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A nice smile is more than cosmetic; oral health can have impact on overall health. In particular, poor dental health may lead to cardiovascular problems and heart disease.

While studies are not conclusive, data suggests a link between inflammation caused by bacteria and gum disease and damage to blood vessels which can lead to heart disease, heart attack, or stroke. Bacteria that are found in periodontal disease, including Streptococcus sanguis, can also spread to directly to the heart.

Even if a direct link between oral health and heart disease has not been found, it’s important to take care of your teeth.

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Floss every day.
• Replace your toothbrush every three months or sooner if the bristles are damaged.
• Visit your dentist regularly.

For more information read The Importance of Integrating Oral Health with Overall Health, from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.

It’s no news that Halloween is not the most dental-friendly holiday, what with all of the sugar contributing to cavities and hard candy that can wreak havoc on even the strongest of teeth. But this dental “implant” story takes the, well—cake.

In an effort to be her scary-best this Halloween, a Mobile, Alabama woman found herself quite stuck. Before going out for the evening, Anna Tew applied the finishing touch to her costume—a set of gruesome fanged teeth that came with its own glue. When she returned home and tried to remove the disastrous dentures, they would not budge. Ms. Tew spent most of the evening trying to remove the teeth until, at 2:00 am, she scheduled an emergency visit with her dentist.

In an interview with WKRG, she said, “He talked about drilling. They had a saw, talked about taking [them] off in sections, and they couldn’t numb it because they were scared they would actually pull my teeth out,” Tew told the station. “So he went in and picked and pulled, and I squealed like a baby, and they got them out.”

In a statement from the American Dental Association on NBC’s TODAY Show, the ADA said, “If you’re planning to apply any “extra teeth” for a spooky look it’s always a good idea to run your plans by a professional.”

“Before applying any chemical or appliance to your teeth as part of your Halloween costume — or any time of year — it’s important to check with your dentist and make sure it won’t negatively impact your oral health,” the ADA statement continued.

Maybe she should have used Poligrip.

Happy Halloween from all of us at Oral & Facial Surgery!

The American Dental Association recently adopted a policy asking dentists to support the use of the human papillomavirus HPV vaccinations.

According to an ADA press release, “There is incontrovertible evidence that this virus is responsible for the sharp uptick in oropharyngeal cancers, especially in younger patients and young adults,” said Paul Eleazer, D.D.S., immediate past chair of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. “I’m pleased the ADA is taking action to combat this crisis.”

Estimates from the American Cancer Society suggest that there will be more than 50,000 new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancers in 2018, with the majority being attributable to HPV. The HPV vaccinations could help prevent this increase but, despite its effectiveness, many parents are reluctant to have their children vaccinated.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, if you have HPV, you are 30 times more likely to get oral cancer. and it is affecting young people with increasing frequency. Take the Oral-Cancer Self Exam.

Download the AOMS Factsheet on Oral-Cancer »

Many of us read or heard news reports  recently about the ten year old Missouri boy, Xavier Cunningham, who fell from a tree house and was impaled by a metal meat skewer that was sticking out of the ground. The skewer penetrated his cheek and skull, just under the boy’s eye. Fortunately, the skewer missed all of his major arteries but, as we discussed in a previous article, facial injuries can be life-changing or even life-threatening because of the proximity to blood vessels, arteries, and airways.

Xavier Cunningham was treated by a team of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) neurosurgery specialists from the University of Kansas Health System. Because the skewer had gone through jaw muscle, they could not use a breathing tube and had to go through Cunnigham’s nose to create an airway. Additionally, pulling the skewer out risked major arteries. After hours of surgery, the team was able to remove the rod.

According to the National Library of Medicine, unintentional childhood injury represents an important global health problem. Many injuries experienced by children aged under 5 years occur within the home and are preventable.

As we enter fall and winter approaches it is important to be aware of and to remove yard hazards that may be covered by leaves or snow. Grills and firepits, recreational equipment, poorly-maintained fencing, clotheslines, ground stakes, and other items can all create fall hazards where children play.

Do you have a question about Oral and Facial Surgery, our practice, or our procedures? You may call us at 301-791-1700 or drop us a note here.

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Talk with your doctor if you have any of the follwing risk factors for lip and oral cavity cancer.