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Sick of Suffering From Dry Mouth? Dental Researchers May Have Found Your Solution!

Monday, 13 June 2011 17:31 admin

Researchers at the University of Louisville (UofL) have uncovered a mechanism in saliva production, which they believe will lead to advanced therapies for people whose salivary glands no longer work because of disease or damage from treatment of diseases.

The UofL School of Dentistry research team is being led by Douglas Darling, PhD, and professor of the Department of Oral Health and Rehabilitation. Darling and his team identified a protein sorting mechanism that is used by the salivary gland, which the National Institutes of Health supported and published on-line this week in the Journal of Dental Research.

This finding could prove extremely beneficial in treating dry mouth as it will help to form the basis for advanced therapies to treat the condition. Many people who suffer with dry mouth have salivary glands that were damaged or no longer function because of radiation therapy, prescription drugs or Sjogren’s Syndrome, which is an immune disorder that causes dry eyes and dry mouth.

The salivary glands conduct several essential tasks in the mouth like lubrication and beginning the process of digestion. The parotid is the largest salivary gland and secretes important proteins into the saliva. There are multiple secretion pathways along which it was believed that protein must be sorted between. However, Darling’s research team has found a completely new approach, suggesting that salivary sorting receptor proteins may not exist.

If you or someone you know is suffering from dry mouth syndrome, talk to your Los Angeles dentist today about possible treatment options that are available to you. And if you are interested in learning more on the study, it is called the Parotid Secretory Protein Binds Phosphatidylinositol (3,4) Bisphosphate study.

Headache or Toothache?

Monday, 06 June 2011 16:47 admin

When most people feel the twinge of a headache coming on, their first response is to reach for the pain pills, rather than investigating what is actually causing the pain. If you are someone who suffers from persistent headaches, the root of the pain might actually be in your mouth.

These “headaches” can actually be caused by the way your teeth meet up when your jaws bite together, also known as a dental occlusion. Tempro-mandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is a neuromuscular jaw condition that is cased by an imbalanced bite. People experience pain because these joints cause pressure to be put on the nerves, muscles, and blood vessels which pass blood to the head, in turn causing headaches and migraines.

If you or someone you know suffers from constant headaches or migraines, especially first thing in the morning, with pain behind the eyes, sinus pains, or pains in the neck and shoulders, you need to visit your Los Angeles dentist as soon as possible to determine the origin of the pain.

Some more serious side effects of dental occlusions include broken teeth or fillings, loose teeth and toothaches with no apparent cause. So, don’t wait until you have a more serious problem on your hands and visit Dr. Azar-Mehr’s office today.

Are Cosmetic Facial Injections Worth the Risk in Cosmetic Dentistry?

Tuesday, 31 May 2011 21:49 admin

Anyone who is planning to undergo cosmetic dentistry to improve their appearance may be surprised that the dentists also use facial injections. Along with the normal cosmetic dental work that is performed, the dentist may also be using Botox, Perlane, Restylane or other forms of cosmetic injections to complete the look.

Since most Los Angeles cosmetic dentistry is used to improve the look of the face, some believe it's a great convenience and benefit to get these facial injections in addition to the dental work. In just two or three days, the effects of these injections can provide a new, youthful and refreshed appearance. Since some people invest so much into cosmetic dentistry to create a beautiful smile, they feel adding to that investment with facial injections to improve the skin can really add to that beautiful smile.

Even though there are cosmetic benefits to getting the injections done while undergoing dental works, there are still risks that everyone should be aware of before deciding to get this procedure. If you suffer with any conditions that affect the muscles or nerves, the facial injections will cause more adverse side effects. Anyone who is planning to become pregnant soon should also avoid the injections.

There are many antibiotics, heart medications, and even over-the-counter herbs and medicines that will also cause adverse reactions to the facial injections. Some minor side effects that could happen to anyone are nausea, localized pain, inflammation, swelling, redness, bruising, and even a temporary eyelid droop.

Since the facial injections are only a temporary fix to wrinkles, lines and other facial defects, these injections need to be taken more than once over a period of time. If not, the face will look just like it did before the injections were ever used. So it's up to you to decide, are facial injections along with cosmetic dentistry the right choice for you?

How Diabetics Can Maintain Good Dental Health

Friday, 27 May 2011 23:07 admin

Good oral hygiene is important for everyone to have, especially people living with diabetes. Diabetic people are at a higher risk for getting mouth infections, especially periodontal or gum disease. Periodontal disease damages the gums and the jaw bone that hold the teeth in place in the mouth, which can lead to painful chewing problems. People who suffer from serious periodontal disease usually lose their teeth and can even have problems controlling their blood glucose levels.

Dry mouth and thrush, which is a fungal infection, are other dental problems commonly associated with diabetes. Diabetes causes the level of glucose in one’s saliva to increase, which, when combined with dry mouth, causes thrush to develop with painful white patches in the mouth.

By controlling the blood glucose level, brushing and flossing daily, and regularly visiting a dentist in Los Angeles, a person with diabetes can help prevent periodontal disease and keep their teeth and gums healthy.

If you are a diabetic, be sure to follow these simple steps to stay healthy:

Control your blood glucose.
Brush and floss every day.
Visit your dentist regularly and be sure to tell them that you have diabetes.
Tell your dentist if your dentures do not fit right, or if your gums are sore.
Quit smoking; smoking makes gum disease worse. Your physician or dentist can offer solutions to help you quit.
Take time to check your mouth regularly for any problems. Things to look for include: bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, dryness, soreness, white patches, or a bad taste in the mouth - all of these are reasons to visit your dentist.

And remember, good blood glucose control can help prevent mouth problems and periodontal disease.

Last Updated on Friday, 27 May 2011 23:12

Teeth Whitening On The Rise

Friday, 20 May 2011 23:06 admin

One of the fastest-growing health and beauty trends today is teeth-whitening, especially among the female population. With the number of patients interested in whitening treatments continuing to rise, the prices are likely to go down because of specials offered by dental practices through deal-a-day sites like Groupon and LivingSocial.

More patients who seek whitening treatments are also opting to have other cosmetic dentistry procedures done like bonding, replacing amalgam fillings and porcelain restorations to match the whitening they have achieved.

Regarding gender, it seems that women are more concerned than men are with having a white smile. Roughly 65 percent of dental patients who sought whitening treatments last year were female, according to a quick poll of member dentists of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Another AACD survey has found that several dentists will also be adding Botox to their offerings in 2011, though brushing, flossing and regular dental care are still integral ways for patients to have a younger looking mouth.

If you are among those interested in restoring your smile to its original white shine, call Dr. Azar-Mehr’s Los Angeles dentist office today.

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