Hamilton board of health could push for universal dental care

A large number of seniors and low-income Hamiltonians don't have access to dental care, and one councillor wants that to change.

Coun. Sam Merulla will bring a motion forward “ASAP” asking the province for universal dental care.

He wants a system that guarantees a minimum standard of care that is taxpayer funded and available to everyone, much like Canada's health care system.

“There should be a standard of care that is universal and that is built into provincial legislation and paid for out of general revenues,” said Merulla, who is drafting the motion with Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton's medical officer of health.

“I don't think people would feel reluctant to pay into a dental care program in the province.”

Merulla's comments came after a presentation from Glenda McArthur, director of Hamilton public health's clinical and preventive services division.

The highest number of children with dental problems live in the lower city, particularly wards 2 and 3, McArthur said. As a result, the city will relocate its Public Health Services Dental Clinic from the Mountain to the lower city in 2014.

Other findings:

    Hamilton children from low-income families have 2.5 times more tooth decay than children from high-income families.
    During school screenings in 2012, public health staff found that 1,587 Hamilton children needed urgent dental treatment.
    Fewer than half of Hamiltonians with low incomes have dental insurance, compared to 75.8 per cent of middle-income and 79.9 per cent of high-income residents.
    Only 39 per cent of Hamilton seniors have dental insurance.
    Ontario spends $5.67 per resident on dental care, the lowest in Canada. By comparison, Quebec spends $20.59, New Brunswick (the next lowest) with $13.73 and Saskatchewan with $43.91. The national average is $19.54.

Universal dental care is “long overdue,” particularly for the working poor, who often have less dental coverage than people on social assistance, Merulla said.

“We should have had a comprehensive dental care program in Ontario and Canada years ago,” he said.

A basic standard of care would make sense, Richardson said.

While many consider dental care to be separate from health care, poor oral health can cause cancers of the mouth, soft tissue injuries, and mouth infections, and is linked to heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer disease and other ailments, McArthur said in her presentation.

When it comes to health coverage, “we have to put the mouth back in the body,” Richardson said.
Paying with tax dollars

At the same time, she knows money is tight.

“I know the challenges the provinces are having in terms of funding, and health funding in particular, so they're trying to decide where to best put their funds,” she said.

“What I'd like is to have thoughtful consideration of it and to have the programs in place better consolidated.”

Merulla wasn't the only councillor to speak in favour of universal dental care at Monday's board of health meeting.

“It's really hard to believe we've lived with the universal health care system for decades now and preventative maintenance as part of an oral health program is still not part of it,” Coun. Chad Collins said.

Merulla also plans to introduce a motion at an upcoming board of health meeting regarding access to prescription drugs.




Source: CBC / http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/story/2013/04/22/hamilton-universal-dental-care.html

Ten dietary tips for good oral health

 Proper nutrition means eating a balanced diet so your body gets the right nutrients. Following these tips will improve your health and oral hygiene.

1. Avoid snacking between meals

Snacking between meals can be bad for both your diet and your oral health. Snacks tend to be sugary and when we consume sugary foods and drinks plaque acid is formed, causing the teeth
to start to decay.

It takes your saliva around 40 mins to start protecting your mouth after a meal, so three regular
meals a day, without snacking, leaves enough time for your teeth to recover.

2. Avoid foods high in refined sugars

Refined sugars are bad for your teeth and gums as they can cause damage through decay.
Natural sugars in fruit are generally considered to be ok, however try to stay away from lollies,
candy and sweets etc.

3. Avoid high acid food and drinks

Acidy drinks soften the tooth's surface and can eventually cause erosion. Drinks with a high
level of acidity include most fizzy soft drinks, sports drinks and citrus juices. Acidy foods to be
aware of include citrus fruits and pickles.

4. Eat calcium-rich foods

It might sound obvious but calcium is absolutely essential in maintaining strong and healthy
teeth. Ensure you eat plenty of dairy products, such as cheese, yoghurt and milk - low-fat
options are just as good. Calcium is also present in leafy greens such as broccoli and bok choy,
canned fish with bones, almonds, Brazil nuts and dried beans.

5. Drink more water

Although it's known that water is crucial to overall wellbeing, it is also hugely important for your
oral health. Water contains fluoride which helps strengthen the teeth and protect against decay
and cavities. Drinking water after meals also helps wash away any leftover food particles that
may be around the teeth, preventing bacteria build up.

