Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI

The hectic nature of daily life today means that sleep deprivation is becoming increasingly widespread. Scientific studies have shown a link between not getting enough rest or being sleep deprived, and having an increased risk factor of developing serious ailments such as heart disease or diabetes.

Did you know that lack of sleep also might affect your immune system? A recent study found that, when a person does not get the recommended amount of sleep, it triggered an inflammatory response in the immune system. These rises in inflammation can be harmful, especially when chronic. Inflammation also can trigger heart disease.

Another study of the immune system compared two groups of healthy people—one that slept poorly for a week, and one that slept well—and found the group that slept poorly had more immune system activity. This activity triggered more incidents of allergies and asthma.

Good sleep allows the body and mind to restore. This also applies to the metabolic and immune systems. The longer a person is denied proper rest, the higher the risk of developing a chronic disease.

One potential disruption to the sleep cycle and proper rest is a sleep breathing disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when the muscles in the throat relax, causing soft tissue to collapse and block the airway. These obstructions cut off the air supply to the body, disrupting the natural cycle of sleep. A total blockage of the airway can rouse you from sleep because your body and brain react as if you are choking. Severe cases of sleep apnea see these blockages occur hundreds of times per night. These breathing episodes are what causes snoring.

At Hartrick Dentistry, we have the training and experience to diagnose cases of sleep apnea, and also treat the disorder through the use of oral appliance therapy, which repositions the jaw in an ideal forward alignment to help maintain an open airway during sleep.

Have you been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and find yourself hesitant to undergo therapy such as the use of a CPAP machine? Do you or a member of your family snore loudly or suffer from excessive fatigue throughout the day? If the answer to either question is yes, then call our office at (248) 549-0950 to schedule a consultation.

Hartrick Dentistry is proud to serve the oral health needs of patients in the areas of Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan.

Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI

The short answer, YES! Let’s put it this way; your overall health relies on the state of your oral health. By ignoring even seemingly insignificant details such as flossing, you are increasing your risk of developing serious health-related diseases, all by skipping this less than 2-minute step!

Flossing is one of the most important actions you can take to guarding the health of your mouth and body. Many studies have linked oral bacterium to an increased risk of cancers, diabetes, premature births, low birth weight, heart disease, strokes, and even erectile dysfunction. Still, with these facts nearly one-third of adults do not floss regularly.

Look at some of these astonishing facts about oral care in America.

• 4 percent of adults in the U.S., ages 30 and over, NEVER floss
• 3 percent floss occasionally
• 3 percent floss daily
• Men tend to floss more than women
• Low-income individuals are less likely to floss as compared to those with a high income

The act of flossing removes the buildup of bacteria and food particles that hide between your teeth and around your gums. These areas simply cannot be thoroughly cleaned by brushing alone. When this bacterium is not removed on a regular basis, it turns into plaque, which eventually hardens and becomes what is known as tartar. This hard substance can only be removed by a professional dental cleaning.

So what is the big deal with tartar? It leads to tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss,ot to mention bad breath! Gum disease begins by causing red, swollen gums that bleed easily. This means your mouth has an infection, which can cause health problems throughout your body. If you already don’t like the sound of this, then start flossing!

To properly remove this bacterium from between your teeth and gums, follow these steps.

• Take the floss, wrap it around your index fingers and make it taught
• Using an up and down motion, scrub the sides of your teeth with the floss
• To clean around the gum line, follow the shape of your gums, which for a “C”
• Don’t just pop the floss in and then right back out, you will still be leaving bacteria behind

To learn more about proper oral care, contact Hartrick Dentistry today at (248) 549-0950.

Hartrick Dentistry is proud to serve the oral health needs of patients in the areas of Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI.

Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI

Did you know that more than 30 percent of the population has some sort of metal allergy? Considering that metal has been used to make fillings and other dental material for decades, this obviously can cause a potentially serious problem for a significant percentage of the populace.

Nickel is the most common metal allergy, and nickel also is regularly used in dental fillings and crowns. Metal allergies are more prevalent among women than men, and present themselves as either a skin rash or contact dermatitis. Other metals used in the composition of dental work include cobalt, platinum, palladium, and beryllium. Each of these metals also can provoke an allergic reaction, or interact with nickel to create a rash.

An allergic reaction is just one of the reasons why dental practices at the forefront of the field are moving towards maintaining a metal-free environment. Much metal dental work also contains mercury. The composition of amalgam fillings, which you might have heard referred to as “silver fillings,” can consist of up to 50 percent mercury. These fillings also release mercury vapors in your mouth whenever you eat, drink or otherwise stimulate the filled teeth. This mercury exposure can be toxic; children are particularly vulnerable to impairments of the psychological, neurological or immunological varieties.

Hartrick Dentistry offers restorative dental treatments that are free of mercury, or entirely metal-free for patients with a metal sensitivity or who have been diagnosed with a metal allergy. We can also remove your old metal dental work, and replace it with a safer alternative that is tooth colored.

To learn more about our metal-free options or to schedule an appointment, call our office at (248) 549-0950. A member of our staff will be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Hartrick Dentistry is proud to serve the oral health needs of patients in the areas of Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan.

Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI

What if losing weight could mean healthier gums? A new study conducted by the Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine concluded that the human body fights gum disease better when fat cells disappear. Fat cells trigger inflammation, which is a major indicator of gum disease. Gums swell, become sore, bleed easily, and become infected when gum disease is present.

The study included 31 obese individuals with gum disease. Half of the group, with a BMI of 39, underwent gastric bypass surgery and had fat cells removed from their abdomen. The other half of the group had a BMI of 35, but did not have gastric bypass surgery or fat cells removed. All participants in the study received nonsurgical treatments for their periodontal disease, as well as adhering to a regimen of oral hygiene at home.

Individuals from both groups showed improvement in their gum disease, but the group that underwent surgery fared significantly better, including measurements for periodontal attachments, plaque levels, bleeding, and probing depths. How is this possible?

Inflammation within the body, especially when it is chronic, means the body may begin suffering harmful effects over time including premature births (low birth weight), fetal death, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and arthritis. Some of these diseases impact the state of one’s oral health, making oral hygiene even more important.

Based on the findings of this study, a reduction in fat cells directly relates to gum health. If you are overweight, consider incorporating a healthy diet and regular exercise to help shed some pounds. Also, remember to visit the dentist regularly to receive routine dental cleanings and exams. Continue with a regimen of oral hygiene at home.

At Hartrick Dentistry, we welcome patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment, contact Hartrick Dentistry today at (248) 549-3399. We welcome patients of Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan.