SEEING ORAL CANCER

Recently I had a patient come in for routine hygiene treatment complaining of some "scratchy" feelings down on the side of her throat that had been noticeable for 3-4 weeks. I told her that she needed to see her M.D.  and that I would look today as well. When I opened her mouth I saw a white ball about the size of a quarter where her tonsil should be. It was not a tonsil...it was white and full of veins and arteries. She was shown the spot and said that her appointment was in about a month with her M.D. I took a picture with our mouth camera, printed it out and told her to run it by her MD's office right then. She did and they saw her the next day thankfully.  The white ball was  non-Hodgkins lymphoma requiring removal and chemo treatment.  Bottom line: if something seems out of the norm in your mouth for longer than 2 weeks, GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT IT.. YOU are the best to know when something isn't right.. Please take care of yourself.

Do you grind your teeth in your sleep? New research is showing that if you do grind, it may be a sign that you are struggling to breathe. For years we thought clenching and grinding was a symptom of stress and/or a "bad bite". This is still a possibility but now I think it is more related to struggling to breathe. We see 2 and 3 year olds grind their teeth. This is not stress or a bad bite. It could be a breathing problem.  Cranky, irritable, kids may be suffering from sleep breathing disorders. A pediatric dentist is your best source for discussing this. For adults, I have had great success with "mouthpieces" to help snoring and sleep apnea . For people who just can't wear their C-PAP machines , mouthpieces have been very helpful. Talk to ypor dentist !!!

Veneers are Rewarding

         I was thinking about veneers the other day and realized that I have some veneers over 20 years on some of my patients . The concept of no drilling or minimal drilling has revolutionized smile improvement.  Seeing how well they stand up to the test of time I feel more comfortable than ever doing them. To see people become unconscious smilers has brightened my day. I would be honored if you would like to visit some time and talk about the potential for veneers. 

Snoring can be Dangerous !!!

Snoring has become a major focus for me in the last 5 years. This seemingly aggravating noise may in fact shorten your life. Poor breathing quality while sleeping has been linked possibly to higher blood pressure, gastric reflux, insulin levels and fatigue. If you are tired when you get up or become tired during the day, snoring or sleep apnea may be ruing your life and your partner's life as well. Remember : Laugh and the whole world laughs WITH you, snore and you sleep ALONE.

Hate C-PAP ?

Can"t tolerate C-PAP ? Am oral mouth piece may be the solution.

Remember it is not the AMOUNT of sugar you consume, it is HOW OFTEN you consume sugar. A piece of pie is no worse than a peppermint candy unless you use 4 candies a day.  It's all about FREQUENCY !!!

Remember, flossing regularly can prevent heart disease. It's not just about your teeth. Brush,Floss, SMILE !!