healthy smiles Archives - Eggert Family Dentistry Blog

The Impact of Healthy Childhood Habits on Airway and Oral Health

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

In many ways, the stage for lifelong health is set in childhood. Often overlooked amid the busyness of parenting, mouth-breathing can affect your child’s airway and oral health and affect their quality of life. As a parent, you are your child’s biggest advocate. That’s why we want to take some time to educate you on the topic of airway and oral health, including signs to watch for and what you can do if you suspect your child’s airway is compromised.

Contributing factors that affect airway and oral health

While it may be necessary during allergy season or when fighting a head cold, long-term mouth-breathing will result in airway issues or sleep-disordered breathing.

Certain malformations such as crooked, misaligned teeth, improper jaw alignment, a narrow palate, and abnormalities of the head or skull can also make nasal breathing difficult. Children who deal with these challenges often unknowingly default to mouth-breathing. Interestingly, sometimes it’s a matter of what comes first – the chicken or the egg, because in children who mouth breathe, their development will occur in a more vertical pattern, resulting in the malformations noted above. This also makes things more difficult the longer we wait for intervention.

When your child breathes through their nose, their body filters toxins and debris through the nose’s cilia. Nasal breathing also helps the body produce nitric oxide, which makes it easier for the lungs to absorb oxygen. Plus, nasal breathing warms and humidifies the air in the nasal cavity, keeping the tonsils and adenoids moist and healthy.

Mouth-breathing, on the other hand, dries out tonsils and adenoids, making them irritated and inflamed and exacerbating breathing issues. A dry airway is also more prone to collapsing, and will cause childhood sleep apnea.

Additionally, mouth-breathing deprives your child of oxygen by up to 20% and increases CO2 levels in their blood.

Over time, stressors resulting from mouth-breathing can even lead to hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, lung malfunction, and enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart.

How do I know if my child is a mouth-breather or dealing with an airway obstruction?

When a child is mouth-breathing, their mouth is drier and doesn’t have adequate saliva to protect their teeth and gums against damaging bacteria. The increased presence of bacteria often results in more plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease. Generally, if the lips are apart, breathing is occurring through the mouth instead of through the nose.

Some additional signs that your child may be mouth-breathing as opposed to nasal breathing include:Snoring
Poor speech
Halitosis
Dry lips
Bedwetting
Fatigue/dark circles under the eyes
Insomnia
Brain fog
Academic struggles
ADHD symptoms
Forward head posture (bent neck)
Sleeping with their neck extended

The role of healthy childhood habits on airway and oral health

Fortunately, as a parent, you’re not a helpless bystander when it comes to detecting airway issues in your child…or when it comes to helping prevent them. There are many healthy habits you can help your child develop that will decrease their risk.

If you notice your child mouth-breathing, encourage them to breathe through their nose instead. Sometimes, children continue to mouth-breathe long after a cold or allergies have subsided. Consider teaching your child relaxing nasal breathing techniques they can practice during the day and while they’re falling asleep at night. Always think “tongue up, lips sealed, breath goes in through the nose.”

Encourage your child to eat healthy and stay hydrated. Healthy food is an important part of keeping your child’s immune system strong. Proper hydration ensures adequate saliva production, which keeps your child’s oral biome healthy.

Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep. Just like healthy food, good sleep helps strengthen weak immune systems and keeps healthy immune systems strong!

Make sure your child stays active. Physical activity strengthens the respiratory system.

Encourage your child to brush and floss their teeth every day. It reduces the buildup of bacteria in your child’s mouth that could irritate their airways.

The importance of regular recare visits

Last but certainly not least, perhaps the most important thing you can do to help your child prevent airway issues and ensuing long-term health issues is to schedule regular recare visits at Eggert Family Dentistry! We recommend starting your child’s recare visits before their first birthday! Our recare visits are thorough! We go above and beyond simply looking for cavities and cleaning your child’s teeth. In addition to cavities, we look for various dental problems that can be linked to airway issues or sleep-disordered breathing. These dental problems include:

Bruxism
Functional tooth wear and fractures
Erosive tooth wear
TMD/myofascial pain
Malocclusion, especially anterior open bite and crossbite
Facial development
Periodontal disease
Abfractions
Impacted teeth
Orthodontic or orthognathic relapse

If Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert is suspicious your child is struggling with airway issues or sleep-disordered breathing, they may suggest a myobrace appliance, which is kind of like a mouthguard, to correct their bite and facilitate nasal breathing. In some cases, they will refer your child to an ENT.

Being proactive is key. When you partner with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert for your child’s dental care, they help your child grow up healthier and have an optimal quality of life. At Eggert Family Dentistry, we recognize that airway and oral health are critical for lifelong physical health and self-esteem and set your child up for academic and athletic success throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Call us today at 651.482.8412 to set up your child’s next recare visit in our office!

Want to learn more?

If you’re interested in the connection between dental problems and airway issues, we highly recommend these books:

Sleep Interrupted by Steven Park, MD
The Chronic Cough Enigma by Dr. Jamie Koufman
No More Allergies, Asthma or Sinus Infections by Dr. Lori Jones
Close Your Mouth by Patrick McKeown
The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick McKeown

“Say Cheese!” – Composite Bonding and Veneers – Grace and Abigail’s Stories

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

What happens when you are young, undergoing orthodontics, and there is what we call a “space/size discrepancy?” A “space/size discrepancy” is when teeth are narrower than the space your tongue and muscles need to function properly. When this occurs, it usually is best to allow your tongue to have the space, otherwise the teeth will move later and orthodontic relapse is guaranteed. What this means, however, is due to the narrow shape of the teeth, spaces between the teeth will be present. Luckily, Dr. Jeff Eggert and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert of North Oaks, MN have great solutions for this situation. Generally, we need to change the shape of the teeth with restorations and close these spaces. With young patients, due to expected changes in growth and development over time, we often recommend composite bonding, also known as composite veneers. This procedure allows for the perfect smile. This month, we share two patient stories – Grace and Abigail. Both of these lovely young ladies found themselves in this situation, with spaces between teeth after orthodontics due to a “space/size discrepancy.” With composite veneers done by Dr. Elizabeth, they now have the confidence they need when it’s time to “Say Cheese!”

