Oral Cancer Awareness Month!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month and we at Aesthetic Dental Designs® want to help spread the word about the importance of routine yearly oral cancer exams. In particular having a new, non-invasive device (Velscope Vx) that takes less than two minutes utilized could be a life saver.  30,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year. It will cause over 8,000 deaths, killing roughly 1 person per hour, 24 hours per day. Of those 30,000 newly diagnosed individuals, only half will be alive in 5 years. Overall survival rate is 18% or less.  This is a number which has not significantly improved in decades. The death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkin’s disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, ovary, or skin cancer (malignant melanoma).  The Velscope Vx has the ability to locate tissue irregularities early so that they can be properly handled before becoming something more serious and life threatening. If you expand the definition of oral cancers to include cancer of the larynx, for which the risk factors are the same, the numbers of diagnosed cases grow to 41,000 individuals, and 12,500 deaths per year in the US alone. Worldwide the problem is much greater, with over 350,000 to 400,000 new cases being found each year. The death rate associated with this cancer is particularly high due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development. Often it is only discovered when the cancer has metastasized to another location, most likely the lymph nodes of the neck. Prognosis at this stage of discovery is significantly worse than when it is caught in a localized area. Besides the metastasis, at these later stages, the primary tumor has had time to invade deep into local structures. Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because it has a high risk of producing second, primary tumors. This means that patients who survive a first encounter with the disease, have up to a 20 times higher risk of developing a second cancer. This heightened risk factor can last for 5 to 10 years after the first occurrence. There are several types of oral cancers, but 90% are squamous cell carcinomas.Dr. Todd Snyder an international lecturer and author utilizes this on all of his patients. Make sure to get an oral cancer screening at least once a year from your dental office.  In addition, get screened with a Velscope Vx System.  Find out more about this incredible life saving device at www.velscope.com

It’s Official, October is National Dental Hygiene Month!!

That’s right, October is National Dental Hygiene Month!  Remember that your teeth play an integral  role in the overall health of your body, and keeping them clean helps keep your mouth and your body healthy. By taking care of your teeth, eating a balanced diet and visiting our Laguna Niguel, CA office on a regular basis, you can have healthy teeth and an attractive smile throughout your entire life.

We encourage you to check out the American Dental Association website as well, which provides information on keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Lastly, if it been over six months since your last visit to Dr Todd Snyder at Aesthetic Dental Designs®  then we encourage you to give us a call to set up an appointment with us.  Have a great month.

Infertility Treatment and your Dental Health

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention states more than 6 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 have fertility problems and more than 9 million seek treatment. What does this have to do with the health of your mouth?

Todd Snyder, DDS of Aesthetic Dental Designs® in Orange County, California states that oral health plays a key role in overall health. Common infertility treatments can produce symptoms in women indicative of periodontal disease. The incidence of periodontal disease is higher in women who received ovulation induction therapy for more than three menstrual cycles. Research has shown bacterial infections, gingival inflammation, bleeding gums, plaque and calculus have been a cause of fertility difficulties in women. 

For all the MEN, your sperm is also affected by periodontal disease.  The bacteria in the mouth related to periodontal disease does get into the blood stream where it can infect healthy sperm rendering them inactive.  (Men’s Health 2004).

Periodontal disease plays a role in premature births as well as causing fertility difficulty for those trying to get pregnant. See your dentist and get checked regularly as well as receiving routine dental cleanings if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

Mom and Dad’s little superstars need protection!

Young football and soccer players, or any kids who play contact sports should always wear a mouth guard to reduce the chance of oral injuries and concussions.  However, possibly even more important than the trauma that could ensue from a collision while playing sports is the risks of unseen bacteria.  A mouth guard can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, according to a study in General Dentistry. Tossing a mouth guard into a dirty gym bag is a particularly dangerous habit: It can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and even staph and other dangerous infections. 

