Formula For Dental Health

Combining proper dental care at home with visiting your dentist regularly, is a good formula for great dental health. So what are the best steps to follow to ensure you are properly caring for your teeth?

Here are some things you can do regulary to care for you teeth:

- Use dental products that have the ADA (American Dental Association) logo. These products, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss will be safe to use as directed and will help keep your mouth healthy.

- Spend at least three minutes brushing your teeth, at least two times a day. Using a timer may be helpful to ensure that you're brushing your teeth long enough.

- Use floss at least once a day every day to clean between your teeth, especially after meals.

- Use mouthwash daily to help reduce the quality and quantity of plaque in your mouth

- See your dentist twice a year for complete dental exams

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Kurz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
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Dentists Can Help Screen For Chronic Illnesses

Almost 20 million Americans visit a dentist annually, but not a general healthcare physician, according to an NYU study published in the American Journal of Public Health.

So what does this finding mean to researchers? Dentists can potentially play a crucial role as health care practitioners by identifying systemic diseases which would otherwise go undetected in a significant portion of the U.S. population.

"For these and other individuals, dental professionals are in a key position to assess and detect oral signs and symptoms of systemic health disorders that may otherwise go unnoticed, and to refer patients for follow-up care," said Dr. Shiela Strauss, an associate professor of nursing at the NYU College of Nursing and co-director of the statistics and data management core for NYU's Colleges of Nursing and Dentistry.

During the process of a standard dental examination, dentists and dental hygienists, as trained healthcare providers, could take a patient's health history, check blood pressure, and use direct clinical observation and X-rays to detect risk for systemic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

If dentists began to assist in these types of basic screenings, it could make a significant impact in proper treatment, early detection and prevention for many chronic illnesses. If you are in need of a dental exam, contact Kurz Family Dentistry in Dacula, GA.

The Best Dacula Dentist... Contact Us Today To Learn Even More
Kurz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
P: 770-904-6088 E: Smiles@KurzFamilyDentistry.com
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How Often Do You Need To Visit The Dentist?

In general, most children and adults should visit their dentist every six months for a regular cleaning and dental check up. If you are at greater risk for oral diseases, you should have dental check ups more than twice a year. Some of the factors you may want to consider when deciding how often to go to the dentist are tobacco use,alcohol consumption, diabetes, pregnancy, as well as periodontal and gum disease.

Having regular dental exams will help to keep your gums and teeth healthy and protected. It will also help detect any early problems such as gum disease, oral cancer and cavities. The best way to maintain great oral health is to find a quality local dentist and visit them at least twice a year for regular check ups.

The Best Dacula Dentist... Contact Us Today To Learn Even More
Kurz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
P: 770-904-6088 E: Smiles@KurzFamilyDentistry.com
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Link Between Healthy Weight & Healthy Gums

This recent Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine study found that the human body is better at fighting off gum disease when fat cells, which trigger inflammation, are absent.

Inflammation that continues to worsen can have harmful effects over time. Inflammation from gum disease can erode bone and lead to tooth loss. It can also cause openings in the gums which can allow harmful oral bacteria to enter the blood stream. Having this type of bacteria in the body have been linked to preterm birth, fetal death, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis, according to Nabil Bissada, chair of the Dept. of Periodontics at Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine.

There are a couple of varying hypothesis about the cause of the correlation, but having a healthy weight is a good thing no matter what. Here at Kurz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry we care for you teeth and gums to ensure they are healthy.

The Best Dacula Dentist... Contact Us Today To Learn Even More
Kurz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
P: 770-904-6088 E: Smiles@KurzFamilyDentistry.com
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Link Between Mouth Bacteria and Pancreatic Cancer

A small study was published in the journal GUT suggesting that certain types of mouth bacteria, some of which are found in gum disease, are linked to pancreatic cancer.

The authors explain that the findings could pave the way for new treatment approaches for pancreatic cancer, which is one of the hardest cancers to detect and treat. Pancreatic cancer usually spreads quickly. Typically only one in twenty patients survive longer than five years after their diagnosis.

