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In my previous 3 blogs, I discussed the roles of the following parts of the mouth: the oral mucosa, gum tissue, and the jaw joint and jaw bones.  In this blog, I am going to explain the importance and function of the tongue.

The tongue plays an essential role in our speech, eating, and swallowing food. What many individuals probably don’t realize is that the tongue is an extremely powerful muscle.   It is attached to the floor of the mouth by a frenum, which is a heavy duty piece of tissue.  The base of the tongue is  attached at the back of the throat/back floor of the mouth.   It is covered with oral mucosa (which the first blog discussed.)  On top of the mucosa lay thousands of papillae which we call taste buds.  Taste buds are nerve-like cells which relay taste to the brain.  The four common tastes that are signaled to the brain are: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty.

When it comes to speaking, the tongue partners with the upper front teeth to create the sounds of our words.  Often times, when one is “tongue tied,” the frenum is attached too far forward on the tongue.  This  can create a speech impediment.  The frenum can be detached with a laser or scalpel in a quick surgery, thus improving tongue movement for speech.  The tongue is also considered an accessory organ to digestion.  It helps move and prepare the food to the back of the throat into the esophagus.

Conditions Associated with the Tongue:

Thrush: (yeast infection) typically occurs from a decreased in the immune system in the very young or elderly.  Also many individuals taking prescription steroids can get thrush.  Thrush appears as a white coating on the tongue, often times with red patches.

Oral Cancer: Typically oral cancers show on the sides of the tongue or under the tongue.  The lesions can be white or red.  A precursor to some oral cancers is leukoplakia.  White patches appearing on the tongue can become cancerous over time.

Geographic Tongue: Is a condition that can be caused by stress, spicy foods, and low immunity.  It is not a harmful condition, however can be unsightly.  The tongue appears patchy, meaning parts of the tongue are missing papillae and look red and glossy.  Geographic tongue will come and go, there is no medication to alleviate the appearance.

Burning Tongue Syndrome: Is a condition caused by misfiring nerves.  This is where the tongue feels a burning sensation or strange taste.

Canker Sores: These small lesions can be quite painful on the tongue.  The cause of these are unknown, however can be related to stress, spicy, and sweet foods.

Hairy Tongue: This condition occurs when the tongue papillae overgrow.  The tongue appears black and hairy in texture.

Here at my Holistic dental office we offer advanced technology to examine all the oral mucosa including the tongue for abnormalities.   We also make dietary and product recommendations that help to reduce many of these tongue conditions that I listed above.  If you are looking for a dental family who is focused on total body health as well as dental health, please call us at (951)686-3666.  Our Inland Empire Holistic Dental office is located in Riverside just off of the 91-freeway.

In my previous two blogs on “what’s inside the mouth,” I explained the tissue called the oral mucosa as well as gum tissue.  Aside from just defining the roles of these two important parts of the “chewing system,” I also discussed diseases/infections that are common with these tissues and how to prevent infection from occurring.

This blog is going to discuss an extremely important part of the chewing system, the upper and lower jaw and jaw joint.  The upper and lower jaw bones provide the chewing system with structure and shape.  This important balance is necessary for proper speech and chewing. Both the upper and lower jaw combined with other bones in the face create the shape of the face. The upper jaw is fused to bone in the skull and the lower jaw is separate from the rest of the skull.  The lower jaw joint itself acts as a “hinge” allowing the lower jaw joint to move during chewing and speaking.  When the upper and lower jaw joint are not aligned properly, the chewing system becomes off balance.  This imbalance over time can cause damage to the teeth and their surrounding tissue. Talk show host, Jay Leno has a clearly visible “under bite” which is why his lower jaw appears to be shifted so far forward.  This is a true misalignment in the jaw joint, and can cause bone and tooth destruction over time.  The only way to treat a condition such as his is by undergoing jaw surgery.

Problems Associated with Jaw Joint Imbalance (TMJ):

Excessive wear of the teeth: teeth appear to be flattened, natural teeth and tooth restorations “crack” or wear down faster than usual.  Notching of the teeth also occurs along the gum line.

Gum Recession: when there is consistently too much pressure on the teeth, the surrounding gum tissue and bone are destroyed.  This leaves the root of the tooth exposed causing sensitivity and root caries.

Excessive Headaches: many individuals who suffer from migraines or cluster headaches find that they are resolved once the jaw joint and bite are properly aligned.

Facial Pain: typically associated with opening and closing the jaw.