Teach your child to scrub his mouth guard with a toothbrush and toothpaste, and then rinse and store it in a container after each use. Tell your children not to let their friends try on their mouth guard.  However, the study authors say that since bacteria can seep into the plastic, it’s actually best to replace mouth guards every month (so stock up on the inexpensive “boil and bite” type).  Another thought is to invest in a more expensive custom-made mouth guard that utilizes different materials and use special disinfectant soaks to cut down or remove bacteria from the appliance.   Ask your dentist for recommendations on a custom fabricated mouth guard and antibacterial soaks and rinses.

Have a great summer, from your friends at Aesthetic Dental Designs®!  Become a fan and follow us on Facebook too!

You May Have Oral Cancer

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month! 

The Velscope Vx is one of the only weapons we have in dentistry to assist us in finding pathology when it is in its earliest forms.

Everyone is at risk for Oral cancer, not just those that drink or smoke.  Cancer does not discriminate it can strike anyone at any age sadly.

One North American dies of oral cancer every hour of every day.

The incidence of oral cancer is growing.

The death rate associated with oral cancer is particularly high due to the cancer being routinely discovered late in its development.

Health experts recommend that all adults receive annual oral cancer screenings.

Dr Todd Snyder, a Dentist in Laguna Niguel, CA. states “I have been able to perceive tissue changes that I would have never found previously without this technology.  It has been an incredible addition to enhance the health of our patients at Aesthetic Dental Designs.”

How You Can Cheat Death….

Brushing Your Teeth

The science: People who brushed less than twice a day had a 70 percent higher risk of death or hospitalization from heart disease than those who brushed three times or more, according to a 2010 U.K. study.

Why it helps: Oral bacteria can enter your bloodstream, possibly triggering plaque buildup in your arteries.  It can also stave off potential damaging effects to other organs which can help decrease the chance of diabetes and other life shortening conditions.

Your move: Brushing and flossing remove bacteria, but many people floss incorrectly, says Todd Snyder, DDS an international lecturer on General & Cosmetic Dentist from Laguna Niguel, California.  To floss correctly one needs to wrap the floss so it forms a C shape around the side of one tooth and then a C shape around the neighboring tooth making sure to go all te way through the contact and under the gum line. Moving the floss up and down and not in a sawing motion. We are trying to wipe the bacteria and other adhesions off the tooth by wiping up and down the root surface, especially under the gumline.

Your mouth stinks, go eat a Fruit?

Bugs are having a party in your mouth without your consent. What will you do?? It starts with diet and then hygiene.

Oranges, kiwis, strawberries, limes, and peppers can all help your oral health.  There are several different types of bacteria in your child’s mouth, and yours too! Some of them can cause gingivitis, which is the first stage of gum disease. Vitamin C in fruits such as oranges, limes, kiwis, cantaloupe, papaya, and strawberries helps kill these bacteria, and it also promotes a healthy supply of collagen in the gums.  However, Dr Todd Snyder, DDS (Laguna Niguel, CA) says that kids and adults should rinse their mouths immediately with water and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing their teeth after having citrus foods or drinks. That’s because citric acid in the fruit can temporarily weaken tooth enamel and leave teeth vulnerable to erosion caused by brushing. Rinsing the mouth quickly can minimize the acid attack on the teeth.   Other good vegetable sources: red, yellow, and orange peppers; tomatoes; and sweet potatoes.

Starchy carbohydrates like bread, white potatoes, and pasta break down into sugar. This sugar feeds other types of bacteria in your child’s mouth that produce cavity-causing acid. When you or your child drinks milk or eats yogurt or cheese — which are rich in calcium, vitamin D, and phosphate — it raises the pH level in his mouth, lowers acid levels, and reduces the risk of tooth decay. Calcium is also beneficial in several other ways: It mixes with plaque and sticks to teeth, further protecting them from lingering acid; it repairs damaged enamel; and it strengthens the bones around your child’s teeth, making them more resistant to periodontal disease later in life. Raw carrots, celery, cauliflower, green beans, and snap peas Crisp veggies are “chewing foods” that mechanically clean your child’s teeth and gums. These foods naturally scrape away plaque that builds up between meals or that kids miss when brushing. Encourage your child to eat slowly and to completely chew each crunchy mouthful. Sesame, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds, and nuts Nuts and seeds contain natural fats that coat teeth and help shield against bacteria. The oils in the seeds help strengthen enamel, making teeth more resistant to cavities, and most seeds also contain calcium. Kids older than 4 can eat trail mix as a healthy snack. Sugarless gum The next time your child begs for a pack in the checkout line, you can say yes. Saliva loosens plaque, increases the number of natural antibodies in the mouth, and keep gums hydrated. Chewing any food stimulates saliva production, but chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after meals can help prevent tooth decay, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). In fact, the ADA recently gave its Seal of Acceptance to Orbit, Extra, and Eclipse gums after Wrigley conducted studies demonstrating its brands’ benefits. However, kids shouldn’t chew gum until at least age 4, when you can trust them not to swallow it.

