What Does Oral Cancer Look Like?

            When you are in for your professional cleaning and oral exam, we will always do an oral cancer screening. We need to understand you medical history, dental history, and any other potential risk factors. Using any relevant information can help us to identify, treat, or refer as early as possible.

            While performing an oral cancer screening, we look for colors or lesions in areas that are not normally present. These areas could appear red, white, blue, black or a combination. If an area is identified we will make sure we have photos and follow their progress. If a spot continues to change size, shape or color, we may recommend a specialist take a look and decide if a biopsy is necessary. If an area presents with more progressive features, we may immediately refer for a biopsy.

            Technology has become available that uses a special light and/or a rinse to look for pre-cancerous or cancerous areas. At Brown and Kupper we do not use these tools because of a large number of ‘false-positive.’ This means it shows an overabundance of areas that may be pre-cancerous can lead to over treatment. Until this technology improves, we will continue to conduct our oral cancer screenings without the lights or rinses. The surgeons and pathologists we work with and trust use the same technique.

            So what should you look for at home and when do you need to come see us? If you notice an area of concern and it does not go away in two weeks it is usually a good indication to have the area more closely examined. If you have any history of oral cancer in your family, smoking, or smokeless tobacco, then it is even more important to have us check a possible area if you are every in doubt.

            Like many other types, oral cancer can go undetected for a long time if you do not maintain regular visits with your doctor or dentist. Even if you do your best to check at home for any irregularities, we recommending with your dentist whenever in doubt.

For more information, visit us at www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.

How does diabetes affect your oral health?

            There are of 29 million people in the United States that are living with diabetes, and an estimated 8 million more that have it and do not know it. Both type 1 and type 2 result in high blood sugar, which can affect the eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other parts of the body. But it is also important to understand the role diabetes can have on your oral health.

If left untreated, diabetes may take a toll on your mouth. Here are a few ways it may affect you:

• You have less saliva, causing dry mouth.
• Saliva protects your teeth and helps to prevent decay. Lack of adequate saliva makes you vulnerable to cavities.
• Your gums may become inflamed and bleed more than usual. This is called gingivitis.
• You may experience problems tasting food.
• There may be delayed wound healing. If you have an ulceration or trauma to your gums, it may take longer to heal than usual.
• You could become more susceptible to infections inside your mouth (viral, bacterial, or fungal).
• For children with diabetes, there is a chance the teeth may erupt earlier than usual.

It is believed that 1 in 5 cases of total tooth loss are related to diabetes. The best way to fight back is to maintain regular dental visits and come up with an action plan with your dentist. It may include:

• More frequent visits than every 6 months
• Using prescription strength toothpaste
• More diligent homecare
• Using new or different tools to keep your teeth and gums clean.

Even though there are ways for us to help maintain good oral health, your physician will remain the first line of defense against diabetes. Continue to use the necessary medications, eat healthier, and stay active.

For more information, visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.

Tips to Help Prepare Children for a Dental Visit

Encourage age appropriate habits at home:

• 6 and under: Even if your child wants to do the brushing by themselves, they frequently lack the dexterity needed to properly clean the teeth. Try to help them as much as you can and focus on getting every surface of the tooth.
• Age 7-12: At this point your child likely knows what to do, but now it is a matter of execution. Continue to encourage good habits, but be ready to help if you are not seeing results.
• Ages 12-18: Your children are becoming more independent and have access to different food and drinks that may negatively affect their teeth. They need to be reminded to keep up with home care and maintain regular visits. Otherwise minor problems can become major.

Time of the day:

• It is important to avoid scheduling during a normal nap time. It can result in a negative experience that can stick with them for a long time.
• For older children, try to avoid more elaborate dental work right after school because kids tend to be mentally or physically tired. It can make the appointment very difficult for them.

Make one child the ‘model’:

• Try to schedule the older or more cooperative child first, and have the other watch to see how well it goes. This creates positive energy for the next child.

Hungry patient is not a happy patient:

• It is good to make sure your child is not hungry when they visit the dentist. It is just one more thing that can make them grouchy or uncooperative. But if they eat too much, it may contribute to a gag reflex. Don’t worry if they do have some difficulty with gagging, it will frequently decrease as they grow older.

Stay calm if your child is not cooperating:

• We are familiar with situations where children do not cooperate at first. Allow us to try to break things down into small steps and help where needed. Sometimes it is beneficial to be a silent observer so we can take control of the appointment. But the occasional encouragement from you can also be helpful.
• If you are worried you won’t handle watching your child have the dental work done, sometimes grandparents can be great helpers.
• If your child is unable to handle the anxiety, there are always other options and people to see that specialize in these situations.

For more information, visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.

Braces at Any Age

            There has been a definitive shift on how we view braces or orthodontics. Many kids now look forward to when they will get their braces and show them off proudly when they do. It used to be much more unusual to see adults with braces. Now it is more common and adults understand the value and being confident with their smile.

            Because it is no longer viewed as odd for adults to get braces, more and more people are taking the plunge each year. Adults are closing in on the 50-50 mark of newly installed braces when compared to children, and even baby boomers are getting in on the action. Whether it is to improve their stock in the dating scene or the job market, people are beginning to understand the value of their smile.

            Some people have been hiding their smile for years and training themselves how to hide their teeth when they laugh, talk, or smile. It used to take longer, be more uncomfortable, more noticeable, and less socially acceptable. Improvements in technology and techniques have decreased those barriers. There are clear aligners (Invisalign) and tooth colored brackets that make braces less conspicuous. Even some insurance companies are beginning to add coverage for adult orthodontics.

            Are there any risks to getting braces as an adult? There are definitely risks if you do not maintain good oral hygiene or home care. You can stain the teeth, get cavities, or develop gum disease if you do not properly maintain during orthodontics. However, these issues are typically less common than in adolescents because adults understand the value of their treatment and are more likely to ‘protect their investment.’