How did this start? – Grace

Grace came to us already in the middle of her orthodontic treatment. She had been going to the pediatric clinic and her orthodontist, Dr. DeVoe, informed her and her family that she would have spaces present between her teeth after orthodontics. They were told that the pediatric dentist wasn’t prepared to handle this situation and through friends found Dr. Elizabeth. Her first appointment with Dr. Elizabeth was to verify her current status. Dr. Elizabeth suggested a few movement tweaks she wanted from Dr. DeVoe before the braces came off. Dr. Elizabeth then confirmed tooth positions and the braces were ready to come off.

What did she want?

Grace had spacing around her upper lateral incisors due to the narrow shape of her laterals. While spaces like this don’t have a negative impact on your oral health, they can affect confidence and speech. Grace wanted her teeth to be fuller and the spaces closed. She also noticed that her gum tissue was very thick and “bulbous” in the area of the spaces when the braces came off and she was hoping this could be fixed as well. Finally, Grace wondered about the color of her teeth, noting that she was hoping her teeth could be brighter.

What was involved?

The first thing to address was the gum tissue. Dr. Elizabeth suggested that Grace use a rubber-tip tool to stimulate her gums for a few weeks. The extra gum stimulation allowed Grace’s thick gum tissue to heal and shrink. Grace was dedicated to using her rubber-tip tool and the results were beautiful and healthy gum tissue. Alternatively, a laser procedure could have been done for the gum tissue, but this was not needed for Grace!

To help Grace and her family visualize the end result, Dr. Elizabeth did a mock-up of what restorations for the front four teeth would look like and she was able to simulate this scenario in Grace’s mouth before moving to final restorations. Dr. Elizabeth did a couple of simulations looking at what Grace’s tooth shape and size would be if restorations were only done for the lateral incisors vs having restorations placed on the front four teeth. Being able to share spacing with 4 teeth instead of only 2 allowed Dr. Elizabeth not only to create more natural tooth width proportions, but also allowed her to increase the length of Grace’s central incisors a little as well. Because Grace is still a teenager and will be moving into adulthood, Dr. Elizabeth recommended composite veneers at this time and discussed with her that she will likely want to move to porcelain veneers sometime in her life.

Grace started bleaching using over-the-counter white strips and shortly after the mock-up appointment, Grace and her mom returned for a two-hour procedure and in that short amount of time, Dr. Elizabeth bonded composite resin material to Graces front 4 teeth to change the tooth size and shape. Like the mock-up, the composite filled in the gaps as well as lengthened Grace’s central incisors.

What does Grace think?

Grace was very pleased with her results. “It went really well – and even better than I expected! It was really worth it. Also, it didn’t hurt at all!” Grace was able to undergo the procedure without getting numb so she was very excited not to have to get a “dredded shot.” Grace notes that she would tell her friends underoing a similar procedure not to worry at all, it goes really smoothly.

How did this start? – Abigail

Abigail’s parents have been long-time patients of Dr. Elizabeth, but Abigail didn’t become a patient until the fall of 2017 as she had been going to the pediatric clinic. She was interested in getting braces on and had questions about the gaps in her front teeth. Dr. Elizabeth referred Abigail to Dr. Wahl, another local orthodontist for a consultation. Abigail noted that she noticed herself clenching and grinding her teeth. She also had a history of some speech issues because she was born with a tight connection of her tongue to the floor of her mouth. This is also known as ankyloglossia, or tongue-tied. What does a tongue-tie do to your teeth? Most often, we see patients with untreated tongue and lip ties needing braces to properly align crowded, crooked teeth caused by a narrow palate. Since the tongue is held so tightly to the floor of the mouth, it often can’t rest at the roof of the mouth and development and speech are affected.

What did she want?

Even after orthodontics, Dr. Wahl was not able to close the spaces between Abigail’s front four teeth because of her “space/size discrepancy.” Abigail has undersized laterals as well as narrow central incisors and forward swallowing forces due to her tongue limitations. Abigail preferred to have the spaces closed, however, to help improve her esthetics. Orthodontics was able to improve her overall bite, as well as perfect the tooth positions before addressing the spacing with restorations. Improving her bite excited Abigail because she had a fair amount of jaw pain and occasionally she noticed that her jaw would lock up on her.

What was involved?

Once Dr. Wahl completed orthodontics, Dr. Elizabeth helped Abigail and her family visualize what was possible with restorations. Abigail and her parents weren’t sure they were ready to commit to 4 restorations, worrying about being conservative, as well as the overall investment. Abigail also noted that “having smaller teeth is part of my identity.” Dr. Elizabeth was concerned that by only addressing two teeth with restorations, that the lateral incisors would look wide and out-of-proportion. She was also worried that by doing no restorations, Abigail’s teeth would continue to move over time, shifting to positions out of ideal function. Dr. Elizabeth suspected that this would cause Abigail’s jaw pain and jaw locking to return. Therefore, Dr. Elizabeth waxed up and simulated both restoration options. She did a simulation for 2 teeth only on Abigail’s left side and a simulation for 4 teeth on Abigail’s right side. After some contemplation, Abigail and her family agreed that the spacing for only 2 restorations was not preferred and they agreed to complete 4 composite veneers. Composite (resin) veneers can be used to correct gapped, chipped, poorly shaped, and stained teeth. They can be created chairside and can often be placed in as little as one visit.

Abigail is known to breathe more through her mouth, this creates more plaque on the teeth, therefore, it is important to be especially diligent with brushing and flossing. Dr. Elizabeth reminded Abigail of this throughout treatment because this will also help her future restorations be more successful. The presence of plaque can lead to compromised esthetics, bonding, and overall outcome. Abigail also still had to work hard on her tongue position to help keep her teeth from moving. Abigail was great about doing tongue exercises with her speech therapist.

