Ice cream, you scream but why does our brain scream???

Now that the warm weather is finally showing itself in Michigan, we will all be cooling off with our favorite frozen treats. But why can that be so painful in our heads?  Brain freeze, ice cream headaches or the medical term, Sphenopalatine Ganglioneuralgia (say that three times fast!) are caused by eating our cold treats quickly.  

Click on the links below to learn more and how to prevent this from happening.

http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingsworkfaqs/f/how-brain-freeze-works.htm

http://m.wikihow.com/Stop-Brain-Freeze

Remember to have your summer cleaning scheduled with us at our Kalamazoo office if you plan to treat yourself to those cold goodies! Enjoy your summer!

One of Dr. Allen's WMU rugby players earned a $10,000 scholarship!

Here's the article from the Western Herald:

International Student Athlete Earns $10,000 Scholarship

westernherald.com/sports/international-student-athlete-earns-10000-scholarship/

Frank Konieczki Sports Reporter

On October 30th, international-student-athlete Simbarashe Michael Chirara received the Greenleaf Trust Scholarship in Finance, which earned him the amount of $10,000 per year.

After applying for the scholarship earlier this year, Simba, as his rugby coaches and teammates call him, got the opportunity to proceed to the interview portion of the application process, which determined whether or not he would be awarded for his scholarly achievements. The award requirements were majoring in finance while maintaining a 2.5+ GPA.

Born and raised Harare, Zimbabwe, Simba had a dream like most kids in Africa to one day study in the United States, but didn’t have the financial resources to do so.

“My desire was to get a quality education in finance in the US and later become a financial guru,” Simba said.

His opportunity came with rugby. Simba represented his nation of Zimbabwe at the youth level and was beginning to get noticed by scouts when he started communicating with Western Michigan rugby coach, Dr. Mark Allen.

Through the scholarship, Simba was able to land an internship with Greenleaf Trust, which will continue until he graduates in the spring of 2015. When Simba is not interning at the Greenleaf Trust, he is playing second row and flanker for the WMU rugby club team.

“I believe I bring some experience, different style of play and positivity to the team.” Simba said of his role is on the Rugby squad.

“When we recruited Simba to come to WMU, I knew we would be getting a very experienced, intelligent, athletically gifted young man that would help take our program to the next level,” Coach Mark Allen said. “His positive attitude and strong core values have made him a good role model for our younger student-athletes.”

Simbarashe Michael Chirara is a prime example of why WMU prides itself on their international programs. Hailing all the way from Zimbabwe, Simba’s road to Western Michigan University has been anything but a smooth and easy journey.

The Greenleaf Trust Scholarship in Finance shows Simba the breadth of his accomplishments have not gone unnoticed and that his hard work and determination is finally starting to pay off.

As for the WMU Rugby team, they are ranked 41st in the country with a 4-2 record going into the MAC championship this weekend in Elkhart, Indiana, which will be held at the Moose Rugby Grounds on Nov. 8th and 9th.

The winner of the MAC championship will go on to the ACRC Bowl Championship in Charlotte, N.C. from November 21st to 23rd.

Your Tongue & Keeping it Clean

Did you know the tongue is made up of 8 muscles? 

The top surface is mucous membrane lined with papillae which are responsible for our taste and texture of food. It is important to keep your tongue clean removing bacteria and food particles.

A Tongue Scraper is an effective way to achieve cleanliness of the tongue. When using a tongue scraper you start at the back of the tongue and pull the scraper forward. This removes excess plaque and odor causing bacteria.

The next time you're in our Kalamazoo office, ask us how this could benefit you!

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12028/5-reasons-why-everyone-needs-a-tongue-scraper.html

Radiation from dental x-rays

With recent publicity about radiation from dental x-rays, we've had questions about the safety of dental x-rays.  The following information is intended to help you make an informed decision about your health. 

Why are x-rays needed?

During a standard dental exam, the dentist is able to examine only visible surfaces of the teeth and soft tissue.  X-rays allow the dentist to see small cavities that are developing in between the teeth.  Once these areas have become visible in the mouth, the tooth may already be to the point where it needs a crown, root canal, or may even need to be extracted.  Routine x-rays allow us to diagnose small cavities and stop them before they become bigger and more costly problems.  Additionally, x-rays allow the dentist to examine the mandible and maxilla for any unusual growths or abnormalities.  While cancer and tumors of the jaw are rare, the prognosis is always better the earlier they are treated. 

The amount of radiation that people receive is measured in millisieverts (mSv).  The following are typical radiation doses.

6.2 mSv/year = the average level of radiation per person in the US (this amounts to 0.017 mSv per day)
500 mSv/year = the safe allowable dose for people that are exposed to radiation in their work
0.0001 mSv = radiation received from 2 hours in a jet plane
0.7 mSv/year = radiation received from living in a brick house
0.10 mSv/year = radiation received from cooking with natural gas
0.02 mSv/year = radiation received from sleeping next to someone else (humans give off radiation)
0.36 mSv/year = radiation received from smoking one pack of cigarettes a day
0.42 mSv/year = radiation received from a breast mammogram (per breast)
7 mSv = radiation from an abdominal x-ray
0.63 mSv/year = radiation from living in the Colorado Plateau area
0.005 mSv = one dental x-ray

The amount of radiation that a patient receives during dental x-rays is very small when compared to other sources of radiation in every day life.  In addition, our office uses modern digital x-rays.  The amount of radiation received from a digital x-ray can decrease up to another 80% compared to standard film x-rays.  That means that while a standard x-ray gives off 0.005 mSv, a digital x-ray can give off as little as 0.001 mSv. 

