Darlene Henry DMD and her team are dedicated to helping each patient achieve the beautiful, confident smile that lasts a lifetime. We often write useful and practical content to help our patients in the Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati region have happy, healthy smiles. Please email us any feedback or questions at [email protected]
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.
This is an exciting time of year for candy lovers. Americans purchase an estimated 600 million pounds of candy for Halloween every year. For perspective, imagine 16 billion fun sized candy bars. If that doesn’t inspire you to make an appointment for a checkup with your dentist, we’re not sure what will. However, moderate candy consumption is not an issue if you keep up with your oral hygiene and regular dental exams. As the holiday season ramps up with Halloween coming in less than a week, your Kentucky dentist, Dr. Henry, has a fun quiz on some candy facts.
Questions
Q1. How many pounds of chocolate will be sold during Halloween week?
A. 90,000 B. 90 million C. 90 billion D. 90 trillion
Q2. True or false – The top selling candy at Halloween is candy corn.
A1. Approximately ninety million pounds of chocolate candy will be sold during Halloween week. Halloween leads other holidays in chocolate consumption. Roughly 65 million pounds are sold during the week leading up to Easter, and 48 million pounds are purchased during Valentine’s week.
A2. TRUE – Candy Corn is the top selling candy, at 20 million pounds purchased every year. Candy Corn is also the most searched-for candy related term on Google.
A3. FALSE – This is a bit of a trick question, but technically, sugar itself does not cause cavities. Sugar is a great contributor to cavities, however. Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that cause cavities, feed on sugar. They metabolize sucrose into lactic acid, which softens tooth enamel and makes decay possible. So, rubbing sugar directly onto your teeth won’t technically give you a cavity, but it will be a part of the tooth decay process.
Kentucky Dentist Offers Dental Checkups
If you are due for a dental checkup, or have any dental concerns, Dr. Henry would love to see you. To schedule your appointment contact our Erlanger, KY dentist office at 859-344-8500. We are happy to serve families from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Ft. Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and other Kentucky communities around the 41018 zip code.
We are in the middle of National Bone and Joint Awareness Week. You may not realize the different ways that your bone and joint health relate to your oral health. Consider your jawbone, for starters. Without proper function, and regular mineralization, you could have TMD (tempormandibular joint disorder) or facial collapse from lack of bone density. Arthritis is a painful condition that affects your joints though inflammation of tissues. Your Kentucky dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry, explains the connection between healthy teeth and arthritis in the knees.
Research Study Links Gum Disease Bacteria to Arthritis
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, OH, analyzed DNA information to determine that the bacteria that cause gum disease can travel all the way from the mouth to the knees. Synovial fluid surrounds the knee caps. This protective liquid is sterile in people with good health. However, when someone already has arthritis, the bacteria are able to take advantage of an already unhealthy situation, and settle in the knee joints. These findings are certainly compelling in terms of oral-systemic health (a connection between your mouth and body).
Can Bacteria from Gum Disease Infiltrate Other Parts of the Body?
While the Case Western Reserve research didn’t examine patients with advanced periodontal disease (gum disease) some of the patients examined presented with identical bacteria in their mouths and knee joints. The body offers a lot of potential channels for various strains of bacteria to travel through. This new evidence of the connection between gum disease and knee joint health warrants further research to uncover which other parts of the body could be affected by gum disease.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Kentucky Dentist
Taking care of your joints, and your teeth, are great ways to continue a wonderful quality of life as the years march on. If you are due for a dental checkup, or have any dental concerns, Dr. Henry would love to see you. To schedule your appointment contact our Erlanger, KY dentist office at 859-344-8500. We are happy to serve families from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Ft. Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and other Kentucky communities around the 41018 zip code.
As a preventive care measure, most dentists advocate an oral cancer screening during your regular dental check-up. During your oral exam, Dr. Henry will examine the inside of your mouth for lumps, suspicious lesions, and discolorations, such as red or white patches. Oral cancer is often found in places you may not look, such as under the tongue or inside the cheeks.