When she was ready, Abigail returned for a two-hour procedure and in that short amount of time, Dr. Elizabeth bonded composite resin material to Abigail’s front 4 teeth to change the tooth size and shape. Like the mock-up, the composite filled in Abigail’s spacing. Abigail did not do any bleaching before her composite veneer procedure, but she did want to go just slightly lighter with the shade for her restorations. Also, the decision to move to 4 composite veneers was made after Abigail’s orthodontics had already come off. If possible, Dr. Elizabeth would have liked a little more tooth movement to help Abigail’s central incisor gingival positions be more level.

What does Abigail think?

Abigail is very pleased with her results. She wasn’t really sure what she was getting herself into and was afraid that it was going to hurt. But, in the end, she says “I am glad I did it and I would recommend it, my bite feels so much better and I am glad the veneers can help it stay that way.” It’s so rewarding when we cannot only help people get out of pain, but when we can help create that winning smile while doing so!

Congratulations Grace and Abigail – you both look magnificent! Thank you for putting your trust in us! It’s always our pleasure to work with you!

“Invisalign Has Been Really Nice!” – Ashley’s Story

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Where did Ashley start?

Ashley came to Eggert Family Dentistry as a new patient in the fall of 2016 with pain in the areas of her wisdom teeth, also known as 3^rd molars. The panoramic image shown below shows the need to have her wisdom teeth extracted due to the impacted angle and their inability to erupt on their own. They were also putting a lot of pressure on her erupted second molars. With the impaction, Ashley’s teeth were also becoming more crowded, which she didn’t like. Dr. Jeff referred Ashley to an oral surgeon to have her wisdom teeth extracted and that took care of one problem.

Ashley was also experiencing tissue recession, mostly due to the crowding and current position of her teeth. One option Dr. Jeff discussed with Ashley was the possibility for gingival grafting (gum-tissue grafting). In a grafting procedure, tissue is added to the root surface to cover the root back up again and increase gingival height and thickness. For Ashley, this may have worked, however, due to her crowding, the ability for the graft to last a lifetime was very unlikely. Therefore, Dr. Jeff suggested Ashley consider orthodontically moving her teeth. Ashely was most interested in Invisalign and had read about it from our blogs, learning that we do that procedure here at Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert. Dr. Elizabeth met with Ashley and determined she would be a great candidate for Invisalign!

What was involved?

Ashley went through the “Invisalign Records Process.” At that time, we took impressions and photos of her teeth and sent them to Invisalign so they could create a 3D simulation of how her teeth could move with Invisalign treatment. Ashley was very happy with the simulation, which showed a significant improvement to her crowding.

During the Invisalign Records Process, Dr. Elizabeth also noted with Ashely a fair amount of muscle tension and while Ashley didn’t initially report having frequent headaches, throughout treatment, she noticed a difference in her tension and that she no longer was having headaches. It is amazing how people learn to live with what ails them, but how much better they can feel working their way to healthy!

Ashley’s case was expected to consist of 28 aligners that she would wear 22 hours a day. Ashley’s case called for a few “buttons,” which are attachments on the teeth. Basically, these small buttons allow the Invisalign aligners to grip onto your teeth more effectively (similar to a traditional orthodontic metal bracket). These attachments help move the teeth more effectively. Ashley was very compliant and consistent in wearing her aligners as instructed and was able to complete her case after the expected 28 aligners, needing no refinements!

What does Ashley think?

When we asked Ashley what she thought about the Invisalign process, she said her only thought is that it was more appealing than getting traditional braces. “It’s been really nice! It has reduced my headaches and that was the biggest thing, and it has reduced the crowding too.” She says that if she were discussing Invisalign with someone considering the treatment she would tell them, “It’s definitely worth it. Don’t get discouraged the first few weeks; it gets better. It may be uncomfortable at first, but it gets much better.”

We are so happy that we could help Ashley on her journey and fulfill our motto of providing “Dentistry for a Lifetime of Smiles!” Congratulations, Ashley on your wonderful results!

Scaling and Root Planing vs. a Regular Teeth Cleaning: What’s the Difference?

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

During a routine recare visit, you may have felt the dental hygienist using instruments to remove plaque and calculus from your teeth and wondered if they were performing a periodontal scaling and root planing procedure. The answer is no — periodontal scaling and root planing and a “regular” professional teeth cleaning are very different from each other.

Our patients come in for regular recare appointments as recommended, usually every 3 or 6 months. Your recommended interval may be different from your neighbor’s. During these recare appointments, our marvelous hygienists remove plaque and tartar build-up on the surfaces of the teeth. But, when our patients have signs or symptoms of gum disease (periodontitis), they often need a more detailed and deep cleaning called periodontal scaling and root planing.

Let’s take a deeper look at what you can expect from a routine teeth cleaning vs. a scaling and root planing procedure.

Professional Recare and Teeth Cleaning

What’s Involved?

During a routine teeth cleaning, a dental hygienist will remove any plaque and tartar from your teeth. Once the tartar and plaque are cleared away, your teeth will be cleaned and polished with a highly defined polishing toothpaste, and flossed. Additionally, x-rays may be taken if needed and Dr. Jeff Eggert or Dr. Elizabeth Eggert will complete a thorough dental exam looking for signs of common oral health issues, like gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth decay, bruxism (teeth grinding), and oral cancer. They’ll discuss your results with you, and recommend any follow-up appointments you might need. Regular recare visits and teeth cleanings are usually about an hour in length for an adult and can be completed within one appointment.

Benefits of Routine Teeth Cleaning:

Helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy by removing plaque and tartar.
Reduces the likelihood of developing tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
Improves the appearance of your teeth by removing stains caused by coffee, tea, tobacco, soda, etc.
Allows us to monitor your oral health and identify any potential issues early on.

Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing

What’s Involved?

Periodontal scaling and root planing is a procedure that is commonly used to treat gum disease. While the goal of this procedures is to remove plaque and tartar just like a regular dental cleaning, this procedure allows for therapy much deeper on the root surface to attack any lurking bacteria.

During Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing, dental curettes and scalers, specialized instruments, remove all the plaque and tartar from above and below the gumline, all the way down to the bottom of the pocket. A topical or local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area so that no discomfort is felt during treatment. At times, it is also helpful to use high powered water irrigating instruments like the Cavitron to smooth out the roots of your teeth to help your gums reattach to your teeth. Depending on the severity of your infection, the time needed for these procedures can vary. It is common to complete treatment on one half of the mouth per session.

Benefits of Scaling and Root Planing:

Helps to control the progression of gum disease by removing the source of infection.
Reduces gum inflammation and promotes healing of the gum tissue.
Helps reduce the depth of periodontal pockets, which are spaces that form between the teeth and gums due to gum disease.
Prevents tooth loss and maintains overall oral health.

Schedule Your Routine Dental Cleaning Today!

Both regular teeth cleanings and scaling and root planing have their unique purposes and benefits, so be sure to consult with Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert for personalized oral care recommendations. When you come into Eggert Family Dentistry for a routine dental cleaning, we will be able to conduct an oral exam and recommend the appropriate procedures based on your unique oral health needs. Remember, regular dental recare visits and good oral hygiene habits are essential for a healthy smile! Call us at 651-482-8412 to book an appointment today!

Vaping: What Every Parent and Teen Should Know

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Most teenagers are averse to the taste and smell of cigarettes, and we’ve seen a sharp decline in cigarette use among teens in recent decades (it’s helped that smoking cigarettes has fallen “out of style”). However, the lure of smoking is still just as strong as it was in the 20th century – it just looks a little different.

E-cigarettes or “vapes” are electronic devices that heat nicotine and disperse it as an aerosol. There is no smoke or tobacco involved, so many teenagers have been led to believe that vaping isn’t as bad for you.

Regardless of whether or not they realize it, the #1 problem of vaping is still the exact same as smoking: Nicotine is one of the most addictive chemicals on the planet.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, our patient’s health and well-being are our top priority, and we are here to support you in any way we can. Here’s what you and your teenager need to know about vaping.

Who’s Vaping and Why?

A 2022 study released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported current e-cigarette use in 2022. That number represents 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students.

Students vape because of three main reasons:

Many teens believe vaping is less harmful than smoking.
E-cigarettes have a lower per-use cost than traditional cigarettes.
Youths and adults find the lack of smoke appealing. With no smell, e-cigarettes reduce some of the stigma of smoking.

It’s true that vaping is thought to be less harmful to the lungs than inhaling smoke, however, research is still being done and due to all the chemicals involved with e-cigarettes, the evidence isn’t clear. However, if this is the reason your teen cites to defend their vaping addiction, tell them that it’s also true that knives are less harmful than guns. That said, we still wouldn’t want to be faced with either.

Additionally, nicotine as an aerosol comes with its own serious health risks — not only does the vapor contain a known pesticide, but there are hundreds of chemicals present in aerosols that have yet to be identified. We don’t yet know all the side effects and risks.

Side Effects and Dangers of Vaping

What we know for sure is that E-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals such as:

Formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer.
Acrolein which is used as a weed killer and can cause irreversible lung damage.
Flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.
Volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which is found in car exhaust.
Heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.
Nicotine, which is highly addictive and damaging to the brain.

Just like smoking, there are two sets of side effects when it comes to vaping. One category of side effects has to do with the physical act of inhaling chemicals/vapor into the lungs (vaping). The other category has to do with becoming a nicotine addict.

Side Effects of Vaping:

Because vaping is relatively new, researchers don’t yet know all the effects vaping can have on your body. What we do know, though, is alarming enough:

Difficulty Breathing: The particles you inhale while vaping can cause inflammation (swelling) and irritation in your lungs, making it harder to catch your breath.
Asthma: Vaping can make you more likely to get asthma and other lung conditions. It can also make your existing asthma worse.
Lung Scarring: Diacetyl, a chemical used in some flavorings, can cause bronchiolitis obliterans (“popcorn lung”). Bronchiolitis obliterans causes permanent scarring in your lungs. That means that even if someone quits vaping, the negative effects of it will be with them for the rest of their lives.

Side Effects of Being a Nicotine Addict:

Any addictive substance is going to cause harm, but nicotine addiction can be especially harmful.

Nicotine Dependency: When you start vaping, it only takes a few days of consistent use before your brain starts to rely on the presence of nicotine in order to feel normal. Without a constant supply, nicotine addicts go into withdrawal and feel anxious, stressed, unsettled, irritable, and fidgety.
Inability to Focus: Nicotine is the one of the most addictive chemicals on the planet because it enters and leaves your system quickly, which is why smokers and vapers feel the need to smoke/vape every 20 minutes or so. This makes it noticeably more difficult to focus for prolonged periods of time. Whether you’re writing an essay, taking a test, drawing a picture, relaxing with friends, or watching a movie, so long as you are still vaping, your addiction will always make you feel the need to vape.
Increased Anxiety: The popular belief is that smoking and vaping can calm you down. Researchers know that the exact opposite is true: Nicotine spikes your heart rate and blood pressure, which is directly responsible for increasing anxiety.
Other Mood Disorders: Several studies have also found that nicotine addiction during adolescence is also associated with a higher risk of developing mental and behavioral problems during adulthood, including: major depressive disorder, agoraphobia, and panic disorder.

How Vaping Affects Your Oral Health

Nicotine, whether smoked or vaped, restricts blood flow to the gums, which can contribute to gum disease. The fluid in e-cigarettes only increases the risks. Other ways that nicotine and aerosol can harm your oral health include:

Dry mouth: Nicotine in e-liquid inhibits saliva production which leads to dry mouth. When your mouth is dry, it’s a perfect habitat for bacteria which can lead to tooth decay.

