We all have heard the reasons for wearing a mask or not wearing a mask, however are you aware of the oral side effects from wearing a mask for an extended time? 

When wearing a mask, the dryness in your mouth increases which makes your mouth a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses to grow. This dryness, which prevents your saliva from doing its job as a protective barrier can also lead to other problems in the mouth such as:

Increase in Tooth Decay- without saliva to bathe the teeth there is a higher risk of getting cavities.

Gingivitis, or Inflamed Gums- an increase in bacteria in the mouth sends your immune system into action, which may cause inflammation.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep condition that causes the muscles in your throat to relax repeatedly during sleep. This blocks your air passage and interrupts breathing. This may happen every time a person stops breathing, which can occur up to 120 times per hour. This disruption in breathing takes a great toll on the body and OSA can be a serious sleep disorder.

The Risks of Sleep Apnea

Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea increases your risk of cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes. Loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep and waking up gasping or choking are common symptoms of the condition. 

Not everyone with sleep apnea snores and vice versa, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. You may be able to ascertain the difference simply based on how you feel during the day. Snoring on its own may not be disruptive enough to cause you to have restless sleep, as it does not normally awaken the sufferer. That means you simply won’t be as tired during the day. But there are other signs of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and if you experience any of these please get it checked out.

More Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA) is pleased to welcome holistic & biological dentist Stephen Jaeger, D.M.D., to the Holistic Dental Team.

Holistic or biological dentistry focuses on the whole person, not just the mouth, as the health of the mouth, teeth and gums affect the body. As a mercury-free dentist, Dr. Jaeger promotes safe,  effective treatments and uses dental materials that are non-toxic and bio-compatible so that there is little impact to the rest of the body. This dental approach is good for the overall health and wellness of the patient. 

Meet Stephen Jaeger, DMD

When should I call the dentist? 

At Holistic Family Dentistry at National Integrated Health Associates, we get this question all the time, so we thought it would be a good idea to tell you what constitutes a “dental emergency.”

Emergency Dental Services in Washington, D.C.

Toothache: Call your dentist as soon as possible.

Loose or knocked out tooth: If you have a tooth that is loose or out of alignment, you should call your dentist for an emergency appointment right away. A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that requires urgent attention.

Broken, chipped or cracked tooth: If a tooth is chipped and doesn’t hurt, this usually does not constitute a dental emergency and you may be able to wait a few days to see a dentist, but call immediately. However, it is important to be careful while chewing so as not to chip it more. A cracked or fractured tooth is a serious issue constituting a dental emergency; call your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment.

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is the major cause of tooth loss.

The foundation of biological dentistry is to promote a healthy mouth. When the mouth is in a healthy state the gums are pink and attached to the roots.  The roots are strong and completely surrounded by bone.  There is no inflammation and rarely is there bleeding; imagine a sturdy new fence post that has just been placed in the ground.   If you are following a daily regimen that involves brushing and plaque removal from the area around and in between the teeth there is a good chance that your mouth is in a healthy state.

However, if you notice swollen gums or bleeding gums, that may be a sign that the mouth is not healthy. Dental plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that can build up if left untreated. Plaque can produce toxins that can cause bleeding, inflammation and eventual bone loss.  If left untreated the gum tissue and bone can break down- and now that fence post is loose, making you vulnerable to tooth loss and serious periodontal disease.

Over a year ago, the Biological Dental Group at NIHA embarked on new dimension in dental services: the same day dental crown/onlay.

The technology and advantages to our patients and the quality control has been nothing short of fantastic.

For the first time, dentists can have total control over the quality of the lab work for the restoration process. That means precision in the design of the crown to the under 10 micron level. This level of precision has not been achievable in the past by dental lab transfer or the old way of making crowns and onlays.

More importantly, the whole process is done on site while the patient waits, and the result is a durable, high quality and attractive ceramic crown.

What's in your Mouth?

There are over 500 species of microorganisms in your mouth!
Most of them are harmless, but some can cause gum disease and tooth decay, and also increase your potential for systemic infections by entering your bloodstream.

At Holistic Family Dentistry we use a microscope because it is a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, but extremely effective tool to evaluate the health of your mouth and to educate you in good preventive techniques.

This video gives a good illustration of what may be seen in the mouth: