Is Your Oral Health Affecting Your Sex Life?

Oral hygiene and sexual health may have more in common than you think. For men, gum disease may be associated with an increased risk for impotence, so men, sit up and take notice.

A recent study carried out in Taiwan showed there could be a link between erectile dysfunction and severe gum disease or periodontal disease. The erectile dysfunction study was led by members of the Far Easter Memorial Hospital and the Herng-Ching Lin School of Health Care Administration at Taipei Medical University. The study involved 33,000 Taiwanese men with erectile dysfunction and 162,000 Taiwanese men who did not have erectile dysfunction.

Periodontitis occurs when gingivitis goes untreated. This severe form of gum disease causes inflammation which can ultimately lead to tooth loss. If periodontitis is untreated, it can lead to infections of the jaw bones and gums.

The results showed that 27% of the group with erectile dysfunction had periodontitis, compared to just 9% of the group who did not have any sexual problems. This is quite a difference, especially when you consider the comparison group is nearly 5 times the size of the group with erectile dysfunction.

The study went on for 5 years.  During this time period, gum disease was more common in men with erectile dysfunction when compared to the group who did not have sexual problems, After researchers took into consideration other factors like income and pre-existing medical conditions, gum disease was still more common in men with erectile dysfunction in two specific age groups. Gum disease and erectile dysfunction was more prevalent in men under the age of 30 and men over the age of 70.

It’s not quite clear why there should be this link between erectile dysfunction and periodontal disease, but it is thought it’s due to the disease being inflammatory, and that this could damage the blood vessels leading to the penis.

Luckily enough, gum disease is easily treatable and periodontitis is preventable. Brush your teeth, floss and schedule routine dental visits to ensure healthy gums. While the link between gum disease and erectile dysfunction is not exactly known at this preliminary stage, it never hurts to have good dental hygiene.

If You Want a Healthy Sex Life then Look After Your Teeth

Periodontal disease can be a huge problem, as it is the major reason why teeth are lost, and numerous studies have linked it to other serious health conditions including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.   In addition to the erectile dysfunction component, if you want a healthy sex life then you need to make sure you have a healthy mouth and a healthy body. You’re more likely to find your partner wants to become intimate with you if your teeth are healthy and clean, and your breath is fresh.

Preventative Dental Care May Improve Your Sex Life

Luckily it is relatively easy to get and maintain good dental health, and if you are overdue for your professional cleaning and checkup, then now would be a great time to book that appointment.

During your appointment West Hartford dentist Dr. Elzbieta Basil will check the health of your teeth and gums, and will devise a suitable treatment plan for any signs of periodontal disease. Regular professional cleanings are extremely important, as they help to keep your gums healthy and strong, lessening the chances of you developing gum disease. At the end of your hygiene treatment your breath should be fresher, and your teeth should look a bit whiter from being polished which could help improve your appeal!

Dr. Basil’s hygienists can also advise you on the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy at home, and the best tools to use.  You can get dental cleanings from them in her West Hartford dental office or her New Britain dental office.  Once your teeth and gums are in good condition then it is quite straightforward to keep them that way, hopefully decreasing your chances of experiencing erectile dysfunction.

Can Invisalign Straighten Your Teeth?

Adults with crooked smiles are often reluctant to talk to West Hartford cosmetic dentist Dr. Elzbieta Basil about braces. They think braces are for children or they fear the embarrassment of a mouth filled with metal.  The good news is that you’re never too old for straight teeth, and with Invisalign braces, you can have a beautiful smile within 12 to 24 months.

Invisalign Straightens Teeth Invisibly

Invisalign braces straighten teeth by using a custom-made series of clear aligner trays made especially for your dental needs. These aligner trays resemble plastic retainers traditionally used with conventional metal braces. However, aligners are virtually invisible. Most people won’t even realize you’re wearing them. Additionally, aligners are smooth and comfortable so they don’t typically irritate the inside of your mouth.

The benefit of wearing Invisalign braces is the ease of use. There are no visits to New Britain cosmetic dentist Dr. Elzbieta Basil to tighten wires or adjust brackets. With Invisalign, you simply change aligner trays every couple of weeks as your teeth slowly shift into alignment. That means no more overcrowded, crooked, or improperly spaced teeth. Then every six weeks or so, you visit your dentist for a checkup and to pick up your next set of trays.