Most mouth sores are noncancerous. However, if Dr. Henry finds a sore of unusual appearance, she may perform a painless oral brush biopsy to test the abnormal tissue for cancer. The objective, as with any type of cancer, is to detect oral cancer early when it is most easily treated.
Oral Cancer Statistics
The American Cancer Society estimates that 35,000 people will get oral cancer in 2012. The number of fatalities for 2012 is estimated at approximately 6,800. The good news, however, is that the death rate from oral cancer has declined steadily since the 1970s – a statistic many experts credit to early detection.*
Individuals at Higher Risk for Oral Cancer
People with certain risk factors should be particularly vigilant about their oral cancer screenings. These individuals include people who use tobacco products, those who consume alcohol heavily, regularly spend time in the sun without protection, or have previously been diagnosed with oral cancer.
You can reduce your risk of oral cancer by protecting your skin with high-SPF sunblock, by giving up tobacco products, moderating alcohol consumption, and eating a healthy, balanced diet.
Take an Active Role in and Early Detection
You should conduct an oral self-exam at least once a month and, most importantly, see Dr. Henry every six months for a preventive checkup and cleaning. If you notice a mouth sore that does not heal in about two weeks, visit us for an exam.
To schedule your appointment, or just to learn more about Dr. Henry and our team, call our Erlanger, KY dentist office today at 859-344-8500. We serve families from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Ft. Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and other Kentucky communities around the 41018 are. We can’t wait to see your smile!
While all cancers are serious, breast cancer takes center stage in October. As your trusted Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry wants to send well wishes and thoughts of hope to all the women, and the few men, affected by breast cancer. You’ve probably noticed the hoopla that reminds us about the ongoing fight against breast cancer this time each year. Your favorite NFL players are wearing hot-pink shoes, and many stores are accepting donations for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Retailers donate a percentage of sales from “pink ribbon” products to the Komen Foundation, as well.
To participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Henry wants to share with you how oral health and breast cancer are related, and how to address the oral health concerns that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may experience.
Studies Show a Potential Oral Health Link
The World Health Organization (WHO) published a study, spanning from 1985 to 2001, that showed gum disease may increase a person’s risk for developing breast cancer. Experts go back and forth over whether gum disease actually contributes to the cause of various cancers and systemic health problems, but there is no question that the disease is more prevalent in people with certain health conditions.
Gum disease is an infection and inflammation of the periodontal tissue that, along with bone, supports teeth. Because everything in your mouth has direct access to your body via your digestive system and bloodstream, the bacteria that cause gum disease can travel throughout your body. This explains the connection between oral and systemic health. About 80% of Americans have some form of gum disease, ranging from mild gingivitis to acute periodontitis. In addition, the disease is the reason behind most adult tooth loss in our country. To reduce the risk for gum disease and its potential contribution to other systemic conditions, practice good daily oral healthcare at home and visit Dr. Henry for six-month checkups and cleanings. If your gums appear red, swollen, feel tender, or bleed when you brush your teeth, schedule an appointment with Dr. Henry as soon as possible.
Cancer Treatment and Oral Health
Patients who undergo chemotherapy may experience oral health problems, and if you are in this situation, Dr. Henry can help. She recommends that you brush twice a day with a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste that contains xylitol, floss thoroughly once a day, and use an alcohol-free mouthwash. Be consistent with six-month checkups and cleanings, and if you notice a change in oral health, schedule a visit to talk with Dr. Henry.
