HPV increasingly causes oral cancer in men

The sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer in women is poised to become one of the leading causes of oral cancer in men, according to a new study.


"If current trends continue, within the next 10 years there may be more oral cancers in the United States caused by HPV than tobacco or alcohol,"

Oral Cancer Facts:
According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States alone. Over 300,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed every year, worldwide. This serious dental disease which pertains to the mouth, lips or throat is often highly curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages

Oral Cancer Signs & Symtoms:
Unfortunately, in its early stages, oral cancer can go unnoticed. Oral Cancer could look like a common ulcer, cold sore or a discoloration of tissue. Fortunately, your dentist can see or feel if a lesion looks cancerous. If you have any type of lesion in your mouth, or on your lips, that doesn’t heal within two weeks, or a difficulty in swallowing for a prolonged period of time, it is very important to see your dentist right away.


Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511

Giving up tobacco is the single most important thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you

Giving up tobacco is the single most important thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you. Even if you do not smoke in their presence, you exhale fine particles of tobacco that cause inflammation.

By quitting smoking, you’ll make yourself at least 5 years younger: fewer wrinkles, better orgasms, less days in the hospital and rehab with heart attacks and strokes. You’ll feel more energetic and save a boatload of money along the way. It will save your life; it will change your life.


Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511

The Mouth as a Marker for Disease

Is your mouth sending you a heads up about your health?
Added to Articles on Tue 09/29/2009
The eye might be a window to your soul, but the mouth is the door to disease. While it might be hard to make the connection between tooth loss and a heart attack, what goes on in your mouth can foreshadow many diseases.



Pocket Watch

One look inside the mouth will reveal that there are bacteria everywhere. For the most, part we cohabitate without a worry – but badly-behaving bacteria can collect in gum pockets to cause swelling, bleeding and bone loss that in turn can cause teeth to loosen and fall out.
People with gum disease (periodontal disease and gingivitis), may harbor up to 500 species of bacteria, and the proximity of that bacteria to the normally sterile bloodstream can be worrisome. Bacteria can enter small blood vessels, travel to other parts of the body and release toxins and trigger inflammatory chemicals that assault arteries and organs. Gum disease and tooth loss is now considered a harbinger for coronary artery disease, infective endocarditis, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, kidney disease and stroke. Periodontal bacteria have also been detected in the mouths and amniotic fluid of women who have experienced threatening premature labor, miscarriage and may contribute to low-birth weight.



Breath Tests

Breath can be telling too. More than 90% of the time bad breath (halitosis) emanates from bacteria living in gum pockets, under dentures and on the surface of the tongue. It is not only unpleasant to people close to you, but it may also be a clue to other medical conditions.
Oral cancers, lung cancer, certain leukemias and dry mouth syndromes such as Sjogren's syndrome can cause bacterial overgrowth that contribute to bad breath. And sometimes a systemic disease produces distinct chemical odors:

Sweet or fruity odor may indicate uncontrolled diabetes
Mousy ammonia odor may indicate liver disease
Urine-like fishy odor may indicate chronic kidney failure
And fecal odor may indicate intestinal blockage.
To find out if you have foul-smelling breath, ask a truthful friend, or lick your hand and smell the saliva.



Tongue Tip-off

Changes in the tongue can also be a tip-off to disease. A pale, smooth, flattened and sometimes tender tongue can point to iron or vitamin B12 deficiency, a hallmark of the common blood disorder, iron-deficiency anemia. People with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may notice tiny ulcers. If the tongue looks like a geographic map with areas of dark and light it may indicate an autoimmune disorder such as psoriasis or discoid lupus erythematosus. Recurrent episodes of white patches indicate thrush, an overgrowth of the yeast Candida, which may indicate diabetes. Strawberry red swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps is a symptom of Kawasaki disease.



Telling Teeth

Hairline cracks in the teeth can indicate tooth-grinding, the sleep disorder bruxism or mental stress. People with bulimia have enamel loss on their front teeth from the assault of stomach acid from repeated vomiting.