Invisalign Offers a Simple Process to Correct Dental Issues

The Invisalign process is simple. West Hartford cosmetic dentist Dr. Basil begins by taking x-rays, pictures, and impressions of your mouth. From these, Invisalign creates a 3-D image to allow your dentist to determine your treatment plan.  Dr. Basil can even show you an approximate representation of your smile once treatment is complete.

Once New Britain cosmetic dentist Dr. Basil determines your individual needs, she creates a series of clear aligner trays. You wear each aligner for 20 to 22 hours per day for approximately two weeks each. Since everyone is different and has different needs, Dr. Basil will provide you with specific guidance.

Throughout the treatment, your teeth gently shift into place until it’s time to move to the next aligner. However, keep in mind you don’t want to move to the next aligner tray too soon. Forcing your teeth to move or advance to the next aligner too soon may cause other dental issues. Be sure to give your jawbone and tooth roots time to remodel properly, even if it takes longer than two weeks.

Invisalign unlike Conventional Metal Braces

Unlike conventional metal braces, Invisalign is a removable prosthetic. That makes eating your meals and cleaning your teeth so much easier. Although they are not ideal for the most complex straightening, along with their comfort and near invisibility, it’s tough to imagine making any other choice for cases where they are indicated.

If you have questions about whether Invisalign is right for you, talk to West Hartford cosmetic dentist Dr. Elzbieta Basil to learn more.

Are Your Teeth Wearing Out?

Have you noticed that your teeth are not quite the same shape as they used to be?  In a recent article in The American Journal of Dentistry, Professor Adrian Lussi examines what many dental professionals such as New Britain Dentist Dr. Basil , with offices in West Hartford, has seen with greater and greater frequency: tooth erosion is on the rise.

As lifestyles have changed through the decades, the total amount and frequency of consumption of acidic foods and drinks have also changed. Soft drink consumption in the USA increased by 300% in 20 years,1 and serving sizes increased from 185 g (6.6 oz) in the 1950s to 340 g (12 oz) in the 1960s and 570 to g (20 oz) in the late 1990s. Between 56% and 85% of children at school in the USA (circa 1995), consumed at least one soft drink daily, with the highest amounts ingested by adolescent males. Of this group, 20% consumed four or more servings daily.2 Particularly, studies in children and adults have shown that patients with more than four dietary acid intakes per day is associated with the presence and the progression of erosion when other risk factors (such as holding the drink in the mouth) are present. 

Through the efforts of some health agencies and elected officials, soda consumption of the pure sugar-water variety is a bit down over the last five years, but replacing it is the equally or even more dangerous increase of energy drinks and sports drinks, and even juices which damage enamel through high concentrations of acids, in addition to sugars.

As a result, dealing with erosive tooth wear is becoming increasingly significant in the management of the long-term health of your teeth.

You Can Slow the Process of Teeth Erosion

Whether your teeth are being eroded by your lifestyle choices, bruxism (grinding your teeth), malocclusion (misaligned teeth), sleep apnea, or acid reflux, it is important to take early action.  If you’ve noticed any changes, it’s important to:

Tell your dentist. Dr. Elzbieta Basil can check your teeth for signs of erosion. Teeth that are flattened, chipped, fractured, loose, or worn or the enamel layer may have become very thin. There are treatments she can perform for each of these conditions.

Make wise lifestyle choices. Any type of carbonated beverage and juice should be avoided.  The best drinks are water, tea and low-fat milk.  Also limit your intake of acidy foods, and do not leave acidy things in your mouth for a long period of time.

Don’t put off speaking with Dr. Basil. Otherwise, the problem could lead to tooth loss. And, if damage resulting from tooth wear is diagnosed and addressed in its early stages, you might be able to avoid dental treatment to correct the damage that will eventually be done. 

