By Dr. Carol Lybrook
Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a 2-part series on dental health in recognition of the American Dental Association’s National Oral Health Month. The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook, along with husband Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in Fruita.

Oral health means more than just an attractive smile. Poor oral health and untreated oral diseases and conditions can have a significant impact on quality of life. And in many cases, the condition of the mouth mirrors the condition of the body as a whole. Recent reports indicate a relationship between periodontal (gum) disease and stroke, heart disease, and pre-term low-birth-weight babies. Likewise, more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations, meaning your dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a health problem.

What problems can poor oral health cause?
According to the recently released Surgeon General’s report on oral health in America, a large percentage of the population suffers from a reduced quality of life due to oral and facial pain. This pain is largely due to infections of the gums that support the teeth and can lead to tooth loss. More than 72 percent of the population is affected by some type of periodontal disease or gingivitis.

Recent reports show that infections in the mouth can affect major organs. One example is bacterial endocarditis, a condition in which the lining of the heart and heart valves become inflamed. Poor mouth care also can contribute to oral cancer, which now takes more lives annually than cervical or skin cancer. In addition, poor oral health affects the digestive process, which begins with physical and chemical activities in the mouth. Problems here can lead to intestinal failure, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other problems.

What symptoms from other diseases show up in the mouth?
Mouth tissues reflect symptoms of other problems. In addition, many diseases can be diagnosed in their early stages through an oral examination. These diseases may be characterized by swollen gums, mouth ulcers, dry mouth and/or excessive gum problems. Some of these diseases include diabetes, leukemia, cancer, heart disease and kidney disease.

What can I do?
Seeing a dentist every six months can help identify diseases in their earliest stages. It also is important to provide your dentist with a complete medical/dental history and to inform him or her of any recent problems, even if they seem unrelated to your mouth.

What can my dentist do?
A regular exam allows your dentist to keep your mouth in tiptop shape and watch for developments that may point to problems elsewhere in your body. A dental exam also picks up on poor nutrition and hygiene, growth and development problems and improper jaw alignment. According to a recent survey, 90 percent of dentists said they counsel patients on home care for special oral health care needs resulting from chemotherapy or head and neck radiation therapy. Eighty-seven percent of dentists surveyed responded that they counsel patients on tobacco use, more than half provide direct counseling to patients. Thirty-eight percent of respondents also provide literature on the dangers of tobacco and information on tobacco cessation programs to patients, 17 percent refer patients to their primary care physician, and 14 percent directly refer patients to cessation services.

Lybrook Dental Center – Fruita Times Featured Article – January 2010

By Dr. Carol Lybrook, DDS

Editor’s Note: The author, Dr. Carol Lybrook and her husband, Dr. Scott Lybrook, operate Lybrook Dental Center in the Kokopelli Professional Plaza in Fruita.

Every year, we ring in the New Year celebration with the intention of adopting a resolution. The logic behind this tradition is to chase away the bad habits of the previous year, leaving a clean slate that provides for good health and fortune in the coming year. The New Year is a great time to resolve and follow through on healthy changes to establish or re-establish good dental health habits for your family. Good dental health requires only a few minutes a day.

Here are (5) five practical suggestions on how to make good on your resolution to improve your smile and overall oral health:

1. Visit the dentist regularly.

Regular dental visits are important to overall dental health. Be sure to tell your dentist about any medications (new or existing) that you or your children are taking. Parents should make sure their children see the dentist for the first time around their second birthday. Also, ensure every visit includes a comprehensive oral screening and exam. Make sure you have a preventive plan in place for 2010.

2. Eat a nutritious and healthy diet.

Good nutrition plays an important role in dental health. Eating an orally healthy diet should include a variety of foods from the five main food groups, and limit in between snacks. Continuous contact with foods and beverages that are high in sugar can negatively affect the teeth and gums. Make a resolution to cut down on the number of sugary drinks and sticky, sugary snacks. Instead, offer your children water and fruits and vegetables for snacks. Also, offer water to your children to drink after meals to help cleanse the teeth.

3. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.

Learning proper brushing techniques is an essential part of maintaining good oral health and preventing gum disease. Daily brushing helps remove decay-causing plaque from tooth surfaces. Fluoride reduces tooth decay and prevents cavities. Parents and caregivers should consult a dentist or health care provider before introducing a child under age two to fluoride toothpaste.

4. Floss daily.

Flossing cleans areas between the teeth where the toothbrush can’t reach. Dental floss should be used to floss between teeth at least once a day for two-three minutes. It is important to floss between all teeth in the mouth. Start in the same place each time and work around the mouth. For children, flossing should begin when there are two teeth in the mouth that touch together, usually around age four or five years of age. Parents can help floss children’s teeth until they are able to floss by themselves.

5. Throw away old toothbrushes and replace them with new ones.

It is recommended that a toothbrush be replaced every two or three months or after an illness. Start the New Year with a new toothbrush.

Start off the new decade with healthy resolutions that will make you smile and create healthy habits that can last a lifetime for you and your family. Happy New Year from Lybrook Dental Center!