Water also increases the volume of saliva, which is a natural lubricant for the mouth. If you are
dehydrated saliva flow will be reduced which not only feels uncomfortable, but can also cause
damage.

6. Avoid eating hard foods

Teeth are not unbreakable - hard and crunchy foods can cause significant damage. Foods such
as hard candy and crusty bread can break or chip teeth, especially those with fillings. Try to
avoid such foods and if treating yourself to the occasional piece of hard candy, be sure to suck
on it before chewing.

7. Good nutrition is essential for gum health

Our overall immune system needs to be at its optimum to resist bacteria that causes gum
disease. When you're run down or your health is compromised, you're more prone to mouth
infections such as ulcers. Make sure you're eating plenty of healthy fruit and vegetables and
supplement with a multi-vitamin if needed.
8. Alcohol, tobacco and even coffee should be kept to a minimum

These vices can cause real trouble for teeth and gums. Tobacco, coffee and red wine can cause
discolouration of the teeth which looks and feels very unhealthy. Chemicals in wine, beer, spirits
and cider can cause tooth erosion which can be irreversible.

9. Chew Gum

Sugar-free chewing gum is handy for helping teeth in between brushes. It helps to dislodge food
that has become lodged in between the teeth and increases saliva flow.

10. Eat Fibre and Whole Grains

Eating high-fibre foods keeps your saliva flowing which helps protect your teeth. Good sources
of fibre are dried fruits such as dates, raisins and figs, and fresh fruits, like bananas, apples and
oranges. Other options include vegetables, such as beans, Brussels sprouts and peas, along with
peanuts and almonds.

Wholegrains are an important ingredient for bones, teeth and gums as they are rich in B
vitamins and iron. They are also high in fibre so keep an eye out for foods such as brown rice,
whole-grain cereals and pasta which are all good sources of wholegrains.




Source
Taste.com.au - June 2011

Author
Dr Stephen Blatchford - Oral B Dentist

Is Your Dentist Safe? 5 Steps You Can Take

Few people like going to the dentist, even if those tooth-yankers do rate highly for honesty and ethics. At my most recent visit, I got a referral to the gum specialist … again. Painful memories have slowed me from making the call, but healthy choppers are important, so I know I will.


But thousands of dental patients in the Tulsa, Okla., area have a new reason to fear the chair: their dentist might have given them hepatitis B or C, or HIV. Nearly 1,000 of W. Scott Harrington’s 7,000 patients have now been tested, according to the AP, and more will be screened in coming days.

The alarm was sounded when one of Harrington’s patients tested positive for hepatitis C. Previous complaints made Harrington a suspect. The preliminary investigation found inadequate sterilization procedures in his two offices, repeated use of needles and drug vials for multiple patients and rusty dental tools.

How can you be sure that your dentist’s office is safe? Or your doctor’s office? Or your nail salon or, for that matter, anyplace you go to be poked, prodded or punctured?

1. Direct is best. Ask your professional whether the office follows industry standards — the American Dental Association infection control guidelines, for example.

2. Be plucky. Afraid you might offend your doctor or dentist? Don’t be; you’re the one at risk. Here’s advice from Todd Bridges, president of the Oklahoma Dental Association: “We recommend that people talk with their dentists about infection control. Dentists are universally proud of the cleanliness of their offices and will not be offended when patients ask questions about infection control protocols.”

3. Know what to look for. A video on the ADA website suggests what to check out in your dentist’s treatment rooms – things like masks, gloves, handwashing, sterilization and proper waste disposal.

4. Consider previous conditions. If you have a heart condition or an artificial joint, consult your doctor before visiting the dentist. According to a section of the ADA website for people over age 60, “there are conditions with a high risk of infection and an antibiotic is recommended prior to some dental procedures.”

5. One more thing. For trips to the nail salon or tattoo parlor, here’s advice from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. One preview — beware of the Garra rufa: “If considering a ‘fish pedicure’ or ‘fish spa’ where a tub of water is filled with small fish called Garra rufa that eat away dead skin on the client’s feet, know that there are infection risks involved and that several states have banned the use of fish pedicures for various reasons.”

So, is it safe? Dustin Hoffman wishes he had the answer in his terrifying encounter with Laurence Olivier as the scariest dentist ever in Marathon Man. Warning: Not for the faint of heart.



