Oral Hygiene

Nearly 75 percent of American adults suffer from various forms of periodontal (gum) disease and don't know it. Though reversible in its initial stages, mounting evidence of the relationship between oral bacteria and life-threatening diseases such as oral cancer; heart disease; diabetes, respiratory ailments; and premature, low birth weight babies makes it critical that the condition be prevented or treated aggressively.

Oral Cancer-

Each year, nearly 30,000 new cases are diagnosed and almost 9,000 people die from the disease. Oral cancer is more common than leukemia, skin melanoma, Hodgkin's disease and cancers of the brain, liver, thyroid gland, stomach, ovaries and cervix. Curable in its early stages, it can be treated successfully in more than 90 percent of cases. However, if not detected early enough, it can spread to other parts of the body and become nearly impossible to treat.

Heart Disease-

The number one killer among men and women. Claiming more victims than all forms of cancer and
AIDS combined, the disease affects more than 58 million Americans each year, killing almost a million. Numerous research studies have shown a link between cardiovascular disease and key bacterium in periodontal disease. While research continues to explore the link, it is important to treat periodontal disease aggressively so its impact on heart disease can be reduced or eliminated.

Diabetes-

A chronic disease with no cure, diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans and will result in more than 169,000 deaths this year alone. It is estimated that nearly 16 million people in the U.S. have the disease, yet as many as
half of those who do are unaware of their condition. Approximately, 95 per- cent of Americans with diabetes also have periodontal disease, due in
part to an increased susceptibility to infections. Research has shown that people with periodontal disease have more difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels while periodontal disease can increase the risk of developing diabetes.

Respiratory Ailments-

Respiratory conditions can be aggravated when bacteria from periodontal disease travels from the mouth to the lungs and lower respiratory system. Conversely, patients who have other diseases are at an increased risk of developing breathing problems.

Babies-

Studies have shown that mothers with
periodontal disease are up to seven times more likely to deliver premature, low birth-weight babies. Researchers believe that since periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, it may trigger an increase in labor inducing body fluids, leading to premature delivery.

Other Connections-

Signs and symptoms of osteoporosis, a bone condition affecting approximately 25 million Americans and accounting for 1.5 million fractures each year; eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia; and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS; often appears in the mouth first and can be detected during a routine oral health exam. Early detection by a dental hygienist can lead to aggressive treatment and the control of periodontal disease, in turn, preventing many of the health and life diseases associated with it.

Signs and symptoms of periodontal disease may
include:

Red, swollen, or tender gums
Bleeding gums while brushing or flossing
Loose or separating teeth
Tooth loss
Pus around the teeth and gums
Pain when chewing
A change in the way your teeth fit together
when you bite
A change in the fit of partials or dentures
In addition to helping patients understand the
connection between oral health care and overall
health, dental hygienists educate patients about proper oral hygiene and treat periodontal disease to prevent the condition from advancing and complicating other diseases. For more information about proper oral health care, as well as
brushing and flossing instructions, please ask your registered dental hygienist, visit the ADHA Web site at, www.adha.org, or call ADHA's con-
sumer hotline toll free at 1-800-847-6718.
Fact sheet prepared by Thomas Moloney
Approximately, 95
percent of Americans with
diabetes also have periodontal disease, due in part to an increased susceptibility to infections.

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition in which sugar (glucose) is not used by the body. The reason for the body's inability to use sugar depends on the type of diabetes; there are two types:

Type I Diabetes: The pancreas no longer makes insulin. The beta cells have been destroyed. They need insulin shots to use glucose from meals

Type II Diabetes: Either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body, and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.

It is estimated that 12 to 14 million people, or one-third of the population in the United States, have diabetes, but only one-half of these individuals are diagnosed. Studies have shown that diabetics are more susceptible to the development of oral infections and periodontal disease than those who do not have diabetes. Oral infections tend to be more severe in diabetic patients than non-diabetic patients. And, diabetics who do not have good control over their blood sugar levels tend to have more oral health problems. These infections occur more often after puberty and in aging patients.

