Do You Suffer from Canker Sores?

     When it comes to managing canker sores, you need to know everything you can about them in order to help ease the pain, speed up healing and possibly reduce the number of canker sore outbreaks you experience. 
     Canker Sores tend to appear out of nowhere, may be very painful, and almost always heal up very well on their own.
     There are three types of canker sores that range from mild to very severe.  At their onset, canker sores will often begin with telltale raw, burning signs and then turn into a raw white sore.  Canker sores generally last for no more than two weeks.  
     These sores may develop for one of any number of reasons, from genetics to serious disease to a certain brand of toothpaste or food sensitivity.  When you know the cause of your canker sore outbreaks, treating these painful mouth sores may become easier.  
     There are treatments and remedies that may help ease the pain from canker sores and possibly help speed up the healing process, but presently, there is no known cure for canker sores.
     Dr. Berard is able to greatly reduce the number of days of healing by sterilizing the area(s) with laser treatment.  This is painless and takes less than 15 minutes.  
     It is important to keep in mind that the outcome from any course of treatment, whether it be prescription medication, over-the-counter products, or home-made remedies will be partially influenced by the individual and certainly dependent on the type and severity of the canker sores.

Dental Myths:  Fact vs Fiction

Myth:  I can't see any problems with my teeth and I don't have pain, so I don't need to go to the dentist.

Fact:  There are dental problems that aren't visible to the naked eye.  Gum disease, hairline fractures and root canal disease are just a few of these problems.  Dentists use technologies such as digital X-rays to detect problems both on and beneath the surface of your teeth.  Dental visits should be considered preventive care not emergency care.  Treating an issue BEFORE it is visible or painful is less expensive to fix.




Myth:  I don't need to worry about my teeth because my parents never had problems.


Fact:  Though genetics may play a small role in predicting your oral health, how well you take care of your teeth will be the single most important determinant in how healthy they are.






Myth:  Chewing sugar-free gum after a meal is just as effective as brushing.


Fact:  It is true that chewing sugar-free gum after meals can help clean your teeth, stimulate saliva flow and freshen your breath, however, it is no replacement for a thorough brushing and flossing, which actually removes dental plaque and food debris.  

Is It Snoring or Sleep Apnea?

About 80 million people in North America snore, and approximately 12 million Americans have sleep apnea.  So what is the difference, and why does it matter?

Snoring is caused by the vibration of the soft palate and uvula, which occurs when the airway becomes obstructed during sleep.  There are several factors that may contribute to the obstruction of the airway and cause you to snore including allergies, drinking alcohol before bed, being overweight and having large tonsils or a deviated septum.

If you snore now and then, you probably have nothing to worry about, however, chronic snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea.  This is a more serious sleep disorder and should not be brushed off as unimportant.  People with sleep apnea stop breathing in their sleep - sometimes up to 100 times in an hour - for one minute or longer.  Left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your chances of serious health conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease.  At a minimum, you may feel groggy in the morning or unable to concentrate during the day.

The good news is sleep apnea IS treatable.  The two most common ways to treat sleep apnea are continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy (administered by a physician) and oral appliance therapy (administered by a dentist).  CPAP therapy can be very effective for people with sleep apnea, however, some people find it difficult to sleep with the required mask and the machine can be disruptive to your bed partner's sleep.  More people are turning to the oral appliances administered by their dentist.  Oral appliances are small devices that look like mouthguards.  They increase the airway space and reduce air velocity and snoring by moving the lower jaw into a slightly forward position.  Patients who have tried both say that oral appliances are more comfortable to wear, quieter, easier to care for and very cost-effective.  For more information or to schedule an appointment contact your ENVISION Dental Team @ 231-933-9000.     Snoring or Sleep Apnea