Source: AARP Blog / http://blog.aarp.org/2013/04/04/is-your-dentist-safe-5-steps-you-can-take/

What a Dentist Allegedly Did to This Man’s Teeth Will Likely Leave You Speechless: ‘I Am Going to Look Like a Freak Now’

For some, dental offices are horrifying locations that do little more than raise their blood pressure when they find themselves in need of a cleaning, fillings and other related work. If you’re among those who feel this way, the story you’re about to read will likely reinforce your fears and give you very little solace.

In what can only be described as a terrifying and bizarre incident, a 21-year-old Indiana man named Christopher Crist is claiming that he headed to the dentist to have just three teeth pulled. But when he left Amazing Family Dental in Indianapolis, he was in for a shocking surprise: All of his teeth had been yanked.


Crist, who is autistic, claims that he was given pain medication and then each and every tooth was taken out of his mouth. His mother had apparently instructed him to tell the doctor only to pull three teeth and, as the Huffington Post notes, it’s unclear where lines of messaging were crossed.

“They pulled every last one of them,” he told WXIN-TV. “I am going to look like a freak now.”

The dentist, who has reportedly refused to tell his side of the story, allegedly removed 29 of Crist’s teeth. And it seems one witness at the office on the day of the mass pulling is backing up at least a portion of the young man’s story.

Sheena Cortez who was in the exam room right next to Crist at Amazing Family Dental said his experience was stirring.



Read and watch the video whole interview on: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/11/terrifying-dental-debacle-leaves-autistic-man-completely-toothless-i-am-going-to-look-like-a-freak-now/

Dental care should start early

MASON CITY — Dental care should be part of a child’s life even before they turn a year old.

As soon as the teeth erupt, parents need to start brushing their child’s teeth, said dentist Nathan Hehr, of Nettleton Dental Group, Mason City, and dentist Matt Hansen, of Central Park Dentistry, Mason City.

Infants typically get teeth around 6 months of age, but it can also happen before or after 6 months.

To keep the teeth clean, parents should use a toothbrush, or if that seems too bulky, a washcloth can work, too, Hehr said.

“They can massage the gums and wash the teeth clean,” he said.

When it comes to toothpaste, children’s toothpaste is available or non-fluoridated types, Hansen said. These should be used until a child is old enough to spit the toothpaste out.

Parents should remember brushing is more important than the toothpaste itself, Hansen said.

“That’s the most important thing — getting the plaque off the tooth,” he said.

Once toothpaste is utilized, only a small amount should be used.

“You put enough on so you can just see the toothpaste on the bristles,” Hehr said.

Parents should clean their child’s teeth twice a day making sure one of the cleanings is right before bedtime. This is particularly important because formula, breast milk or whatever a child drinks before bed (except water), has sugar and can cause damage to a child’s teeth overnight, Hehr said.

“The biggest thing is baby bottle cavities,” he said. “Infants are put down for a nap or put down to bed and they’ve got a bottle in their mouth. If there’s anything in there other than water, that can still damage the teeth.”

Hansen agreed with the importance of not letting a child go to bed with a bottle.

“Bottle to bed has the most severe consequences of anything,” he said. “That’s huge. The number one thing is not putting a bottle in bed.”

Hehr also suggests limiting what children have in sippy cups for the same reason. Children should only have access to sippy cups full of milk or juice at meals, snacks or a particular amount of time.

“I always tell parents it’s OK to use sippy cups...but don’t let them tote that around all day if it has milk or juice in it,” he said. “If you want to do that, water only.”

Parents also need to limit a child’s sugar intake including candy, juice and pop.

“We still see a lot of pop intake and a lot of candy,” Hansen said. “Those tolls add up.”

Parents will also have to floss their child’s teeth once a day when molars start to emerge and are touching, Hehr said.

“They make handle flossers that are kid friendly,” he said. “It’s easier both for parents and the kids.”

They also work well for when a child is old enough to floss on their own, Hehr added.

It’s also recommended that children visit the dentist for the first time by age 1 and every six months after that, Hehr said.

He said the initial dentist visits won’t be very detailed, but allow the dentist to understand what is going on in the child’s mouth and make sure that parents know what they should be doing as far as dental care.

“We spend the majority of the time on parent education,” Hansen said.

Each subsequent visit then includes a little more work, such as polishing the teeth, he said.

“We do just a little bit more and a little more as the child allows,” he said. “If you take it super easy or maybe you don’t do as much... they get warmed up to everything.”

