5/31/2017 0 Comments Ketogenic Diet Pmdd MedicationWhat is periodontitis? What causes periodontitis? Periodontitis means . All periodontal diseases, including periodontitis, are infections which affect the periodontium. The periodontium are the tissues around a tooth, tissues that support the tooth. A woman's hormone levels seem to play a role in epilepsy -- especially during puberty, ovulation, and menopause. Learn more from WebMD. ![]() ![]() ![]() With periodontitis, the alveolar bone around the teeth is slowly and progressively lost. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, stick to the surface of the tooth and multiply - an overactive immune system reacts with inflammation. Untreated periodontitis will eventually result in tooth loss, and may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack and other health problems. Bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless membrane that develops over the surface of teeth, is the most common cause of periodontal disease. In dentistry, periodontics deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases involving the gums and structures which support teeth. There are eight dental specialties, of which periodontics is one. If you want dental implants, you see a periodontist. ![]() ![]() ![]() In most cases, periodontitis is preventable. It is usually caused by poor dental hygiene. Gingivitis usually refers to gum inflammation while periodontitis refers to gum disease and the destruction of tissue and/or bone. Even though the gums are irritated and bothersome, the teeth are not loose. There is no irreversible damage to bone or surrounding tissue. Untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. With periodontitis, the gum and bone pulls away from the teeth, forming large pockets. ![]() Debris collects in the spaces between the gums and teeth, and infect the area. The patient's immune system attacks bacteria as the plaque spreads below the gum line. Bone and connective tissue that hold the tooth start to break down - this is caused by toxins produced by the bacteria. Teeth become loose and can fall out. Put simply, Periodontitis involves irreversible changes to the supporting structures of the teeth, while gingivitis does not. For example, pain is a symptom while redness or inflammation is a sign. ![]() Periodontitis signs and symptoms can include. Inflamed (swollen) gums, gum swelling recurs.
![]() Here are some key points about Wellbutrin. More detail and supporting information is in the main article. Wellbutrin does not act in the same way as other popular. Gums are bright red, sometimes purple. Gums hurt when touched. Gums recede, making teeth look longer. Extra spaces appear between the teeth. Pus may appear between the teeth and gums. Bleeding when brushing teeth. Bleeding when flossing. Metallic taste in the mouth. Halitosis (bad breath)Loose teeth. The patient's . If is formed by bacteria that try to attach themselves to the tooth's smooth surface. Brushing teeth gets rid of plaque, but it soon builds up; within a day or so. If it is not removed, within two or three days it hardens into tartar. Tartar is much harder to remove than plaque. Another name for tartar is calculus. Getting rid of tartar requires a professional - you cannot do it yourself. Plaque can gradually and progressively damage teeth and surrounding tissue. At first, the patient may develop gingivitis - inflammation of the gum around the base of the teeth. Persistent gingivitis can result in pockets developing between the teeth and gums. These pockets fill up with bacteria. Bacterial toxins and our immune system's response to infection start destroying the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. For example, obesity is a risk factor for diabetes type 2 - this means that obese people have a higher chance of developing diabetes. The following risk factors are linked to a higher risk of periodontitis. Smoking - regular smokers are much more likely to develop gum problems. Smoking also undermines the efficacy of treatments. Hormonal changes in females - puberty, pregnancy, and the menopause are moments in life when a female's hormones undergo changes. Such changes raise the risk of developing gum diseases. Diabetes - patients who live with diabetes have a much higher incidence of gum disease than other individuals of the same age. AIDS - people with AIDS have more gum diseases. Cancer - cancer, and some cancer treatments can make gum diseases more of a problem. Some drugs - some medications that reduce saliva are linked to gum disease risk. Genetics - some people are more genetically susceptible to gum diseases. Diagnosing periodontitis. A qualified dentist should find it fairly straightforward to diagnose periodontitis. The dentist will ask the patient questions regarding symptoms and carry out an examination of his/her mouth. The dentist will examine the patient's mouth using a periodontal probe - a thin, silver stick- like object with a bend at one end. The probe is inserted next to the tooth, under the gum line. If the tooth is healthy, the probe should not slide far below the gum line. In cases of periodontitis, the probe will reach deeper under the gum line. Two types of periodontal probes. Michigan O Probe (left). Naber's Probe (right)The dentist may order an X- ray to see what condition the jaw bone and teeth are in. This involves brushing teeth at least twice a day and flossing once per day. If there is enough space between the teeth, an interdental brush (Proxi- brush) is recommended. Soft- picks can be used when the space between the teeth is smaller. Patients with arthritis, and others with dexterity problems may find that using an electric toothbrush is better for a thorough clean. It is important that the patient understands that periodontitis is a chronic (long- term) inflammatory disease - this means oral hygiene must be maintained for life. This will also involve regular visits to a dentist or dental hygienist. Initial treatment. It is important to remove plaque and calculus (tartar) to restore periodontal health. The healthcare professional will use clean (non- surgically) below the gumline. This procedure is called scaling and debridement. Sometimes an ultrasonic device may be used. In the past Root Planing was used (the cemental layer was removed, as well as calculus). Medications. Prescription antimicrobial mouthrinse - for example chlorhexidine. It controls bacteria when treating gum disease, as well as after surgery. Patients use it like they would a regular mouthwash. Antiseptic . It controls bacteria and reduces periodontal pocket size. This medication is placed in the pockets after root planing. The medication is slowly resealed over time. Antibiotic gel - a gel that contains doxycycline, an antibiotic. This medication controls bacteria and shrinks periodontal pockets. It is placed in the pockets after scaling and root planing. It is a slow- release medication. Antibiotic microspheres - miniscule particles containing minocycline, an antibiotic. Also used to control bacteria and reduce periodontal pocket size. They are placed into pockets after scaling and root planing. A slow- release medication. Enzyme suppressant - keeps destructive enzymes in check with a low- dose of doxycycline. Some enzymes can break down gum tissue, this medication holds back the body's enzyme response. Taken orally as a pill, and is used with scaling and root planing. Oral antibiotics - either in capsule or tablet form and are taken orally. They are used short- term for the treatment of acute or locally persistent periodontal infection. Advanced periodontitis. If good oral hygiene and non- surgical treatments are not enough, the following surgical interventions may be required. Flap surgery - the healthcare professional performs flap surgery to remove calculus in deep pockets, or to reduce the pocket so that keeping it clean is easier. The gums are lifted back and the tarter is removed. The gums are then sutured back into place so they fit closely to the tooth. After surgery, the gums will heal and high tightly around the tooth. In some cases the teeth may eventually seem longer than they used to. Bone and tissue grafts - this procedure helps regenerate bone or gum tissue that has been destroyed. With bone grafting, new natural or synthetic bone is placed where bone was lost, promoting bone growth. In a procedure called guided tissue regeneration, a small piece of mesh- like material is inseted between the gum tissue and bone. This stops the gum from growing into bone space, giving the bone and connective tissue a chance to regrow. The dentist may also use special proteins (growth factors) that help the body regrow bone naturally. The dental professional may suggest a soft tissue graft - tissue taken from another part of the mouth, or synthetic material is used to cover exposed tooth roots. Treatment results also depend on how advanced the disease is, how well the patient adheres to a good oral hygiene program, as well as other factors, such as smoking status. However, patients with periodontitis are also at a higher risk of having respiratory problems, stroke, coronary artery disease, and low birth weight babies. Pregnant women with bacterial infections that cause moderate- to- severe periodontal disease have a higher risk of having a premature baby. Periodontitis can make it harder for patients with diabetes to control blood sugar. Written by Christian Nordqvist. The Power of Bio- Identical Progesterone. This morning when I opened the door to go out with the dogs, the snow had drifted up four feet high during the night, creating a white wall that needed to be broken through in order to step outside. I have never seen so much snow in Boston. The heavy snow reached well above my knees as I waded through the garden to the street. Blizzard Nemo is another instance of extreme weather that has become our “New Normal“. The rule going forward is to expect the unexpected. It will be a monumental task to dig out of this one. I am fortunate to still have power, unlike 6. Northeast. There is a statewide ban on driving and subway service has been suspended for the day. The enforced leisure of this quiet snow bound day affords the time and space to pull together my thoughts about bio- identical progesterone (Prometrium), an important topic that I have wanted to write about for some time. Bio- identical progesterone has made a huge positive difference in my life, in the life of one of my patients, as well as in the life of a friend. Hormone therapy is another one of those issues, like saturated fat, about which there are many politically motivated and culturally sustained misconceptions, with significant consequences for women’s health. Bio- identical progesterone merits further study and research, so that doctors