Individuals that suffer from Multiple Sclerosis need to be careful because of the impact on their oral health. Want to learn about the negative effects that medication may have on their oral health? Here are few reasons on the importance of oral health and MS.

According to an article at mstrust.org, “Multiple Sclerosis”

“Oral health is defined as a standard of health of the oral and related tissues, which enables an individual to eat, speak, and socialize without active disease, discomfort or embarrassment and which contributes to general well-being. 1 Poor oral health can result in a negative response from others and lead to poorer social functioning in general regardless of health status.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are not more susceptible to dental decay than the general population. However, they do have special needs in relation to dental care3because they often face difficulties in maintaining oral health and accessing care due to their symptoms. 4, 5 It is these difficulties that place them at greater risk of developing oral health problems. 6 Their symptoms may also impact on their ability to endure even simple dental treatment. The nature of a condition such as MS will mean that problems maintaining oral health may only be present during a relapse or become a problem as the severity of symptoms increase. It is particularly important for people with MS to avoid dental infection and trauma in view of the possible trigger to relapse this may represent. 7, 8

Many patients with MS are taking long-term medication such as steroids and diuretics to control their symptoms, which can have a significant impact on their oral health by causing a dry mouth. Having a dry mouth can make eating, talking and wearing dentures more difficult. People with a dry mouth are also more at risk of tooth decay, infection and gum disease. The frequent intake of sugar through drinks and mints to relieve the symptoms of a dry mouth also increases the risk of dental decay.

Their need for oral health care often goes unmet and as a consequence they are at risk of unavoidable dental pain. Dental care for people with MS has been poorly co-ordinated which is probably related to the fact that both those who care for them and the wider NHS has failed to perceive their dental needs as being important.

Recent studies in Leicestershire9 highlighted the fact that oral health was very important to the overall quality of life of people with MS (Box 1). The main barrier was a lack of information on services available and a lack of awareness of the impact that having MS might have on their oral health. It is this lack of awareness that has resulted in the oral health of people with MS being overlooked by health professionals with the belief that it is someone else’s responsibility. The significance of this is greatest when the individual is dependent on someone else to make decisions about their health.”

If you have a loved one that suffers from MS make sure that their dental visits are consistent. Need a dentist in the Reno area? Visit Dr. McElhinney at RenoLaserDentistry.com for more information on appointment availability.

Dental emergencies are no fun and when it happens it’s always at the wrong time. That’s just how life is! So, what should you do, or do you just ignore it? Here’s a little piece of advice no dental pain should be ignored make sure you consult your dentist.

According to an article at colgate.com, “an introduction on dental emergency”

“Pain is one of the reasons people go to the dentist. A painful tooth can be triggered by hot or cold foods and drinks. Heavy biting or grinding may break a tooth and cause it to hurt when you chew. Sometimes, when a filling falls out, you may have a throbbing ache.

Any injury to teeth or gums should not be ignored. Nerves or blood vessels could be damaged. There is also a risk of getting an infection. If an infection is not treated it can spread to other parts of the head and neck and cause serious health problems. In rare cases it can even become life threatening. It is very important to always seek treatment for a dental injury. Getting injured teeth repaired and treated as soon as possible after an injury is the best thing to do.

Today, dentists have many options for dealing with dental emergencies. There are advances in pain management and ways to restore teeth. Teeth can be repaired with synthetic materials that are strong and look as good as your natural teeth. Your dentist has the training and skills to identify what the problem is and how serious it is. He or she almost always can reduce or get rid of your pain within a few minutes.

When to Call Your Dentist

If you’re not sure if a dental problem is an emergency, dentists offer this advice: If it hurts, it’s an emergency. This is because even injuries that seem small can affect the living tissues inside the teeth. Quick treatment improves the odds of saving injured or damaged teeth.

Any obvious damage to a tooth should be treated as soon as possible. Chips or fractures can affect the living tissue inside the tooth, causing more problems in the future. Your dentist can prevent the damage from getting worse.

The same is true of a lost filling or crown. Even if you don’t have any symptoms, the tooth has lost its support and it could easily become damaged. Pieces could break off or crumble, and you would need more extensive treatment. If you see your dentist right away, there’s a good chance he or she will be able to repair the damage more easily.”

Have a dental emergency, Click here to contact Dr. McElhinney of Reno Laser Dentistry for more information. If you want the best than you’ve found it in Dr. McElhinney.

Do you ever drink green tea? Well, if you do your already on the right path. Green tea has molecules that strengthen your teeth. So, drink up and enjoy the benefits of green tea.

According to an article at dentist.net, “researchers suspect antimicrobial molecules within green tea helps preserve teeth”

“People aged 40-64 who drank one cup of green tea a day were less likely to lose teeth.

Drinking unsweetened coffee had no effect on keeping teeth.

Antimicrobial molecules called catechins may account for green tea’s benefits.

A cup of green tea a day may keep the dentist away.

That’s the finding of new research published in Preventive Medicine. The findings show that drinking at least one cup of green tea a day increases the odds of keeping your teeth as you age.