“When parents do start early, by age 4 or 5 kids are hopping back to the chair by themselves and not worry about anything,” Hansen added. “If the parents start late, such as at age 5 or 6, there’s a healthy fear there. It’s a little bit harder.”

Starting dental care and visit to the dentist early, will make it easier on the child, dentist and parents.

Parents also need to remember that proper dental care will set the foundation for good oral health in the future.

“Baby teeth are sometime underestimated for how important they are,” Hansen said.

“Not only do they provide chewing of food, but they are holding the place for the next permanent tooth. When we lose them early it can cause problems with growth and development of permanent teeth.”

Source: Globe Gazette / http://globegazette.com/news/local/dental-care-should-start-early/article_e70351ea-a15d-11e2-af15-001a4bcf887a.html

Asking your dentist about hygiene may offer peace of mind

Before undergoing any dental work at Browns Valley Dental, patients sit back in the dental chair and watch as instruments are unwrapped from sterilization bags. While it would be faster to have the instruments pre-set, the dental office wants patients to feel assured about safety.

“We open (the sterilization bag) in their presence,” dentist Peter Chung said. “It does take us a little extra time to organize all those instruments since we’re not doing it before they arrive, but it shows them we are using fresh sterile equipment.”

The significance of using properly sterilized equipment was given renewed focus last week after a dental office in Oklahoma allegedly exposed thousands of patients to blood-borne viruses. Approximately 7,000 people have been recommended to get tested for hepatitis and HIV, after the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry allegedly found the dental office used improperly sterilized instruments and contaminated drug vials.

While the risk of cross-infection at the dentist is rare, there are questions patients can ask to get a better understanding of how a dental office handles patient safety.  

“If I was a patient, I would ask for a physical tour of the office,” said Tom Terry, a patient safety and risk management consultant, who specializes in working with dental offices in the Bay Area.

The dentist and the assistants should all be using the proper protective equipment — including a mask, eyewear, gloves and a lab coat, said Gina Fortunato, a registered dental assistant, who works for Napa dentist Glenn Giamo.  

Staff should also be removing contaminated gloves and washing their hands between patients, Fortunato said. The chair in the treatment room should be covered with a barrier, and instruments should be in a sealed sterilization pouch or cassette, she said.

Napa dentist Charles Stratton said patients can also ask which type of sterilization an office uses — steam or chemical.

“Steam is state-of-the-art,” Stratton said. “It’s really the only way you should be sterilizing instruments.”

Stratton and Napa dentist David Goodwill both suggested that patients inquire about the experience level of staff members — specifically those who perform sterilization procedures. Some dental offices are cutting costs by hiring entry-level employees for $8 or $10 an hour to do sterilizations, Goodwill said. Patients can ask about who is performing the sterilizations, and if that person is licensed or trained, Stratton said.

Stratton’s and Goodwill’s dental offices, along with Giamo’s office and Browns Valley Dental, have all been deemed by the consultant Tom Terry as “exceptional” — meaning they maintain high standards in patient safety and infection control. These four dental offices are among at least 14 that Terry works with in Napa.

Goodwill, who has worked with Terry for about 15 years, said he hired him to ensure the office is up-to-date on all federal and state regulations. Terry will do an on-site inspection about twice a year to make sure the standards are being maintained and to notify the office of any needed changes, Goodwill said. The consultation service costs about $2,000 to $2,500 a year, he said.

Hiring a consultant is one of the only ways a dental office gets routinely inspected.

While dentists are required to attend regular training sessions to maintain their licenses, there is no federal or state agency that performs routine inspections of dental offices in California.

The Dental Board of California is complaint-driven — meaning they do not perform onsite evaluations of dental offices unless a complaint is filed. The same is true in Oklahoma, where the Board of Dentistry initiated its investigation after a former patient was believed to have contracted hepatitis C during dental surgery.

At Browns Valley Dental, Chung said that, so far, no patients have asked questions or expressed any concerns about the incident in Oklahoma.

“Hopefully, this sort of thing in Oklahoma is an isolated incident,” Chung said. “Of all the procedures done nationwide and worldwide, it’s not a common thing to hear about this, so as a whole, the profession is very safe. The risks associated with a (untreated) dental abscess are much worse.”