Ear Pain: A surprising 50% of individuals with chronic ear pain discover that they have been misdiagnosed as having chronic ear infections, when in fact it is their jaw joint (TMJ) causing the problem.  Ear pain associated with TMJ disorder is in front of or below the ear.

Ear Pressure: around 30% of individuals with TMJ disorder report that their ears feel “clogged.”  When there are imbalances in the jaw joint, the muscles in the inner ear can spasm causing middle ear problems.

Tinnitus: again approximately 30% of individuals with TMJ disorder report ringing of the ears.  Once the jaw joint is balanced the ringing goes away!

Crepitus: grinding or popping noises when chewing food or opening the mouth.

As a dentist who specializes in evaluating the jaw joint, I am confident that with a little investigation we will be able to determine the cause of your symptoms and best way to care for you.  If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please call to schedule a free consultation regarding your jaw joint.  My Inland Empire OBI Dental office is located in Riverside, Ca. (951)686-3666.

This blog series “what’s inside the mouth” is going to explore the various parts of the inside of the mouth and what roles they play for chewing, digestion, and speaking.  The mouth and its surrounding tissues are considered a “chewing system” all must work together for proper function to occur.

In Part II of this series of blogs, I will be discussing the role of the gum tissue.  This tissue is also covered by the oral mucosa.  Gum tissue is tough as it is made with the collagen material keratin.  The reason for its resilience is to help with chewing food along with protecting the teeth that they cover.    Its role is to protect and cover the root and bone surrounding the tooth.  It also makes up the tissue that is in-between the teeth.  When the gum tissue is healthy it remains firm to touch.  Proper oral hygiene and preventative dental care will help to reduce one’s risk for gum infection.

What happens when gum tissue is infected?

When the gum tissue is infected, it bleeds and is soft in texture.  The very beginning of gum tissue infected is called gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by lack of oral hygiene.  When plaque and tartar are left on the teeth, it eventually builds-up along and underneath the gum line.  Gingivitis is treatable and reversible.  However, when left untreated, gingivitis advances to periodontal disease.  When the gum tissue is infected, the bacteria go underneath the tissue releasing toxins.  These toxins create an inflammatory response in our body which  causes bone and tissue destruction.  When infected gum tissue goes untreated, tooth loss can occur.  Infection of the gum tissue can also lead to more serious infections such as heart disease and diabetes.

How to prevent gum infection:

1. Brush and floss regularly.

2. Visit your dental hygienist at least twice a year.

3.  Eat food rich in Vitamin C, B6 and B12, D, and supplement with a high quality fish oil.

4.  Switching to all natural fluoride-free toothpaste.  Many individuals are allergic or have reactions to the ingredients in over the counter toothpastes.  Constant irritation to the gum tissue can cause destruction to occur.

5.  Maintain a healthy lifestyle adequate sleep and stress reduction will help to keep the inflammatory response from occurring.

6.  Avoid chewing tobacco and smoking.  Both can cause oral cancer along with suffocating the gum tissue.

If you are interested in a more holistic approach while visiting the dental hygienist, please visit my Inland Empire Cosmetic Holistic dental office.  My dental hygiene team is very knowledgeable and highly skilled in maintaining oral health.  Through the use of natural products and dental laser therapy, your gum tissue is in good hands.  Call (951)686-3666 to schedule an appointment.

This blog series “what’s inside the mouth” is going to explore the various parts of the inside of the mouth and what roles they play for chewing, digestion, and speaking.  The mouth and its surrounding tissues are considered a “chewing system” all must work together for proper function to occur.

I am going to begin this blog series discussing the importance of the “Oral Mucosa.”  What is the oral mucosa?  It is the tissue that is seen when you open your mouth, basically everything but the teeth in your mouth.  The tissue surrounding the teeth, cheeks, and bone is a protective lining made of the same mucous membrane that the inner lining of the nose is made of.  There are 3 different types of mucosa found in the mouth; for example the tissue on the palate can withstand the abrasiveness of food where the cheek mucosa is more fragile thus needing constant moisture from saliva secretions.

The function of the oral mucosa is to protect the oral tissues and body from infection from bacteria and irritants.  Although this tissue may feel soft, it is made of a very strong collagen material called keratin.  Another important function of the oral mucosa is to absorb certain nutrients or medications.  The oral mucosa varies in color depending on the color of one’s skin.  For those who have fair skin, their oral mucosa will be light pink in color.  Where as, those with darker skin will have pink to brown or freckled oral mucosa.  The oral mucosa is also susceptible to infection and cancer depending on one’s lifestyle.  The following is a list of disease or infections that affect the oral mucosa:

Oral Mucosa Diseases/Infections:

Mouth Ulcers:

Better known as “Canker Sores” affect roughly 20- 40% of the population.  They are found inside the mouth and are typically painful.  The exact cause of these lesions are not known however they are associated with: stress, hormonal changes, anxiety, and anti-inflammatory medications.  Medical conditions such as Celiac disease, Chron disease, and Bhecet;s disease.  There is also a known association with the bacteria H. pylori which cause peptic ulcers.