Damage to soft tissue/enamel: Propylene glycol is used as a carrier ingredient in e-liquid, propylene glycol has toxic effects on soft tissue and enamel. Additionally, e-liquid flavorings when added to vegetable glycerin cause a 27% decrease in the hardness and integrity of tooth enamel.

Receding Gums: Continued nicotine exposure causes reduced blood flow which can cause gum tissue to die and recede, exposing more of the tooth.

Tooth Decay/Loss: Exposed gums leads to tooth sensitivity, an increase in cavities, and in some cases, tooth loss.

The Bottom Line

Even if you believe your child would never use e-cigarettes or vapes, it’s important to talk to your teenager about vaping. Even those teens who manage to avoid peer pressure are still going to be exposed to vaping at some point in their lives. It’s important to make sure your child is prepared with the right information to make the correct decision.

Questions About Vaping and Your Oral Health?

Vaping poses significant risks to your oral and overall health. If you or a loved one are struggling to quit vaping or have any concerns about its effects on your oral health, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Eggert Family Dentistry. Dr. Jeff Eggert and Dr. Elizabeth Eggert are committed to providing comprehensive dental care to our patients and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Give us a call at 651-482-8412 to schedule an appointment today, or to learn more about how we can help you and your teen maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.

Quitting Smoking: Health Effects of Smoking and Cessation Resources

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Smoking is a dangerous habit that can have severe effects on both your overall health and oral health. This is something that research has proven time and time again — and it’s something that the majority of smokers already know.

However, many people are still unaware of the sheer range of problems that smoking can cause. In this blog, we’re taking a look at these health problems, as well as addressing how and why smokers can quit.

While we believe it’s important to inform our patients, we also understand that frightening health facts don’t often help smokers quit. So, if you are considering quitting smoking, but are still on the fence, we encourage you to skip the health section for now, and simply scroll down to our “Why Quit” section, where we discuss the reasons smokers believe they need to smoke. At the end of this article, we also provide you with a list of resources to help you get started on your quitting journey.

Effects of Smoking on Your Overall Health:

When people think of the negative effects of smoking, most people think of the big one: lung cancer. However, because smoking affects nearly every part of the body, it can be the culprit behind a laundry list of illnesses. According to the Center for Disease Control, for every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness. Let’s take a deeper look at what smoking does to the body:

Difficulty Breathing:

Smoking causes a range of respiratory problems. When you inhale cigarette smoke, it irritates your airways and causes inflammation, which can make it difficult to breathe. This leads to chronic coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Over time, smoking often leads to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and lung cancer.

Increased Anxiety and Depression:

Smoking can also have negative effects on your mental health. Studies have shown that smokers are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than non-smokers. Nicotine acts as a stimulant, increasing feelings of anxiety, while withdrawal symptoms lead to feelings of depression.

Increased Risk of Heart Attack:

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attack. The chemicals in tobacco smoke damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. In fact, smokers are twice as likely to have a heart attack as non-smokers.

Oxygen Deprivation of All Muscles:

When you smoke, the nicotine in tobacco causes your blood vessels to narrow, which restricts blood flow and oxygen to your body. This leads to oxygen deprivation in every single muscle of the body, which causes chronic fatigue, poor wound healing, and peripheral artery disease.

Effects of Smoking on Your Oral Health:

Yellowed Teeth:

One of the most visible effects of smoking on your oral health is yellowed teeth. The tar and nicotine in tobacco smoke will stain your teeth, giving them a yellow or brownish hue. This staining is usually unsightly and difficult to remove.

Dry Mouth:

Smoking also causes dry mouth, which occurs when there is a decrease in the production of saliva. Saliva plays an important role in keeping your mouth healthy by washing away food particles and neutralizing acids produced by bacteria. When you have a dry mouth, you are more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.

Receding Gums:

Smoking can also lead to receding gums, which is when the gum tissue around your teeth pulls back, exposing the roots of your teeth. This can cause tooth sensitivity, as well as an increased risk of tooth decay and tooth loss.

Increased Cavities and Tooth Loss:

Smoking also increases your risk of cavities and tooth loss. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the enamel on your teeth, making them more susceptible to decay. Additionally, smoking can lead to gum disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss.

Oral Cancer:

Some of the chemicals contained in tobacco smoke and chewing tobacco are carcinogenic, meaning they cause genetic changes in cells of the mouth cavity and cause oral cancer. Regular dentist visits are a must if you’re worried about developing oral cancer, as Dr. Jeff Eggert or Dr. Elizabeth Eggert can provide thorough oral cancer screenings as a part of our proactive approach to dentistry.

In conclusion, smoking has a range of negative effects on your overall health and oral health. Quitting smoking is the best way to reduce your risk of developing these health problems and improve your overall well-being.

Why Quit?

Every smoker knows they should quit for the detrimental health risks. And yet every smoker wants to continue smoking. So, before we talk about quitting, it’s important that we first address why smokers smoke in the first place — or why they believe they have to smoke.

Smokers usually cite a number of reasons for why they smoke, including:

Stress: Smokers believe that smoking relieves stress or calms them down.
Boredom: Smokers believe that they smoke because they are bored.
Concentration: Smokers believe that smoking helps them concentrate.

Because they hold these beliefs about what smoking does for them, smokers are under the impression that quitting smoking would rob them of these supposed “benefits” of smoking. The wonderful truth is, smoking does none of these things for you.

Smoking doesn’t calm you down. In fact, it does quite the opposite. Nicotine is a known stimulant that raises your heart rate and blood pressure, causing increased stress and anxiety in both the short and long-term.

Smoking doesn’t relieve boredom. When smokers are bored, it’s true that they often light a cigarette. However, smoking cigarettes itself isn’t exciting. If you weren’t a smoker, chances are you’d find something else to do that would be significantly more entertaining than inhaling cigarette smoke for seven minutes.