Source: Napa Valley Register / http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/asking-your-dentist-about-hygiene-may-offer-peace-of-mind/article_776da022-9e4e-11e2-9835-0019bb2963f4.html

Is Your Dentist Safe? 5 Steps You Can Take

Few people like going to the dentist, even if those tooth-yankers do rate highly for honesty and ethics. At my most recent visit, I got a referral to the gum specialist … again. Painful memories have slowed me from making the call, but healthy choppers are important, so I know I will.


But thousands of dental patients in the Tulsa, Okla., area have a new reason to fear the chair: their dentist might have given them hepatitis B or C, or HIV. Nearly 1,000 of W. Scott Harrington’s 7,000 patients have now been tested, according to the AP, and more will be screened in coming days.

The alarm was sounded when one of Harrington’s patients tested positive for hepatitis C. Previous complaints made Harrington a suspect. The preliminary investigation found inadequate sterilization procedures in his two offices, repeated use of needles and drug vials for multiple patients and rusty dental tools.

How can you be sure that your dentist’s office is safe? Or your doctor’s office? Or your nail salon or, for that matter, anyplace you go to be poked, prodded or punctured?

1. Direct is best. Ask your professional whether the office follows industry standards — the American Dental Association infection control guidelines, for example.

2. Be plucky. Afraid you might offend your doctor or dentist? Don’t be; you’re the one at risk. Here’s advice from Todd Bridges, president of the Oklahoma Dental Association: “We recommend that people talk with their dentists about infection control. Dentists are universally proud of the cleanliness of their offices and will not be offended when patients ask questions about infection control protocols.”

3. Know what to look for. A video on the ADA website suggests what to check out in your dentist’s treatment rooms – things like masks, gloves, handwashing, sterilization and proper waste disposal.

4. Consider previous conditions. If you have a heart condition or an artificial joint, consult your doctor before visiting the dentist. According to a section of the ADA website for people over age 60, “there are conditions with a high risk of infection and an antibiotic is recommended prior to some dental procedures.”

5. One more thing. For trips to the nail salon or tattoo parlor, here’s advice from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. One preview — beware of the Garra rufa: “If considering a ‘fish pedicure’ or ‘fish spa’ where a tub of water is filled with small fish called Garra rufa that eat away dead skin on the client’s feet, know that there are infection risks involved and that several states have banned the use of fish pedicures for various reasons.”

So, is it safe? Dustin Hoffman wishes he had the answer in his terrifying encounter with Laurence Olivier as the scariest dentist ever in Marathon Man. Warning: Not for the faint of heart.

Source: AARP / http://blog.aarp.org/2013/04/04/is-your-dentist-safe-5-steps-you-can-take/

Schools Struggle to Provide Dental Health Safety Net

As California educators grapple with boosting student achievement across economic lines, the teeth of poor children are holding them back.

Hundreds of thousands of children suffering from dental disease, some with teeth rotted to the gum line, are presenting California school districts with a widespread public health problem.

Increasingly, dental health advocates are looking to school districts to help solve the crisis. Innovative oral health care projects have been launched in school districts around the state that provide students with no-cost dental screening or treatment. Insurance companies are billed whenever possible.

Dental disease is at “epidemic” levels among California children, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, and low-income children are disproportionately affected. They are 12 times more likely to miss school because of dental problems than children from higher-income families.


“The issue is huge,” said Gordon Jackson, director of the state Department of Education’s division which oversees health, counseling and other support programs provided at schools. “Tooth decay remains one of the most chronic diseases for children and adolescents. As we’re having the conversation about California’s future and student academic achievement, we have to have a conversation about oral health as well.”

But many districts lack the resources, or balk at being asked to provide dental care on top of a rigorous curriculum.

“It’s a great idea to bring universal prevention programs of all types, including dental, to schools,” said Kimberly Uyeda, director of student medical services for the Los Angeles Unified School District. “Whether there’s enough time in the day is another question.”
Lost revenue

Still, schools have a vested interest in helping solve the problem.

Dental problems keep California students out of school an estimated 874,000 days a year, costing schools about $29.7 million in lost attendance based-funding, according to the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, conducted by researchers at UCLA.


Dental health also affects student performance. Students with toothaches were almost four times as likely to have a lower grade point average than students with healthy teeth, according to a 2012 study by the USC School of Dentistry.

Advocates say the dental health crisis is exacerbated by the failure of Medi-Cal’s dental program, called Denti-Cal, to adequately serve low-income children, lack of funding for a state school-based dental disease prevention program for low-income children, and the lack of money to enforce existing state laws requiring oral screenings and preventive care for school children.