Oral Cancers:

The most common areas for oral cancer to occur are on the sides of the tongue, hard/soft palate, lip tissue, and on the oral mucosa itself.  Oral cancers are typically red/white in color and are not necessarily painful.  It is always best to have a suspicious area checked by a dental professional as opposed to waiting to see if it goes away.  Oral cancer treatment is most successful when it is caught in its earliest stage.

Lichen Planus:

This is a chronic inflammatory disease which causes the oral mucosa to appear white and red in color in a “lace like” pattern.  This can appear on the cheek tissue, tongue, and gum tissue.  At times lichen planus can be very painful and other times there is no discomfort.

Herpes:

Technically, lips are not inside the mouth however I did want to mention the importance of knowing the location of where oral herpes can occur.  Many people know these lesions as “cold sores” however in my opinion this term does not justify this infection.  Herpes of the mouth is very easily transmitted from object to person and person to person.  From sharing a cup, kissing,  and oral sex the herpes simplex virus when in its active stage will infect anyone who comes in contact with this particular virus.  This virus can spread to the eye causing blindness if it happens to get into the eyeball.  It is also now linked directly to oral cancer.  Oral cancer screenings are essential for anyone who has ever had a cold sore.

My Inland Empire Cosmetic Holistic dental office offers the latest in technology when it comes to oral cancer screening of the oral mucosa.  We recommend every patient have a Velscope oral cancer screening once a year.  If you are looking for a dental office that is focused on oral health and total body wellness, please contact us at (951)686-3666.

As the new year is freshly here, many of us have vowed our New Year’s resolutions to our friends and family.  Most of us make resolutions that have to do with health and wellness i.e. getting more sleep, losing weight, getting more exercise, eating healthier, quitting smoking etc.  As we all know these resolutions are beneficial to healthy lifestyle, many of us still are not aware of the multiple benefits of a healthy mouth.

Here is my wish for all in 2012….make the health of your mouth one of your top priorities.

As a dentist who specializes in Holistic and Cosmetic dentistry, I believe that the health of one’s mouth mirrors the health or lack of health of their internal system.  For example, if an individual has a lot of cavities I check to see if their system is pH balanced.  In the majority of cases, these individuals are “acidic” both internally and in their saliva.  Another example that comes to mind is when an individual has periodontal (gum) disease.  This chronic low-grade infection in the mouth leads to tooth loss, heart disease, diabetes, long term inflammation in the body, and preterm low-birth weight babies.  Periodontal disease and tooth decay both have different strains of bacteria that they are associated with.  This bacteria moves throughout the mouth creating more infection in other places.  It also has the ability to get into the bloodstream and create infection in other parts of the body. Mercury metal fillings are also a concern to our internal health.  Research has shown that these metal fillings constantly release mercury vapors into the mouth and are absorbed in the tissue.  The mercury once absorbed into the body gets into the bloodstream and brain tissue. Over time, the amount of mercury in one’s internal system can cause major health problems, including cancer and dementia just to name a few.

Steps to take to improve total body health and oral health:

1.  Visit your dental hygienist at least 2 times per year.  This helps keep gums and teeth healthy by reducing plaque, tartar, and bacteria from spreading from the mouth to the rest of the body.

2.  Brush twice daily. This helps to remove the plaque that bacteria feed on constantly.  This too will reduce your risk for periodontal disease and tooth decay.

3.  Floss daily. This will remove debris in-between the teeth and also help reduce the amount of bacteria present.  Thus, also reducing your risk of periodontal disease and tooth decay.

4.  Get a yearly dental check-up. Preventative dentistry is much more cost effective as well as better for your overall health.

5.  Have your metal mercury fillings removed. This will help to prevent the further release of mercury into your brain and internal system.  My Inland Empire Cosmetic and Holistic dental office utilizes “mercury safe” removal technology.  Thus, your health and our health are protected when these metal fillings are removed.

If you are interested in a dental office that specializes in a more holistic approach to dentistry, please call to schedule an appointment at (951)686-3666.  My Inland Empire Holistic Cosmetic dental office is located in Riverside, California just off of the 91-freeway.