How’s your Headache?

November 15, 2011

America’s 29 million migraine headache sufferers spend dizzying sums of money purchasing medication to treat their pain. Most are unaware that there is a new alternative to prescription drugs. Dentists all over the country are recommending a treatment for migraine (and other types) headaches using a dental mouthpiece referred to as “NTItss”. “NTI-tss” is an acronym for Nociceptive Triqeminal Inhibition- Tension Suppression System. The “NTI-tss Plus” is an FDA approved dentist provided mouthpiece for the treatment of migraine type” headaches. In clinical trials reviewed by the FDA, 82% of medically diagnosed migraine su¬ffers using the NTI-tss had a 77% average reduction of migraine attacks within the first eight weeks of use.

The NTI-tss works by reducing jaw clenching during sleep. It fits over the central teeth on the bottom arch of the mouth and keeps the molars and canines from touching. Many patients unconsciously clench and grind their teeth, mostly at night. For some, clenching serves as a catalyst for migraine inducing strain on the muscles in the head, face, and neck. To demonstrate how the NTI-tss works, touch the muscles of the temples while biting down on a pencil with the back teeth. The temporal muscles will bulge and intensely contract. Now bite down on a pencil with only the front teeth. Those same temporal muscles remain relaxed. This diminished clenching intensity prevents a hyperactive nerve response, and thus, prevents migraines and other clenching stress type headaches.

Often an appliance (“Night Guard”) that covers all of the upper (or sometimes lower) teeth is prescribed for clinchers and grinders. This type appliance usually works well if bruxing (grinding) is occurring in the absence of clenching. However, if clenching is occurring with or without bruxing, then headache symptoms along with tired muscles usually occur. This is because a “full coverage” appliance provides a good surface to clench against. By separating the black teeth the NTI-tss prevents the hyperactive muscle activity which leads to headaches and tired jaw muscles.

We have been using the NTI appliance at The Smile Design Center for several years and have seen it help patients who prior to using it relied heavily on both over the counter and prescription drugs to help get through the day.

The NTI appliance was developed by a dentist, Dr. James Boyd, to treat him for chronic daily headaches and frequent migraines he had su¬ffered for 12 years. If chronic headaches have been plaguing you, you might be a candidate for an NTI appliance.

Visit www.Nti-tss.com for more detailed information than we have been able to provide in this article.

 

October 14, 2011  -  Bad breath… Uggh!

 

Well how many times have you finished a great burger (with onions of course) or had a slice or two of awesome tasting garlic bread, and been told by your mate, girlfriend, boyfriend etc. that your breath, well… was a bit offensive.

 

Known scientifically as “halitosis” or oral malodor, bad breath is one of the most elusive conditions for which there seems to be few easy solutions, but nonetheless hope.

 

The primary constituents of bad breath are chemicals called volatile sulfur compounds (VSC), primarily hydrogen sulfide and methyl merceaptan. VSC’s are the byproducts of both human and bacterial cellular breakdown occurring in the “furrows” of the tongue, areas in the back of the throat, in the sinus cavities, and underneath the gum tissue in the presence of gum disease

 

The Level of Volatile Sulfur compounds that may be present and Thurs constitute how bad “bad” breath will likely be is a function of all of some combination of the following:

 

 

• Diet – garlic, onions, curry, strong cheese, etc.
• Infections – sinus, throat, (tonsils), gum disease
• Lack of good oral hygiene – brushing, flossing
• Lack of saliva production – saliva production slows significantly at night during sleep and is caused by various medications
• Various medical conditions like diabetes, some lung and liver disorders.

 

So what does one do?

Well, the obvious answer is to decide which of the above might be the culprit(s). Begin “checking off” all that might apply to you.

We will, of course, provide you with all the help, needed regarding dentally related factors.

It is worth monitoring, that there are occasions when one believes they have bad breath and it is apparent only to that person. Naturally, this presents a whole new set of issues for which we do not have the space to cover at this time.

In closing to eliminate/control any dental factors that may be involved, it is very important to…

• Get timely check-ups
• Develop a thorough home care routine that would include, (a) brushing the tongue as far back as you can tolerate and perhaps experimenting with a tongue scrapper, and flossing between all teeth at bedtime – (flossing tip) Since all floss is not “created equal” sometimes it has a tendency to slide through the tooth-to-tooth contact and while it may be removing plaque it may not actually pick up small particles of food debris hiding around the fum. So I tie a knot and gently dray the floss through after I do the “up and down” movement to remove plaque and volia? Our comes more stuff that if left would definitely pose a “bad breath” problem.

 

Gum Recession occurs when the gum tissue that is "attached" to the tooth moves further away from the tooth, exposing more tooth causing the tooth to appear larger.

One can have a perfectly healthy mouth and still experience gum recession.

Some Causes of Gum Recession:

All of these either alone or in some combination can lead to gun recession.

So what's so bad about gum recession? To list a few:

• More likely to develop tooth sensitivity.
• More likely to develop decay in the area where recession occurs.
  
• Bone loss from around the tooth - hence more likely to lose teeth.
  
• Affects appearance.

Treatment Options:

Several treatment techniques are used to treat gum recession. One involves the removal of tissue from the roof of the patient's mouth and using that to cover the area of recession. This technique extends healing time since it involves two separate surgical sites.

The technique most preferred in our office is to use only one surgical site by releasing the tissue that is still attached around the tooth - place a special kind of "artificial" gum tissue underneath the patient's tissue, then pull the loosened tissue down around the tooth and suture it down to cover the tooth.

Insurance?

Most dental insurance policies offer coverage for treating gum recession.

If you have noticed that you have developed gun recession, we will be happy to discuss the best approach to treating your particular situation.

Refer a Friend or Family Member:

We appreciate so very much all of you who refer your family, co-workers, and friends to us for their dental care. This is the single best compliment we could ever receive from our great patients!

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August 9, 2011 - Infection

Infection - Most infections we see in the office are either the result of tooth decay or gum disease and sometimes a combination of both. An interesting observation is that (unlike most infections we experience) antibiotics are usually ineffective as far as curing the dental infections.

The reason for this is that infections in the gums and teeth are generally chronic; that is there is a continuous "supply" of (bad) bacteria coming from inside the tooth or from plaque and tartar around the gums.

The solution for these infections must involve removing the plaque and tartar and/or removing the supply of bacteria inside the tooth (e.g. root canal, treatment) or removing the tooth. Additionally, numerous studies have shown that gum and tooth infections cause already existing heart problems as well as diabetes to become worse.

So the moral of this story is to avoid those unhealthy infections that lead to pain and tooth loss. And, of course, one avoids such calamities by getting those regular check-ups at your friendly Smile Design Center!

If you haven't had your "on time" check up please give us a call today. Also please refer a friend/family member. We appreciate so very much all of you who refer your family, co-workers, and friends to us for their dental care. This is the single best compliment we could ever receive from our great patients!