Can Oral Health Be Linked to Dementia?

Oral Health is Your Window to A Healthy Body

According to dental researchers, there is a relationship between oral health habits and dementia. In reviewing a University of California study, oral health habits may affect whether a person develops dementia later in life. Researchers measured oral health habits of residents of a Laguna Hills, CA retirement community between 1992 and 2010. They followed 5,468 adults with no previous diagnosis of dementia age and a median age of 81 and determined that participants who reported brushing their teeth less than once per day had up to a 65 percent greater risk of developing dementia than those who brushed three times daily. 

Oral health is a necessary part of overall wellness, and your dentists at South Coast Family Dentistry strongly recommend twice yearly visits for an exam and professional cleaning to remove plaque and tarter buildup and keep decay and disease at bay. Our patients who have been diagnosed with periodontal disease may need more frequent visits depending upon the progression of their oral disease.

Schedule your appointment today by calling us at (541) 982-2175 or click here to request your appointment online! We look forward to serving our Coos Bay and North Bend, OR area patients!

Healthy Mouths, Healthy Kids!

First Visit By Age 1

In August of 2012, the Ad Council joined with The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives, a coalition of more than 35 leading dental health organizations, to debut Kids’ Healthy Mouths. Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease with more than 16 million kids suffering from untreated tooth decay in the U.S., oral disease is estimated to cause kids to miss 51 million school hours and their parents to lose 25 million work hours annually, and disproportionately affects children from low-income families. 

At South Coast Family Dentistry, we recommend children have their first dental visit by age 1 as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and maintain regular 6 month cleaning appointments for exams. Parents and their children can visit 2min2x.org to watch entertaining videos and listen to music, while children are brushing their teeth. Make oral health part of your New Year’s Resolution!

To schedule your child's appointment with Dr. Bailey or Dr. Bacon, call us at (541) 982-2175 or request your appointment online!

Can You Afford to Skimp on Dental Care?



Dr. Bailey and a patient discuss
hygiene needs at a preventive visit
in Coos Bay, OR.
 

We all know life can be busy, and n the current economic crunch, it may be tempting to skimp on dental care. But don’t neglect your oral health. Your dental care is just as important now as it was when you were a kid. Untreated dental disease can lead to serious health problems such as infection, damage to bone or nerve and tooth loss. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day and see your Coos Bay & North Bend, OR dentist regularly.

We want to help you keep more of your money for other essentials and that is why we encourage you to get regular dental checkups. Insurance companies know that prevention is far less costly than cures and that is why most policies cover routine dental checkup and cleanings.

The best way to avoid more expensive dental procedures is to follow a home dental hygiene program and maintain regular checkups to identify issues before they become full-blown problems needing costly intervention.

Fact Check:
Did you know that the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 has three or more decayed or missing teeth? If you are missing one or more teeth, there are plenty of reasons to correct the problem. Dr. Damion Gilday has many treatments to restore your smile.

The ADA website has many great resources for kids and adults of all ages - and Dr. Gilday recommends that you visit the pages often for great information on keeping mouth healthy all year long!

To learn more, visit MouthHealthy.org.

Ready to Schedule Your Appointment With Dr. Bacon and Dr. Bailey?
We look forward to welcoming new and returning patients! Has it been a few years since we've seen your family? We still consider you our patient and we would love to see you back in the office to check up on your dental health and assist you in getting back on a healthy track. Call our office today!

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

Since people with diabetes are at a greater risk of developing some oral health problems, this is a good reminder of the importance of staying. Some of the common oral health problems associated with diabetes are: gum disease, fungal infections, infections and delayed healing. Periodontal (gum disease) is no laughing matter; it's also connected to heart disease and other health-related issues.

Our friends at www.perio.org tell us:

Diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease, which in turn can increase blood sugar and diabetic complications.

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered a complication of diabetes. Those people who don't have their diabetes under control are especially at risk.

Research has suggested that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways - periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.

Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts people with diabetes at increased risk for diabetic complications

For more information and to watch a video on how diabetes can impact your oral health, visit the MouthHealthy A-Z page on Diabetes.

Ready to learn more and schedule your appointment?
We are accepting new patients, and both of our doctors at South Coast Family Dentistry have experience in treating patients with gum disease. Give us a call today at (541) 982-2175 or visit our website for more information.