral bugs that are harmful can enter the blood stream and spread to other places. There is medical proof that some systemic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, can be caused or complicated by such oral infections.

Full article: Is there a Relationship between Dental Problems and Overall Health Problems?
In French: Problèmes dentaires et problèmes de santé

What are the consequences of losing your teeth?

People can lose their teeth for many reasons. But the long term consequences can be very bad for your health and for your overall well-being. Knowing those consequences might help you realize how important it is to take care of your teeth in order to keep them healthy and not to eventually have to extract them.

Here’s a list of tooth loss consequences:

• You might develop speech problems as it might be hard to pronounce some letters if you are missing too many teeth.
• Avoiding certain foods because having less teeth might produce chewing problems.
• Avoiding going out in public because if your missing teeth are showing, you might be embarrassed to show your smile.
• Because of the way your smile looks, you might develop anxiety and self-consciousness.
• Stiff jaws because with fewer teeth it’s harder to chew on foods and there is more stress expressed in your jaws.
• Other teeth might become weak because there are fewer teeth to use when you eat.
• Other teeth might move, or incline because there is nothing to stop them. This condition might induce periodontal disease and possible tooth loss.
• You might develop nutrition problems because you cannot eat all types of foods.

Full article: Causes and Consequences of Tooth Loss
In French: Quelles sont les conséquences de la perte des dents?

What reasons might cause people to lose their teeth?

Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is an unhealthy situation and many people believe it is something inevitable when you grow old. The fact is you don’t need to lose your teeth if you take care of them all your life. They will help you savour foods and nourish yourself in order to maintain you healthy for a long time.

By understanding the reasons why people might lose their teeth, it is possible to give a smart attention to your overall oral health in order to keep your teeth healthy all your life. Here are the causes of tooth loss:

• Poor oral hygiene increases the chances of you getting tooth decay and gum disease. Dentists advise to brush your teeth after each meal, or at least twice a day, and to floss at least once a day. It is also recommended to visit your dentist every six months for a check-ups and cleanings.
• Poor nutrition can ruin your teeth. Foods that contain a lot of sugar and acids can damage your teeth and gums. Such diets initiate cavities.
• Poor habits such as tooth grinding (bruxism) uses up your teeth over the years and make them shorter. People who grind intensely can also fracture their teeth. Smoking can make gum disease worse, which leads to tooth loss.
• If your kids play contact sports such as football, hockey, basketball and martial, they should wear a mouth guard to prevent trauma that can fracture of injure a tooth.
• Some people have an intense fear of dentists and never visit one, even if they are suffering from severe tooth ache. Not seeing a dentist for a problem in your mouth can worsen the condition over time and eventually lead to tooth loss.
• Some people cannot afford dental treatments. But it’s not everything done by dentists that’s overly expensive. Sometimes you can alternative treatments that are less costly. Remember also that preventing problems costs less than repairing problems.

Full article: Causes and Consequences of Tooth Loss
In French: Pour quelles raisons les gens peuvent-ils perdre leurs dents?

What should you eat if you have cancer?

If you have cancer and you are undergoing treatments, whether it’s chemotherapy or radiation therapy, your ability to taste changes, and you might find it more difficult to eat the foods that you are used to eating. But despite these uncomfortable difficulties, it’s important to maintain a balanced diet as it is recommended by your physician.

It’s important to get the right amount of calories and nutrients. Protein intake is something to consider everyday. You must also make sure you get enough vitamins by eating enough fruits and vegetables. If needed, you may take vitamin supplements that also provide minerals and calories.

Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol during cancer treatment. Tobacco is a strong carcinogen and should never be used in the first place, even less if you are diagnosed with cancer.

Acidic foods can cause irritation in your mouth. You should therefore avoid acidic, high-sugar beverages like soft drinks and energy drinks. Consumption of grapefruit, orange juice, and tomato juice should also be reduced because they are acidic natural foods.

Full article: Cancer Treatments and Oral Health
In French: Que faut-il manger si on est atteint d’un cancer?

What can a patient with cancer do about dry mouth?

One of the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment is xerostomia (dry mouth). It’s an unpleasant sensation caused by a reduced production of saliva in the mouth. This condition can increase the risk of developing tooth decay and can also cause a burning or painful feeling on the tongue and all around the mouth.

If you have cancer, you should clean your teeth and mouth at least four times a day, and floss at least once a day. If there are areas in your gums that are bleeding or that are sore, floss gently around them.

You also need to use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, in order to give a higher protection to your teeth against cavities. You can rinse your mouth with a solution of baking soda and salt in warm water several times a day, and this followed by rinsing with water alone. Other commercial mouthwashes may also be used to rinse your mouth, but as long as they don’t contain alcohol.

Full article: Cancer Treatments and Oral Health
In French: Que faire si on est atteint du cancer et on souffre de bouche sèche?

What should you do about your mouth before beginning a cancer treatment?

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are cancer treatments that have side effects which can cause discomfort, problems, or even pain in your mouth. Dentists recommend having a thorough dental exam at least two weeks before cancer treatment begins in order to reduce and manage the undesirable side effects.