in this country will become aware of its benefits. In Europe it is commonly prescribed. I discussed this topic with Dr Natasha Campbell Mc. Bride, the originator of the GAPS Healing Protocol, and one of my mentors, who is no fan of synthetic hormone treatment. She is convinced that the widespread use of synthetic hormones, such as oral contraceptives, have very adversely impacted gut health, contributing to many psychiatric, neurological and auto- immune conditions. By contrast, she believes that bio- identical hormone treatment can be extremely useful, and does not adversely impact the intestinal flora. I was relieved to get her blessing, as there is so much natural and deserved suspicion about treatment with hormones, after the disastrous impact of widespread synthetic HRT prescription on women’s health, resulting in an increased incidence of breast cancer, cardiovascular events and dementia. Statins today are prescribed in much the same way. A ground breaking and disturbing book about this topic is The Estrogen Errors, by Jerilynn Prior, MD, a Canadian professor of Metabolism and Endocrinology, and Founder and Scientific Director of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research (Ce. MCOR) and Susan Baxter, PHD, a journalist who specializes in medical controversies. Instead, it is predicated upon our love affair with estrogen, as emblematic of all that is “alluring, sexy and accommodating about womanliness”. The idealization of estrogen and neglect of progesterone has contributed to significant suffering for perimenopausal and post menopausal women. They describe how “false beliefs about estrogen became entrenched in U. S. In perimenopause estrogen levels are in fact often elevated, and the ratio between estrogen and progesterone is disrupted. In menopause it is decreased levels of progesterone that cause many symptoms. Prior’s research has revealed that for many women who suffer from these uncomfortable and often disabling symptoms, supplementing with estrogen only aggravates their condition. By contrast, supplementing with 3. Bio- identical progesterone is not to be confused with synthetic progesterone, which can cause a number of side effects. They are not the same. There are no known side effects from bio- identical progesterone, with the exception of sleepiness. It must be taken at bedtime, and it greatly improves sleep quality. It has none of the side effects of typical hypnotics (sleep remedies) like Ambien, Lunesta or the benzodiazepines (such as Ativan, Klonopin, or Xanax to name a few). Many sleep aids are habit forming and intended only for short term use. Oral bio- identical progesterone may be used indefinitely until no longer needed, and does not cause habituation. It does not suppress respiration nor does it decrease restorative REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. It is thus much safer than the hypnotics that are currently commonly prescribed. The improvement of sleep quality alone makes an enormous difference in a woman’s sense of well being. Very often symptoms of anxiety, depression and irritability arise because of poor sleep. If a woman can simply be helped to sleep well, she may feel much less depressed and anxious, not to mention the profound impact adequate restorative sleep has upon memory function, attention and overall cognition. It is also reported that 3. In my own case, I had frequent post- menopausal hot flashes and drenching night sweats for 4 years that so disrupted my sleep that I only slept very lightly most of the time. The variety of sleep remedies that I tried left me feeling so hung over and depleted of energy that I preferred to take nothing. By contrast, 3. 00 mg of bio- identical progesterone at bedtime has greatly improved my sleep quality and resulted in only the very occasional hot flash. I do still feel a bit tired, but much less so than with other remedies I have tried. A friend of mine had such severe mood, anxiety and irritability and swelling prior to menstruation that she felt impaired two weeks out of every month. Bio- identical progesterone cream 4. With menopause, she began to have frequent hot flashes that destroyed the quality of her sleep, and left her feeling extremely anxious and irritable. A 4. 2 year old patient of mine had such severe PMDD that often during the week before her period she felt terribly depressed and irritable, and at times even suicidal. She also had very uncomfortable breast swelling and tenderness, migraines, severe cramping and very heavy menstrual flow with large blood clots. These mood and physical symptoms would suddenly lift when she began menstruating. Prometrium 3. 00 mg at bedtime has fully relieved her of these incapaciting mood symptoms as well as the breast swelling, menstrual migraines and heavy menstrual flow. She is also sleeping much better. Many peri- menopausal women who still have regular periods take bio- identical progesterone cyclically. They begin it on day 1. But for those who are suffering during this time of tremendous physiological change and transition, I recommend this book, so that you will feel empowered to talk with your doctor about bio- identical progesterone. Here is a video of Dr. Jerilynn Prior talking about ovulation and the menstrual cycle. It will give you a sense of her integrity as a person, her thoughtfulness and common sense.
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