Smoking doesn’t help you concentrate. Research confirms that smoking is terrible for your concentration. Having a nicotine addiction – or any addiction, for that matter – is incredibly distracting, and makes it much more difficult to concentrate on day-to-day tasks.

So, to the question “Why quit?” We answer:

To be free of nicotine addiction.
To experience a vastly improved bill of health.
And because smoking does nothing for you in the first place. You have nothing to lose!

Resources to Help You Get Started with Quitting Smoking

Allan Carr’s “EasyWay To Stop Smoking”: Developed by a former chainsmoker, this smoking cessation technique uses a combination of logic and psychology to break down all the reasons why smokers believe they need to smoke, and then explodes each myth one by one. (For example, our points in the above section were taken from Allan Carr’s work.) Carr’s method is available in print, as an audiobook, or in-person as a seminar.

National Cancer Institute Quitline: The National Cancer Institute provides a free smoking cessation hotline where people can receive counseling and support to quit smoking. The Quitline can be reached at 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848).

Smokefree.gov: Smokefree.gov is a website created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides a range of resources to help people quit smoking, including a step-by-step quit guide, mobile apps, and text message support.

American Lung Association: The American Lung Association offers a range of resources to help people quit smoking, including online tools, support groups, and a free quit smoking helpline at 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872).

Your healthcare provider: Your healthcare provider can provide guidance on quitting smoking and may be able to prescribe medications or recommend other treatments to help you quit smoking.

Community resources: Many communities have resources to help people quit smoking, including local support groups, smoking cessation programs, and community health clinics. Check with your local health department or community center to find out what resources are available in your area.

Lean on The Experts at Eggert Family Dentistry

The negative health effects of smoking are vast and far-reaching, impacting both overall health and oral health. However, quitting smoking is the single most important step you can take to improve your health and wellbeing. If you or someone you know is struggling with smoking cessation, there are many resources available to help you on your journey.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we are committed to helping our patients achieve optimal oral health. If you have questions or need assistance with smoking cessation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 651-482-8412. Our team is here to support you on your journey to a healthier, smoke-free life!

Smoking Marijuana: 6 Oral Health Effects You Should Know

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Marijuana (AKA cannabis) is commonly used for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Just like other recreational drugs, such as alcohol, it’s important for patients to be aware of the potential negative health effects associated with the use of marijuana. With all the buzz lately about legalizing marijuana in Minnesota, we thought this topic very timely.

Because the majority marijuana users ingest it by smoking, one’s oral health can be significantly impacted by marijuana use. According to research, the negative oral health side-effects of smoking marijuana include:

Dry mouth, which can lead to a number of other oral health conditions.
Cavities and tooth decay because of appetite stimulation associated with use.
Gum disease has been linked to frequent marijuana use.
Oral Candidiasis (thrush) which causes redness, white plaque, and soreness inside the mouth.
Yellow teeth are a common side effect of smoking, whether it’s cannabis or tobacco.
Risk of oral cancer is increased in regular marijuana smokers.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, one of our top priorities is to educate our patients about their oral health. Here’s an in-depth look at the oral health effects of marijuana use.

1. Dry Mouth

Also known as xerostomia, smoking marijuana can cause dry mouth by decreasing the production of saliva. Saliva acts as a natural cleanser for your mouth, carrying antimicrobial agents that kill disease-causing bacteria. Without it, bacteria are allowed to flourish in the mouth, leading to a higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

2. Cavities

While dry mouth makes you more likely to experience tooth decay, appetite stimulation that marijuana users experience can also lead to an increased presence of cavities. Many cannabis users report that their consumption of high-sugar foods increases during cannabis use. This, in combination with a lack of saliva, creates the perfect environment for cavities to develop.

3. Gum Inflammation/Gum Disease

Any kind of smoke, marijuana or not, has the potential to irritate and inflame the gum tissue. Inflammation and irritation can contribute to gum disease, which is a serious oral health problem that causes tooth loss and other health complications. Gum disease can also be caused by the proliferation of bacteria that’s caused by dry mouth. It cannot be cured and requires regular treatment to manage.

4. Oral Candidiasis

Commonly known as Thrush, oral candidiasis is a fungal infection in the mouth caused by an increased production of yeast colonies. These colonies are normally present in the mouth, but the effects of cannabis in combination with poor oral hygiene can promote overgrowth. This results in redness, excess white plaque, and soreness inside the mouth.

5. Yellowed Teeth

Just like cigarette smoke, marijuana smoke contains tar and other chemicals that can adhere to the surface of the teeth, causing them to become discolored and yellow. A regular marijuana smoker may notice that these stains are difficult to remove with regular brushing and flossing. Patients may need professional whitening treatments to remove stains from marijuana smoke.

6. Oral Cancer

The link between oral cancer and marijuana smoke is still being debated and researched today. However, it has been reported that a synergistic effect between tobacco and cannabis smoke may increase oral and neck cancer risk for people who smoke both (that includes cigars that have been hollowed out and filled with cannabis).

Questions? Call Eggert Family Dentistry

Just like it’s important to be aware of the negative health effects of alcohol, so too must one be aware of the negative health effects of marijuana. If you’re a regular smoker, it is important to practice good oral hygiene and visit Eggert Family Dentistry regularly so that we can monitor your oral health. If you have questions about the oral health effects of marijuana smoking, or would like to make an appointment to have your oral health evaluated, please call us at 651-482-8412. We look forward to helping you take care of your oral health!

How Mandibular Advancement Appliances Can Improve Oral Health

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

When you’re diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), your doctor may first prescribe CPAP therapy — you know, the face or nose mask attached to a machine that you have to wear at night. However, while CPAP therapy is extremely effective, many people can’t tolerate sleeping with it on every single night.

That’s why oral sleep appliances -– also known as mandibular advancement appliances — are also used to treat sleep apnea. In fact, they have an 80% compliance rate over the CPAP’s 40%.