Fix or Save What you Have

Tooth erosion doesn’t have to ruin your smile. Along with lifestyle changes, see Dr. Basil in her West Hartford dental office and her New Britain dental office.  She has has numerous general dentistry and  cosmetic dentistry techniques that can improve your smile if you already have damage.  These include:

• Dental Sealants can provide extra protection for your enamel.
• Flouride Varnish can give a high tech fluoride boost to your teeth, making them stronger.
• Dental bonding is a simple process in which your dentist prepares the surface of your teeth with a liquid or gel before applying a bonding material shaped to look like your natural teeth.
• Dental crowns are more involved, but can look just like your natural teeth. Dr. Basil may file the damaged tooth to prepare it before covering it with a metal or porcelain crown.
• Dental veneers are a quick cosmetic fix for chipped, stained, or misaligned teeth using a thin ceramic shell over the front of each tooth

Whatever process you choose to protect and repair your smile, don’t put off speaking with cosmetic and family dentist Dr. Elzbieta Basil if you have dental concerns. It is important that diagnosis of the tooth wear process in children and adults is made early and adequate preventive measures are undertaken. Early intervention can only be initiated when the risk factors as well as the biological and behavioral modifying factors are taken into account.  West Hartford Dentist Dr. Elzbieta Basil can help.

Is "Oil Pulling" Right For You?

Recently, I was asked several times about “oil pulling” which is a growing trend, but it's not new.  

This oral therapy is a type of Ayurvedic medicine [a traditional Indian system] that dates back 3,000 years.  It involves swishing approximately 1 tablespoon of oil -- typically coconut, sesame, or sunflower oil -- in your mouth for about 15-20 minutes and then spitting it out.

While any cooking oil would work, most practitioners of oil pulling use coconut oil. This is because coconut oil has the added benefit of lauric acid, which is well-known for its anti-microbial agents.

Unlike some natural home remedies, there’s actually some reasonable science behind it. Recent studies claim that oil pulling helps against gingivitis, plaque, and microorganisms that cause bad breath. How? Most microorganisms inhabiting the mouth are single-cell bacteria.  These cells are covered with a lipid, or fatty, membrane, which is the cell's skin. When these cells come into contact with oil, a fat, they naturally adhere to each other—kind of like being drawn to a magnet.

There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that deep pockets incident to gingivitis were reduced by this method.  A 2007 study in the Journal of Oral Health and Community Dentistry found that this method reduced gingivitis by 52 to 60 percent and cut plaque by 18 to 30 percent—compare mouthwash (which reduces gingivitis by 13 percent and plaque by 20 to 26 percent) and brushing (which reduces gingivitis by 8 to 23 percent and plaque by 11 to 27 percent).

Please note, as with many folk remedies, none of the studies I have found have been sufficient in terms of scientific reliability. Simply stated, the sample size isn't large enough, they aren't sufficiently blinded, peer reviewed, nor do they contain specific demographic data.  However, I do not see a dramatic downside in trying it, if you are so inclined, as long as you don't swallow the oil. 

If you think this sounds like something you want to try, here are some recommendations:

Start with just 5 or 10 minutes a day.  Twenty minutes of swishing is a long time, and while the longer you pull, the more bacteria you'll remove, 5 or 10 minutes will still offer some benefit. Also, if your jaw starts aching a few minutes in, slow down.  Practitioners recommend not to work it too hard.  A  gentle swishing, pushing, and sucking the oil through the teeth is all that's required.

Don't swallow. You want to get rid of the bacteria, not ingest them. Also, swallowing oil may give you an upset stomach or diarrhea.  If you find it hard not to swallow, you might have too much oil in your mouth.  Also, I have a septic system, so I wouldn’t spit it down the sink.  It may even clog your pipes, so use a trash can.

Don't skip brushing and flossing.  In my opinion, oil pulling should never replace routine dental visits and traditional home oral care. It doesn't reverse the effects of tooth decay, but I don’t oppose it as a supplemental therapy.

Coconut oil isn't the only oil with dental health benefits. For irritated, inflamed gums, rub a little vitamin E oil directly on the surface. It's rich in antioxidants, easily absorbed, and helps regenerate healthy gum tissue. Sunflower oil is also reported to be high in vitamin E.

The bottom line: If it sounds good to you, I'm not opposed to your trying it, although I'm not recommending that everyone should do it.  It's unclear as to whether this technique will be of great benefit, but there is some reasonable science behind it and a lot of anecdotal support. 

Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil

West Hartford Dentist

New Britain Dentist

www.DoctorBasil.com

Your Teeth As Tools

Teeth serve many functions.  They were designed to chew food, support our lips and cheeks structurally, and help us speak properly.  A healthy set of teeth also adds to your overall appearance and gives you an attractive smile.  However, many people damage their teeth by using them inappropriately.  Here’s a few things that you should avoid doing with your teeth in order to keep them as healthy as possible:

Don’t Use Your Teeth To Open Things

Beer bottle, candy bar, or bag of chips – resist the urge to use your teeth to help you open it.  Your teeth were not meant to open these things.  Using your teeth on foreign objects, especially bottle caps, can crack them, chip them, or cause malocclusion (poor jaw alignment) by wearing down your teeth unevenly.  Malocclusion can eventually lead to a type of jaw pain called temporomandibular disorder (TMD, commonly known as TMJ.)

Don’t Use Your Teeth As Scissors or Wire Cutters

Next time you buy a shirt or sweater at the store, if you’re taking off the price tag, and only the paper comes off, do NOT bite the plastic fastener.  Almost anytime you try to cut something with your teeth is a mistake.  You can do damage to the enamel, chip or crack teeth by using them to cut anything other than your meals.  This includes clear packing tape when the packing tape doesn’t come with a built-in cutter.  As a dentist , I’ve seen some crazy things.  Believe it or not, at our dental office in West Hartford, a patient even use his teeth to cut wire, without a good result. 

Don’t Use Your Teeth as a Third Hand

In my New Britain dental office, an elderly woman that had used her front teeth to hold pins while she was sewing.  Over time, she had worn small holes in her teeth where the pins were placed.  Every time she smiled, very small holes were visible on the bottom of her upper teeth.  I’ve also had a patient who is a construction workers hold nails in their teeth, with similar damage.  And just think of the choking hazard.

Don’t Use Your Teeth To Chew On Foreign Objects

When I was in elementary school, a lot of kids were chewing on their pencils.  Sometimes people bite their fingernails.  Consistently doing these things have similar results to grinding your teeth against each other.  

Don’t Use Your Teeth as a Nut Cracker or Seafood Opener

Teeth were not meant to crack nuts or lobster shells.  Over time, the shell will act like sandpaper on your teeth, sanding away bits of enamel each time you open one.  If you do this regularly you will eventually be able to visibly see where you’ve worn away your teeth.

If You Do Get Damage, I Can Help

At my dental office in West Hartford, or in my New Britain dental office, I can perform many restorative procedures in general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry.  This includes: 

• Tooth-shaping
• Bonding
• Veneers
• Dental Crowns and Bridges
• Implants
• Root Canal Therapy, and 
• Emergency Dentistry.

If you use your teeth as tools, you may find use for these services.  

However, if you want your teeth to function properly, you have to protect and take care of them.  As long as you use your teeth for their intended purpose, and don’t abuse them, you will be able to keep your teeth working well for a long time.

 

Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil DMD

West Hartford Dentist

New Britain Dentist

www.DoctorBasil.com

Jaw Pain? You Could Have TMD

Do you have frequent headaches, earaches, tender jaw muscles or a dull, aching facial pain? Does your jaw lock or stay to one side when you open your mouth? These aches and pains may be related to the jaw joint, called the temporomandibular joint or “TMJ,” and the muscles that work to move the joint. When the source of these problems is this joint  or its muscles, they are often referred to as “TMD” for temporomandibular disorders.

Symptoms

A temporomandibular disorder is a condition not a specific disease. TMD's can have many different signs and symptoms, from mild to severe. Some patients have symptoms but are still able to fully function in their everyday lives. TMD's appear to be more common in women. Specific signs and symptoms include:

• Pain in or around the ear
• Tender jaw muscles
• Clicking or popping noises in the jaw
• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
• Pain when yawning or chewing
• Jaw joints that feel as if they're “locked,” “stuck” or “they go out”
•  Headaches

Causes

Several conditions may be linked with TMD.  This often makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause of the particular case. These conditions include:

•  Jaw or head injuries
•  Diseases that affect the muscles or joints such as arthritis
• Tooth grinding
• Anxiety and/or stress

How Dr. Basil Can Help

To determine how best to treat your TMD, West Hartford dentist Dr. Elzbieta Basil would first check the joints and muscles for tenderness, clicking, popping or difficulty moving. Your complete medical history may be reviewed, so it is important to keep your records up to date in Dr. Basil's office.  Dr. Basil may take x-rays of your teeth, jaw or TMJ and she can do so in her West Hartford office or her New Britain office.  She may make a model of your teeth to see how your bite fits together.

