How to Prevent Gum Disease

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, describes the growth of bacteria that sets processes into motion that eventually destroy tissue surrounding the teeth. Seventy-five percent or more of Americans over 35 have some degree of gum disease. At later stages of gum disease, tooth loss is a frequent consequence. Additionally, gum disease can impact far more than dental health. According to the American Dental Association, "There is evidence that bacteria in the mouth which are associated with gum disease may be linked to heart disease, artery blockages and stroke."

Signs and Symptoms of Gum Disease

Gum disease symptoms can be are subtle, but warning signs are usually present. They include:

• Bleeding gums during and after brushing teeth
• Red, puffy or sore gums
• Receding gums
• Bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
• Deep pockets between teeth and gums
• Shifting teeth or loose teeth

The following steps are key to avoiding gum disease:

1. Brush your gums -- Massage your gums daily in small circles where each tooth is embedded in the gum to promote circulation and remove bacteria. Finish by lightly brushing the top and bottom gums, both on the inside and outside, with your regular fluoride toothpaste.

2. Rinse with a fluoride rinse - If you're drinking water contains fluoride, you can skip this step. If not, rinse for one minute with a fluoride rinse. The rinse will help reduce the number of bacteria present.

3. Floss every day - Even though you sometimes can't see the particles in and around your teeth, flossing gets rid of them, and serves to prevent infection. Measure out about 18 inches of floss, wrap the ends around each forefinger and grasp with the thumb. Push it up and down between teeth and along the sides of the teeth. Slide into a clean section of floss with each tooth you clean.

4. Rinse with a quality mouthwash -- Ask your dentist to recommend a low-alcohol, non-irritating brand. High alcohol can aggravate the mouth, and some believe it leads to oral cancer. A good mouthwash kills bacteria in the mouth.

5. Don't smoke or drink heavily -- Higher incidences of gum disease and oral cancer exist in smokers and drinkers. Drinking and smoking can also contribute to yellowing of teeth. Chew sugarless gum instead.

6. Get routine, professional dental cleanings - Despite your best solo efforts, you can't prevent gum disease entirely on your own. In-home dental care just can't clean to the degree that a dental office cleaning can. Also, your dentist can spot the early signs of gum disease that you might miss and take steps to halt further progression.

SOURCE: Drs. Lesueur and Dodaro

Which conditions can cause gastro-oesophageal reflux?

In the previous post, I have talked to you about gastro-oesophageal reflux, now it's time to see who contributes to the problems. In many cases, the disorder cannot be attributed to any specific cause but the following conditions can contribute to the problem.

Hiatus hernia
The stomach pokes through the diaphragm, preventing the muscle fibres of the diaphragm from closing the lower end of the oesophagus. The oesophagus remains wide open which allows stomach acid to get into the oesophagus.

Overweight
If the person is overweight the excessive fat in the abdominal cavity increases the pressure inside it. This causes the contents of the stomach to travel up into the gullet. Loss of weight reduces stomach acid reflux.

Pregnancy
Because the uterus increases in size during pregnancy, it presses on the stomach, creating higher pressure inside it, which increases the tendency to reflux. In addition, hormonal changes lead to relaxation of the oesophageal sphincter during pregnancy.

Meals
The more the stomach is stretched by food, the higher the tendency to reflux. The tendency is also increased by eating fatty meals as fat delays gastric emptying. Try to avoid large rich meals, particularly in the evening and this will reduce the tendency to reflux.

Foods
Chocolate, peppermint, coffee, fruit juices, sour, hot spicy food and alcohol and over eating prevent the oesophageal sphincter from working properly.

Tobacco
Tobacco prevents the oesophageal sphincter from working in order, reduces the rate at which the stomach empties and increases stomach acid production.

Constipation
Constipation increases the tendency to reflux by raising pressure inside the stomach cavity.

Lying down
The tendency to reflux increases when you are lying down. This is just due to gravity. A simple way to change that is to use a pillow under the mattress or to raise the head of your bed by 3 inches with blocks or a house brick under the bed frame.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disorders diagnosed?
The symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux may be so obvious that no tests are needed. There are others scary test as well but we dont advise to do.
If the doctor is in doubt, or if the symptoms are very troublesome, a gastroscopy will be considered. During the procedure oesophagitis, hiatus hernias, peptic ulcers and other conditions can be either found or ruled out.

Another possibility is to measure the acidity in the lower end of the oesophagus during a 24-hour period. This will give an indication of how often and how long the reflux episodes last.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux can resemble those of a peptic ulcer, chest pains (angina pectoris), muscle pains, back problems, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, gallstones, pancreatic disease etc. These conditions will sometimes have to be ruled out before the diagnosis can be made.

On Gastro-oesophageal reflux

What is gastro-oesophageal reflux?
If heartburn begins to occur on a daily basis you need to see your Physician for advise.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux is a condition where the lower oesophageal sphincter (the muscular ring at the lower end of the oesophagus) is abnormally relaxed and allows the stomach's acidic contents to flow back or 'reflux' into the gullet (oesophagus). It can also cause heartburn and pain in the chest. Gastro-oesophageal reflux is a common condition and the most frequent cause of indigestion in the world.

Oesophagitis
Oesophagitis is inflammation of the inner lining of the oesophagus caused by repeated episodes of gastro-oesophageal reflux.

The symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux oesophagitis?

A painful or burning sensation in the upper abdomen or chest, sometimes radiating to the back (heartburn). The acid reflux may reach the pharynx (throat) and mouth. It is sour and may burn. A small number of patients have difficulties breathing and suffer from hoarseness because the refluxed fluid irritates the larynx and respiratory tract. Excess belching is common.

When does gastro-oesophageal reflux occur?
Symptoms typically occur after over eating a large or fatty meal or drinking alcohol. Lying down, bending over or bending and lifting can all cause reflux. It is made worse by smoking.

The frequency with which the symptoms occur varies. For most people, they are rare but weekly and daily episodes of refluxes are not uncommon sometimes even 10 times a day.

Does gastro-oesophageal reflux affect your health?
It is an unpleasant condition that can have a big influence on your lifestyle. Many people feel that their quality of life is lowered by the symptoms. Prolonged exposure to refluxed acid leads to oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus). Long-standing oesophagitis may be complicated by the formation of scar tissue that contracts and results in a narrowing (stricture) in the affected part of the oesophagus. This can make it difficult or even impossible to swallow. It is a serious condition that requires urgent assessment and treatment, but, fortunately, this complication is relatively rare. It can cause ulceration leading to bleeding and an iron deficiency, which may develop into anaemia due to a chronic blood loss.

Bulimia: What is bulimia and who becomes bulimic

WHAT IS BULIMIA?

Bulimia nervosa is a type of eating disorder. It is often called just bulimia. A person with bulimia eats a lot of food in a short amount of time. This is called binging. The person may fear gaining weight after a binge. Binging also can cause feelings of shame and guilt. So, the person tries to "undo" the binge by getting rid of the food. This is called purging. Purging might be done by:

* making yourself throw up
* taking laxatives- pills or liquids that speed up the movement of food through your body and lead to a bowel movement
* exercising a lot
* eating very little or not at all
* taking water pills to urinate

WHO BECOMES BULIMIC?

Many people think that only young, upper-class, white females get eating disorders. It is true that many more women than men have bulimia. In fact, 9 out of 10 people with bulimia are women. But bulimia can affect anyone: Men, older women, and women of color can become bulimic. It was once thought that women of color were protected from eating disorders by their cultures. These cultures tend to be more accepting of all body sizes. But research shows that as women of color are more exposed to images of thin women, they are more likely to get eating disorders. African-American, Latina, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian and Alaska Native women can become bulimic.

On The Irritable Bowel Syndrome: stuff to remember

To everybody suffering of irritable bowel syndrome, there are some things to keep in mind when dealing with it:

#IBS is a disorder that interferes with the normal functions of the colon. The symptoms are crampy abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

#IBS is a common disorder found more often in women than men.

#People with IBS have colons that are more sensitive and reactive to things that might not bother other people, such as stress, large meals, gas, medicines, certain foods, caffeine, or alcohol.

#IBS is diagnosed by its signs and symptoms and by the absence of other diseases.

#Most people can control their symptoms by taking medicines such as laxatives, antidiarrhea medicines, antispasmodics, or antidepressants; reducing stress; and changing their diet.

#IBS does not harm the intestines and does not lead to cancer. It is not related to Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

How Does Stress Affect IBS?