            If you are unhappy with your smile, I encourage you to ask your dentist about different options in aligning your teeth. You may find you there are orthodontic solutions you never even considered.

For more information, visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.

Is it better to bleach my teeth at home or at the dentist?

            More and more people are concerned with having white teeth and are worried about their teeth staining. Some are worried about coffee or red wine staining their teeth, and others are simply looking for a touch up. An initial question is whether they should try over the counter or professional whitening? Should they bleach at home over a longer period of time or try to do it in one appointment at the dentist? Below we will talk about the pros and cons of each strategy.

            A newer trend in teeth whitening is Zoom. It appeared on the market and generated a lot of buzz about same day bleaching. There are certainly a number of cases where it worked out really well and there was no post-op sensitivity, but we have found the in-office bleaching techniques are less predictable and are more likely to lead to sensitivity. The bleach concentration is significantly higher for Zoom, which leads to a higher chance of discomfort. The in-office procedure limits us because it leaves little to no opportunity to customize the bleaching process to each person. It also forces you to remain seated with you mouth open for a long period of time which can cause some jaw discomfort. The bottom line is while it can be effective, we feel there are more challenges and limitations with the in-office procedure.

            The professionally made ‘take-home’ bleaching trays are our typical recommendation. It gives us a chance to design a specific plan to your routine and comfort. We are able to choose the concentrations and intervals of bleaching to achieve good results while limiting sensitivity. If your teeth do not get sensitive and you have time to wear the trays, you could bleach as frequently as four times per day. This helps you achieve the results you are looking for in a shorter period of time. But if your teeth become sensitive, we can scale back the frequency, duration, and strength of the bleach used.

            You may also find bleaching kiosks at the mall or other shopping areas that are not run by certified dental professionals. I would recommend against using these stations to bleach your teeth. Even if you are able to achieve some results, there are still risks to bleaching your teeth that they are not capable of diagnosing or treating properly. Error on the safe side and consult with your dentist or dental hygienist before any type of bleaching (including over the counter).

            Even though there are times where in-office bleaching can be done for certain people, our first recommendation is the take home bleaching. Talk with us about your goals and concerns with bleaching, and we can help create a plan to give you the best results for your situation.

For more information, please visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS

Can teeth erode?

                There are two ways your teeth can be worn away: abrasion/attrition and erosion. Abrasion/attrition is from physical trauma or grinding. Erosion is from outside substances or chemicals. Both can be damaging and cause serious long term dental issues. So what can you do to protect against these factors?

Erosion:

•        Early detection is essential. Maintain regular dental visits

•        Chewable and effervescent formulations should be avoided, especially when experiencing dry mouth

•        Use a soft toothbrush and low abrasion fluoridated toothpaste

•        Delay brushing for at least 1 hour after consuming acidic foods like citrus fruits

•        If you’re using any acidic medications or lozenges, try to avoid holding them in the mouth for extended periods of time.

•        When possible, try tablets over liquid medications

•        If you have dry mouth, continue to drink lots of water to counteract problems

•        Use toothpastes like Pronamel to help strengthen and protect your teeth if you’re at risk for dental erosion

Other ways we can wear our teeth:

•        Abrasion is loss of tooth structure due to mechanical action of a foreign element, such as a hard bristle toothbrush or a lip piercing.

o   You can protect yourself from abrasion is to identify the issue and eliminate the habit or problem.

·         Attrition is loss of tooth structure from mechanical forces of opposing teeth.

o   Typically this is treated by some type of mouth guard. In some cases it can be helped by stress reduction, behavior modification, or treating interferences causing the tissue to grind.

·         Abfraction is loss of tooth structure on the side of the tooth that is caused from occlusal (biting) forces.

o   A night guard is usually recommended to protect the teeth from more destructive forces

o   In some cases the worn areas on the side of the tooth will need to be restored with filling material to strengthen and protect the tooth

If you are ever unsure if your teeth are beginning to wear or if you are not sure whether something may cause a problem, be sure to consult your dentist to be safe.

For more information visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.

Can Trendy Diets Negatively Impact Oral Health?

            It seems like every year there is a new diet trend that Hollywood stars swear by. We see the results on TV or in a magazine and we think that we have to try it. But it is important to consider how these diets can affect your overall health and the health of your teeth and gums. So before you start trying the latest diet trend, there are a few facts to consider.

            Some of the common diets involve ‘liquid cleanses’ that are designed to help you lose weight and rid the body of unwanted toxins. But it is important to consider what you are ingesting with these cleanses. If they involve lots of citrus fruits or drinks, the teeth can be negatively affected. The constant barrage of acid can wear the enamel and expose the underlying dentin. Dentin is not as durable or as strong as enamel and the teeth can continue to wear even faster than before. Not only does this weaken the tooth but it can cause sensitivity and possibly result in the need for a root canal. Toothpastes like Pronamel can help protect your teeth from the acid, but it will not work with 100% efficacy. I recommend discussing these diets and the possible side effects with your dentist before beginning a ‘juice cleanse.’ Each individual is different and you should know the pros and cons before you begin.

            But can other diets actually help your teeth and gums? There are some studies that suggest there is a connection to healthier teeth and gums to people with vegan diets. However, at the time the article was published the actual cause and effect relationship was not known. It is possible it has to do with the foods you eat or it is a result of someone just being more health conscious in general.

            While I am very supportive of finding ways to stay healthy and stay at a healthy weight, it is important to look at all the pros and cons of different diets or workout plans. You should always talk with your doctor and/or dentist before trying anything that you are unsure about.

For more information, please visit www.dentistwestchester.com.

Lee T. Brown, DDS

Brown and Kupper, DDS