Oral symptoms that result from chemotherapy include:
The feeling of a toothache, without having tooth damage
Yeast infection (candida) in the mouth, known as thrush
Xerostomia, known as dry mouth
Sore throat, difficulty swallowing
Infection and inflammation in the mouth
Changes in how flavors are tasted
A Compassionate Member of Your Healthcare Team
Do you need a dentist who will listen to your concerns and have empathy for your situation? As a female dentist, Dr. Henry brings compassion understanding to her patients. If you’re going through a rough time in life, whether your issue is breast cancer or something else, Dr. Henry can help you reclaim and maintain good oral health, to support good overall health and a higher quality of life. Call our Erlanger, KY dentist office today at 859-344-8500. We serve families from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Ft. Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and other Kentucky communities around the 41018 area — and we can’t wait to see your smile!
Gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in America. Sometimes practicing excellent oral hygiene isn’t enough to combat your teeth’s worst enemy. Today, your Erlanger dentist, Dr. Darlene Henry discusses gum disease, and what you can do about it.
What Is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is a bacterial infection of the supporting tissues of the teeth. Typically, gum disease begins with poor dental hygiene. If you brush and floss regularly, at least twice a day, plaque begins to form on your teeth. When plaque is allowed to remain for more than 48 hours, it calcifies, or hardens, into tartar–an insoluble substance that irritates your gums. Unattended, bacteria will thrive in tartar buildup, causing gum tissue to detach from your teeth and leading to infection.
What Can I Do To Prevent It?
Just like any other type health issue, prevention is the key. If you practice good oral hygiene habits—such as regular tooth brushing and daily flossing—you have a good chance of preventing gum disease before it occurs. Regardless, the symptoms of gum disease aren’t always easy to identify; it’s always best to visit your dentist at least two times a year for a full oral health evaluation.
What Can I Do If I Have Gum Disease?
At our Erlanger dentist office, we provide several different options to aid in your fight against gum disease. We offer conservative treatments to combat gum disease such as scaling and root planting, as well as Gingivectomy if the aforementioned methods are ineffective.
Schedule An Appointment Today
To schedule an appointment for a checkup, cleaning, or just to have Dr. Henry provide you with a breakdown of your overall dental health, call our Erlanger dentist office today at 859-344-8500. We proudly serve families from Cincinnati, Crestview Hills, Fort Mitchell, Florence, Union, Independence, Taylor Mill, and surrounding communities.
When it comes to your teeth, even the smallest changes can make a significant impact on your smile. At our dental office in Erlanger, we take pride in offering comprehensive dental treatments that focus on every detail of your smile makeover. Dr. Darlene Henry, our Erlanger cosmetic dentist, will explain how gum contouring can give you the smile makeover of your dreams.
Correcting Gummy Smiles
Your gum tissue is often overlooked as a significant aspect of your smile. After all, your gum tissue frames your teeth, creating a certain look for your smile and the individual teeth. Uneven gums can make even a straight smile appear disproportionate. Gummy smileinvolves excessive gingival display. This can make your teeth appear too small or juvenile. In addition, gummy smiles can make individual teeth look misshapen.
Gum Lifts Enhance Your Image
At our dental office in Erlanger, we provide gum reshaping to correct gummy smiles and uneven gingival tissue. Gum contouring, also called a gum lift, involves reshaping your gum line to make your teeth proportionate to your smile. The ideal smile will show as little gum tissue as possible when you smile. With gum contouring, our Erlanger cosmetic dentist, Dr. Henry, can lift your gum line and lengthen your teeth crowns.
Enhancing Porcelain Veneers
Gum contouring can also be used in conjunction with porcelain veneers or other cosmetic dentistry procedures. A gum lift is just the cosmetic procedure to take your smile makeover beyond your expectations. The small tweaking will make a significant difference for your overall image. Our cosmetic dentist may recommend gum contouring to further enhance procedures like porcelain veneers, cosmetic bonding, or dental crown placement.
Cosmetic Dentistry in Erlanger, KY
To learn more about gum reshaping, contact our cosmetic dental office in Erlanger. You can schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation with Dr. Darlene Henry by calling 859-344-8500. We look forward to giving you the smile of your dreams with comprehensive cosmetic dentistry in Erlanger, KY.
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