School-based dental clinics can play a large part in the solution, given the holes in the state’s safety net. One model is to house dental care inside a school-based medical clinic. Some 61 school-based health clinics, out of about 200 in California, offer dental screening or treatment.

Outside of a school setting, finding a dentist who accepts Denti-Cal is a significant obstacle for low-income children. California’s reimbursement rates to Denti-Cal dentists are among the lowest in the nation, according to a recent report by The Children’s Partnership.

The numbers of low-income children who need care are expected to increase when the Affordable Care Act — including its Medi-Cal expansion — is fully implemented. Come January 1, nearly half of California’s children will be Denti-Cal patients, according to The Children’s Partnership report.

The implications are clear, advocates say. “You’ve got to bring the services to the children,” said Roseann Mulligan, with the USC School of Dentistry and one of the authors of the study regarding oral health and student achievement.
Reaching students

A number of districts are doing just that. Some of the dental services are financially self-sustaining through billing to insurers, while others rely on grants and partnerships. The goal is for all clinics to become self-sustaining.

Two days a week, inside the sleek new student health center housed at James Madison Middle School in Oakland, students spend about 50 minutes during physical education class period or the “sixth period” extra time in a baby-blue dental chair. A hygienist screens students for tooth decay, cleans teeth, and applies fluoride varnish and sealants. The clinic, which doesn’t provide fillings or other restorative dentistry, accepts dental insurance and Denti-Cal, and provides free service to the uninsured. Services are funded by the Alameda County Public Health Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Another model is a mobile dental clinic. In the San Diego Unified School District, the La Maestra Mobile Health Clinic, which includes dental services, began operating in fall 2012 to provide fillings and restorative dentistry to students at the Hoover Cluster of schools: 10 elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school in the City Heights neighborhood, an area of high need.

“What we are trying to do is make it a positive experience,” said Dorothy Zirkle, a consultant for Price Charities, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for children in City Heights. “Our kids have a high need for multiple fillings. We need to build trust.”

All services are no-cost, with providers seeking reimbursement from insurers when possible. Among the organizations funding the facilities and services at the mobile dental clinic are La Maestra Community Health Centers, private foundations including the City Heights Partnership for Children, and the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A third model is a partnership with a nearby dental college to offer expanded services for students. In the El Monte City School District, students receive comprehensive dental care at two dental clinics housed in elementary schools, as well as from a mobile dental unit.

Advocates say these programs and others like them are key to helping solve the dental health crisis facing California students.

Data that show the connection between oral health and student achievement will help persuade districts to support school-based dental care, said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of the Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health, a nonprofit founded to serve students in LA Unified.

“School districts are eager to find a way to help kids stay in school and achieve,” she said.


Source: The California Report / http://blogs.kqed.org/stateofhealth/2013/04/03/schools-struggle-to-provide-dental-health-safety-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=schools-struggle-to-provide-dental-health-safety-net

Teeth brushing incredibly powerful for pet care

Does your pet seem to have “morning breath” all day long?

Have you looked in their mouth lately? It has been estimated that up to 75 percent of dogs and cats have some form of dental disease by the age of three.

Chronic neglect, dietary choices and the simple passage of time can all conspire to create a painful, debilitating condition in the mouths of pets which can have consequences beyond the mouth itself. Pets who are asked to live with this condition will often present to their veterinarians with symptoms such as a decreased appetite, mild weight loss, or a perceived discomfort associated with the head.

Yearly oral exams are vital to grade the dental status of all pets. The accumulation of unsightly tartar is the most obvious observation made by most owners.

Yet it is often the more subtle inflammation of the gum tissue (known as gingivitis) that provides a glimpse into what may be occurring below the gum line. As bacteria in the mouth grow in numbers, so does the severity of the gingivitis.

As this condition progresses it causes the tooth itself to lose its attachment to the gums, which can ultimately lead to a tooth not having enough tissue to keep it adequately anchored into the jaw. In these situations the most likely course of action is to extract the tooth.

In addition, it is a widely accepted belief that the bacteria associated with infected teeth can travel throughout the blood stream and have an adverse effect on major organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys. For example, diabetes in a cat or a dog can be more difficult to control as the infection in the mouth interferes with the body’s ability to sense and use insulin.

