Not Happy? Try Smiling More

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Selfie Smile GirlsAre you under the impression that smiling is an involuntary physical response to feeling happy? This would make sense. What if you reversed the equation, however? Believe it or not, the act of smiling can give you a release of endorphins in the brain that is similar to eating chocolate. So, instead of sinking deeper into feeling blue, Encinitas periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, wants you to consider smiling more when life gets you down.

Fascinating Smile Studies

There have been many university studies on the power of smiles to predict the future successes and well-being of individuals. Here are a few:

  • Researchers at Wayne State University compiled baseball cards to find out how the qualities in each player’s smile related to their longevity. Better, happier, healthier smiles correlated with longer lives.
  • At UC Berkeley, yearbook photos were the focus for tracking the health, success, and quality of life reported by previous students. The more wide and natural a smile was on a graduate, the more success they were likely to have in marriage and career.
  • Scientists in the United Kingdom instituted a study focused on the therapeutic effects of smiling. The power of one single smile from study volunteers elicited the same feelings of happiness you would feel if you were told you had won $25,000 in the lottery. Blood pressure was even lowered from smiling in this research.

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Research Linking Gum Disease to Alzheimer’s Patients

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Elderly ToothbrushingNew York University is among a long list of sites for research where evidence of oral-systemic health is consistently unraveled a bit more, year after year. Scientists at NYU believe that periodontal disease (gum disease) can increase the risk of lowered cognitive function in the elderly (commonly seen in Alzheimer’s disease patients). Much evidence has been uncovered throughout several years linking periodontal infection to a multitude of health issues which are most often seen in later years of life– heart disease, diabetes, strokes. Encinitas dentist, Dr. Ann Kania, will explain the details of a particular NYU research study which pinpoints gum inflammation having a link to brain inflammation.

Alzheimer’s and Gum Disease

Dr. Angela Kamer was an Assistant Professor of Periodontology & Implant Dentistry at NYU when the research took place. Dr. Kamer led a research team in examining over 20 years of collected data supporting a clear potential link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s . “The research suggests that cognitively normal subjects with periodontal inflammation are at an increased risk of lower cognitive function compared to cognitively normal subjects with little or no periodontal inflammation,” says Dr. Kamer. This research is backed up by studies, including another led by Dr. Kamer back in 2008. The plasma of subjects with (more…)

Missing Teeth? Learn About Dental Implants

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senior man in thoughtJust like losing teeth, replacing teeth isn’t always as simple as it may seem. Besides looking natural, your replacement teeth are also responsible for restoring your teeth’s functions, and must be strong and stable enough to do so. Dental implants, which are small, biocompatible titanium posts, aren’t designed to reinvent the concept of prosthetic dentistry, but rather improve it by providing replacement teeth with the support that natural teeth possess—roots. Whether you’ve recently lost teeth or wish to improve your current dental bridge or denture, your San Diego periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, recommends learning more about the benefits of dental implants. (more…)

3 Ways to Help Yourself Prevent Tooth Loss

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older woman brushing her teeth at the sinkThe search for an ideal way to replace lost teeth is one of dentistry’s oldest endeavors. For instance, dentures were popular long before standards of dental hygiene were suggested. Though losing teeth has always been an issue, that doesn’t mean that humans were meant to lose their teeth as they grow older. The point of modern hygiene and dental care is to keep your teeth healthy, safe, and intact by preventing or combatting issues that can lead to tooth loss. To improve your chances of retaining your natural, healthy smile, your San Diego periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, examines three ways you can help prevent tooth loss. (more…)

What Is Laser Dentistry?

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dental laserIf you suffer from dental anxiety you may want to seek out a dentist who practices laser dentistry. The use of dental lasers can help make procedures less scary, more comfortable, safe, and fast. There are many common and rather uncommon dental procedures that lasers can be used to perform.  Dentists who practice laser dentistry can provide a wide variety of procedures to their patients. There is hard-tissue laser dentistry and there is soft-tissue laser dentistry. In today’s blog, your  Encinitas, CA, periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania discusses laser dentistry procedures.