Keep Oral Traditions

Keeping up with a good program of oral hygiene and tending to dental and gum problems before they worsen is key to keeping mouths healthy. People with declining dexterity may need to make modifications that assure that good dental care continues. Electric toothbrushes, vibrating gum massagers and dental water jets can help. Routine dental visits are crucial, especially if you are planning to become pregnant or are facing a course of chemotherapy, which can reduce immunity against oral bacteria and cause mouth sores.

Here's some help for halitosis, guidance for gums and tips for tooth care.

Investigate any changes in your oral health
Brush in the morning, at night and after meals with a soft toothbrush or African chew stick
Use a tongue scraper along the length of the tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria
Use an antiseptic mouth rinse
Floss between teeth and inside the crease where the gum and tooth meet
Keep well hydrated and avoid mouth breathing
Don't smoke or be near someone smoking (that can cause smoker's breath too!)
Try chewing on neem leaves, green cardamom, cloves, parsley, guava peels and gum mastic for breath control
Visit the dentist regularly


Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511

10 Major Agers

COMMON HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS TO DITCH IN THE DUMPSTER
There may be products in our closets and cupboards right now that can shave years off our lives. They can penetrate our lungs, cause asthma and allergies, poison our liver, damage our hearts, and irritate our eyes and skin. Before Dr. Oz stages an intervention, grab a trashcan and recycle bin and go from room to room to eliminate these 10 age stealers. In many cases there are healthier alternatives you can use instead.

1. High Fructose Corn Syrup

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a type of sugar that has been processed and combined with corn syrup to produce a cheap, easily dissolvable sweetener. But this sugar is quickly absorbed by the liver where it is converted into fat. Since your brain doesn't recognize HFCS as regular food, it never shuts off the appetite center -- so you keep eating. Blood sugar levels rise, massive amounts of insulin is recruited to metabolize it and then you crash and feel hungry again. It is found in soft drinks, fruit juices, salad dressings and baked goods. Read the food labels of products in your pantry and refrigerator and throw out all products that contain HFCS.

2. Chlorine Bleach

Household bleach contains the chemical sodium hypochlorite and is used to whiten clothes and kill germs like mold, bacteria and virtues. It’s not good for the environment and not good for you; it is that it evaporates quickly to irritate your nose, eyes, throat, skin and lungs. Good non-toxic alternatives are baking soda, white vinegar or alcohol- and peroxide-based products.

3. Insecticides

Mosquitoes can be annoying and carry diseases. But keeping them at bay doesn't mean you need to drench you and your property in carcinogenic pesticides. Instead use a natural repellant that contains essential oils such as lemon eucalyptus and lavender. Burning citronella candles outdoors, staying indoors at high biting times, and removing still water where mosquitoes lay eggs is a healthier strategy.

4. Drinking Hard Alcohol

Not all alcoholic beverages are alike. Beer, wine, and spirits, sometimes referred to as hard alcohol, can be damaging when drunk in excess; they can damage the liver (cirrhosis), cause esophageal cancer, internal bleeding, heart failure, pancreatitis and gastritis. And some breast cancers can be fueled by alcohol. Although one glass of red wine a day can offer health benefits, spirits have a higher alcohol content and contain more synthetic chemicals and sugars.

5. Moth Balls

For generations it has been customary to sprinkle a few mothballs made of naphthalene in a box of sweaters to prevent moths from feasting on the fibers. Today, a better choice would be natural alternatives such as cedar chips and lavender sachets. Remember to clean clothes first then zip them up at the end of the season.

6. Air Fresheners and Fragrance Candles

Everyone likes their home to smell clean and fresh but synthetic fragrances that waif through the air can negatively affect the quality of indoor air, damage lung tissue and airways and irritate the eyes. Keep it real. If your house is clean it shouldn't smell.