The most common oral health problems associated with diabetes are:

tooth decay

periodontal (gum) disease

salivary gland dysfunction

fungal infections

lichen planus and lichenoid reactions (inflammatory skin disease)

infection and delayed healing

taste impairment

Prevalence

According to the 2001 U.S. Surgeon General's report on women and smoking, 22% of adult women and 30% of high school girls were smoking in 1998. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found 20% of American women smoking in 2002, according to Cigarette Smoking Among Adults-United
States, 2002. But despite evidence of a decline in the number of smokers, more smoking-related diseases are being reported-especially for women, says CDC. As the Surgeon General's report claims, "Women and girls in the United States are in the throes of an epidemic of tobacco-related diseases."

Health Effects

The deleterious health effects of smoking on women are disproportionate to those on men. The Surgeon General has declared smoking to be "the leading
known cause of preventable death and disease among women," accounting for the premature deaths of about three million women since 1985. CDC found that women who die of smoking-related illness lose, on average, 14.5 years of life, compared to 13 years for men. Many of these deaths are attributable to lung cancer, which, while more deadly, gets far less attention than breast cancer, according to an article published by the American Dental Hygienists' Association (ADHA). One reason for this is that while survivors of breast cancer have banded together in support networks, lung cancer kills too quickly for survivors to develop similar relationships. Another reason is that society stigmatizes people with lung cancer for having brought their condition on themselves. The resulting lack of attention to the disease contributes to ignorance on the part of women smokers regarding the
additional damage smoking can cause. While many know that heart disease and chronic lung disease join lung cancer on the list of smoking-related dangers,
fewer are aware of the other cancers smoking can cause (oropharyngeal, bladder) or contribute to (pancreatic, renal, laryngeal, esophageal). It is not common knowledge that infertility, delayed conception, early and more difficult menopause, osteoporosis, painful menstruation, and sudden infant death syndrome in infants subjected to secondhand smoke have all been linked to
women smoking. Exposure to secondhand smoke has
even caused lung cancer in nonsmoking women, says the Surgeon General's report. And while breast cancer may be less deadly than lung cancer, some
research shows that it is more likely to metastasize to the lungs in women who smoke than in those who don't. In addition, research published in the British medical journal The Lancet found that women who start smoking within five years of their first menstrual period are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. The health effects on young women are of particular concern given the number of girls still initiating smoking (see box). Cigarette smoking is frequently pottrayed as a tool women use to control their weight in order to be more physically attractive, but what is lost in the bargain is not as often stressed. Whatever cigarettes' appetite-suppressive characteristics,
smoking can devastate a woman's attractiveness by staining her teeth, contributing to facial wrinkling, and causing bad breath. Not least of all, smoking contributes to periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss and has been linked
to serious systemic diseases.

Quitting

Quitting smoking benefits smokers at all stages of life and no matter what health effects they may have already suffered. Women who commit to change
and make use of behavioral techniques and social support are more likely to succeed in quitting, says the Surgeon General's report. Additionally, quitting smoking does not automatically mean gaining weight.
An exercise program can reduce or delay weight gain, as well as increase the likelihood of quitting for good, according to the United States Public
Health Service. Your dental hygienist is an excellent source of information about smoking and its effects on your oral and overall health as well as information about quitting. And for more information about proper oral health care, as well as brushing-and-flossing instructions,

please ask your registered dental hygienist, or visit www.adha.org. Prevalence

This year alone, more than 30,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer and 8,000 will die of the disease. More common than leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, and cancers of the brain, liver, bone, thyroid gland, stomach, ovaries, and cervix, oral cancer is a major cause of death and disfigurement in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Risk Factors

Approximately 75% of all oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers-mouth, tongue, lips, throat, parts of the nose, and larynx-are attributed to the use of smoked and smokeless tobacco, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those who choose to use cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, and/or bidis (cigarettes from India that come in a variety of flavors and contain less tobacco than regular U.S. cigarettes, but have three times more nicotine and five times more tar) place themselves at a much higher risk of developing oral cancer and other diseases, such as heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-a term used to describe emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Studies also have linked chronic alcohol use to oral cancer. Researchers believe that chronic alcohol use, combined with the use of tobacco products, multiplies the risk. In addition, sun exposure is a risk factor for lip cancer. According to CDC, oral cancer occurs twice as often in males as in females. This is considerably different from the 5:1 male to female ratio of 40 years ago. Increased tobacco use among women is the main reason for the changes in cancer rates compared with the rates in the 1950s. Age is also a factor; 95% of oral cancer occur in persons over the age of 40, with 60 being the average age of diagnosis.