The researchers conducted a study in which they compared bacteria found in the saliva of 10 pancreatic cancer patients whose cancer had not yet spread with 10 healthy people. The participants were matched for age and sex.

As of yet, it is not clear if the presence of specific bacteria types are the cause or effect of pancreatic cancer. Although, the findings are supported by earlier research, which showed that bacteria have an impact in the development of pancreatic diseases.

The researchers conclude that levels of particular types of bacteria can potentially be utilized as a non-invasive and legitimate screening method for pancreatic cancer. They hope that it could be a possible early detection method for a disease that displays no clear symptoms in its early stages.

This is just another one of the mainy reasons that good oral health, regular dental visits and gum disease prevention is so important. Visit Kurz Family Dentistry in Dacula for quality dental services.

The Best Dacula Dentist... Contact Us Today To Learn Even More
Kurz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
P: 770-904-6088 E: Smiles@KurzFamilyDentistry.com
Visit Us Online At www.KurzFamilyDentistry.com

5 Myths About Root Canals

Many people avoid visits to the dentist and certain dental procedures because they are anticipating discomfort and pain. Root canals are on the top of many patients lists. Here are some of the top myths about root canals.

1. Root Canals Are Painful
According to the American Association of Endodontists, the idea that root canals always hurt started decades ago. Back then root canal treatments were indeed quite painful. As dental technology and methodology advanced, root canals are now usually no more painful than getting a filling. The decrease in pain is mainly due to modern technology and better anesthetics.

2. Root Canals Require Numerous Visits Back to the Dentist
Modern dental technology allows most root canals to be completed within 1 or 2 appointments.

3. Root Canals Lead To Illness
There’s no substantiated scientific evidence that show root canals cause illness. However, there is evidence to support the fact that people who have had root canals are no more at risk for developing illness than people who have never had one.

4. The Roots of the Tooth Are Removed During A Root Canal
Roots are not removed during a root canal. Your dentist or endodontist only removes the pulp from inside of the tooth.

5. The Tooth Will Come Out Eventually After A Root Canal
Your tooth can last a lifetime after a root canal. The main factors impacting the life of the tooth are having the tooth properly restored, maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly for exams and x-rays.

The Best Dacula Dentist... Contact Us Today To Learn Even More
Kurz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
P: 770-904-6088 E: Smiles@KurzFamilyDentistry.com
Visit Us Online At www.KurzFamilyDentistry.com

Cavity Causing Bacterium Attacking the Heart

Scientists have discovered the means that bacteria, normally found in our mouths, use to attack heart tissue. This invasion can cause a dangerous, even deadly, heart infection known as endocarditis. In light of this, there now exists the possibility of creating a screening tool, possibly a cheek swab or a saliva test that can gauge a dental patient's vulnerability to the condition.

The identification of the protein that allows Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) to enter the heart tissue is reported in the June issue of Infection and Immunity by microbiologists at the University of Rochester Medical Center. S. mutans is a bacterium best known for causing cavities, residing in dental plaque and thriving in our oral cavities. Then they produce acid that erode our teeth.

Typically, S. mutans only create oral problems and confine themselves to the mouth. Still there are occasions, especially after a dental procedure or even after fervent flossing, the bacteria enter the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, they are usually destroyed by the immune system, but sometimes they travel to the heart and colonize its tissue, especially heart valves. The colonized bacteria can then cause endocarditis, inflaming the heart valves. This condition can be fatal . Infection by S. mutans is a leading cause of that heart condition.

Abranches and her team at the University's Center for Oral Biology discovered that a collagen-binding protein known as CNM gives S. mutans the ability to penetrate the heart tissue. In laboratory experiments they found that strains with CNM are able to attack heart cells, while strains without CNM were not.

These discoveries may eventually allow doctors to prevent S. mutans from invading heart tissue altogether . Even sooner, the knowledge gained may enable doctors to discern a patient’s particular vulnerability to a heart infection caused by the bacteria based on whether CNM is present or not.


The Best Dacula Dentist... Contact Us Today To Learn Even More
Kurz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
P: 770-904-6088 E: Smiles@KurzFamilyDentistry.com
Visit Us Online At www.KurzFamilyDentistry.com