Before the exam, you should notify the dentist of your health state with cancer and update your medical history. Your dentist should know who your physician is, what your cancer treatment will be, and other aspects of your cancer diagnosis. All this information will help your dentist understand and plan how to treat you, make the right recommendations and support your physician’s treatment plan.

Full article: Cancer Treatments and Oral Health
In French: Qu’est-ce qu’il faut faire à propos de sa bouche avant un traitement du cancer?

Can cancer treatment affect your mouth?

Yes it can.

A patient who is diagnosed with cancer in any area of the body might need to go through radiation treatments and chemotherapy. These cancer treatments can affect your mouth causing many side effects:

• Xerostomia or dry mouth, which follows a reduced production of saliva.
• Pain or burning feeling in the mouth, tongue and gums which might follow a low amount of saliva in the mouth.
• Cavities because of the low amount of saliva.
• Jaw stiffness.
• Problems with eating, speaking, and swallowing.
• Decreased ability to taste foods.
• Periodontal disease.
• Weakened immune system in general.

If you have to go through a cancer treatment, it is important to consult your dentist to make sure your teeth and mouth stay healthy.

Full article: Cancer Treatments and Oral Health
In French: Est-ce que les traitements du cancer peuvent affecter la bouche?

Diabetes statistics

Today is World Diabetes Day, and here are some updated facts about this desease:

• There are currently 246 million people worldwide affected with diabetes, and this number is expected to rise to 380 million by the year 2025.
• Every 5 seconds one person develop diabetes. Each year 7 million people develop diabetes.
• Every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes, mostly from cardio-vascular diseases. Each year 3.8 million people die from diabetes.
• The five countries with the highest number of people with diabetes in 2007 are India (40.9 million), China (39.8 million), the United States (19.2 million), Russia (9.6 million) and Germany (7.4 million).
• The five countries with the largest diabetes prevalence in the adult population in 2007 are Nauru (30.7%), United Arab Emirates (19.5%), Saudi Arabia (16.7%), Bahrain(15.2%), and Kuwait (14.4%). By 2025, the highest diabetes prevalence is expected to be in developping countries.
• Up to 80% of type 2 diabetes is preventable by increasing physical activity and adopting a healthy diet.
• Periodontal disease (gum disease) is more common in people with diabetes. Young adults with diabetes have about twice the risk of those without diabetes.

Full Article: Diabetes and Dental Care
Source: Did you Know? – International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
In French: Statistiques du diabète

How should patients with cancer care for their oral health?

If you have cancer it’s important for you to continue regular and thorough oral hygiene, which includes brushing and flossing two to three times a day. Remember that when you brush, use a soft or ultra-soft bristle toothbrush, and if the bristles are too hard, rinse the toothbrush in hot water for 15 seconds.

Also, when you brush your teeth, use a mild-tasting toothpaste because if too much flavour is added the toothpaste can irritate your mouth. If even the mild-tasting toothpaste irritates your mouth, rinse with salt and water after brushing your teeth.

To avoid gum disease, rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash, but it’s important to avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Since many mouth rinses sold in pharmacies do contain alcohol, you can ask either your pharmacist or your dentist to help you find a brand that does non-alcohol containing.

Last but not least, flossing in between your teeth is very important. When you go through chemotherapy or radiation therapy your mouth becomes drier from low saliva flow. You have more chances of developing tooth decay and gum disease. That is why you should floss at least once a day.

Full article: Cancer Treatments and Oral Health

Dental care for people with diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that is still incurable but that can be controlled by taking many precautions. If you have diabetes, you must look out for what you eat, exercise regularly, take your medication diligently, and also pay special attention to your oral health.

Among the oral problems that diabetes can trigger, dry mouth (xerostomia) and infections are the main ones. Xerostomia, or lack of saliva in the mouth, can have serious consequences, including tooth decay (cavities), the appearance of ulcers and fungal infections, and the difficulty of wearing dentures and partials.

Oral infections that diabetics encounter are the cause of periodontal disease. Gum disease, or periodontal disease, affects the gums and the bone that support teeth. Gum disease is more difficult to cure when you have diabetes. It is therefore important to maintain your gums healthy and have them checked regularly.

Furthermore, if you are diabetic and undergo oral surgery, healing will be more slow than usual. So whether you have a tooth extraction, wisdom teeth removal, or gum surgery, you must expect longer healing time.

Dentists recommend people with diabetes to have meticulous oral hygiene, by brushing and flossing preferably after every meal. It is also cautious to see your dentist for regular checkups, every three months if possible, for a tooth and gum exam, and a tartar scaling. At each visit, your medical history must be updated by informing any change of your diabetes state and the medication that you are taking.

If you feel that your gums are bleeding more than usual, it would be important to consult your dentist immediately. Gum disease is the worst oral complication that you can get when you have diabetes and it must be controlled. You must also notify your physician of the state of your oral health.

A lot of attention is needed to keep your mouth healthy. But if you act with the recommendations of your physician and your dentist, you can lead a healthy life for a very long time.

Full Article: Diabetes and Dental Care
In French: Soins dentaires pour les gens atteints du diabète