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P A U L | J ANUARY 2014 79
DAILY UPKEEP
HEALTH ISSUES
BIG PICTURE
1 TOOTH DECAY is costly, in terms of your pocketbook
and your health. It occurs over time as bacteria and food
particles embed along the gums and on teeth. The good
news: Its preventable, but youve got to commit to a little
routine maintenancebrushing twice daily with frequent
ossing and a regular check-in with your dentist. Here are
a few other troublemakers to watch out for:
DRY MOUTH
Saliva has antibodies
that protect your teeth,
gums, and mouth from
excess bacteria. Some
medications suppress
the saliva gland and
leave your mouth
vulnerable to decay.
PLAQUE BUILDUP
Plaque sticks to teeth,
forming small holes
and cavities. More than
just a pain, untreated
cavities can lead to gum
issues and tooth loss.
GINGIVITIS
Reversible if caught
early, gingivitis, aka
gumdisease, goes to
war with teeth and the
surrounding tissue until
eventually severe decay
or tooth loss occurs.
CROWNS
Protecting and
supporting weak,
broken, or missing
teeth, crowns play an
important role, so its a
problemif one is loose.
Make xing it a priority
because the tooth
will be sensitive and
vulnerable to decay.
BROKEN SMILE
With age, spacing,
crowding, and wear
may leave you with an
uncomfortable bite or a
smile you want to hide.
Dental specialists can
help you evaluate the
challenges and costs and
offer ways to improve
your bite or enhance
your smile.
SINUS PROBLEMS
Aching teeth may not
be a mouth matter at
all. If you suffer with
allergies or have had a
prolonged head cold,
the discomfort may
actually be due to a
sinus infection.
DENTAL IMPLANTS
When a tooth is too
chipped or decayed,
it has to be extracted
altogether and an
implant put in its place.
Good news: Specialists
and modern technology
have streamlined
the solution to this
unenviable predicament.
TURN ON
THE WHITE
Over time, wine, tea, and
coffee, as well as other
foods, can take a toll
on pearly whites. While
store-bought remedies
can make a dent in
stains, your dentist can
weigh in on long-term
solutions that also
support overall good
oral health.
TEMPOROMAN-
DIBULAR JOINT
DISORDER
Sore teeth also can
indicate TMJ, where the
jaw muscles or joints
become strained/tight
due to stress, teeth
grinding, or clenching.
OTHER
MEDICAL
CONDITIONS
Oral health affects
overall health.
Advanced gumdisease
can be an indication of
other health concerns
such as high blood
pressure or diabetes.
OLD DENTAL WORK
1 INEVITABLY, DENTAL WORK begins to show its
age and occasionally needs to be updated or upgraded.
When something youve already xed starts giving you
trouble, its important to consult with your dentist and,
if necessary, work with a specialist to resolve it.
1 SOMETIMES SORE TEETH and gums
can be a warning sign of larger health concerns.
Its important to talk to your general dentist rst,
especially if you feel unusual pain, and determine
if you need a specialists care or the help of your
medical doctor to assess and treat the pain.
1 LINGERING MOUTH ISSUES such as a
crooked smile, while not necessarily a painful problem,
may be on your wish list to x someday. More options
than ever before exist to help you improve or x your
grin and transform your outlook.
DECAYING
DENTAL WORK
Dont ignore aging
llings if they start to
break down, especially
as teeth shift and your
bite changes with age.
Bacteria and corrosive
food particles can make
things even worse
over time.
164
MILLION
Number of
people with
no access to
uoridated
water.
Number of
adults aged
4554 affected
by severe gum
disease.
14%
Number of
middle-aged
adults missing
all of their
teeth.
5% 5%
164
MILLION
25%
25%
WERE ONCE AGAIN HONORING TOP LOCAL DENTISTS WHO HAVE BEEN
SELECTED BY THEIR PEERS. WHILE THESE RESPECTED DENTISTS WOULD BE THE
FIRST TO TELL YOU MANY DENTAL SETBACKS CAN BE AVOIDED WITH ROUTINE
CARE, THEYRE ALSO ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH A SIMPLE TOOTHACHE GONE
BAD. HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON ORAL HEALTH CONCERNS THEY
SEE, WITH TIPS ON HOW TO STAY ON TOP OF THINGS AND KEEP SMILING.
TO FIND OUR TOP DENTISTS LISTING, TURN THE PAGE.
BY AMANDA LEPINSKI ILLUSTRATION BY HANNAH JOHNSON
2014
TOP DENTISTS
Work hours
employed adults
lose annually due
to oral health
issues.
Adults who
reported some
formof facial
pain in the past
six months.
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TOP
DENTISTS
T I PS T O KEEP
YOU GRI NNI NG
SMILE GUIDE
2014
TOP DENTISTS
MILLION MILLION
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