October 2012 - Wellness Sultana //]]>

Monday, 15 October 2012

Periodontal Disease: Causes and Treatments
October 15, 2012 7 Comments

periodontitis
Description:  Gum disease can cause severe tooth loss and cause infectious pockets to develop in gum tissue.  Routine examinations and cleanings are recommended to contain periodontal disease.


Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and is most commonly caused by plaque and tartar buildup. Although periodontal disease is highly preventable, most adults in the United States have some degree of periodontal disease. Gingivitis, the earliest stage, may appear as red or irritated gums. As the condition progresses, the infection drives deeper into the oral cavity and infects the jawbone and supporting structures of the teeth. Sensitive teeth, a receding gumline and tooth loss are all associated with periodontal disease.

Causes of Gum Disease

The human mouth is filled with oral bacteria. Many are harmless, but P. gingivalis and a few other species combine with saliva and food particles to form a biofilm called plaque. Plaque is colorless and sticky, and it must be removed by regular tooth brushing. When it is not removed, it can harden into tartar. Tartar cannot be removed with brushing and flossing alone; it requires a professional cleaning.

Inadequate dental hygiene is the cause of most cases of gum disease, but in some cases, genetics and other health or lifestyle factors can play a role in the development of periodontal disease. Medications that contribute to gingival overgrowth or that dry out the mouth can both increase an individual’s risk of developing gum disease. Diabetes and certain other health conditions are closely linked to periodontal disease. Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop dental health problems, including gum disease.

Stages of Gum Disease

The earliest stage of gum disease is gingivitis. Gums may be red or swollen, and they are prone to bleeding when teeth are brushed or flossed. Gingivitis is not painful, and many with gingivitis are unaware of the condition until their dentist diagnoses them. At this stage of gum disease, the condition is highly treatable and generally reversible.

If not diagnosed and treated properly, gingivitis will progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis literally means inflammation around the tooth. Infection pockets develop around the base of the crown where the tooth meets the gums. The gums begin to pull away from the teeth as the infection progresses. Plaque and tartar can form in these pockets, which allow bacteria toxins to enter the blood stream. The infection causes connective tissues and bones to break down. Once the infection has progressed to this stage, tooth loss may be inevitable.

Treatments for Gum Disease

If you have been diagnosed with gum disease, your dentist or hygienist will need to determine the extent of the condition. You may need X-rays or other imaging tests to assess bone mass, and you may be referred to a Los Angeles periodontist, a dentist who specializes in treating periodontal disease.

Your dentist or periodontist will discuss your treatment options, which may include lifestyle changes. Improving dental hygiene, eating a nutritious diet and quitting smoking may all play a role in your recovery. Scaling and root planing may also be recommended. Scaling and root planing is essentially a deep cleaning for your teeth. Your dentist will remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth, paying particular attention to the area around the gumline. Antimicrobial rinses or treatments may be prescribed to help control the bacteria. In some cases, your dentist or periodontist may use antibiotic gels or oral medication to help your gums combat the infection and heal.

Advanced periodontal disease may require more extensive treatments. Surgery may be necessary to reduce the pockets around the teeth, or bone and other tissue grafts may be needed to restore your teeth’s supporting structures.

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy after periodontal treatment involves brushing after meals, flossing at least once a day and visiting your dentist or periodontist on your recommended schedule. Your dentist or periodontist may provide you with further instructions. Maintaining good dental hygiene after periodontal treatment can reduce the risk of its reoccurrence.


Resources:
Bijan Afar DDS, Los Angeles dentist, provides various periodontal treatments for individuals suffering from this disease and strives to help his patients maintain a healthy smile throughout their life.

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Wednesday, 3 October 2012

Overtraining: The Worst Addition to any Workout Program
October 03, 2012 3 Comments

Are you overtraining? I will guess that your automatic answer will be 'No' but did you even think about the answer before you said it? Overtraining actually affects far more people than is generally realized. In fact, many people aren't getting the maximum benefit from their workout programs because of regular states of semi-overtraining.

Why does this happen?

Overtraining Basics

First of all there are no clear cut boundaries or rules for overtraining. It's not like you can say, "Oh I worked out 5 times this week for a total of 10 hours therefore based on my bodyweight and age I am not overtrained. It is a direct result of everything that your body is currently dealing with along with workouts such as stress, sleep, food, and injury or sickness.

Generally speaking many of us try and do too much. We push as hard as we can and then hit a wall. This happens in many facets of life where we feel we can do anything with the right attitude and overcome any limitations. But in the case of overtraining, you can't.

When you get to a state where your body can't fully recover there is no mental 'pep talk' that you can give yourself to make it better. You body needs one thing and one thing only; rest. The recovery system has been overwhelmed and now can't catch up which creates a vicious cycle. Yes, you see videos of elite athletes pushing themselves continually and saying you have to 'want it' but what you don't see is the chef preparing their food, the 8 hours of sleep they get every night, or the post workout massage and protein shake they enjoy.

Your body needs rest and you can never get around that.