Our office takes multiple types of x-rays.  The effective doses are:

Panoramic x-ray = 0.02 mSv
3D x-ray upper jaw = 0.019 mSv
3D x-ray lower jaw = 0.04 mSv
Maxillary posterior = 0.0098 mSv
Maxillary anterior = 0.0053 mSv
Mandibular posterior = 0.0383 mSv
Mandibular anterior = 0.021 mSv
Posterior bitewing = 0.0228 mSv

As always, your safety is our top priority.  We use digital radiographs and ensure our patients are draped with a lead apron.  If you have any questions or concerns about the x-rays we prescribe, please talk to your dentist or hygienist.  To learn more about our practice, please visit us online at www.kalamazoodds.com. 

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

If you suffer from dry mouth, you are not alone.  Millions of Americans suffer from xerostomia, or the subjective perception of dry mouth. 

Causes include medications (including those used to treat depression, anxiety, allergies, high blood pressure, asthma, muscle relaxants, sedatives), systemic diseases (Sjogren's, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma), radiation therapy, dehydration, mouth-breathing habits, smoking, and chewing tobacco. 

Symptoms of xerostomia include the obvious dry, sticky feeling in the mouth and throat, but can also include difficulty eating and swallowing or wearing dentures, as well as changes in taste or burning/tingling sensations in the mouth.  People suffering from dry mouth often have sores in the mouth, a dry tongue, and cracks on the corners of the mouth.  There is an increased risk of susceptibility to oral candida, as well as decalcification of enamel, acid erosion, and gingival inflammation. 

So what can you do if you suffer from dry mouth?

Because xerostomia can cause substantial oral problems, it is best to talk with your dentist or hygienist as soon as you notice symptoms of a dry mouth.  Early recognition allows us to personalize a treatment protocol for you.  A dry mouth increases the risk for tooth decay, periodontal disease, and candida (yeast) infections.  For this reason, we must make an extra effort to protect the teeth and oral tissues.  We may prescribe oral rinses, fluoride trays, or saliva-stimulating medications.  We can instruct on the proper tools and techniques for home care.  Patients with dry mouth will want to avoid alcohol, caffeine, acidic beverages, or products that may irritate oral tissues (including whitening products).  A humidifier at home can often help, and in some cases, the physician can prescribe an alternative medication with less drying side-effects. 

If you have questions about xerostomia or believe you are suffering from it and would like to speak with a dentist, please visit our website www.kalamazoodds.com and use the "Contact Us" page to schedule an appointment. 

Canker Sore Relief

 

Are you one of the millions of Americans who suffers from recurrent apthous ulcerations (i.e. canker sores)?  If so, we've compiled some information you may find helpful.  

Canker sores are one of the most common oral pathoses.  The prevalence in the general population has been reported to vary from 5% to 66%.  Canker sores are triggered by a variety of causative agents, and there appear to be different triggers for different people.   The following have all been reported to be responsible for canker sores: 

• allergies
• genetic predisposition
• nutritional deficiencies
• hematologic abnormalities
• hormonal influences
• infectious agents
• trauma
• stress
• systemic disorders (such as celiac disease, cyclic neutropenia, reiter's disease, behcet's syndrome)

Although no single agent is responsible for triggering canker sores, the damage it causes on the oral mucosa is a T-cell mediated immunologic reaction.

As if one variation of canker sores wasn't more than enough, there are actually three.  They are Minor, Major, and Herpetiform. 

Minor apthous ulcerations represent the form found in up to 80% of those affected.  Patients with minor apthous ulcerations have the fewest recurrences and the lesions exhibit the shortest duration.  The canker sores are typically 3-10mm in diameter and heal without scarring in 7-14 days.  Anywhere from 1 to 5 lesions may be present during each episode.  The most commonly involved sites are the buccal and labial mucosa (inside the cheek and lip), the underside of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and soft palate.  Females are more affected than males.

Major apthous ulcerations occur in about 10% of those affected.  They are larger (1-3 cm) and have the longest duration per episode (2-6 weeks).  They may cause scarring.  Any oral surface may be affected, but the labial mucosa, soft palate, and tonsillar area are most common sites. 

Herpetiform apthous ulcerations have the greatest number of lesions and the most frequent recurrences.  The lesions are small (1-3 mm in diameter), but there may be clusters of up to 100 in a single recurrence.  The ulcerations heal within 7-10 days but the recurrences are often closely spaced. 

So what can you do about these little sores that bring a lot of pain?  If you suffer from frequent recurrences, it is important that your medical history is reviewed for any signs and symptoms of a system disorder that may be associated with canker-like ulcerations.  Unfortunately, there is no medicine that will eliminate a canker sore on the spot.  For minor sores, a topical therapy can be provided to minimize the discomfort for the 7-14 days they take to heal. Major apthous ulcerations are more resistant to therapy and often warrant a more potent corticosteroid.  Laser ablation has been proposed, as it may shorten the duration of the sore and decrease symptoms.  It is often of limited practical benefit, however, since patients cannot return with each canker sore recurrence. 

If you suffer from frequent canker sores and would like to be evaluated by a dentist, feel free to contact us via our website www.kalamazoodds.com  

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

 

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month.  We have compiled some important facts and figures about oral cancer that we hope you will find useful.  But let us start with a recent article published in the March 2013 Consumer Reports Magazine that we do not find useful.  The article is titled, “Save your Life: Cancer Screening is Oversold.  Know the Tests to Get—and Those to Skip.”  Quotes from the article include:

• “screening tests can sometimes do more harm than good.”
• many practitioners are “overselling cancer tests”
•  
• “oral cancer screening is one of the several medical tests that are overrecommended and unnecessary for all but high-risk patients.”
• “most people shouldn’t waste their time on most diagnostic tests, including chairside visual screenings for oral cancer"
•  
• “Most people don’t need the test unless they are at high risk, because the cancer is relatively uncommon.”

 

There are several problems with this in terms of oral cancer screenings.  Let's address each in turn:

• “screening tests can sometimes do more harm than good.”  The reality is that there is no harm whatsoever in an oral cancer screening. 
• many practitioners are “overselling cancer tests”  Oral cancer screenings are often free, or included in the cost of a typical dental exam.
•  
• “oral cancer screening is one of the several medical tests that are overrecommended and unnecessary for all but high-risk patients.”  The reality is that we no longer know who the "high-risk" patients are.  Historically, smokers and heavy alcohol drinkers were our "high-risk" patients. Today, the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population are young, healthy, non-smokers.  This is due to the skyrocketing increase in HPV-related cancer (see below for HPV facts)
• “most people shouldn’t waste their time on most diagnostic tests, including chairside visual screenings for oral cancer"  You are already sitting in the dental chair having an exam.  An oral cancer screening is not a separate appointment.
•  
• “Most people don’t need the test unless they are at high risk, because the cancer is relatively uncommon.”  Again, we no longer know who our "high-risk" patients are.  As far as being "relatively uncommon," the fact is that one person every hour of every day will die from oral cancer. 

 



 

Keep reading for oral cancer facts:

 



Prevalence

According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 42, 000 new cases of cancer in the oral cavity and pharynx will be diagnosed in 2013. 

Oral cancer will claim 8000 deaths in 2013.

 

Risk Factors

Alcohol and tobacco (using them in combination results in 15 times the risk of using one or the other)

Exposure to the human papilloma virus version 16 (HPV 16), which is now the leading cause of oral cancer in the U.S.

An estimated 25% of cancer patients have no known risk factors

Almost twice as many men as women will be affected by oral cancer

Historically, oral cancer has been a disease of those over 40, but the fastest growing segment of the oral cancer population is young, healthy, non-smokers due to the connection with HPV

Prolonged exposure to sun or tanning beds increases the risk for lip cancer

Users of smokeless tobacco face a 40% greater risk of oral cancer than non-users

 

 Possible Signs and Symptoms

Sore on the lip or in the mouth that doesn’t heal

Lump or thickening on the lip or gums or in the mouth

White or red patch on the lips, tongue, gums, tonsils, or lining of the mouth

Bleeding, pain, or numbness on the lip or in the mouth

Change in voice

Loose teeth, dentures that no longer fit

Trouble chewing or swallowing, or a feeling that there’s a lump in the throat

Persistent hoarseness or sore throat

HPV

HPV is the fasted growing sexually transmitted infection

At least 50% of sexually active people will acquire HPV at some point in their lives

99% of those with HPV infections clear the virus through the normal immune response with little or no apparent symptoms (1% will develop cancer)

HPV-oropharyngeal cancer has been tied with oral sex, but the virus (when active) may be passed on with kissing

HPV has accounted for a 225% increase in oropharyngeal cancer since 1988

HPV-16, the same strain that is responsible for the majority of cervical cancer, is responsible for up to 95% of orphayngeal cancer. 

By 2020, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer will outnumber HPV-related cervical cancer.

 

Early Detection

See your dentist for an oral examination at least annually

The earlier the detection, the greater the likelihood of a cure

Here's the reality of an oral cancer screening: It is not invasive. It is visual and tactile only. It is painless. It is free. You are already in the dental chair. The awkward few minutes of allowing us to look in the back of your throat, feel under your tongue, and examine your cheeks and tongue are out of our belief that early detection DOES save lives. 

 
 

For more information on our oral cancer exam, please click here

For information on the Velscope, one of the adjunctive diagnosic tools our office uses in oral cancer screenings, please click here

 

During the month of April, we are offering free oral cancer screenings.  Please contact us if you would like to schedule an exam.

 

 

If you would like to learn more about oral cancer, please check out mouthhealthy.org, the ADA's consumer website.