7. Trans Fats

Trans fat is a type of unsaturated fat that is made saturated during a manufacturing process that adds a molecule of hydrogen. These hydrogentated oils raise bad cholesterol and lower good cholesterol and cause a host of cardiovascular diseases. They are slowly being removed from commercial recipes but products in your home may still contain them. Look in your cupboard and dump anything with hydrogenated oil on the label.

8. Toluene

Toluene, a solvent found in nail polish, paints and when petroleum-based paraffin candles are burned can cause nervous system damage. Naturally scented beeswax, soy or vegetable candles and natural alternatives to nail products are a better choice.

9. Detergents with NPE

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) are chemicals that help liquid substances such as oil and water mix. They are found in laundry detergents, shampoos, and cleaners. These chemicals can mimic the hormone estrogen to cause early menstruation, low sperm counts and poor reproductive health. Use natural cleansers and consider alternative cleaning tools such as the microfiber mops or steam cleaner that can reduce or eliminate the use of harsh chemicals.

10. Cigarette, pipe, and cigar products

All tobacco products produce harmful chemicals even after you have eliminated the smoker from the house. When you have stopped smoking give your house a clean makeover, washing all fabric curtains and upholstery and think about putting on a fresh coat of paint. Ban smoking in and near your home forever after.


Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511

How to Stop the Flu

The Flu germs can be waiting for you everywhere--in the air, on surfaces, where you least expect it. Follow these few steps to stop the spread of the flu.





Step 1

Disinfect any surface you daily touch-- your TV remote, your computer keyboard, counters, steering wheels, even toothbrushes can keep the flu germ alive for a few days. Purchase some disinfectant wipes and wipe off all surfaces, or just soak paper towels in something that has anti-bacterial product.

Step 2

Always wash your hands to avoid getting sick. Wash your hands before you eat. Wash your hands after using restroom and wash your hands after coughing of sneezing. The easiest way to stop the spread of germs is to wash your hands, use a paper towel to turn off faucet and use a paper towel to open the door.

Step 3

Get a flu shot if you are over 50, around children, or caregiver of someone chronically ill. This is a simple procedure that guarantees lessening of flu symptoms.

Step 4

After an outbreak of the flu, disinfect door knobs, faucet knobs, hand rails in bathrooms on stairs. Do not touch handrails in malls, door handles in stores and even shopping carts in grocery stores and retail stores.

Step 5

Always cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Avoid going to work when you are contagious. These are admonitions we have heard since grade school and still many children and adults disregard basic health advice.

Free WiFi

Bring your own laptop, iPod, iPhone, Blackberry or other WiFi enabled mobile device. Surf the web, check your email, download some tunes or catchup on YouTube... the choice is yours with our free wireless access.

MONITORING BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE DENTAL OFFICE-WHY?

This is a service we do for our patients free of charge. Why do we do this? Because we care about you and your health.
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a consistent reading of 120/80 or higher. Normal blood pressure is approximately 120/80. If you have a reading above 120/80 we will suggest you consult with your physician about your blood pressure. One quarter of the US population has high blood pressure yet show no obvious symptoms. This is why it is called the "silent killer". It is of world-wide epidemic proportions. The ADA recommends that any patient with a reading of 180/110 is the cutoff point for offering urgent treatment without medial consultation.
Blood Pressure
Classification SBP (mm HG) DBP (mm Hg)
Normal <120 and <80 Regular care;
Prehypertension 120-139 or 80-89 Advise pt of BP status; recommend lifestyle modifications
Stage 1 Hypertension 140-159 or 92-99 Regular care; recommend physician consult; stress reduction protocol
Stage 2 Hypertension > 160 or>100 Re-check BP in 5 min.s; non-invasive care only; definitive emergency care only if less than 180/110; refer to physician for immediate followup; stress reduction protocol
Hypertensive Crisis 220+ 120+ Re-check BP in 5 min.s; no dental therapy, routine or emergency, until elevated BP is corrected; manage emergency w/ antibiotics and/or analgesics; hospitalization and immediate BP reduction when signs & dx of organ damage are present; otherwise refer to physician for immediate followup #

Hypertension alone is the most important risk factor for heart failure. Hypertension is the leading cause of strokes, kidney failure and blindness. Having high blood pressure increases stroke risk four to six times!