For some patients the disorder is less severe than others. Sometimes they may disappear by themselves, or they may come and go. They may also worsen over time. TMD disorders are often managed rather than short. Dr. basil may recommend treatment in a series of steps allowing for the simplest treatment before moving on to something more involved. Generally a "less is often best" approach to treating TMJ disorders is best.

For all such cases patients would be recommended to:

• Each softer foods avoiding foods that cause symptoms 
• Minimize extreme jaw movements such as yawning, yelling or singing
• Avoid chewing gum
• Use heat or ice packs to relieve pain
• Practicing relaxation techniques to control jaw tension, such as meditation

If necessary, Dr. basil may recommend the following to relieve your symptoms:

• Exercises to strengthen jaw muscles
• Medicines to reduce pain or inflammation, or help you relax
• A nightguard or bite plate to decrease clenching or grinding of teeth

In some cases Dr. Basil may recommend fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth. Finally, orthodontic treatment may also be recommended.

Is Stress Messing Up Your Teeth?

In a recent article in Dentistry, Professor Andrew Eder confirms what many dental professionals such as West Hartford Dentist Dr. Basil has known for quite some time: stress isn’t good for the human body, and along with wear and tear on your nerves, it can lead to tooth loss.

One of the common signs of stress is tooth grinding, which can often go unnoticed as it can happen while you are asleep, and this could lead to tooth sensitivity, gum problems, difficulty chewing, headaches and neck ache, as well as the possibility of ultimately losing teeth.

Stress May Lead to Bruxism

Bruxism is quite simply the grinding of teeth, which can be quite destructive. While stress and anxiety may be the most common reasons of bruxism, other causes may include malocclusion (misaligned teeth), sleep apnea, and acid reflux.

Regardless of whether you grind your teeth due to stress or for another reason, left untreated bruxism may eventually lead to tooth loss. If you have frequent headaches or earaches, facial or jaw pain, or tooth sensitivity, it’s important to:

Tell your dentist. Dr. Elzbieta Basil can check your teeth for signs of bruxism. Teeth that are flattened, chipped, fractured, loose, or worn may indicate bruxism. Your dentist may recommend you wear a night mouth guard to protect your teeth from further damage.

Do something relaxing before bedtime. In cases where tooth grinding is due to stress, relaxation techniques prior to sleep may help reduce the problem. A warm bath, yoga, moderate exercise, and avoiding stimulants (coffee, tea, and smoking) before bed may help.

Seek out medical care. Studies have concluded that the use of muscle relaxants from your primary care physician, assistance from a physiotherapist, or use of biofeedback techniques have all had some positive affect on reducing or eliminating bruxism.

Don’t put off speaking with Dr. Basil. Otherwise, the problem could lead to tooth loss. And, if damage resulting from tooth wear is diagnosed and addressed in its early stages, you might be able to avoid dental treatment to correct the damage that will eventually be done. 

Fix What Stress Destroyed

Stress-related bruxism doesn’t have to ruin your smile. Along with a nightly mouthguard, in her West Hartford dental office and her New Britain dental office, Dr. Basil has numerous cosmetic dentistry techniques that can improve your smile if you already have damage.  These include:

• Dental bonding is a simple process in which your dentist prepares the surface of your teeth with a liquid or gel before applying a bonding material shaped to look like your natural teeth.
• Dental crowns are more involved, but can look just like your natural teeth. Dr. Basil may file the damaged tooth to prepare it before covering it with a metal or porcelain crown.
• Dental veneers are a quick cosmetic fix for chipped, stained, or misaligned teeth using a thin ceramic shell over the front of each tooth

Whatever process you choose to repair your damaged smile, don’t put off speaking with cosmetic and family dentist Dr. Elzbieta Basil if you have dental concerns.

www.DoctorBasil.com