The end of the year provides a time for people to experiment with some of their favorite fall foods and spices. Delicious pumpkin and squash dishes often find their way into the rotation during the colder months of the year. Not only can fall foods and spices play on your nostalgia and tug at your seasonal heart strings, but certain fall foods and spices could actually benefit your oral health and overall health. Around the holidays, many people travel far and wide to meet with family and friends for a bountiful feast. Your Kentucky dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, discusses fall spices for better health.
Challenging Cinnamon and Other Spices
Many people might know about the cinnamon challenge: this is not that. Do not attempt to the ever-popular cinnamon challenge. However, incorporating cinnamon into your diet this fall could reduce inflammation in your mouth and throughout your body due to high levels of antioxidants. Studies indicate that consuming cinnamon could reduce blood sugar levels for patients with diabetes. Additionally, cinnamon can also lead to lower cholesterol in some patients.
No turmeric challenge reached immense popularity yet, so no confusion here. Most people know turmeric as the yellow spice associated with curry powder. Like cinnamon, turmeric contains loads of antioxidants capable of promoting better overall health. Some studies indicate that turmeric consumption can reduce your risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with Alzheimer’s often suffer from reduced chewing ability and a loss of mental function. A yellow curry could keep you sharp for years to come.
Ginger: not just a character from Gilligan’s Island. The health benefits of ginger include nausea reduction and pain reduction. Ginger acts like aspirin, thinning blood and reducing pain. Additionally, eating ginger presents a wealth of benefits. The amount of antioxidants in a teaspoon equals the antioxidant levels in a cup of spinach.
Schedule Your Kentucky Dental Visit
Interested in learning about the health benefits of fall spices? Due for a checkup? You can reach our Kentucky dental office at (859) 344 – 8500. We gladly serve patients from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and surrounding communities.
Your Kentucky dentist would like to acknowledge Alzheimer’s awareness month by describing the connection between gum disease and brain health. Anyone with poor oral health habits can develop gum disease, but when these habits have such serious repercussion, why engage in them?
What is Gum Disease
Gum disease is an infection of any of the periodontal tissues, including gums, the jawbone, and the tissues that connect them. Periodontal disease, or gum disease can cause serious harm not only to your gums and bones, but to other parts of your body as well, including your heart and brain. The first stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. If your gums are red and swollen you may have gingivitis, but with careful attention to your daily oral health regimen and consultation with your Erlanger dentist, you can work to rid yourself of infection without suffering any long-term repercussions. If, however, you do not treat gingivitis promptly, it can progress to the much more serious periodontitis. In this stage of gum disease gums become severely compromised. They will be very swollen, and bleed easily. Advanced stages of gum disease cause gums and the alveolar bone to become so infected that they can no longer properly carry out their function of support tooth roots. Most cases of tooth loss are a direct result of gum disease that has gone untreated.
Gum Disease and Brain Health
As the body utilizes all its immune functions to fight off gum disease, it can flood the body with particles that cause inflammation not only in the gums, but in other areas as well. Of particular interest to your Kentucky dentist is the inflammation of the brain caused by gum disease. Multiple studies have been conducted showing that the body’s immune response to gum disease has direct effects on brain health and cognitive ability. Those who have suffered or do suffer from periodontal disease are more likely to score lower on tests of cognitive ability. Similarly there is a direct correlation between incidences of gum disease and the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Meet With Dr. Henry Today
If caught early, gum disease is curable, so schedule an appointment today. You can reach our Kentucky dental office at (859) 344 – 8500. We gladly serve patients from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and surrounding communities.
Receding gums can be an irritating and unpleasant condition. Your gums have the job of sealing the inner workings of your teeth and roots. When that seal shrinks away, your roots can be exposed, bacteria and food can get caught in the spaces, and all of this opens you up to further infection. Appearance-wise, your teeth will start to look longer as your gums recede. Your Kentucky dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, offers advice on how to stop the progression of gum disease.
A Brief Overview of Gum Disease
Gingival tissue (gums) prevents food from settling in the darkest recesses of your teeth. When we don’t take care of our teeth and gums, they are both at risk for infection. Different types of bacteria create gum disease and tooth decay, but tartar (calcified plaque) exacerbates both issues. Keeping your teeth free of plaque and tartar will help keep your gums healthy, so they’re not susceptible to deeper infection. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease, wherein gums become puffy and bleed easily. If not tended to, this can segue into periodontitis (severe gum disease) which includes periodontal pockets and gum recession.
Avoiding Gum Recession
There is a certain degree of gum recession that can happen with age, even when gum disease is not present. However, the expedient recession occurs with gum disease, teeth grinding, poorly done dental work, and over-crowded teeth that are difficult to clean properly. To do your best to avoid gum recession, invest in a high quality toothbrush. Replace manual toothbrushes every 4 weeks. An electric toothbrush should be given a new head replacement every 3 months. If you are a teeth grinder, get fitted by your dentist with a mouthguard to be worn at night. In general, visit the dentist every 6 months, without fail, and brush twice a day and floss at least once a day. Your gums will likely thank you by sticking around a lot longer.
Visit your Kentucky Area Family Dentist
If you are in need of a dental checkup, call your family dentist, Dr. Henry. You can reach our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500. We are happy to provide comprehensive dentistry serve families from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Ft. Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and other Kentucky neighborhoods.
When a baby is teething, it can be traumatic for the child and the parents, alike. There will usually be tears, and discomfort, and even out-and-out pain. There’s bound to be sleepless nights. Your child will be unable to communicate, and you’ll be frustrated that you can’t comfort them completely. Then, one day, a little white bump will appear on the gums, and you’ll feel ecstatic. The first tooth is always exciting, in spite of the physical hardship required to get that tooth through the gums. Most of the time, the gums will appear normal, and then suddenly there’s the top of a tooth poking out at you. Occasionally, however, you’ll look into your baby’s mouth and see something shocking. Dr. Henry, your Kentucky dentist, is here to describe something called eruption cysts, what they are, and how you should deal with them if you see one on the gums of your child.
Eruption Cysts
Inside the jawbone, there is a protective fluid-filled enclosure where teeth grow before they erupt. Once teeth have reached full development, they will begin to emerge through the jawbone and pierce through the gums. Occasionally, the fluid in the enclosure leaks and accumulates between the tooth and gums. This is when you would see an eruption cyst, or eruption hematoma. As frightening as the clinical names might sound, this is nothing more than a dark red, brown, bluish-purple, or translucent bruise on the gingival tissuethat will usually heal within days.
How Are Eruption Cysts Treated?
Most eruption cysts don’t require special treatment. The tooth will usually break through the hematoma and emerge as normal. However, if you see something unusual on your baby’s gums, even if you think it must be an eruption cyst, it’s always wise to contact your dentist and describe the spot. Your dentist may want to keep an eye on your child’s gums to be on the safe side.
Pediatric Dentistry in Kentucky
If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth and gums, never hesitate to call Dr. Henry. You can reach our 41018 dentist office at 859-344-8500. We are happy to provide comprehensive dentistry serve families from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Ft. Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and other Kentucky communities around the 41018 zip code.
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