Stress is one of the factors which affect the bowel and can cause quite some damage in many areas. If you are wondering how can stress affect the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), we have some answers!

Stress (feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed) can stimulate colon spasms in people with IBS. The colon has many nerves that connect it to the brain. Like the heart and the lungs, the colon is partly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which responds to stress. These nerves control the normal contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times. People often experience cramps or “butterflies” when they are nervous or upset. In people with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress. Stress makes the mind more aware of the sensations that arise in the colon, making the person perceive these sensations as unpleasant.

Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. The immune system is affected by stress. For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS. Stress management options include:

* stress reduction (relaxation) training and relaxation therapies such as meditation
* counseling and support
* regular exercise such as walking or yoga
* changes to the stressful situations in your life
* adequate sleep

What is and how to treat Enteric ganglionitis?

Enteric ganglionitis refers to an inflammatory neuropathy caused by paraneoplastic (including lung small-cell carcinoma, thymoma, and breast cancer), infectious (i.e., Chagas’ disease), or neurological (i.e., encephalomyeloneuropathy) means; connective tissue disorders (i.e., scleroderma); and inflammatory bowel diseases (i.e., ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), although some cases are idiopathic.

Enteric ganglionitis can occur throughout the alimentary tract and is associated with degeneration and functional impairment of enteric neurons. These alterations ultimately result in impaired gut motility and transit. Depending on the segment of the gastrointestinal tract that is involved, the clinical manifestations of enteric ganglionitis include esophageal and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) dysmotility, gastroparesis and intractable vomiting in the stomach, intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and megacolon in the intestine. Recent data suggest that enteric ganglionitis in the small intestine can be identified in patients with severe irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Treatment of Enteric ganglionitis:

* Once the diagnosis of an inflammatory neuropathy is established, usually steroids such as prednisolone at doses of 60–100 mg/day, methylprednisolone (up to 600 mg/day), or beclomethasone (200 µg three times daily), alone or combined with other immunosuppressive therapy (azathioprine or cyclophosphamide), can dramatically improve the clinical picture.

PLEASE NOTE: This is just a suggested treatment. NEVER take it for granted and ALWAYS consult your medic before taking any pills for ANY disease!

General Facts about IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS):

* IBS is one of the most common functional disorders seen in gastroenterological practice.
* It is characterized by abdominal pain/discomfort associated with bowel habit disturbances, bloating, and other symptoms usually defined as unrelated to any organic abnormality.

Diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome:
IBS investigators have identified a set of symptoms that provide physicians with guidelines toward a diagnosis of IBS. These are called the Rome Criteria.

The Rome criteria:
1. Continuous or recurrent symptoms of abdominal pain or discomfort that
A) may be relieved with defecation,
B) may be associated with a change in frequency, or
C) May be associated with a change in the consistency of stools.

2. Two or more of the following are present at least 25 percent of the time:
A) Altered stool frequency (greater than 3 bowel movement per day or less than 3 bowel movements per week)
B) Altered stool form (hard or loose watery stools or poorly formed stools)
C) Passage of mucous stools
D) Bloating (feeling of abdominal distention)

Many patients experience other symptoms that are consistent with irritable bowel syndrome. However, the Rome criteria do assist researchers and clinicians by correlating and describing symptoms uniformly.

Other important factors are the presence or absence of pain at night, gastrointestinal bleeding, fevers, chills, sweats, weight loss, etc. The presence of these types of symptoms suggest alternative diagnoses. These complaints do not exclude an underlying diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome but suggest other diagnoses that may have other treatments. Thus, IBS may be coexistent with other acute or chronic gastrointestinal illnesses.

Lab diagnosis (for physicians, students):

* patients with IBS have an increased number of inflammatory cells in the ileum and colorectum. These inflammatory cells have been documented to be closely apposed to nerves supplying the intestinal mucosa and to release a wide array of inflammatory mediators, thus providing a morphological basis for the hypothesis that inflammation may perturb gut sensorimotor function.
* The cause of the low-grade intestinal inflammatory response is as yet unknown and may involve a number of factors, including, for example, undiagnosed food allergies, changes in bacterial microflora, genetic factors (polymorphism leading to decreased anti-inflammatory cytokine synthesis), or bile acid malabsorption.
* A peculiar form of IBS has been related to a previous episode of acute gastroenteritis (i.e., postinfectious IBS).