Early Detection Is Key

In its early stages, oral cancer can be treated in up to 90% of cases. However, if the cancer goes undetected, it can spread to other parts of the body and become more difficult or nearly impossible to treat. The oral cancer screening-head and neck exam-is one of the most critical components of a routine dental hygiene and dental exam. Dental hygienists and dentists can alert patients to suspicious growths and changes, noted during head and neck exams, and urge them to seek medical care. Signs and symptoms of oral cancer can include:

Sores that do not heal

Lumps on the lip or in the mouth or throat

White or red patches on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth

Unusual bleeding, pain, or numbness in the mouth

Sore throats that do not go away, or a feeling that something is caught in the throat

Difficulty or pain with chewing or swallowing

Treatment

As researchers continually seek out more effective
drugs and drug combinations to help combat oral cancer, the most common current treatment for oral cancer, according to NCI, is to remove any tumors surgically. Oral cancer also may be treated using intensive chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy the cancer cells. Anticancer drugs stop cancerous cells from growing and multiplying. Often, combination chemotherapy-multiple drugs administered together-are more effective than single agents. Radiation is another option for patients with small tumors. Larger tumors may require both radiation and surgery. Recovery usually takes place through outpatient therapy that requires several days a week for multiple weeks for best results. To help prevent serious problems and eliminate the chance for undesirable side effects, patients should see their oral health care providers at least two weeks before starting radiation, for a full mouth evaluation. Rehabilitation may range from speech therapy and reconstructive plastic surgery to nutritional and psychological counseling. Whatever the treatment used to treat oral cancer, regular oral health care is essential to prevent infection and support the healing process. And for more information about oral health care, please ask your registered dental hygienist, visit the ADHAWeb site at www.adha.org.

Source: National Institute of Dental andCraniofacial Research's (NIDCR) National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse in partnership with the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Friends of the NIDCR.

The following is an

oral cancer self-examination
that can be taught to patients.

Look at and feel your:

1.Head and neck-look at your face and neck in a
mirror.Normally,the left and right sides of the face
have the same shape and are symmetrical.Look for
any lumps,bumps,or swellings that are only on one
side of your face.

2.Face-examine the skin on your face for changes in
color or size,sores,moles,or growths.

3.Neck-press along the sides and front of the neck
for tenderness or lumps.

4.Lips-pull your lower lip down and look for sores or color changes.Then,use your thumb and forefinger
to feel the lip for lumps,bumps,or changes in tex-
ture.Repeat this on your upper lip.

5.Cheek-examine your inner cheek for red,white,
or dark patches.Put your index finger on the inside
of your cheek and your thumb on the outside.
Gently squeeze and roll your both sides of your
cheeks between your fingers to check for any
lumps or areas of tenderness.

6.Roof of the mouth-tilt your head back and open
your mouth wide to look for any lumps and see if
the color is different from usual.Touch the roof of
your mouth to feel for lumps.

7.Floor of the mouth and tongue-extend your tongue and look at the top surface for color and texture.Pull your tongue forward to look at both
sides for any swellings or color changes.Examine
the underside of the tongue by placing the tip of
your tongue on the roof of your mouth.Look at the
floor of your mouth and the underside of your tongue for color changes,and press your finger against the underside of your tongue to feel for any lumps or swellings. If you find anything out of the ordinary-particularly anything that does not heal or go away in two weeks, or that has recently changed-discuss it with your oral health professional or physician.

Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports that diabetes contributed to more than 210,000 deaths in the United States in 2000.1 Currently recognized by the CDC as the sixth leading cause of death among Americans, as many as 18 million Americans have diabetes and 41 million have pre-diabetes.1 However, help in detecting diabetes may come from an unlikely source-a registered dental hygienist. Research studies have found a link between periodontal (gum) disease and diabetes. Symptoms of the disease often appear in the mouth, while almost one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal disease.1This is believed to be a result of the diabetic patient's greater susceptibility to developing infections. Conversely, severe periodontal disease may increase the risk of developing diabetes, and may make it more difficult to manage blood sugar levels. However, studies have found that patients who receive treatment for periodontal disease may be able to control the condition with less insulin. According to the American Dental Hygienist' Association (ADHA), dental hygienists often detect symptoms of diabetes during routine oral health examinations. Foamy saliva and unusually dry and irritated tissue inside the mouth are tell-tale signs of the condition. And, diabetic patients often lose more teeth compared to patients without the disease. According to the ADA, diabetes that goes unchecked or untreated can result in serious and life-threatening complications, such as blindness; kidney disease; heart disease and stroke; and nerve disease that can lead to limb amputation. In addition to helping patients understand the connection between oral health care and overall health, dental hygienists educate patients about proper oral hygiene and treat periodontal disease to prevent the condition from advancing and complicating other diseases. For more information on diabetes, illnesses related to the disease, and American Diabetes Month in November, contact the American Diabetes Association Web site at www.diabetes.org
And for more information about proper oral health care, as well as brushing- and- flossing instructions, please ask your registered dental hygienist, or visit the ADHA Web site, at www.adha.org

Prevention, 2004.

Warning Signs of Diabetes:
Frequent urination Frequent infections

Extreme hunger Blurred vision

Unusual thirst Unusual weight loss Extreme fatigue Make an oral health appointment if you notice you experience any of these warning signs of periodontal disease:

Bleeding gums when you brush or eat

Red,swollen,or tender gums

Gums that have pulled away from your teeth

Pus between your teeth and gums when the gums are touched

Change in the way your teeth fit together
when you bite Persistent bad breath or unusual taste in your mouth. With research indicating that periodontal disease and diabetes complicate each other,the ADA and ADHA recommend the following:

Monitor your blood glucose level

Have your teeth cleaned and checked at least every six months Brush at least twice each day to remove plaque,using a soft nylon brush with rounded ends on the bristles

Tilt the bristles at about a 45-degree angle against the gum line and brush gently in a circular motion

Brush front and back and also brush the chewing surfaces Brush the upper surface of your tongue

Use dental floss at least once a day to remove plaque and bacteria from between your teeth.
Special floss holders and various types of floss
are available to make flossing easier.

Some of these tips may be obvious; however some dentist will for sure need these Dental Marketing Tips. If you're a veteran Dentist or just starting out you should always make sure that your office has comfortable setting and over the top tidiness. Next is sure that your potential clients know that you can help them prevent pain. You should always follow up with this tip or option as much as you can tell your potential clients about any special option your Dental practice has to offer. Advertising is always a must in any business be sure to advertise any special procedure done in your office it could be a deal breaker of someone choose your Dental Practice over someone else's. Make it known if your pricing is at a lower cost than other Dentist in your local area. This will be easy to do once you follow the series of information you find in "Small Business Death Sentence".
If you specialize in children Dentistry advertise that fact there is also care for the elderly the can go on and on I think you get the picture that specializing could boost clientele and business profits. This tip will never go old for any business and that's truthful power of a testimonials. People respond really well to testimonials use and make sure they are truthful and you have permission to use them. Image is always important show before and after pictures of your work make the fact known that you pride in your expertise. Final tip get out in the general public and get exposure. Go to local schools and give free teeth cleanings to students. All this stuff may seem simple and obvious, but using these fundamental facts will work for you.

My understanding is that most Dentists get into Dentistry to help people have healthy oral hygiene. That reason alone is great to know. There interest to help in this way is huge because your oral hygiene is very important to how your body functions as a whole and as Dentist this fact should be made known to patients who don't take care of their mouth the way they should.

Therefore I do understand when you're in the Dental industry it's also a business. You have to make a living and that's obvious your pricing is important and people scoff at it but you must remember you have equipment and staff member s to pay for and working for you and these labor issues must be meet. You might say what your point is. Well Dentist has to have a big enough client base to make a living and take care of staff member that work for them.

Remember marketing is key to all this and Dentist and other small practices spends tons of money on advertising that's not getting them the income they need to run their business like they want. The yellow pages REP burn them for thousands each year with same print ad as other Dentist in your area. "Small Business Death Sentence".will shine a light on the truth so stop wasting money with 20th century marketing tactics.