We fit mandibular advancement appliances at Eggert Family Dentistry and have been able to help many people with OSA improve their sleep, oral health, and overall quality of life.

What is a Mandibular Advancement Appliance?

A mandibular advancement appliance (MAA) is a device that can be custom-fitted to a person’s mouth, and works by temporarily moving the jaw and tongue forward. This adjustment reduces throat constriction and opens up the airways, effectively preventing snoring and sleep apnea.

Benefits of Using a Mandibular Advancement Appliance

You probably already know that sleep apnea causes a myriad of health issues, most notably cardiovascular problems. But did you know that your sleep apnea also wreaks havoc on your dental health? People with sleep apnea also are more likely to experience TMD, bruxism, and dry mouth. Luckily MAAs can reduce and relieve each of these symptoms.

1. Relief from Tooth Grinding and Clenching

Many people who suffer from sleep-disordered breathing also grind their teeth or clench their jaw during sleep. This can lead to a host of dental problems, including tooth sensitivity, worn-down enamel, and even tooth fractures. MAAs can help alleviate these issues by positioning the lower jaw in a more forward position, which reduces the likelihood of grinding or clenching. The thought is that since the body can breathe better, the jaw doesn’t have to move around, trying to find the best position for air exchange.

2. Reducing Dry Mouth

People with OSA often sleep with their mouth open in an attempt to get more oxygen, which leads to dry mouth. Because saliva plays an important role in reducing the amount of plaque on your teeth, dry mouth can cause or accelerate tooth decay. Using an MAA will open up the airway and improve breathing, which will reduce the need to breathe through the mouth during sleep. This will reduce all dry mouth symptoms and keep tooth decay under better control by maintaining the proper amount of saliva in your mouth.

3. Reducing the Risk of Gum Disease

Gum disease is a common oral health problem that can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. People with sleep-disordered breathing are at an increased risk of developing gum disease, as the reduced oxygen flow to the gums can make them more susceptible to infection. By improving breathing and oxygen flow, MAAs can help reduce the risk of gum disease and promote overall oral health.

4. Improving Overall Sleep Quality and Quality of Life

Finally, the most important benefit of using an MAA is improved sleep quality, which can have a positive impact on your quality of life in general. Poor sleep quality has been linked to a range of health problems, and by improving breathing and reducing sleep disturbances, MAAs can help promote your overall health and wellbeing.

Want Better Sleep, Healthier Teeth, and a Higher Quality of Life?

If you have sleep apnea and would like to be fitted for a mandibular advancement appliance, Dr. Jeff Eggert or Dr. Elizabeth Eggert can help! After hearing from your medical doctor and doing an assessment of your bite, we can custom-design your device by taking impressions or digital scans of your mouth. Once the device is ready, we’ll ask you to come into our office for a fitting so we can make sure it’s comfortable and effective. Contact us or call us at 651-482-8412 today to schedule your mandibular advancement device consultation!

Sleep Apnea Treatments: Mandibular Advancement Appliances vs. Traditional CPAP Therapy

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that affects 18 million people around the world. It is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, which can lead to snoring, daytime sleepiness, and other health problems.

There are several treatment options available for sleep apnea, but two of the most popular are Mandibular Advancement Appliances (MAAs) and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy. While both of these treatments can be effective, they work in different ways and have different benefits.

Let’s explore the differences between MAAs and CPAP therapy and help you determine which treatment option may be best for your individual needs.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

First, let’s take a look at all of the treatment options that patients are given when first diagnosed with OSA:

Lifestyle changes: Losing weight, quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and sleeping on your side may be recommended to improve sleep apnea symptoms.
Oral appliance therapy: This involves wearing a mouthguard-like device (like an MAA) that helps to reposition the tongue and jaw to keep the airway open during sleep.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy: CPAP therapy involves wearing a mask at night that is attached to a machine. This machine delivers air pressure to keep the airway open during sleep.
Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be recommended to remove excess tissue in the throat or to reposition the jaw.

You and your doctor will be able to review your unique situation to determine which of these solutions is right for you.

While lifestyle changes can treat more mild cases of sleep apnea, they won’t be able to completely relieve symptoms of more severe cases. On the opposite end of the spectrum is surgery: this sleep apnea treatment is usually saved for the most severe cases of OSA.

The middle ground, then, is where Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy and Mandibular Advancement Appliances (MAAs) lie. These are the most popular treatment options among people with sleep apnea. While both treatments can be effective treatment options, they work in different ways and have different benefits.

Benefits of CPAP Therapy

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is:

Highly effective: CPAP therapy is considered the most effective non-surgical treatment option for sleep apnea.
Produces immediate results: CPAP therapy can provide immediate relief from symptoms of sleep apnea, such as snoring and daytime sleepiness.
Can be used for any level of sleep apnea: CPAP therapy can be used to treat all levels of sleep apnea, from mild to severe.
Helps improve overall health: CPAP therapy can help improve blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, and improve overall quality of life.

However, because of the cumbersome nature of the CPAP machine, many people have a difficult time sticking to it over an extended period of time. It’s also difficult to travel with so many people don’t use their CPAP machine during vacations or trips.

Benefits of Mandibular Advancement Appliances

While CPAP therapy is extremely effective, many people can’t tolerate sleeping with the discomfort of the face or nose mask night after night. That’s where Mandibular Advancement Appliances (MAAs) come in: MAAs have an 80% compliance rate over the CPAP’s 40% compliance rate.

In addition to being easier to stick to as a treatment modality, Mandibular Advancement Appliances are:

Comfortable: MAAs are often more comfortable to wear than CPAP masks, as they are custom-made to fit the patient’s mouth.
Portable: MAAs are small and easy to travel with, making them a convenient treatment option.
Non-invasive: MAAs do not require surgery and can be easily adjusted by Dr. Jeff Eggert or Dr. Elizabeth Eggert.
Effective for mild to moderate sleep apnea: MAAs are often recommended for individuals with mild to moderate sleep apnea who are unable to tolerate CPAP therapy.