Go out and have fun eating while keeping away the potential for decay and gum disease.

Anyone Can Be More Attractive, Inexpensively?

Beautiful White Teeth

Crest investigated the link between tooth whiteness and its effect on people’s perceptions.  The study was performed with research and psychology experts that evaluated 200 male & female participants of various ethnic backgrounds & ages across America.  Participants were asked to evaluate photographs of people both before & after teeth whitening as to which photo the person looked healthier & more attractive.

The results showed that the participants viewed people with whiter teeth as healthier & more attractive regardless of age, sex or ethnicity.

Teeth whitening is one of the least expensive options that everyone has to make an improvement in their overall appearance.  Dr Todd Snyder at Aesthetic Dental Designs® in Laguna Niguel, CA. stated, “With numerous types of whitening systems available to meet anyones needs, time constraints and budget there is no reason why everyone should not be reaping the benefits of a whiter smile”.

No More Drilling of Dental Cavities!

A new study in ACS Nano uses this first of its kind technology to eliminate or reduce the need for the drilling and filling of cavities.  The use of peptides embedded in a soft gel or thin, pliable film can be placed next to a cavity which encourages cells inside teeth to regenerate in about a month, according to the study.  The film or gel containing the peptide MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone) encourages regeneration, such that a dab on an infected tooth could heal teeth from within.

The study was performed on cavities in mice, and after about a month the cavities were gone.  The MSH peptide gel or film however does not prevent cavities so everyone still has to brush, floss, use MI Paste Plus and eat right.  Although the product is not available yet, it does provide hope of a new form of therapy in the future.  “The best type of treatment is not needing treatment, so keep them clean”, says Dr. Todd Snyder, DDS, Laguna Niguel, CA.

Keep your Wisdom……teeth!

Wisdom teeth often have to be removed due to not growing into the mouth properly, having decay or gum disease. Aesthetic Dental Designs and Todd Snyder, DDS want you to know about a recent study in the Journal of Biological Chemistry reveals that wisdom teeth actually hold valuable tissues inside them that are capable of creating therapeutic stem cells. “In the event that a person needs them, such stem cells could be used to regrow needed tissues and organs or to treat debilitating diseases.” Wisdom teeth are often removed in developed nations, so they are easy to utilize as a source of induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPS).

“In 2006, researchers first discovered that certain genes in adult cells could be reprogrammed to once again express themselves as fresh stem cells. These cells have great therapeutic potential because they can be instructed to develop into virtually any needed adult stem cells, which can be used to promote healing. But obtaining iPS is difficult because they must be extracted from viable sources, most of which are not easily accessible. Bone marrow contains the necessary cells, but extracting from it is a laborious process. And skin cells, which are the easiest to obtain, do not possess a very strong programming capability.”

“Researchers from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science discovered that wisdom teeth contain considerably viable “starter” cells. And since most people in developed nations get their wisdom teeth removed anyway, the process of obtaining them is simpler than it is from practically any other source. They also found in some cases, the cells proliferated 100 times more efficiently than those derived from skin, and they were capable of forming a variety of different adult cell lines. Wisdom teeth can also be frozen for several years after being extracted, allowing their valuable pulp to be stored for potential future use. This breakthrough research advances the cause of non-controversial iPS treatments, which show incredible promise in helping the body to heal itself.”

Info provided by http://www.naturalnews.com/