The researchers suspect that antimicrobial molecules called catechins present in green tea and in lesser amounts in oolong tea provide the benefit. But be careful if you like your tea with sugar: sweetener may negate the effect, the team found.

“Green tea may have bacteriocidal effects, which would affect teeth, but only if you drink it without sugar,” said Alfredo Morabia, of Columbia University in New York and editor of Preventive Medicine, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new research. “They also reported that drinking sweet coffee was actually deleterious,” he added. “Coffee alone had no problem, but sweet coffee would actually make you lose your teeth.”

Yasushi Koyama of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine and colleagues looked at more than 25,000 Japanese men and women between age 40 and 64 in making the determination.

They found that men who drank at least one cup of tea a day were 19 percent less likely to have fewer than 20 teeth (a full set including wisdom teeth is 32) than those who did not drink green tea. Tea-drinking women had 13 percent lower odds.

One possible explanation for the benefits of tea drinking is that warm drinks wash out your mouth. But coffee, which also provides a mouth rinse, had no benefit, suggesting something else is going on.

Catechins have been shown to kill mouth bacteria associated with tooth decay and gum disease, so the researchers suspect this is what gives green tea its dental benefits.”

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Dr. McElhinney of Reno Laser Dentistry is dedicated to maintaining healthy oral care to all his patients with latest technology in the dental industry. Click here to contact Dr. McElhinney’s dental office in Reno for more information or to set-up an appointment.

Do you suffer from chronic heartburn also known as GERD? Want to understand the effects that chronic heartburn has on your teeth? To learn more about the disease read below.

According to an article at health.msn.com, “raising awareness on heartburn and the damage it may do on your oral health”

“The study, which followed patients over six months, found that almost half of those with the condition suffered much worse tooth wear and erosion than healthy people. The disease can ultimately lead to thin, sharp and pitted teeth.

“We hope we can raise awareness that gastroesophageal reflux disease, a condition quite common in any population, is able to cause tooth damage. Dental professionals are mostly aware of tooth erosion, but the public may not be,” said study lead author Dr. Daranee Tantbirojn, an associate professor in the department of restorative dentistry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

GERD, which is also known as acid reflux disease, causes chronic heartburn. The stomach contents, including acid, leak into the esophagus and often work their way back up into the mouth, causing burning pain.

Dentists know that chronic heartburn can damage teeth, Tantbirojn said. The acid from the stomach is strong enough “to dissolve the tooth surface directly, or soften the tooth surface, which is later worn down layer by layer. The damage from acid reflux looks like tooth wear — the tooth is flattened, thin, and sharp or has a crater or cupping.”

In the new study, researchers used an optical scanner to measure chronic heartburn’s effect on teeth of 12 patients with GERD and compared them to six healthy patients without the disease over six months. The study appears to be the first to follow people for that long, Tantbirojn said.

It’s normal to have tooth erosion due to chewing, and about half of those with the condition had about the same or slightly more erosion than healthy people, she said. “However, almost half of the GERD participants had tooth wear and erosion several times higher than the healthy participants.”

Several patients with chronic heartburn said they were taking medications, but they still suffered from tooth erosion. “Some patients told us that they still have acid reflux episodes despite the medication, or they might have skipped the medication every now and then,” Tantbirojn said.

Dr. David Leader, an associate clinical professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, who’s familiar with the study findings, said the research is innovative and uses technology that more dentists will have on hand in the near future so they too can track the progress of tooth erosion.”

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Our smile is one of the first things that people notice, and it can leave a lasting impression, which is why we should take great care of our dental health. Have you ever felt embarrassed to smile because you don’t feel so confident? Braces are not only for children anymore, need a smile makeover?

According to an article oralb.com, “need a smile makeover dental braces for kids and adults”

“Many people think of braces as a teenage rite of passage, but more adults are taking advantage of the opportunity to improve their appearance and oral health by getting braces.

Teeth can be moved and straightened at any age, and the benefits go beyond cosmetic. Crooked or crowded teeth or a misaligned bite can make thorough teeth cleaning more difficult, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Also, a misaligned bite can interfere with speaking and can even lead to jaw problems.

Because an adult’s facial bones are no longer growing, the same treatments may take longer in adults than in children. Also, certain types of tooth and jaw corrections may not be possible for adults with braces alone. Other types of orthodontic appliances or procedures may be needed to achieve the desired result.

No matter what your age, you can choose braces that are inconspicuous or obvious. If you want your braces to be subtle, ask your dentist about attaching the brackets to the back of the tooth, rather than the front. Or, if you have brackets attached to the front of each tooth, they are available in clear or tooth-colored versions. But you can make a statement with your braces, too. You can choose brackets in your school colors and brackets are available in different shapes, such as hearts and footballs.

If you play any contact sports that might result in a head or jaw injury, be sure to wear a protective mouth guard. If you aren’t sure what type to buy, ask your dentist for a recommendation.”

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Your smile is very important need more information on how Dr. McElhinney can help straighten your teeth. Click here to contact Dr. McElhinney’s office located in Reno or visit our website for more information.