The Dental Marketing Tips above work to a certain extent, but to compete in Social Network media market today you have to get with the program and stop

Oral cancer

Bad breath or halitosis

Black hairy tongue

Gum recession - especially with chewing tobacco, the gums recede away from where you place the tobacco, exposing the roots

Delayed healing of the gums

Increased severity of periodontal disease

Nicotinic stomatitis (smoker's palate) - inflammation of salivary gland openings on the roof of the mouth

Staining

Tar deposits remaining on the teeth

Links:

Ask Advise Refer

Smoking Cessation Leadership Center

Great American Smokeout

Smoking and Nicotine Abuse Patient/Family Resources

Center for Tobacco Cessation

Smokefree.gov

National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids

QuitNet

Why is oral fitness important?

Today's Soldiers need to stay physically fit and healthy in order to support their unit's preparations and deploy rapidly to any region of the globe. Combat-ready Soldiers need healthy mouths for:

1. Communication (speaking, smiling, or whistling). The teeth work with the lips and tongue to make the sounds that we use for talking.

2. Energy intake (tasting, chewing, and swallowing). A healthy, high-fiber diet requires chewing. Your body can get more vitamins and nutrients from food after it has been chewed.

Oral diseases interfere with these functions, and can cause severe, life-threatening illness. Every time a Soldier has to be transported out of the area of operations for dental treatment, they expose themselves and their fellow Soldiers to attacks
from insurgents. Soldiers who do not take care of their mouths could put their buddies in the line of fire.

There are three major causes of dental casualties during training and deployments:

Periodontal disease (or gum disease)
Painful or infected wisdom teeth
Dental caries (tooth decay)

Most dental emergencies during field training or operations are caused by tooth decay or dental caries.

What causes dental caries?

A sticky coating called plaque grows on your teeth constantly. If you don't clean the plaque off every day, the bacteria (germs) that live in your mouth move into the plaque and multiply.

Every time you eat foods containing simple carbohydrates (sugar and starch), these bacteria use it to produce acids. and dissolving the hard surface (enamel) of your teeth. Within about 3 minutes, the acids start attacking and dissolving the hard surface (enamel) of your teeth.

The more often you eat starchy or sugary snacks, the more acid attacks your teeth. The high-carbohydrate (high starch) content of field rations can cause tooth decay.

Beverages that are sweetened with sugar (sucrose, glucose or fructose) or high-fructose corn syrup, such as sports drink, energy drink, soda, or punch,
promote dental caries. Many deployed Soldiers use sugary, high-caffeine drinks throughout the day in order to stay hydrated and alert.

high-fructose corn syrup, such as sports drink, energy drink, soda, or punch, promote dental caries. Many deployed Soldiers use sugary, high-caffeine drinks throughout the day in order to stay hydrated and alert.

They may also go for weeks without cleaning their mouths. These Soldiers often develop severe dental problems that require numerous visits to the dental clinic for dental reconstruction upon redeployment.

What are the symptoms of Dental caries

As with all oral diseases, cavities are like ticking time bomb. You usually cannot tell that you have decay until it causes:

Temperature sensitivity
Swelling of the mouth, face or neck
Trouble pronouncing words
Difficulty eating
Inability to sleep
Excruciating pain

If the dentist tells you that you have a cavity, get it taken care of as soon as possible, before it starts to hurt. If you wait until your tooth hurts, it may be too late to save the tooth. Tooth decay slowly grows down into the tooth until the pulp, or nerve, becomes infected. You may need to have the infected nerve removed (a root canal procedure). If you let the decayed area become too large to fix, you will have to have the tooth pulled. The infection can sometimes spread to other areas of the face or throat, or to your brain, and cause death.

Who gets dental caries?

Anyone can get cavities. Unfortunately, many deployed Soldiers stop cleaning their mouths every day. Many also engage in harmful oral habits, such as tobacco use and excessive consumption of sugary drinks or snacks, to stay alert or deal with the stress of deployment. Soldiers who do not take care of their mouths during deployment develop severe dental problems that require numerous visits to the dental clinic for dental reconstruction upon redeployment.

How can you prevent dental caries?

Avoid becoming a dental casualty by attaining Dental Class 1 (no dental treatment needed) before you deploy. Have a dental exam and a cleaning every year to detect and treat dental caries as soon as possible. Use Combat Stress Control techniques to deal with the stress of deployment, instead of harmful oral habits. Just like a good motor sergeant uses a PMCS schedule (preventive maintenance, checks and services) to keep his/her vehicles running, you need to PMCS your mouth every day during deployment to stay fit and healthy!