Soda And Your Teeth

Soda is becoming increasingly harmful to teeth and to enamel. With the average person drinking around 16 ounces a day, the chances of acids and sugar becoming damaging to teeth is high. With high numbers of acid and sugar in soda and sports drinks, keeping your teeth clean becomes extremely difficult.

Water is always the best thing to drink for your oral health. It not only helps to keep your body healthy, but cleans your teeth and gums with every sip! Avoiding acidic drinks has proven positive effects that go beyond teeth and help your body be as healthy as possible. Many people look for caffiene at some point in the day, whether it’s from sodas or an energy drink, but finding an alternative such as tea, water, or juice will go a long way for your oral hygiene.

At Martin Urban DDS we recommend patients limit their soda consumption as much as possible and rinse their mouth out with water while brushing your teeth. It is also recommended you stop in to get a cleaning and help preserve those pearly whites.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

Gum Disease and Cirrhosis

As specialists in implants, we at the dental office of Dr. Marin Urban are particularly concerned about anything that could exacerbate gum disease. When gingivitis turns into periodontal disease, the integrity of the tooth roots or implant posts can be imperiled. But we also know that oral health is closely tied to overall wellness, and we wanted to share an exciting new study that found treating gum disease can also reduce the harmful effects of liver inflammation.

Cirrhosis is the term doctors use to describe the development of scar tissue on the liver. When the liver has been inflamed long enough to develop scar tissue, it is no longer an effective filter for toxins from the bloodstream. As a result, the patient’s immune system triggers the inflammation response elsewhere in the body, including the brain. Cognitive fog and mood swings are common results. Gum disease exists at particularly high rates in people with cirrhosis. This is partly explained by both resulting from smoking and alcohol, but it was less clear why gum disease would be disproportionately common in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Bacteria that cause gum disease have been found in the livers of cirrhosis patients. Recently, researchers conducted an experiment in which patients with both diseases were given gum cleanings at different times. The results were that cirrhosis symptoms such as cognitive fog and suppressed anti-inflammatory bacteria count improved following dental treatment. While we’re still learning more about the effect of oral bacteria on the rest of the body, we hope our patients will understand why dentistry is so important.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.

 

Basic Dental Instruments

We provide advanced dental and periodontal restorations at the office of Dr. Martin Urban, but we want our patients to feel fully included in all our decisions. Many people suffering from severe tooth or gum decay feel apprehensive about visiting the dentist. They may feel a sense of helplessness born of an inability to describe what is happening; in which case we think it would be good for them to learn some of the language we use to describe our basic instruments.

When patients go to any kind of dentist, they can expect a hygienist to clean their teeth. The two tools the hygienist uses most are the handheld mirror and the explorer. The explorer, which can also be called a probe, is the wand with metal hooks on either end. The hooks come in different shapes for different tasks. Some are used to inspect the hardness of enamel and the cleanliness of the gum pockets. The explorer is also used to break apart hardened calculus, which is removed with a suction hose called an evacuator. This is the tube hygienists ask patients to close their lips around.

Sometimes, a dental extraction is necessary. Prior to removing a tooth, the patient will be numbed with local anesthetic delivered through a syringe. Inducing full unconsciousness is usually not necessary. A flattened spoon called an elevator will be slid between the tooth and the gum pocket and used to loosen it by rocking it back and forth. It can then be removed with reverse-action forceps.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin Urban, call 508-425-9640 or visit us at Martin Urban DDS.