Diabetes and Oral Health – A Two-Way Street

If you, a friend or a family member have diabetes, you may have heard that this common disease increases a person’s risk of gum disease and other oral health problems. But did you know that this relationship is a mutually distressing one? Not only does diabetes make gum disease worse, but gum disease can actually make diabetes worse too by interfering with blood-glucose management strategies.

Here, we shine some light on the relationship between diabetes and oral health, and what you can do about it.

Diabetes makes it difficult for the body to fight infection. Whether the infection is located in the mouth, the foot or any other part of the body, poor circulation suppresses the immune system, making it harder for the body’s natural infection fighting responders to do their job. This means that if you have diabetes, you are more prone to gum disease, and other oral health problems too such as, thrush and dry mouth.

On the flip-side, gum disease can also make diabetes worse. Whenever the body is fighting illness or an infection (such as a cold or the flu or even gum disease), blood sugar spikes are harder to control with regular methods and thus extra monitoring and control-measures are required.

Are you wondering what you can do to minimize this damage? First and foremost, keep your blood sugar under control by using the methods that your physician has prescribed. Next, practice good oral health maintenance with regular brushing and flossing. And finally, don't skip regular trips to the dentist and other oral health professionals. If you have diabetes, you cannot afford to ignore this important part of your body. For more information about oral health call Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. today at (800) 223-0801.

How Long do Dental Implants Last?

If you're considering going through the dental implant process, it’s important to know how long they will last.  The good news is dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution to missing teeth caused by tooth decay, injury or other causes.  Implants should look, feel and act like real teeth.

Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. can provide you with a permanent solution to your missing or dead teeth. Dental implants are made of a titanium root that is anchored in the jaw. This acts as a functional anchor for the implanted tooth and crown.  The bone grows around the implanted post the same way bone grows around the natural root of a tooth.

Do Dental Implants Last as long as Your Real Teeth?

How long do your real teeth last?  They should last a lifetime.  However, we all can cite examples where teeth have not served for a person's lifetime.  Oftentimes, our teeth do not last long enough due to poor home care or a lack of dental visits. Just as natural teeth may not last a lifetime, dental implants may not be permanent. 

With proper care and routine dental check-ups your dental implants should last a lifetime. This can be maintained through good hygiene and following the instructions of your dentist. 

If you are ready to take a permanent step towards a more confident smile and are tired of seeing those missing teeth, please contact Dr. Alina Bergan D.D.S. We serve patients in 5 Towns area in Cedarhurst . Call us today at (800) 223-0801.

Dental Hygiene Essentials for Busy Parents

As a parent, life can get very busy. There’s so much to do and remember for work, for your kids, for you, personally, that things can sometimes get forgotten. Your kids’ dental habits shouldn’t be one of them. However, we understand it can be tough to manage it all, so we’ve put together a list of kid’s dental hygiene essentials every busy parent should have.

1. Give Your Kids a Tooth-Brushing Calendar. For busy parents, one tool that might help is a daily tooth-brushing calendar to make sure your kids are brushing their teeth twice a day and using floss at least once a day. Your kids could check off or place a sticker on each calendar day and time they’ve successfully brushed and flossed their teeth. Create a rewards system as an extra motivator. If they keep to their daily brushing schedule for a week or a month, then they could get a fun reward, like a trip to the movies or getting a DVD or toy they’ve been wanting. The reward can be whatever you think is best for your household, but it might give them some extra incentive to do well that week or month when it comes to brushing and flossing their teeth.

If your child is too young to brush his teeth on his own, recruit an older sibling to help. If he has no older siblings, schedule times that you and your spouse (or other family member) can take turns helping your child brush his teeth.

2. Keep their dental appointments a priority. Make sure your kids are seeing a dentist every six months. Schedule their dental appointments ahead of time. If you can’t find a time to take them, ask a friend or family member if they can help.

3. Compile a travel kit for your car that includes:

·         Toothpaste

·         Toothbrushes

·         Floss

·         Water

·         Healthy Snacks like granola bars

Whether you’re taking a vacation, a weekend trip or just running a few errands, being prepared when traveling can help safeguard your kids’ dental habits. Leave this travel kit in your car or grab it on your way out. If your kids forget their toothbrush and toothpaste on a trip, they’ll have backups; if they need to floss after eating a hearty meal, they won’t have to do without; and if they get hungry or thirsty, you won’t have to resort to junk food because you’ll have healthy snacks available (This can be a money-saver, too!).

4. Stock your house with extra:

·         Toothpaste

·         Floss

·         Toothbrushes 

·         Straws

·         Healthy Snacks

Having extra toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss stored in the bathroom is a good idea, especially if you’re really busy. It can be hard to make runs to the store for just a couple of items if you’ve already got a lot going on. You could even store some of these extras in the kitchen so your kids will remember to brush their teeth after eating.

Additionally, encourage your kids to use straws when they drink sugary beverages. Although these drinks should be limited for the betterment of your kids’ teeth and health, if they do drink some, using a straw can help keep the sugar from coating their teeth.

5. Educate your kids and sitters about the importance of dental hygiene. The more your kids know to do, the less you’ll have to do in this area. Educate your kids about proper dental hygiene habits so they’ll know when and why they need to brush and floss their teeth, what they should be eating and drinking and how to take care of their dental health overall. You can do this by giving them great dental books to read and referencing some of their favorite movies that mention dental care.

If you have sitters for your kids, stress the importance of your kids’ dental habits to them, too. They can make sure your kids are taking care of their teeth while you’re out.

Your kids’ dental hygiene habits are important and it’s good to be developing them now. We hope these essential dental hygiene tips can help you, even with your busy schedule. Contact our office for more information or to schedule a checkup today at 800-223-0801.