What is cholesterol?
Saturday, October 10th, 2009 An Anthem Dentist's Blog by 1wayWhat, exactly, is cholesterol? Well, it’s a sort of fatty, waxy stuff and your own liver produces it. It’s actually necessary for good health and it’s a part of every cell in your body!
There are several things that cholesterol helps our bodies to do:
- Keep the cell wall healthy
- Help the body produce enough vitamin D
- Aid in digesting, by producing stomach acids to digest fat
We need cholesterol and we produce it in our own bodies, so it’s obviously important. You also get some from certain foods, notably from animals, like meat or dairy. Fruit and vegetables contain no cholesterol at all. When the body produces too much cholesterol it sits in the blood stream and eventually it can block up your blood vessels. That increases your risk of heart diseases and the ’silent killer’, stroke.
So why are foods high in cholesterol so bad?
If you eat a lot of animal fats – also called saturated fats -your body can produce too much cholesterol. And a high cholestrol level should not be ignored. Now there are various types of cholesterol and they each have a different role to play in your health.
The ‘bad’ cholesterol is called LDL, which stands for Low Density Lipoprotein. This is the one that can increase your chances of getting heart disease by clogging up your arteries. When that happens blood flow through the artery is reduced.
The ‘good’ cholesterol is called HDL. This is the opposite, so it’s High Density Lipoprotein. This actually ’sweeps up’ the ‘bad’ cholesterol from your blood stream. Which means it’s important to know your cholesterol ratio to know whether you have a normal cholesterol level.
If you monitor your cholesterol regularly you will know when you have high cholesterol. And if you do have high cholesterol levels it makes sense to reduce your LDL cholesterol if you can. And if your levels are high you should do it as soon as possible.
Considering that it’s been estimated that about 50% of Americans have high cholesterol levels, it’s wise for everyone to get their level tested and do something about it.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. No health information on this site, including information about herbal therapies and other dietary supplements, is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.
Dental Care For an Abscessed Tooth
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 An Anthem Dentist's Blog by Anthem Arizona Dentist
The pain is throbbing and gets worse when you chew. Your gums are red and swollen. You have a horrible taste in your mouth. You notice your jaw is swollen, you are running fever – and is that a pimple on your gum? You, my friend, have an abscessed tooth, and you are in need of some dental services as soon as possible.
If you suspect an abscessed tooth, don’t put off seeing your dentist – even if the pain goes away…especially if the pain goes away. You see, when the pain goes away, it is an indication that the infection has spread, and the bone in your jaw is starting to dissolve, which leads to the loss of one or more teeth. Furthermore, the infection is like any other infection – if it isn’t treated, it can make its way to your blood stream.
An abscessed tooth is essentially an infection that is occurring in either a tooth or in the gum. This is usually caused by a cavity that has not been taken care of, but it can also be caused by gum disease.
Treatment for an abscessed tooth is administered by a dental care provider. He or she will do an exam to properly diagnose the situation, and then will prescribe you a course of antibiotics. Sometimes, depending on how long the abscess has been ignored, you may require two or even three courses of antibiotics to clear up the abscess, however, this does not clear up the source of the infection.
Once the abscess is taken care of, your dental care provider will find out what caused it in the first place. This may require drilling into the tooth, which will then need to be filled. Once he drills into the tooth, to the source of the infection, he will drain the infection, which will take care of the pain that you’ve been feeling. A root canal may also be necessary, depending on where the infection is. The worst case scenario will be that the tooth must be removed.
The best way to avoid an abscessed tooth is to practice exceptional dental care, and to have a professional cleaning twice a year with your dental health care provider.
Dental Care
Saturday, September 19th, 2009 An Anthem Dentist's Blog by Anthem Arizona Dentist
Dogs are truly a man’s best friend. We treasure their loyalty and affection. It is just as important that we care for our pet’s health as it is our own. With the advent of the vaccinations and treatments available today, most dogs live long and happy lives. One area of dog care that is forgotten is oral care. It is just as important for your dog to have their teeth brushed as it is for us. One of the major ailments facing dogs today is oral disease. It is easy to prevent with good dental care.
Dental Disease in Dogs
Plaque is the number one oral problem with our canine friends. Excess tartar from left over food particles and bacteria form the plaque. If the plaque is not removed it will start to turn to a form of tartar that leads to gingivitis. This is when your dogs gums are bright red near the teeth. This is the main cause of bad breath in dogs.
Gingivitis left untreated will lead to periodontal disease which is irreversible and may result in teeth becoming abscessed. But that is not all. The bacteria found in both gingivitis and periodontal disease can enter your dogs blood stream and cause infections in the heart, liver and kidneys.
Prevention is the best way to deal with oral care. By brushing your dogs teeth regularly, the tartar will not have the chance to build up and cause gingivitis. This routine home care should be part of your dog’s health care regiment. Most veterinarians will include an oral exam when your dog goes in for their annual physical. A thorough dental exam can spot any potential problems before they become problems.
If you have not been doing the preventative dental home brushing, it may be necessary for your veterinarian to perform a dental cleaning. You can check during the year for any potential problems with your dog by doing routine exams at home. Look for the warning signs such as bad breath or red and swollen gums. If you see bleeding or bumps around any of your dog’s teeth, these are reasons to call your veterinarian.
After doing an examine, brush your dogs teeth. This should not be an ordeal for you or your dog. Take your time and give your dog lots of positive affirmation as they sit still and they will begin to look forward to the daily occurrence. Here are some basic do’s and don’ts for at home care.
1. Be sure to use toothpaste that is specifically designed for animal oral health care. Our toothpaste will make your dog ill in the stomach. There are a variety of toothpastes made for animal oral care, selecting the one that is right for you may be a trial and era until your dog begins to look forward to the event. Again, do not use human toothpaste nor fluoride on your dog’s teeth.
2. Toothbrush or sponge? There are toothbrushes specifically for your dog. Your preference may actually come from the size of your dog. Sponges are softer but do not provide the scrubbing power of the brush. In reality, what ever your dog allows will work if you take the time to slowly ensure all food particles are removed from your dogs gumline.
3. Avoid feeding your dog table scraps. This only increases the buildup of plaque and tartar and can ultimately lead to other health issues.
4. There are some toys that assist in the dental care such as rope toys or Plaque Attacker dental toys are good choices. Be sure to always watch your dog when they are chewing on a toy. Some toys that are too hard can actually do more damage than good.
Dog dental health starts at home with you. With constant preventative maintenance in oral care, your dog can live without ever falling prey to periodontal disease.