Ultimately, the best treatment option for sleep apnea will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Your doctor can help determine the most appropriate treatment option based on the severity of your condition, medical history, and other factors.

Think You Could Benefit from a Mandibular Advancement Appliance?

At Eggert Family Dentistry, we custom-fit mandibular advancement devices for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea or other Sleep Related Breathing Disorders. Call us today at 651-482-8412 to schedule a consultation during which Dr. Jeff Eggert or Dr. Elizabeth Eggert can discuss this treatment option with you and answer any questions you may have. Once we’ve decided an MAA is right for you, we can custom-design your device and then calibrate the finished product to make sure it’s comfortable and effective. Contact us to schedule your appointment today!

Treating Sleep-Disordered Breathing: 4 Benefits of the Seattle Protocol

By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert

Some patients who come to us with chronic dental problems also present airway patency issues. Simply put, airway patency is the ability of a person to breathe, with airflow passing to and from the respiratory system through the oral and nasal passages.

When a person experiences difficulty breathing, especially at night, this can 1) negatively affect one’s oral health, and 2) continue to damage the teeth even after restorative dental procedures have been completed.

So, what does that mean for patients of Eggert Family Dentistry? It means that before beginning any restorative dental treatment, we need to identify and address these airway patency issues using a process called the Seattle Protocol.

The Seattle Protocol

The Seattle Protocol is a six-step process that helps patients with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing and other conditions determine whether a compromised airway is contributing to their ailments.

Each of the six steps builds upon the last to open the airway as much as possible, but patients don’t necessarily need to complete the entire process to identify the solution. The purpose of the protocol is to determine which step provides the patient the most relief of symptoms.

Here is a brief description of the six steps of the Seattle Protocol:

Nose Breathing and Mouth Taping: During this stage, you will gently train your body to breathe through your nose, not your mouth.
Temporary Splint for Lower Jaw and Mouth Taping: Once you’ve adjusted to the mouth taping, the second step of the protocol adds a temporary splint for your lower jaw while you sleep.
Temporary Splint for Lower Jaw with Lower Jaw Pulled Forward and Mouth Taping: If adding the lower splint only isn’t giving you the restful sleep you deserve, we add an element that pulls your lower jaw forward.
Temporary Splint for Lower and Upper Jaw with Mouth Taping: If you aren’t getting relief from the previous step, we remove the forward jaw posturing component and add a splint for your upper jaw.
Temporary Splint for Lower and Upper Jaw with Lower Jaw Pulled Forward and Mouth Taping: If you need to continue in the protocol, step five again adds a horizontal component by linking the upper and lower splints together and moving the lower jaw forward.
Temporary Splint for Lower and Upper Jaw with Lower Jaw Progressively Pulled Forward and Mouth Taping: If you still aren’t getting that good night’s sleep, we move to the final stage of the Seattle Protocol. In this stage, we keep moving your lower jaw forward, incrementally, until you feel well-rested.

As we said before, the goal of the Seattle Protocol is to open the airways as much as possible so that your breathing is no longer restricted. You can find a full description of each of the six steps here.

The Benefits of the Seattle Protocol

The main benefit of the Seattle Protocol is to determine a good position to help control your sleep-disordered breathing. However, the Seattle Protocol also comes with a host of other positive benefits for our patients.

Improved safety: The Seattle Protocol prioritizes patient safety by allowing us to take a systematic and collaborative approach to airway management. By following a standardized protocol, Dr. Jeff Eggert or Dr. Elizabeth Eggert can identify and address airway issues quickly and effectively, minimizing the risk of complications during dental procedures. It is also completely reversible so there are no long-term ill-effects.

Increased comfort: The Seattle Protocol takes a gradual and gentle approach to airway management to maximize patient comfort by introducing interventions slowly and adjusting them as needed. More importantly, when the Seattle Protocol is successful, our patients can finally enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep!

Better outcomes: By identifying and addressing airway issues before beginning any dental restorations, the Seattle Protocol ensures that our patients can maintain their new smiles for as long as possible, without any complications. This will not only help our patients recover more quickly but also ensure that they get the most out of their financial investment.

Personalized care: The Seattle Protocol is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the individual needs of each patient. By tailoring interventions to each patient’s unique situation, we can provide the solution that’s right for you.

At Eggert Family Dentistry, the Seattle Protocol assists us in treating our patients with airway patency issues or sleep-disordered breathing. The systematic steps allow us to both address the problem and identify the solution so our patients can receive the best possible care during dental procedures, and achieve the best possible outcomes afterward!

Real Results: Tom’s Story

One of our patients, Tom, came to us with excessive wear, erosion, and many fractured teeth. Tom needed to reconstruct his mouth and we did that in phases, however, during the process we ran into a few complications:

The force of Tom’s bite was so strong that he broke many temporary crowns. Dr. Elizabeth Eggert wanted to get down to the bottom of why Tom’s body would do this because even new crowns wouldn’t survive in such a harsh environment.

Given Tom’s other symptoms, including difficulty breathing through his nose, dry mouth, and the use of a CPAP machine, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert recommended Tom complete the Seattle Protocol to help address his airway patency.

After completing five of the six steps of the Seattle Protocol, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert fabricated a sleep appliance for Tom to continue to improve his airway patency, reduce his bruxism and help him sleep better. After just a month of using his sleep appliance, Tom experienced less clenching, jaw pain, and an overall improvement in his sleep!

Think You Could Benefit from the Seattle Protocol?

If you, too, are experiencing airway patency issues or sleep-disordered breathing, call our office today to schedule a consultation. At Eggert Family Dentistry, Dr. Jeff Eggert or Dr. Elizabeth Eggert will be able to collaborate with you on finding a solution to your unique situation. If you think you could benefit from the Seattle Protocol, contact us or call us at 651-482-8412 for a consultation today!