Let's Be Honest

Do you get enough rest? Per numerous studies the majority people either get too little sleep or not restful enough sleep. That means your body probably doesn't have the time to go through a proper rest and recuperation phase (which is also where muscle strength and growth gains come into play). Maybe it was a rough week at work or you had projects to do. Obviously you want to be healthy so you won't skip out on the gym; instead you skip out on some sleep and drink more coffee the next day.
But that only increases the problem.

Avoiding Overtraining


What is the easiest way to always avoid overtraining? Add an extra day of rest to your schedule each week. Many people get overly concerned that they will lose valuable gains in muscle and weight loss from taking a day off. But the body functions better and more efficiently when well rested compared to when stressed. Do you know how you feel after a great vacation where you have a few days of getting full nights of sleep? That is your body responding with a higher level of energy because of the rest.

So take that attitude about your weekly schedule. Give yourself an extra rest day and instead of filling up that time you would spend at the gym with chores give yourself a break. Go to bed earlier or relax and read a book.
Also pay plenty of attention to your diet. Proper fuel is always vital for a body to be able to recuperate and recover. If you train hard then you should expect to also rest hard and recover hard if you truly want the best results.
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Get Sparkly, White Teeth: The Natural Way
October 03, 2012 12 Comments
What have Simon Cowell, Britney Spears and the Duchess of Cambridge all got in common? One answer would be that they are all the owners of beautiful, straight, dazzling white teeth. No doubt, their personal beauty budgets stretch to the best tooth-whitening products and practitioners out there, not to mention top-notch nutritionists to keep their smiles sparkling.

When someone’s public persona relies heavily on their physical appearance, they are certainly not going to hold back on the finances when it comes to showing off a perfect mouth.

Yet brighter teeth and a more attractive smile are available to us mere mortals too, and not just courtesy of our nearest dental practice. By employing some careful research into the effects that types of food and drink can have on the appearance of the teeth, mouth and gums; not to mention following good habits and rejecting damaging ones, everyone can enjoy noticeable results for very little cost or effort.

Here are just four suggestions to help get a brighter smile using natural methods.

A Clean Sweep

Hopefully, you should be doing this anyway, but one of the best ways to make sure that teeth stay as white as possible is by brushing them regularly – at least once in the morning and again last thing at night. Flossing every day will also help keep them in top condition.

Brushing your teeth not only removes food debris that has built up during the day, and plaque that has formed over night. It also keeps bacteria to a minimum and gives you a fresh-smelling mouth and tongue.

Visit the hygienist at your dental practice regularly. As often as you brush your teeth, you cannot do as thorough a job as the hygienist with their specialist instruments and professional pastes and brushes. They can also watch out for telltale signs of oral disease, such as bleeding gums, cracked teeth or mouth ulcers.

Lighten Up

The well-known saying goes that ‘we are what we eat’. This is absolutely true. Not just in terms of diet and weight management, but also in managing health conditions, increasing energy and even brightening teeth. It makes perfect sense. Consuming darker foods and drinks, such as red wine, tea, cola or liquorish will inevitably cause your teeth to stain as a result, unless you brush them soon afterwards.

Or, if you must drink dark beverages and cannot access a toothbrush straight away, try sipping drinks through a straw. That way, the liquid goes straight to the back of the throat, ensuring minimal contact with the teeth.
Another mortal enemy of white teeth is smoking - nicotine, tar and other toxic ingredients will stain your teeth a horrible yellow colour that can be impossible to shift without resorting to expensive cosmetic surgery such as veneers. There are numerous medical reasons why smoking is bad news for your body – this is just one more to consider when deciding whether or not to give it up.

Food For Thought

The previous tip looks at what you should avoid eating and drinking to avoid staining. However, plenty of foodstuffs actively help keep teeth looking shiny and bright. For example, many specialist whitening toothpastes out there purport to contain baking soda, and this is indeed an excellent whitening ingredient in any foods as well.

Another suggestion is to occasionally opt for tart foods, such as oranges, pineapples or apples. This helps making the mouth produce more saliva that then helps clean the teeth and wash away sugary residues.
Dairy products such as cheese or yoghurt are also beneficial, containing both calcium and lactic acid which may help protect teeth from decay. Finally, the abrasive action involved in eating foods such as carrots or celery can help clean particles of other food from teeth to keep them looking healthy and bright.

Please note, however, that none of these ideas are intended to replace a proper, traditional brushing regime involving toothbrush, paste, dental floss and mouthwash.

Colour Teeth Beautiful

Not so much a health tip as some wardrobe advice. Recent fashion trends in clothing and make up have been bright and colourful, which is something that can help make teeth appear more dazzling too.

Careful choice of the colours worn around the head or shoulders can brighten up the whole face, especially for older ladies and gentlemen. Go for pinks and plums rather than yellow-based hues. If these are not your favourite colours, use these shades sparingly and strategically by adding a scarf, tie or chunky necklace.

Ladies can also use blusher and lipstick to help make their teeth appear whiter. Medium coral shades, or light reds bring out the whiteness of teeth, whereas lighter or orangey shades can sometimes make teeth seem dull and yellow. Ask a salesperson’s advice when choosing a new colour.

Simon Cowell, eat your heart out! By following these tips, you can help your smile get brighter, without causing your pocket to get lighter. Give them a try today!
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