With so many of our pets now living to advanced ages thanks to an increased ability to detect and manage chronic disease, it is vital that we do not undermine this progress by ignoring disease in the mouth.

Prevention is the very best form of medicine. Getting a pet used to idea of a toothbrush and fluoride free pet toothpaste at a young age is the single greatest thing that can be done to improve a pet’s oral health in the long run.

The act of brushing does not need to be an invasive task but needs to occur every day for the best results. If a brush could just be applied to the outside surfaces of all teeth for 1 to 2 minutes a day, the incidence of dental disease in our pet population would decrease dramatically.

There are few things, which are as cost effective, but incredibly powerful as daily teeth brushing. Dental chews containing antiseptics and dental diets used on a daily basis are also options for those who do not have the ability to brush.

A pet whose mouth exhibits any degree of gum inflammation is a candidate for a dental cleaning. This is best done by trained veterinary personnel under a general anesthetic.

Many owners are intrigued by the possibility of dentals performed while their pet is awake on the grounds that it is “less invasive” and as a way to avoid anesthesia and minimize cost.

Although it is easy to see the appeal of such a strategy, it ultimately fails for numerous reasons. First, conscious dental cleanings do not properly clean beneath the gum line, leaving behind the bacteria that ultimately are causing the dental disease. Up to 66 percent of all dental lesions are found below the gum line. Ignoring this part of a tooth is not an acceptable way to care for a mouth.

Second, when teeth are hand scaled but not polished afterwards (a common practice during non veterinary dentals), grooves in the enamel of the teeth are left behind which actually lead to a faster accumulation of plaque and tartar. Any money that is saved and risks that are avoided during procedures such as this will ultimately be cancelled out when the patient’s tartar returns again and problems ignored the first time around are forced to be dealt with.

Finally, it should be noted that “anesthetic free” dentals are not subject to any form of oversight in the way that veterinary procedures are by the Department of Health. Back in the days of the Wild West, there was a reason that all the cowboys had terrible teeth--their dentist was also their barber!

Most of us have experienced some form of tooth discomfort at some point in our life. Our pets are much tougher than any of us when it comes to pain so talk to your veterinarian today and make sure that your furry friend is not suffering in silence.

Source: The Highline Times / http://www.highlinetimes.com/2013/04/01/opinion/teeth-brushing-incredibly-powerful-pet-care

Poor dental health is associated with cardiovascular risk

Poor dental health, especially tooth loss, is associated with several established cardiovascular risk factors.

Things including diabetes, smoking, blood pressure, obesity and other novel risk factors, are heightened by poor dental health, according to research just published.

Commenting on the study, Professor Robin Seymour from the Simplyhealth Advisory Research Panel – ShARP notes: “Although several studies have proposed a link between periodontal disease and coronary heart disease, knowledge about periodontal disease in patients with established heart disease is lacking.


"Researchers in this study investigated the prevalence of self-reported tooth loss and occurrence of gum bleeds as surrogate markers of periodontal disease and their relation to cardiovascular risk factors in high-risk patients with coronary heart disease participating in the ongoing STABILITY study, a global clinical trial evaluating the anti-atherosclerosis drug darapladib.

“At the start of the study, 15,828 study participants from 39 countries reported their remaining number of teeth, categorized as: none, 1-14, 15-19, 20-25 or 26-32, and frequency of gum bleeds: never/rarely, sometimes, often or always. Approximately 40 percent of participants had fewer than 15 teeth and 16 percent had no teeth; 25 percent of subjects reported gum bleeds.

“For every decrease (see categorization above) in number of teeth category, the study found increasing levels of an enzyme that increases inflammation and promotes hardening of the arteries, as well as an increase in other cardiac risk markers including "bad" cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and waist circumference.

“Participants with fewer teeth also had higher probability of having diabetes, with the odds increasing by 11 percent for every decrease in number of teeth category. Bleeding gums were associated with higher levels of bad cholesterol and blood pressure.

“The nature of the link between periodontal disease is unclear. Whether common risk factors such as systemic inflammation cause both conditions or periodontal disease causes cardiovascular disease is uncertain.

“What is clear is that people can reduce their risk of periodontal disease by regularly visiting the dentist. Check-ups and treatment for periodontal disease may also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. As a result, it is vital for people to go through basic periodontal screening (BPE) at least once a year so that a thorough inspection of periodontal tissues can be achieved.”



Source: Female First / http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/health/dental-health-286355.html