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What Is A Prophy?

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polishA prophy is short for prophylaxis. A prophylaxis is a professional dental cleaning which is intended to prevent periodontal disease. For people who already have developed periodontal disease, supportive periodontal therapy (SPT), which is more complex than a prophy, is required at regular intervals. Today your Encinitas, CA, periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania discusses professional dental cleanings.

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Dental Quiz

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surveyHow do you think Americans rate with their dental care? It seems like in a highly developed country like the U.S. people would tend to their dental care significantly better than other countries. However, there are definitely differences on our own soil. See how up-to-date you are with dental care facts by taking your Encinitas, CA, periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania’s quiz below.

 

  1. T or F: A very small percentage of Americans skip their dental visits.
  2. T or F: Men go to the dentist more often than women do.
  3. T or F: The older the person, the more likely they are to visit the dentist.
  4. Higher wage earners visited the dentist more often than those at lower income levels.
  5. T or F: People in higher income brackets visited the dentist more consistently than those with lower incomes.
  6. T or F: Geography made a slight difference regarding attention to dental care, but not a lot.
  7. T or F: Single people visited the dentist more than married people.
  8. T or F: People who were separated from their spouse visited the dentist more often than single people.
  9. T or F: It is important to your overall health to visit the dentist at least once a year.

 

Answers:

  1. False:  Since 2008, one out of every three Americans have been skipping their dental visits.
  2. False: Women visit the dentist twice as often as men do.
  3. True: People making $120,000 per year visited the dentist more than those making only $12, 000 per year.
  4. True: People with lower incomes visited the dentist less since 2008, while the number of visits for those with higher incomes remained consistent.
  5. True: There was only a 9 percent difference between people living in southern states and those living in the east.
  6. False: Single people visited the dentist less often than their married counterparts.
  7. False: People who were separated visited the dentist the least often compared to single and married participants.
  8. True: Everyone should visit the dentist at least once a year, but twice a year is ideal.
  9. True: According to a recent study, senior citizens visited the dentist most. People ages 30 to 44 visited the dentist slightly less than their older counterparts, and people  ages 18 to 29 slightly less than the 30 and 40 year-olds.

 About Your Encinitas Periodontist

To learn how to keep your smile healthy and beautiful so you can enjoy the benefits it offers, subscribe to this blog, and visit Dr. Kania for a consultation. As a board-certified periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania is specially qualified to diagnose and treat issues concerning periodontal tissue and the supportive structures of a patient’s smile, as well as place dental implants to restore teeth lost to dental disease or trauma. To seek Dr. Kania’s expertise, visit our office or contact us today at (760) 642-0711.

Teens And Gum Disease

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teen with foodDo you think the reason your grandparents lost their teeth was because of old age? Not true. Gum disease is the first and foremost reason people lose their teeth. Here is something else you might not know. Teens can develop gum disease. Because it takes time for gum disease to develop most people don’t show signs of the disease until their 30s, 40s, or later. However, teens can begin developing gum disease, or a milder form of the disease called gingivitis. To learn more about teens and gum disease contact your Encinitas, CA, periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania. Dr. Kania will be happy to explain the risks teens have of developing gum disease.

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Are Your Gums And Heart Linked?

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heart researchOne of every two adults over the age of thirty in the U.S. has periodontal disease according to a new study. There has been a myriad of research establishing a link between periodontal disease and heart disease. This does not bode well for American adults. The largest study known to date to assess periodontal disease in patients with heart disease, has shown a link between the two diseases, as well. If you are experiencing tender, swollen, or bleeding gums, now is the time to visit your Encinitas, CA, periodontist, Dr. Ann Kania, for a complete oral evaluation. Dr. Kania can explain the link between periodontal disease and other systemic diseases.

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