By: Danielle Duncan The American Dental Association recommends that every adult and child be seen by their dentist every six to twelve months to keep their oral health in top-notch condition. However, a study completed in 2022 has shown that upwards of one in three Americans have not been to see their dentist since the start of 2020. Some may have not been seen for 10 years or more! But, did you know that skipping the trip to an annual dental exam can have consequences for your whole body health too?  Why do people skip the trip to their dentist?  There are two main reasons that patients may be jumping ship when it comes to attending their regular dental checkups

By: Danielle Duncan Pneumonia, a severe infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs in one or both lungs. As these air sacs fill with fluid or pus it can cause fever, chills, cough with phlegm or pus, and difficulty breathing. There are numerous different types of viruses, fungi, and bacteria that can cause pneumonia and the severity can range from a mild case to a life-threatening case.  Over 1 million Americans of every age have dealt with a pneumonia infection every year, but did you know that studies have shown that there may be a link between the risk of getting pneumonia and oral health?  People who avoid attending their annual dental checkups have an 86% higher risk of

By: Danielle Duncan There is nothing better than a happy dentist. Not only does following your dentist’s orders at home help prevent long, intensive care caused by ignoring your dental health, it can turn your visit to the dental office into something to look forward to, and it can help your whole body health too! Gingivitis, a word that everyone has heard their dentist say at least once or twice during their semi-annual dental checkups, is a common, mild form of gum disease that can cause irritation, swelling, and irritation of the gums. If left untreated, gingivitis can worsen and turn into periodontal disease (perio.) The most common cause of gingivitis is a poor oral hygiene routine that encourages the

By: Danielle Duncan Sleep, it improves brain performance, boosts your mood, and helps with whole body help. Unfortunately, an estimated 50 to 70 million American Adults have chronic, ongoing sleep disorders. Up to 80% of those are left untreated and undiagnosed, with only 20% of sleep disorder sufferers getting the treatment that they need and deserve.  But, why is it so hard for these patients to get the help they need? Unfortunately, many people are simply unaware that they have a sleep disorder, and may brush off bad sleep as normal due to chaotic schedules, stress, or other health issues.  Some of the most common forms of sleep disorder are insomnia, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), Circadian rhythm disorders, Parasomnia, Hypersomnia,

By: Danielle Duncan You’ve heard it a lot recently, dental professionals across the board are signaling the importance of oral health and the impact poor oral hygiene plays in not just mouth health, but whole body health. But, that doesn’t mean that patients are fully on board yet with just how important their daily routine and semi-annual checkups and cleanings are to the rest of their body.  Dental cleanings, a part of the regularly scheduled semi-annual visit to a dentist, is an essential part in  maintaining optimal oral health and overall function. During the semi-annual dental cleaning and exam, a dental hygienist will take the time to clean, floss, polish, and remove any hardened plaque, bacteria, and tartar. These dental

By: Danielle Duncan Dental sleep medicine, a new and foreign concept for many dental practitioners across the United States and beyond. But, what if we told you that implementing dental sleep medicine in your practice not only benefits your patients health, but your dental practice as well?  Approximately 1 in every 15 Americans, a whopping 6.62% of the total population, have sleep apnea. Upwards of 20% of American adults have sleep apnea, of which, 90% go undiagnosed and untreated. Untreated sleep apnea poses a huge risk to patients and can prevent appropriate treatment of patients for other ailments or disease.  When sleep apnea, including OSA (Obstructive sleep apnea) goes undiagnosed, it is linked to a wide array of health problems

By: Danielle Duncan Dental checkups, the semi-annual appointment that a lot of patients dread, but they don’t have to! While many patients will swear that they care about their health, they visit their primary care doctor annually and follow up with specialists when needed, but, there is one glaring hole in their whole body health routine, scheduling dental checkups and cleanings regularly.  Upwards of 30 to 30 million adult Americans avoid semi-annual or even annual trips to the dentist due to anxiety and over 4% of Americans are worried about the heavy burden of cost that comes with it due to an outdated method of billing dental insurance that doesn’t keep up with the needs of patients and their finances

By: Danielle Duncan Up to 10% of the United State’s population suffers with Alzheimers, and 70% of those people suffer from advanced gum disease. It is thought that dementia is a huge factor in the improper care and oral hygiene in older adults 65 and older. But, did you know that it is possible that gum disease may increase the chances of developing Alzheimers and dementia later on in life?   It was the researchers at the School of Dentistry, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), that first reported the link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s disease. After which, two new studies from the same school have demonstrated that they are further progressing in making a stronger connection between the mouth and

By: Danielle Duncan One in five is the number of adults in the United States that experience mental illness and 1 in 20 experience serious mental illness, while up to 17% of youth, ages 6 to 17 years of age experience mental health disorders. As we begin to take a closer look at how common mental illness is as a society, we can start to understand just how important it is to turn our focus on how to treat, manage, and maintain appropriate mental health care as a society, medical, and even dental professionals.  Did you know that mental health can also play a role in oral hygiene? As a dental professional, it is important to understand that oral health

By: Danielle Duncan With how busy we all are every day, it is easy to sacrifice a few hours of sleep for more productive time during the day. Whether you are neglecting your sleep schedule for a project deadline that is looming, to watch just one more episode of your favorite show, or to catch up on some housework that has been piling up, it seems that the common answer to needing more time during the day is to cut our sleep cycles short to the detriment of our body’s whole body health.  It’s a one time thing, you may be thinking, but it is a trap that we can all catch ourselves in if we aren’t more mindful of