Metro Square Dental Associates Blog

Two new studies give further insights into the links between mouth hygiene, gum disease and cardiovascular events. Researchers in Taiwan find that dental patients who had their teeth cleaned and scaled professionally had reduced risks of heart attack and stroke, while researchers in Sweden find that the type of periodontal or gum disease may predict degree of risks for heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

In their nationwide, population-based study, Drs Emily (Zu-Yin) Chen and Hsin-Bang Leu from the Cardiology department at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, examined data on over 51,000 adults who had received at least one full or partial tooth scaling from a dentist or dental hygienist, and a similar number of matched controls who had never had their teeth professionally cleaned.

None of the participants had a history of stroke or heart attack. The data came from Taiwan National Health insurance records, and the researchers ran statistical tests to compare the cardiovascular event rates between the two groups for an average follow- up of seven years.

They found that participants who had their teeth professionally scaled frequently or occasionally had a 24% lower risk of heart attack and a 13% lower risk of stroke compared to those who did not. The researchers considered tooth scaling frequent if it occurred at least twice or more in two years, and considered it occasional if it happened once or less in two years.

Chen, a cardiology fellow at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, told the press:

"Protection from heart disease and stroke was more pronounced in participants who got tooth scaling at least once a year."

She suggested that professional tooth scaling removes inflammation-causing bacteria that in turn can lead to heart disease and stroke.

One drawback of the study is that the researchers did not adjust the results to take into account other potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as weight, smoking and race, since this information wasn't in the health records.

The Swedish study was the work of Dr Anders Holmlund of the Centre for Research and Development of the County Council of Gävleborg, and senior consultant, Specialized Dentistry, and Dr Lars from the Department of Acute Medicine at Uppsala Academic Hospital.

They examined data on 7,999 participants with periodontal or gum disease and found that types of gum disease predict risk for heart attack, congestive heart failure and stroke in different ways and to different degrees.

Afer adjusting for age, gender, smoking and education level, their results showed that:
Participants who had fewer than 21 teeth had a 69% higher risk of heart attack compared to those who had the most teeth.

Participants with most infection (ie the highest number of deepended periodontal pockets around the base of the teeth) had a 53% higher risk of heart attack compared to those with the least infection (fewest number of pockets).

The participants with the fewest number of teeth had 2.5 times the risk of congestive heart failure compared to those with the most teeth.

Those with the highest incidence of gum bleeding had 2.1 times the risk of stroke compared to participants with the lowest incidence.
Holmlund and Lars concluded that:

"Markers of periodontal disease predict future common cardiovascular events in different ways, suggesting that they are risk indicators for different cardiovascular disorders."


-posted by Dr. Jeff

Folks with big smiles may actually live longer than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Our office has known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Metrodental.com on a regular basis? If not, give us a call!

If your five month old is starting to get fussy then they may be beginning their teething phase. Here are some signs to help you know:

• Fussiness or crankiness
• Drooling
• Sleep patterns- your baby will be waking up more at night
• Biting- your baby is going to try to counter react the pressure they feel from the tooth poking through the gum.
• Bulging gums- will most likely start at the bottom

You are going to want to be prepared for remedies. Anything cold works best such as the following:

• Frozen teething rings
• Ice
• Frozen washcloth
• Frozen bagels

About one in 2,000 babies are born with teeth. They usually develop in the same order, with the bottom middle two peaking out first. Then the top middle two develop, and after that the rest along the side start to develop.

Call us at 847-680-7171 or visit us our website at www.metrodental.com for more information about dental care.

Are you Satisfied with your Overall Breath?

If you are one of those people who performs the palm exercise many times a day this dental article from Metro Dental is for you!

Dr. Jeff agrees that this is a very personal and careful subject. Many people are embarrassed to accept they have this problem and the need of an oral treatment. There are many ways to treat this type of problem (which we call Halitosis), and have been proven to have excellent long term results. Dr. Jeff at Metro Dental shares some vital information in order to explain to his patients some of the causes and prevention tips for this truly unwanted condition.

How do I know if I have bad Breath?

If you can’t smell it right away you can try these techniques:

• Lick your wrist, wait a few seconds while the saliva dries, and then smell it. That can give you an idea of how your breath smells.
• Exhale into your palm and analyze how it smells.

Bad Breath Causes

Bad breath or Halitosis stems from different sources, from which the most common are:

• Foods, such as: garlic, onions, fish, meat, cheese, etc.
• Poor oral hygiene
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Fasting
• Nasal and sinus infections
• Throat infections
• Defective dental restorations
• Gum disease
• Dry mouth
• Other underlying health conditions

Once you are aware of the causes of bad breath it will be easier to determine, which are the most appropriate measures to prevent and fight it.

Preventive Measures

• Brush your teeth at least twice daily, better after each meal
• Floss once a day
• Brush your tongue
• Drink water regularly
• Change your toothbrush every 3 months
• Do not smoke

Having a clean and healthy smile is always important. That is why it’s best to brush after every meal and avoid food and drinks that are bad for your teeth.

We all know that sweets are not always the best choice for your mouth but this is only true for certain sweets. According to Richard D. Price, D.M.D and spokesman for the American Dental Association, chocolate is okay because sweets that are coated in fat slip out of your mouth.

The sweets you must be aware of are the ones that stick to your mouth such as lollipops, caramels, and raisins. Dr. Price states that chocolate actually causes fewer cavities than raisins and gummy bears because they wash out much easier and does not stick to the tooth enamel.

This is also true of starchy foods such as potato chips because tiny bits get caught in between your teeth. Carbonated drinks are also bad for your teeth not only because of high sugar content but because of the citric acid most of them contain that start to erode the tooth enamel.

Often when considering restoring function when missing some or all teeth, dental implants are the best choice.
Traditionally the treatment plan for implants required the implants to be placed at specific angles, usually perpendicular (straight up and down relative to a person’s bite).

It is not unusual for a person to have anatomical problems with ideal locations for the implants. Sinuses in the upper jaw may be large or nerves in the lower jaw are in the precise location that a dentist would want to place an implant. Usually this means extra surgeries are needed to create room or move the obstruction out of the way.

With the All-on-four method, the issues are eliminated. By angling the implants, the problems can be avoided and the dentures or bridges can be placed predictably.

Did you know smiling and laughing are actually healthy for you? It’s true! As well as being attractive; smiling and laughing are beneficial to your entire well-being!

The psychological value of smiling and laughing is just as impressive. These activities release inner tension and repressed tendencies. When a person is tired or unhappy, it is better to relax through smiling and / or laughing than any other non-active means.

If you answer “yes” to any of the following questions, a Smile Makeover may be beneficial to you.

∙ Do you dislike the appearance of your smile?
∙ Are you embarrassed to smile?
∙ Do you cover your mouth when your smile or laugh?
∙ Do you feel that you show too many or too few teeth when you smile or laugh?
∙ Do you show too much gum when you smile or laugh?
∙ Do you feel that your teeth are too long or too short?
∙ Do you feel that your teeth are too wide or too narrow?
∙ Do you feel that your teeth are too square or too round?
∙ Do you feel that your smile holds you back in your personal or professional life?
∙ When you look in the mirror are you conscious of any defects to your teeth or gums?
∙ Do you wish your teeth were whiter?
∙ Are your teeth crooked or uneven, chipped or broken? Are you missing teeth or have unsightly gaps between your teeth?
∙ Do you require extensive dental restorations or treatment?

A Smile Makeover can transform the way you look and feel – heightening your confidence, self-esteem and facial appearance. A Smile Makeover can change your life. Contact us today for your Smile Consultation.

Do you find yourself frequently chewing on ice? Although the act of chewing on ice cubes may seem to be a harmless pastime, the constant need to chew ice may signal a more serious problem. One major problem associated with younger women is iron deficiency anemia. One in five women has this condition, which is often caused by blood loss from heavy menstrual bleeding or fibroids. However, both sexes can suffer from anemia. They may have blood loss from ulcers, hemorrhoids, bleeding polyps or even colorectal cancer. Some symptoms of anemia may include weakness, fatigue, pale gums, brittle nails, and shortness of breath. Another deficiency symptom is a sore tongue, which explains why people with anemia chew on ice. If you chew on ice constantly and or have any other symptoms, you should get a check up from your primary health provider. Almost all patients that have been diagnosed with anemia and properly treated with iron supplements or injections saw their cravings for chewing ice diminished within two weeks.

Even if your blood tests for iron deficiency come back normal, chewing ice can have negative consequences in the form of injury to your teeth. Chomping down on one too many ice cubes can cause tooth sensitivity and your teeth to chip or fracture, which can result in formation of an abscess and a trip to your dentist for a root canal.

From your very first visit to Metro Square Dental Associates our doctors and team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. We thought we’d ask you, our VIP patients: Have you been especially impressed by our office? Did our team go out of their way to make your day?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. You can write a review here on our Google Place page. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page

Thank you,
The team at Metro Square Dental Associates

Come visit us at the College of Lake County
Tuesday, November 2, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Fitness, Health & Safety Fair
Grayslake Campus - LRC Atrium
Come and talk to businesses dealing with fitness, health and safety. Topics to be covered include: Health and Wellness, Safety, Nutrition, Fire Prevention, Dental Health, Cancer Prevention, Alcohol and Drug Prevention, Sexual Assault Awareness, Physical Therapy, Skin Care, Athletic Training, Women’s Health, Sports Medicine, Chiropractic and Massage, Blood Drive Donations, Fitness and more! This event is sponsored by the CLC Health and Safety Committee.

Tooth-Friendly Candies and Foods

Some dentists have suggested that chocolate may prevent cavities, but this subject remains controversial. The tannin in cocoa appears to inhibit plaque formation. Plaque is the sticky film that forms on the tooth surface and promotes tooth decay. Caveat: Processed candy chocolate may not offer the same benefits as cocoa tannin. I believe that any cavity fighting advantage that may be gained from tannin is negated by the sugar in chocolate.

Many studies show that chewing gum increases salivary flow. Saliva is important because it washes food away from teeth. I do not encourage patients to chew gum. If you enjoy gum, purchase sugarless brands. Sugarless gums usually contain artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohol (e.g., mannitol syrup). If the ingredients include dextrose, sucrose, maltose, fructose or any word ending in "ose," it is probably not a sugar-free product. Chewing gum is not a substitute for brushing teeth.

Aged cheeses like mozzarella, jack and cheddar also increase salivary flow. They may also act as a buffer to neutralize the acids that attack teeth. The calcium in dairy products strengthens teeth.

Some foods that are relatively less likely to cause cavities are popcorn, peanuts and sunflower seeds. Researchers theorize that the fat in these foods reduce the amount of fermentable carbohydrates that contact teeth. Salivary enzymes convert carbohydrates to sugars.