Botox and Dentistry

Your teeth and smile are significant contributors to the general attractiveness of your face. As a result, Botox, which is short for botulinum toxin, has gained massive recognition in medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery. 

Recently, Botox is not exclusive to treating popular cosmetic concerns like wrinkles. The famous bacterial toxin (botox) has gained significant recognition in dentistry, and why not? Because your smile compliments your good looks!

This blog post will show you a few trending ways dentistry utilizes botox to solve oral health problems and treat particular areas of the face. Keep reading to learn more!

What is Botox?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is an established, well known wrinkle-relaxer that has been delivering consistent results for years. This injectable gained popularity for its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles with minimal pain and no downtime. Problem areas including frown lines, and crows feet are no match for BOTOX®! 

How does Botox work?  

Botox is essentially a mildly invasive neurotoxin that works to relax and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Common treatment areas include the eyes, forehead, and mouth. Once injected, it blocks the transmission of nerve impulses or signals responsible for muscle contractions. Botox does not affect the nerves, but simply relaxes them! 

The effect of botox can last anywhere from three to four months and will wear off afterward, causing patients to require another dose if they wish.

How is Botox applied in Dentistry?

Botox is becoming regular in dentistry for treating several conditions. Although not exclusively as a cosmetic agent, botox in dentistry is included in a comprehensive treatment plan.

Here are a few trending applications of botox in dentistry: 

• To correct high lip lines.
• Treatment of TMJ (temporomandibular Joint Disorder).
• For adjustments to new dentures. 

Essentially, botox in dentistry is for correcting anomalies between the mouth and face. However, botox is not used as a stand-alone treatment in dentistry.

The Connection Between Oral Health and Heart Health 

You’d probably be shocked to know that your oral health significantly impacts your heart health. While there appears to be no consensus on the subject, we can create a logical nexus between the mouth and the heart. This blog post will establish a logical relationship between oral and heart health. So read on to learn more!

How oral health problems progress

Gum disease is a chronic infection of the teeth and surrounding tissues. Essentially, patients with this condition may notice bleeding, tenderness and puffiness in their gums. Also, patients may experience receding gums, causing more exposure of the tooth overall. When gum disease or other oral infections are left untreated over time, this can lead to more serious conditions, including tooth loss. 

What is the nexus between compromised oral health and heart disease?

Several medical studies have linked poor oral health to heart problems when oral infections are present. When bacteria resides in your gums, the infection can affect your jawbone, creating tooth abscess and severe discomfort. 

Additionally, the bacterial infection in your gums can seep into your bloodstream and affect your heart. Long-standing oral infections can increase your risk of developing a suppressed immune system, leaving your teeth defenseless. Not to mention the antibiotic load that also damages your normal flora!

What you should know about your heart and mouth

When the inner lining of your heart is infected by bacterial invasion and accumulation in the bloodstream, that’s endocarditis. Although this condition is pretty rare, it is potentially life-threatening since it affects the heart’s valves and muscles. The American Heart Association lists poor oral hygiene, injury, and poor dental procedures as the cause of most infective endocarditis cases.

Final thought

The human body is like a giant energy network, what affects one part can significantly impact other parts. As a result, good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist can reduce your risk of experiencing heart problems or developing any other cardiovascular disease. 

Birth Control and Oral Health

Birth control is a personal decision for every woman. It entails the choice of whether or not– and when to have a baby. However, birth control could be impacting your oral health in more ways than you realize. In this blog post, we will go over the ways birth control relates to your oral health. 

What is Birth control?

Birth control is any method employed to prevent pregnancies. Several methods for birth control exist, and people choose their preferred methods depending on their lifestyle and ability to commit to the process. Examples of birth control methods include but are not limited to condoms,  IUDs, vasectomy,  tubal ligation, and birth control pills.

How birth control works

Besides condoms, most birth control measures work with your hormones. Essentially, most contraceptive pills are made from hormones or hormone-mimicking compounds to prevent you from getting pregnant. As a result, birth control pills are designed to create hormonal changes in your body towards the desired result– a negative pregnancy test! 

Relationship between birth control and oral health

Most birth control pills cause hormonal changes in your body, leading to tooth sensitivity and other oral health problems. The reason is that your hormones need to be pretty stable to maintain your body’s regular functionality. Your teeth could be affected by an over or under secretion of a particular hormone due to birth control. 

Another oral health problem due to birth control is the limited blood supply to the gums. Additionally, there could be an increased build-up of plaque resulting from a decrease in your body’s response to toxins.

How birth control affects your oral health?

Birth control through hormone manipulation can significantly affect your oral health in more ways than expected. For instance, disproportionate levels of some fertility hormones can cause a limited blood supply to the gum tissues. 

Additionally, you could get tooth sensitivity due to elevated progesterone levels. If you are under any oral health medication, you could also experience a reaction with birth control pills. 

Conclusion

Before deciding on any birth control method, it is important to check with your doctor for proper guidance and professional advice. That way, you will be able to choose the best birth control method that won’t significantly affect your oral health. 

Pull Your Tooth Or Save It– When It’s Time For An Extraction

When you’re struggling with a troublesome tooth, particularly one that is damaged, then comes the dilemma, to pull or save it. But how do you decide when it’s time for an extraction? 

This blog post will enlighten you with the necessary information to make the right choice. So, read on to learn more! 

What is a tooth extraction?

When one or more of your permanent teeth is removed from the dental root, this is considered a tooth extraction. Several people loosely refer to tooth extraction as “pulling your tooth,” which is a practice that should be performed by a dentist, especially for adults. 

Why do people undergo tooth extraction?

People experience tooth discomfort in several ways. As a result, there are many reasons why they might need to have a tooth extracted. Here are a few reasons why:

• Long tooth decay, defying dental filling, and other procedures associated with crown or root canal. 
• Severe injury or trauma to the tooth.
• Weakened tooth root due to dental or gum abscess.
• Crowded teeth. 
• Dental infection.
• Severe toothache.

Now that we have considered a few reasons people undergo tooth extractions, how about knowing the right time for it? More so, it helps to know whether or not you need to pull your tooth, especially when we consider the variety of dental treatments available.

When should you go for an extraction?

Although the choice to pull your tooth or save it is entirely personal, there is a general opinion in favor of saving your tooth. People are advised to seek extraction only as a last resort. The reason is that, unless your teeth have severe issues, it is best to save your natural teeth. 

Here is why:

• Your natural teeth are stronger than artificial teeth.
• There are alternative ways of treating tooth discomfort, so why worry?
• Your natural teeth add to your self-confidence.

There could be some complications with tooth extraction.

Wrapping up

Even though the mainstream notion favors saving your tooth, the choice is ultimately yours. If you have a tooth that may need an extraction, it is best to vist our office to discuss any dental problems you may have– This way, you get professional advice to guide you on whether or not to pull a tooth!