Women's Dental Issues Are Important Says Michigan
Dentist Timothy Kosinski
Dentists Who Want to Survive Must Pay Attention to
Women's Issues
BINGHAM FARMS, Michigan -- A dentist who ignores the
needs of more than half of the clients that walk into the door will not stay in
business long. Common sense, at least, suggests that.
Yet many dental practices either ignore or underplay the
special oral health concerns related specifically to women, especially during
different life stages.
Dr. Timothy Kosinski, DDS, of SmileCreator in Bingham Farms,
Michigan has practiced for more than 20 years because he pays special attention
to women issues as well as being a recognized expert on dental implants and
smile creation.
"There are certain oral health concerns related specifically by
women, especially during different stages of her life," says Dr. Kosinski. "In
general, women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with eating disorders,
TMJ, Myofacial Pain Syndrome and/or dry mouth. And a woman cannot maintain
dental health if attention is not paid to such things as puberty, menstruation,
oral contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause."
Among the issues women face that impact dental health are:
During puberty, a young woman's production of the sex
hormones progesterone and estrogen increases. This surge in hormones may
contribute to swollen/sensitive gums and Herpes-type lesions and ulcers. During
menstruation periods, these symptoms may become magnified.
Oral contraceptives contain either progesterone or
estrogen and, therefore, may mimic pregnancy dental symptoms such as bleeding,
swollen and sore gums. Women using oral contraceptives have a much greater
chance of developing a painful condition known as "dry socket" after an
extraction. Be sure to inform your dentist if you are using oral contraceptives
and having a tooth extracted.
Pregnant women often experience bleeding, swollen and
painful gums, or sometimes a "pregnancy tumor," which is a benign growth that
usually shrinks when the pregnancy is over. It is extremely important for
pregnant women to practice regular and efficient oral hygiene to minimize these
symptoms. There is some research that suggests that periodontal disease can
result in pre-term deliveries and/or low birth-rate babies.
Post-menopausal women often develop a debilitating
condition called burning mouth syndrome, which can be painful and peak at night
making sleep difficult. Other symptoms common to post-menopausal women are dry
mouths and changes in taste.
Most of these symptoms are relieved by estrogen supplements but
this hormone replacement therapy can cause bleeding, tender, swollen gums.
Estrogen replacement therapy helps maintain the mineral density of the jawbone,
reducing the risk of tooth loss. Check with your dentist and physician if these
symptoms persist to determine the best course of treatment.
Medications such as diet pills, antihistamines, some
blood pressure drugs and antidepressants can cause a decrease in salivary flow.
A chronic dry mouth may put you at risk for developing cavities and gum
disease. Check with your dentist for a diagnosis and alternative remedies.
Dr. Kosinski says it is also important that a dentist also must
discuss with female patients how dental health relates to treatments for
osteoporosis, low-carb diets, eating disorders, and cautions about dental
X-rays during pregnancy.
Osteoporosis, a progressive loss of bone mass due to
aging, makes women more susceptible to fractures and possibly loss of teeth
from weakening of the jawbone. Osteoporosis risk factors include lack of
calcium, smoking cigarettes, excessive use of alcohol, being Caucasian or
Asian, early estrogen deficiency and having a thin, small-boned frame.
For women age 19-24, the recommended daily allowance of calcium
is 1,200 milligrams which decreases to 800 milligrams thereafter. Foods rich in
calcium include milk, cheese and ice cream but these also are high in calories
and fat.
Alternatives such as skim or no fat milk are preferable. There
are a reasonable variety of cheeses and yogurts that are low fat as well as ice
cream substitutes. Besides dairy, other healthy foods rich in calcium are
salmon, tofu (soybean curd), broccoli, peas, beans, nuts and calcium-enriched
grain products.
Low-carb diets such as the Atkins and South Beach diets
have become increasingly popular as effective ways of shedding those unwanted
pounds. However, one must take care not to simultaneously shed your friends
because of bad breath.
By limiting your intake of bread, cereal, pasta, fruits, rice,
ice cream, cakes and other foods, the body will burn stored fat as fuel for
energy rather than carbohydrates. Strict adherence to these types of diets will
send your body into "ketosis." Chemicals known as ketones are released when the
fat is burned and are excreted from the body through the urine and the saliva.
This will result in halitosis or bad breath.
The bad breath that can result from low-carb diets is not the
same type of odor that comes from poor oral hygiene, allowing bacteria to break
down proteins into sulfur gas, so additional brushing, flossing and scraping
the tongue will not alleviate the problem.
If the "ketone breath" becomes a problem, the person must
modify the diet or try to mask the symptoms until the desired weight loss is
achieved. Some suggestions are to drink plenty of water, chew on parsley, suck
on sugarless mints and/or chew on sugarless gum.
Eating disorders, especially bulimia, can be harmful to
the teeth. From constant vomiting, the enamel and dentin coverings on the back
of the upper front teeth surfaces will erode. The amount of erosion depends on
the frequency and degree of vomiting.
And when the back teeth are affected there will be a change in
the bite from the loss of tooth structure. Another problem common with bulimics
is swelling of the parotid gland. Bulimia also can result in having a dry mouth
because of dehydration from fasting and vomiting and abuse of laxatives and
diuretics.
Pregnancy is something a dentist should be informed
about because the American Dental Association strongly recommends that pregnant
women postpone elective x-rays until they have given birth. There are, however,
instances during pregnancy that x-rays may be required to assist diagnosis or
treatment of dental disease.
In situations where x-rays are necessary, protective leaded
aprons with thyroid collars should be used to minimize radiation exposure, thus
preventing harm to the fetus or child. Studies have shown that women having
dental x-rays during pregnancy have a greater potential to give birth to
smaller-than-normal babies. But remember, maintaining oral health throughout
the pregnancy is critical to both the total health of the expectant mothers and
to the health of their babies.
For more information about Dr. Kosinski or SmileCreator go to
www.smilecreator.net, call 248-646-8651 or send an email query to
allquestions@smilecreator.net. SmileCreator is located at 31000
Telegraph Rd., Suite 170, Bingham Farms, MI 48025
About Dr. Timothy Kosinski: He has practiced general and
implant dentistry for 20 years. A graduate of University of Detroit Dental
School, he completed comprehensive implant training at Harvard. He is a
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry, The
International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the American Society of
Osseointegration. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry
and most recently received his Mastership in the AGD in Anaheim this year. Dr.
Kosinski has been inducted into the American and International Colleges of
Dentists and the Academy of Dentistry International. Dr. Kosinski was selected
the Best Dentist in America by his peers in 2004-2005.
Women's Dental Issues Are Important Says Michigan Dentist
Timothy Kosinski
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