If you have hypertension:
The best time to come for dental treatment if you have high blood pressure is in the afternoon. Thus afternoon appointment are recommended over mornings for this reason.
Your blood pressure will be taken at each visit. The best arm to use the monitor on is on the left arm.
Stress reduction protocol will be followed which includes: shorter appointments
good night's sleep before the appointment
avoiding caffeine before the appointment
eating a regular meal before the appointment
ample time allowed to get to your appointment
premed as needed
checked to make sure daily hypertensive medications were taken
raising dental chair slowly allowed to sit upright in dental chair for several minutes after procedure to avoid hypotension
Anxiety and stress associated with dental treatment typically causes a rise in blood pressure. Using of a sedative the night before treatment may help.
Also using nitrous oxide 10 minutes before treatment may reduce blood pressure to acceptable levels, allowing initiation of local anesthesia.

The most effective strategy that can aid to control hypertension and it's substantial decline is the ability to detect, evaluate and treat people early with accurate blood pressure measurements. So we offer this service to help you monitor your health because we value you.

Smile Video

 

Study: Brushing your teeth leads to healthier heart

German scientists presented a study yesterday in Vienna, Austria, that confirms a genetic link between gum disease and heart disease.

The association between periodontitis and coronary heart disease has been known for years, but a genetic link between the conditions hadn’t been confirmed.


Dr.Michael Mostofi
Aliso Viejo Dentist
www.HealthySmile360.com
949-831-5511

New Target In Fight Against Osteoporosis, Periodontitis Identified By Dental Researchers

In a paper published May 17 in the online edition of the journal Nature Medicine, Cun-Yu Wang, who holds UCLA's No-Hee Park Endowed Chair in the dental school's division of oral biology and medicine, and colleagues suggest that inhibiting nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), a master protein that controls genes associated with inflammation and immunity, can prevent disabling bone loss by maintaining bone formation.

The findings could offer new hope to millions who struggle with osteoporosis and periodontitis each year. The National Institutes of Health estimates that in the United States alone, more than 10 million people have osteoporosis, and many more have low bone mass, putting them at risk for the disease, as well as for broken bones. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, mild to moderate periodontitis affects a majority of adults, with between 5 and 20 percent of the population suffering from a more severe stage of the disease.

Study Finds a Possible Link Between Denture Cream and Imbalance

Thirty- four million Americans rely on dentures to replace their missing teeth. But a small number of denture wearers have had difficulty with balance and walking -- a medical mystery that some experts have linked to their denture creams

Esthetic and Biomimetic Restorative Dentistry

Our mission for the new year

What is Biomimetic Dentistry ?
Biomimetic Dentistry saves much more of your natural tooth than traditional dentistry. In fact, in traditional dentistry, many times healthy and sound tooth structure has to be removed to place a restoration--as in the placement of a traditional crown. The restorations placed Biomimetically do not require this additional removal of healthy tooth structure. They do, however, require a strict following of a prescribed protocol which insures that the restoration will be a success. That is why we call this technique "Tooth-Conserving" dentistry.
Biomimetic dentistry is an approach where modern technology and engineering attempt to mimic nature. In the case of teeth, that means taking into account the unique shape and color of each patient’s tooth structure, their face and their skin color — not just giving every mouth a set of “perfect” teeth. The result is light-years away from the Chiclet-capped smile of yesteryear. In "Tooth-Conserving" Dentistry, only the portion of the tooth that needs replaced or reinforced to guard from fracture gets treated. And, the tooth is restored in a way that virtually assures that the tooth will not suffer a catastrophic failure in the future. In other words, once restored in this way, the tooth will not hurt, break or need a root canal in the future.